******
It felt like Laina had been in the transport cell for hours, but since they had taken away her wrist-link, she had no way of knowing. Moments ago, she felt the transport shudder and the lights dimmed for a moment. It sounded like they were being fired on. Could Julius be trying to rescue her again? She had no way of knowing but it seemed unlikely. After all, the day had been filled with nothing but failures—why should that trend change now?
Von Haufsberg had betrayed them. She’d been arrested by Venusian Peacekeepers and put into a transport with Murdock and Reece. Who knew how many other crew had also been taken? Now they were inside a prison transport, probably bound for a life of incarceration and slavery. The Sea Wolf was supposedly led into a trap—she only hoped Julius got them out safely. And if all that was not enough, a rescue attempt to free her from the Venusians was foiled by a lone Peacekeeper—who just happened to be the brother of her long-time friend and partner.
The latter seemed beyond coincidence, the chances of it happening simply too astronomical. Chorus must have manipulated the situation somehow—there was no other explanation. But why? To aid her escape? She would need to get a dialogue going with Daryl—preferably, before they reached their destination; maybe she could convince him to help.
A tone sounded inside her cell and a voice spoke on the intercom.
“The ship is damaged.” Daryl sounded strained. “All prisoners brace yourselves for a crash landing.”
Laina tensed up. Perhaps this would be the end. Maybe it would be like her dream on the Sea Wolf—the one Chorus had implanted in her. An explosion of fire and debris. Flames would surround her, engulf her—her flesh would be burned off and her bones would disintegrate. Maybe Chorus would greet her in the afterlife—send her back to do it all over again, if that kind of thing was to be believed. Whatever happened now, it beat the fate that awaited her as a captured criminal.
She walked over to the bunk and laid herself down. A panel on the bunk allowed her to activate the buckling restraints. An enclosure came up from the sides and locked her body down snugly. It would provide some protection from the crash, but it felt a bit like a coffin to her—the thought made her shudder.
The sound of the engines suddenly hit a fever pitch and she could make out what sounded like wind shear against the outer hull. Wherever they were crashing, it had an atmosphere.
Laina closed her eyes. She imagined herself somewhere else, somewhere safe. She thought back to a distant time—back with her family. They were having a family get-together. Mom and Dad were there, along with her brothers. It was hosted in one of their many family homes—this one was on a peak overlooking the ocean. It was on Earth, of course—North America, in an area that was once California before it had sunk into the ocean.
It was a safe place—it was family. But it was the last time that she would see them.
At this gathering, her father made the announcement that shook the family foundation. He decided to hand one of the family businesses over to a non-family member—apparently, none of his children were up to his standards. They could remain employees and would still get an opportunity at running some of the other companies—provided he did not repeat the decision.
Despite all the hard work and promises he made to her—despite her proving herself better than anyone else at running the business—he just could not do it. He could not face the hurt he would instill in his sons for choosing her over them. Instead, he would avoid the guilt and hand over the reins to a non-family member.
Her mind left that memory and tried to find a happier time. Her thoughts drifted to something more recent—her husband. They had been together before the family breakup, and she married him after that. It was a wonderful period of her life, filled with the adventure of romance—but even that was short-lived. He was diagnosed with a terminal disease not long after their marriage. The doctors only gave him six months—but instead they shared nine months of bliss. They traveled everywhere they could go during that time—and when the money ran out, she found other fun ways to spend the time with him.
She felt a sudden bump and heard the sound of hissing, then the sound of metal grinding, as if something tore away from the ship. She felt a sense of falling as the g-forces tugged at her.
Laina closed her eyes tighter—she would shut out what was happening. Her mind drifted to a closer time—meeting Julius. It was long ago, yet the memory was still clear as crystal to her. But before should could reminisce, she was seized by an assault on her senses. There was a terrible crash and the lights of the cell went out. A cacophony of noises surrounded her, and she was hit with bone-rattling vibrations. She squeezed her eyelids together—waiting for the end.
Laina expected to lose consciousness as she stepped into the doorway of death. But her thoughts stay with her as the chaos around her stopped.
She opened her eyes. She was still in the bunk. She was alive, but everything around her was black.
Minutes past before the door to the cell swung open. Light penetrated the darkness and she could see enough to unlock the restraints and sit up.
“Easy,” Daryl said.
He was hunched over, holding a rifle with both hands and balancing himself on his shoulder against the door well. A light emanated behind him; it appeared to be coming from the ramp entrance. She could see that his legs were drenched in blood.
“Are you okay?” Laina asked.
“Come on,” Daryl said, ignoring the concern. “We need to get out.”
Laina followed him out of the cell, noticing a salty smell in the air and seeing that parts of the inner hull had cracked. Equipment lay scattered about the floor and the power to the ship appeared to be out. The body of their failed rescuer was gone. Daryl must have moved it somewhere.
“Stay there while I get the others,” he ordered.
She watched him open the doors to the other cells. To her relief, Reece and Murdock emerged from them alive.
“Glad to see you both,” Laina said to them.
Daryl grouped them together, keeping the rifle at the ready in one hand while holding what looked like cargo straps in the other. He ushered everyone out of the transport.
She stepped out first and was greeted by something she had not seen in a long time—a night sky. A real night sky with a crescent moon and thin wispy clouds. They were on Earth. It was a tropical paradise, with towering palm trees and thick brush, all surrounded by a calm ocean that reflected the night sky like a polished mirror. It was as if they had been transported back in time—to a time prior to the great war.
A portable lamp was placed in the center of what appeared to be a makeshift camp.
“Where are we?” Laina asked.
“I said be quiet,” Daryl said behind them.
They were positioned around the center of the camp, and instructed to sit down.
“You …” Daryl pointed to Murdock. “Grab these and tie your friends up, hands behind their back and legs wrapped up too.”
Murdock sighed, but did as instructed. After he was done, Daryl placed a neuralizer on his neck and gently laid him down.
“Sorry,” he explained. “I’m afraid I don’t have neuralizers for all three of you.”
Daryl then inspected their restraints, tightening them further.
Laina surveyed the area. She saw no visible signs of civilization—wherever they were, it must have been remote.
Daryl sat down wearily and she could see him wince. He laid the rifle down on his lap and guarded them with his eyes.
Laina could not get over how much he looked like his brother. The same muscular build, the hazel eyes, the jaw-line that looked like as if it had been chiseled from granite. He even held the same straight, military posture, despite the obvious pain he must be feeling. Yet, she could still see that hidden gentleness of his brother in there somewhere.
“Where are we?” Laina asked again.
Daryl looked at her for a moment, but this t
ime he answered. “Fiji.”
“What are we doing in Fiji?” she asked.
He motioned to the sky.
Laina looked up. At first, she did not notice anything but the stars—then she saw it. Flashes high up in the sky that looked like lightning, but she knew it was probably more than that.
“What’s happening up there?” she asked.
“War,” Daryl replied. “The UEP and Confed. I was fired upon as I tried to deliver you to the UEP—they did not seem to care we were on the same side.”
“I thought the UEP and the Vens were in bed together,” Reece said.
Daryl snorted. “The fog of war is thick.”
“So… why Fiji?” Reece asked.
“Didn’t have much choice in the matter. It just happened to be what was on the map when I began to lose power.”
He stood up. Laina could see him wince from the pain and he seemed unsteady.
“If any of you try to move, you won’t get far, and I’ll be forced to hog-tie you when I catch you.”
Daryl disappeared into the shuttle.
“Any idea what happened to the others?” Murdock asked from his prone position.
“No idea,” Laina said.
“My guys were on their way to warn the captain,” Reece said. “I think they may have gotten away—or they’d be here with us too.”
“Maybe they’re just on another transport,” Laina mused.
“No, I don’t think so,” Reece replied. “There were some empty cells in this transport—why wouldn’t they pack us all in together if they had them? Plus someone tried to rescue us back there.”
“That wasn’t our crew,” Murdock said. “I didn’t recognize him. Plus it’s not Julius’ style—he would have rather intercepted us en route than risk a ground assault with casualties.”
“So then who was that?” Reece asked.
Nobody had an answer.
Daryl returned, carrying an equipment box. He struggled to walk it over to the other side of the camp where he set it down. When he returned, he addressed Murdock.
“You,” he began, his breathing was heavy. “Your dossier says you did a tour… as an engineer in the UEP Navy. Is that true?”
Murdock stayed quiet.
“This isn’t an interrogation, Melvin Murdock,” Daryl continued. “I need help repairing something from the ship.”
“Melvin?” Reece laughed.
“Quiet over there,” Daryl barked—and Laina could see him wince again from the pain in his leg. “You going to help, Melvin?”
“Listen, asshole, I’m not even going to talk to you if you keep using that name. Murdock is the name I go by.”
“Easy there, Murdock,” Daryl said. “I need your help so we can get out of here.”
“Why should I help you?” Murdock asked the obvious question.
Daryl nodded. “If you help me, I’ll let you go—just you. Right here on this island. You’ll be on your own, but you’ll be free.”
Laina was surprised by the offer—it sounded like something Julius would do.
“Why would you do that?” Murdock asked.
“As long as I show up to the UEP with most of my prisoners, that’s good enough. I need to get off here and get medical or I’m done for.”
“So why should we help?” Reece said. “When we can just sit here and watch you die.”
Daryl raised his rifle. “Because the minute I feel myself passing out, I’m shooting all three of you in the head. Good enough for you?”
Reece stayed quiet.
“I’m going to get some tools and then you’re going to get started,” Daryl said.
Then he limped away to the other side of the camp, rummaging through boxes he’d pulled out of the transport.
Reece pushed himself closer to the other two.
“Laina,” Reece whispered. “This Peacekeeper doesn’t look good. I don’t believe that he’s really going to shoot. We may be able to get away.”
“No,” Laina said. “We can’t let him die.”
Reece gave her a befuddled look. “Do you want to go to prison? Murdock could take his time repairing the ship—and when he’s at his weakest, we can make our move.”
“No, we can’t let him die.”
“Fine,” Reece seethed. “I’ll do this without your help. Murdock? You game for this?”
“Does a phased anti-quark distributor rod fit into its assembly compartment as tight as a virgin?” Murdock responded rhetorically.
“I have no idea what that means, but I’m guessing that’s a yes,” Reece said.
She could not keep it a secret any longer.
“That guard,” Laina growled, “is our captain’s brother—Julius’ brother.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Is this another one of Chorus’ tricks?”
“Who’s Chorus?” Murdock asked.
“No—at least, I don’t think it is,” Laina tried to explain. “His nametag—Daryl Verndock. And I know that’s his brother’s name. We might be able to get him to voluntarily help us.”
“How can that be possible?” Reece said. “Maybe they just share the same name.”
“Look at him!” Laina snapped. “Look at him and tell me they aren’t related?”
Reece gave the guard a quick glance and stayed quiet for a moment. He must have seen the resemblance—it was unmistakable.
“What are the chances of that?” Reece said shaking his head.
“Astronomical, I’m sure. I guess we just got lucky, “ Laina said.
“Lucky?” Reece snorted. “Julius been preaching that luck bullshit to you too, huh?”
“No, Reece, he knows better. I preached it to him… just like his father once did. At a time when he had lost his way and needed to hear it.”
Her thoughts drifted to the past.
“When I first knew him… he was not the same man he is now.”
She paused for a second, remembering the hurt.
“Funny thing is, he remembers so many things about his past—like about the A.I. War. But when it comes to us and that conversation years ago …”
Reece arched his eyebrows with a smirk. “You two—were you ever, you know?”
She had said too much.
“No,” she snapped back fast. “And don’t let that tongue of yours flap with any suspicions of it or I’ll make sure Julius cuts it off. Understood?”
Reece seemed taken aback. “Sorry,” he said.
“I’ll handle this,” Laina said. “You will both follow my lead. Is that clear?”
Reece and Murdock looked at each other.
“Yes, m’am,” they both said in unison.