Infinitys end books 7 9, p.23
Infinity's End: Books 7-9, page 23
Chapter Thirty
Despite nothing but blackness and stars out in front of her, Evie knew her destination lay ahead. Soon enough she’d be able to see it. Then maybe she could find some answers.
“So, you think everything you need to know is on Sissk?” the voice asked. Intellectually she knew it was her own voice, even if it was lower in pitch with a harder edge to it. It was still coming from her throat, her lungs, her vocal cords. But at the same time, she wasn’t the one speaking. It was Daingne, who had decided this was the best way they should communicate.
“I think the planet might hold some answers for me. It’s where everything started. And it’s the place I hallucinated about.”
“You also hallucinated about being on our planet,” the voice replied. “With you standing over all the Athru, as if you were to rule them.”
Evie scoffed. “I don’t want to rule anyone. Not the Athru, not the Coalition, not even the Plegarians. I just want to find out the truth.” She wasn’t completely sure why, but she knew some of the answers she sought were on Sissk. It had been where she’d grown up, spending all those years as a human-Athru hybrid and never knowing it. She only hoped she could count on a few friends down there. After the way the Untuburu had “greeted” them, she was on edge.
“What if they try to stop you?” Daingne asked.
She suppressed a mock chuckle. “Who? Tempest? Cas probably feels so guilty he’s traumatized himself into inaction. I’m not concerned about the Tempest. I had to put certain safeguards in place to make sure I could get away, and I did. If they were clever enough to stop me, they would have done it already.”
“Maybe they’re just waiting for the opportune moment,” an unfamiliar voice said.
Evie spun in her chair to see Captain Gysan sitting on one of the short couches in the back compartment. She reached out and activated the automatic force barrier, sealing off that side of the shuttle. “How the hell did you get in here?” she barked.
“While everyone was distracted with Rafnkell and Cas’s show, I slipped inside, hiding in one of the storage compartments. I hope you don’t mind.” She produced an award-winning smile, white teeth gleaming.
Evie turned back to the console; confident she was secure from any kind of ambush. Though she didn’t like how Gysan had been listening in on her “private” conversation. “Blow the back hatch. That will take care of her.”
“Is that how you justified Volf?” Gysan asked, her demeanor relaxed as if this was something she did every day. Evie didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of an answer, but she couldn’t let the jab go unchallenged.
“I didn’t kill the commander. Rafnkell did. They must have been working together, though I wish Volf would have come to me first. Rafnkell has always been something of a loose cannon.” She dropped her eyes. “I guess I didn’t realize just how loose.”
“What happened?” Gysan asked. Even though she still hadn’t turned, Evie could hear Gysan lean into the conversation. She pictured her with her forearms on her knees, staring at the back of Evie’s head with her remaining eye.
“I don’t know. They must have followed me into the Bay. Because all I know is, I was headed for the shuttle when Rafnkell told me to stop and turn around. I almost didn’t do it. And I can’t help but wonder what she would have done if I hadn’t.” She shrugged, a smile playing at her lips. “Shot me in the back, I suppose. But then that wouldn’t have looked very good.”
“She was smarter than that,” Daingne added.
Evie had the urge to shush her, but it was too late now. Gysan had already heard her. “I guess I didn’t think even she was that cold-blooded. I turned, thinking I could dodge anything she threw at me. Sure enough, she had that stupid pulse pistol pointed at me, though there was another one in her hands. I saw her glance up to the crewman in the flight control room who—” She broke off, thinking. What had he been doing up there? Counting? Evie hadn’t paid attention at the time, but now that she thought about it, she realized he’d been counting down. “Son of a bitch.”
“What?” Gysan asked.
“She orchestrated it. In order to frame me. She had an accomplice. Maybe more than one. Volf was supposed to be in the brig, after all.” She finally turned around again. Instead of her forearms on her knees, Gysan had stood and leaned against one of the bulkheads. Her silver hair framed her face in such a way that it resembled a mane.
“I’m not following,” she said.
“You’re not supposed to. We don’t have to tell her anything,” Daingne said.
Evie shook her head. A sudden urge to get this out had overcome her. “Yes, we do,” she replied. “I need someone to understand.” She stared into Gysan’s remaining eye. “I think the flight controller was counting down, letting Rafnkell know when everyone else was coming. Because Rafnkell told Volf to take me into custody. Whether Volf knew what I was or not at the time I can’t say, but she walked forward like she thought she’d be able to.” Evie saw the scene in her mind just as it had happened. “I saw Rafnkell glance up one last time, then she called out to Volf who turned, and she pulled the trigger. I watched Volf fall. But before she’d even hit the ground, Rafnkell chucked the pistol at my face. I didn’t even think, I just caught it.”
“And she had the second pistol in her other hand,” Gysan said. “Which was when we came in.”
Evie nodded. “I have to admit. It was expertly timed.”
“Be silent! You owe her no more.” The voice scratched against her throat.
“Who is that?” Gysan asked, taking another step forward. “Because it doesn’t sound like you.”
Evie returned her attention to the controls. “It doesn’t matter. And I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you. Unless you want a substantial shock coursing through your body.”
“It sounds like someone who is in pain,” she said.
“No, she is someone I trust. At least one person has my best interests at heart.” She heard Gysan’s light footfalls retreat, and the soft slump of her body back on the rear seat.
“There have been a lot of secrets among your crew. I don’t blame you for being mistrustful.” Evie wasn’t sure how to respond, so she remained silent. “We had similar issues in the beginning. Back when the Athru first attacked, it was difficult to trust anyone. Until we realized we were all in the same situation. And we weren’t lying to each other to be deceitful, but because we were afraid for our futures. We had lost so much, it seemed like we had to do everything we possibly could to protect ourselves.”
Evie stared at the navigation array, not really seeing it. Was that true of her crew as well? Of course, they’d been scared. They’d been through hell and back. And a third of them had been on Tempest so long it had become their permanent home. Eighteen years in stasis was still eighteen years. But she wasn’t one of them anymore. And she couldn’t help them. The incident with Rafnkell had shown her that.
“But if there was one constant, it was that the Athru would do anything to exploit our weaknesses.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Daingne asked.
Gysan’s voice remained non-combative. “How can you have the captain’s best interests at heart, if you’re the one taking her away from her family?”
Evie spun the chair around, her face burning. “They’re not my family.”
“Of course they are. That’s part of what the Coalition is all about. The people you serve with are those that you’re closest to. And I question anyone who is trying to come between you.” Her visage wasn’t one of complacency, or superiority, or even concern. Instead it was perfectly neutral, and something about that neutrality infuriated Evie. Or did it infuriate Daingne? She couldn’t tell which of them was more upset.
“Did you know your crew had already returned to Coalition space once before?” Gysan asked, arching her good eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?” Evie asked. Once before? What did that mean?
“I spoke to Commander Volf while she was incarcerated. She admitted to me that she brought your ship back here to try and help. But they only found destruction.”
“That’s not possible,” Evie said, trying to work out the ramifications in her mind. “They didn’t have the ability, there wouldn’t have been—”
“—time? She said when it was clear you weren’t coming back, the crew voted to return home. And it took them a long time. But when they got here and found the Athru had already decimated everything, she realized there was nothing left.” Gysan leaned forward. “So, they decided to go back.”
They came all this way, only to return to the planet? “But why? There was no guarantee we were ever getting off that planet. She wouldn’t have brought the ship back for us.”
Gysan smiled. “Sometimes, in the face of immeasurable loss, we cling to those we may not have considered close in the past. That’s what family does.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Daingne said. “She’s just trying to manipulate you. Just like Caspian. Just like everyone else who lied to you.”
“Whatever Caspian may have done to you; it wasn’t to harm you. I don’t want to make excuses for him but think about it. When has he ever tried to harm you? Does he make mistakes? Absolutely. But does it mean he’s malicious?” Gysan shook her head. “I know him better than that. And so do you.”
“What about everyone else?” Evie asked. “Cas wasn’t the only one who lied to me. Box, and Xax and…” Had there been anyone else? She’d assumed the entire crew had been in on it, but if she thought about it, Box had been the only one who’d seen what happened. He’d told Cas and Xax at some point. But outside the three of them—
“Stop this foolish thinking! They are your enemies. I’m your only friend. I tell you the truth!” Daingne’s voice had become even harder, and it hurt Evie’s throat. She glanced at Samiya, who shook her head.
“Are you sure she’s told you everything? Is it possible she’s left something out?”
Evie tried to concentrate, but the other voice in her head had become increasingly loud. What could Daingne have lied about?
Nothing! She is making you question yourself. You can only count on me to tell you the truth. Not her. Not anyone.
She tried to think back. She remembered running from the pyramid back into camp. And then…she wasn’t in her body anymore. She was back up above it all again, watching with perfect clarity as she murdered her crew and finally, Laura. “Why did I attack them?”
“Attack who?” Gysan asked.
“My crew? My girlfriend. Martial. Why did I attack all of them?”
“They were afraid of you,” Daingne replied. “They knew you were too dangerous. You had to protect yourself.” Evie shook her head. That didn’t sound right. Laura loved her; she never would have attacked. All she did was try to hold on to Evie, to keep her from hurting someone else.
“You,” Evie said, the memories becoming clearer. “You tricked me. You made me think they were Athru, because you were upset I’d taken back control.” She looked down at her hands. They trembled.
“No. You’re wrong,” Daingne replied.
“I’m not wrong,” Evie whispered. “I attacked them because I thought they were your people. That they were there to kill my crew. You made me kill my crew. You made me kill the woman I loved!” She shot up out of the chair so fast she thought she might pass out. Her body was no longer under her control. Her hands flew to the controls, programming in a sequence she didn’t recognize.
“What’s happening? What are you doing?” Gysan asked.
“I can’t…control her. She’s going to kill us,” Evie replied, struggling against the pull of her own limbs.
“Not us,” the voice growled. “Just you.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“You’re sure no one is monitoring?” Diana asked as Ryder dropped the force barrier around her cell.
He shook his head. “They’re all focused on other tasks. Squires is keeping an eye outside Engineering and Coley is up with the flight controller. Caspian doesn’t suspect a thing.”
“We can’t underestimate him. If he’s already asking about how Volf got out of her cell, it won’t take security long to question you. Which means we don’t have a lot of time.” She stood and followed Ryder out of the cell. “Are the rest of the pilots ready?”
He motioned for her to go ahead of him into the outer office. “The ones you can trust are. They’re getting into their positions on the ship now. Once people know what Diazal and Robeaux did, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble bringing them over to our side.”
“That’s the expectation.” Diana felt bad about Volf, but she’d been a necessary casualty in this war. And that’s exactly what it was. If she was going to secure the last ship in the Coalition, she needed to take those who could still do them harm out of power. She’d hoped Cas’s actions would have been enough on their own for Graydon—or anyone else—to have him confined, but according to Ryder the opposite had happened. Which meant they needed to take more drastic measures.
Ryder’s comm beeped. “Go ahead.”
“It’s me. They’ve found the shuttle,” Squires said on the other end.
Diana whipped her head around to stare at him. “Impossible. She’s supposed to be dead.” She rubbed the back of her hand where they’d deactivated her own comm. It was a security measure for anyone who had been incarcerated. And she couldn’t reactivate it without alerting the ship’s comm grid, which they’d see on the bridge.
“I’m telling you, I’m outside Engineering and they’re talking about catching up with it. She’s out there, and still headed for the Hommel system.”
“Dammit,” Diana said. She’d have to leave the coup to her associates. She’d made a promise to destroy Diazal and she wasn’t going to leave any loose ends. “I’ll have to go after her, finish this myself.”
“But, with her off the ship, aren’t we out of danger?” Ryder asked.
“What about when a fleet of Athru ships arrives and blows right through our armor because she told them our magnetic frequencies? She knows too much to be left alive. But I’ll need help, I won’t be able to make it out there without someone deactivating the ship’s weapons.”
“Did you hear that?” Ryder asked into his comm.
“We could get Linkovich,” Squires suggested. “He could sabotage the weapons systems from down on fifteen.”
“Do it,” Diana ordered. “I’m heading to the Bay. I assume we’re on an intercept course?”
“We are. I just heard them say ten minutes.”
“That gives me just enough time to get suited up and into my spacewing before we arrive. The weapons will need to be down as soon as we come out of the undercurrent.” She indicated for Ryder to check the adjacent hallway. He stepped forward, peering out the open doors both ways.
“I understand,” Squires said. “We’ll be ready. Do you want backup out there?”
“Yes. Get Wilmoth and Coley to meet me in there. The three of us should be able to do it.” She followed Ryder when he indicated, both of them moving at a brisk pace down the hallways until they reached the closest access point.
“Will do, Chief. Be careful.” He paused. “You too, Michael.”
“Thanks,” Ryder said, a small smile on his lips. He looked like he was about to say something else, but instead he glanced at Diana then cut the comm. “Take this access junction down to 88-D, then turn left, you’ll see—”
“I know the internal schematics of the ship,” Diana snapped, and Ryder shut up. “Just make sure everyone is ready to go in less than ten minutes. You know the importance of this, so I won’t say it again. But don’t screw up.” She pressed a finger into his chest before turning and climbing into the access corridor.
He shut the access panel behind her, and Diana was enveloped in darkness, except for the small sensor lights that came on as she crawled through the junction. Ryder was competent enough, but he wasn’t one of her pilots. He didn’t have the same loyalty they did. Well, most of them. Ryant and Jann were lost causes. The two people who should have been most upset at Robeaux for what he did ended up being his two new best friends. She wasn’t sure something wasn’t going on between him and Jann. Which made them both liabilities. It was as if instead of taking away one of her pilots, he’d taken away three. And she was going to make sure he paid for it. Chief Diana Rafnkell was about to take control of the last navy ship in the Coalition, and not Robeaux, nor anyone else was going to stop her.
She shimmied down adjacent junctions until she reached level thirteen, where she had to turn and continue along a long, straight path until she reached the Bay. Only a few people had seen her arrest or passed her on the way to the brig with her hands bound behind her back, but she wasn’t willing to take the chance someone would see her in the corridor and ask why she wasn’t in the brig anymore. This was too important. Which meant another fifty meters inside the sweltering access conduits.
At the end of the lane she popped the cover panel and climbed out, relishing in the cool air of the Bay. Ahead of her were the line of spacewings they still had—four had been left behind on the planet’s surface. Diana assumed they were still there, and if time was still moving as fast as it had been when they left the planet it had literally only been seconds since leaving them. Which meant they could go back for them one day. Not that four spacewings would make a difference in any kind of confrontation, but Diana didn’t like the idea of leaving them down there. It was like leaving friends behind.
The Bay was empty except for Coley and the flight controller up in the glass above. Diana held Coley’s gaze a moment until she gave motioned all was clear. Diana waved, then trotted over to Grippen’s ship. Her own spacewing was one of the ones left on the planet, but she didn’t think Lecia would mind. In fact, there was a certain poetic justice in using Grippen’s ship to right the wrongs that had been done by Robeaux and Diazal. They were the ones who got them into this mess.
