Knowing time was critical, AJ twisted and pulled Chok to the side as he scrabbled against the unwieldy filter roll. Expecting at any moment to be on the receiving end of a fatal weapon's discharge, he struggled to find his footing. When he finally popped to his knees to face his attacker, he was surprised at what he saw in front of him.

  An unusually feminine face was visible behind the clear face shield. The girl's nose was tapered to a point and her narrow lips followed the same lines, almost giving the appearance of a beak. She was talking rapidly which allowed AJ to see that she didn’t have an inflexible beak specifically. She had skin, just like any human or Xandarj, just oddly shaped and instead of fur or hair, her eyebrows and head were covered in brilliant blue and white feathers.

  "Weapon down!" Lefty ordered, landing next to AJ before he could gain his footing.

  "Where'd you come from?" AJ asked Lefty.

  "Video dots," Lefty said. "Weren't you listening to me at all?"

  The woman, who was a little taller than AJ, held her hands up defensively. "Please, don't shoot," she said. "I will not prosecute you for your trespass."

  Twelve

  Conspiracy

  AJ considered the woman in front of him. Once he got past her beak-like nose and her feathers, he realized she wasn't unattractive. More importantly, she seemed to have a keen intelligence behind sharp blue eyes that darted between the quickly gathering crew.

  "That's a funny greeting for someone hiding in the air ducts," AJ said.

  "I thought you were bandits," she said, shifting her attention to him. "I see nothing to dissuade me of this."

  "Where I come from, you'd be called a stowaway. For the record, I've got salvage rights on this old junkheap, so you're the one who's trespassing."

  Anger crossed through the Pertaf woman's face as a blue blush filled her otherwise pale cheeks. "You dare speak such insolence while standing aboard my family's vessel? How did you know the power modulator was in such disrepair?"

  AJ made a quick move to grab the woman's arm as she lowered her weapon. She yowled with pain as he twisted her wrist and disarmed her. Something struck his chest and when he released her and gained some distance, he realized she'd kneed him.

  "You're a feisty one," he said, stuffing her pistol into his belt. "You can knock off the theatrics of how we're stealing your ship."

  The woman rubbed her wrist, looking from it to AJ. "You're a brute. What kind of man are you that you would attack me so?"

  "Look, lady, I just needed to secure the gun," AJ said, holding his hands up defensively. "Now, maybe you can tell me why you're running around my junk pile threatening to shoot me and my crew."

  The woman blinked several times, still holding her arm.

  "AJ," Beverly said, appearing between the two. "I've scanned this woman's biosignatures. Her name is Faramor Poecile. She's been listed as missing and presumed dead."

  "Faramor?" AJ asked.

  "Ah, now the truth of the situation becomes clear," Faramor said.

  "AJ," Beverly continued. "She was listed as missing sixty-two years ago when the Poecile family's space liner was damaged beyond repair."

  "She's not dead," AJ said.

  "Who?" Faramor asked.

  "Her bio-signs show that she's been in some sort of suspension," Beverly continued. "AJ, she is confused. The Poecile family all perished on that day sixty-two years ago. It's been long speculated that the accident was anything but that. They were effectively royalty and she was a princess. Her family was completely wiped out."

  "You’re not dead," AJ said again.

  "AJ, be gentle," Beverly warned. "She doesn't know."

  Faramor blinked a couple of times and then responded, irritation clear in her voice. "Of course, I'm not dead!"

  "What's the last thing you remember?" AJ asked. "How'd you get in that air duct?"

  Faramor blinked. "I, uh … I don't answer to you," she finally added, angrily.

  "Lisa, could you come down here," AJ called.

  "I'm here," Lisa answered, coming up behind AJ.

  "Who is this?" Faramor asked.

  "Farah, please go with Lisa," AJ said. "She'll run you up to the galley and find you a nice place to rest while you gather yourself. We're in the process of repairing the atmospheric systems and I need to make sure we're not venting too much atmo into space."

  "Why would Poecile Aerie be venting?"

  "That's the ship’s name, Poecile Aerie?" AJ asked.

  "Yes, you ridiculous man. You are strange looking. You talk strangely, you act strangely and you do not belong on Poecile Aerie!"

  "Look here, princess," AJ said. "While I'd love to stand around discussing how strange I am, I've got a crew who'd like to get settled in and we can't do that if we're not airtight. So, go with Lisa – the nice lady behind me – and get out of my hair for a bit. I'll come and talk to you once I know we're not all gonna suffocate. You okay with that?"

  "You cannot talk to me like that!" She sputtered the words at AJ, but she wasn't resisting Lisa's guiding hand.

  "It's okay, dear," Lisa said, soothingly. "You must be hungry. Why don't you come with me? We'll find you something to eat and I’ll look at that arm. AJ seems like a brute, but he's not that bad once you get past the bluster."

  "Are you kidding me?" AJ asked. "How exactly do I turn into the bad guy in this?"

  "Don't listen to him," Lisa said, wrapping an arm around the Pertaf woman's back and directing her around AJ. "He's all bark and no bite."

  "Albert Jenkins, you might find this interesting," Chok said, stepping into the air vent.

  AJ grumbled, not loving Lisa's depiction of him, but he knew better than to push that conversation. The unexpected stowaway was calm and Lisa was getting her out of his way. Stepping in behind Chok, the lights on the side of his helmet illuminated a hidden compartment that had dozens of dangling wires and a few tubes. Along the bottom of the compartment was a cushion indented in the shape of a humanoid.

  "Suspension chamber?" AJ asked, pushing the hanging cables aside and inspecting a control surface that blinked with a low energy warning.

  Beverly appeared, standing atop the cushion. "I believe the mystery of the missing Faramor Poecile, heir to the Poecile legacy, is resolved."

  "What do you have in there?" Darnell asked, ducking his head into the opening.

  "Check it out for yourself," AJ said, stepping out.

  "Holy cow," he said. "Think it's a coincidence that she woke up when we came aboard?"

  "Low energy on her pod there," AJ said. "I bet when we started the power plant, it caused the pod to kick her out."

  "That's messed up," Darnell said. "She must be tripping.”

  AJ slid closed the panel that had for so long hidden the suspension chamber and extracted the empty screen that would hold the filter media they'd brought along. "Not much we can do about it at the moment," AJ said. "We need to get this habitat sealed up and pumping out some good air or we're not going to have enough atmo to stay out here."

  "Yeah, copy that," Darnell said. "Did you get a look at her, though? I always figured those Pertaf would be kinda gawky looking, what with the pointy nose and those long legs. Kind of a looker, though, if you ask me."

  "And here I thought I was supposed to be the dirty old man," AJ said, chuckling. "You gonna tell Lisa all that?"

  "Uh, no," Darnell said. "I was just sayin'."

  AJ and Chok struggled with reloading the filter media for a few moments and then slid the assembly back into place. "Maybe you should grab the welder," AJ said. "I'll map out the repairs."

  "I've never done much welding," Darnell said. "You know that."

  "Yup. Figured you could carry the welder for me. I was thinkin' that'd buy my silence," AJ said.

  "I have no idea why we're friends."

  "Am I your prisoner?" Faramor asked when AJ and Darnell returned to the galley. It had taken four and a half hours to seal up the largest leaks and they were in for a long couple of days finding the remaining non-critical pinholes.

  "Do you have somewhere you want to go?" AJ asked.

  Faramor blinked, apparently a habit when she was thinking.

  Lisa jumped in before Faramor could continue. "I assume Lefty and Blue Tork got off all right? Did Chok decide to stick around?"

  "All three took off. Chok said she'd come back in a week. I identified a bunch of parts we need manufactured. She’ll bring them back with her," AJ said.

  Faramor adjusted her shoulders uneasily, drawing their attention. "I want to go home," she said. "Lisa Jackson has been polite. You do not seem to be bandits, but she has disallowed access to the ship's communication systems."

  "How old are you?" AJ asked.

  As Faramor turned her head, AJ realized what had been bothering him about her motions. Pertaf seemed to have limited eye movement and were forced to move their heads when focusing on someone. "I am thirty-two years. I assume your communication property translated that."

  AJ sighed. "Lisa hasn't denied you access to ship communications. This is a derelict ship. Virtually none of its systems are operating. Didn't you notice how cold it is aboard and that there's no atmosphere?"

  "You have misstated," Faramor said. "This word, derelict, it is incorrect."

  "Maybe, but I wouldn't bet on it," AJ said. "Farah, you're not thirty-two years old. You're ninety-four. Poecile Aerie was wrecked in Xandarj’s orbit sixty-two years ago. Someone who wanted to keep you alive stashed you in that air vent compartment."

  "Ninety-four?" she asked, visibly shaken. "But … my family."

  "Nice going, AJ," Lisa said, annoyed. She led Faramor over to a chair and helped her sit.

  "What? This was never going to be a great conversation," AJ said. "Trust me, there's no easy way to hear this. If I was her, I’d want it straight.”

  “Yes, honesty is preferable.”

  “Look, Farah. If you want a ride to Dralli Station so you can contact people on Pertaf, I'll get you there in a couple of days, but a lot has changed during the years you were hidden on this ship. Whoever attacked your family won’t love to see you suddenly show up. Then again, you might have family that’s waiting for you. I have no idea. Right now, there aren’t many who know you’re alive. Might be best to keep it that way until you get your bearings.”

  Faramor nodded, pushing Lisa's hand away as she stood. "Show me, Albert Jenkins. Show me that Poecile Aerie is ruined. I will see this with my own eyes. Until then, I will only believe you to be common bandits who deserve punishment."

  "Are you sure you're up for that?" AJ asked. "I mean, you did just wake up from the longest nap in history. Shouldn't you take it easy for a couple of days?"

  Faramor waved her hand dismissively. "Your delays only confirm what I already know. You are holding me, probably for ransom. It is an intricate lie you tell, but a lie nonetheless."

  "Good lord, woman," AJ growled. "And you call me ridiculous. Fine, we've got a stack of thrust boards by the front door. We'll get you a look from the outside."

  "You are ridiculous."

  AJ shook his head and could only manage to grumble as he led the Pertaf from the galley and down the metal stairs to the external hatch. Considering how Poecile Aerie's auxiliary generator was now pumping out excessive amounts of energy, they'd decided to keep the photonic pressure barrier powered even when the hatch was closed.

  "Are you ready to give in yet?" Faramor asked.

  AJ picked up a thrust board as sympathy filled his face. "Look, Farah, this will be disturbing," he said. "I shouldn't have pushed you so hard. Are you sure you want to do this? Look around, this cargo bay should tell you everything you need to know. Do you think we could make all this up? The rust. The junk. Look at everything."

  Faramor's expression also softened. "What would you do, Albert Jenkins? Would you not want to know for certain?"

  "Have you used one of these before?" AJ asked, handing her a thrust board. "It'll clip to your back."

  Faramor inspected the board for a moment and then positioned it in place. "The concept is obvious enough."

  AJ attached his board and then pulled on the latch, swinging the hatch inward. Through the door, Xandarj filled their view and for a moment, AJ could imagine a time when Poecile Aerie sailed proudly. Of course, the piles of junk and the rusty hull of the Veneri EAH came into focus and popped the momentary fantasy.

  "How could this be?" Faramor asked, stepping through the barrier. "Who would leave all of this mess next to Poecile Aerie?" Without warning, she leaped from the deck and, utilizing the thrust board, jetted away.

  "Follow her, BB," AJ said, coiling his leg muscles and jumping as hard as he could and at the same time willing the thrust board to its highest setting. Unlike Faramor, he barely escaped the landing pad's gravity. When he looked for her, she was difficult to find and without Beverly's tracking, he'd have lost her. Pushing hard, he still could not gain on her as she sped along the length of the ancient wreck. "Farah, slow down," he called.

  AJ raced after Farah but had to decide between safety and speed. Where the willowy Pertaf was graceful as she sailed through the veritable minefield of floating junk, AJ was a plodder with no natural grace to his path. Several times, he had to bank away suddenly to avoid larger pieces of junk. He ended up ramming into smaller pieces that if not for the armor he wore, might have caused irreparable damage.

  When Faramor finally made it to the fore of the ship, she slowed and gracefully floated around the bow and up the centerline until she rested in front of the ship's once majestic bridge. Time and scavengers had not been kind to the ship's technological hub. Strands of cabling had been pulled through long-ago broken windows.

  "Be careful, Albert Jenkins," Faramor said. "It would appear your power generator has circuits that are connected. There are a few live wires that carry significant voltage."

  "How can you tell?" AJ asked, finally catching up with her.

  "I see evidence of the electrical charge," she said. "It is well known that a Pertaf's eyesight is the greatest of all species."

  "For what it's worth, Farah, I'm sorry," AJ said.

  "Why is it you call me Farah?"

  "I tend to shorten names," AJ said. "It's probably a human thing. You know like you have good eyesight. We make names shorter."

  Farah squawked and as she did, brought her hand up to her face shield. "You are very odd, Albert Jenkins. Very odd and humorous. Short names are not a racial benefit like good eyesight."

  "Humor," AJ said, floating through a huge opening that had once held a massive piece of glass. He landed next to Farah, who was scanning the room. "I'm good at that too."

  "My grandfather built Poecile Aerie. It was his dream and took much of his wealth and all his strength. He never sailed her, dying only a year before we set off for Xandarj. I always felt sad for him to have missed his dream."

  "That is sad," AJ agreed.

  "I don't remember any accident or attack," Farah said. "But I was on the maiden voyage. Our entire family was aboard. Mother was so proud to stand at the helm of grandfather's legacy. Perhaps others survived as I did."

  "Greetings Faramor Poecile," Beverly said, choosing that moment to appear between them, wearing formal black robes. I am 49231125-0-B of Beltigersk. I extend sympathy to you in the moment of your personal tragedy."

  "Thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your entire name," Farah said.

  "We call her Beverly. Actually, I call her BB," AJ said.

  Farah looked momentarily confused. "Is it true? Do you have a special skill at shortening names? I believed you to be joking."

  "Humans, like most species, find numeric designations tedious," Beverly said. "I am comfortable being addressed as Albert Jenkins suggests. Indeed, most humans call him AJ, although you would need to understand humanity's English alphabet to understand how that came to be."

  "I am unfamiliar with the human species, but I am of course knowledgeable of the great peoples of Beltigersk. I am honored by your attention, Beverly," Farah said. "If I knew Albert Jenkins had a symbiotic rider, I would have addressed you more formally upon our meeting. I have not intended offense."

  "I did not expose my presence to you as I felt it would be easier if you discovered for yourself the truth of that which has happened," Beverly said.

  "You feared that I would have acted improperly under the stress that I was feeling," Farah summarized.

  "I thought it possible. You should know, I am not acting in an official capacity for Beltigersk," Beverly said. "I separated from my mother's leadership so that I might travel with Albert Jenkins."

  "He is indeed lucky for your presence," Farah said.

  "I created a conduit so that you can make communications and research what happened in your absence," Beverly said. "The remains of all your family except for you were recovered from Poecile Aerie's wreckage. Your mother was not physically damaged by the impact of the vessel which struck this one. It is believed she was assassinated by Poecile rivals who were punished by your government."

  “Kalibaster,” Farah spat.

  “Kalibaster Corporation was disbanded and their leaders imprisoned," Beverly said. "There was justice, but it did not undo the tragedy."

  "Thank you again, Beverly," Farah said, bowing slightly. "Albert Jenkins, would you continue to accompany me as I circuit my once proud home? I would see the damage and observe the ravages only time is capable of delivering."

  "Sure," AJ said as a message appeared on his HUD.

  Lisa: How is it going?

  AJ: We're on the bridge. She just met Beverly.

  Lisa: Poor kid. Is she still in denial?

  AJ: Nah. She pretty much had it figured out once we were out of the hatch.

  Lisa: Is she okay?

  AJ: She's tough. Seems sad, but she's working through it.

  Lisa: I have food. Will you be back soon?

  AJ: Not sure. Maybe half an hour.

  Lisa: It'll hold.

  Wordlessly, AJ followed Farah from the bridge and down the opposite side of the ship. Since the ship was two miles long, it took a while for them to make their way along the length. Farah stopped when they got to the point where the collision had occurred. It was as if a massive fist had punched the side of the ship and pulled out a forty-yard-diameter chunk of the hull. Surprisingly, there was little in the way of buckling near where the chunk had been removed.

 

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