A Galaxy Unknown (22 page)

Getting up slowly, the man moved onto the circle as instructed. Jenetta aimed the controller into the window and secured his restraints before unlocking the door and stepping in. The man was wearing weeks of scraggly beard growth on his face, but there was no mistaking the streak of white hair that extended from his forehead. Browne looked terrible, and smelled even worse. Much worse than she had before she had taken her first shower, if that was possible. Obviously, he hadn't learned that his bathroom was available after three days.

"Crewman Browne, if you've had quite enough of this hedonistic lifestyle, I'm ready to return to the Vordoth. I expect you to accompany me. Of course, you're free to return here afterwards, if you wish."

"Captain?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes," she said, grinning.

"How…?"

"It's not important right now. I'm going to release you and then we're getting out of here." Jenetta unlocked the restraints and made them flexible, then did the same for the collar. "Okay, you're a free man once again. You can remove all the bands."

The first one to go was the collar. "They'll never get one of those on me again," he said as he rubbed his neck. "I'll kill myself first. What about Gunny?"

"I've already freed him. He's carrying the unconscious guards that I stunned, into the cell where he was housed. Why don't you give him a hand, and then pick out a uniform for yourself. He's in cellblock A."

"Aye, Captain. Um— is it a problem if the guards wake up with some bruises?"

"It's certainly not a problem with me."

"I mean some seriously
bad
bruises?"

"I'd be quite disappointed if they didn't, Mr. Browne. Just don't hurt yourself. I need you and Gunny healthy."

Browne smiled dangerously. "Aye, Captain, I'll be
most
careful."

While Browne helped Gunny, Jenetta sat at the computer console in the anteroom and downloaded a list of all the prisoners into a holo-magazine cylinder that she found. Then she started hunting through the computer's menu screens. There was a wealth of information there but security blocks prevented her from accessing most of it, so she resorted to hacking tricks and worked her way into the database files. She could get the raw data files, but it would take a computer to reassemble them into usable form. She recalled that while restrained in the anteroom, she'd seen a small box of data rings on the desk. Looking through the drawers now, she found it, but the eight rings in the box were of the low-density variety so they wouldn't hold much data. She touched one to the media drawer spindle and saw that it contained only music. Checking another, she found that it also contained only music. Without checking further, she began overwriting the music tracks with gigabytes of database information. As each ring reached it's capacity, she replaced it with another. While the files were being downloaded, Jenetta added the general floor plans for the station to the holo-magazine cylinder. In a station this large, people could get lost easily, so the floor layouts weren't password protected.

Jenetta was slipping the tiny box of data laden rings into a side pocket when Gunny and Browne returned to the anteroom carrying the extra clothes, stun pistols, and personal items of the guards. Each had outfitted himself with a uniform after completing their task. There were three complete uniforms among the things placed on a side table.

"All the guards are locked up in my old cell, Captain," Gunny said, "except the one in cellblock C. There didn't seem to be much point in locking him in."

"Yes, I had to take him out without benefit of a stun pistol. I guess that I hit him a little too hard."

Browne's eyebrows rose in surprise and he said, with a grin on his face and admiration in his voice, "You did that, Captain?"

"Yes, I needed his stun pistol to effect my escape. Once I had that, the others were easy. Only Bellis, the one that was lying in the doorway of cellblock F managed to put up a fight. I thought that the prisoner in cellblock A, where the guard fell into the cell, might give me a problem, so I was relieved to learn that the prisoner was Gunny."

"Shouldn't we get moving before someone comes in, Captain," Gunny said.

"No, we have to stay here for a few more hours yet. I've learned that it's highly unusual for anyone to come down here after the dinner hour. And given the current operational status of the station, it's unlikely that anyone will be bringing in any new prisoners. I want to study the station floor plans for a few minutes and then we'll start releasing prisoners. Gunny, why don't you look through the desk drawers in here to see if there's anything that we can use? Mr. Browne, may I suggest you take a quick shower?"

"Shower? I'd love to," he said smiling.

"Speaking for Gunny and myself, we'd greatly appreciate it also. Gunny can show you how to open the bathroom door in my old cell. Be sure to don the shower cap and goggles before activating the parasite removal ray."

"Parasite removal ray?" Gunny echoed.

"The ray activated by the buttons next to the mirror."

"There weren't any buttons next to the mirror in my cell."

"Oh—," Jenetta said. "Well, maybe that's good. The ray can destroy your eyes in a heartbeat if you don't know that you have to wear the goggles. Mr. Browne, the shower cap and goggles are hanging on the hook next to the mirror. Cover your hair completely, and make sure that your eyes are well sealed by the goggles, then simultaneously depress the buttons once. It only takes a second. The shampoo in the shower stall will clean any parasites from your hair.

"Okay, Captain."

As Browne showered, Gunny went through all the desks, finding half a dozen stun-batons to add to their assembled arsenal. Jenetta had plenty of time to study all the floor layouts and plan their escape route.

When Browne emerged from the cellblock, he was squeaky clean and devoid of beard, but obvious distress shrouded his face. Gunny asked what was wrong and Browne leaned in to whisper something. Gunny immediately guffawed. Browne's facial expression became even more pained.

"You look much better with all that hair off your face, Mr. Browne," Jenetta said.

Browne smiled sheepishly. "Yes, captain. I feel a bit naked though. Down below I mean."

Jenetta understood exactly what he meant. She smiled and nodded knowingly, but then couldn't resist a bit of teasing. "I was informed that men prefer it that way," she said.

When Browne's eyes widened and his jaw dropped, Jen grinned and said, "Don't worry. It'll all grow out again, very quickly."

"Yes ma'am. I'm just thinking about what I'll tell folks— about my bare chest, underarms, and legs I mean."

Still smiling, she said, "The truth, or a close approximation, would probably be the best response. Simply tell them that it was removed as part of the Raider delousing procedures while you were their prisoner."

When Jenetta was ready to start releasing the prisoners, she posted Browne at the main entrance to the detention center.

"Don't let anyone get past you. Shoot them if necessary. If that door is opened, even a millimeter, the station's security alarms will go off and we'll be neck deep in security people in minutes."

"Aye, Captain. No one will get past me." Browne's face reflected his determination. He adopted a stance with his arms crossed and the stun pistol in a slightly raised position, aimed at the ceiling, to show everyone that he meant business.

Starting with the women prisoners, Jenetta made each move to the circle before locking their restraints and entering their cell. The first captive to be freed was 721.

"Hi, Leah," Jenetta said to her, softly.

721 just stared at her intently without saying a word. Jenetta wondered if she still remembered her real name.

"It's me, Jenetta Carver." Jenetta pulled down the zipper of the uniform so that 721 could see her number. Leah stared down at the imprint then looked up at Jen's face.

"726? Is it you?"

"Yes, but I prefer Jenetta— Jen to my friends."

"You're a guard?" she said, puzzled.

"No; never. We just— borrowed— these uniforms for our escape," Jenetta said as she unlocked 721's restraints.

"Escape?" A look of fear came over Leah's face.

"Yes, some of us are leaving this place and I'd like you to come with us."

"No. There is no escape," she said quietly. "They're everywhere."

"Listen to me, Leah," Jenetta said a little more forcefully. "We're going home and I want you to come with us. Will you come?"

"Home?" Leah's voice made the concept sound so foreign.

"Yes, will you come?"

721 put her hand to her throat and stroked the collar as she began shaking her head. "I can't. I belong here. I belong to them. They own me. They won't let me leave."

"Please come. I— I need you to help me with my makeup and clothing."

"Oh— okay 726. I'll help you."

As Jenetta reached up and removed the collar, Leah began to tremble and sob. The life that she had grown to embrace as her immutable future was crumbling too quickly. She needed something to replace the concept of the stable, albeit horrific, future.

"It's okay, Leah," Jenetta said in a soothing voice. "You're going to be just fine. We'll be leaving very soon. I can't wait to introduce you to all my wonderful friends on the Vordoth. You'll love it there. We just need to speak to a few more people here, first. Come out into the anteroom with us."

That was how it went with most of the women. All had been there much longer than Jenetta and they had accepted their fate, mainly as a result of the psychotherapy. Having abandoned all hope of a life other than as a pleasure slave, the prospect of leaving actually terrified them. Jenetta suspected that it might take years for the full damage to be undone.

The situation with the men was completely different. The company hadn't wasted any time conditioning them because most were destined for hard labor or dangerous jobs and the company wanted them strong of mind, knowing that the collars would control their rebellious nature. Jenetta secured each prisoner in his cell before entering to explain that she had organized an escape. She told him that she would take him with them if he agreed to follow her orders without question until they were safely out of Raider space and back at a Space Command base. Facing the prospect of a life of slavery otherwise, all agreed immediately. They were then released and sent to join the others in the anteroom.

Two of the prisoners turned out to be the men that went missing during the initial attack on the Vordoth because they had been assisting Captain Lentz during his ‘examination' of the stern-most laser section. Gunny, working with Jenetta as she released prisoners, had an ebullient reunion with each man. On Jenetta's orders, he immediately took crewmen Deitrich and Higgiby out to outfit them with guard uniforms.

Jenetta used the list that she had loaded into the holo-magazine cylinder to determine the order of release. She knew that the more dominant personalities would be the most difficult to control, so she left the ship's officers for last. When all prisoners had been freed, she joined them in the anteroom. The male prisoners were standing around in small clusters, and all were giving a scowling Browne, who stood defiantly in front of the entrance door with pistol still raised, a wide berth. The women were huddled in one large group near the door to cellblock D, quietly seeking support from one another as they tried to cope with the situation.

The eight cellblocks, with their combined 160 cells, had yielded 53 captives, including Jenetta. A stealthy exit would be difficult for a group that large, so timing and coordination would be imperative. Jenetta climbed up onto the desk closest to the main entrance to address the group. From there she could see everyone in the room.

"As I've already told you, I'm Captain Jenetta Carver. I'm a Space Command officer and I've had just about enough of this place, so I'm getting out, tonight. You've all agreed to follow my orders, without question, so I'm willing to take you with me. I warn you now that I won't tolerate any dissension before we're clear of Raider space and reach a Space Command base. After that, you'll be free to go your own way. We're currently imprisoned deep in a Raider stronghold, and for this escape to be successful, you must do what I say, when I say it. Is that clear?"

In response, one of the men near the door to cellblock F spoke up. "If you're a Space Command Officer, what are you doing here?"

"I was on a reconnaissance of this installation. We managed to infiltrate the port, and had just completed a camera sweep of the asteroid's interior when we were detected and imprisoned."

"Then it sounds like you're not much of an officer, if you allowed yourself to be captured."

Staring at the man, Jenetta said, "You're Captain Starnos of the freighter Nova Dawn, aren't you?"

"Aye, that's my name and ship."

"And you allowed
yourself
to be captured, didn't you?"

Starnos let anger dictate his response when he realized that she had turned his own question into an accusation of
his
abilities. "We were outnumbered and outgunned by Raiders! It was either surrender or die!"

"Meaning that being captured isn't
really
a good measurement of leadership skills after all?"

Gunny Rondell shouted out, "Captain Carver has been my captain during two ship engagements with the Raiders. In both instances, we were outsized and outgunned. But when the space dust settled, the Raider ship had been destroyed, the Raiders were all dead, and we suffered no loss of life."

Gunny's outburst seemed to infuriate Starnos further, but the rest of the group was quiet for a few seconds and then started speaking among themselves. Jenetta let them talk. It was better that the issue of command be resolved now rather then after they left the detention center. After perhaps twenty seconds, one of the men said, "I'll follow you, Captain. Just tell me what you want me to do."

A chorus of voices began to agree with the man who had just spoken, but then Starnos shouted from the back, "Now hold on just a minute, girly. Why should we follow
your
orders? We appreciate that you freed us from our cells and all, but if it's all the same to you, my first mate and I will just find our own way from here on out." To the assemblage at-large he said obstreperously, "Anyone here is welcome to join
my
group.
I
can get you out safely."