Far From Home: The Complete Second Series (Far From Home 13-15) (43 page)

53.

They followed Kingston as she led them through the facility.

"Believe me, Doctor, I had no intentions of letting them see Project Renewal intentionally," Caise said, still furious that he'd been betrayed. "I gave them strict instructions to stay put."

"Oh will you quit it, Doc?" Hawk snapped. "I thought you were cool. But yer not."

"No he is not," Gentry piped in, the first thing he'd said since they were put under arrest. "The man is a dullard."

"I am beyond offended!" Caise yelled.

Kingston turned to him. "Doctor I want you to go and make yourself a pot of tea. And I want you to sit down and drink that tea. Don't come back to me until you've finished the whole pot. Then, I trust, you will be suitably calmed."

"But –"

She waved him away. "Go."

Hawk nodded at Caise as he rushed past in a blur. The Doctor merely ignored him.

"Right. Now that's out of the way, let's get on," Kingston said.

She took them toward a large blast door. It had TB-3 printed on it in big, thick, black stencilling.

"What is this? Are you working on more weapons?" Jessica asked, not able to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"No," her Mother said. "Not quite." She pressed a button to the side and the door began to rise up into the ceiling.

Hawk nudged Jessica in the side. "Wait till ya see this."

The blast door lifted fully, and she beheld what was on the other side. Nothing she could think to say would've done it justice. So she simply drew a deep breath and stepped through . . .

54.

. . . into a kind of paradise. A cavern cut deep into the mountain under whose shadow the building rested. It went back for who knew how long, and was impossibly tall. So tall Jessica found it nigh impossible to determine just where the ceiling of the cavern lay.

Sunlight filtered through from somewhere.
Perhaps some kind of artificial sun,
she thought.
Has to be. The sun of this world is far too weak and pale.

The cavern was filled with a glorious, warm glow. Everywhere she looked, there was the greenery of life. Flora

sprouting from every available inch of space, striving to reach where the sunlight, high up in the roof of the cavern.

"What is this?"

"A garden," Kingston said. "A little Eden, if you will."

"How did you do this? Terraforming?" Gentry asked.

Kingston nodded. "Of a fashion. I learned that the same principles behind the Sun Hammer, when reversed, made it possible to terraform on a huge scale. We found this natural cavity within the mountain early on, when constructing the facility. In fact it's the reason we chose this spot in particular. There are several smaller spaces, but this was the biggest. It was perfect to test Project Renewal."

"So how does it work, exactly?" Jessica asked.

"We pumped the area with atmosphere, and the basic elements needed to create all of this. Then we detonated the Renewal device. The reaction reorganised all of the matter inside this chamber into the patterns and forms we'd chosen beforehand. Within hours, it was like this. I'll admit it's all a lot more complicated than that, but you get the picture. I like to call it 'terraforming on an industrial level.'"

"I can see how that'd be true," Jessica said.

"Incredible. So you could use this device on a desolate moon? Or perhaps an asteroid?" Gentry asked.

Kingston shook her head. "Wherever it's used must have a breathable atmosphere, and the right conditions to support this kind of plant life. Obviously the intention is terraform for human habitation."

Or occupation,
Jessica thought.
She says this is the reverse of the Sun Hammer and I'm inclined to agree. This truly is renewal. Eden. But . . . what if it were used on a populated planet? What then? We drop it on an alien world, terraform it to our own design, then move in? Habitation. Occupation. Isn't it all the same?

"Blew my goddamn mind," Hawk said.

Jessica looked around. Breathed in the air. Despite her private misgivings, it was hard to deny the spiritual power of the place. Standing there, surrounded by so much of nature's best. Feeling the warm sun on her face, the scent of a hundred thousand flowers . . . it was hard to deny Kingston's assertion of it being a little piece of paradise. "Yeah it sure is something," she said, really meaning it.

Now it was her turn to feel proud, this time for Kingston. She'd turned things around. Made a weapon capable of atrocity into something that could be used for some good. It would give a once-fallen planet another chance, another shot at life.

Wasn't that what human beings often craved, too? One more chance to turn things around for the better? To forget the shadows of yesterday and walk into the sunshine?

Maybe this was it.
Maybe
, she thought as she watched her Mother walk among the plants, her fingertips trailing through leaves and tall grasses.
Maybe this is the kind of renewal I wanted for myself. I felt tired. Pegged in. But now I feel as if something's changed. Tomorrow is filled with possibilities.

She plucked a big pink flower off a stem, lifted it to her nose, breathed its deep, powerful scent with closed eyes.

Renewal
.

It felt good.

55.

Kerrick waited for the comm. unit to connect, then sat to attention.

"Admiral."

"Mister Vice President," he said. "It's an honour as always."

The man on the other side was unmoved by the pleasantries.
"Get on with it."

He swallowed. "I have intercepted Grimshaw's transmissions. He was contacted from a small planet in the Kaseem Ring. I've sent a ship to investigate. We believe it originated from a research facility on the planet Zac'u."

"I hope I do not have to press upon you the importance of containing this situation, Admiral,"
the VP snarled.
"I grow weary of your ineptitude in this area."

"I know sir, and I can assure you everything that can be done, will be," Kerrick assured him.

"Take whatever measure you feel necessary,"
the VP told him.
"You know what to do. Report back to me in six hours with an update."

Then he was gone. Kerrick rubbed his temples. The head storm was building nicely. A thundercloud over his brain, growing darker with every passing minute.

Grimshaw and his fellow conspirators would have to be made an example of. He scrolled through his contacts on the comm. unit, then hit CONNECT when he found the individual he was looking for.

The chance to turn back, to change his mind, had been and gone years before. His own path in the VP's plans was locked in. He simply had to follow the script, do what had to be done. Even if it meant further headaches.

56.

Admiral Grimshaw hurried through the departure lounge. "Come on, come on," he snapped at the clerk. "You've got the paperwork. I don't see what's holding this up. I'll miss the departure."

"Sir, we're going as fast as we can. The main system is down, and –"

He pushed his way past her. "I don't have time for this."

"Admiral, we have to –" she called after him.

The guards did not attempt to stop Grimshaw from boarding the outbound flight to Station 6. They simply turned the other cheek, made as if they'd not see him do what he did.
Sometimes, exceptions are made for superiors
, Grimshaw thought.
And sometimes that extends to corruption.

He found his seat, settled in with a huff, then turned to survey the rest of the passenger cabin. There were only a few other travellers there. Good. He would not have to endure a cramped flight full of coughing, wheezing people of every different race, species, colour, and creed. It would be a relaxing journey.

Or rather, it should be. But he knew different; he knew that his mind would not let him rest until he got there, several hours from then. He'd be on fire till he slapped Kerrick in irons and had him stowed away in the detainment cells.

He smiled at the thought.

I never liked the git anyway,
he thought. Then he chuckled to himself.

"Flight Oh-One-One-Three-Eight departing," the stewards voice said over the speakers. "Please remain seated until further notice. Refreshments will be served shortly."

She then ran through the basic procedures. He'd heard them a thousand times before. If not more. It was all very simple. If something happened that was catastrophic, they were dead. Simple as that. No way around it. A face mask connected to a canister of O2 wouldn't stop an errant asteroid from killing them all.

The sleek vessel disconnected from the side of the station and with barely a hint of thrust they were on their way.

That was when he noticed the briefcase. It sat on an empty chair, the other side of the aisle. Unattended, placed neatly in the middle of the seat as if it, itself, were a passenger. Grimshaw looked left and right to see if anyone would come to claim it. For several minutes he waited, and when no-one did, he got up and walked over to it. He looked around.

"Is this anyone's briefcase?"

All he got in response was a series of shaking heads, or quizzical faces now turned to watch his every move. He looked back down at the case, felt his heart begin to thump in his ears.

"Sir? Please take your seat," the steward said, appearing from behind a curtain.

"Whose briefcase is this?"

She frowned down at it. "Oh I'm not sure. It's not yours?"

"Would I really be asking you that if it were? Come on, who owns this case?"

The steward asked the other passengers one by one. She came back to him.

"None of them know anything about it."

He carefully picked it up off of the seat. There was a faint sound. Something he'd heard before, in the past. A whisper. He put the briefcase up against his ear, heard the muted workings of the mechanisms inside and realised with sudden horror just what it was he held in his hand.

"Where are the escape pods?"

The steward had an expression of complete horror on her face. She didn't answer him. He snapped his fingers in her face.

"The pods! Where are they?"

"At the rear," she croaked. "We have two."

He moved as fast as he was able, sweat trickling down his forehead as the implication of what he held in his hand dawned on him. He had to get to one of the pods. Put it inside. Get it off the ship. Get it off before –

*

Only moments out of dock, flight 01138 burst apart in a blinding flash that made for a spectacular, if short lived, supernova that dimmed the very light of the stars themselves. Then it was gone, and with it, its precious human cargo. Consigned to the void, back to stardust . . . all that it was just glitter in the black.

57.

"I'd better get back to the ship," Jessica said as they neared the entrance to the facility. The shuttle awaited them outside, now covered in a fine film of dust.

"Perhaps for the best. There's a strong storm on its way by the looks of things," Kingston said.

"I'll go get the ship ready," Hawk said, dragging Gentry along with him.

"Most pleasurable to make your acquaintance again," the Doctor said on his way out the door.

"And to you, too, Wilf," Kingston said. She gave him a wave then looked back at Jessica. "You know, he never changes. The same nut he always was."

"He's definitely one of a kind, I'll give him that," Jessica said. "So, I guess this is goodbye for the moment. I'm not sure how this will play out now. I'd imagine the Admiral will want to arrest Kerrick first before he does anything official. We'll remain in orbit regardless. You might even see us, if it's a clear evening."

Her Mother held out her hands. Jessica took them, and it occurred to her for the first time to wonder if they shared the same hands. She looked down. Yes, there was a resemblance. Her Mother gave her fingers a firm squeeze. "I'll look for you."

Jessica smiled. "Bye."

"Bye Jess."

58.

The shuttle settled on the hangar deck, the servos whining as they balanced its weight to keep it level. The great hangar doors closed and the shuttle's occupants waited while atmosphere flooded the bay.

"So, what now?" Hawk asked.

Jessica sighed. "I'm not sure. That's the truth. All I can do is wait on Admiral Grimshaw, see what happens with Kerrick. Until then, I think we should stay here, protect Doctor Kingston at all costs. She's the one witness whose testimony will see that man behind bars for good."

Gentry cleared his throat behind her. "War. That's what all of this boils down to."

"What do you mean?"

"Their business is war, dear Captain. So when the war with the Draxx ended, they started looking for the next enemy. Now they have it. The Namarians. It's all in the service of keeping war – wherever it is and whomever it is with – going. Keep the machine they're all so very used to from stopping for good," the Doctor said.

"I daresay you're right," Jessica said. "There must be quite a few who were secretly saddened by the end of the Draxx war. I can honestly say, however, I myself was not one of them."

"No, no, I do not believe you were, anyway. I was just speaking my mind, is all," Gentry said.

"Kerrick must be the architect of this. Turning a long-forgotten race into the latest 'Union's Most Wanted.'"

"Quite true," Gentry said. "Or perhaps he too has a Master. Someone holding the puppet strings."

"But who?"

"Captain, if I knew that . . ."

She waved a hand at him. "I know I know. Dumb comment, yes?" The green light flashed from inside and the door opened, lowering a short ramp to the hangar deck plating. Jessica hardly gave it enough time to settle before she'd walked down it and off, away, toward the rest of the ship.

*

"Captain!" Chang bounded forward the moment Jessica stepped through the doors of the
Defiant
's Command Deck. "We've got a situation."

"Calm yourself, Commander. Slow down," Jessica said sternly. She looked around. "What's the problem?"

Chang took a deep breath. "Something you should hear."

She gave Rayne the nod, and a pre-recorded message began to play on the overhead speakers.

"This is an official statement from the office of the Vice President," it began. Jessica found the nearest seat and settled into it. "We have just received word that one of our biggest talents, Admiral Grimshaw, was killed less than two hours ago. While the investigation is in full swing to ascertain precisely what happened, we do have several key facts. All of which points to the culprit behind the death of one of our own officers."

He paused for effect.

"Captain Jessica King, currently wanted for theft of Union property and treason, is believed to be the terrorist behind the Admiral's death. She and her co-conspirators will be found and punished to the full extent of the law. So I ask you all now. Whatever information you have, however small, please come forward. Help us to protect the Union and its citizens by apprehending criminal Captain Jessica King and her crew . . ."

"That's enough. Shut it off," she said weakly. Suddenly it felt as though all the strength had drained out of her. Jessica looked down at the floor.

Complete silence surrounded her.

Admiral Grimshaw . . . killed? It didn't seem possible. Her ally, on his way to arrest a corrupt influence within the Terran Defence Force itself. Killed. Murdered, most probably.

And now she'd been framed for his death? It was the ultimate betrayal.

But one thing occurred to her, as cloudy as her mind was in that moment. Now she knew the puppeteer pulling all Kerrick's strings. The Vice President himself.

"Captain, what're we going to do?"

Good question, Banks, Jessica thought. Our only ally is gone. Kerrick and the VP have framed us for Grimshaw's murder, coloured us as reckless saboteurs and assassins. What do we do?

"I need to think. Clear the room," she said, pacing. "Give me a moment."

They all filed out to give her some space. She waited for the door to close behind them before looking up at the viewscreen display. Their side of the planet turned toward sunset now. The storm was in full swing, directly over the facility. Blasting it, she knew, with enough sand to bury any ship to the point it'd never fly again.

Jessica closed her eyes. Tried to think.

I don't have long,
she thought.
I don't have long at all.

*

They waited for her to speak, their expectation hanging on what she might tell them, their hope for what was to come depending on whatever she decided.

"I run," she said. "We stick with the plan. You tell them I tricked you into coming, and then I deceived you. I stole a ship and left. You have no idea where I went."

"Captain, there's got to be another way," Chang said.

"Yeah, come on, we gotta think of somethin' else," Hawk agreed. "Ya'll be hunted one side of the galaxy to the other."

"I've made my decision. We knew it would go something like this. I didn't expect the Admiral to be killed, that's for sure. And I didn't think, not in a million years, that it would be me put on offer for his death, either. But, this is what's happened. I have to deal with it. As for the rest of you, however . . . you do not."

The Chief stepped close. "All due respect, but yes we do. I'm coming with you."

"Chief . . ."

"We stand together."

"It's all very good, but it might mean death," Jessica warned. "If we're caught, they will do everything they can to push for a public execution. Mark my words."

"That's not happened in two hundred years," Gentry said.

Jessica's eyebrow rose. "Well Doctor, there's always a chance to make exceptions. Especially for the galaxy's most wanted woman."

"What will you do?"

"Attempt to clear my name, set everything right. Clear the Union of corruption. Show others that our leaders are not putting the people of the Union first, but the Union itself before anyone. Pushing forward a new war, setting free a new enemy into known space and manufacturing a new kind of soldier to fight their new war for them," she said, shaking her head. "Grimshaw didn't agree with it. If Del were still here, he wouldn't agree with it either. I must show Kerrick for what he is. Make him answer for causing all of this."

"So who stays and who goes?" Banks asked.

"Commander," Jessica said to Chang. "You are staying here. And you Olivia. I guess the same goes for you, Doctor Gentry and Doctor Clayton."

"I'd gladly go with you, Jess," Clayton said. "You know that."

She smiled at him. "I know, Doctor. And I'd gladly have you with me. But you'll be more help this side of things."

"Please let me go," Gentry said. "I'm up for an adventure."

She couldn't help but laugh. "Doctor Gentry, you never cease to amaze me. But no, I'm sorry. I could still use someone with their finger on the pulse. Someone who can provide me with accurate, reliable data if I need it. I hope you both understand this."

"Yes," Clayton said. "Of course."

"I guess . . ." Gentry said, looking away, visibly upset.

"Ya know we'll be comin'," Hawk said, his arm around Selena.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. I've always liked the idea of an outlaw lifestyle," Selena said.

"Okay. What about you, Eisenhower? I'll leave the decision in your hands," Jessica said.

He sighed. "If I were twenty years younger, I would. But now? I don't know I'd be much use."

She stepped forward, took him by the shoulders, planted a kiss on his cheek. The Master At Arms blushed, cherry red.

"Bless you," she said, a wide grin on her face.

"Well if I'd know there'd be kissing . . ." Eisenhower quipped. They all burst into laughter, Jessica among them. It seemed bittersweet to have them there, one last time, and be able to say goodbye to those she might never see again.

"How about you, kid?" Hawk asked Banks.

The helmsman chewed his lip as he considered.

"The decision is yours," Jessica told him. "If you stay, you will have a bright future ahead of you, I know it. Don't turn your back on a good thing."

He looked at her, eyes wet. "Captain, it's been an honour. But I can't walk away. I think I have to stay. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Kyle. You'll make Captain yourself on day, mark my words. Don't ever regret doing what you thought was right. We each have different paths," she said. "This is mine. The Chief, Hawk, and Selena are going to walk the same path. The rest of you will take another. But perhaps . . . just perhaps . . . though we walk a different route, we're still headed the same way. And I take that to mean that one day our paths will cross, will bring us back together. It's that hope I'll hold onto. It's that hope that will keep me going."

"I wish it were different, Captain," Chang said.

"So do I," Jessica said. "So do I."