Wanderer

Chapter 3-3

Jess sat in the pilot’s chair on the flight deck, one leg slung over the arm. Ali often teased that he retreated there to sulk, and she wasn’t too far off the mark — he certainly returned there when he needed to think. That’s what he was doing now… thinking. Not that it was doing him any good. He’d been doing it for an hour without finding any way to try and bring Sal around.

He was relieved when the Wanderer nudged for his attention, telling him that Admiral North was calling. Jess accepted and found himself facing the admiral. He had to work hard to keep his reaction from showing… the Admiral looked as if he’d aged ten years overnight.

“I look as bad as I feel then,” growled Admiral North, though there was a twinkle in his eyes which took the sting out of his words.”

“No! Not at all. You just look a little… tired.”

“Tired? Yeah, you could say that. Running a fleet is hard work at the best of times. Running one with so many different factions… well, if I had three times as much time and five times as much energy I might just be able to keep things running smoothly.”

“Is there more trouble in the fleet?”

“No. No ships firing on each other, at least. There’s a lot of squabbling going on between groups, but we’re holding together pretty well. Some people are still scared of the Taint, but most seem to have got over that. I’m thinking it might be something to do with however it was you removed the Taint from the Universe. Even most of those who never fell to the Taint still believe it’s gone. I feel the same. It’s as if we felt it go.”

“But there is a problem?”

North’s face hardened. “Yes. We’re getting people joining up, new ships coming in, and they all tell the same tale. What’s left of the Empire is taking a tighter and tighter grip on things. They’re using the Limited to do that, of course, but it’s worse than that. They’re turning almost everyone into Limited. Only the highest ranking people escape, and not even all of them. They aren’t even being subtle about it. They know only a handful of people have access to ships to escape so most can’t get away or resist.”

Jess’s heart lurched as that sank in. Images of a cloud spreading, destroying or converting all before it sprang to mind. A familiar image.

“It’s like the Taint,” he said. “It’s going to reach a point where it’s unstoppable, if it hasn’t already.”

“It’s similar, yes, but not the same. The Taint was unified from what I can understand. It had a single purpose. The Empire is different. There are individuals in charge of parts of it, and maybe someone in overall charge, but each of them is watching the others. From what I’ve heard they’re keeping the ability to create Limited within a single fleet, one that moves from place to place converting those who are there before moving on.”

“They convert everyone?”

“Near enough. A small group are left in charge, but everyone else is converted and then controlled by those few. Computers oversee the Limited, dealing with tasks they are assigned and basics like eating and drinking. There are rumours that even nearly all of the officers have been converted.”

“But that makes no sense. Surely there’d be a revolt.”

North shook his head. “You have to remember that most officers in the Imperial fleet are ambitious. They have to be, or they get driven to the bottom of the pile and the worst roles. I’m sure it was a slow thing — first the most junior officers were converted. Then the next layer, but by then there’s fewer to say no and most of the more senior officers still won’t believe it will ever happen to them.

“After another couple of rounds it will start to dawn on them that they may be at risk, but by then it’ll be too late. There won’t be enough of them left to stand in revolt. The best they can hope for is making themselves so useful that they escape being converted.”

“You’re sure?”

“I used to be part of it, remember? Though I was firmly one of those who was busy trying to actually do a good job, and so ended up getting screwed. There’s no doubt I’d be one of the Limited by now if I was in that fleet.”

“So what do we do?”

“First I need to know where that fleet is, and whether they’re heading here. Then I need to know what else is around us. After that we can plan.”

“You want to go after that fleet, don’t you?”

North smiled slightly. “Sharp, kid. Very sharp. Yes, I do, but I have to know I won’t be leading our combat forces into obliteration and leaving the civilians defenceless. I need someone to scout the area and that fleet.”

The penny finally dropped for Jess and his stomach flipped.

“You want me to do it. You want me to do the scouting.”

“Yes. I’m sorry Jess. You’ve already done so much, but we need a little more. No other ship stands anywhere near the chance of returning safely that the Wanderer does.”

“And then you attack?”

“Or we leave. We’re only a day’s flight from Sanctuary here. You know we’ll be easy to find, but space has been so badly disrupted that I don’t want to risk jumping the whole fleet until we know where will be safe.”

“I don’t know, admiral. I’m tired. Really tired. I just want to rest.”

“I know, Jess, and I’m sorry to ask. Clay would come with you, if that’s any consolation. And it would get you away from the fleet for a few days, away from all the adulation.”

That caught Jess’s attention. Even just a few days of peace would be wonderful. He smiled ruefully.

“You’ve got me,” he said.

Admiral North smiled back. “I thought I might. I’ll send over the details.”

“Thanks. I need to run it past Ali but I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’d better let Dash and Sal know as well, I guess.”

“You know they’re always welcome on the Spindrift if things get too difficult.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that. Hopefully it won’t come to that. Send me over the details and I’ll break the news.”

* * * *

Ali was more than happy to leave. As soon as Jess told her she started bouncing around the living area, talking about finally getting some freedom. Jess smiled and fought not to point out that they were still going to be following the admiral’s directions, no matter how loose those were.

She settled down quickly when something struck her. “What about Sal and Dash? We’ll have to ask them if they’re happy going.”

“I know. I’m just not sure how to start. I don’t want another fight.”

“Let me be the one to tell them. I’ll go get them then. When they’re here I can explain the mission. Sal is less likely to pick a fight with me.”

Jess went to protest, not feeling that he should be dropping this onto Ali, but something in her eyes made him close his mouth without speaking. She flashed him a bright smile.

“See!” she said. “You can learn!”

Jess smiled ruefully. He still had trouble accepting help, but he was learning… even if it was slowly. Ali wanted to be an important member of the crew, not just a passenger, and she’d made it extremely clear he needed to respect that.

Jess waited anxiously for her to return, fighting the urge to use the Wanderer to see where she was and whether there was a problem.

Finally Ali came back, Sal and Dash close behind her. Jess tried hard to study Sal without making it obvious that he was. The Wanderer offered to help but he refused. This was one challenge he needed to face on his own.