Last Moments In The Cefa System
The room, which was more like a luxury apartment, was an unusual, incredible place to Noah Lucas. The hand-carved marble framed walls looked like they were from another age. There were paintings everywhere, not just printed pictures, but real framed paintings with brush strokes that were clear when he took a closer look. One that was particularly striking was a portrait of a man and woman in old heavy combat armour. They looked battle-worn, the metal sections scarred by burns and dents, but stared out at the viewer with glad eyes. A metal plate set into the bottom of the frame said; Hard Victory. Count Rishen and Countess Rishen, after the Battle of Nelhall.
He couldn’t tell if they were siblings or a couple because they had a similar look, and took a picture so he could look their story up later if his interest outlasted the brief visit. The apartment had a large chandelier that hung in the foyer, sending shifting light down on them as he followed Alice up the stairs to the bedrooms.
“I can’t believe he’s not answering,” she said after making another attempt at contacting Jacob using her thick command and control bracelet. It was one of the many designs that looked more ornamental, being transparent, blue to match her dress, and loose so it looked like jewellery. That didn’t mean she didn’t poke and tap it any differently than a military version.
“There’s probably some legal stuff they have to take care of now that everything’s final.” Noah’s offered explanation didn’t seem to put Alice at ease at all, or slow her down. “Do you know about the people in any of these paintings?”
Alice looked around for a moment then shrugged. “I think they’re all ancestors of the royal family, or maybe they’re important people who stayed here,” she moved on to the bedroom.
“Oh, wow, you went all out,” Noah said as he took the decor in. There were a pair of small gilded robots silently drifted around the room lighting candles. Their flames cast flickering, warm yellow light around one of the largest beds he’d ever seen. There was a sitting area, doors leading off to other rooms or closets, and a broad gate with a balcony beyond but the bed was definitely the centrepiece. It was piled with fine sheets, a thick duvet and gossamer silk curtains that had a faint glimmer that caught the light as though tiny diamond flakes were scattered through the cloth. “Erabonian Silk, this stuff is worth hundreds of plat a yard,” he said, feeling the cloth. Cool and smooth, it was as if someone wove water, it was so fine but heavy despite how thin it was.
“They have worm farms that grow it here,” Alice said, taking a suitcase out from under the bed and dropping it open. It was still half packed. “It’s coming back into fashion, and someone made a dress out of it for me, but I don’t think I’d be brave enough to wear it in public. I was going to wear it tomorrow if we stayed in.” She sounded disappointed.
Noah stroked her arm with a grazing touch, then cupped her cheek when she turned towards him. “You know we’re okay, right? I know you were looking forward to a romantic night, and I would have loved it too, but we don’t need this. You’re so crazy amazing that all this stuff just fades into the background when you’re standing there, looking back at me with those baby blues. All I wanted out of this was a chance to be in the same room with you.”
“I know, but I wanted tonight to be for us, and now…”
“Now we’re getting ready to go on another adventure. Hopefully together. Getting split these last few months was hard, yeah, but I’m still here. You’re still here, which is surprising.”
“Why is that surprising?” Alice asked, concern wrinkling her forehead.
“I’ve been working my way through the underworld for three months. Grinding, selling, watching my back, and you’ve been in palaces with royalty, doing a really important job. I mean, what you’ve been up to, where you’ve been and what you’ve seen must have been amazing. I’m just a pilot and a hawker,” Noah said with a shrug.
Alice took his hand and held it to her chest. “I didn’t stop thinking about you for a day. I can’t count the number of times I thought; ‘I wish Noah was here to see this.’ You’re in my heart and in my head. That’s why I wanted this to be our weekend, and I wanted tonight to be perfect.” She looked around at the candles, the grand bed, then back to Noah and smiled sheepishly for a moment. “Well, maybe this is too much. It doesn’t feel much like us.”
“I don’t think we’re vacation people, either. Maybe we can change that, but I think we’re more ‘catch the fun as it comes,’ kinda people,” Noah said, drawing her into his arms.
A message forced her bracelet to vibrate and send a short melody delivered by a blast of horns. “Oh, great, that’s the Prince,” she said, pulling away reluctantly and looking at her bracelet.
“You’re not going to miss him, I’m guessing?” Noah asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Oh, hell no. Some bug is probably going to catch me saying this, but he’s a spoiled brat down to the core. Good ideas when it comes to government, but a needy little bugger when it comes to everything else.” She sighed and accepted the call.
Noah backed away so he wouldn’t be seen with her and watched. “Princess, I’m sorry to interrupt your vacation, but I hear you are going off world,” said a voice with a heavy accent.
“Yes, I’m being reassigned. I hope you’re safe, how are the guards?” Alice asked.
“The Royal Guard is taking over now. Your people are already leaving. They say you are no longer in command, except for the cheery one, Faloo. I will miss her almost as much as I will be sure to miss you. She tells me that your ship will be picking her up on the way to you, and gave me an unexpected embrace before leaving. Are all Nafalli so affectionate?”
“Faloo is a special one. I’m going to see if I can get a few squads of Haven Marines to help you with security,” Alice said.
“There’s no need, you and the rest of the Haven people did a marvelous job training the new Royal Guards. They’re as ready as they’ll ever be,” the Prince said cheerily.
“Most of them haven’t finished training yet, they barely know what they’re doing and I don’t trust Balkam. He has no experience running security. I didn’t say anything because I thought the position would be temporary, your Highness.” Alice was careful to speak conversationally, adding no extra weight or insistence to her words.
“I understand your concern, but Wilbur Balkam has seen a lot in his many years. There’s no need for concern, especially if you agree to stay. I could reward you handsomely if you were to remain as the Captain of my guard. How does three million platinum a month to start sound?”
Noah was alarmed at the amount. The average good meal cost seven platinum. A used ship for a crew of ten with a sizeable cargo hold and a wormhole drive cost around one million if you didn’t care where it came from. About twice that with real ownership history and servicing. The Prince’s offer was beyond generous, it was, well, royal. Maybe it was because he’d seen so many people he loved in his life move on to better opportunities while he was growing up, but what happened next shocked Noah.
With no hesitation, Alice smiled at the Prince’s image on her bracelet and said; “That’s very generous, but I can’t accept, your Highness.” She glanced up at him, then looked back down at her bracelet and added; “I’ve spent too much time away from the people I love already, and I might have a chance at being with them again soon.”
“I would understand if your father wasn’t a confessed war criminal, Alice,” the Prince said more stiffly. “Or is it someone else? A lover you haven’t told me about?”
“Actually, it’s Noah. I told you about him every time you asked if I had…” she started to answer, her finger starting to move towards the disconnect icon on her wrist.
“Oh, yes, the straw man you held up every time I asked about your entanglements or someone wondered if we were having a dalliance. You can’t tell me he’s real, this rogue of yours…” the Prince groaned.
“Well, I have to be going. Be careful, Prince Philip. Please cooperate with your Royal Guards and keep public appearances to a minimum. Good luck, your Highness,” Alice finished as she ended the call with a sigh. “It feels so good to hang up on that guy.”
Hearing that she told people about him, that she made sure the Pince knew that she was already taken was enough encouragement for Noah to cross the room and pick her up and hold her so she was looking down on him. Alice laughed and put her arms around him. “Tell me you didn’t turn three million a month down for me,” he said, kissing her neck.
“I did. No regrets so far,” Alice said, pushing her fingers into his hair as his lips made their way up and down her neck. “You really know how to distract me.”
He was making his way to a spot right beneath her ear. “I’m definitely not worth the sacrifice, but I’ll try to make up for it.” She also stopped using her empathic gift on him when they were alone together. The sacrifices Alice made for him were astonishing even before he watched her turn the job offer down.
“Would you have taken the offer?” she asked, running her fingers over the nape of his neck.
“Yes,” he whispered under her ear.
Alice gasped and pushed his head away so she could look down into his eyes. “Oh, no, now I have to call the Prince back.”
“Don’t you dare. I would use every pip of that platinum to build an empire in Cefa for us. We’d be living in a place nicer than this dump,” Noah said before capturing her lips.
Another buzz came from her wrist with a chime that warned that it was a high-priority call and she patted his shoulder urgently. “That’s probably my Dad.”
Noah put her back on her feet with care and was about to step far away when she caught his arm and drew him back to her side. “I think this is between you and him, right?” he said hurriedly.
“Don’t worry, my Mom’s on this call too,” Alice said, accepting the call and activating the holographic projection system that made it look like Jake and Ayan were standing right in front of them. “So, Dad’s a war criminal now?” Alice asked.
“Well, hi, Alice. How have the last couple weeks been? Have there been any more assassination attempts?” Jake asked in return.
“Just one, but we caught it before the Prince was in danger,” Alice replied. “Why didn’t you tell me you were being prosecuted?”
“Because I knew you’d try to stop it, no matter what I said or did,” Jake replied.
“It’s what he’d do in your place for either of us,” Ayan added. “You look very pretty by the way.”
“Thank you,” Alice said, relaxing a little, her mood starting to turn from indignation to worry. “I guess you’re right, I would have tried to stop it. Why did you let it happen at all? You own a big piece of the whole solar system, I’m sure you could have leaned on the scale, gotten out of it somehow.”
The surprised look on Jake’s face was clear as he gave a firm answer. “We don’t do that, remember? Besides, there was a treaty on the line between the British Alliance, Lorander, the Mergillians, and others. They needed to see that Haven Fleet could hold their own people up to the standards of Galactic law, and I had committed the worst crime of war out of everyone they wanted to charge. Now that they’ve demonstrated that justice works in the Haven System, the treaty will be signed and the Haven System won’t be alone.”
Ayan added; “They wanted you too for attacking defenceless ships in the Cefa System. I still don’t condone what you did then, but I understand it. Everyone in Haven Fleet Command does. You’ll never be held accountable for that now that the whole series of events has been resolved.”
“Okay, thank you, but you didn’t have to take it all on yourself,” Alice said. “I was ready to face whatever consequences that might bring. Just like I did when I was demoted for building Rogue and letting her go off on her own.”
“I wasn’t going to let everyone pay for a decision that I made. The Mary Virus was a repeat of bad behaviour. It worked out the first time when Jonas did it. I wouldn’t take that back if I had the chance, especially because it led to you, but the Mary Virus killed thousands of innocent people. It was a stain on Haven Fleet’s history, and I’m afraid it’ll be something people think of when they take a good look at our family. For Ayan’s, yours and even Laura’s sake, I’m sorry I launched that virus. Now I’m going to do things differently. They gave me the Triton back with all her codes, refitted the way I want it, and I can hire whoever I want out of SOCU.”
“And I can issue Letters of Marque on behalf of the Fleet,” Ayan added. “I have one drafted for the Captain of the Corsair,” she winked at Noah then looked back to Alice, “And for you. You could stay in the Fleet as an alternative, if you like. I know you put a lot of work into being an officer. You can still move up the ranks.”
“No,” Alice said. “If Dad’s going Privateer, I either want to be on his crew, or to fight alongside in the Clever Dream Two. That is, if it measures up to the original.”
“Oh, it’ll measure up,” Ayan said with a little smile. “What about you, Noah?”
“So, with a Letter of Marque, I wouldn’t be a deserter anymore? I wouldn’t be undercover?” Noah asked hopefully.
“The charge of desertion has been wiped off your record. Oz - I mean, the Defence Minister - had his people make it clear that you were working for us all along and classified the details at the highest level,” Jake replied. “Mostly so you can have choices. You can continue working with the underworld, return to the Fleet, or become an official Privateer.”
“Then show me where I have to press my palm so I can make the Corsair an honest ship, especially…” he trailed off, deciding not to say that he’d be happiest working alongside Jake and Ayan’s daughter.
“...especially if he gets to keep everything he’s made so far,” Alice finished for him.
Noah shook his head instinctively, but stopped himself from correcting her.
“Speak up, Noah, what’s your condition?” Jake asked, addressing him more like a soldier.
“I think his condition is standing right beside him,” Ayan told Jake as she started to grin at Alice and Noah. “They’ve been apart for three and a half months, and they’re all dressed up.”
It took more courage than he’d mustered in a while, but Noah said; “I love your daughter, and missed being with her.” Hearing the words aloud, he realized that what he said could be taken in a way he didn’t intend and quickly added; “I don’t mean, you know, not in a sexual way or anything - things haven’t gone that far yet - but, I mean in the same room. The Cyberscape is great and everything, but there’s something special about being together for real, you know? It’s just, well, she’s very special, and…” he took a quick breath before continuing, “...you’re her parents, you know how special she is. Is it getting hotter in here?”
The ladies laughed while Jake crossed his arms and watched. Alice patted his cheek and put herself under his arm. “I think he and I are on the same page. It feels like things have been on pause with Noah, with you two, and with Laura. I haven’t seen my sister since I got here either.”
“Well, it’ll be pretty easy to fix that,” Ayan said. “We’re getting together for dinner tonight in Haven Shore. Oh, and there’s a block of apartments reserved there, including your old place. It’s all set up.”
“I just transferred ownership. You should get the notification in a couple of hours,” Jake said. “There are a few units nearby if Noah wants one too, he might be able to afford it, it’s up to him.”
Alice was about to say something, then hesitated before haltingly saying; “So, okay then. I think I’ll take you up on that, but I bet I’ll be spending a lot more time on the Triton or the Clever Dream.”
“It’s always good to have a home to go back to. Something that feels stationary where you can get away from it all,” Ayan said, prompting nods from Alice and Noah. “I’ll send you the information on Privateering, who you can hire for your crews. Oh, and I’ll give you directions to dinner.”
“So, we don’t have to report to Freeground Station?” Noah asked.
“No, that was a general order for everyone who was being freed up so they could join the Triton or another of the first Privateering crews. You can land in your old Hangar if you like, Alice,” Ayan said.
“I probably will,” she replied. “Okay, I have to pack. The Clever Dream is waiting, and there’s a shuttle on the way.”
“Okay, can’t wait to see you,” Ayan said with a dimple-enhanced smile. “You too, Noah.”
“Okay, help me pack,” Alice said, rushing to the antique wood dresser.
Noah reached for one of the drawers and was stopped as Alice said; “Oh, not that one. I don’t want you to see what’s in there just yet.”
“No way I’m spoiling any surprises,” he said, more than a little eager to get some real time alone with her. “No rushing, though. I mean…”
“We’ve been seeing each other for months. This is definitely not rushing, even my Dad would approve of the pace of our relationship.”
“I think he’d rather we stopped right here,” Noah said with a snicker.
He opened one of the lower drawers, found it empty, then moved on to the next, where there was a spare sidearm and a thick belt. He took the gun case from the drawer beneath, made sure the weapon wasn’t loaded, then put it inside. Alice took everything from the forbidden drawer and put the contents in one of her suitcase’s large inner pockets with care. From out of the corner of his eye, Noah could see just enough that there were stringy, frilly, and generally small garments in that assortment of clothes, and was even happier that the surprise wasn’t completely ruined.
“He really rattles you, doesn’t he?” Alice asked, amused.
“Jacob Valent rattles just about everyone. I mean, to you, he’s your Dad. You can get special favours, probably joke around with him, talk about all the stuff you’ve seen together and he adores you. I’m dating you, and I’m sure they could tell tonight was, well, a certain kind of special, and I mean, you’re his little girl, you know?”
“Aw, he’s not even listening, and you’re getting all tense,” Alice said, enjoying it a little too much. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. At least during dinner. I can’t guarantee anything after that, though. He’s going to want to know a lot about the Shattered End and the Rogue Captains. You’re his best source.”
Noah laughed nervously. “Oh, great, I’m looking forward to that debriefing.”
“Well, I’m packed. Are you going back to the Corsair, or…”
“I’ll just tell Easy to follow the Clever Dream, if you don’t mind me catching a ride,” Noah said.
“Are you kidding? I’m not letting you out of my sight, Flyboy,” Alice said as she led the way to the foyer. The robots were already floating around the room, dousing candles and tidying up.