Chapter 14

Evan watched the forward screens as the Defiant slowed to in-system speed, approaching the Scotian space port a mere two days after having left the Pendulum Nebula. The instant they dropped out of string-drive speed they were hailed by a large military vessel patrolling nearby and given strict orders to make no deviation toward the planet.

It was hard to imagine what it must be like for the few survivors on any of the planets. Trapped there with death all around them, unable to leave or reunite with any loved ones who had been off-world when the plague hit. Unless a cure or reliable vaccine was produced, their fates were sealed. Even reproduction would be restricted, if immunity of the new offspring couldn’t be guaranteed.

Evan wondered if that reality had hit anyone yet.

Alex turned to the navigator. “Dock us in berth ten, lieutenant.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Chief Riddick, the commander and I have to meet with a few people on the station. Page me if I’m needed.”

“Aye, sir.” Riddick nodded. “I recommend that you take side arms, sir. There were riots when we left. I’m sure tensions are still running pretty high.”

“Riots?” Alex straightened slightly, facing Riddick. “The Admiral didn’t mention rioting. Would you care to elaborate?”

The chief looked to his left quickly, but made no eye contact with anyone. “People are understandably upset, sir. It isn’t every day humanity comes so close to being wiped out in the course of a few months. Many don’t want to accept the military as their new policing force. There’s panic about being cut off from any of the planets, fear that the plague will reach the stations, and a general sense of claustrophobia that gets to people not used to being in space for long.”

“And there’s all the theories.”

Both Alex and Evan turned to look for the source of that comment, but no one was looking straight at them.

Riddick cleared his throat. “Yes, the theories are gaining support.”

Evan could see his Keeper begin to bristle.

“What theories, exactly?” When no one on the bridge appeared willing to offer up an answer, Alex turned to Riddick again. “Speak freely, chief. I’m not in the mood for games.”

Evan tensed. One quick glance around the bridge confirmed that no one was armed, so defense shouldn’t pose a problem, if the conversation turn ugly.

“Sir, it’s just that we’ve all heard rumors about his people.” Riddick indicated Evan with a nod. “That the place they came from was destroyed. Some say the aliens that started the whole Sha’erah race are attacking us humans for revenge.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I have ever heard.”

Evan knew Alex wouldn’t say anything in public about Maker’s private moon and what they’d found and done there. No one could prove it had been them who’d brought an end to the making of Sha’erah, any more than they could prove aliens had something to do with Evan’s creation. But if talk like this was causing riots, then confirming they’d been the ones who destroyed Maker would be a big mistake.

“Some say it was you, Captain.” Riddick faced Alex almost defiantly. “They also say your father was the murderer from Cryian who destroyed the Vision, killing her crew.”

Before Evan could wonder what his Keeper was going to say, he recognized the stormy look in Alex’s eyes.

“Well, Chief, let me be the first to clear up that little mystery.”

His Keeper’s tone got low and dangerously calm, a dark contrast to the angry expression clouding his face. Evan couldn’t stop him, not without making a potentially explosive scene on the bridge. All he could do was be ready for the crew’s reaction.

“As a matter of fact, it’s all true.” Alex was looking directly at the chief, but his words were directed at everyone on the bridge. “My father was Spencer Marcase, thief, murderer, and probably guilty of crimes I can’t even think of. It was his fault the Vision exploded and killed everyone on board.”

Evan swept the bridge with one quick glance, looking for any reaction from the crew.

Riddick raised an eyebrow. “What happened to him?”

“I killed him,” Alex replied without blinking. “And last year when I found the man responsible for making and selling human beings as Sha’erah, he attacked Evan. So I killed him, too.”

With everyone’s attention focused on Alex, Evan easily slipped his hand onto the computer terminal unnoticed. In less time than it took for the crew to realize what their captain had said, Evan had control of the bridge’s internal defense systems and had targeted everyone in the room.

Alex shifted his gaze from Riddick and took in each crewmember one at a time as he spoke. “He was a man. Insane with his own ego, but just a man who should have died a few hundred years ago. The Sha’erah weren’t invented by aliens, they were created by a man and originally funded by our own military. There is no alien conspiracy going on here!” He glared at Riddick again as if the man had invented the theory himself. “Think about it for just one minute! Sentient alien life. Why the hell would they keep themselves secret from humanity to help one madman make a fortune selling human beings? Does that make any sense to anyone?”

“But some say . . . ”

“To hell with what some say!” Alex turned to face the person who’d started to speak. “You’re presented with something you don’t understand yourselves, so you assume it had to be created by aliens? What are you people . . . sheep? Does everyone on this ship understand how the drive works? And those of you who don’t, do you assume it was invented by aliens because you can’t comprehend it?”

From his view inside the Defiant’s targeting system, Evan saw Riddick’s heat signature rise into the red along with a handful of others.

Alex raised a finger and pointed directly at Riddick. “If I hear one more word of ignorance and stupidity expressed on this ship as a theory that someone else said, I’m going to start finding a new crew!” He pointed to Evan but continued to stare at the bridge chief. “He’s no more alien than I am. Now I don’t know yet what happened to start this plague, but I am damn certain it had nothing to do with the Sha’erah or my having destroyed their source. That was over a year ago. And until the rest of you have explored as much of this universe as I have, and seen half of what Evan and I have seen, I suggest you remind yourselves that maybe -- just maybe – there could be more going on in this reality than simply Us versus Them.”

Riddick stood stock-still for a full minute, then finally nodded curtly. “Yes, sir.”

Evan heard a murmur of acknowledgement around the bridge, but he continued to watch the crew through the Defiant’s internal sensors until the body heat detectors showed everyone’s temper had flared out. He was surprised to notice Alex’s readings had barely registered above normal throughout his tirade.

“Now dock this ship in berth ten. The commander and I will be on-station for a few hours.”

“Aye, sir.” Riddick snapped to attention but didn’t salute.

Evan slipped easily out of the Defiant’s computer system and back into his position beside his Keeper as Alex turned to leave the bridge. He had to wait until they were in their quarters, away from other crew men and women. As soon as the door closed, Evan grabbed Alex’s arm and forcibly turned his Keeper to face him.

“What the hell were you thinking? You just confirmed every one of their suspicions about you!”

He let go and Alex stared up at him, totally unrepentant. “I am sick and tired of rampant ignorance taking control of everyone’s senses!”

“So you let them know they’re right?” Evan couldn’t understand why it was so impossible for Alex to see his mistake. “You just told your crew that not only is it true that their captain is the man who destroyed the source of Sha’erah, but that he killed his own father.”

Alex raised a finger as his temper flared. “What I did to Spencer was justice!” He started fastening the buckles of his uniform jacket after shoving a hand weapon into a holster tucked under his arm. “Besides, if it’s Maker you’re worried about, I didn’t give anyone details. Hell, they know more about my father now than they do yours. And I doubt they’ve made the connection between you and Spencer.”

Of all the stupid, ridiculous statements his Keeper had ever made, that one ranked right up there on top. Evan let go of his control and let some of the frustration he was feeling show on his face and in the tone of his voice. “That is the last thing I give a damn about!” He had the momentary satisfaction of seeing Alex blink in slight surprise, then he was again staring down at the obstinate expression he had come to recognize as his Keeper’s pigheaded stubbornness. “These people think this plague is some alien revenge on humanity for something we did. And you just confirmed that we did in fact do exactly what they think we did. And more!” He wasn’t sure now if the crew was more likely to hate their new captain, or be afraid of him.

Alex’s jaw muscled flexed as he clenched his teeth. “They think we pissed off some aliens when we destroyed Maker. These idiots want to blame faceless, nameless aliens for everything they can’t explain or understand!”

“Since when is that unusual?”

“That doesn’t make it any more right!” Alex started for the door. “I have to go show mother I’m still alive. I want you to get the data from traffic control so we can get started on that research.”

Evan followed his Keeper out the door and back into a corridor thankfully free of other people. “You’re not going anywhere alone, not after what you just told everyone. You’ve painted a target on your ass.”

Alex shook his head and kept walking. “I’m a big boy, Evan. I can take care of myself.”

“Riddick said there were riots as early as a week ago. Add that to what you just told your crew and it’s not safe.”

“Whether they like me or not, I’m still their captain.”

“And you think with society in complete collapse around us, that means anything to them right now?”

“So what are you going to do, baby-sit me?” Alex stopped at the hatch and glared at Evan. “Wasting time we could use to get started on this investigation? If anyone else is stupid enough to think I’ve brought down some alien wrath on all of humanity, I will be more than willing to explain the facts and fully capable of defending myself in the process!”

To mention the dramatic similarity between his Keeper and Spencer Marcase at that moment would be a mistake, so Evan forced himself to refrain. Not that further pissing Alex off wouldn’t give him some small measure of satisfaction, considering how obstinate the man was being right now.

Perhaps proving his point would be easier? “Fine.” Evan stopped at the hatchway and raised both hands in defeat. “Go see your mother and I’ll get the data we need.”

“I won’t be long.” Alex turned and walked through the hatch without hesitating.

“Neither will I.” Obstinate little shit. Evan waited until his Keeper reached the public walkway before he began following. He wasn’t at all interested in seeing Alex’s mother any time soon, but he could easily follow without being seen and therefore wouldn’t have to meet Madame Duvia again. Although right now, he wondered how that woman had ever had the patience to let her son live to adulthood.

Alex Marcase was more Spencer’s son than he ever wanted to realize. Or ever would. Some days it took all of Evan’s Sha’erah training to keep the man on the right track, and put that reckless attitude to good use. It was more of a challenge than he ever would have guessed.

But obstinacy aside, Alex was still worth keeping.

# # #

Alex left his mother’s apartment feeling slightly dazed. Two hours with her had not only brought home to him the depth of the tragedy perpetrated on mankind, but also the toll it had taken on the survivors. While Madame Duvia had moments of crystal clarity, she seemed to have an equal number of lapses into her own version of a reality that only loosely incorporated the facts.

If it hadn’t been for the two other women and Doctor Zane sharing her apartment, he would have been concerned about allowing her to live without care. As it was, he felt nothing but a guilty sense of personal relief as he took his leave.

He was also greatly relieved not to have had Evan with him. What little tolerance his mother had displayed regarding Sha’erah had completely vanished. In its place was something bordering on disgust, fed by the two old friends sharing her apartment. Zane spent ninety percent of his time at the medical facility, researching a vaccine against the plague, reportedly even sleeping there several nights a week. And Alex could see why.

The fact that he’d sent the Sha’erah children away had come as little surprise and made perfect sense, considering the hostile undertones in the room. As Alex walked back toward the docking bays it occurred to him how easy it had been to keep Evan from coming with him. Even in the face of what the Sha’erah had considered a dangerous environment.

Which could only mean one thing.

“That little shit followed me.” Alex crossed the main walkway in the opposite direction of the docking bay and headed for the closest news broadcast kiosk. There was a gathering there, all taking in the latest news about the search for a vaccine, the complete and utter chaos of the current economy and tips on rationing and dealing with life on a station or ship. Alex ignored all the news on the screens and focused instead on the reflection, casually looking for Evan somewhere behind him.

Alex moved aside so a pair of worried looking young women could see the screen better.

There was no clear sign of the Sha’erah in the reflection, so Alex moved to another kiosk to see if he could flush Evan out.

Alex couldn’t help thinking it was about time his new crew had a bit of reality slapped into them. Sure, they’d been more involved in the plague than he had up until now, but to hear that they’d actively believed in such a stupid idea was too much. Trauma was one thing, rampant ignorance was another.

It was a military practice to keep no secrets between rank and file during any war-time operation. Keeping things hidden from your crew could lead to officers being fragged by their own men while they slept. Even if the truth was hard to swallow, at least it showed the men where he stood. They knew now that like him or not, their new captain wasn’t hiding anything.

Besides his uniform declaring him the Captain of the military vessel Defiant, Alex knew no one outside of his mother and Doctor Zane was likely to recognize him for who he was, therefore even those who did believe that stupid story about alien revenge wouldn’t know to be angry with him.

No, it was Evan who would be better off staying on the ship, or with an escort. He couldn’t hide being Sha’erah, after all. Which meant if he was hiding behind his Keeper somewhere, Alex would have to return to the Defiant himself in order to keep the man safe.

Irritating as that was, he couldn’t very well justify risking Evan because he was trying so hard to discover the Sha’erah’s hiding place and call him on it. Evan couldn’t hide what he was. If someone got a good look at his tattoos and decided to start something . . .

As Alex stopped trying to find a reflection and turned to leave, he heard a commotion building a few yards away. Glancing over toward the raised voices, he was stunned to see a man with black tattoos on the side of his neck and a marked amount of silver glimmering beside both eyes.

Alarmed and surprised, he started calling for order as he worked his way through the growing crowd. There were three navy corporals trying to calm the group who were loudly calling attention to the Sha’erah and the man with him.

They were being met with angry accusations from several directions.

“He’s one of them!”

“He’s responsible, don’t you understand?”

“His owner might be the one who caused this, aren’t you going to do something?”

Alex pushed his way to the center of the crowd and held up both hands. “Just calm down! All of you!” When the noise died down a bit, he continued. “What’s the problem here?”

One man moved forward, unafraid, and pointed to the Sha’erah standing a few feet to Alex’s right. “He’s one of those things!”

Trying hard to remain outwardly calm, Alex looked at the Sha’erah. He was older than Evan by a few years, dark skinned with black hair and a strong build. The Keeper standing beside him looked a bit dazed but was holding his ground bravely enough. Neither man looked familiar to him, but Alex could still count all the Sha’erah he’d met so far on one hand.

Alex turned back to the man who’d made the accusation, but addressed his reply to the crowd. “I don’t see the problem. Has there been a crime committed here?” He looked at one of the corporals standing nearby. “Corporal, did you witness a crime here?”

“No sir, I did not. The only crime here is a group trying to instill a riot.”

Alex nodded. “Good, then you can all disperse and go about your business.”

Murmurs swept through the crowd, but most of the people began to loose interest and walk away. Alex glared at the man who’d raised the accusation.

“Is there going to be a problem, sir?”

The man clenched his jaw, then sharply turned and stormed off.

Two other men had refused to leave, and were being approached by a corporal when they suddenly attacked.

Alex heard someone challenge the Sha’erah’s Keeper for proof of some kind, but before he could turn around he saw a fist heading for his head. He ducked and moved to the left, spinning to face his attacker. The young man had already turned his attention to someone closer, having missed his original mark.

Alex hesitated a moment, then threw a punch and caught the younger man in the jaw, knocking him flat on his ass with one hit. He spun around to shout at one of the corporals and caught an elbow in the face.

The impact stunned him but didn’t knock him down.

“That’s enough!” Alex straightened and drew his weapon. The sight of a charged gun in the hands of a uniformed officer obviously trained and willing to use it instantly froze the group of brawlers. “Now go home! All of you, right now. If you go home, I won’t order these men to arrest you.” He glanced over his shoulder and saw Evan behind him. At the Sha’erah’s feet was a man holding a hand to his nose to stop the bleeding. Others were noticing Evan and pointing, but no one raised a voice.

Alex pointed to the corporals. “In one minute, I want you to arrest anyone and everyone still standing in this square!”

All three men drew their weapons and replied in harmony. “Yes, sir!”

“Now go home!” Alex kept his weapon out and raised until the people around him reluctantly began to leave. He tried to find the Sha’erah and Keeper who had been the start of the issue, but they were nowhere to be found. He holstered the weapon as the last of the crowd dispersed, then gingerly touched the side of his face where someone’s elbow had connected with his cheek bone.

Evan approached and Alex looked up at him angrily. “You followed me.”

“Of course I did.”

Alex started walking back toward the docking bay. “I told you to go get the data from traffic control so we wouldn’t be wasting time.”

“I told you it wasn’t safe out here if people were prone to rioting. Especially now.”

“Not one of these people had a clue who I was, outside of a military officer.” Alex held up a finger as he walked. “Besides, it was the sight of a Sha’erah that got the crowd going, not me.”

They reached the main hatch leading to the docking bay that held the Defiant. Two men standing near the door way moved aside as Alex angrily pushed his way through the hatch, continuing his argument.

“If anyone was in danger wandering around the station, it wasn’t me. ”

Evan was matching his pace, keeping beside him as they approached berth ten and their waiting ship. “I’m not the one sporting a black eye.”

Alex stopped. He would have spun around to glare at his friend, but Evan was right next to him. “I was diffusing a situation that had nothing to do with me.”

“Caused by a group of people on the brink of a riot.”

“Started by the sight of a Sha’erah in the crowd!” Alex couldn’t believe Evan was actually arguing with him. Not just calmly trying to confuse him by twisting the conversation around to point back in the opposite direction as usual, but honestly arguing with him!

And he appeared to be enjoying it.

But Alex was determined to at least have the last word, if he couldn’t win it outright. “So just in case something like this happened, you decided to waste time and follow me around the station?”

“I wasn’t wasting time.” Evan pulled his pager out of a pocket and held it up. “I don’t need to go anywhere to download what I need.” He put the small computer away. “And unlike you, I don’t need the room display to examine data that I can simply stream through my head.”

Alex tried to fume a little at the implied insult, but there was no heat to match his frustration, so he settled for glaring up at the Sha’erah and looking perturbed as his cheek throbbed uncomfortably.

Evan continued. “While you were visiting your mother, I was looking over the data I gathered from every planet and station’s traffic control.”

“And?” Alex dared him to pull a solution out of thin air with the tone of his voice.

“And I think I found the source.”

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