Galaxy's End: Book One by LeRoy Clary (pdf ebook reader txt) 📕

Take away all else that was happening, and that single fact remained. I couldn’t believe his employer knew he was an empath or Chance would be working at a much higher position. The alternative was that they did know and didn’t care.

Like that song I couldn’t get out of my head, it kept coming back to that one junction in our histories. The three of us were linked in a manner nobody else could know.

Inspiration struck like a fist slammed into my stomach.

“Bert,” I said, “check the departures of ships from the spaceport on Roma and the times. Were there other passenger ships with connections that could have taken us to Escobar Habitat where the Guardia was supposed to be reoutfitted?”

“Three other ships would have sufficed, two of which immediately departed before this one. A third slightly after, one far faster and a route more direct. What caused you to ask that question?”

“Why did we take this one instead of the others?”

Bert was silent as he seemingly considered my question. Chance sat and waited, dreading our conversation. Bert pinged the speakers and said, “Two of those other ships would have been better choices. One not. However, your question is relevant. Ask Chance.”

“What do you know about that?” I asked, pointing a finger at his nose.

He recoiled as if struck.

“Tell me!”

“Okay, back on Roma, I received a com message from the Champers that I needed to think about this being a good ship and that your captain should choose it to travel with us. It seemed innocent enough. I’m sorry.”

If that was true, why hadn’t Captain Stone detected and rejected his mental suggestion? I asked, “Listen, I understand you attempting to hide your empathic abilities. I also believe you’re used to doing that and, you lied to me a while ago. Probably not intentionally but from habit and I don’t blame you.”

He looked hopeful. A fake smile touched his lips.

I continued, “You’ve known about your powers all along and how to use them more and better than you’ve let on. Right?”

“Right. I’m sorry. It was not an intentional lie, just reflex.”

I believe him for a change.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Captain Stone

Captain Stone asked Bert to replay the conversation they had had with Chance had had a short while ago. Yes, Bert had exceeded his authority to offer help to the steward and agree to not prosecute Chance by a few lightyears, but he did it with good intentions and to maximize the information he might obtain as a result. There are times when you have to do what you must.

Bert had promised little, implied more, and all of it was what she would have wanted if she had been there and handled the situation. Crewmen like Bert made being a starship captain easy. She allowed him to continue with the interview. Besides, she and Fang were busy with the ship following them.

First, no ship should have that tracking capability. She would have heard if they did. Everyone knew that wormholes disrupted all but subspace calls, which were in another dimension or some such nonsense that nobody understood. And it was wrong. Second, the ship remained where it believed it was out of the detection range of the freighter when in normal space. Fang had decided that upon arrival at the nexus near Franklin, the ship behind would close the distance between them before their freighter could achieve the safety of orbit or landing. Franklin had no navy posted at the nexus to protect them.

When the freighter left the protection of the wormhole, the pursuing ship would do the same within a few instants. It then could either catch up or fall behind and maintain what it believed was an undetected pursuit.

In short, she believed the captain of the ship behind thought that she would lead them directly to the Guardia. That might be their plan, and probably was, and she would believe it easier but for the mutiny attempt her people had foiled on the freighter. How was it all connected? The timing appeared wrong.  Perhaps Kat would elicit new information from Chance.

In the meantime, she had a vague plan. She said, “Fang let me know if there are any changes in the situation. I’m taking Bill and heading for the cargo hold. Listen in, as if I have to tell you to do that. We’ll probably be down there for a while.”

Bill leaped to his feet even though she was speaking to Bert. He’d been silent as he worked on a computer program with basic engineering concepts that she’d set up for him. The introductory program was intended for youths younger than him but was exactly what he needed to get started. He was beginning to understand how much he didn’t know. That was important for anyone.

Captain Stone snapped to Bill as if he were officially one of her crew, “Follow me.”

She exited the bridge with him at her heels and unerringly navigated passages and halls he hadn’t known existed. Most starships use similar layouts dictated by the large space the engines consume, leaving only a fraction available for habitation. Like most constructs, the physical dimensions and requirements of the crew, make logical use of the space.

Ships that never enter an atmosphere differ completely. They are often called “habitats” or “habs” and can take on any shape. Some travel, others are stationary.

Bill and Captain Stone passed only a few crewmen. Each of them paused, saluted respectfully, and seemed pleased she had taken over the ship. She had probably saved their lives —and they knew it. She had also found the killer and had him confined.

The engine room was loud, not from the propulsion system as the ship coasted without friction to slow it. Dozens of machines caught Bill’s attention, from air handling to water pumps,