Seraph’s Gambit- Episode 40
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Olivia
“That’s suicide,” Ariana fumed.
Olivia cowered back a little at the intensity of the captain’s statement. Before her Squee stood stoically, seemingly unfazed by the intensity of Ariana’s fury. Olivia was not Squee, though, and felt very glad she could sit quietly on the other side of the table.
“It would be for us. But not a Rokma battlecruiser.” Squee countered.
“The most direct route from here to Triask goes right through systems that are rabidly loyal to LFD. Even before this craziness, I’ve heard stories about ships running into trouble there. A warship won’t be safe. It will be a target.”
“No civilian vessel can dare challenge a Rokma ship. We are strong and we have the will of the Gods on our side.”
“Those Gods haven’t exactly been very helpful so far.” Ariana sneered.
“We are all alive and closer to our goal than ever before.” Squee countered, and then softened his tone, “I never imagined this would be the part of my news that you would take objection too.”
“There’s more?” Ariana asked.
Squee let out a heavy sigh, “Yes, the warship will not be delivering a message on our behalf to Triask. They will be taking Javi in our place.”
“Wait, what?” Javi said, his eyestalks rising suddenly. He recovered, and said in his usual, calm manner, “I’d rather stay here.”
“I am afraid you will not have a choice in this matter. I have been ordered to arrest you and take you into custody for crimes against the Planetary Union of the Galaxy.”
“Well, that decides it, then.” Ariana said, “Olivia, get the charts and start planning our next jump.”
Olivia nodded to the captain and dashed out of the room. As she neared the forward part of the ship, she passed the Rokma technicians working on the environmental systems. They had almost finished the repairs, but a few of them still remained, putting the last pieces back together.
Self-consciously, Olivia slowed her pace. She didn’t want the Rokma thinking she was up to something. Walking as casually as she could manage, she gave a little wave through the open door. Once past she resumed her dash to the flight deck and pulled the navigation charts.
Back in the corridor, she fumbled with the heavy chart book, trying to decide how to hide them from the Rokma as she passed. To her dismay, one of the Rokma stomped out of the environmental control room without giving her a second glance. The Rokma’s complete lack of interest in her made her suddenly feel very foolish.
When she returned to the mess, she discovered the crew in the midst of a very vocal argument. Squee stood stoically in place, but now Ariana paced back and forth. Everyone seemed to be talking at once.
“A Rokma battlecruiser wants to go instead of us? That sounds great.” Noah said, “I’ve fought enough damn drones for one lifetime.”
“I do not understand your reluctance. If I were still a drone, I would never get tired of killing biologicals. You are just so killable.” Mesu said happily.
Olivia shuttered at the pronouncement, and hung close to the door. Unfortunately, nowhere on the ship really felt far enough away. In the cramped mess hall, she could barely get out of appendage range.
“Avoiding fighting drones is exactly why we can’t go with the Rokma.” Ariana said, getting everyone’s focus again, “They will not go unnoticed going straight to Triask. The best way is still a circuitous route and avoiding attention.”
“What did I tell you,” Serene said, looking at Squee, “typical human. Only concerned with her own safety.”
“The captain is looking out for all of our safety.” Vlasa said, turning to Serene.
“No, she is right.” Squee said, his shoulders slumped and his head hanging, “A warship has a far better chance of reaching Triask than we do. No matter what route you take. The captain is compromising the mission.”
“Squee…” Ariana started, but Squee looked up. The pained emotions were evident even on his normally stoic face. Everyone fell silent.
“You have no understanding of honor or purpose. It is our holy duty to complete this quest. We must do whatever is necessary. That means putting our personal desires aside. My people give us the best chance at success. We must go with them.”
“Religions and governments always think they know what’s best. Now we have both dictating to us,” Ariana said with a sneer. “I’m not submitting myself to their tyranny. They don’t get to just demand I hand over my crew because they say so. We can handle this mission ourselves.”
“No, we cannot.” Squee said sadly.
“If that’s the way you feel, we can do this without you as well. I release you from your oath.” Ariana said.
“Casting aside those who won’t submit to your will. Whose the tyrannical one?” Serene said with a smirk.
Ariana turned to Serene, “As for you, I think this is a perfect place to let you off. Civilization and everything.”
“I will go.” Squee said with heavy reluctance, “But I must take Javi with me. I gave my word.”
“You also gave your word to serve this ship.” Ariana snapped back.
“An oath which you released me from,” Squee said. “Now it is my holy duty to deliver Javi to Triask the best way possible. He is coming with me.”
“Over my dead body.” Ariana said coming toe to toe with Squee.
“Ari,” Javi said quietly. The Slu slid forward and wedged himself between Squee and Ariana. He rested his hands on her shoulders and lowered his eyestalks to be level with Ariana’s head, “I will go with him. He is right. I must pay for my crimes.”
Everyone cast startled expressions towards Javi at his pronouncement. The intensifying tension in the room suddenly snapped. Silence hung in the air to replace it.
“Javi, are you sure?” Ariana finally said quietly.
“I am. This way there is more than one of us trying to get the message through. I’ve already left a back-up of the AI command ship’s schematics in a drive in my quarters.” Javi squeezed Ariana’s hand, and then turned back to Squee, “Let’s go.”
Squee nodded and turned to Serene, “Come, let us complete our holy duty.”
“I think I will just find another ride away from here. Thanks though.” Serene said.
“If you are not coming to help on this quest, then I cannot protect you from arrest. Uninvited outsiders are usually not welcome on Omer.” Squee said.
“In that case, lead on,” Serene said. As she slid past Olivia through the door, she winked at Noah, “Stay clean lover boy.”
Before following after her, Squee rested a large hand on Olivia’s shoulder, “The rest of you are welcome to join us.”
When no one replied, Squee nodded his head and left. As the three of them departed, Olivia felt their absence. She wasn’t sorry to see Serene go, but Javi and Squee had become part of her family here. It felt wrong just to let them go, especially on such nasty terms.
“Good, Olivia.” Ariana said once the others had left, “We need to find the quickest route that avoids populated systems.”
“The less populated, the more likely we’ll run into drones,” Olivia said.
“We can avoid the drones using the hack,” Ariana said with a wave of her hand.
“Wait, we’re going to leave that thing onboard?” Olivia asked, “When did that change?”
“Just now. We don’t have a choice. If the Rokma had listened to sense, and gone with us, we might have been able to risk removing it and fighting random patrols. But on our own, we’ll need the advantage.”
“No.” Olivia said shaking her head and casting a glance at Mesu, “It is bad enough having one of those things onboard. But leaving that thing hooked up to the ship?”
“It’s a good strategy, Olivia,” Ariana said. “We may not like it, but it is the best course of action.”
“And working with the Rokma isn’t? No…I…just no.” Olivia said backing away toward the door. She felt a tightness in her chest, and the room suddenly felt smaller, “I can’t stay aboard with that thing. I’m going with Squee.”
“Olivia…” Ariana called after her, but Olivia did not slow down. The further she ran from the room, the better she could breathe.
Continue to Episode 41
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