End of Season 3

(formatting issues, feel free to read in drive) Ch. 20 Jim’s mouth lazily hung open, and then he suddenly nodded as if coming out of a trance. ‘Yeah. Me too. But … it might be hard for some of you to understand the difference … but we’re not Alphas. Not by a long shot. I put in a couple years and made sergeant … I’m a solid marksmen, but I only did one tour before my injury. The rest was policing. And … no offence, but I don’t think Nelson’s had any formal training at all.’ Dex shrugged. ‘None taken. But … Pete and I definitely killed some soldiers that had plenty of formal training.’ ‘Exactly,’ Max said, looking almost excited. ‘I’m pretty sure Patrick spent about six years in training, all told. From recruitment, all the way through. But he said a lot of the later stuff was just contingencies and tech training. Stuff we can prepare for case-by-case. And we’re not one guy, anyway, we’re a team with different strengths and weaknesses. We don’t each have to have it all. With eight months, we can at least begin to fake it.’ ‘It doesn’t sound like you’re talking about faking it,’ Martin said. ‘Sounds like you’re talking about running up a service debt, and then having to pay it. With service. By risking our lives, trying to do things that we probably won’t be able to do. Things that are beyond eight months of training, and might be beyond any amount of training for some of us. I’m thinking of myself right now. And almost all of us are either under twenty or over forty. Not exactly prime candidates for Alpha training.’ Max shrugged. ‘There are a lot of variables, but it at least buys us time. We’ll delay any missions as much as we can. Fuck, I don’t know, maybe the war ends before we even have to really do anything. And even if it doesn’t, we’ll at least be able to prepare on our own terms, maybe choose the jobs we want. It’s still so much better than the alternative.’ Martin bowed his head and closed his eyes. Then mouthed the words, holy shit, under his breath, just to himself. Then he looked up at them all and nodded. … ‘It does add up,’ Patrick said. ‘As long as there is even the slightest chance, then—’ ‘Do you think I want this?’ Connor cut in. ‘You think I want my son to become a Brasiac slave? After twenty years of trying to keep him safe and get him home. I’ve been up all night trying to figure out what I’m going to tell Aileen. And his brothers and his sister. If there was a way, a way that didn’t risk so many other lives, didn’t risk the whole life’s work of my family, of my dying mother, I would do it in a heartbeat! If I could switch places with him, I would do it in a heartbeat! But there isn’t … and I can’t. And I’m not going to indulge in false hope.’ ‘We can at least report it to the IC.’ ‘No we can’t. If we go to the IC, that means Tyson goes down for Max’s mistakes. He’ll be convicted of murder, probably along with the rest of you and the IC won’t even go after Max. The Mnemosyne and this Captain Dunn are Eridisian. The IC can’t investigate them without solid cause, and you don’t have any evidence at all. Just the testimony of wanted criminals. And even if you had evidence, they’re still not going to have the political will to rescue a bunch of illegal Earthian refugees, all of them wanted for murder. Earth, Brass, Barunia, Eridis, they will all go to bat against it before a patrol ship even gets off the ground.’ ‘Which is why we have to do it privately. And unseen.’ Connor shook his head and took a breath. ‘I wish we could.’ He sighed. ‘I really do. But he’s thirty-nine years old. The cruel reality is that a man is eventually forced to pay for his own mistakes.’ Patrick began to stand up from the couch, then leaned back. ‘It’s not about Max. What about the children and the people that this company, this family, hired to do a job for them? A job that cost many of them their lives. They got us into orbit, just like they said they would. Is this the reward they get for that? Politics and indifference?’ ‘There is no indifference, Patrick! Absolutely none! But yes, there are always politics. Unfortunately that is the galaxy we live in. Darlene, I am forever in your debt. I hope you understand that. But I hope you also understand that that debt cannot extend to risking the lives of people under my care. And the jobs of thousands of people. Not to mention aggravating an already tense political situation during a war. And putting your surviving son, and all of the other survivors at risk as well.’ Darlene kept her eyes on the glass table and the projector. ‘I understand that very well, Mr. Lee. I think we were all hoping that you had more options and resources at your disposal.’ ‘I appreciate that. And I wish I did too. But trust me, there are many problems in this world that money just can’t solve.’ He looked to Patrick. ‘It was supposed to be quiet. It needed to be. That was the number one priority. And thanks to Max, it wasn’t quiet at all. And the worst part, as always, is that he’s not the only one affected.’ ‘This isn’t about Max!’ Patrick shouted. ‘It’s about children and innocent people!’ ‘It is about Max! It’s about innocent people getting caught up in his spoiled, arrogance and idiocy. It was a simple plan. Better than we’d hoped for. An unregistered rocket, right in your fucking backyard! Who could blow that? Only a man who gets arrested for illegally investing thousands when he’s already inheriting millions, maybe even billions from his family. A man who treats his own life like a game, and the lives of all his loved ones.’ Dalia was in tears next to Patrick. Connor looked at her and his face fell. ‘I’m sorry you have to hear this right now, Dalia. …. ‘We don’t want you to lie at all,’ Max said. ‘We simply want you to tell them the truth. That you picked us up at Bickton, that we're from Earth, and if you like, you could mention that we’ve been training for the entire eight month journey. Which will also be true.’ Dunn studied Martin’s face, passive and tired. Then he looked to Max again. ‘And what happens when you botch your first assignment and they discover that you’re nothing but a bunch of refugee farmers? You think Norkus’s generals are just going to shrug their shoulders and kiss their money goodbye? No hard feelings?’ ‘They won’t have a choice,’ Max answered. ‘It’ll be in your unnamed account, inaccessible, and you’ll be halfway back to Earth, and they’ll have no idea you were the slightest bit involved.’ ‘Right. Because you wouldn’t tell them that, would you? Wouldn’t sell me out like that.’ ‘We’ll either be dead or we’ll be doing everything we can to convince them we’re real. Because it’s our only chance. Selling you out would sell us out too. And we’ve got a lot more than money at stake.’ Dunn leaned back in his chair, then turned and smiled at each of his guards. They both smiled too, somewhat reluctantly. Then he leaned forward. ‘And you’re going to work in the scrap halls, obediently, without problem, until then?’ ‘Absolutely not. We’re going to more or less disappear from everyone on this ship, for the rest of the journey. We’ll cause no more problems, but we’ll do our own work and training. You’re going to put us in one of your cargo bays, and provide us with as much paste as we can eat, and a bathroom, and a modest list of materials with which we will train. You’re also going to personally check in with me and Martin, once a week, to see that our training is going well and to reaffirm your commitment to the plan. And Mr. Suega is also going to meet with Dex and Jim every week to advise them on the particulars of Brasiac combat. I understand he served on Brass.’ Dunn laughed loudly. ‘You think we have the leisure time to play space cowboy with you?’ ‘Absolutely,’ Max said without smiling or missing a beat. ‘You can take it out of the time you would’ve spent raping children. From what I hear, you’ll be wondering what to do with yourselves.’ Dunn’s smile vanished. ‘It’s not possible to rape your own property. Pastor, as entertaining as this is, I suggest you tame your assistant before he angers me.’ Martin met Dunn’s eyes and spoke without emotion. ‘Forgive the term. I don’t think he meant any offence. Max was merely trying to point out the newfound flexibility in your schedule.’ He looked to Max, who nodded. Dunn eyed them both, coolly, then shifted in his seat. ‘Let’s summarize. Setting aside the money I paid for you all … as well as the more recent … extra costs that have been incurred … you now want me to provide food and passage to Brass, without you providing any money up front, or any labour on the ship at all?’ ‘That’s right,’ Max said. ‘The work in the scrap halls is negligible compared to what we’re offering. You’ve already got a hundred and fifty slaves doing that work, just to save you the licensing fee on your bots. Our work in the scrap halls is a few thousand roq, at the most. Probably covers the cost of the nutritional paste, which I’m betting you get for a bargain from the Earthian Alliance, since they get it pretty much for free. We can consider those minimal costs to be an investment, which promises to pay out to you in astounding returns.’ ‘If you manage to make your deal with the Pradzia.’ Max rolled his eyes. ‘You know better than us how desperate the Brasiacs are for soldiers. They’ll go for it, and the deal will be that they transfer the money once we land on the surface and step under their control. And you can witness every correspondence we have with them before that point. As long as you don’t interfere.’ Dunn looked down at the table, and smiled. ‘You ever deal with any of the Pradzia before?’ ‘Everybody wants the same thing.’ ‘Oh really? And what’s that? ‘A bargain.’ Dunn’s smile continued until it broke into a chuckle. ‘You may find the Pradzia have various … priorities. But no matter. What is your … minimal list of training equipment?’ ‘Two updated, fully interactive projection logscreens, one ten-metre roll of foam padding, blankets and pillows for fourteen, a list of basic toiletries, four pistols and eight charge rifles, all with the fuses removed and replaced with training fuses. If you don’t have the spare rifles, we’ll borrow them when the prisoners are asleep and your guards are off duty. I feel very confident that your men won’t forget to switch the fuses.’ Dunn looked at Max for a few seconds, then broke into laughter. ‘No. I dare say they won’t.’ He kept nodding as his smile faded. ‘I want the cost of food taken care of. Treswell can continue working in the engine room to pay for it, while the rest of you have your fun.’ Max shrugged and looked to Martin. ‘Paste for fourteen people can’t cost more than a hundred and fifty roq per week. At engineer wages, that’s less than a full day.’ ‘No,’ Martin said and looked Dunn in the eyes. ‘We’ll be paying you enough when the time comes. If we had boarded this ship as free passengers, it would’ve been appropriate to pay our way. But we didn’t. The 1.5 million is to pay for our freedom. The trip to Brass, including food and basic supplies has already been paid for. In work, blood, pain, and innocence.’ Dunn glared back at Martin. Max looked uneasily back and forth between the two. After a long, strained silence, he leaned to Martin and whispered in his ear, ‘It’s a small price.’ ‘Which is why he can pay it,’ Martin said, without taking his eyes off of Dunn. ‘As a gesture of his goodwill and investment in our purpose.’ Dunn shrugged. ‘Fine. But anything you require, in addition to the items you mentioned, will be paid for with labour. I won’t have you adding to the list for free. Or changing your demands after our agreement.’ ‘Market prices,’ Max said. ‘In fact, that raises another point. We’ll likely be wanting to buy supplies, possibly the rifles and other combat equipment before we arrive. Don can work for those. He’ll work up a tab. He knows what his work is worth, and you’ll pay him a fair wage.’ ‘Fine. Now what are you going to do to get the stables back in order?’ ‘Nothing,’ Max shrugged. ‘We’re not responsible for the other prisoners. If you can’t keep them in line, then that’s your own fault. Once again, you were given the chance to negotiate at the outset. You chose violence and chaos. We didn’t.’ Dunn sat up tall and straightened his uniform. ‘Understandable.’ He turned to one of the guards behind him. ‘Get us a screen, would you?’ The guard nodded and left. Then Dunn turned back to them. ‘Is that the sum of it? Room and board to Brass, the equipment mentioned, weekly check-ins with me and Suega, and I set you up a meeting with the Pradzia upon arrival. For 1.5 million.’ Max tried to mask his delight. He looked to Martin for agreement. ‘One more thing,’ Martin said to Dunn. ‘Those meetings we have won’t take place in the cargo bay. Those girls don’t see you or any of your staff again. Ever. Not even waiting at the door. You can wait outside and we’ll meet in a separate room.’ Dunn pursed his lips. Then nodded. ‘That extends to any of the others who wish to go with you. But they are free to make there own choices, and for today, I’m free to deal with any of them individually, just as I’m dealing with you now.’ Martin shook his head. ‘No. You’re dealing with everyone right now. We discussed these terms together and we will be acting together.’ ‘No deal then. I won’t allow you to make decisions for those who have obviously not been consulted.’ Martin’s nostrils flared, and he trembled with anger. ‘Then we will go back to striking, and we will not stop this time. Not for anything. We will willingly die and we will cause any trouble for you that we can.’ ‘Which is exactly why you shouldn’t be speaking on behalf of anyone. You’re a stubborn lunatic. What if some of your friends don’t want to follow you into war? You’re happy to string them up in a bathroom or have them tortured on your behalf.’ ‘Let’s not kid ourselves!’ Martin said. ‘We’re talking about Liz, and we’re talking about you trying to convince her that she’s better off with you. By lying to her and preying upon the damage you’ve deliberately caused. And every single one of us would happily die rather than let her spend another minute with you.’ Dunn glanced up at Max. ‘Really?’ Max hesitated. Then nodded. ‘The deal’s for all of us together.’ ‘Well that’s a shame. I was beginning to hope we had something. But you’re just slavers yourselves. And I won’t have that. You can strike and you can die.’ There was a long silence. The guard came back in with the screen and handed it to Dunn. ‘Thank you.’ He turned back to Max. ‘If we’re finished…’ ‘What are you going to offer her?’ Martin said. ‘That’s none of your business.’