Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
When Sin and Edward stepped out of the Vice, they were greeted by only two people – a man in a captain's uniform, and a woman with a cheerful smile on her face. No guards or security to be seen. Hardly the sort of welcoming party a prison ship should expect.
"Acting Captain Edward? I'm Captain Smith of the Colony Ship Titanic.
So sorry to hear about Captain Solon. Ghost pulled the ship's logs before he left the Vice, so he had time to update me on recent events before you arrived.
He told me your crew has experience operating a ship on manual, without any AI assistance.
Given the current situation on Tito, and the nature of their crimes, we'd like to offer every member of your crew a full pardon, and a place among the crew of the Titanic.
He said even if I couldn't persuade the whole crew, I should offer everything, up to and including my firstborn, to secure the services of your pilot.
" The Captain bowed. "Sin, I presume? If you're half as good a pilot as Ghost says, you can name your terms. Did you really fly that old clunker through the asteroid field on manual? "
Sin told the story, as briefly as she could. Captain Smith's eyes still bugged out of his head by the time she'd finished.
"In that case, the offer stands. I don't have a firstborn, yet, but name your terms."
Sin glanced at Edward. "I'd like a double cabin, please, with an ensuite bathroom, and guaranteed pardons and passage for the entire crew of the Vice on your Colony Ship to the new, AI-free colony. If you want the rest of the crew…I think you'll need to negotiate with them."
Captain Smith beamed. "Done! What about you, Edward? My Security Chief has already put in a request for you, if you're interested, now you no longer have any prisoners to guard. Will you require a double cabin with ensuite, too, or will you need one of the VIP suites?"
Edward wasn't sure what to say. He darted a glance at Sin, who gave the tiniest nod, along with a hopeful smile. Sin, who was no longer a prisoner, with a full pardon.
He didn't hesitate. "I'll have what she's having. Except…we'll be sharing the double cabin, and the ensuite, if that's all right with you."
Captain Smith nodded, then gestured at the woman beside him. "Can you see to it, Halcyon? Show them to their cabin, and see they're made welcome. I'll give you the rest of the day to get settled, and look forward to seeing you on deck tomorrow." And with that, he turned on his heel and left.
Halcyon beckoned. "Come with me. The sooner you pick a cabin, the better, before the best ones are all gone.
Some of the refugees coming up from Tito are so badly injured, we've had to put them straight into stasis, but it's the walking wounded you have to watch out for.
Everyone wants a house of their own. They don't realise shipboard life is very different to life on a planet's surface.
As for life in a new colony…that will be new to us all. "
As they hurried off the flight deck and into the corridor, Sin asked, "Have they decided on a destination for the new colony yet?"
Halcyon nodded. "It's not general knowledge yet, mind, so you'll have to wait for the official announcement, but unofficially, I can tell you we'll be going to the Altan system.
A red dwarf star with seven planets, at least three of which are habitable, maybe more with some terraforming, and an asteroid belt to mine for resources.
Much better than the Titan system, and, better yet, no AI! "
Halcyon palmed open a door, and ushered them inside.
"Here, better code it to your handprint, so no one else can claim this cabin as their own.
Then…I believe I shall leave you to it." She eyed their clasped hands, before meeting Sin's, then Edward's gaze.
It was almost like she could read their minds.
"The beds on the Titanic are better than any mining hauler bunk, I promise! "
And then she was gone, and Sin and Edward were alone.
"Pardoned…free, and a pilot, headed for a new star system, where Titania can't follow us," Sin breathed. "I can barely believe it."
Edward eyed the bed, and the luxurious bathroom beyond. "Nor can I, yet here we are. What would you like to do first?"
Sin's eyes followed his gaze, before a mischievous smile lit her face. "You know, I think I'd like a proper cup of tea. One that doesn't come out of the spout of a food fabricator. After that…I imagine anything's possible."
Yes. After the last week, anything was indeed possible. Even fresh-brewed tea.
Would you like to read more tales from the Colony?
Ghost and Halcyon's stories are out already, and the rest of the crew of the Vice will get theirs told in 2027!
Get the Colony: Vice series HERE:
Get your copy of Ghost HERE.
Or start reading Halcyon HERE.