Beyond the Rim

I stood on the deck of the flagship on its way to the Rim. Stars curved by me as we streamed from one wormhole to the next on the convoluted route to the Blue M Cluster.

Finally, two days out from Center, we were close. My chest constricted as I recalled what had happened here. After we’d fallen out of the sky, they’d tortured us, humiliated us, and sold us as if we were no more than animals. All I’d been through since then had started at this planet. I’d never wanted to come back, but I’d vowed to do so, for Rock’s sake.

I probably wouldn’t have to do much if it came down to it; not even the Blue M Ring could resist the Corp’s firepower now that we’d discovered their base. I was just a figurehead, a “hero manufactured for the masses”, as Dagan had put it. Celebrities didn’t have to do much, especially if their image was mostly prefabricated. That was okay with me, as long as our mission was accomplished.

Dagan spoke with Commander Choy, and then he walked over to me. “We’re going to be there in a few minutes. Brace yourself.” I didn’t know whether he meant figuratively or literally. I didn’t think the ship would shake as it emerged from folded space; it was a military ship, so it was state-of-the-art in every respect.

A little black bead floated past—a holocam. Jovanna had assured me that I didn’t have to act for the cameras; the Media Bureau would edit everything so it made sense to the public.

The ship jolted to a stop. I grabbed the bulkhead. Dagan really had meant for me to brace myself. He stood on the deck, not jarred in the least.

“Why was that jump different?” I said.

“This wormhole isn’t a very stable one, since it’s unauthorized,” he replied.

Come to think of it, that was probably why we’d crashed in the first place. Our little pod hadn’t been able to compensate like the battleship could.

Commander Choy called all hands to attention. I kept out of the way, as I had throughout the journey. I’d mostly stayed in my quarters; Stace had raced around the ship, and had eaten with the crew. I had no idea where she was now.

A few moments later, we passed the sun of this system, then came upon a blue-green planet, three moons strung across it.

Our ship, the Phoenix, matched the moons’ orbit, and I glimpsed one of the other two ships, a silver streamlined needle called Zen. The Phoenix was shaped more like a warped oblong ball.

“They’re down there, Commander,” said the lieutenant at the controls. “And—they’re preparing to fire.”

“Armor up!”

Out the viewscreen, the Zen glimmered for a moment as it donned armor, the force shield designed for military ships.

A comet-like object headed toward us; I barely had time to brace myself before it hit, slamming directly into the ship’s viewscreen with a blinding flash.

The ship rocked slightly, but otherwise was unaffected.

Another one, this time bombarding the smaller ship with fiery shrapnel.

“Signal them,” said Choy. “Demand unconditional surrender. They must know they won’t be able to hurt us.”

A moment later, Ranior appeared on deck, dressed in a flamboyant red suit. “Hello, boys and girls,” she said. “What’s your pleasure today?” She strode up to the commander and slid a holographic finger across his chin.

Unfazed, Choy said, “You will hand over your facility or be destroyed.”

She pouted. “That’s no fun at all. Why don’t you choose something else? We’ve got some amazing merchandise that can give you anything you desire. How about you, sweetheart?” She draped her hand on the shoulder of the lieutenant, who remained intent on her control board. “You prefer men? Women? Something in between?”

Ranior’s holo blinked off and a woman stood on deck, clothed only in a bit of tastefully placed green. She moved around the room, glancing coyly at each crew member present.

Then a man appeared, tall, with a sculpted torso, clad only in glitter. He strode around the room, as if oblivious to the fact he was basically naked.

Ranior reappeared. “How did you like those? I can show you more.”

“Will you or will you not surrender?” said Choy.

“Hm. I don’t think so. I’ve made a nice little business for myself, and if I can’t keep it, where will I go? To jail? I will stay free, thank you.”

“You dare to use that word,” I said. “You stole people’s lives, their freedom, all for what? Profit. You deserve to be in prison for the rest of your life.”

She shrugged. “I made myself into who I am, and so what if others got trampled along the way? It was their fault for being too weak to defend themselves.”

“You call Rock weak? He’s stronger than you or your men.”

She sidled up to me. “I remember you. The delectable little slice that Zodiak snatched up. How have you been?”

“Where is Rock?”

“Rock? I don’t recall anyone by that name.”

“Where is he?”

“Oh, you mean Max. That’s what he calls himself now. Yes, we had a hard time with him at first, but now he’s part of our little family. He enjoys it here, where he belongs.”

She gestured, and another holo appeared. Rock, arms crossed, looking formidable and threatening.

“Rock,” I said. “It’s me.”

He blinked. “Who are you?”

“It’s me, Devlin.”

He laughed. “I don’t know any Devlin.”

“They must’ve done something to your mind.”

He looked at Ranior. “Do you know what he’s talking about?”

She shook her head. “He must have you confused with someone else. You never know what a slave will say.”

“You’re right,” said Rock. “Devlin, whoever you are, I crashed here. Ranior rescued me, brought me back to health. Now I’m doing the job I was born for.”

My stomach flipped over. “Rock, you have to remember. You’re still a slave, you just don’t know it. You’re not Max—or whatever name they gave you.”

“Ranior, I’ve had enough of this,” said Rock.

“Me too. Commander, we’re not going to surrender. Either leave us alone, or do your worst.”

“We have our orders. I’ll give you one last chance.”

“You’ve got to be kidding, my pretty commander.”

“Well then. Lieutenant Varo, destroy them.”

Varo nodded.

Destroy them? Did that mean—

“Wait!” I said. “Rock’s down there!”

Choy turned to me, weariness on his face. “He chose his allies. These are our orders.”

“But it wasn’t his choice! I didn’t think you were going to destroy them. I thought you’d capture them or something.”

“You weren’t told for precisely this reason.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to capture them?”

“Better, maybe. But we can’t risk their escape.”

“I could take down a small force. Only bots if that works. I could try to get him out of there.”

“I’m sorry.”

Dagan stepped forward. “Maybe you should let him. One or two of them captured wouldn’t hurt anything…and if he doesn’t succeed, that’s his risk.”

“Our orders—”

“Can wait an hour or two. They aren’t going anywhere. If they try, well, we’ll blow them out of the sky.”

Choy stood there a moment, staring Dagan down. Finally he turned to me. “All right, Devlin. You have two hours, that’s it. Then we’re blowing the place and leaving. I can’t spare any crew for you.”

“Bots?”

“Two bots.”

“And me,” said Stace, appearing out of nowhere.

“Dagan?” I said, hopefully. “Are you coming?”

He shook his head. “I’d better stay here, make sure things… go smoothly. Remember, you’re the hero of this little drama.”

One of the officers gave a command, and two battlebots hovered up to me, ready to do my bidding.

“I don’t have time to train you to use them,” said Choy.

“I’ve seen enough holos.”

Choy smiled. “I bet you have.” He handed me and Stace a Killsting. “Good luck.”

As we headed down to the pod-bay, dread overwhelmed me. I remembered what had happened the last time I’d descended in a pod to this planet.