Alliance Hunter
Chapter 2

The distinctive stench of ozone and burnt insulation assaulted my nostrils as I stepped off the shuttle. Lieutenant Gant, Xenai’s human XO was waiting for us. Gant was one of those typical Confederacy humans taller than I with wavy dark hair. I hadn’t spoken to him that much but he seemed to be too much of a by the book kind of guy.

“Lieutenant Kelli and Denassi report to the captain,” he said to them and saluted his hand movement precise.

“And me?” I noted that he hadn’t mentioned me. I don’t think he was fully on board with Xenai’s idea of my disguise but he followed the chain of command.

“The captain says you are ok to do what you want,” he said with a grimace.

“I’ll head to medbay and see Jervic,” I was going there anyway no matter what anyone said he was my first priority.

“See you later Gwen we have another session booked,” Kelli, said to me.

“Likewise,” Denassi uttered.

With that I headed to the medbay containing Jervic.

The room was quiet when I got there. Since the ship was an Imperial ship or a former Imperial ship it was of human design with room for a dozen med beds with the their spiderlike attachments over each bed. The curtains around one bed were closed. I assumed for a casualty of the battle. One the far wall in place of the beds that should have been there were three of those cell stitchers the Confederacy favoured. I was all for them for what they could do to repair injuries. A T’Arni nurse sat a desk I recognised her from the other times I was here. I walked past her and stopped my eyes staring and lump in my throat. The stitcher containing Jervic was empty. I turned to the nurse my fears coming to the fore.

“Jervic?” I asked my voice trembling.

The nurse looked up from the terminal she was using. “Sorry ma’am.” I noted her look at my uniform. Very few knew my uniform was fake. “Should have told you straight way.” She got up and walked over to the curtained bed pulling it open. “He’s finished his treatment and we moved him to a bed I’m afraid you’ll have to be quiet he’s sleeping. We dosed him with meds.”

Jervic lay in the bed looking pale the thin cover on him covered his lower half only. His chest was bare no sign of the fatal injury that could of cost him his life. I stepped in close my fingers reaching out to touch him. I pulled back at the last moment as my doubts flowed through my mind. Would he hate me for this? I contented myself to sit by his bed watching partly relieved he was back and partly worried about what he would say to me when he eventually woke. Would his love turn to hate? My mind mulled over all the possibilities my heart hoping for the best but mind doubting. I saw and watched the rise and fall of his chest. A deep growl in my stomach reminded myself that I needed to eat. With that in mind I headed for the mess hall.

Pulling a ration pack and a cup of coffee from the dispenser and sat a table. So deep in my own mixed thoughts I never registered someone siting opposite.

“Mind if I sit here?”

I shook myself out of my depression to see Xenai standing there. “Sure it’s your ship after all captain.”

Xenai frowned. “Gwen did I not ask you to call me Xenai?”

“Sorry it’s uniform.”

“You been to see Jervic yet?” she said changing subjects.

“I’m relieved he’s out of that ‘thing’.”

“That ‘thing’ as you call it kept him alive and fixed the damage.”

“Sorry,” I apologised to her. “I’m feeling a bit stressed at the moment.”

“About the Enari and about what Jervic will think of you?” Enari was the original name of the Valkyrie, Valkyrie was the name they had taken for themselves after they encountered the first human explorers.

I gave her a hard look. “You’re reading my mind!” I accused her.

“I told you I don’t read minds of my friends I just had to look at your face.”

“I’m that obvious?”

“Yes,” she replied. “We seeming to be going off track here? What I did come here to ask you about was the strange comms I got from Captain Weredale.”

“Strange comms?” I know I was breaking my rule to keep my repeating others’ words to a minimum but I was beyond caring at this point.

“Strange in it congratulates me for destroying those three Orsini ships that made for the planet’s surface.”

I didn’t see that as strange but there must be something in it if Xenai wanted to speak to me about it. “Yes, they were destroyed before they reached the range of the Planetary Defences?” I heard distinct doubt in my voice.

“If the PD didn’t destroy them who did? We certainly didn’t they were out of range.”

“Self-destructed?” I knew it was dumb as soon as I’d said it.

“Possible with the Orsini but normally they have to be close to the target. But not in this case.”

“How so?” Now I was intrigued.

“There is no trace of them, no debris nothing?”

“Impossible?” I snorted.

“But it still happened?” Xenai replied. I was certain she knew more.

“Perhaps they jumped to hyperspace?” I said showing my huge gap in space travel knowledge.

“Even the Orsini aren’t that stupid jumping this close to a planet. It wreaks havoc with navigation if they are lucky. The more likely result is the engines explode that close to a planet’s gravity well. The results would be the same as if the PD fired upon them.”

“Then what did happen it can’t be a sensor glitch?” I could see Xenai’s questions were leading somewhere but for the life of me I wasn’t certain where.

“We’ve already correlated our data with that of Saros and there is no glitch.” She paused and drew a deep breath her eyes searching mine. “Although I do have a theory but one you aren’t going to like.”

Suddenly like in the ancient saying the penny dropped. “You think the computer is responsible?”

“As I said it’s only a theory.”

“I’m not going back there!” I stated adamantly.

“I never said you were Gwen. Go get some rest you need it. There’s little you can do now.”

“And the Valkyrie?”

“Busy too busy to make any demands. First eat your meal and rest.” She grimaced.

“I’ve got a report to make.”

I headed back to my quarters.

The chirp of my comms woke me. I snatched it from my bedside and turned it on.

“Yes?” I answered hesitantly shaking the sleep out of my head.

“Lieutenant Hunter just a call to let you know Lieutenant Jervic is awake and asking to see you.”

I recognised the voice of the nurse assigned to Jervic’s medbay.

“Ok I’m on my way.” I swung my legs out of my bed throwing the covers off. I felt a little hesitant in confronting Jervic it was my lack of action that almost got him killed.

I entered the medbay reluctantly afraid of what Jervic would say to me. He lay in his bed the curtain withdrawn. He glanced in my direction but I was unable to tell if he was happy or sad to see me.

“Gwen,” he said staring at me as if I was an apparition, some spirit out to haunt him.

“Jervic,” I replied unable to hide my fears.

“Ancients I thought you dead.”

“As did I.”

“Jervic…” I said my eyes on my hand my fist clenching and unclenching. I seemed to have picked up a new habit.

He interrupted. “I have to apologise.”

Looked up at him puzzled. “Apologise for what?”

“Panicking.”

“Why?”

“I just panicked acting like some raw recruit when that limpet mine attached itself to me. It was meant for you.”

I found myself glancing at my hand again. “I thought it killed you.” My guilt sounding strong in my voice.

“Well I’m alive and so are you.”

I turned my attention to him from my hand. “I’ve got an apology to make of my own. I had Vanessa in my sights and I froze unable to pull the trigger. If I had then all of this could have been avoided.”

“That’s because you are a good person at heart not some cold blooded killer.”

“Thanks,” I said feeling a little better with myself Jervic wasn’t judging me. I moved closer to the bed. “I’ve been worrying over that for a while I just keep thinking what if…?”

“Keep thinking like that will drive you crazy.”

“You are right Kelli keeps telling me that I really should listen.”

“Good, Kelli knows what she is doing. I should have been the one to listen to her more.” Jervic frowned. “Instead I’ve tried and failed to emulate my brother.”

I reached out and held his hand the darkness in my heart fading. “I thought you would hate me,” I confessed.

“Why?”

“I nearly got you killed.”

“Gwen I’m a soldier.”

“And I’m not.” I was glad I wasn’t in uniform but dressed in my normal clothes jeans and tank top combo. I leaned closer to him. “I’ve got a lot to tell you.”

I wasn’t sure how he’d take it but in the end I told him everything.

“Your hand the stitcher fixed it?”

Self-consciously I showed him my hand. “It’s ok?”

“Good,” he said. “So Vanessa got away?”

“Ljufu is searching for her but she proving difficult to locate.”

“And now you are truly one of us.”

I frowned at his implication until I realised he was making a joke. “It’s only to keep the Valkyrie away. I really don’t think it will work.”

“Have faith in yourself. We’ll get you through it.”

Just his reassurance was the boost I needed. It was no good allowing myself to sink into depression.

The next few days flew past and I’d almost forgotten about the Valkyrie hanging over my head. I spent as much time as I could getting to know him better while he recovered. I was determined to spend as much time with him as I could before the inevitable. I’d just left Jervic’s bedside when my comms chirped. I glanced at the ID on the screen. It was Xenai I froze in panic. Hesitantly I answered fearing the worst. “Yes?”

“Gwen you in uniform?” Xenai asked.

“No?” I replied puzzled. She hadn’t insisted that I wear my uniform at all times.

“Good, come to my ready room as soon as you can.”

“I’m on my way,” I told her worried at the urgency of her call.

I stepped in to her ready room. Xenai was seated behind her desk but she wasn’t alone. I recognised the hologram of Admiral Komana, Xenai’s mother and the head of the Alliance.

“Here is Gwen Hunter like you asked Admiral Komana,” Xenai said formally. She looked worried. It looked like our little ruse had been rumbled.

Admiral Komana frowned at her daughter. “I think was can dispense with the formality here Xenai. Gwen knows who I am.” Her hologram gave me the eye. “We’ll pass over some of the things I’ve heard and get to the point.”

“Of course mother.”

Komana gave my appearance consideration. “Frankly if I hadn’t had Xenai’s report verified I would have never have believed it.”

“What report?” I asked. It wasn’t my place but a had a feeling it involved me.

“An underground cavern filled with ancient tech.”

“Oh that, and you didn’t believe your own daughter after all she did walk through my mind and saw the same.”

Komana frowned. “I’ll be having words with you about that,” she said to Xenai.

Instead of cringing like I would have Xenai sat straighter. “Count on it mother.”

“That’s by the by. Your report is accurate?”

“As always mother.” Xenai’s voice had an edge to it.

“Not always we both know that.”

Xenai changed the subject. “The Orsini were after the data rod Gwen brought back with her.”

“The same Orsini the Enari ID’d on Cathon?”

I only now remembered the name of the world that Vanessa had first betrayed me and killed Solstrid. Funny how I had blocked out that of my mind it wasn’t until Komana had named it that I remembered the name of the world that started all this.

“The same clan?” I asked.

“The same,” Komana said to me.

“I wouldn’t know?” Xenai said. “Your info sources are better than mine.”

“And they should be.” I heard a warning note in Komana’s voice. “Anyway we seem to be digressing. You will remain in place until Com Ops sends a fleet.” I saw Komana glance at me before continuing. “In the meanwhile you will send the rod along with your investigation team to Melanos where your team will consult with Joyce Neilson.”

“If I’m to remain here how will my team get to Melanos?” Xenai asked her mother.

“I’ve already consulted with Alfheimir.”

Anger surged within me. I didn’t know where it came from but it was there. I took a step towards Komana’s holo my fists clenching and unclenching. The logical part of my mind said I was a futile gesture but I had to do something.

“You bitch!” I yelled at the holo another futile gesture. “You sold me out to the Valkyrie!”

“Lieutenant Hunter stand down.” In my fury I barely registered her words. “Stand down otherwise I will put you on report. I did nothing of the sort.” Komana was furious. She turned to Xenai. “Control your officer.” She glared at her daughter. “It’s bad enough I had ratify your stupidity to the Enari.” She sighed. “Then that’s you all over isn’t Xenai. You’ve always had a soft spot for waifs and strays.”

I tried and failed to calm myself. “I will not go with them now or ever!”

“Gwen Hunter attention!” Komana snapped at me.

I snapped to attention an automatic response drilled into me by Thirika. “No ma’am.” I said my voice lowered my face red. I didn’t know where that outburst had come from and I had no excuses for my actions. I had ripped Xenai’s careful plan into tatters. “Anyone but them,” I said my voice just above a whisper and my eyes on the floor wishing a great void would open up I could fall into. I didn’t want to be separated from Jervic I’d only just got him back.

“Lieutenant Hunter,” Komana said to me her voice neutral. “You are under my orders since my wayward daughter decided to defy me.” She spoke again her voice taking on a more gentle tone. “Your misgivings have been noted but this mission is vital.” She paused, her voice taking on an edge. “Refuse and I will hand you over to the Enari are we clear?”

“Crystal ma’am,” I replied.

“Good glad we’ve cleared that up. Xenai will contact you when you need to depart. Dismissed Lieutenant.”

“Yes ma’am.” I saluted smartly turned on my heel marched to the door.

“One other thing lieutenant.” Komana called out.

“Ma’am.”

“The next time we speak I expect you to be in uniform”

“Yes ma’am.”

Kelli was waiting for me outside.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded. It was stupid taking my fears out on her it wasn’t her fault the logical part of my mind told me.

“Xenai called me.” She looked at me oddly. “You know what it is about?”

Instantly I felt such a heel she was in the same boat as me both literately and figuratively. “Sort of.” I told her everything she had become a bit of confidant since the fight in the ruins. I guess part of that was her training.

“You’re lucky Komana cut you some slack. Anyone else and she would have fallen on us like a ton of bricks.”

Again Kelli surprised me using Imperial centric phrases then she had been born in the Empire as had I. “It certainly didn’t feel like it?”

“You go back to Jervic I’ll see what Xenai wants.”

I headed back to the medbay Jervic was asleep. I sat on the bed opposite so deep in thought that I didn’t hear the door open.

“He looks so cute asleep.”

I turned to see Kelli standing behind me. She sat on the bed and flipped her legs so we ended sitting side by side Jervic’s sleeping form in front of us.

“I see what you mean about Komana,” she said quietly. “Oh and by the way you are in charge.”

I gave her a look. “What do you mean?”

“Xenai put you in charge when you were just a civilian. It looks like you still are and your rank is now real.”

“Surely you have seniority?”

“Not according to Komana. I’m your 2iC.

“Too icy?” I wasn’t sure if she was making a joke.

“2.i.C. Your second in command.”

“Jervic?”

“Will be just Jervic.”

“What will I be?” Jervic said his eyes open.

“Jervic!” I breathed happy to see him looking better.

“Vic,” Kelli chuckled. She winked at me and shoved herself off the bed. “Best you tell him that?”

“Gee thanks Kelli,” said to her.

She just smiled and hurried out leaving me with Jervic. I told him what Komana had said to me I didn’t leave anything out.

“I’ll be out of here in a couple of days.”

I felt relieved about that. “Good.”

“I’ll have to work hard to get my fitness levels up.”

I caught the double meaning in his words. “And?”

“I was hoping you could help me with that sir!”

I bristled at first then realised he was joking. “Sir!”

I pretended to be outraged but he knew me better than that and ploughed on.

“Isn’t that what all Terrans call their officers?”

“Do I look like a sir?” I ran my hand down the front of my top empathising my breasts.

“Certainly not but you do look like a lady I’d like to get acquainted with.”

“Oh yes, is that your best pick up line?” I quipped.

“Not the best but it’s a start.”

“You do realise I could have you swabbing the decks?”

“What’s swabbing?”

I just smiled and sighed. “Oh Jervic.” I felt better here with him but I knew it wouldn’t last but I was determined to spend as much of it with him as I could.