New Dawn
Chapter 5

Laden withpacks, the three men hurried down the small side streets and alleyways ofCarooine City. Kabi checked his chronos—they had time, he'd made sure of it.And the more convoluted their route, the more hidden passageways and secretpaths they took, the less likely they were to be spotted by anyone whoshouldn't see them. He looked over his shoulder and saw no one. The evening wasgetting darker, the second sun almost gone now, an orange sliver on thehorizon. He nodded to himself. They'd be fine.

He allowedBenho and the chattering Niku to get a few steps ahead before coming into stepwith Maicee, walking companionably for a while in silence.

“Do youremember as a child when I would tell you bedtime stories?” Kabi askedeventually, his sandaled feet crunching in the dust as they walked.

Maiceelooked at his guardian, no, uncle, out of the corner of his eye, wondering whyhe would want to discuss children's stories now. As far as he could tell, theywere all in grave danger, though he didn't understand why. What he didunderstand was that he'd given up a chance to work at one of the best hospitalsin the world in order to follow Kabi on a mysterious trip. And that someone,somewhere, was looking for him.

He shruggedsullenly. “I guess.”

“You mightseem a little more enthusiastic,” Kabi said calmly. “I mean, you've beenpressuring me about this arrangement we made for years now. I'm finally readyto keep up my end of the bargain, and you're too busy sulking to beinterested.”

The youngman sighed and eyed Kabi suspiciously. He couldn't help but think that the manwas tricking him somehow. “And what exactly do children's tales of Angels andArchangels have to do with you keeping to the agreement and telling me about myfamily and my past, and about why the hell I have to keep the fact that I'myour niece and not your nephew secret?”

The boy'svoice had risen in pitch, and Kabi glanced over to see if the others had heard.But Benho and Niku were deep in conversation themselves.

“Maicee,there is too much to explain all at one time. But there are certain things youneed to know. Especially now, since, in case you haven't noticed—though I'msure you have—we all seem to be in danger. Should anything happen to me, I wantyou at least to understand the basics.”

Maicee'seyes flickered. He felt confused, glad that he was about to get the knowledgethat he'd hungered for, but now wondered if the information was really going tobe worth it, really going to make any difference. “I'm listening,” he saidquietly.

“I don'thave the time to break this to you gently,” Kabi warned, their feet tramping instep. “So I need you to accept what I say. Accept it as truth. And the truth isthat I am an Archangel. As was your mother, my sister.”

Maiceestopped, regarding Kabi with complete disbelief. “I ...”

“Keepwalking,” Kabi said, taking his arm and propelling him forwards. “We don't havetime to stop. I assure you that no matter how unbelievable this sounds, it istrue. There were originally thirteen of us. We lived amongst the people, weprotected the world, protected justice.” He smiled ruefully. “And there arealways going to be those who are against the ones who wish to do good in theworld. Now there are only two of us left.”

“But whathappened? I mean, why? Only two?” Maicee's head was spinning with questions,but this time he kept on walking.

“I told youwe don't have time for the full story yet. And this is just background,necessary for the important thing that you need to know right now,” Kabi said.They were beginning to climb a slope, and his breathing was a little morelaboured. “When your mother was alive, she went by many names. To me, she wasalways my sister Aquarius. But here, those who remember her do so by the nameSalamazi. Queen Salamazi.”

“Wait, holdup.” Maicee stopped again, this time clutching Kabi's sleeves and forcing himto turn and look straight into his eyes. “You're telling me that my mother wasthe Queen of Britannia? That...”

Andsuddenly everything fell into place. Maicee's mouth fell open, and Kabicouldn't help but smile.

“Yes,” theolder man said. “You're the missing Princess Aicee, little Niku over there isthe beloved pet of your younger sister, Princess Ausanne, and you, my dear, aresupposed to be kidnapped and presumed dead by the world. And yet, here you are,very much alive.”

“Come on,slow coaches!” Benho's voice rang through the empty side street, breakingMaicee's trance.

“So maybeyou can understand why we need to keep certain things secret and why leavingCarooine might be for the best right now?” Kabi whispered, pulling Maicee's armand hurrying to catch up with Benho and Niku.

Still inshock, Maicee nodded. He needed time to think about all of this, and he neededthe rest of the story from Kabi. Something that he obviously wasn't going toget right now. He...was a princess?

“That,”said Benho, stopping on the dark beach and looking at the ship floating a shortway offshore, “looks very much like an Imperial Navy battle cruiser. Other thanthe fact that it's painted black, rather than white.”

“Veryastute, Doctor Benho,” said a voice from the darkness. Lucia materialised outof the twilight. “The Freedom didindeed used to be a naval battle cruiser, until I liberated her. She is now,however, one of the finest pirate ships to ever put to sea.”

Shebeckoned them to a small transport boat that made enough splashing and chuggingthat conversation was impossible for the minute or so it took to cross to theship. The boat glided up a small ramp, and Lucia alighted, once again beckoningfor the men to follow her. She opened a large door and ushered them onto anopen, airy bridge. In the centre of the room, a cylindrical holographic towerstood, like the trunk of a tree growing through the deck.

“Thetactical overlay,” explained Lucia. “Now, allow me to introduce my small crew.”

Four womenwere busy in front of flat touchscreens, and each turned as she was introduced.

“Falorni,you know,” said Lucia, and the young scrub nurse smiled and nodded. “She'sship's medic. Then another familiar face, I believe—particularly for you,Doctor Benho—my agent and officer in charge of supplies on board, Sa-li.”

The young,black-haired girl turned and gave Benho an abashed smile. Maicee laughed as hewatched his friend's mouth drop open in disbelief.

“And thenwe have Kate, the Freedom'snavigator, and Pam, our weapons specialist.”

Both womenturned and smiled.

“Lean, theengineer, is currently below decks; and Bettie, my first officer, is attendingto some business in town and will be joining us very shortly. That's everyone.A small but very efficient group.”

Maicee'seyes narrowed. He'd lived on Carooine a long time and recognised all of thefaces that he'd seen so far, though he didn't know Kate and Pam to speak to.“You seem to have drawn your crew from the young ladies of the town,” he saidslowly.

Lucialaughed her bell-like laugh. “Quite the opposite, my dear Doctor Maicee. Thesewomen have been my crew for a long time; it simply behoves us all to have dayjobs that take the eye of suspicion off us. These women came to Carooinebecause they joined me, not the other way around.”

Kabinodded. “Your pirate band is very impressive, but there is something we need tospeak of before we leave. Is there somewhere a little more private we could go,Captain?”

“I too mustbrief you. Come this way.”

Droppinghis eyes so as not to spend too much time admiring the rounded backside of hisnew captain, Benho noticed that Lucia no longer wore her diaphanous gown. Shewas now attired in altogether more appropriate clothing, tight leggingsclinging to shapely legs, a breastplate that left very little to theimagination. It was even more beguiling than the transparent robe. He sighedand followed the comely captain into a private office.

“Sit,”Lucia bade them, gesturing to large, comfortable-looking armchairs surroundinga low table. “Before we leave Carooine,” she said, “there is one task that Imust undertake. One little … expedition, if you will.”

“That'sfine,” Kabi said, barely even noticing the plan. “But there is something thatyou must know. It's only right that you are aware of what we're dealing withhere.”

Lucia gavea small moue of interest, which defined her high cheekbones even further. “Andthat is, KabiOnn?”

“TheImperial Navy are currently searching for a survivor who was aboard the ship Sanosis,” Kabi began.

The captainwaved her hand. “I know this already. I know all of this,” she saiddismissively.

“What youdon't know, then,” said Kabi, “is that the survivor the naval officers areseeking is currently on board your ship.”

He noddedat Benho, who opened his pack to reveal a curled-up, sleeping Niku.

“AChamonkey.” Lucia laughed. “In all seriousness?”

“In allseriousness,” assured Kabi. “And the fact is that the Sanosis was attacked because the Ambassador of Britannia wascarrying something of utmost importance to the Supreme Emperor himself.Something that, thanks to this little Chamonkey, is now in my possession.Something I urgently need to take across the sea to Britannia.”

“Andsomething that the Supreme Emperor and his navy are still searching for,”finished Lucia. She gave a small smile. “I think, dear KabiOnn, that once moreour interests collide. You see, I am not willing to leave Carooine emptyhanded. It would be terribly bad for my reputation. And the little expeditionthat I was planning will probably serve both of our needs very well. Allow meto explain.”

She leanedover the table and soon was telling the three listening men what she and hercrew were planning.

The ceilingfan was still creaking on its incessant, circling journey in an attempt to keepthe muggy air of the Director's office cool. With a sigh, Professor Lock-Tmyput down the reports he'd been handed. Removing his boxy spectacles, he rubbedthe bridge of his nose and shook his head.

“It's ashame,” he said. “A real shame.”

Bettie,first mate of the Freedom, could seethat he was already set on what he was to do, so she turned to leave. As shepulled the door closed behind her, she saw that Lock-Tmy was reaching for thecom system on his desk to place the call. She smiled and let the door clickinto place. Her job here was done.

Wavessplashed gently on the sides of the Imperial battle cruiser Argoni. The sound was soothing,rhythmic, lulling. The creak of the ropes, the slapping of the water on thehull, the soft groans of wood settling and moving. One of the two sentriesposted by the ship's ramp yawned. Lamps lining the dock made small circles ofyellow light, and a quick eye could see movement coming towards the ship.

“What'sthat?” grunted one sentry, pointing.

The two menconcentrated, narrowing their eyes to focus, until they saw the familiar,staggering walk of one, no, two drunkards.

“Justboozers,” the second sentry replied.

And theysettled back into their watch. In truth, few people dared approach the militaryvessel. Those who did would get a shouted warning, maybe a dip in the sea ifthey got too close. But there weren't many men on Archeonis brave enough to getthat close. The sentries had little to worry about. It wasn't until a fewminutes later, when the carousing, singing, and stumbling of the two drunks gotnear enough to be bothersome, that the older of the two sentries sighed.

“Go tell'em,” he said to his partner, not wanting to walk down the ship's ramp himself.His knees were getting old, and the slope troubled him these days.

The youngerman sauntered down the ramp, muscles bulging, full of the arrogance of youth.As he got to the bottom, one drunk clutched his stomach and bent over as thoughto vomit up his night's wine. The sentry slowed a little, not wanting to getrecycled alcohol on his sandals. This onewill definitely need a bath, he mused, thinking of the best way to capturetwo men and throw at least one over the side of the dock. So intent was he onlogistics that when a large shard of crystal shot up from the ground, skeweringhim like meat on a stick, he didn't even have the time to process the pain. Inan instant, he was dead.

The secondsentry was reaching for the alarm as a whistling blast of air hit him. Thedagger sliced neatly across his throat, and Lucia bent to retrieve it, wipingthe knife clean on the sentry's uniform before standing and beckoning to thetwo men on the dock.

Benho staredat the pierced man in front of him, then back at Kabi, who shrugged. Apparentlythis wasn't the time for explanations, but the young man had never seen adisplay of such power before. Kabi pulled at his arm to lead him towards theship, and Benho had to stop himself from flinching. The man could kill him witha look, and that both thrilled and scared him. Nevertheless, he followed Kabiunquestioningly. If only so that he didn't end up like the poor, skeweredsentry.

Luciasearched the pockets of the dead man in front of her as her two companions ranlightly up the ramp onto the vessel. Just as they arrived, she found thesecurity pass she needed and stood to wave it over the door scanner. Thinkingquickly, Benho grabbed the dead guard's bolt blaster, something that couldprove useful, following the others through the now-open door as he tucked theblaster into his belt.

The shipseemed empty, though that couldn't be so. But the only noises were the regularcreaking and splashing sounds that one hears on board a vessel.

“A lot ofthe troops are in Carooine City tonight,” whispered Lucia, bringing them to ahalt at a junction in the ship's corridors.

She lookedleft and right, then nodded. “All right, you two know the plans. Don't engageanyone unless you're forced to. We don't need troops of soldiers coming afterus right now. You've got two hours. Anyone who isn't back here on this spot intwo hours’ time will be left here to his fate. Understood?”

Kabinodded, but Benho rolled his eyes.

“Stopworrying. We heard you at the briefing. We'll be fine; there's no need to nag,”he said impatiently.

Luciasmiled a little, knowing that the boy's impatience was only a show of bravado,covering up his natural fear.

“You'dbetter look after him,” she said to Kabi. “That impatience could get himkilled.”

“I agree,”Kabi said, looking thoughtfully at Benho. “He'll stay close to me.”

“Now, let'sget to work,” Lucia said. “We've got bombs to place.”

“And a shipto sabotage,” finished Kabi, grinning.

On boardthe Freedom, Maicee sat, fidgetingnervously and unable to keep still. He was supposed to be waiting for a signalfrom the infiltration team that had gone aboard the Argoni. His fingers tapped on the communication console, and Nikuperched on his shoulder mimicking his tapping with her little fingers on hisneck. He didn't know why he was so nervous about all this.

“Do youthink they're going to be all right?” he asked Falorni, who was sitting on thebridge with him, keeping an eye on various screens.

“Hmm?” she asked,turning to him distractedly. “Oh, yes. Don't worry.” She gave him a brightsmile. “The captain is a fantastic strategist; her operations are alwaysperfectly executed. They'll be back in no time.”

Maiceesmiled weakly in return. She was right. He shouldn't worry. He should havefaith in this Lucia; after all, she was about to smuggle him out from under thenoses of the Imperial Navy. And she had Kabi with her too, so what couldpossibly go wrong? He shifted in his seat again, noticing that his leg wasjiggling up and down seemingly by itself. It was just that he had a badfeeling. The little shiver of danger ran down his back. Yes, he admitted. Hedid have a very bad feeling about all this.

“I havebeen expecting you, Captain. What took you so long?”

The olderman sitting in the captain's chair of the Argonisnorted at his own joke.

“Come,come, bring her a little closer,” he said.

Inresponse, the two soldiers who were restraining Lucia half-dragged her acrossthe deck. Her hands were bound and her mouth was taped, but her eyes flashedfire as she was pulled in front of the portly, uniformed man.

“I'mforgetting myself,” he continued, looking at her quite benevolently. “Where aremy manners? I know exactly who you are, and I've not even introduced myself. Iam Admiral Stookie of the Imperial Navy. You'll forgive me if I don't shakeyour hand, Captain? You seem to be a little ... tied up at the moment.”

Once morehe laughed, a high-pitched, almost feminine laugh, and rose from the largechair he'd been sitting in, coming closer to her. He nodded at one of theguards, who then kicked Lucia behind the knee, forcing her to kneel before theAdmiral.

“Now,little one,” the Admiral said, close enough that she could smell his salty,sweaty scent. “Sabotage isn't very honourable, is it?”

She trieddesperately to think, her knees digging into the wooden deck beneath her, hereyes darting back and forth. There were no other prisoners with her. That meantthere was a good chance that Kabi and Benho were around somewhere, which inturn meant a fair chance of escape, especially with Kabi around.

The Admiralgrabbed her chin, giving her a long, leering look. Bending, he whisperedsomething disgustingly unrepeatable into her ear and laughed at the sickenedlook on her face. Then he reached out and tore the tape from her mouth so fastthat she wanted to scream in pain. She caught the cry at the last moment andswallowed it down, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

“You are sobeautiful,” he said, his hand still on her chin, turning her head from side toside to get a better look. “It's such a shame that you have to die.” Hepretended to think for a moment. “Or do you?”

Curiositygot the better of her. “What do you mean?” she asked.

The Admiralsighed, let go of her face, and began pacing in front of her, hands behind hisback. “Before you are two choices. You can give me the stolen data disk, and Iwill let you live. Or you can refuse, and I will kill you. It is simple, is itnot, little one? Yes or no, black or white.”

Playing fortime, she looked up at him as if puzzled. “What data disk? I have many datadisks on my ship. Which one exactly do you want?”

His handcame out in a flash, swiftly slapping her across the face. She felt the burningpain and tasted the metallic, coppery taste of blood in her mouth. Turning, shespat onto the deck, and the Admiral giggled his strange laugh again.

“Dear,dear. Such a shame to destroy such beauty,” he said. Then he leaned in close,his face almost touching hers. “I want the data disk that you took from theAmbassador,” he growled, his grey eyes small and bloodshot.

“WhatAmbassador?” she asked innocently.

“Enough.”He waved a hand at one of the guards, who disappeared. “Don't take me for afool, and don't waste either my time or yours. Your time in particular is veryprecious just at the moment.”

His handdropped to his pocket, toying with something.

“A veryreliable source of mine has told me that you have contacted an agent of thisAmbassador. So, little one, spare me the lies and hand over the data disk.” Hesmiled a cold, hard smile at her. “And then I shall let you live. At leastuntil the day of your trial, at which point I assume you shall be hanged fortreachery anyway.”

His handstill toyed with whatever was in his pocket, and he appeared thoughtful beforeremoving a small black canister.

“I happento have with me a new weapon from the Imperial Research Laboratory,” he said ina conversational tone of voice. “They call it a sonic pistol. Apparently it canemit a lethal sound wave that can crush anything it comes into contact with.”He tossed the canister up in the air and caught it again. “And I've been dyingfor a chance to try it out.” He grinned at her. “This might be just theopportunity I've been waiting for. Shall we see what it can do?”

Withoutwaiting for her answer, he shouted for a prisoner. Lucia's heart stopped. Sothey did have at least one of the others. She held her breath as the guarddragged a man into the room. Her eyes searched in panic for any familiar sign,and then she heaved a sigh of relief as she realised that this man wascompletely unknown to her.

With cool,measured strides, the Admiral walked across the bridge to the prisoner, pressedthe black canister against his forehead, and pressed a button. In a splitsecond the prisoner's eyes turned from horror-filled to lifeless, blood seepingfrom the sockets, mingling with effluent from his nose and mouth as it ran downhis face. The Admiral nodded in satisfaction, and Lucia turned her head fromthe nauseating sight.

“Almostinstant death,” noted the Admiral, turning back to Lucia. “Am I not kind?”

Casually heapproached her, grasped the back of her neck in thick, strong fingers, andplaced the canister against her head.

“Now, wherewere we?” he asked.

This daywas fairly inevitable. She had played with fire for a long time without gettingburnt. But now that it was here, she found that she really, really didn't wantto die. She closed her eyes for a moment, making peace within herself.

When sheopened them again, she glared defiantly at the Admiral.

“I knownothing,” she spat.

The Admiralshook his head, disappointed, and moved his finger over the trigger button.

Something doesn't feel right at all, Maicee thought. He went over andover the plan that had been hatched, trying to replace the flaw. There must havebeen something that none of them had thought of. Because he still had that bad,bad feeling. He paced the bridge of the Freedom,muttering to himself as he thought, Niku watching him half in amusement, halfin fear.

“Maicee,listen carefully.”

He lookedup, but no one else had heard the voice. It was in his head. But it wasfamiliar. It sounded an awful lot like Kabi.

“This is atrap. There was an ambush waiting for us here. You need to get the Freedom to safety fast. Save yourself.You are in danger.”

“It's atrap,” Maicee blurted out.

Niku staredat him, and he grabbed Falorni by the arms, turning her towards him.

“It's atrap. We need to get out of here. Now.”

Falornilooked at the young doctor, his face white with shock, his eyes darting aroundthe bridge. “Are you sure?” she asked uncertainly, not knowing quite what hadchanged in the last second or so to make Maicee look so panicked.

“Certain.”

Falornishook her head. “I can't do that. I can't move the ship without an order fromthe captain or from the first mate. The decision isn't mine to make, Maicee.”

His handsgripped her more tightly. “We don't have time. We can't wait. We need to leavenow. Right now.”

“WithoutLucia or Bettie, I can't ...”

But even asshe spoke, the bridge door slid open, emitting a short, stocky woman.

“Bettie,thank the Gods you're back,” said Falorni, obviously relieved.

The shortwoman gave a cheeky grin. “Glad to know you missed me so much.” She walked overto Maicee, who had let go of the ship's medic. “Bettie, first officer of the Freedom. Sorry I wasn't here to greetyou when you came aboard,” she said, offering her hand.

“There's notime for introductions,” Maicee said, though he took her hand out of habit beforerealising what he'd done and letting it drop. “We need to get out of here. Wehave to move the Freedom.”

Bettiefrowned. “Why, what's the matter?” she asked, her suspicions heightened by thenervous young man in front of her.

“It's atrap. The captain and the others have been ambushed. We need to move out incase someone reveals our position.”

The firstofficer reached into her robe and pulled out a dagger, pointing its lethalsharpness at Maicee's throat, though she noticed that the man didn't flinch. “Areyou a spy?” she said sharply. “How do you know all this?”

“Kabi toldme,” Maicee said, trying not to swallow in case the point of the knife hit himas he did so.

“Did youhear this communication?” Bettie asked, keeping the dagger level but turning toFalorni.

“No,ma'am,” the young medic said, quietly but definitely.

“I don'tknow how to convince you, but it's true,” said Maicee, getting desperate.

Bettie sawthe true fear in his eyes and began lowering the dagger.

“I heard ittoo,” squeaked Niku from the control console. “I did, and it was Kabi. He can,he knows, he can talk into my head if he needs to,” the Chamonkey stuttered.

The firstofficer shook her head and sank into the captain's chair, dagger hanging fromher hand. “A talking Chamonkey and a psychic message,” she said slowly. “Andjust what, pray tell, makes you think that I'm going to believe either one ofyou?”

“Becauseyour captain's in danger. As are we if we don't get this ship moved,” Maiceesaid, more confident now that there wasn't a knife at his throat.

“Andbecause moving the ship wouldn't do any harm,” Falorni added quietly. “If he'sright, we avoid the trap. If he's wrong ...” She shrugged. “We have lostnothing.”

Bettie bither lip, thinking, then nodded sharply. Getting up, she studied the tacticaloverlay column and pointed to a place on the map.

“Bear sharpto starboard. Leave green marker nine, twenty to fifty yards to port,” sheordered. “We'll hide the ship here.”

Kate, thequiet navigator on the far side of the bridge, keyed in an authorisation code.“Prepare for launch,” she announced over the ship's com.

But the Freedom simply shuddered, then stalled.A high-pitched beeping sound began.

“Shipreports engine error,” said Kate, not turning from her screen. She keyedsomething into the com. “Lean, Lean. Come in.”

An emptystillness crackled over the com.

“Falorni,you, doctor, go immediately to the engine room and check status,” Bettie said,moving around to a screen of her own, her eyes intent on replaceing out what waswrong with the ship.

Falornigrabbed Maicee's hand, pulling him off the bridge and down a series ofcorridors until they arrived at a metal door. Wisps of smoke emanated from thecracks around it. Falorni put a hand to the metal, noted that it wasn't hot,and, pulling her robe across her face, began opening the door. Maicee copiedher actions, and as the door opened, a rush of smoke came out. When the fumescleared, they could see Lean, the engineer, lying on the floor of the engineroom. Quickly, Falorni moved to her, picking up her shoulders.

“Get herfeet,” she ordered Maicee. “Let's get her to the medical bay now.”

Doing as hewas told, Maicee saw the remains of a small explosive charge next to one of theengine controls. Small enough to disable them but not to sink them, he noted ashe picked up the tall engineer's feet.

DepositingLean onto a bunk in the medical bay, Falorni went straight to the com to reportin.

“Leaninjured but stable. Main engine offline. Will require repair before we canproceed.”

“Noted,” crackledback Bettie's voice. “Have activated ABDS. Over.”

“What'sgoing on? What's ABDS?” asked Maicee, as Falorni ended the com call.

The girlshrugged. “It's the ship's automated boarding defence system. It's designed torepel boarders or those who might be on the ship without permission. Bolts willshoot through the ship's corridors if movement is detected.”

Maiceegroaned and sat on the edge of a bunk. “The main engine is down, and bolts areshooting down corridors,” he said, looking horrified. “We can't move the ship.”

“We can'teven move from the medical bay until the ABDS had been disabled,” Falorni toldhim.

He put hishead in his hands. The Freedom wasgoing nowhere. Which was exactly what whoever had sabotaged them wanted. Therewas no escape.