“I regret, there is little to be joyful about, mon capitaine,” said the Frenchman, turning to face Grady, “at least not if we wish to restore main propulsion. We had barely begun repairs on the fusion drive when the general evacuation order was issued. The station’s repair facilities have been shut down and we, along with everyone else, have been given a deadline to depart within three hours.” He uttered another lyrical curse and folded his arms over his chest. “Not nearly enough time. We are unable to overhaul the drive and have no choice but to continue using the temporary fix Lian and I created.”
“Damn, that wasn’t what I was hoping to hear,” Grady said, eyeing the metallic gray engine housing. “So the primary drive might still fail at any time?”
“Alas, oui, it may,” Squirt said. “It is more stable than when we first entered this reality, that is true. And perhaps, if we remained here long enough, it would realign itself in time.” His shoulders rose in an animated shrug. “But we do not have that luxury, is this not so? As it is, therefore, the drive is not what I would consider reliable. Long space flights are best avoided until we can complete a comprehensive overhaul of the engines.”
“Ah, given the current tactical situation, that represents a definite problem.” Grady nodded to Lian as she appeared from behind a bulky piece of equipment, a clump of grease smudging her cheek. “An Earth Galactic invasion fleet is expected to arrive soon—hence the order to evacuate. The rebels are pulling out en masse and making their way to their principal base of operations on New Heb. Even if it was an option, staying put by ourselves wouldn’t be good for our health. Unless you’d like to wait for Cavill and his cronies to seize the ship or blow us out of the ether without warning.”
“You think he would happily wish us all dead?”
“Knowing Cavill of old,” Grady said, his demeanor dour, “he’s not one to accept defeat lying down. From our brief conversation, I got the impression his counterpart in this dimension shares much the same personality. Don’t forget, we gave his vaunted starcarrier and its fighter complement a bloody nose at our last encounter. I’m betting he’d like to even the score and obliterate us should we find ourselves in his gunsight once more.”
“Something we should strive to avoid, eh?” Squirt said, tugging at his beard, his brow creased.
“I second that, Captain,” added Lian, as she stood nearby and wiped her hand on a rag. “As much as I’d love to stick it to the Earth Galactic goons, we can’t go up against an entire fleet on our own, especially when the Gany is the enemy’s spearhead.”
“I don’t plan to,” Grady said. “We’re bugging out along with the rebels. They’ve invited us to join them at New Heb, whose repair facilities potentially would be put at our disposal. You and Lian could carry out that overhaul and, once the drive is restored to full working order, we’d be able to make for the last recorded coordinates of Fidelon’s mothership.”
“That is excellent news, is it not?” Squirt said, his frown morphing into a broad grin. He took in Grady’s unsmiling visage and his joy evaporated. “Something else troubles you, I perceive, mon capitaine. You have more news to share with us, perhaps not so positive?”
“Yes, I do,” Grady said, leaning against the console. “The offer to provide us with access to New Heb’s engineering resources is conditional. We’ve been asked to help break the blockade encircling the station. No doubt it’s causing complications with dispatching supplies and relief troops, let alone presenting a serious risk to the safe passage of rebel forces about to withdraw from the Badlands.”
Lian brandished the rag like a banner. “Let’s do it. We’ve been promised just what we need: access to a proper repair depot. Plus, the enemy won’t be expecting us, since Adventurer doesn’t even officially exist in this corner of the multiverse. With an IC squadron fighting alongside us, we’d whip their asses, help the rebels fall back to New Heb, fix our drive, and then return home. Win-win all around, right?”
“Such a scenario opens up another possibility,” Squirt said, his tone thoughtful as he met Grady’s gaze. “Repairs will require several days to complete. Enough time for Tara and you to take the shuttle and make a brief visit to New Ireland. Would you and she not wish to see your family and find out how they are doing here? No doubt they would be amazed and delighted to find you have returned from the dead, oui?” His voice softened as he added, “Perhaps, too, your mother is alive and well in this dimension. Anything is possible, would you not agree?”
It took Grady a moment to answer, perhaps because he had been thinking the same thing. His mother had been the leader of New Ireland before her death. If she hadn’t fallen victim to the alien virus in this dimension, or any other fatal mishap, she might well be still alive, still in charge of the colony’s affairs. Would Kotov allow him access to the former research station’s database to check the public record? Was there enough time to query the data before the rebels fled for the relative safety of New Heb? Could he even afford such a personal distraction when the enemy fleet was set to launch a major offensive, with Adventurer caught squarely in the middle? The safety of his crew and passengers was his chief concern as captain—he’d be endangering their lives by delaying their departure.
“You’re right, it’s possible,” Grady said. “But perhaps now’s not the appropriate time, with the evacuation already underway, and besides…” He trailed off, flailing his hand.
“Ah, I believe I understand, mon ami. You are worried your mother, if she lives, and the other members of your family in this reality might not accept you or your sister, correct?”
“That’s partly it,” Grady said. “To be honest, I’m not sure how I’d react if I were in their shoes. It’s a pretty weird situation. They’ll have mourned my death several years ago, and now I turn up all of a sudden. Except, I’m not the exact same me they knew.” He sighed and shoved his hands into the side pockets of his flight jacket. “And we’re not sure what’s happened to the Tara from this dimension. Kotov’s tech expert, Gordy, confirmed she joined the IC militia just like our Tara did, but was later reported as MIA. Earth Galactic hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with information about IC combatants captured or killed as a result of battle.”
He glanced at Lian, who was bent over a piece of machinery in the corner. “But that’s not the main issue. We have a mission to finish, back in our own dimension. If we get involved in the war here and put our lives on the line to assist in shattering the blockade around New Heb, we might never make it home.”
“Oui, that is undeniable,” Squirt said, leaning back, the chair creaking under his weight. “I am certain many, if not most, of our passengers and shipmates have loved ones waiting for them in our own reality and wish to return without delay. But we pledged ourselves to the Interstellar Coalition, did we not? It seems to me the rebellion needs our help more here than back home. And, besides, how could you ever forgive yourself if you do not try to discover if the alternate version of your mother is among the living? Think what it would mean for you to see and speak with her again.”
“I can’t jeopardize everyone’s lives just because I want to spend time with my mum,” Grady said, his voice taking on a hard edge. “Or commit the ship to go into battle in a universe that is not our own. That would be a massive overstepping of my captain’s prerogative.”
“Forgive me,” Lian said, turning and pushing to her feet, still clutching the grubby rag. “I couldn’t help but overhear. I appreciate that you don’t want to order us to place ourselves in harm’s way in this alternate reality. So why not put it to a vote? Let each person on board decide for themselves.” She tossed the rag onto a workbench crowded with tools and a handheld scanner, each magnetized to the surface. “Well, maybe not everyone. Those two scumbag diplomats don’t deserve a say in anything after what they did.”
“Huh, that’s not such a bad idea,” Grady said in a pensive tone, rubbing his chin. “We’re auxiliaries, not regular militia or navy, and don’t have to follow strict military discipline. Let’s face it, none of us signed up to fight a war in a parallel universe. I’m not prepared to force anyone to risk their lives for a conflict they might not feel is any of their business.”
He tapped Lian on the shoulder as he walked past, headed for the hatchway. “A vote it is.” He paused, his lips curling into a smile. “I knew there were lots of reasons we brought you into the team.”
Lian opened her hands wide with a laugh and grinned. “I thought it was for my youthful exuberance, finely honed skills, and boundless energy.”
Squirt snorted. “Not to mention your exhausting bonhomie and constant optimism, non?”
14
“We’ll see you at the rendezvous coordinates, Captain. I wish you a safe journey.” Acknowledging the speaker with a slight nod toward the main viewscreen—where a live overlay showed Phil Lorcan seated on the bridge of the converted freighter—Grady replied, “And you too, Captain.” He keyed off the comm and eased back in the pilot’s seat before turning his head. “I still can’t believe he’s alive. Or this iteration of him is, at any rate.”
Tara chuckled. “He’s probably thinking the same thing about you. Even if you both are different versions of the best friend you each knew.”
“This is going to take some getting used to,” Grady said.
“It’s almost like a second chance to forge, or reforge, your friendship,” Tara said with a grin. She met his gaze and her expression darkened. “I wonder how dad and Kevin are doing in this dimension.” Before he found the words to frame a response, she blurted, “Do you think mum is still alive here?”
“No way of knowing until we can reach New Heb, with its more powerful comm array,” Grady replied, sensing that the question was weighing on his sister’s mind, as it was on his. “New Ireland is too far away for us to contact from Adventurer.”
“And your search of the research station’s database didn’t provide any answers?”
“Afraid not, Sis. Major Kotov was kind enough to grant me access. But other than listing New Ireland as an independent, unaffiliated colony, and some basic economic and population stats, they don’t have much information on it. He did mention New Heb’s database is far more extensive, so I can always try again when we arrive at the station.”
Tara contemplated the dark, pungent liquid in the mug she held before blowing on the surface and downing a cautious sip of coffee. She placed the mug into the cupholder near her elbow and pulled at her lower lip. “I barely remember mum. It’d be so peculiar meeting her again after all this time, even if it’s her duplicate.” She let out a soft sigh and pushed her hand through her hair. “I’m not sure how I feel about the idea. I’ve grown up mourning her death. Maybe it’s best not to disturb those memories.”
“If she is alive, and we’re able to comm her or pay a brief visit, she’ll be older than how we both remember her, right?” Grady said, his tone gentle. “And different, in some ways, most likely—perhaps very much so. We shouldn’t expect a whole lot to begin with. It’s going to come as quite a shock to her, as well as everyone else in the family, to hear from or even meet alternate forms of the two of us.”
“Especially you, Bro. You’re dead, remember?” She idly fingered the copilot’s console. “Though I guess my counterpart might be, too.” She blew out a breath. “How screwy is that? Hi family: meet two zombies for the price of one. And, oh yeah, we’re from a parallel universe. Bet you didn’t see that coming!”
Grady hesitated before saying anything else, conscious of the raw emotion coursing through Tara’s words. “If we decide to make contact, we’ll have to go slow at first. Particularly if the family thinks we’re both dead in this dimension, including your double.”
“MIA, according to Kotov’s tech guy,” Tara said. She swiped at her holo and brought up a 3D image of a personnel record, quickly scanning the contents. She spared little attention for the photo of herself, or a woman looking just like her, above the text. “Seems alternate me joined the rebellion in this reality almost a year earlier than I did in ours. She sounds even more dedicated to the cause of freedom than I am, which I suppose is admirable. Then she disappeared during a mission. That was over a year ago, and no news since.”
“Doesn’t mean she’s dead. Could be a prisoner somewhere,” Grady said, waving his hand. “You never know.”
