Grady would have known Rosie anywhere. As she came closer, her hand outstretched in greeting, he noticed subtle differences between this version and the person who led New Heb’s governing council in his dimension. Prominent worry lines etched the corners of her mouth and eyes. Her hazelnut-tinged hair was shorter, with the first strands of gray emerging at her temples. He had the impression this was someone operating under an immense strain.
Yet Rosie’s handshake was firm and the look she gave Zoe and him was both confident and penetrating. Her expression lacked something, though: recognition. It was obvious this Rosie had never met either of them before. He had expected this for himself, since his counterpart here had been killed several years ago and never made it to New Heb. But what must Zoe be feeling, now they had confirmed she and this iteration of Rosie were strangers?
“I don’t suppose introductions are necessary?” Rosie said with a slight grin, beckoning them to take a seat at the circular table in the center of the room. “I know who you both are, and I’m guessing from what Major Kotov told me, you both are familiar with me, my doppelgänger, that is, in your own dimension. Correct?” Zoe coughed, head ducking to the side, and glanced away without a word. But not before Rosie’s eyes narrowed. Grady was sure she had spotted his second-in-command’s evident discomfort.
He’d said nothing to Kotov, or Phil, about the relationship between Zoe and Rosie in his reality, deciding it wasn’t his place to reveal confidential details about their private lives. It would only have increased Zoe’s sorrow if no such relationship existed here, and add to an already complicated situation. The fewer people who knew the truth, the better, he reasoned.
“Yes, that’s right,” Grady said, cracking a smile as he dropped onto a chair.
Rosie quirked an eyebrow. “I hope our relationship there is cordial?”
“Very,” he said. “Your other self also leads this station’s governing council. As Major Kotov no doubt briefed you, the break with Earth in our reality was successful. A peace treaty was signed, though the relationship with our former colonial masters is not what I would call warm. Even so, the Interstellar Coalition has managed to consolidate its position and is building a firm foundation for future economic growth, though not without significant challenges.”
Rosie let out a heavy sigh, not bothering to disguise her anxiety. “I wish we could say the IC has the same bright future here. As you’ve already experienced firsthand, the insurgency faces an uphill struggle to survive. We’ve already lost a number of key colonies and space stations. We are in desperate need of allies and fresh resources. Which is why I wanted you both to meet with the full council.”
Grady slid her a puzzled frown, wondering where she was going with this. But as he opened his mouth to seek clarification, the door slid back to admit three people, each of whom was familiar to him. The first, the older of two women who strode into the room, had severe features and short steel-gray hair: Cassandra. He suppressed a groan. The two had never gotten on well in his dimension. From the sour twist to her lips and her disdainful demeanor, he suspected the situation was about to repeat itself in this one, too.
In contrast to the frosty glare Cassandra shot Zoe and him, the woman who followed close behind wore a neutral expression. Grady recognized Sergeant Prentice from New Heb’s security service. Except, as he realized from scrutinizing her uniform—a lighter shade of blue than in his reality—she sported a captain’s stripes. She was the only one in the room to carry a weapon, a blaster hanging from her hip, the purposeful looking webbed holster strapped to her thigh. Grady’s last encounter with her counterpart had ended on a positive, even friendly, note. Her countenance gave nothing away, and he suspected Captain Prentice would be just as efficient, resolute, and determined as her alternate self.
The third newcomer almost caused Grady to grin with relief. Kotov raised his hand in greeting and smiled as he brought up the rear, the door sliding shut behind him. Rosie made the introductions, then motioned to a small table in the corner. “Please, help yourselves to refreshments. Not real coffee, I regret to say. We ran out of that a few months ago.”
“How terrible for you,” Zoe said before she could catch herself. Rosie looked surprised for a moment and then chuckled. “I’m guessing my duplicate is partial to the genuine bean?”
Zoe appeared flustered and struggled to frame a reply. In the awkward silence that followed, Cassandra uttered a dismissive snort. “You’re not telling me you believe all that nonsense about them being from a parallel universe?”
“Captain Lorcan has helped to verify that this man is Jack Grady,” Captain Prentice said as she took her seat, coffee mug in hand, her tone composed, her voice without inflection. “And, from reliable intel, we know Lieutenant Grady was killed during the failed mutiny on the Earth Galactic starcarrier Ganymede and his body tossed into space along with several others.”
Rosie nodded her thanks and added, “So, unless the deceased officer has somehow succeeded in overcoming death itself, I’m left with no option but to accept his and his crew’s account of events. And that includes their provenance from a separate reality.”
“If that’s not proof enough for you,” Kotov said, placing his hands in front of him on the tabletop and favoring Cassandra with a curt nod. “Their actions in saving freighter’s survivors and leading engagement to break blockade undoubtedly demonstrate where their loyalties lie. They put their lives, how you say, on the line. That makes them allies, more than that, friends, in my book. Da?”
Cassandra frowned, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at Grady. “Perhaps it’s all just an elaborate ruse to get us to trust them.”
“To what end?” Rosie said, her tone mild.
“Infiltrate our organization,” Cassandra said, lifting her chin to emphasize her words. “After all, they had the opportunity to finish off the leading Earth Galactic vessel after crippling it, but instead chose to let its crew go. More enemies to rejoin the war and attack us here.”
Grady could feel his patience slipping away and said, “The destroyer was disabled, out of the fight. There was no need to take further action against her.” He leaned forward, spearing Cassandra with his gaze. “And I don’t hold with killing enemy combatants after they surrender and no longer present a threat. That would be tantamount to murder.”
The older woman huffed out a loud breath and sat back, plainly not mollified. “Your mercy does you credit, Captain. And, in ideal circumstances, I would agree with you. But the rebellion is fighting for its very existence, hanging on by its fingernails. I’m not sure we can afford the luxury of compassion if we’re to survive.”
Rosie held up her hand. “Enough. I believe they are who they claim to be, as extraordinary as it sounds. In fact, as an engineer, the possibility of traveling to alternate realities is fascinating to me. I just wish we knew how the transition between segments of the multiverse works.”
“We’ll have to ask our alien friend that,” Grady said, “when we find him again. From what little he told me, it seems his ancestors were working on developing a method of near instant travel from one corner of the galaxy to another. Instead, they stumbled upon the means of moving between parallel dimensions. Trust me, my crew and I have already experienced several realities for ourselves.”
“That’s if this so-called alien even exists,” Cassandra said, sarcasm leaking into her voice, her attention fixed on Grady. “I find it curiously convenient that it seems to have vanished without a trace just when your ship encountered our forces in the Badlands—or so you both claim.”
“My tech guru, Gordie, has analyzed all material the captain sent us,” Kotov countered before Grady could say anything. “It all checks out.” He gave a broad grin and stroked his mustache. “Imagine it. Actual first contact. Incredible!” He looked at Grady, his eyebrows lofted. “Don’t take this wrong way, Captain, but I wish it had been me.”
“Locating the alien would be a game changer for the rebellion,” Rosie said. “If we were able to negotiate an alliance, their advanced tech could swing the war in our favor.”
She leaned forward, her fingers interlaced on the table. “The rebellion needs an edge, something to convince Earth Galactic that pursuing this conflict is not in humanity’s best long-term interest. All we desire is the independence to govern ourselves, free from central control. I’m hoping your alien friend can help us find a way to bring this terrible conflict to an end.”
“I’d be happy to help facilitate that,” Grady said, “assuming we can track him down again. We have the coordinates of our previous encounter with his trans-dimensional ship. His last comm indicated he would meet us there. I’d planned to seek him out after helping to break the blockade of New Heb. Several of my crew—” His gaze slid to Zoe. “—are understandably keen to return to the loved ones they left behind in our own reality.”
“We have a problem, however,” Zoe put in. “Our fusion drive needs a complete overhaul. Until then, we can’t risk extensive FTL flight in case we end up stranded in the middle of nowhere, far from the nearest colony or settlement.”
Rosie exchanged a look with Prentice. “New Heb has the facilities you need. I’ll give the repair top priority.”
“On behalf of my passengers and crew, thank you,” Grady said. “Once we find Fidelon—that’s the alien’s name—I’d be honored to act as a go-between and help broker an alliance.” He sent Zoe a concerned look. “It’d mean spending a little more time in this dimension, though, at least until discussions are well underway. I promised my crew we wouldn’t stay here much longer.”
Zoe made a sweeping gesture. “So long as it’s understood we return home right afterward, I think that’s an acceptable trade-off. I’d like to see the rebellion in this universe gain a powerful new ally. And I’m sure the others among our crew and passengers who voted to return home would agree.”
Cassandra scowled and pointed at Grady. “A spacecraft isn’t a democracy, especially in time of war. You’re the captain. Let’s assume for argument’s sake you’re telling the truth, whether you decide to stay or go from this reality, surely you have the final say?” Her features contorted into a sneer. “Or do you put every decision to a vote, including what to eat for breakfast?”
Grady bit back a curse, forcing himself to draw a calming breath before responding. “We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation, well beyond anything my crew and passengers signed up for. Their welfare is my top priority. I won’t force anyone to remain in this reality against their will. Not my style of leadership.”
“About that,” Rosie interjected, sending Cassandra a warning glance. “Word of your arrival and your role in helping to smash the blockade is spreading throughout the station and beyond. I have a favor to ask, especially if there’s a chance of forging a pact with your alien contact.”
Grady rubbed his close-shaven chin, only too relieved at the change in topic. “Name it.”
“I want to call a public meeting on the park deck,” Rosie said, motioning with her hand. “Introduce you and some of your crew to the inhabitants in person. Show them vids of your gunship in action against that enemy destroyer. Adventurer is the most powerful IC warship left in the sector. And tell them about this alien, Fidelon, and our desire to forge a collaboration with his people. I think it would lift everyone’s spirits and give them renewed hope, something the people in this station and our remaining outposts desperately need.”
Grady hesitated before answering, his questioning gaze skipping to Zoe, who offered him an unconcerned shrug. “We’ll be here for a few days, anyway, while our propulsion system is undergoing repairs. Can’t see how it would hurt to boost the people’s morale.” He nodded and said, “Agreed. Count us in.”
“Excellent, Captain,” Rosie said, a smile cracking her countenance. “Why don’t we say the day after tomorrow—to allow time to get the word out to everyone and make the appropriate arrangements? Captain Prentice will contact you with the details as soon as they’re finalized.”
“Sounds good,” Grady said. He fingered the table and sat forward. “Um…there’s just one condition.”
