Fratricide Read online

  “Chaz is a war hero. Trust him before all things.” Rivka fixed the pilot with a look that suggested she would accept no alternatives.

  “Of course. We’re here to back up your AI.”

  “Chaz.”

  “Chaz,” the young woman corrected.

  “Chaz?” Rivka asked, and when he confirmed his presence, she continued, “Make sure you keep these good people on their toes and up to speed. I want a crew that works seamlessly with you and with each other. Which makes me ask, Clodagh, why are you here and not the engine room?”

  “I can do almost everything from up here. Ankh is back there. You’ve been with him long enough to know that when he takes over a space, he takes over a space.”

  A brief chuckle escaped her lips before Rivka steeled herself. “I do understand.” She faced the main screen, which wrapped around two-thirds of the ship’s prow. “Chaz, take us to lucky number thirteen.”

  “I’m sorry, Magistrate, all my research suggests that thirteen is an unlucky number. The issues that have occurred at Border Station 13 suggest that it remains unlucky.”

  “Bad luck has nothing to do with what’s going on at Station 13. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  “Hear, hear!” Chaz cheered uncharacteristically. Rivka cocked her head as if waiting for something bad to happen. “I apologize. I got carried away. On a completely different topic, are we taking Wyatt Earp into battle anytime soon?”

  “I hope not. This is a construction project.”

  “I can’t wait to test the new systems. Ted and Ankh are close to reverse-engineering the alien invisibility cloak, but their version will operate in conjunction with the gravitic shields. Our main plasma weapon is top of the line. Such exciting times ahead!”

  “I’ll be happy if we never test any of this stuff. I don’t enjoy getting shot at.”

  Shock seized Aurora’s features.

  “See? You’re scaring the crew.”

  A Gate formed in front of the ship, and they accelerated toward it. In a flash, they were through. The Gate dissipated nearly instantly, and Wyatt Earp raced toward a pinpoint of light in the distance. “My apologies, Aurora and Clodagh. It was not my intent to scare anyone. Let it suffice that we are ready should anyone challenge us, as has often happened in our short time together.”

  Rivka rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Slow the ship, Chaz. I have some research to do. Collect every signal you can and analyze. Tell me what they won’t regarding what’s going on. I’ll be in my quarters.”

  The Magistrate looked forward to returning to her quarters. The frigate had been modified to an excessive state of luxury by the owners before the Skaines. The captain’s quarters were a multi-room affair with a sitting area, bedroom, separate full bath, and even a small kitchen area. She wanted to install a larger set of screens and one of the recliners like she’d had on Peacekeeper.

  In due time.

  Until then, she wanted to get her head wrapped around the safety regulations and policies she would be investigating. She also wanted to know the people she’d be dealing with. Management led by a construction superintendent named Zack Orbal. A safety manager called Boran Waldin. Subcontractors of all shapes and sizes. The workforce administrator came from the labor ranks. His name was Ossuary Fleener. He went by Oz. The workforce was a transient group that moved from job to job. This was supposed to be a one-year gig, but it was already beyond that. The newest estimate was that construction would take thirty months.

  Who benefited from a year-and-a-half-long delay?

  Conspiracy theories ran rampant through her mind. She smiled at the thought. The station was under construction. No one had weapons. There was nowhere to run. “Just this once, no running and no blood,” she pleaded to no one except herself, hoping her prediction would come true.

  “Magistrate?” The door buzzed and Rivka lifted her head from the table. She’d fallen asleep, only for a moment. Maybe longer. She checked the time, but nothing registered.

  “Chaz, how long have I been asleep?”

  “You presume I’ve been monitoring your vitals, as in spying on you. I want you to know that I respect your privacy,” the AI replied.

  “Has Grainger been messing with you again? How long?”

  “Forty-five minutes, Magistrate.”

  “Thank you. What’s the ship’s status?” Rivka rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

  “Operating nominally. We are closing on the station, we’ll be docking in thirty minutes, and Red is at the door.”

  “Come in!” Rivka shouted. She stood up as Red took one step inside.

  “No need to stand on my account, Magistrate.” He laughed briefly at his own joke. “We’re almost on site. What’s the loadout for this one?”

  “We came here so quickly, I didn’t think about any of that. This is a non-combative case, so I fear you’ll be bored out of your minds.”

  “We’re here because you suspect someone is murdering people to make some kind of statement. Any time people are killing other people, five, in this case, it’s going to be combative. Their weapon of choice may be limited to construction gear, but it’s just as deadly as a blaster.”

  “You have your moments, Red.” She wiped her mouth, realizing she might have drooled while sleeping face-down on the table. “Ballistic vests and helmets, non-lethal weapons. Shipsuits for everyone because we don’t know if we’ll need to be in areas outside of atmospheric containment. Load up, and I’ll meet everyone on the mess deck in ten.”

  Besides the engine room, the largest single space on the ship was the dining area. The rest of the spaces were separated into smaller work areas. The configuration offered enough space to work and live without the crew stepping on each other. It was a relief after Peacekeeper’s small environs. She’d made sure that Red and Lindy’s quarters were on the other side of the ship. She’d heard enough of their amorous interactions to last a lifetime.

  Rivka checked her own equipment. It didn’t consist of much. She slipped out of her clothes and put on her skin-tight shipsuit, an undergarment that would seal in a few seconds in case of decompression. It would then provide emergency air for up to an hour. She put on a jumpsuit over it, then her Magistrate’s jacket as the final layer. The inside pocket contained her datapad and a few of Ankh’s coins, which would allow him to hack into nearby computer systems.

  As an afterthought, she added her small neutron pulse weapon, affectionately called Reaper, to the inner pocket on the other side of her jacket. Satisfied with how everything looked, she headed out.

  Jay was the only one there when Rivka arrived. Floyd appeared from under a table, earning an ear and neck scratch before she bounced to a corner, where an oval pet bed greeted her. She curled up inside and was soon fast asleep.

  “If we all fell asleep so quickly, life would be grand,” Rivka remarked.

  Jay nodded before flinching. “Ouch!” She pushed her chair back to reveal a big orange cat licking its paw to clean its face.

  “Wenceslaus, I presume?”

  “’Tis he, mistress,” Jay stated as she rubbed the blood away from her rapidly-healing scratch.

  Ankh strolled in, went straight to the food processor, and punched the buttons to deliver something that looked like a corn dog. It didn’t smell right, but the Crenellian ate it without comment. The cat jumped to the tabletop and strolled along it, then jumped the short distance to the next table, where Ankh sat by himself.

  “You could join us,” Rivka offered, but such pleasantries were lost on the small creature. He was who he was, with little patience for anyone who was not a science genius, which was everyone except his friend Ted or their AIs.

  “How did you get on board?” Ankh asked the cat before giving his blank look to Jay.

  “It wasn’t me.” She held her hands up with her fingers spread to show that she wasn’t hiding anything.

  “Shoo,” Ankh told Wenceslaus, who laid down and rolled onto his side to deliver a magnificent stretch that fi
lled the table. Ankh was never up for a physical fight, so he moved to the empty seat next to Rivka.

  “I’ll protect you from your archnemesis,” she told him. He turned to face her and stopped chewing. Without blinking, he held her gaze for a solid fifteen seconds before returning to his lunch.

  When Red and Lindy entered, Wenceslaus stood and arched his back, hackles up.

  “Hey, buddy,” Red said in a friendly voice as he swiped his hand past the cat. Wenceslaus slapped his paw against it in a classic high-five. Lindy did the same thing, and the cat slapped her hand, too. They took their seats.

  Clodagh entered but leaned against the wall instead of joining the others.

  “Here’s the case. On the face of it, it seems simple. Five fatal accidents in five months. In our line of work, that’s a slow stretch, but in major construction, it is unheard of. One is an anomaly. Five is a complete abomination. That takes us deeper into the world of possible conspiracy, a serial killer, an undeclared war between labor and management… Who knows? And that’s why we’re here. We’ll figure out what is going on, and hopefully get the construction of this station back on track. It is important to the Federation, strategically located on the frontier.”

  Red shrugged. “So, no running?”

  “I doubt it.” Rivka smiled. She was happy for such a case, although unhappy that people had to die for it.

  “What are the odds?” Red looked at Ankh.

  “Currently, calculations remain at one to three for running at some point during the mission, but two days before first blood, which is the longest we’ve ever had.”

  “Hang on,” Rivka started to complain.

  “The science is sound. The numbers are what they are,” Ankh countered before she could argue.

  “Fine. Count me in on the running, but I’m betting no blood. What are the odds on that?”

  Ankh’s eyes unfocused as he communed with Erasmus before coming back to them. “Seven to one.”

  “I’ll put two hundred and fifty credits on that line.”

  Ankh took a few moments before he answered. “The money has been moved from your account to our holding account.”

  “I’m glad you’re on our side,” Rivka said, frowning.

  “Are you sure?” Ankh replied in his emotionless voice.

  Red started to laugh. “No blood? That’s a ballsy bet, Magistrate. It’s almost like you’ve never been on a mission with yourself.”

  “Case. And fine. Bring one railgun, but Lindy carries it.”

  “That wasn’t my point, but we will most happily bring the cannon.” He cheered before giving Lindy a hug.

  “Boys and their toys,” Lindy claimed. “But I agree. We can’t go completely non-lethal. Just in case.”

  Rivka tapped her pocket and smiled. “Reaper’s coming, too.” She looked from face to face. “Any questions?”

  “Am I going?” Jay asked.

  “Yes. I need you to take the pulse of the workforce. I don’t intend to grab everyone to see what they’re thinking. You also know how to get into and out of places, like when you were wreaking havoc back at your home station.”

  “That was a different me.” Jay flipped her dark green hair over her shoulder. “But I know what you mean. See if anyone is going places they aren’t supposed to be to set up the ‘accidents.’ I’ll keep my eyes open. What about Floyd?”

  “Floyd needs to stay here because we might have to go exo-atmospheric.”

  “Normal people say outside,” Red noted.

  “Feeling your oats, big guy? I can’t wait to get you back into a Pod-doc to shrink your big ass down about three sizes.”

  “Why wait?” Ankh asked.

  Rivka looked at him blankly before it registered. “We have a Pod-doc?”

  “Yes. The Bad Company parted with one of their emergency systems after seeing what happened to the crew on the last mission,” Ankh stated.

  “I don’t know if I’ll survive if I take any more verbal knives in the back. One-to-three odds. Two days. A Pod-doc. And a cat. My reputation has been destroyed.”

  Red vigorously shook his head. Lindy scowled.

  Jay stood up and slapped the table. The cat rocketed off.

  “I speak for all of us when I say that I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. Your reputation is Justice. Those who want to oppress others, they’re the ones who should be afraid. I know we aren’t. You have the best reputation in the whole galaxy!”

  “I appreciate the sentiment. Ankh, I know this will come as a surprise, but I think it’d be best if you stay aboard Wyatt Earp. We’ll call if—”

  Rivka didn’t finish because Chaz interrupted, “The ship has docked. Airlock is pressurized. Welcome to Border Station 13.”

  Chapter Four

  Red was the first one off the ship as was their standard operating procedure, SOP. Next was the Magistrate, then Jay, and finally Lindy. Red filled the airlock corridor as he lumbered forward. His size was deceptive. He was quick because he trained that way, but not as quick as Jay. Her speed was enhanced to a level no one had ever attained before, but at the cost of size and strength. If the team needed someone to run circles around a perp, Jay could do that without breaking a sweat.

  Each of the team brought a unique characteristic, the most important being Rivka’s peace of mind. She could focus on the case because her friends would take care of everything else.

  Red stopped at the end of the airlock and gave the welcoming committee a quick visual once-over before stepping aside. The Magistrate recognized the two from their pictures.

  Protocol. Don’t greet the wrong one first, she thought, then stopped herself. They both deserved the formality of a kind word. And with a quick handshake, she’d get insight into her next move.

  “Gentlemen. Construction Superintendent Orbal and Workforce Administrator Fleener.” She reached for the superintendent’s hand first. “We’ll get to the bottom of these accidents. You have my word.”

  His emotions and thoughts cleared him as a suspect. He didn’t know but suspected it was Fleener sacrificing his own people to make the superintendent look bad. It was a bizarre theory, but that was the only thing in his mind.

  She turned to the workforce administrator, the man in charge of the construction crew. While the construction superintendent managed the entire project, Fleener managed the workforce, the flesh and blood component of those who saw the work done.

  Ossuary Fleener had an agenda. He also had a well-disciplined mind. She could see that he would share nothing willingly. He was suspicious of Orbal, and that was all she could get during the brief handshake. Neither man felt guilty. Neither trusted the other.

  She had hoped for more. You’re getting soft, she told herself.

  “I’m glad you’re here. We started back to work less than an hour ago, after our safety hold was lifted. You’ll see the workers doing their thing, but all of them will cooperate fully with the investigation.” Zack Orbal emphasized his statement with an exaggerated nod.

  Ossuary’s lip twitched, making it look like he was snarling.

  “You could have waited until after I arrived. This complicates things.” Rivka stepped back to appraise the two. They watched her intently. Jay bumped the Magistrate in the tight space where the airlock met the ship’s corridor. “Let me introduce you to my team. Jayita, my assistant. And my bodyguards, Vered and Lindy.”

  “I’m sorry, but you can’t bring a weapon onto the station.” Orbal pointed at Lindy’s railgun. She canted her head and looked at him from the side of her eyes.

  “Under Federation Law, Appendix D, Chapter Seven, Section 1, Magistrates are to have armed escorts at all times. For some reason, Construction Superintendent Orbal, wherever we go, someone is always trying to kill me. Always. So we kill them first. I hope we don’t have to administer capital punishment while we’re here.”

  “Call me Zack,” the superintendent said in a weak voice.

  “She gets you, Zack. I for one am happy someone
is armed. This place is dangerous because of you!” Ossuary looked like he was ready to square off with the superintendent.

  “Enough,” Rivka said in a low and dangerous voice. “We will do without your posturing. I’d like to go to the site of the most recent accident and then work our way backward to the first one.”

  “Where in the hell is Waldin?” the construction superintendent snarled, his anger at the safety manager grossly misplaced.

  “Here, sir,” Boran Waldin shouted from down the corridor while jogging toward them.

  “I’m Magistrate Rivka Anoa,” she said to the harried man.

  “I’m the safety manager. If you need anything, I’m at your disposal for the duration of your investigation. I’ll give you copies of everything if you don’t have them already.”

  “I have the investigations you performed, along with pertinent policies, procedures, and regulations. I look forward to talking with you more in-depth.”

  Boran’s shoulders slumped, and he looked at the deck briefly before collecting himself and standing up straight, trying to display a level of confidence he didn’t feel. Rivka watched the dynamics between the three men, then glanced at Jay, who was intently studying them.

  “The most recent accident site, please,” Rivka reiterated, nodding at Boran.

  “Of course, ma’am,” he answered politely. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll need to stop by the safety office and get some required equipment before we can enter the active construction zone.”

  “You could shut down construction instead.” Rivka poked the bear to see how they acted. The superintendent and the administrator both stiffened at the suggestion, and she relented. “If construction interferes, we’ll shut it down, but until then, business as usual.”

  “We’ll try not to get anyone killed today,” Boran grumbled as he turned and walked briskly away. Rivka stepped after him without saying goodbye to management and labor. Red bumped into them on his way past. It hadn’t been intentional. It was a small space.