Epilogue

The Warden viewed the recent report with some interest. It seemed Oboron had been bombarding the Polity with queries and threats for some time now. Apparently Vrost had broken his contact with the Third Kingdom as he took his ship out of the Spatterjay system, and had not been in communication since. The information Sniper had gathered was just part of the story. Obviously, like Oboron and all his kin, Vrell had been changed by the Spatterjay virus. But this report now put the final touch to the story.

‘The real Vrell was not aboard his father’s ship when it destructed,’ the AI sent. ‘He in fact boarded Vrost’s ship in the guise of a King’s guard.’

‘Ding dong. Correct answer and zero points for effort.’

‘What are you doing down there, Sniper?’

‘Just introducing someone to an adapted version of “attitude”,’ the old drone replied.

‘Sniper, I have one of my sat-eyes poised directly above you, and there is currently no cloud cover, so there is no point in you being disingenuous. Thirteen, if you would allow me visual access?’

After a delay, presumably during which the little drone and the old drone had some discussion or argument, the link established and the Warden gazed from Thirteen’s eyes.

‘Meet Vrell,’ said Sniper, laconically.

The old drone and the Prador war drone were now cruising slowly above the ocean. Both of them were battered and scorched.

‘What do you intend to do with your prisoner?’ the AI asked.

‘I just recruited him,’ replied Sniper. ‘You got a job for him?’

‘I doubt a Prador war drone would best serve the interests of the Polity.’

‘Oh, they ain’t so different really. Scrap a bit of the conditioning, wipe standing orders, and in goes “attitude”—I think you’ll find him useful.’

‘And it has itself agreed to this?’

‘Not really, but I established a programming link while I was repairing him.’

‘Please route me through to that drone directly.’

As Sniper obliged, the Warden paused before asking, ‘Vrell, do you wish to serve the Polity?’

‘Yeah, fucking right!’

‘And how best do you think you might serve the Polity?’

‘Give me something to destroy!’

‘Oops,’ said Sniper, quickly breaking communication.

In its silicon heart the Warden sighed—and it would have shaken its head had it possessed one. The AI then turned its attention to one of its subminds. SM2, the metre-long iron turbot, was again working as a vending tray in the concourse of the Coram base, but this time at the Warden’s behest.

* * * *

Janer took his drink from the distinctly fishy floating tray, took a cautious sip, then eyed the tray as it drifted over to serve the sofa opposite.

Taking her own drink, Erlin asked, ‘So what are your plans?’

‘We will return to Hive,’ said Isis Wade, who was seated on the sofa beside Janer. ‘I am now the singular owner of some property there.’

Wade was now fully restored, in a physical sense, though there now seemed to Erlin a lack of the former surety in his speech. But it was open to conjecture whether that resulted from deliberate emulation or some more deep-rooted cause.

‘But why are you going?’ Erlin directed the question at Janer.

‘I’ve been there before a couple of times, but only visited part of it, so there’s a whole world still to see. You know,’ Janer closed his free hand into a fist and bumped it against his temple, ‘gotta keep busy.’

Erlin responded with a measured nod—indeed, how well she knew that.

‘Shut the fuck up,’ Janer muttered to the carry case affixed on his shoulder.

Erlin grinned, almost able to guess what the hive mind was saying to him—probably some sarcastic comment about Janer’s ‘busy-ness’. She then glanced beyond him towards a commotion on the other side of the concourse. ‘Here they come.’

Janer and Wade turned simultaneously.

Even though the concourse was not particularly crowded, the people occupying it moved sharply out of the approaching party’s way. Erlin then noticed some of the Polity citizens groping in pockets for their holocams. Their fascination was understandable, as four Old Captains together in one place was not a common sight. It was certainly an impressive one.

Ambel, Ron, Drum and Orbus—they strolled along with leisurely power, appearing utterly dominant, as if they could rip this moon base apart with their bare hands. Forlam, not yet having attained such great age, just looked dangerous and edgy alongside them. Crewman Drooble still bore the smiling expression of the mildly demented. Keech alone seemed utterly normal and human amidst them, while his prisoner, Bloc, almost faded into insignificance. Even as this diverse bunch arrived at the bar, the turbot vending tray was returning laden with big mugs of seacane rum. Janer glanced at Wade and raised an eyebrow.

‘Old Captains are always thirsty,’ Wade explained, having summoned the tray by internal radio.

While the new arrivals gathered round them, only Keech held back.

‘My slot is nearly due,’ he announced. ‘I should say my goodbyes now.’

‘Then say them, lad,’ said Ambel. ‘Just give him to me.’

As Ambel grabbed Bloc’s shoulder, the man stared up at him, terrified. Erlin considered what was in store for him: forensic examination and interrogation by AI, then inevitably mindwipe. But perhaps Bloc somehow thought he would escape that fate. However, there would be no such mercy if he remained here in the hands of the Old Captains.

‘It’s been as interesting as ever.’ Keech shook hands all round. Then, eyeing Janer and Erlin, ‘I will see you again, perhaps.’

Retrieving Bloc from Ambel’s firm grasp he slapped that Old Captain on the shoulder. ‘Stay well, Ambel.’ Then he herded his prisoner off towards the runcible embarkation lounge.

‘We should be moving as well.’ Wade stood up.

‘Yeah.’ Janer quickly rose too.

The vending tray, now empty, abruptly swooped in on them. When Janer looked up, it was hovering only a metre in front of his face.

‘Janer Cord Anders,’ it announced, ‘you seem to have forgotten something.’

‘I beg your pardon?’

The tray opened two small laser ports situated on its underside.

‘You’re just no fun,’ grumbled Janer. He removed the singun from his jacket and tossed it onto the tray. ‘Can we go now?’

The tray floated higher. ‘Of course.’

Janer said only brief goodbyes, until he came to Erlin.

‘Will you ever come back here?’ she asked him.

Grinning widely, he took hold of her chin and kissed her hard on the mouth.

‘Oh definitely,’ he said, and turned away.

Feeling slightly discomfited, Erlin watched them disappear after Keech and Bloc. Ambel sat down beside her, studying her with some amusement, before both turned their attention to Captain Ron, who was still standing, arms akimbo, conversing with Captain Orbus.

‘Are you sure about this?’ he asked.

‘I’m sure,’ Orbus growled, then glanced at Drooble. ‘We’ve been on that ocean too long. We’ve got to do something new.’

‘And can you?’ asked Ron.

Orbus looked directly at Erlin as he said, ‘The change, it twists you round. Mostly that’s bad, but sometimes it twists you right.’ Feeling further discomfiture, Erlin found she could not meet his gaze. Returning his attention to Ron, he continued, ‘I’ve done some bad things in my life. But not any more.’

Ron nodded contemplatively, then slowly removed a palm console from a capacious pocket of his canvas trousers. He handed it to Orbus. ‘It’s all there: the manifest and the contract with the owners. They’ve no pilots out this way, so they’re glad to have you on board. Their only real requirement is that you get the Gurnard back in one piece.’

Orbus accepted the console, grabbed Drooble by the shoulder and turned away, heading for the spaceport airlocks.

‘How can Ron trust him?’ Erlin muttered to Ambel.

Ambel smiled. ‘We Captains, we’re old—we know how to judge people.’

‘Yes, I suppose.’

‘What about you? Are you staying or leaving?’ he asked.

‘I’ll stay—if you have the patience, and the time for me.’

‘I’ve got plenty of both,’ the Old Captain replied.