Page 42 of Rescued

30

HEROD

We were getting closer to our destination. Somewhere up ahead, the Patrol’s retired ships loomed in the darkness. It was an invitation of sorts, or a dare. Did we or did we not have the gumption to take back what should have been ours all along? Did we believe we had what it takes to outthink them and outrun them?

The closer we got, the more inclined I was to say yes. I knew there would be a battle to fight before it was all said and done, and right now, that was just the thing I needed to get my head on straight. There would be no worrying over Caimbrie’s tears in the heat of battle. There would be no wondering if Adreax was right when the bullets were flying. It would just be me and this old ship again. Just like always.

“Shift’s over, chief,” Nikathy said, sidling up beside me in the cockpit and handing me a cold drink.

“Not tired yet,” I insisted, taking a sip and trying to ignore how much that little jolt of sugar rushed to my head.

“Give it up, Herod. You need a rest before we go in. I’ll make sure to wake you before the shooting starts.”

I was reluctant to hand the ship over to him again. Not because I didn’t think he could handle her, but because I didn’t want to be left alone with my thoughts. At least here I had plenty to distract me. But back in my bunk, all I had was painful memories and questions. In fact, I had more questions now than I did before.

Since Adreax’s call, I couldn’t get the image of Caimbrie crying out of my head. It was hard to believe that she was crying over me. And yet, it was entirely implausible that Adreax had made it up just to taunt me. He couldn’t have known how his words would affect me.

Nikathy stared down at me expectantly, waiting for me to get out of his way. I sighed and relented, standing and pushing past him so he could take over.

I paused at the door, trying to think of something to say. I thought I should say something encouraging, or give him some kind of reminder that I was the captain of this ship. But in the end, there was nothing that needed saying, so I left after a moment without adding anything.

If Nikathy wanted me to rest, I was not about to let him down. My dreams were filled with visions of war. I knew this fight would be nothing like the one in which I’d found Caimbrie, but my mind filled in the gaps with images of her waiting to be rescued around every corner. I woke suddenly with my heart pounding in my chest and my muscles tense.

“Easy, brother. It’s just me.”

I grunted, closing my eyes and shaking my head to wipe away the dreams. It was just Nikathy.

“Where are we?” I asked, rubbing my hands over my face to wake myself the rest of the way.

“Almost there. We’re just in view of the ships. Would you like to see our prize?”

That got my attention. I was up and moving in an instant, following Nikathy back to the cockpit so I could take my first glance at the ship I would soon be piloting. I thought greedily of the power that came with such a large ship. There was prestige, both for being its pilot, and for having pulled off such a theft from the Patrol. I could have it all.

And what would Caimbrie think?

The ship was beautiful. Actually, it wasn’t. It was horribly ugly in its current Patrol accoutrements, but it could be made beautiful. It had all the trappings of a floating fortress, and with the right dressings, it could be a shining star in the sky.

“What will we call her?” I asked, arms crossed over my chest as I watched her slowly crossing before us.

“I’m sure we’ll think of something fitting,” Nikathy answered quietly.

We were both awed by the prospect of having such a ship in our possession. It wasn’t real yet. But when the time felt right, she would earn her name just like any other ship, and we would christen her with a fresh paint job.

“Is it time?”

“Almost. Get yourself ready.”

---