“Of course we have been truthful,” Krish insists. “Have you not been?”
Curran snorts. “It’s not quite that simple. I’ve been honest with you. Commander has been honest with you. But there are also things we haven’t told you.” He pauses. “And the truth is, the fact that you killed Lianov is creating a lot of problems for the Commander.” He holds up a hand to stop us from saying anything for a moment. “I don’t personally blame you for it. Between us, I think he deserved a lot worse than a quick, bloody end. But Lianov had powerful friends who are making things difficult for the Commander. Claiming she should be blamed for his death for not protecting him from you. Shit like that.”
“No one could have protected him from Davix,” I say. “He is the fiercest of all of us.”
“I believe that,” Curran replies. “But it’s not what I think, or what the Commander thinks, that matters. What matters is what the Council decides. And until or unless the Fixers can crack Lianov’s system, there’s limited proof of what he was doing. He’s always wriggled his way out of charges or gotten off easy because he claimed to not know the origin of the illegally obtained items and creatures in his possession.” Curran chuckles. “The fact that this time some of those illegally obtained creatures are sentient makes things more complicated, but it’s still essentially your word against that of Lianov’s crew who are claiming they somehow knew nothing about the contraband on board.” Curran runs a hand over his bald head. “Anyway, the bottom line is that some on the Council are claiming that the Commander has been too friendly with you and that it’s affecting her judgement.”
“Friendliness is bad?” Krish asks softly.
Curran shrugs. “At the moment, it's inconvenient. But knowing what the three of you went through is also driving her a lot harder to justify Lianov’s death and make sure his accomplices pay. I think she feels like it’s a little personal, which is unusual for her.”
“I did not realize that we were making things more difficult for Corrina,” I say solemnly. “She has been kind to us. I do not like the idea of her being friendly with us causing problems.”
“I don’t like it either,” Curran agrees. “But you can do something about it. Keep a low profile. Maybe stick to your quarters for a few days. The Fixers are so close. Soon they’ll have the evidence we need.”
“We can stay in our quarters,” I say, glancing at Davix and Krish. They nod in response.
When Curran has gone, I turn to my brood brothers. “I also do not like the idea of spending time with us causing problems for Corrina,” Krish says. “It is pleasant to be near her. I wish to spend more time with her.”
I nod in agreement and am pleasantly surprised when Davix gives a curt nod as well.
Chapter Seventeen: Corrina
I’m standing in front of the council trying my best to maintain a neutral expression. “You keep promising evidence that will support your argument from your Fixer team,” Councilor Vertage is saying in his arrogant, nasally voice that makes me want to punch him right in the throat. “But it’s been days since this hearing started and we’re still waiting.”
“I understand that, Councilor,” I reply through gritted teeth. “But these are complicated security systems, and my team is getting very close.”
“Are they?” he asks, leaning back in his chair. “Or are you wasting this committee’s time instead of accepting responsibility for your failure to protect an innocent man from violent creatures? Creatures who are still roaming this base, I might add.”
I take a deep breath and pray to all my ancestors for patience. I always knew Vertage was going to be the biggest problem. He and Lianov were friends for decades, and Vertage has always been one of the first to proclaim Lianov’s so-called innocenceand help make previous charges disappear. I have no doubt that if, make that WHEN, the Fixers crack Lianov’s systems that Vertage is going to be among the list of clients. But until or unless I can prove it, it’s just my own suspicions and instincts against Vertage’s position.
“You say that as if these creatures – haleens – have shown any aggression whatsoever beyond the death of Lianov. I’ve seen vids of them playing catch in the park with children,” one of the other councilors says. I stifle a grateful smile at Councilor Zahra. She’s been the most supportive of my argument, perhaps in part because she’s been a part of numerous other hearings where Lianov managed to weasel out with a fine or a slap on the wrist. “And my understanding is that they are still essentially confined to the base and under constant guard.”
“That is correct,” I say with a grateful nod.
Vertage grunts dismissively. Before he can say anything else insulting about me or Lianov’s victims, Councilor Zahra continues. “At any rate, it has been a long day. I suggest that we adjourn and resume tomorrow morning.” Several of the other councilors agree before Vertage can object. I nod to the councilors and exit the room.
I’m surprised to see Ensign Liu still at his desk when I arrive at my office a few moments later. I glance at my wrist – he would usually be off-duty for an hour at this time. He stands as I approach and I realize there is another person in the office. “Commander,” Liu greets me. “This is Fixer Jameel. She insisted that she needed to see you as soon as possible.”
I glance at the woman as she stands up. She is a good bit taller than me with jet black hair and chestnut-brown skin. Her hands are clasped tightly together as she nods at me. “Commander,” she says softly.
I nod. “Why don’t you step into my office?” I say, gesturing towards the door. I glance at Liu. I’d dismiss him, but I doubt he’s going to leave with a strange soldier in my office. As if to prove my point, he pulls a sidearm from a drawer and sets it on his desk before turning his chair to face my office.
I appreciate his vigilance while I hope it won’t be needed. “Jameel, is it?” I say, stepping into my office and moving behind my desk. I close the door, but leave the privacy filter off so Liu can see everything that is happening inside. “What is it that you needed to see me about?”
“I’ve asked around about you,” she says. “I’m new to the team, but everyone here has good things to say about you. That you’re honest and fair. That you take your role and your responsibility seriously. That you really are trying to make this base, and the surrounding space, a better place.”
I’m a little puzzled by her statements. “I certainly like to think so. What exactly is this about?”
Jameel reaches a fist slowly towards my desk and opens her fingers. A tiny, glinting square drops from her palm onto the open surface. “This is an unraveler,” she says quietly. “I found it on my workstation this afternoon. I would never have looked for anything like it because the Fixer work room is secured. I onlysaw it because I dropped an earring and had to crawl onto the floor to retrieve it.”
I stare down at the innocuous looking square. “An unraveler?” I ask, confused.
“It’s a subtle yet sophisticated device used to sabotage complex operations and processes,” she explains. “Like the ones the whole team has been running to try to break through the systems on Captain Lianov’s ship.”
All the air goes out of the room for a moment as I process this new information. I kept getting reports that the Fixer team was close, and yet they could never seem to quite break through. And this tiny little bit of wire and metal could be the reason why. “Who else knows about this?” I ask quietly.
“No one,” Jameel says, shaking her head. “Like I said, I’m a new transfer to the team. I don’t know any of them very well yet.”
