Last Drop of Hope, Chapter 14 (Patreon)

In the vast black void of space, even the relatively short distance between a planet and its satellites is tremendously expansive and mostly empty. Even with the constant traffic of thousands of ships between Discord and Belzerg, it was actually rather rare for two ships to pass within visual range of one another due to the very nature of orbital mechanics: the optimum path to intercept the other body was to aim where it would be, not where it was, and thus ships coming and going did not take the same paths. Differing accelerations of ships also meant that they would take slightly different angles, which could result in a distance of dozens to thousands of kilometers apart even if they were bound for the same destination and left at similar times.

The end result was that most traffic was actually spread out over a circle around the planet, with ships on a relatively flat plane but on vastly different trajectories. This was normally not a problem, and actually a good thing as it largely made collisions a statistical impossibility.

Now, however, the Guild Hauler was in an increasingly desperate situation, with enemies on all sides, and allies far distant from them. They could not run, as their destination was known and their acceleration hard capped by the need to decelerate at their turnaround point, and they could not hide. While a small ship like the Faitfore could be equipped with systems that reduced their emissions and lowered their profile on LIDAR and RADAR, the Guild Hauler was simply far too massive. It was possible to “run dark” so to speak without active sensors transmitting, and that would make them harder to spot, but when your initial vector and velocity were known that was worse than pointless.

And so, Kazuma watched in helpless horror as the battle slowly, painfully unfolded all around him. The alliances had shaken out quickly, and brutally. NyteTech and Santomon Chemicals had quickly joined together and were actively hunting all other factions, though they were paying special attention to ShopWiz ships. ChimeraTech had found willing allies in Masked Media and the Church of Serenity and was also focusing on ShopWiz targets.

The smallest faction by far, the ShopWiz ships were standing alone. The Cats Eye Group ships were their only possible allies, though that was more because the other two factions were nearly as gleeful in destroying Cats Eye Ships as ShopWiz, though several battles were taking place between the two larger alliances as well.

“Holy hell,” Kazuma whispered, looking at the main display on the bridge.  “How do we survive this?”

He, along with Alice and Lolisa, were standing on the main bridge, where the atmosphere was tense and nervous. Luna was currently resting after a 12-hour watch, and without her crew morale was falling apart. She had been humming or singing, which had a soothing effect that Kazuma could tell was definitely not natural, but had certainly been appreciated.

“More importantly, how does life survive on Belzerg after this?” Lan asked, slumping in the command chair. She’d been given the watch when Luna went to bed, and despite having just come off an 8-hour rest cycle, looked exhausted already. “All the shipping is getting blown to hell. Half the stations are damaged or destroyed. How is anyone going to eat?”

“I confess I am somewhat ignorant of the current state of affairs, but are there not farms or herds on the planet?” Alice asked, motioning to the display. “Should not the rulers of the world be able to feed their peoples?”

“You’ve been asleep for a long time, your Grace,” Lolisa said quietly, looking at Kazuma with hungry eyes. He shifted nervously, and she blushed when she noticed her staring and looked away. “The former Generals poisoned the world when they won. With no gods to renew the world, mana ran out. Magic was gone. With the land increasingly ruined, the water foul, and the air toxic, the food started running out a long time ago.”

Alice looked disturbed at that, and glanced at Kazuma. His nod caused her expression to darken. “Then clearly, they are unfit to rule.”

“All the royal bloodlines were wiped out,” Lolisa said, hanging her head. “I…I didn’t help with that, I was stationed in Axel. It was a little town at the edge of nowhere, then.”

“The town of New Beginnings,” Alice confirmed.

“Axel?” Kazuma asked, frowning and shaking his head. “That’s where I’m from. It’s a dead-end town. The only corporation is ShopWiz, and everyone knows they’re the most worthless…uh…I mean…”

“We know our reputation,” Lan said with a sigh, shaking her head. She looked faintly green at the moment. “We’re the weakest Corporation by far. Everyone says our CEO is an idiot. Even us.”

“Don’t sell Wiz short. She’s the one who’s going to save the planet.”

Everyone turned to see Dust stride onto the bridge, looking worn, but still with a smile on his face. “After all, she’s the one who sent me, the hero, to find Queenie and Kazuma!”

“Queenie?” Kazuma asked, raising an eyebrow at Dust, though Alice looked slightly disturbed.

“Of course! She’s going to be the Queen, right?” Dust said, smiling at Alice.

“I…” Alice turned back to the display, staring at the planet. Her expression hardened. “Yes. The throne requires a ruler. I do not know how but…I cannot let my people starve.”

“I did manage to make some plants bloom,” Kazuma said uncertainly. “Just kudzu, but…”

The crew shifted in their seats, turning to look at Kazuma and Alice, expressions of hope on their faces.

“Yes, Basic Magic is often employed by farmers,” Alice agreed. “It can provide soil and water, both rich in mana to aid in the growth of crops. There are more advanced agricultural spells, but those are the basics,” Alice agreed.

“Actually, we’re already feeding that Kudzu into our systems. It’s edible with the right treatment,” one of the officers said.

A light turned on in Kazuma’s head. “Alice, could YOU cause food to grow?”

“Of course, one of my duties as princess was to bless the harvest. Royal mana always results in the strongest…crops…” Alice put a hand to her head, looking dazed, and Kazuma stepped forward to put a hand on her shoulder.

She took a deep breath and collected herself, then smiled up at him and said in a soft voice, “I apologize. These things come to me, and I have brief flashes of images, of sound, of intense emotion…but I cannot remember all the context. It is as though I have lost myself.”

“That sounds pretty scary,” Kazuma admitted. “But don’t worry. I’ll look out for you. And I can tell you right now: if you can grow food, you’ll never be poor or lack a job. People are desperate for food. Hell, whole gang wars have been fought over a truckload of expired rations.”

“As I said, it is a ruler's job to see to the needs of her people.” Alice turned back to the display, her hands clenching into fists. “If I am truly the last Belzerg, then I will assume the throne, and see to it that the people are provided for, as per the ancient contract.”

“You can remember something it seems,” Kazuma said, giving Iris a lopsided grin. When she looked at him questioningly, he added, “You remember your sense of duty.”

She beamed happily at him and turned to the crew. “Continue towards the rally point! We shall not let these servants of malice prevent us from returning home and saving the people from starvation! Let them flee before our might!”

Something in Alice’s words seemed to hearten the crew, and the mood improved considerably. Then Alice turned back to the plot, a confident look on her face, but she leaned in close to Kazuma. “I do not understand this sort of naval combat. How good are our chances?”

“I’m not an expert in space fighting either, but it doesn’t look good,” he admitted. “We’re outnumbered, and there’s a lot of enemies between us and Belzerg.”

Alice nodded but didn’t shift her expression. She continued to extrude confidence and strength, and Kazuma had to admire her for it.

After a few hours though, it was increasingly obvious that they were going to be intercepted by a pack of NyteTech and Santomon Chemicals ships, two of which were even larger than the Guild Hauler. Tonnage wasn’t everything, as none of the ships were purely military in construction and were closer to Q Ships than anything else. Still, it didn’t look good. When there was less than an hour to contact, Luna came back onto the bridge, looking exhausted, but at least a little better than she had before. She’d had less than six hours of respite, but that appeared to be all she would get.

“It’s a battle we cannot win,” she bluntly told Alice. “We cannot run nor hide. If we try to slug it out, we’ll end up as debris floating in the void. And frankly, your Grace, you dying in a space battle is simply not an option.”

“What would you have me do, run and abandon you and your men? How can I run, and where to?” Alice demanded, glaring at Luna.

“Yes,” Luna said bluntly. “You’re the last, best hope that Belzerg has. Us? We’re literally expendable. There are a million corporate drones ready to replace all of us. But not you. The world is literally dying because your family left, because the gods died. And if there’s even the slightest bit of hope that you can save the world, I am willing to die to give you the chance to do it.”

“Perhaps you are, but are they?” Alice demanded, gesturing broadly to the crew.

Dust stepped forward, and nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I’ve dedicated my whole life to doing. If I gotta die so that others can be free…that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

There was silence after that for a long moment, then Lan cleared her throat. “I’ll be honest…life sucks. Like yeah, we keep on trying and living, but the world is dying. Everyone’s out to get as many credits as they can before the end, but we all know it’s coming. It’s pointless and stupid in the end. But…but if there were actually hope to make things better? Yeah. I guess if you gotta go…that’s something worth dying for.”

The rest of the crew silently nodded. One man stood up and saluted Alice, then spoke. “I got a family back home. I earn enough to keep them fed and clothed, but I know that there isn’t any hope for my kids when they grow up. If I could give them that, give them you…yeah. I’d be worth it.”

Tears were running down Alice’s cheeks now, but she nodded. “I see. Captain Luna, what is your plan?”

Luna sighed heavily. “We have to get you out on the Faitifore. We’ll give you as much cover as we can. We’ll make enough noise that they won’t see you leave.”

“I see.” Alice turned to Dust, ignoring her still damp cheeks. “Can you do this, Sir Dust?”

“I mean, technically, yeah. The Faitifore’s got a seriously good stealth system, but we don’t have a pilot. Taylor’s dead, and while Rin or I could fly if we have to…we’re not on his level.”

“Can you fly?” Alice asked Kazuma seriously

As much as he wanted to say yes, he shook his head. “I’ve never flown a real ship. Rin or Dust would be a better bet than me.”

“Very well. Captain Luna, we require your best pilot,” Alice said, turning to Luna.

“Lan,” Luna said instantly, and several heads nodded.

For her part, Lan looked relieved, but also nervous. “I mean, it’d be pretty shitty of me to leave after saying all that stuff about being willing to die…”

“You’re the best hope of them getting to the surface alive. True or not?” Luna asked the younger woman.

“I mean…Frostflower is pretty good,” Lan said hesitantly.

“She never worked as a smuggler, and you did,” Luna said firmly. “It has to be you.”

“I…” Lan licked her lips and looked to Alice, her expression absolutely miserable.

“Any blame is mine, Lan. I command you to act as my pilot and to help me escape. I am the one abandoning this ship, not you.”

Lan looked incredibly grateful at the words and hastily stood. “I’ll go prep the ship then. Come on, Dust. You know the old girl better than me.”

“Wait,” Alice said, stepping forward. Lan paused, looking uncertain and fearful, but Alice gestured. “Kneel.”

Slowly, Lan did so, and Alice drew her machete. It had been heavily used but had been reforged in the Guild Hauler’s machine shop. Now it looked like an actual sword, more of a saber than the long knife it had been before. It was all of black metal, sharpened to a lethal cutting edge, and with a metal hilt wrapped in a rubber grip. She tapped the flat of the blade on Lan’s shoulder and chanted, “Grant Status.”

Lan gasped, her eyes going wide, and a small spaceship made of light flew around her head.

“I grant you the Unique Class of Pilot; may you fly ever towards freedom, and serve Us well,” Alice pronounced. “Now rise, Pilot, and go to your steed.”

Slowly, Lan stood on shaky legs. “Yes, your Grace.” Then she ran to Luna, embraced her, and ran off, her body shaking slightly.

“I, uh…should I go see to her?” Dust asked awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’ll do it. And check the ship,” Lolisa said. “We don’t have much time.”

After one last farewell to the bridge crew, Alice headed down as well. She paused on the way to Grant Status to a few key ship’s officers and several of the marines, and Kazuma asked her why she couldn’t do it for everyone.

“Truth be told, I am near my limit already,” Alice admitted quietly. “Granting someone status takes a considerable amount of mana. My reserves are vast, but not unlimited.”

“Good to know. You got enough juice left if we get in a scrap?” Kazuma asked.

Alice nodded. “Yes. I have made sure not to do so much as to endanger myself. If I did, their sacrifice would be for naught.”

Once they were aboard, Rin and Keith came and informed them of some bad news. “We found a tracking device on the ship. Two, actually. I think we got both of them, but I’m not sure.”

“They must have planted it when they came into the hold and killed Taylor, the fuckers,” Keith said with a disgusted shake of his head.

“Why do that though?” Lan asked, looking concerned. “Why not just sabotage the ship?”

“The Flesh Shaper is wiley, and knows I am here,” Alice said, her expression grim. “She would not let a prize go so easily.”

“My guess too,” Rin said, shaking her head in disgust. “There’s still a bounty out on my and Lolisa’s heads.”

“Sylvia and Vanir are jealous and dangerous. Don’t underestimate either,” Lolisa said quietly. “I think Sylvia knew what was going to happen to Belzerg, and somehow figured out to make Discord bloom instead.”

Kazuma’s blood ran cold. “The tanks. The tanks were extracting mana…She has to get Alice back. Without her…”

Lolisa looked pained as well, and nodded in agreement. “Discord dies. I think you’re right. It explains a lot. I never really thought about it before. I was too busy…” She absently put a hand to the back of her neck and winced.

“Much evil was done, even to the former allies of the Devil King. I am glad you fight on our side now, Lolisa,” Alice said gently.

Lolisa looked down, blushing. “Thank you, Your Grace. I never thought I’d swear loyalty to a Belzerg, but…honestly, this feels like the first good thing I’ve done in maybe my whole life. And I’ve been alive a very long time.”

After that, Lan finished her checks, and pronounced the ship ready to fly. “I can sort of feel the ship. I have some, uh, weird things I can do now, and it’s like jacking into the ship, but more? Anyway, the ship says she’s fine and wants to make her papa proud.”

“Fatifore can talk?” Dust asked, blinking in perplexity.

“Sort of? It’s more of a feeling,” Lan said, looking uncertain. “I’m not used to this magic stuff. But, well, color me surprised you treated your ship right, Dust.”

Tears filled Dust’s eyes, and he patted a bulkhead affectionately. “You tell my baby girl daddy’s proud, and we’re almost home. She’s done so good. Just a little more.”

“Wow, just when I think you couldn’t be more of a moron,” Keith said with a snort. “Seriously? It’s a ship, Dust. Not a person.”

“She says thank you, and that she doesn’t like Keith because he’s an asshole. Or, well, a ‘big jerk’. I’m not really sure, it’s more emotions than words. It feels like she just woke up honestly,” Lan said, furrowing her brow.

“What a bunch of freaking clowns. Come on, let’s get going. I don’t wanna die today,” Keith said, and turned to go see to some tasks.

“What a freaking asshole,” Kazuma grumbled, not bothering to lower his voice. Keith stiffened but ignored him. “Oh, sorry, Alice.”

“He has not made himself overly endeared to Us either,” Alice sniffed. “Come, Rin. Is there aught I can do to help prepare for our departure?

Dust went to the cockpit with Lan, which left Kazuma in the hold with Lolisa as the hatch sealed and the ship's engines warmed up. He glanced at her, then looked away. Succubi were universally smoking hot, and Lolisa hit all the right buttons for him. She had a cute, sort of ‘girl next door’ vibe, looking more wholesome than Sex on Legs like a lot of succubi did. Still, he didn’t know how to talk to women, and the idea of being around a cute succubus made him nervous.

“I, um, I wanted to apologize,” Lolisa said, glancing at Kazuma. She blushed, and wiped the corner of her mouth. “I…I don’t mean to hit you with the whammy. Sorry. It’s just…It’s been so long since I had mana, and I’m so hungry…”

“We’ve got plenty of food, why don’t you get something to eat? I’ll join you,” Kazuma offered, then kicked himself. She was so out of his league.

“I, ah, I’m not that kind of hungry. You, er…you might call it horny,” Lolisa said, looking away from Kazuma and hugging herself. “And I can’t. I’d lose control. I know it. I…I remember the last man I really took, and…it still makes me sick to think about it. I…I liked Richard. But I was starving. He was willing, but…it’s not fair. Not right. I…I won’t…I can’t…not when there’s real hope for you mortals again.”

“Wait, so you mean…” things slowly ticked over Kazuma’s mind, and he blushed. “Oh, uh, I didn’t realize. Is it like Rin and Dust? I mean, I’m not actually volunteering! It’s just, I mean, you’re cute, but-”

“Kazuma. Please. Stop. I…I can be your friend. That’s all. I fed off the prisoners we captured. It’s not the same as actually taking a man, but…I won’t starve,” Lolisa said, shuddering, her back still to him. “And trust me. You don’t want anything to do with me.”

“Why, because you’re chipped?” Kazuma asked, feeling himself flush. “Fuck those guys. You’re not worthless because of what they did to you. They would have done it to all of us if they thought they could make two credits more than if they didn't.”

“No, it’s…” Lolisa half turned, her expression pained. “You don’t know what I am, do you?”

“You’re a succubus,” Kazuma said, frowning in confusion. “Right?”

“You don’t know what that means. I…” she licked her lips. “I’m sorry. Please. I need…I can’t…” She turned around and fled. Kazuma half raised his hand and almost spoke, but then he lowered his hand back to his side.

What was the point? He was just some loser. At least she hadn’t told him he was disgusting. Friends was something, right?

“You keep telling yourself that,” Kazuma muttered, and went to see if he could be helpful. Not that he expected a janitor’s skills would be much use.

The Faitifore departed the Guild Hauler without much fanfare, sliding out of the compartment along with a great deal of cargo. It was supposed to look like the ship was getting rid of any excess mass to allow for better maneuverability during combat, something Lan said a lot of other ships were doing.

“It’s technically against corporate regulations, but in a brawl like this, people are getting desperate. A lot of old grudges, and a lot of money to be made salvaging hulks,” Lan said with a shake of her head. “So damn stupid and greedy. The whole world is crazy.”

After a short time, Lan ignited their engines, there wouldn’t be much in the way of visible light emitted, or a radiation signature. They were in the wash of the Guild Hauler’s much more massive and “noisy” engines, and with the battle going on, the small emissions that the Faitifore put out would be essentially invisible.

They pulled away from the impending battle, and Kazuma wished he could send one last farewell to Luna and the others, but it was impossible.

“Eris, Lady of Fortune, watch over your sons and daughters this day. Give them luck in battle, and misfortune to their foes. Let your light guide us through this dark night, that the next day might dawn the brighter,” Alice prayed, her voice soft, but firm.

It wasn’t like any of the prayers Kazuma had heard before. Prayers to Regina, the deity of the Church of Serenity, always involved some sort of transaction. You also basically had to pay off a priest to even have a hope that Regina would hear you, and the requests she granted were nearly always nasty. Prayers were said in spite and anger, not hope. Kazuma had to admit, he liked this sort better, even if he wasn’t one to pray.

“Hold together, Luna, hold together,” Dust whispered, pumping his fist in the direction they’d come from.

Over the next hour, the battle unfolded. Slowly at first, a few long-range pot shots as the parties slowly danced together, the Guild Hauler trying to flee, the enemy trying to cut them off. They were coming in at an oblique angle, one that would give them maximum time on their intercept to really maul the Guild Hauler.

Then the smaller craft surged forward, most of them blotted out by the Guild Hauler. A few made contact, but there was no sign of what happened aboard, aside from one small explosion that blew out a compartment. It was nail biting stuff, and Kazuma knew that the worst was yet to come.

Then, the other highliners got into range. The first was a Santomon ship, one that was even bigger than the Guild Hauler by almost 100 meters. It was bulkier as well, and its massive railgun’s first shot tore a huge chunk out of the Guild Hauler. The ship, already damaged, limped on, and returned fire. The slugging match continued at extreme range for several agonizing minutes, until suddenly, a massive fireball bloomed from the Santomon ship, and it cracked in half.

“They hit life support!” Dust cheered, and the crew of the Faitifore whooped in excitement. The Guild Hauler was continuing on, damaged, but alive.

Then the two NyteTech highliners found their range. The barrage of fire they exchanged was brutal, and this time, the Guild Hauler was just too damaged. She was losing acceleration, half her weapons were destroyed or offline, and the ship looked like it had been put through a blender. Kazuma felt his heart sink, as the ship slowly died.

Then, a transmission came, and Lan put it on screen. It was Luna, and she was singing, belting out a song while she stood on her bridge, fire and dead crewmembers all around her.

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Suddenly, the Guild Hauler swung about on a crazy turn that practically ripped the ship in half. Luna yelled in triumph, her song cutting off as the compartment was breached.

“What’s she doing!?” Dust shouted, holding a sobbing Rin tight in his arms. Kazuma was crying too, holding on to Alice as she wept into his chest as well.

“Winning,” Lan said grimly. “Damn. You did it, you crazy bitch.”

As Kazuma watched, the two other ships tried to turn, but their battle had brought them close to the Guild Hauler. The sudden turn had torn the ship in half and killed her, but Luna had known what she was doing. The front half of the ship headed right for one of the NyteTech ships, which dodged out of the way, made easy by the crazy spin of the wreck.

But the rear half still had power somehow, and shot forward with its lower mass, right for the other highliner. It too tried to dodge, but it was going too fast, and was too close. The aft of the Guild Hauler plowed into the NyteTech ship, and for an instant, a new star bloomed in the sky as the ships slammed into one another and vaporized. It was so bright the display automatically dimmed, and the canopy shuttered itself to block out the glare.

When it faded, the Guild Hauler was completely gone, and the second NyteTech highliner was limping away, losing power and venting atmosphere from dozens of damaged compartments.

“She did it. We’re home free,” Lan rasped, sniffing and wiping her nose on her sleeve. “Rest in pieces, you bastards. Thanks, Captain.”

There was a moment of silence as Kazuma and the others mournfully watched the display, then he jerked. The surviving enemy ships were changing course. Right for the Faitifore.

“It’s a coincidence, right?” Kazuma asked nervously.

“They’re probably just aiming for Belzerg like us. I’ll alter course slightly, they’ll miss us by a million clicks,” Lan said confidently, and altered their trajectory.

But the enemy ships matched the course correction, and Lan swore.

“Fuck. They’re after us. How do they see us?! How-”

She stiffened. “Faitifor says someone’s broadcasting onboard!” She looked around wildly. “There’s a stowaway!”

Dust and Kazuma darted from the cockpit, but even as they did so, they heard a cry of pain.

“YOU ASSHOLE!” Lolisa shrieked. A moment later, they found her with Keith pinned to the wall, a small transceiver in her hands.

“Keith!?” Dust gasped. “What-”

“Fuck you all!” Keith laughed. “You’re a loser Dust! You always bet on the wrong side! And fuck you, bitch! You should have let me have my reward! I’ll make sure they turn your chip on, and give you to me as my-”

“Keith,” Lolisa said, her voice suddenly reverberating slightly. Kazuma and Dust staggered, both of them moaning, but not as much as Keith, who was staring at Lolisa, drooling. She kissed him, full on the lips, and Kazuma felt a surge of anger and jealousy. Why wasn’t that him?!

“Keith. You love me, right?” Lolisa crooned, stroking his cheek. “Tell me. What did you do?”

“M-made a deal,” Keith stammered. “A-Alice and K-kazuma. They wanted both. S-sold them out, promised me a b-billion each. I’ll live like a king…”

“But why?” Dust groaned, panting and wiping his forehead as his sweat floated away in the microgravity. “We were friends…”

“You should have shared Rin,” Keith said dully. “Or let me have Lolisa. Not fair you got all the-”

Dust sprang off the bulkhead, his fist slamming into Keith’s jaw so hard blood, spittle, and a tooth came out. “THEY’RE FREE, YOU BASTARD! THEY CHOOSE! BECAUSE WE CAN SAY NO! THEY CAN’T!”

“Uck ‘oo. Self-righteous prick!” Keith spat, blood and foam spraying. “I’ll be ‘ich, and you’ll be-”

Lolisa pulled Keith to her, and kissed him again, more deeply. Kazuma felt that raging jealousy, and found himself floating forward, wanting Lolisa to do that to him.

Then he saw Keith deflating. His skin lost its color, and he started to age and shrivel up, his hair floating away as it turned gray. Starting, Kazuma jerked back, horrified. Lolisa saw, and pulled herself off of Keith, panting. There was a wet spot on Keith’s pants, and Kazuma was pretty sure the other man hadn’t wet himself. He was moaning in pleasure, reaching for Lolisa.

“That’s right. More. Give me more. I deserve it,” Keith croaked.

“No. I’m not going to dirty myself by eating you,” Lolisa spat. She pushed herself away from Keith. “Throw him out the airlock, but I’m not eating him. I’m done with that.”

Suddenly, Lolisa saying she was horny and hungry was a lot more ominous sounding in Kazuma’s head, and he shied away from her. She saw, and tears filled her eyes. “I wouldn’t…not to you! You have to believe me! I…oh hell…I’m a demon! STAY AWAY FROM ME!” With a flap of her wings, she shot out of the compartment.

Kazuma saw Alice in the doorway, watching Lolisa go. The little girl shook her head, uncertain. “I have not seen…she stopped herself. She really has had a change of heart. Odd, to consider a demon more of an ally than this creature.”

Alice moved forward, hovering in front of the mostly insensate Keith. She regarded him for a moment, then looked to Dust. “What does throwing him out the airlock mean?”

“We put him out into space. He’ll be dead in moments,” Dust explained.

Alice nodded. “Activate his transponder, then do so. He will be rewarded as a traitor deserves.”

Feeling sick, Kazuma helped Dust activate the transponder, then towed Keith to an escape pod. They locked the man inside, with Dust giving him a kick for good measure. “More than you deserve, asshole.”

“You gonna kill him first?” Kazuma asked.

Dust hesitated. “No. Besides, it might, you know, have a biometrics signature. Maybe he’ll lead them off us. When they see…maybe they’ll recover him, maybe not. Shit man. He was my friend. Or…I thought he was…”

“Yeah…” Kazuma nodded and hit the eject button. The escape pod shot away, and he said a prayer of his own.

Please, let them follow it.

About 10 minutes later, the enemy ships altered course to track the escape pod. Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

“We’re home free,” Lan said, chuckling nervously.

Kazuma felt a sinking sensation. “Please, please tell me you didn’t just trip a flag…”

Half an hour later, a laser shot out, and destroyed the escape pod. And the enemy ships began to close on the Faitifore again. They were less than two hours out.