Randolph Lalonde - Awakening

Ayan Rice, as he knew her, was a kind, intelligent and driven young woman half his age, in her mid to late thirties. The search for a cure went on, but no news of new treatments had arrived since they departed Freeground half a year ago.

When the first message about Jonas Valent arrived, Major Rice had assumed command and guided their engine tests towards the Thadd system. It would take them less than three weeks to get there, even using some of the new technology, but she needed to try and reach him even though the chance of Freeground calling them back was high. He didn't agree with her motivation or the change of course, and entered his objection into the record, but she was his senior officer, and her assumption of command removed him from any potential repercussions.

The order to turn around had come three days ago, and Major Rice had relinquished command even though it wasn't necessary for her to do so. Not even she would jeopardize the Special Projects Program by disregarding a direct order. It would most likely be her legacy, after all.

“I'll review the details from Fleet Intelligence in your ready room if that's all right,” Ayan said quietly.

“Be my guest,” he invited.

She walked to the back of the busy bridge followed closely by Laura. The ready room was brightly lit and its furniture was white and gold. The first thing she did whenever she used the room was dim the lights. The colours, or lack thereof, gave her a headache.

Ayan eased herself into one of the desk chairs. She was a small woman, under five foot four and was a little underweight for her size but after standing for a few hours she felt like she weighed a ton. Sitting down felt so good. “Bring up the transmission again, we need to look at Freeground Intelligence's assessment and response if there was one.”

“Are you sure you shouldn't be laying down?” Laura asked as she took a seat across from her and brought up the information.

Ayan shot her a look. “I got enough of that from Doctor Anderson before he left.”

The recruitment hologram for Aucharians privateering effort came up between them. Ayan paused it and brought up a list of attachments from Freeground. “The time stamp confirms it, this transmission was originally broadcast eight days ago. At least we know where his home port is.”

“I know you want to bring him back, or at least show him the way back home, but what if he's so heavily reprogrammed that there just isn't any Jonas left? He's been gone so long that Vindyne could have done anything to him.”

“I've seen the security footage and the records Intelligence were able to dig up. I know he's not the same, but if this is him, and everything I am tells me it is, I need him to know he has a home. That there are people who care about him.”

“Look at how different he is. The Jonas I knew isn't the man I'm seeing there.”

“Look at his armour. Those strands of metal aren't just extra protection. They're emitters. Remind you of anything?” Ayan pointed out as she brought up a still image from the recruitment video. “And I gave him that scarf when we were just getting close.”

“I remember,” Laura zoomed in a little closer so she could examine the strands of metal on his chest. “I'll be, those are just a bigger version of the emitters I was redesigning into the cloaksuits on the First Light. I never finished it, but I know he got a look at my specs.”

“He remembers something and I just hope that we can help him remember more.”

“If you send him anything from all the way out here it could be intercepted by almost anyone. You'd be giving them whatever information you intend for him.”

Ayan stared at the image of Jake Valance. Her frustration threatened to bubble to the surface. “Almost eight years. He sacrificed everything so we could make it home. Now we know how to get to him and we're sitting on the fastest ship in the fleet.”

“We can't turn around again, you know-”

“I know our orders. We have to get the prototype drive system back to Freeground so they can examine it and put the Midland back into service.”

“Meanwhile Oz is taking command of the First-”

“She's the Sunspire again, now that she's in the regular fleet.”

Laura went on. “Like I was saying; Oz is taking the Sunspire and going after him. You know he'll be home in no time.”

“It'll take them seven weeks to get there, even with a wormhole.”

“That's unless we take the Special Projects team aboard and implement a version of the wormhole hyperdrive technology. It's the only thing missing on her. You know fleet would go for it, especially since the Sunspire is going to be a front line carrier again.”

“Well, that would give you a reason to join the crew,” Ayan said, her mood lifting a little.

“Jason could put in for a transfer from his post in Fleet Intelligence, she's an important ship.”

“I'm sure Oz would love to have you guys aboard his bridge. It's too bad I can't work with the crew in engineering.”

“You won't be able to get a post in engineering but if you're directing Special Projects you can work from your quarters if you like.”

“It was a miracle they cleared me for this trip. If I managed to get clear for another it would be as a short term passenger.”

Laura took her long time friend's hands in hers. “You have to come. You're the closest he has to real family.”

“It's like our time aboard the First Light was a dream sometimes. He was just learning to be a Captain, we were just learning to be with each other.”

“They still study some of our engagements at the academy. You should see the faces of the nuggets when the instructors tell them that we crewed that ship with only two hundred. The Fleet wants him back, you need him back, and everyone who served on Captain Valent's bridge feels like they're missing a member of their family.”

“I just feel like I'm running out of time.”

It was something Laura tried not to think about. Her friend was dying. The genetic flaws that had been embedded into Ayan before she was born were causing her internal organs to slowly fail. Replacement and regeneration were only delaying the inevitability. Cures were still months or years off. “Positively, you have to think positively.”

Ayan forced a smile and nodded. “I know.”

“We'll find him and you'll have plenty of time to remind him of where he comes from.”

“I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid or crazy in the meantime.”

The Bridge of the Bakersfield was a modest, clean and simple space. There was a pilot's station, communications, navigation and engineering. Captain Tasha Pauley had been in Jake Valance's employ as her Captain for over two years. He had never asked anything special of her or the crew.

All she had to do was take on safe, legal cargo, transport it, collect the cash and send him his share. It was easy work, if not the most exciting job she ever had. Excitement wasn't something she craved any longer, however. She had served on the Samson before retiring to the Bakersfield and saw plenty of action.

When he contacted her and asked that they perform one task for the Samson and leave the sector her curiosity was piqued despite the sense of dread she kept suppressed. The offer he had for her was enormous.

She had moved into the Bakersfield, more than anywhere else in the universe it was home to her and he knew it. For three quarters of what the ship was worth he was willing to sell it to her. With the partnership of her pilot she accepted the offer.

This short trip would be the last time she would take orders from Captain Valance. Part of her was relieved, but to her surprise she realized she would miss him. Even though they never ran into real trouble as a hauler, it was good knowing that he was there to bail them out if they needed help.