Chapter 07

Idris hit the switch to trigger a circuit test on the latest repair he had been working on. Initially, it seemed to work, but he heard another piece burn out with a fresh, popping noise, indicative of a new problem. Before he could restrain himself, he had smashed the spanner against the bulkhead a few times, before regaining the presence of mind to rein himself in again. He sighed, wriggling out of the access tube he had been sprawled out in for the last hour. At this rate, they could get under way just before every glimpse of light or heat went out in the universe. He shut his eyes, steeling himself as he prepared to try the last option that he felt he still had left. He did not know if they would answer, but he also could not think of anything else he could do if they chose to ignore him.

He grumbled as he made his way back to the cockpit to try his communications array. He took a moment to be grateful that that component, and his life support, had not decided to abandon them. At least not yet. He turned down the last leg he had to walk to get back to his chair and almost jumped back in surprise when he found Brynn asleep. He assumed that she'd woken up and went to find him...and then realized that considering any other possibility, like that she moved here in her sleep, was too disconcerting for him to dwell on.

He rubbed his hand down his face and shook his head. A very big part of him seriously considering just waiting to see if someone surprised him with a rescue if it meant he could avoid having to face her right now.

He began punching up systems on the console, drafting a communique, and then hesitated, staring at the console a long moment before finally transmitting. He leaned back in his chair and caught himself sinking into the despair his circumstances brought him to. He knew it could always be worse, but he felt like it was about as bad as things had ever been. Then Brynn stirred a little and he realized that if he were forced to choose between suddenly dropping dead before she woke up or to having to face her when she awoke, he'd find himself seriously evaluating the virtues of either option.

He did not doubt for a moment that Moranna was delighting in the anguish she had set him up for. Nor did he doubt that she'd done it intentionally, making sure the situation with Brynn now felt almost indistinguishably similar to the mess she'd left him with last time.

A notification trilled from the console, breaking him out of his lamentation. He arched one eyebrow, pleasantly surprised almost to the point of outright skepticism, and then leave forward to accept the incoming signal. The image came up on the view screen and Idris' felt his eyes go wide as he saw their face. The man seemed momentarily surprised to discover Idris was not alone. "Captain Chariton. Oh... Sorry. I didn't realize..." He shut his mouth for a moment, and then tried to recover. "Is this a good time?"

"Tiber, despite any evidence to the contrary, I would not describe what's going on as anything even resembling 'a good time.' But I appreciate your efforts to be courteous about it. I feel like I could simplify the situation down to the words 'unpleasant surprise.'"

The other man gave Idris a long suffering look, then continued. "If I had known you were going to be in the area, I could have tried to help, but I had no reason to suspect my help with be wanted."

"Oh. Really. And just what would you have done?"

The other man sat patient for a moment, and then Idris spoke again. He waved a dismissive hand at the screen and shook his head. "Sorry. I'm afraid I'm not in the best mood at the moment, Admiral."

"I'm sure I'm not only one who would understand that. Are you at least safe for the morning? Do you have life support?"

"Yes. For the moment. But I feel like the clock is counting down on that. Any chance you can help me with a retrieval? I'm by no means asking for a new ship, but I most certainly do not seem able to complete the necessary repairs to get all the lights back on."

The man considered for a moment and then nodded once. "Yes. I'm sure arrangements can be made. But I have to ask: what are your more long-term plans, especially given recent developments?"

Idris made a face. "I...I haven't decided."

The admiral nodded slowly. "I understand. I just want to remind you that more than one option is available. Think about it "

"I already am. Count on it. In the meantime..."

The admiral nodded. "Yes. For now, let's get you towed to safety. I can meet up with you to compete your debriefing."

"That's certainly acceptable to me."

"Thank you. However..."

Idris looked a question at him, but said nothing.

"Well, the things is: I'm afraid that Avenger is the only vessel even remotely close to your coordinates. And that's considering it might be as long as two days before you see them."

Idris stared back at him without making a sound and the admiral shrugged at him in response. Idris nodded once, and then nodded a little less hesitantly. "Alright. We'll just...wait here as fast as we can."

The admiral's expression seemed to relax a little and he nodded his head once in confirmation. "Good. I'm hoping to rendezvous in less than a week, hopefully as shortly after you're picked up as we can manage."

"Of course. And thank you, Tiber. The assistance you've offered is now than I feel I could have asked of you. I hope you know I appreciate it."

"Think nothing of it, my friend. I know there was a day when you would have done the same for me. Good luck. Admiral Durron clear.*

Brynn was now in the last vestiges of sleep, and moved to sit up in the chair she occupied. She stretched a little and opened her eyes. When she saw him there, she smiled. "I didn't know what else to do when I woke up. I couldn't remember getting in that bed, or how I got there, and then I barely had the juice to get over here before I passed out again."

Idris' mouth hung open for a long moment. He had no idea what to say. She wrinkled her forehead at him, shaking her head in confusion before he spoke. "I...I am...very sorry...for what happened."

Her eyebrows climbed towards her hairline. She shook her head a little, her initial surprise now replaced with confusion.

His face fell a little, and he kind of shrugged. "I just...I hope you know that I deeply regret putting you in that situation."

She wrinkled her forehead and her nose, this time. "What in stars are you referring to? What situation? Are you saying you feel as though you are somehow culpable for what happened? What could you possibly have done differently?"

His mouth opened to respond, but then it just hung there open for a long moment before he closed it and then opened it again, obviously struggling to try to say something.

She flared her nostrils at him. "Captain, I do not pretend to have the faintest idea as to the sort of people you are used to dealing with, but let me be abundantly clear, as you seem to have some doubts. You absolutely cannot reasonably be held responsible for the choices I made. I'm a big enough girl that I am more than capable of making my own choices, but more importantly, I do not make it a habit to paint other people as the villain in my story when the choices I make don't turn out a way I like. Or that turn out in a way that metaphorically blow up in my pretty little face."

He was gawking at her now, completely gobsmacked. His mouth hung open in surprise, but she went on before he could say anything.

"And to be fair, I'm the one who wasn't honest with you. But why would I have? I just met you and after doing this for over twenty years, I still do not know how to start the conversation, 'oh, and, before I forget, I'm a freak, and not just your everyday freak, a freak that is potentially lethal. That's alright, right?' So let's not forget that any time soon. For now, I would like some answers because I definitely missed the preamble to that party." She tilted her head in the direction of where she'd spotted Admiral Durron's image a moment ago.

Idris finally closed his mouth. He pondered a moment, blowing out a gust of breath through his nose. "I'm not entirely sure where to begin."

Brynn pursed her lips and folded her arms. "Well, what are we doing next?"

Idris sat up and shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Well, I tried to...get us going again, but there's too much damage. So an old contact of mine is sending help."

"And how long until that help gets here?"

"About 40-50 hours."

"Right. So, do you think that's enough time to tell me...everything."

He tilted his face towards her and gave her an old-fashioned look. "I suspect it might be."

Brynn sat up straight in her chair and clapped her hands. "Well great! Go ahead and get started then!"

"Right." He sighed and nodded. "Well, for starters..."