Chapter 37

“That was a bit odd,” Zeke said to Freya.

“Captain, I didn’t wish to interrupt, but Tean and Rod have docked with the Patrol ship.”

Zeke groaned, “I hope they don’t do anything stupid, like get captured.”

“I don’t believe that is their intent,” Freya replied.

“When will this shit end, Freya? I just want to get my crews sorted out. A lot of people depend on me. We have been out here for nearly six days, and I’ve achieved bugger all.”

“I wouldn’t say that, Captain. You have had seventeen people arrested, acquired a freighter and four new rookies.”

“Yes, but the charges won’t stick if we don’t find the evidence that Dusty needs. As for Louisa, she is just more work and a further delay. I’m also worried about the girls. They should be here by now.”

“They called while you were talking to Captain Stanwell. They were delayed, but they have left Armstrong Station. Estimated time is seven hours before they dock,” Freya informed him.

“Thank goodness for small mercies.”

Zeke waited twenty minutes before Freya informed him that the other captain was back and opened the comms.

This time, Stanwell was seated in a chair in an office. He looked a lot more relaxed and had taken the hat off. Zeke wondered if he had misjudged the man. He also wondered how long he had been in his current job as he didn’t look more than five years older than himself. Admittedly, he barely looked twenty, even if he was taller than the average.

“Sorry for the delay, Captain Walker. Your friends are very convincing, and we all know about the exemplary reputations of the Carmichaels. Detective Taylor has supplied me with a full report of your last few harrowing days in our space.”

“I don’t think Felicity will like it, but I can’t arrest you with obviously false and conflicting information. We on this ship applaud what you are trying to do.”

“To be honest, one of the reasons we only do short patrols is because it is hazardous out here, and it costs a lot to keep our ship flyable. The previous Captain of this ship had one too many close encounters, and they had to retire him.”

“This is my fourth trip out, and we have received micro impacts on two of our flights. It’s a bit nerve-racking. Anyway, Rod said that he has to go to the other ship to collect evidence.”

“If you don’t mind us borrowing that ripper little ship you call a Z4, Captain Walker, we can take him and his pilot to the wreck. He said there are possibly four bodies on board, and we do have a mandate to retrieve the dead.”

“Zeke is fine. So, you will keep him and Tean for a couple of days, and then bring them back, Captain Stanwell?”

“Yes, Zeke. And please, you can call me Harry in private. We will do our darndest to keep them safe,” Stanwell replied earnestly.

Zeke could only shake his head and agree. With him out of the equation, the Patrol ship would offer Rod more support and legitimacy. Any evidence they obtain can’t be considered tainted.

It also meant he had time to get his people back to work.

Zeke decided to head over to Raul’s ship.

He changed his mind when he entered the lower level. He checked the containers he had open in MH2. Using a little magic, he rearranged the contents to fill two of them with what he thought he might need.

Zeke then grabbed his space suit and donned it. He transported the containers to the pressurised hold on Louisa and placed one on top of the other against the wall. Next, he blinked into every compartment and placed at least one De Ray crystal in the room and, in the corners of every hold and several in the engineering room.

Back in Louisa’s second hold, he removed his helmet and gloves and touched the bottom container and the wall it rested beside. Zeke concentrated, and in his mind’s eye, he envisioned how the ship should look.

It was like visualising sets of schematics and structural drawings and the composition of the material each piece was made of in his head. Zeke then started reciting a series of spells as he thought of the ship’s structure, hull, and composition of each compartment.

After two hours, he took a break to rehydrate. Using magic on this scale was exhausting. He then moved about the ship as he concentrated on fixing each system and each piece of machinery. By the time he had finished four hours later, he felt drained, dizzy, and incredibly horny.

It was the most ambitious project he had ever tried using just magic. He had to sit on the floor and retrieve a high-energy drink from his satchel. He gulped it down and then got out another. It soon followed the first. He leaned back against the wall to rest and closed his eyes.

It was Freya’s voice in his ear that brought him back. “Zeke, Jada is requesting permission to dock.”

“Thanks, Freya, let them dock. Invite them to breakfast. I have to sleep. I think I overdid the magic a bit. Sent them my apologies for the delay.”

Still feeling wrung out, he wearily returned to his ship.

Zeke awoke, bright-eyed and bushy tailed.

He was shocked when he looked at the time on his Pedz. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept for eight hours straight. Four to five was normal. Even so, he did feel recharged, even if he was still horny.