Chapter 41

By the time the girls arrived in the galley, Zeke had a box of food ready.

“What’s the emergency, Zeke?” Jada asked as the girls came in carrying their new space suits.

“New plan. Tean and Rod are being held hostage. We need to go and explain exactly what my people are allowed to do and what they can’t. I need Paula to captain the Louisa. In reality, she will just be following behind Freya.”

“However, the law says a ship has to have a human in command. Jada, you will fly your ship. When you get to her, undock and fall in behind Louisa. I’ll take Paula to Louisa and get her settled.”

“Aye-aye, Captain,” Jada replied and took off.

Zeke grabbed the box and then Paula’s arm. “Close your eyes,” he said. A moment later, he said, “You can open them now.”

“Wow! That is so static. You can really transport yourself!”

“And you,” Zeke replied with a smile.

“Yeah!” Paula said wide-eyed.

“Louisa, this is Paula Lorenzo. She will be your Sub-captain under me. We have to go rescue the young lady who is supposed to be your Captain until I say otherwise. I’m not sure if Tean wishes to work for me long-term. We will see.”

“Hello, Sub-captain Paula. I’m Louisa. I’m sure we will get along famously.”

Paula couldn’t help but giggle. “Hello, Louisa. I love your voice. You sound like a friend of mine. Her name is Jasira. I bet she would love to see the modifications Zeke has done to you. She designs ships, and your interior is beautiful.”

Zeke cleared his throat, “Yes, well, we do need to get going, Paula. Louisa doesn’t have an R&R unit yet. Once we get where we are going, you and your sister can dock up.”

Zeke spoke to the air, “Louisa, just follow Freya’s orders. Tell Paula if you need anything done manually.”

“Yes, Captain Zeke. I’m to follow Freya. I’m looking forward to trying out my new engines. The old logs indicate they had not been serviced properly in two years.”

“Oh, that’s not good, Louisa,” Paula said as she claimed the pilot’s chair.

“I can tell that you two will get on famously. I’ll drop the food in your galley,” Zeke said.

“Thank you, Zeke,” Paula smiled.

Zeke returned the smile and then blinked.

Back on his own ship, Zeke started to make calls.

Meanwhile, the three ships separated. Freya directed them to a lower orbit to gain speed and to intersect the wrecked ship and the ESC Patrol ship as quickly as possible.

Zeke’s first call was to Dusty.

Dusty was happy to receive his intel and agreed to meet Raul and collect his guest. However, she was unhappy that the ESC had interfered with her Detective doing his job, as UNSEC MPs had jurisdiction in all of Sol space. She was going to be making some calls.

Zeke’s next call was to Travis.

Travis confirmed that Marko had indeed given him papers stating that the ship called Mariah, with all her other identity codes, was freely given to his daughters jointly to do with as they wished.

Travis was not happy that the ESC was breaching Zeke’s contract with them and UNSEC, and interfering with his possessions, the job, and his people.

He would be making some calls.

Zeke’s next call was to Anne Connors.

Zeke was pleasantly surprised by Anne’s youthful appearance. Considering her actual age, she barely looked in her mid-thirties. Zeke suspected that she had acquired her items at an early age. According to Ptah’s journal, he doubted he would look much more than two years older in a century.

While Anne was delighted to talk to him and intensely curious about him, the look on her face did not bode well for Felicity Fuchs when he mentioned the nature of his call.

“That girl has gone too far. While I have my suspicions about who is pulling her strings, enough is enough. You do not hold my family to ransom without paying the cost. They will pay, Zeke. Just be warned, these people play nasty.”

“However, they will not let you claim those weapons without a fight. I’m afraid harm is coming your way. They have probably sent a ship to intercede, and it will be armed. Can you contact Harry?”

“Yes, Freya can tight beam a signal to their ship.”

“Good. Tell Harry that you, as an UNSEC Chief Justice, have jurisdiction, and he must obey your commands and no others. See, I do know about your appointment with UNSEC. I also know what you are dear, Queen Lee told me.”

“That tattle-tail,” Zeke responded.

Anne laughed, “She knows that you don’t wish it bandied about, and I’m great at keeping secrets. She also knows I would have dug until I found out. She decided to tell me, so I didn’t inadvertently cause you harm with my inquiries.”

“I don’t think the item upgrade was a bribe,” she smiled charmingly.

Zeke had to chuckle.

“Zeke, my friends on Luna and Mars have also told me that I should trust you. Are you aware the family owns a lot of freighters? While many of them run as independents, they will band together if one of us is threatened. Please consider them your people, too.”