Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins by Randolph Lalonde

Author:Randolph Lalonde
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: adventure, space opera, future fiction, spinward fringe
Publisher: Randolph Lalonde

Chapter 2

Visitation

I made my way down to the brig. It was in the rear of the ship ahead of the main thrust control centre in the engine section. We only had eight cells. Each one had two bunks, a sink, and a toilet. Three sides were metal walls, the fourth was transparesteel. A pair of security officers snapped to attention as I came through the heavy outer doors. “At ease,” I said, smiling at them both. “How are you doing today, Genevieve, Shawn?”

“Good, Sir, just another long day in the brig,” Shawn answered.

“You know you don’t have to stand at attention or salute while we’re away from Freeground.”

“It’s a habit I refuse to break, Sir,” Genevieve replied. “Unless you’re making it an order.” She smiled at me, so self-assured.

“I’d rather leave it as a choice. How is our prisoner doing?”

“She just finished breakfast. I was about to go get her tray.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do it for you. Time to tell her what she’s in for when we make it to dry dock.” They opened the inner door and I walked into the small cell block. I tried not to shudder as memories of my own incarceration threatened to surface. Our cells weren’t prefabricated hard plastic, they were bare steel. There may not have been frills, but the mattress was real, and instead of the electric barriers we had transparent faces to all of our cells. Despite the differences, I still had an eerie feeling as I walked down the ramp between the cells. Without a doubt, the brig was my least favourite part of the ship. I’d rather this meeting was under the firing shield beneath the engine exhaust collection systems.

When I came to stand in front of her cell, she stood up and casually pushed her empty tray through the slot in the transparent doorway. I accepted it and smiled. “How are you, Captain Grays?”

“Just fine. Your breakfasts are better than what we feed our inmates.”

The little good humour I walked in with disappeared. “I know.” I stared at her until the levity in her expression was gone. “I spent a while in a Vindyne cell. We don’t believe in an eye for an eye here,” I said flatly. “You’re lucky.”

“I didn’t know. I’ve never heard of anyone escaping before the Overlord was disabled.”

“So that was the name of that super carrier? Overlord?”

She nodded. “Vindyne has several of them. They’re all called Overlord, with a numerical designation.”

“Well, it fits. I’m surprised that you’re so open with that information.”

“Well, what I can tell you doesn’t much matter. I don’t know exactly how many Vindyne has or where they are. They just don’t give people with my rank that kind of information. Most likely because I’m fine with telling you anything you want to know. I’m not willing to suffer for a job in low level command.”

“So captaining that Marauder was nothing more than a job to you?”

“Oh, it was a good paying job, don’t get me wrong. But after surrendering my ship and allowing myself to get captured, I’m sure I’ve been dismissed.

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