Freedom's Horizon

II. Job Interview-2

In many ways, the Freedom’s Horizon was typical of the ships that kept the far flung worlds on the galactic rim supplied with anything the colonies couldn’t produce for themselves. It was a boxy mid-sized freighter, forty or fifty years old and in good condition for its age, though it had clearly seen better days.

Anjali, however, was not impressed. “Really? This piece of junk was the best you could find?”

“She’s a Beluga class long-haul freighter,” Mikhail replied, “They’re very reliable.”

“And ugly as f**k,” Anjali exclaimed, “But then that’s very typical of Republican design.”

“Unlike sleek, but barely functional Imperial design, you mean?” Mikhail countered.

They exchanged a private smile.

Anjali sighed. “All right, so let’s do this. Especially since it seems like we have no other choice.” She strutted off towards the freighter.

Mikhail quickly caught up with her, his longer strides matching her shorter ones.

“Assuming they’ll hire us,” he said.

Anjali shot him a look before walking up the ramp. “Of course they’ll hire us. After all, we’re the best.”

The Captain of the Freedom’s Horizon met them in the cargo hold. He was in his fifties, dark-skinned, his closely cropped hair liberally sprinkled with silver.

“One applicant at a time, please,” he said, sounding like someone who was not overly impressed neither by the couple before him nor by anything else, because he’d seen it all before.

“There’s no need for that,” Anjali said, plopping down on the lone folding chair without even waiting for an invitation, “We’re partners.”

“We’re a team,” Mikhail added, positioning himself next to her.

“A team, eh?” the Captain said, “So I get two mercs for the price of one?”

“No, you get two for the price of two,” Anjali countered.

“With a reasonable discount, of course,” Mikhail added.

“Hmph”, the Captain grumbled and consulted his ledger. “All right. Names?”

“Mikhail Alexeievich Grikov.”

“Anjali Patel.”

The Captain looked up. “Grikov? You’re Republican, aren’t you?”

Mikhail nodded. “I am.”

“Where from?”

“Jagellowsk,” Mikhail said through gritted teeth. Anjali reached for his hand, squeezed it.

The Captain lowered his eyes, unable to meet Mikhail’s gaze. “I’m very sorry,” he said.

“There is no need,” Mikhail said, “It was a long time ago.”

The Captain turned to Anjali and narrowed his eyes. “So what about you? From your accent, I’d almost say you’re Imperial?”

Anjali crossed her arms over her chest. “So what if I am?”

The Captain shook his head. “Nothing. Just surprised to see a Republican and an Imperial working together, considering your governments are at war and have been for decades now.”

“Our governments may be at war,” Anjali said, “We happen to disagree.”

“And besides, it’s your government, too,” Mikhail added, resting his hand on Anjali’s shoulder, “Your Republican accent is quite unmistakable.”

“So is yours, soldier,” the Captain countered, “You were in the Republican army, weren’t you?”

Mikhail nodded, but volunteered no more information.

“Seen combat?”

Mikhail nodded again.

The Captain turned to Anjali. “What about you, Ms. Patel? You’re ex-military as well, aren’t you?”

Anjali gave him a curt nod. “I am.”

“Not a lot of women in the Imperial military.”

“There are some,” Anjali said, bristling at the interrogation. Yes, it made sense that the Captain wanted to know whom he was dealing with and whether he’d get his money’s worth. But that didn’t mean she had to like it. “And before you have to ask, yes, I’ve seen combat. We both have.”

Mikhail no more liked the way this interview went than Anjali did, for he said, “So in short, we’re more than qualified for whatever job you have in mind for us. We’d be pleased to give a demonstration, if you wish. But if you want to see our military files, sorry, but that’s not happening.”

The Captain held Mikhail’s gaze for a second or two and then relented. He spread his hands in a placating gesture. “All right, since you told me about yourselves, I guess it’s only fair if I tell you a little about me. So yes, I was born in the Republic, Nuruba to be exact. But I got tired of the war and all that bullshit and left. So did you, I guess?”

Mikhail and Anjali nodded in unison.

“Anyway, I’m a spacer now and don’t worry, I’m not judging. I’m just curious. I mean, a Republican trooper and an Imperial soldier… — how the hell did that happen?”

“We met during the war…” Mikhail said, “…on the battlefield.”

“Well, not really the battlefield,” Anjali corrected, “Actually, we were on leave… Well, I was.”

Mikhail reached for her hand. “She was my prisoner and I was supposed to deliver her to my commander…”

Anjali squeezed his hand. “…and I gave him a very hard time about it.”

“She tried to escape and fought me every step of the way…”

“…but he always caught me again.” Anjali flashed Mikhail a private smile.

Mikhail returned her smile. “Eventually, we realised that we liked each other a lot more than we liked our respective governments…”

“…so we decided to run away together,” Anjali concluded.

“And you ended up here on the galactic rim where all the flotsam and jetsam of the galaxy eventually washes up,” the Captain continued, “Just an observation. Like I said, I’m not judging. But…”

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze wandering from Mikhail to Anjali and back.

“…you said you’ve seen combat and I’m pretty sure you weren’t just a regular grunt. Some kind of special forces, if I might hazard a guess…”

Mikhail said nothing.

“And whatever she is, she’s clearly something special, considering she gave you a hard time. Which means that the two of you are probably very, very good.”

“We’re the best,” Anjali and Mikhail said in unison.

“So what in the universe brings two mercs as good as you to my humble freighter?” the Captain wanted to know, “Cause I’m pretty sure I can’t afford to pay whatever price you two normally ask.”

Anjali and Mikhail exchanged a glance.

“We… um… happen to find ourselves quite urgently in need of a ticket off planet…” Mikhail said.

“…which is why we’re willing to take a job below our usual pay grade,” Anjali added.

The Captain’s mouth twitched into a smile. “The way I understand it, you’re both deserters. And I guess there’s a wanted poster with your names on it somewhere.”

“More or less.” Mikhail coloured ever so slightly, made more notable by his pale skin.

“And Metra Litko is full of spies,” the Captain continued, “Which explains your urge to leave.”

“Our respective governments don’t exactly like us,” Mikhail said.

“They want to make an example out of us…” Anjali added.

“…and we’d rather not find ourselves on the wrong end of a firing squad.”

“Actually, the Empire doesn’t do firing squads. We have beheadings for honourable villains and hangings for dishonourable traitors.”

“I’d rather not be beheaded either.”

“You wouldn’t be, cause we both no longer qualify as honourable.”

“Stop.” The Captain held up a hand. “You’re kind of freaky, do you know that, the way you finish each other’s sentences?”

“Sorry,” they both said in unison.

The Captain rolled his eyes. “Like I said, I’m not judging, I’ve had it with the war and all that bullshit and I no longer feel any loyalty towards the Republic. I also know a good opportunity when I see one and I know that you’re a lot better than the usual class of mercenary I can afford. So here’s the deal…”

The Captain held up his thumb.

“One, I give the two of you passage off planet, no extra fees and no questions asked.”

The Captain held up his index finger.

“Two, you work for me and protect my ship, my crew and my cargo to the best of your abilities.”

He held up his middle finger.

“Three, in return I’ll pay you what I had budgeted, which is what I can afford, for your services. The usual penalties and bonuses apply within reason. If it’s lower than your usual pay — well, take it or leave it.”

The Captain held up his ring finger, on which he wore a plain golden wedding band.

“Four, I only have one spare cabin and one bunk. I trust that sharing is not going to be a problem for you.”

Mikhail and Anjali shook their heads in unison.

“No problem.”

“Not at all.”

The Captain broke out into a broad grin. “Goodness, you people really are freaky.”

He settled back in his own folding chair. “All right, so here’s what this job is about: I’ve been hired to deliver a cargo of assorted medical supplies to Djamila. It’s rather urgent and pays quite well.”

Anjali shrugged. “Sounds good. So what’s the problem?”

“The problem, Ms. Patel, is that in order to get to Djamila, we first need to pass through the asteroid field of Yunzel IV. And the asteroid field of Yunzel IV is the prime hunting ground of the Forsaken Corsairs.”

Anjali and Mikhail exchanged a glance. The Forsaken Corsairs were a notorious pirate fleet that preyed on trade vessels passing through its territory.

“All right. So that is a problem.”

“What is more, I’ve had certain… differences with the Forsaken Corsairs in the past.”

Anjali and Mikhail exchanged another glance. “Definitely a problem.”

“Isn’t there a way around the asteroid field?” Mikhail wanted to know, “After all, Djamila is a busy trade port. Surely not every ship that travels there will have to pass through pirate-infested space first.”

“There is,” the Captain agreed, “But it also takes three times as long as the direct route. And like I said, the cargo is kind of urgent. So they’re paying me a hefty bonus to deliver it on time and I’m willing to use part of that bonus to pay the two of you.”

He held out his hand. “So do we have a deal?”

It was Mikhail who took his hand first and shook it. “Deal.”

Anjali followed a second later. “Deal.”

The Captain smiled. “Welcome aboard the Freedom’s Horizon. I’m Elijah Tyrone, by the way.” He checked his wrist unit. “The cargo will be delivered at fifteen hundred. We’re leaving as soon as everything is stowed. So get your gear and meet me here at fifteen fifteen latest. You can meet the rest of the crew en route.”

* * * *