Escaping My Shadows

Fading Shadows

"I'm telling you the truth, Captain. Like I've said several times already, my ship had been hired by two guys, Hollowel and a Psy Corps telepath called Janus, for a no questions asked delivery. You can check our record with Earth authorities. We may skirt the law sometimes, but we don't violate it. We weren't sure about the job, but when we loaded at an Earth Gov dock on Azura Station we had to assume it was above board. You can check the records."

Captain McKenzie, staff officer on the Tartarus Station, has already checked the records. While the Teacup's log clearly showed that the transport had tied up at Dock 23 on Azura Station and that it had undergone hold modifications, his query to Azura Station was met with confusion. Even though station personnel checked their records three times and talked with those working the dock, no evidence was found of the Teacup ever being at the station, let alone docking, undergoing extensive modifications, and taking on cargo. Instead of responding to the transport captain he lets him continue.

"When we docked, we were told to take a walk while a maintenance crew came in and made modifications to the main hold. That took a full day, then we were told to stay in the crew section while the cargo was loaded. They even disconnected the video feed to the hold. The only one allowed back there was Janus, who made sure whatever was in there was okay. We filed our flight plan to Ender but about two days out, while we were all by our lonesome, Janus went into the cargo hold. There was a power fluctuation centered in the main hold, then like two minutes later three shadow fighters exited hyperspace. We were about to turn around and call for help when Janus entered the bridge and told us to follow them or we would be killed. They dragged us into hyperspace. We were in there for over a week. No idea where we were going ...."

Captain Lebreton of the transport Teacup trails off. He looks at Captain McKenzie. The captain can see the fear on the transport officer's face at what had happened to them and what might happen if no one believes their story. The transport officer's body language also shows how exhausted he is. The officer's story tracks very closely to that told by the other crew members as well as the surviving telepaths.

Captain McKenzie then says, "and you say you were rescued by a shadow battle crab?"

"I know it sounds insane. We thought so too, that's why we tried to run when it went after the fighter escorts. It ripped them to pieces. We could see that it seemed to be ... I don't know ... eating them? We tried going as fast as we could but it came after us, caught up to us in no time. Janus was pretty pissed at what had happened. At first, he hailed the ship and started bitching at the pilot. Then it looked like he was communicating telepathically with the ship ... never heard him say anything but his reactions spoke volumes. Then he kind of ... I don't know ... tuned out and fell to the floor. Then the crab hailed us. We see this pale, really thin-looking guy on the monitor, says his name is Dave Walker."

"And he used the telepaths and your ship to help him attack a supposed supply depot in the K'tan System."

The Teacup officer nods.

"Okay," Captain McKenzie says. "I'll be back. Just relax."

A loud and irritating screech fills the room as the captain pushes the metal chair back and stands. He closes his notebook and turns off the recorder. The captain turns, takes a few steps, and opens the door.  Stepping into the hallway he leaves the very nervous Teacup captain alone in the 'interview' room.

One of his junior officers stands in the hall waiting for him, looking almost as nervous as the transport captain.

After closing the door the captain asks, "well, what did you find out about K'tan System?"

The junior officer has a strange look on his face. "Well, Sir, nothing really. I contacted fleet operations and asked if there was any intelligence concerning the K'tan System. They passed me around a bit until I got to a lieutenant on the regional command staff. She sounded a little upset that I was asking and wanted to know who my commanding officer was. I told her it was you. Sorry, I didn't know what else to do. She said she would get back to me. You have a call waiting in your office from Fleet Intelligence, Commodore Ebbesen,"