Paying the Price (Book 5 of The Empire of Bones Saga) (14 page)

“Thank you, Omega. I’m sure this will come in very handy, even if I can’t imagine in what ways right now.”

Chapter Twelve

Jared listened to Carl Owlet’s explanation with as much patience as he could muster. He didn’t want to jump right down the boy’s throat. Though, with the risks he’d taken, Carl certainly deserved a thorough ass chewing.

Kelsey sat in one of the comfortable chairs off to the side of Jared’s office. Her expression was difficult to read. He wondered if she was as angry as he was. Or perhaps more so.

Once Owlet finished explaining what he’d done, and that the newly forged quantum link was operational, he looked at the graduate student quietly for a moment.

“Part of me wants to rip your head off, Carl. It really does. That was an unacceptable gamble. What if it couldn’t have gotten you out? You’d have died.”

The young man nodded. “I’m aware of that, Admiral. It seemed a risk worth taking. If we can keep a line of communication open to Omega, think of the things we can learn together. Accomplish together. Sometimes, the reward is worth risking death.”

The young man shrugged. “If I had it all to do over, and I knew that I’d succeed, but die in the process, I’d have to do it anyway.”

Jared had a hard time disagreeing. Especially if that thing really could create a flip point.

Doctor Leonard had scoffed. Such wasn’t possible, he’d said.

Jared was inclined to see it the same way, but he wasn’t going to say the alien was wrong. Not until it tried.

If it succeeded, even for a few hours, they could shave months off their travel time. And they could be sure that they’d miss running into any Rebel Empire scouts. That was worth the risk.

“Time will tell,” Jared said at last. “We transition to Harrison’s World in a few minutes. I want you in your lab to tell me if you’re able to make the quantum connection. If so, we’ll wait there to see what happens. Omega might destroy itself trying.

“I can hardly imagine anything that could destabilize a black hole, but if it exists, I’d rather not be close by. For all we know, it might shut down the weak flip point and leave us trapped.”

The graduate student nodded. “And if it works, we can pass a quantum unit off to Boxer Station. I have a few other sets to test longer distances. We can pass some off and try as we get further away. If they really don’t have a top range, we’ll be able to maintain communication.”

“But you think that’s unlikely.” Kelsey said.

“I do. I can’t believe that the range on one of these pairs is much more than that of a flip point. If it works over interstellar distances at all. Which I mostly doubt.”

Jared sighed. “This discussion isn’t over, but we have things to do. Report to your lab and let’s get out of here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once Owlet was gone, Jared turned to Kelsey. “This is nuts. And it kills me that he’s so ready to give his life like that.”

“Why?” his sister asked. “It’s for something he deeply believes in. You’d do the same. So would I. Is this any different?”

“Giving your life for science? Yes, it is. Science can happen later. And more safely.”

“Well, we might just have to disagree, then. I’m pretty pleased with him, myself. He’s matured noticeably in just a few days. Our little scientist is growing up.”

He smiled. “Maybe. I hear that Major Ellis might just end him before he shaves regularly.”

“She’s pretty mad,” Kelsey agreed. “But I think she also recognizes his resolve.”

Kelsey looked as though she were going to say more, but didn’t.

Jared rose from his seat. “Let’s adjourn to the flag bridge. I want to put this place behind us.”

They made their way to the flag bridge and waited for the fleet to assemble. Carl said there were two additional flip points in this system, but none of their people had found them. Even if they had, he was ready to leave them unexplored.

Once the fleet was in readiness, he gave the order to flip.

* * * * *

Angela watched Owlet work, her insides roiling slowly. He acted as though he hadn’t risked his life for nothing. He behaved as though everything was normal.

He’d a jury-rigged communicator set up on his lab table. He spoke into it now that they were back in the Harrison’s World system.

“Omega, can you hear me?”

There was nothing for a moment, and then a voice issued forth.

“I hear you. The quantum communicator is working. Congratulations, my friend. This is a notable achievement.”

Owlet shook his head. “I can’t believe it worked. This is insane.”

“I never doubted it would work. Though, I agree there may be an upper limit to the range. It shall be interesting to see how that works.”

“Yes, it will. I need to let you go. Admiral Mertz asks that you hold off on creating the flip points for a few hours. We’re going to leave some extra quantum units here and need time to make the exchange. Once we’re ready to go, we’ll call you. That way, if something unfortunate happens, we won’t be trapped there.”

“Agreed. If something untoward occurs, it is likely I will not survive to see it resolved. Better not to risk anyone else. I will await your call. The process will take several minutes once it is initiated.”

“Until then. Goodbye, Omega.”

Carl disconnected the channel.

“Well, that went better than I’d expected.”

“And what did you expect?” she asked. “To die over there? That was a stupid risk.”

“Here we go.” He opened a cabinet and began assembling some equipment. More quantum pairs. He gave her an odd look as he worked. “You and the Admiral share a low opinion of my judgement.”

“That should tell you how wrong you were. Why risk your life for something like that?”

“Tell me, Major. When you get into a fight, do you decide if that’s the time to pack up and go home? That suddenly it’s too dangerous for you to be a marine?”

She felt her hackles rising. “Of course not. You don’t get to pick only the winning fights. Sometimes, you have to play the hand you’re dealt.

“That isn’t the same thing as what you did. You made a choice to stay over there and risk being trapped. It was irresponsible.”

“You make it sound as if what I do isn’t important. That I’m somehow doing something unworthy.”

He set the equipment down and walked over to her. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, Major. People like me lost their lives over there.
Exactly
like me, in fact. I won’t throw away what they did. Their lives meant something.”

He gave her an odd look. “And I’m not afraid to risk death or injury to finish what they started.”

Carl Owlet reached up, grabbed her uniform tunic, yanked her head down, and kissed her.

* * * * *

Carl caught sight of Kelsey walking into the medical center out of the corner of his eye just as Doctor Stone was running an instrument across his face. She stopped beside the exam bed and eyed him critically.

“What the hell happened?”

“I walked into a hatch,” he said. “Stupid of me, I know. How did you hear about it?” His heart raced at lying to her. He really wasn’t very good at this.

“Angela said there was an ‘incident’ in your lab, but wouldn’t tell me what it was. So, I came to see for myself.”

She eyed the area around his eye. “Yeah, that’s a good one. You’re lucky you have nanites. Otherwise, you’d have a big shiner. My dad made me keep one after I got mouthy with one of my friends. He said it built character.”

“I’ve had my share of them over the years, too. Older boys tend to frown on some kid showing them up. And then they pound him into the ground like a tent stake.”

“Well, you’re in an adult world, now. You’re more likely to face an attack on your reputation than your body. Still, I wonder if you couldn’t do with a little hand-to-hand instruction. It wouldn’t hurt and would definitely help with your coordination.”

“I don’t think—”

“Actually, that’s a great idea,” Kelsey said, overriding his objection. “I’ll talk with Angela about giving you some pointers. After the bruising goes down.”

She didn’t give him the chance to decline, instead heading back toward the hatch. “I’ve got to run. We’ll be transitioning back to the Nova system shortly and I need to be aboard
Persephone
. We’ll talk later.”

He watched her leave with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. How could he get out of this? Ignore it and hope something distracted her? Hand-to-hand practice with Major Ellis was a very bad idea. Particularly right now.

“Are you going to tell her that someone punched you?” Stone asked. “Angela Ellis, I’m guessing.”

She pulled back and examined her handiwork with satisfaction. “This will still bruise, but it’ll be gone in about 24 hours.”

“What makes you think someone hit me?” he asked.

“A few decades of medical experience. And I can see the knuckles in the emerging bruise.”

“Please don’t tell Kelsey.”

Stone raised an eyebrow. “I don’t blab about things covered under doctor/patient confidentiality. So, the question you need to answer is simple. Did Major Ellis assault you? That’s actually a crime and I’m obligated to report things like that.”

“I had it coming. Please, just let it drop.”

“Tell me what happened. Maybe I can help.”

He reluctantly explained about the message left by the dead Carl from another universe. “I don’t know if he was yanking my chain or not, but when Major Ellis tore into me, I felt like I had to do it. I expected her to yell, but she stared at me for a second, popped me, and stormed out of the lab. You don’t think Kelsey knows, do you?”

“Based on her performance, I think she has a strong suspicion,” Stone said. “Look, Carl, I won’t say you did the right thing, but I’m not sure you were wrong, either. Relationships are odd sometimes.

“Frankly, I think you’d be better off apologizing tomorrow. After she’s had a chance to cool off. And tell her why you did it. It might not help, but it couldn’t hurt. Well, not in a way I can’t fix.”

He sighed. “Nobody warned me life was so complicated.”

The doctor smiled. “It can be. Now scoot.”

Carl left the medical center and walked slowly back to the lab. He’d already sent the equipment to the cutter from Boxer Station. They’d get everything set up there shortly. They’d have the quantum unit linked to Omega. He’d have one linked to it. They’d have an extra three for other lines of possible communication to Erorsi and Pentagar.

He had plenty. They were time consuming to construct, but he’d made dozens of linked pairs after he’d refined the process. If range really wasn’t a limit, every world would need one paired to each of the others. Or some kind of relay capability.

He knew he was intentionally putting aside his issues with Major Ellis. He’d messed up and he just didn’t want to think about it right now. Maybe if they all got home, he wouldn’t need to work it out. They’d all go their separate ways.

Which would make him sad, but that was life.

A check of the chrono made him speed his steps. Time was short.

* * * * *

Kelsey boarded the cutter taking her to
Persephone
. Angela was with her, but seemed lost in thought. The large woman had been incandescent when Kelsey saw her last. Which had prompted her to visit with Carl.

Now the anger was gone. Replaced by what certainly looked like confusion to Kelsey.

What had really happened? She didn’t buy the old “walked into a hatch” story. Those two had mixed it up. And she’d probably slapped him. Hmmm. No. Angela wasn’t that girly. She’d punched him.

Kelsey couldn’t imagine what he might have said to get such an extreme response. The marine officer was a professional. There was no way she’d let words move her to act that way.

Even if Carl had taken a swing at her, she’d have stopped him without much violence. Whatever he’d done, he’d gotten past her guard before she’d had a chance to stop an instinctive reaction.

She felt her eyes narrow. Had he made a pass at her? Those two? She wasn’t seeing it, but that would do it. Particularly if he touched her unexpectedly.

No. Not touched. Kissed.

Kelsey cleared her throat. “You have something on your lip.”

Angela paled and scrubbed her face roughly. “Did that get it?”

“Yeah, that got it.”

Uh huh. He’d kissed her. Nothing else would explain the woman’s look of sheer panic.

Well, well. She was going to have to keep an eye on those two. She wondered whether the sparring practice was a good idea or not. Probably good, though she wouldn’t mention it to Angela right now. She didn’t want to back the other woman into a corner.

She’d probably best have a conversation with Elise. If anyone could help her guide these two through the minefield they’d found themselves in, it was her. She was subtle and had an eye for nudging people.

Kelsey smiled. This was going to be a lot of fun. For those watching the two do the dance, anyway.

Chapter Thirteen

Jared waited until Omega signaled that it had succeeded in creating the flip points before he ordered the fleet to transit. He still couldn’t believe this was possible. Well, he’d find out for sure shortly. Elise sat near him at an empty console. He was glad to have her close at hand.

The trip through the radiation was tense. It wasn’t until it cleared in the inner system that Marcus detected the two new flip points. Yes, two.

“Marcus, open a quantum channel to Boxer Station. Boxer Station, this is
Invincible
. Do you read us?”

“Boxer Station here,
Invincible
. You’re coming through loud and clear. This is amazing.”

“We made it safely to the black hole system and we’re detecting two new flip points. Can you ask what’s going on?”

“Stand by.”

While Sean was busy, Jared turned his attention to the scanner readings. The two flip points were some distance away from the station and about a hundred thousand kilometers apart from one another.

“Do those flip points look stable to you, Marcus?”