Avalon

CHAPTER 37

THEY RETURNED TO THE BELGRAVE, CROSSING THE BORDER into it a few hours later.

“It’s the best place to hide for now,” Jeth said, when the others questioned his decision. He didn’t blame them for being afraid. But he knew as long as they didn’t venture too far in, they should be safe. They needed time to regroup and figure out what to do next.

As soon as Jeth had given the order, Milton insisted he head down to sick bay for an examination. Jeth didn’t argue. He’d known it was coming. He sat down on the exam table and watched as Milton prepped a jet injector with medicine.

“What’s that?” he said as Milton approached him with it moments later.

“Something for the pain.”

Jeth shook his head. “I’m not in pain, at least not much.” A dull throb, like a toothache had settled over his hand, but it wasn’t unbearable.

“Fine, it’s something to help you sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.”

“I know, Jeth. I know. But you should.” Milton pressed the jet injector against his shoulder and pulled the trigger.

Jeth didn’t protest, knowing deep down that Milton was right. The medicine worked quickly, taking him under in moments.

He woke some time later, alone. The lights in the sick bay brightened automatically as he sat up. Jeth blinked the spots out of his vision, then glanced down at his right hand. Milton had wrapped the entire thing in a thick bandage, obscuring the injury from view. The hand hurt less now, the pressure from the gauze easing the ache.

Jeth glimpsed movement out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to see Milton coming inside.

“Welcome back,” Milton said. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

Milton smiled, a knowing glint in his eye. He motioned at Jeth’s bandaged hand. “It’s not the end of the world. I’ll be able to fit you with some kind of prosthesis or maybe even a cybernetic unit as soon as we can make the purchase. You won’t even know the new fingers aren’t real afterward, I promise.”

“With what money?” Jeth said, bitterness making his voice uncertain. “Hammer took everything.”

“Not everything,” Milton said, still smiling. “All my money is in cash. And trust me, there’s plenty of it to help us. I’ve got it stashed all over this ship, matter of fact.” Milton turned to a nearby counter and stooped, opening the cabin where he kept the bedpans and other medical items nobody ever wanted to touch. He pulled out a box and opened the lid, revealing several stacks of unis carefully bound in white tape.

Jeth gaped at the money, then looked up at his uncle, mouth still open.

“You didn’t think I spent all of my retirement and what Hammer was paying me on booze, did you?”

Sensing the question was rhetorical, Jeth didn’t answer. “So, a cybernetic hand. I guess that’s better than nothing.”

“A lot better.”

Jeth nodded, his spirits rising. He desperately wanted to be whole. Only—he raised his left hand to the back of his skull and touched the implant architecture—he doubted he could ever be truly whole again.

“We’ll do something about that, too,” Milton said, picking up a vitals scanner from a nearby counter. “I still have a few old contacts who might know something about how to remove it safely.” Milton turned on the scanner and pressed the end of it against Jeth’s forehead.

“How’s Cora?” Jeth said, wanting to move the subject elsewhere. There was too much uncertainty about the architecture. Too much uncertainty about the future in general.

“She’s fine. Fully recovered, actually. You’ve been asleep nearly fifteen hours.”

Jeth blinked. “Wow, that was some sedative.”

Milton smirked. “The sedative wore off hours ago. Your body needed the rest. Sierra told me everything that happened, including the way Renford tortured you.”

Jeth grimaced. “Did she also tell you that Renford used to go by the name Charles?”

“Yes, she did.” A dark look crossed Milton’s face. “I’m glad you killed him.”

Jeth gulped, uncertain if he felt the same. He couldn’t deny he was happy the man was gone, but he wasn’t sure about having done the act himself. He’d never killed anyone before. True, he might’ve killed some of the soldiers they’d fought while rescuing Cora, but that wasn’t the same. Renford’s death had been so close, so intentional and messy.

“What happened to his body?” Jeth asked, remembering that Cora had phased it here as well.

“Vince saw to it. Pushed it out the garbage airlock, I believe.” A grim smile passed Milton’s lips as he turned off the scanner and returned it to the drawer. “Quite a fitting end.”

Jeth didn’t reply, his thoughts turning to his mother. What would she think when she learned how Renford died? And she would learn of it. Sooner or later, he would go after her. He couldn’t let her spend the rest of her life imprisoned by the ITA. Who knew what they might try next in their attempt to manufacture a slave race to replace the Pyreans. They had to be stopped.

“So,” Milton said, breaking into Jeth’s reverie. “Sierra tells me that Hammer is gone.”

Jeth considered the idea, trying to determine if that was the proper term for what had happened. He remembered that blank stare on Hammer’s face, the emptiness in his eyes. “I suppose you could call it that. Either way, he’s as good as dead.”

“Yes, which means you’re as good as free.”

Jeth shrugged. “I guess so.” The knowledge didn’t give him the relief he thought it would. He hadn’t exactly improved his situation. “But I don’t have the title on Avalon.”

“If Dax is head of Hammer’s organization, he might sign it over to you.”

Jeth considered the idea. He hadn’t liked the way Dax looked after inserting Hammer’s implant. And he certainly didn’t trust the man. He knew too well how valuable Cora was. “I’m not sure going back within his reach is a risk we can afford to take. Besides, just because he seemed to take control of Hammer’s organization doesn’t mean he’ll succeed.”

“True, but you still have a copy of the title, right?”

“So what? It’s not signed and it’s not electronic.”

“Yes, but with the right equipment and Lizzie’s exceptional skills, we might be able to make a good forgery. And we’ll have to stick to Independent planets for now anyways, given our current troubles with the ITA.” Milton nodded. “Yes, either way, we’ll manage. We always do.”

He stood and stretched his back, his joints popping like tiny guns. “It’s almost dinnertime. Are you hungry? I can have someone bring you a plate. I’d like you to stay in bed for a little while longer. You’re vitals aren’t quite where I’d prefer them to be.”

Jeth shook his head. “I’m not ready for food yet. Just some more sleep.”

“Very well.” Milton turned and headed for the exit. He paused in the doorway and said over his shoulder, “They’d be proud of you, you know. Both of them.”

Jeth didn’t speak, not even to ask Milton who he meant. He already knew.

Milton left, giving Jeth his privacy. He thought about his parents awhile and then about his sisters. He thought about the crew, too. They were all his family. Milton had been right; Jeth’s parents would’ve been proud. And for the first time in years, that meant something to him.

Sometime later, Sierra came to visit him. She brought a tray of food. Even though Jeth had thought he wasn’t hungry, his stomach growled in response.

She set the tray on the counter beside the bed and then stared down at him, hands on hips. “Milton said you didn’t want anything to eat, but I decided to bring this up to you anyhow.”

Jeth felt a smile threaten to break across his face. She was so stubborn, so hard-headed. He thought maybe that was what he liked about her most. And he did like her, far more than he was willing to think about at the moment.

“Do you want some?” Sierra said.

Jeth nodded.

She picked up the tray again and laid it across his lap. Then she turned and sat in the chair across from him. He picked up the fork with his left hand, the awkwardness of it making him hesitant. He was too aware of her eyes on him. He wished she would either say something or look away. When she didn’t, he focused on getting the food onto the fork and then to his mouth. It was hard, but he managed.

When he finished, Sierra stood and returned the tray to the counter.

She sat down again, moving the chair close enough that she was within arm’s reach of the bed. “I—” she began, her eyes lowered. “I just wanted to thank you.”

Jeth cleared his throat, afraid to speak. “For what?”

She looked up at him. “For killing Renford. I don’t think I could’ve done it. He always held a power over me, even up to the end. But it’s gone now. He’s gone.” She took a deep, loud breath. “I know this sounds silly, but it’s like I’ve been set free.”

Jeth squirmed a little. This wasn’t a conversation he felt like having. Ever. “You’re . . . welcome, I guess.”

She smiled at his stumbling. “And I really, truly am sorry for not trusting you from the beginning and for stealing Avalon. I’m glad she’s yours again. She’s a great ship. I mean, she doesn’t look all that impressive at first, but she got us away from the Northern Dancer, and here we are safe and comfortable for once.”

Jeth resisted the urge to beam at the compliment. “She’s the best, all right,” he said, managing a modest grin instead.

Sierra nodded, and the smile slipped from her face. “I’m not sure if you’ve thought about what you plan on doing with Vince and me, but I hope you know that Cora needs to be with me.” She cast him a defiant look. “She doesn’t know you very well, and after what happened . . .” Her voice trailed off, unpleasant memories of their last moments on the Northern Dancer filling the silence. “I can’t promise that she won’t lose control again.”

Feeling nervous, Jeth said, “I understand, and you’re right.” He paused, his throat tight. “But what if . . . what if you just stayed here. On Avalon. With me . . . and the crew.”

A shy smile rose to Sierra’s lips. “I’d like that. Very much.”

Bolstered by her admission, Jeth finally did what he’d wanted to do for a very long time. He reached out with his good hand and took one of hers in his. He stared down at her crooked, ruined fingers, ran his thumb over the misshapen knuckles. In that moment, he silently swore that no one would hurt Sierra again.

Finally he raised her hand to his lips and kissed each finger, one by one, the act like a sacred rite. Then he let go of her hand and cupped the back of her head, drawing her close.

He kissed her, and something moved between them, an unspoken bond pulling them together over what they had gone through and what they would face. But those memories and thoughts faded away until there was nothing but the sensation of his lips on hers, the exchange of breath and the soft harmony of hearts beating. For one blissful moment they were nothing but feelings and physical sensation.

The moment lasted a very long time.

Afterward, Jeth climbed out of the hospital bed, ignoring Sierra’s protests that he should stay put. Jeth felt made of air. He might be injured, but he knew his hand would be whole again. Milton would make sure of it. And for now, he wanted to see the others.

Lizzie shrieked with delight when Jeth stepped through the doorway into the common room. Everyone was there, burning off the sluggishness from the meal with games and conversation. Lizzie ran over and hugged him so fiercely she almost knocked him over.

“I’m so glad you’re up and about, Jethro.” She kissed his cheek.

“Of course he’s up and about,” Milton said from his position on the couch. “Because that’s exactly what I told him not to do.” Milton winked. “Should’ve known better than to expect you would listen.”

“That’s right,” said Shady. “You ought to take it easy on him, Liz. Seeing how he’s a cripple and all.”

Jeth rolled his eyes. “It’s my hand, Shady. Not my leg.”

“Oh, well, then I meant ‘amputee.’”

Celeste slapped Shady in the back of the head. “That’s not funny.”

Shady grinned at her. “Sure it was.”

“Who cares if he’s an amputee,” said Flynn. “He’s the captain. All he’s got to do is shout orders and sit around while we do all the work.”

Jeth sighed as he plopped down on the nearest sofa. “That sounds like the best job ever. Not that it’ll work with you bunch of lazy good-for-nothings.”

“Does this mean we can call you Stumpy?” said Shady.

Jeth grunted. “I can still shoot you with my good hand.”

The banter went on a short while longer, and when it died down, Jeth braced himself for the question he knew was coming next: What do we do now?

But to his surprise, nobody asked it.

Instead Shady said to Celeste, “So, do you want to see how bad I can kick your ass in matchmaking on Robot Revenge?”

Celeste smirked. “I could beat you one-handed.” She flashed a grin at Jeth. “No offense, Stumpy.”

Jeth scowled at her. “Next person who calls me ‘Stumpy’ is getting the boot.”

A chorus of “Stumpys” answered him.

“I get no respect,” Jeth grumbled. He tried to keep a straight face but failed.

“What’s a stumpy?” asked Cora.

Jeth had been doing his best not to look at her as she sat next to Vince with Viggo asleep in her lap. He didn’t know how she would react to seeing him again. He was afraid he would detect fear in her eyes.

“It’s just a nickname,” said Lizzie, coming over to her. “And we’re only calling Jeth that because it’s funny.”

“Why’s it funny?” said Cora.

“Because he hurt his hand,” said Sierra.

“Oh.” Cora cast Jeth a furtive look, biting her lip. “But I hurt his hand, didn’t I?”

“No,” Jeth said, unable to keep from answering. “It wasn’t your fault. You did everything right. You saved us all, Cora.”

Cora looked uncertain for a moment, and then to Jeth’s surprise, she smiled.

He smiled back.

“Go on,” Lizzie said. “Give him a hug.”

Jeth started to shake his head, but Cora was already pushing the cat aside and standing up. She dashed across the room and jumped into his lap. Jeth winced at the sudden pain in his hand, but he wrapped his arms around her automatically.

He didn’t mind the pain, not with his baby sister hugging him like this, unafraid. He kissed the top of her head.

“Do I really look like our mom?” Cora said next to his ear.

Jeth blinked, remembering how he’d told her that right before she’d phased them off the Northern Dancer. “Yes, Cora. You really do. You’re both beautiful.”

Cora giggled and hugged him tighter. She stayed there a few moments longer, then got up and started chasing Viggo around the common room, filling the place with her giggles as the cat jumped and pawed at her, returning the play.

With the excitement of Jeth’s arrival officially over, everyone settled into their favorite activities for relaxing. Lizzie turned on some music. Milton lit a pipe, while Flynn decided to make some after-dinner snacks. Vince joined Celeste and Shady at the gaming table.

Sierra sat next to Jeth, holding his left hand and resting her head on his shoulder. He leaned his head atop hers. Then he let out a sigh and closed his eyes.

I’ve been set free, he heard Sierra saying again in his mind.

So have I.

He didn’t know if it was real, if freedom was something you could earn or win after a long, hard fight, or if it was just an illusion. But he decided it didn’t matter. Only this mattered. This moment right here, surrounded by the people he cared about. And he realized this was the paradise his parents had meant when they named this ship.

There were other things he should be thinking about, decisions he should be making. Like where they went next. What they would do with the information they had. And most important, how he would save his mother.

But for now, he was content to leave those worries alone, to let them be silent and still inside him. For now, it seemed he’d found his Avalon at last.