A Faded Star (25 page)

 “Very insightful, commander. I believe that answers
many of my questions. One last thing. Have you ever sent any kind of
information about ship movements or military logistics to your brother?”

 “Of course not. The only thing I shared with my
brother was a desire to have a better relationship with him. An overture he
soundly rejected.” Patho considered the intelligence agent for a few seconds
and then said, “I'm sorry, agent. I'm really tired. If you don't mind, I'd like
to get some sleep.”

 “Of course, Commander. I may have other questions for
you, but they can wait for a later time.”

 “Thank you.”

 Cobb nodded and walked out of the room.

 Simmons walked in right after the agent left. “What
did he want, Aden?”

 “I don't really know. I think he thinks my brother is
responsible for the bombing. And if he thinks that, he probably suspects me of
sending the information needed to carry out the attack.”

 “That's ridiculous. You were nearly killed in the
bombing.”

 “Cobb doesn't seem to share your viewpoint.”

 Simmons laid half on the bed with her feet still on
the floor and rested her head on Patho's shoulder. “I'm sorry. I know this must
be tearing you up inside. Cobb's a real jerk coming in and grilling you while
you're still recovering.”

 “No, I understand it, Marli. He needs answers. I just
wish he could get his answers from somewhere else.” Aden was silent for a
moment and just enjoyed Marli's closeness. “Most of all, I wish my damned
brother would wake up and join the rest of humanity. Even if he wasn't part of
the bombing, I know he would approve.” Simmons shuddered against his shoulder.
Patho looked down at the top of her head. “Marli, are you crying?”

 “A little. It's terrible to hear how your family has
been torn apart. She looked up into Aden's eyes. Tears stained her freckled
cheeks. She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Visiting hours are nearly up.”
She wiped her cheeks and put on a bright smile. “I've got to go. I have to
report in tomorrow. I'll come to see you as much as I can, okay?”

 “Okay, Marli. Take care.”

 Simmons stood up and left a lingering kiss on Patho's
lips before saying, “See you soon, Aden.” With that, she was gone.

 Aden stared at the ceiling for a long while, pondering
the weight of his family against his career. It was like trying to solve a
puzzle when the pieces refused to fit together. Shaking his head, he closed his
eyes and waited to get some sleep.

 The next day, a doctor told him he would be
transferred to a mobile chair that cradled his hips and legs. It was
essentially a long wheelchair that allowed him to sit up straight with his legs
stretched out in front of him. After the doctor had left, a cute blond nurse
came in to give him a vigorous and embarrassingly thorough sponge bath that left
him feeling, if not clean, at least less gross than he had been feeling.

 The chair arrived a few hours later, and Patho
completed the painful and difficult process of moving in to it. He was advised
this would be his mode of transportation for the next week until his bones were
completely healed and the casts could come off. His pelvis bone was also held
together by a cumbersome inflatable cast that pierced his skin in several
places with pins, holding the pieces of his pelvis in perfect alignment until
the bones knitted. Once in the chair, he was subjected to two days of tests,
scans and upper body physical therapy. Fortunately, Patho had been in peak
physical condition before the bombing. By the end of the fourth day in the
hospital, he felt mostly normal. He'd learned to cope with being in the chair
and was beginning on regular food. His sleep schedule had also returned to what
it had been before the bombing. He still slept a lot longer than was usual for
him, but it was at night now and not at random times throughout the day.

 Simmons came to see him the morning of the fifth day.
She looked nervous when she walked into his room.

 “Aden, if Cobb comes back to see you, just request
legal counsel. He grilled me yesterday about anything you may have let slip
while we were... being intimate. It was a humiliating conversation.” Simmons
began pacing back and forth at the foot of Aden's bed. After a moment, she
flounced into the chair in the corner. “Aden, did you hear me?”

 “I did. He was asking you about our time together?”

 “Yes. He definitely thinks you had something to do
with the bombing. I don't know what he's after, but I know you didn't do
anything to help the separatists. Just make sure you protect yourself. Cobb's
out for blood. I don't want that blood to be yours.”

 “Thanks for the warning, Marli. I'll be careful with
him.”

 “Good. Now, let's take a walk. Well-” Marli gave him a
grin and a wink, “I'll walk, you can roll along with me if you want.”

 “That sounds nice.” Patho carefully levered himself
from the bed to the chair. He was breathing hard by the time he got himself
settled. Once he got his wind back, he said, “Lead the way. I'll follow your
lead.”

 Simmons headed towards the main entrance. “There's a
park on the far side of the property. It's really nice out. Let's go there.”

 “Sounds wonderful.” Aden hadn't had any sun on his
skin in over a week, and suddenly he found the idea to be incredibly appealing.
The pair moved around the garden for more than two hours, talking of
inconsequential things. As they started to head back, Commodore Stokes came
into view from behind a hedge. He was still in his wheelchair with his left leg
sticking straight out.

 Simmons said, “Commodore, how are you doing today?”

 “Fine, Lieutenant. Just taking in some sun. The doctor
tells me I'll have this cast off in a couple more days. It'll be nice to get
back on my feet.”

 Patho said, “I know what you mean, sir. I'm really
tired of this chair.”

 “Well, only a couple more days,” Stokes responded.
“When are they taking the hip cast off?”

 “At the same time. The last set of scans they did they
showed I was healing extraordinarily well. I should be good as new in another
two or three weeks. It'll take a while to build up my physical strength and
stamina again, but at least I haven't suffered any permanent damage.”

 Simmons looked at Stokes and said, “I'm glad you're
healing up well, sir.”

 “Thank you, Miss Simmons. How's your new assignment
going?”

 “Good. The shipyard refit is a massive project. Kind
of makes me wish Captain Hanlon was here to organize the logistics. She could
really make things happen when she put her mind to it.”

 Stokes' gaze unfocused for a few seconds before he
responded. “I hope she's okay, wherever she is.”

 “We all do, sir,” Patho said. “She's one tough cookie.
It'll take more than a few crabs to do her in.” Patho's false bravado seemed to
buoy the mood somewhat despite the fact that everyone knew it was meaningless.

 “If those poor crabs actually meet her, I'm sure
she'll teach them a thing or two about how interspecies relations go,” Simmons
said.

 Stokes said, “Regardless, I'm sure we'll see her
again.” Giving his head a shake, he asked, “Any new developments on the ship
planning, Miss Simmons? You're the only one back to regular duty since the
bombing. How's the new shipyard admiral taking to his duties?”

 “You mean Admiral Brand? He seems good. I only met him
once. He gave a good address at the change of command ceremony. He kept
Blackwood's old exec.”

 Admiral Brand was Admiral Vesper's executive officer
at Command, wasn't he, sir?” Patho asked.

 “He was. I served with him for a tour of duty a few
years ago. He's a good officer.”

 “Who was moved up to replace Admiral Vesper, sir?”
Simmons asked.

 “I don't know, yet. Whoever got that posting has some
pretty big shoes to fill.”

 “I only ask because I heard a rumor that you were
going to get that position, sir.”

 “They haven't offered it to me, Miss Simmons.”

 Patho said, “Regardless, it's the second most important
duty assignment behind the fleet admiral. Whoever is tapped for the post is
going to have to have a really strong command presence. What about the captain
of the Bastion?”

 “Captain Misato?” Stokes asked.

 “Yes. Didn't his daughter go with the expeditionary
force?”

 ”I think she did. He might be a good candidate for the
post. I've never worked with him, but he has an excellent reputation,” Stokes
said.

 “So where do you think you'll end up, sir?” Simmons
asked.

 “For now, I plan to retain command of the Rampart. I
have an exec that's just coming into his own, and I have to replace my science
officer for the second time in six months.” Simmons smirked at the comment.
Stokes continued, “I have a couple of people in mind for the spot, though. The
academy graduated another class while we've been convalescing, and there was a
really strong science officer who received meritorious advancement to
Lieutenant upon graduation. Apparently, she's done something pretty amazing
with our faster than light sensors. Lieutenant is a low rank for the position,
but I'd rather have someone a bit young for the rank with excellent potential
than someone who came to the position by dint of seniority rather than
ability.”

 The group lapsed into silence for a moment after Stokes'
finished speaking. Patho said, “Well, sir, I suppose we'll let you get back to
enjoying the sun. I'll see you when I report aboard.”

 “Very well, Mister Patho.” Stokes nodded to Simmons
and said, “Lieutenant, take care of this man. I need him back on the Rampart in
good condition.”

 Simmons broke into a smile and said, “I'll do that,
sir.”

 Simmons and Patho went back to his room and then
Simmons left. Aden spent the next two days working his arms out as much as he
could, trying to regain some of his stamina. His doctors cautioned him against
excessive exertion, even after the casts came off. The following day the casts
did come off, and Aden realized just how much the injuries had cost him. He was
barely able to stand. His legs were covered in scars from the surgeries needed
to realign his bones and glue them together. His hips were covered in scars as
well. All of his joints ached after only a minute or two standing upright, and
he had to support himself with a rail to do that. The doctors told him the weakness
was normal, and his strength would return rapidly with a moderate regimen of
calisthenics followed by light strength training after six more weeks. The
doctors repeatedly cautioned him against straining the newly healed fractures
in his bones. The glue needed time to completely solidify and become stronger
than the surrounding bone. Patho tried to assure them he wouldn't go overboard,
but he was dying to get into the gym to restore his body to its previous
strength.

 The next day, ten days after the bombing, he made his
way in a wobbly fashion up the ramp to the Rampart's boarding concourse. His
legs were still weak, but he was able to make short walks unassisted.
Occasional stops for rest were needed. He reported for his first day of duty
after release from the hospital on the same day Stokes returned to the Rampart.

 Stokes signaled him to come to the captain's office.
Patho tapped the entry chime, and after the door swished open, he said,
“Captain, Lieutenant Commander Patho reporting as ordered.”

 “Come in, Mister Patho. Please, sit down. You look
ready to fall over.”

 “The walk up the concourse was taxing, sir.”

 “Why didn't you use one of the luggage carts?”

 Aden was stumped by the question. “Honestly, sir. I
never thought of that.” Aden laughed and said, “If I had, I would have been
here an hour ago. My legs are feeling a lot better, though. They forwarded a
set of injections for me to take daily. The ship's doc has them. In another
week, you'll hardly be able to tell I was injured.” Patho took a seat as he
spoke. “Sir, I have to ask, where did you get these chairs, and can I get one
for my cabin? These things are incredibly comfortable.”

 “Between you and I, I have no idea. They came with the
office.” Stokes tapped the console on his desk before stepping around it to
join Patho in the second chair. The two men turned to look at the screen on the
far wall. “The fleet hasn't been idle in our time convalescing. They set up a
series of sensor satellites and repaired the system of satellites that barred
anyone crossing into the system at faster than light speeds.”

 “Have we gotten anything new from the sensor system?”

 “A deluge of information has come through. Analysts
are still sifting it into usable data, but the long and short of it is that the
crabs have been kicking the crap out of the alliance over the last six weeks.
Our newest scans indicate the alliance base where the expeditionary force was
stationed has fallen. We're going to take Rampart to confirm this once the crew
is filled out and we're supplied for the trip.

 Patho nearly rubbed his hands together in
anticipation. “Excellent, sir. I'm looking forward to teaching those crabs how
ineffective they are at fighting us.”

 “We will be joined by the Rook and the Stalwart. With
the assistance of the Aeternum, both ships have been completed. Bastion is the
only old style ship still not in mothballs. The Aeternum can literally build a
Rampart class ship in three days. The video of it is astonishing. Once we have a
system picket of ships, we'll begin experimenting with new ship designs. The
Aeternum has been updated with our faster than light travel method. The
production computer suggested a few refinements that allow us to make up to
twenty-five light year jumps. Safety interlock is now set at eighteen light
years. We also installed an upgraded sensor suite and communications suite.”
Stokes shook his head. “I watched the Aeternum manufacture the parts for the
Rampart's upgrades. Took less than two hours. The bits just sort of grew in
space.”