Chapter 8
Into The Light
Disclaimer: Yeah, Landmark owns it all. This is the same disclaimer you read all over the internet and web. Let's be truthful, though – this could have been a great show that Landmark and Mattel let slide into oblivion. Shame on them for being before their time in the entertainment business.
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Jon and Hawk exited the briefing room to find several of the staff still milling in the hall. Blalock was talking quietly with Tobias. She turned on heel at the conclusion of their conversation and walked down the corridor, away from the security checkpoint.
Blalock approached them. "We need you to bring the rest of your team in," he said. "A crew is being assembled to refuel your ship."
"Better make that a repair crew," Hawk advised. "Soaron got in a few good shots before hopping into the jumpgate."
"Can do," Blalock said. "It would help if one of you could go out with the crew. I don't need your people cutting loose on their triggers out there."
"I'll go," Hawk offered. "We need a few things from the ship, anyway, if we're going to give you guys a hand."
Jon knew it was a lie, and he appreciated Hawk's generosity. It meant the chance to stay close to Jennifer, to keep an eye on her until everything was settled.
"Make sure the cargo is secure," Jon said, "and have Scout get cloaking online. That should give us some cover from the patrols."
"Right."
Blalock called for one of the men in the hall to escort Hawk to the repair team.
"Lieutenant," Jon said, when Hawk had gone, "I need to speak with Doctor Tobias in private."
Blalock paused. "What time is it?"
Jon looked down at his chronometer. "Nearly noon."
The lieutenant hesitated but soon relented. "She's on the roof. Goes up there about this time every day. Take the elevator straight up to the fourteenth floor, hang a right. There's an access hatch."
"Thank you."
Now it was Blalock's turn to stop Power. "You obviously didn't hear me in the briefing room, Captain. Hurt her and I'll make you wish you'd never come here."
Blalock's words were not those of a junior officer to a senior officer. They were from one man to another.
"Point taken, Lieutenant," he said, looking the man in the eyes. He had no intention of backing down in the midst of a threat. "Which way to the elevator?"
Blalock pointed a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the direction Jon saw Tobias walk just a few minutes beforehand.
The elevator doors were open, and the cab creaked as Jon stepped inside it. He tapped the control panel for the fourteenth floor and moved back as the doors slid closed. Gravity buckled his knees slightly as the car rose up through the building toward the roof. As Blalock had said, there was a hatch to the roof off to the right of the elevators. He climbed through it and found himself atop the roof, high above Robertsontown.
The streets rumbled with activity, with traders hawking wares and the food vendors beginning their services for the day. Jon had not seen such freedom for human beings in any town in the west. Robertsontown, it seemed, was not as hard hit by Dread's forces. Perhaps, he considered, Tobias's crew really had not spilled as much blood. He did not doubt that Dread forces controlled the area, but the level of prosperity in the town was staggering when compared to those who lived in places like the Passages. It made him wonder if Sanctuary's people were sleeping with the enemy.
He leaned his elbows on the railing, surveying the scene. The wind was blowing gently, and the sun, though a dusky rose in the fallout of war, shone warm upon his face. He closed his eyes, bathing in the radiance.
"Nothing like the great outdoors to refresh the soul, eh, Captain?" Tobias said from the shadows.
He whipped around, caught off guard. He waited for a moment until his vision recovered from the brightness of the sun. When it was normal again, he saw her seated in a lounge chair, her feet up and her robes pulled tightly about her.
She lay back against the chair and looked out through the railing. "So many lives down there," she said with a weariness that contrasted sharply with her appearance of command in the briefing room. "He'll take them soon enough."
"He hasn't won yet," Jon offered.
"Those people are sheep, Captain. They're too afraid or too complacent to stand up and fight for their freedom. They're content to bribe and steal their existence."
"Then why do you help them? Why not move on to where you can help people who are willing to fight Dread?"
"Because bunkers don't fit into suitcases. We're too integrated now to give up this place. Besides," she said, "it's a hell of a view to the west."
He looked left and saw a vast plain of grain and grass. It was a sharp contrast to the desert sand he was used to seeing. The ecology of the planet had been changed during the Metal Wars. Dirt and debris had been kicked up in to the atmosphere, causing extreme shifts in the temperate zones. What was once tundra became hot and arid. Cool places became frozen wastelands. Very few areas remained moderate and capable of sustaining farming of any type. Robertsontown had made the short list of locations.
He turned toward her again. "I wanted to thank you for what you did. You and Holcomb saved Jennifer's life."
"To be honest, Captain," she said, pulling her robe even tighter, "we had an ulterior motive."
"So, you would have let her die if you hadn't needed us?"
"Of course not. I'm saying we wouldn't have brought you into Sanctuary so willingly. We would have been a hell of a lot more discerning in our actions."
He studied her as she sat huddled in the shadows of the alcove. Her eyes looked tired but alert. He could not help but be intrigued by her sense of calm. Even when Hawk had accused her of atrocities, she did not react except to keep the subject focused.
"It's a lot warmer in the sun," he remarked.
Tobias laughed. "And a great way to reflect my hardware. There are some real longshots down there who could ruin a cyborg's day with a little luck."
"You consider yourself a cybernetic organism?"
"A biomech, if it makes you feel any better. I fit the scientific bill, believe me. I helped define the term."
He stepped into alcove. "You're a little more advanced than a biomech. Speaking of those . . . "
"Their names are Mason and Dixon," she answered, anticipating his question. "They've been reprogrammed to do routine work around here. I removed their trackers."
"Just like that?" Power asked, surprised.
"Just like that," she said in kind. "Not everything has a complicated history, Captain. Sometimes, things are exactly as they appear."
He leaned against the wall and folded his arms against the chill. "You can't blame us for having questions."
"And I don't, but I'm also not going to waste your time and mine rehashing the past. As I said before, some day they'll make good bar stories. Right now, they're only memories and nightmares best forgotten."
"You're saying you deserve the way you are?"
The wry grin appeared again. "I reaped what I sowed. There's not much more to it than that."
"You make it sound so simple."
"Making excuses only complicates a matter. Breaking something down to its most basic truth not only helps the conscience but also cuts out a hell of a lot of red tape. It leaves one free to stay the course."
"And what course is that?"
She paused, considering her answer. Then she said, "Atonement, Captain. In its most basic form, I must apologize and gain the forgiveness of humanity by my actions."
"Lieutenant Blalock seems to think you've been through enough."
She smiled fondly. "He's young and idealistic. He sees shades of grey when everything is really black and white. It's good versus evil, a yin and a yang."
"And that's how you always see it?"
"That's how I have to see it. That's the way it is, whether we like it or not."
Power shook his head. "I'm not so sure I could see everything that way."
"That's because you've always had the luxury of give and take. You can live with compromise. I can't. "
Jon laid his head against the wall, unsure of what Tobias meant. War required compromise, for not all battles could be won. Sometimes, it was a matter of living to fight another day. Give and take was essential to gaining ground. He did not like informants such as Locke because they were conniving and dishonest. However, they did supply valuable information, albeit for a price. Tobias's words that nothing was for free echoed in his mind.
"And the implants – are those a compromise or part of a nightmare?" he challenged.
"Oh, a little of both, I suppose," she sighed. "We all have times in our lives best forgotten."
"That's not good enough for me."
"You're in no position to demand anything. You're here on Holcomb's better judgment. The fact that the timing of Dread's project coincides with your arrival is interesting but hardly an ace up your sleeve. At any point, I can send all of you on your merry way and not have to explain my reasons to anyone."
"I don't believe you'd ever do that. You, yourself, said that you owe humanity your service."
She laughed again, this time more heartily. "Oh, Captain, my captain! You obviously have no clue. God bless your ignorance!"
Jon rubbed at his eyes again, frustrated. "Look, I don't know what it is in your past that makes you such a monster. At this point, I'm not sure I even care."
"Of course you care," she countered, containing her laughter, "or you wouldn't be probing for information. Human nature has to be the most consistent yet most dynamic, unpredictable element in this world. We're creatures of habits that have been handed down through thousands of years of intellectual evolution."
"Sounds more complicated when you say it that way. I was thinking more along the lines that Blalock all but threatened to kill me if I hurt your feelings."
The fondness returned to her eyes at the mention of the lieutenant's name. "Well, that's Mick for you. He has a good heart, but that doesn't mean much when he's mad."
"It seems we have that in common with our First Officers."
"Major Masterson is bitter, and rightfully so. He's a lousy shot under pressure. I do find the irony of what he'll tolerate amusing, though," she said.
"How's that?" Jon asked, feeling an insult of his crew forming in Tobias.
"He seems to have no problem embracing a young woman who sent thousands to their deaths and now feels sorry for what she's done. The old woman, on the other hand, gets no mercy, no reprieve for what she's done, no matter how hard she tries. His ability to pass judgment is truly awesome."
"He's wrong for doing that, but he's seen a lot in this war. I think it can cloud his senses sometimes, " Jon argued.
"No, he's not wrong. At least someone is willing to say it. As I said, your corporal sent thousands to their deaths. I sent millions. But to be honest, it all becomes a blur after the first hundred or so. After that, it's all strictly a matter of statistics," she said with a dismissive air. "And statistically speaking, I'm much farther in the hole than she is in the penance department."
Her words of confession left him with no response. Tobias was a war criminal pleading guilty to all charges. She had passed sentence on herself, acknowledging her culpability in spreading Dread's empire.
Still, he refused to look at her as the criminal she professed she was. True criminals, those deserving eternal punishment, seldom placed the blame on themselves and seldom expressed remorse for their actions. Not only was Tobias expressing guilt, she was adamant in taking full responsibility for the past. It was a burden that could weigh more than the soul was designed to bear.
Tobias's communicator chirped suddenly, startling them both.
"Holcomb to Tobias."
She pulled up her sleeve and activated the link. "Tobias, go."
"Our patient just woke up."
A glad look spread on her face. "Very good. We're on our way. Tobias out."
She looked up at Power. "I've enjoyed our little chat, Captain. So, let's go see how your corporal is doing."
She began to get off the lounge chair. Jon instinctively held out a hand to assist her. She accepted the offer with a chuckle.
"Such manners from a great warrior. Who'd have thought?"
He followed her to the hatch and watched in amazement as she slipped through the port and slid down the side railings of the ladder. The mechanical leg did not appear to hinder her at all when climbing, although the servos in the joints sounded louder when stressed at odd angles.
They stepped into the elevator and began the descent down into the bunker once more. Tobias was quiet, and Jon was thankful for that. He felt uncomfortable delving into her past, in total disregard of Blalock's warning.
The nurse Jon had seen the night before in the triage area met them at the elevator. She began apprising Tobias of Pilot's condition as they walked toward the medical ward. He picked up on several points that sounded encouraging, but the best information of all was that Jennifer was awake and alert, struggling to communicate with Holcomb.
They neared the room in the medical ward, but Tobias did not enter.
"It's probably best if you go in first," she said. "She's disoriented and afraid right now. She needs a familiar face. Keep her as calm as you can."
He looked at her for a moment, studying the whirlwind of bottled emotions and untold stories in an aging woman's body. Her kindness and compassion clashed violently with the self-proclaimed monster inside her.
"Thank you," he said quietly, and he meant it this time. Her only response was a minute dip of her head and an invitation to go into the room.
He opened the door and saw Holcomb at Jennifer's side, talking in hushed tones to her. He acknowledged Jon with a nod.
"Looks like you have a visitor," Holcomb said to her with a gentle smile. The doctor relinquished his chair to Jon, giving them their space but remaining in the room.
Jon took her hand in his, and she grasped it firmly. He heard her struggle against the machines that prevented her from speaking but that pushed life-giving air into her lungs. Her hand was clenched around his, a grip of fear and shock.
"It's okay," he soothed, "I'm right here. You're going to be fine. Try to relax."
Her startling blue eyes were wide with confusion and fear. She focused on him, and her fight diminished until it seemed that her alarm was easing. Her grip remained tight, but not the vise that it was.
"We're in a place called Sanctuary," he told her. "Lydia sent us here to get you some help." Jon looked back toward the door. "That's Holcomb. He's one of the doctors who's taking care of you."
She looked at Holcomb, but Jon could see her attention called to something else, something that raised her alarm again. It was not fear that gripped but what he was sure was shock. She blinked several times, as if to clear her vision. The thump of Tobias's mechanical leg reverberated through the tiled floor as she neared the bed.
Tobias looked down at her patient with a gentle smile. "Hello, Jennifer. I'm glad you're back with us. You had us worried there for a while."
Chase struggled against the respirator, but this time, it was in an effort to speak. The fear was gone, replaced by something Jon could only surmise was agitation at Pilot's inability to talk against the tubes of the ventilator. Her eyes welled and finally spilled over in tiny silent streams. Tobias put a hand on Pilot's shoulder.
"Don't try to talk," the doctor said. Jon heard tightness in her voice that he did not expect. "We'll get that tube out of you in a couple of hours, and then we can get the questions out of the way."
Tobias put a hand on Jennifer's head in a gentle caress. "I want you to rest now," she said in a voice that was unexpectedly mild and comforting. "I'm going to have Holcomb give you something to relax you. It'll keep the edge off the pain until the regenerators finish their work."
Pilot's grip loosened in his hand. Her anxiety was not so acute, but she was clearly distracted at the presence of Tobias. She did as Tobias asked, but her eyes were still bright with tears. Holcomb stepped in then and administered the ordered sedative.
Jon was taken aback by the exchange. The two clearly knew one another, but how? More importantly, when? Instead of feeling relief that Tobias was a comfort to Pilot, he felt angry that yet another important detail had been withheld.
Tobias and Holcomb left the room. He listened until he could no longer hear the metal clanking in the hall. Jon watched Jennifer as her eyes became heavy and she drifted off into a steady sleep. He debated finding Tobias and demanding answers, except he was fast learning that tactic was useless with a woman like her. Instead, he took what little time he had before the planning stages for the raid on Volcania to stay with Pilot, watching her as she slept.
Time, he knew, was something that was fleeting. Or so it seemed.