Chapter Twenty-Three

"Well, Computer," Rimmer said, expertly maneuvering his sleek ship through Io's thin, transient atmosphere. "We're well out of that mess. What do you say we DJ over to some dimension with a fine, five-star resort? Overlooking a beach, perhaps? We can forget those damn kippers and have a nice cream tea instead."

"Nice try, Arnie," the Wildfire computer said. "But, I'm not buying. What's the real plan?"

Rimmer smirked, his eyes fixed on his scanner's readout as he compensated for the heavy radiation interference between Io and Jupiter, then homed in on the positions of the stolen Space Corps patrol ships.

"I guess there's no fooling you, Computer," he said as he worked. "No fooling myself either. Not anymore…"

"Ace?" the computer queried, her low voice seeming to flutter with hope.

"The one and only. In this particular time and place, anyway," Rimmer said, and flashed a warm smile that made her primary interface monitor glow pink. "How long before those GELFs out there fry the energy shields?"

"We're down to fifty-four seconds, Ace."

"Then, let's see if they'll accept a handshake. What was their captain's name again…Lars…Lichen…?"

"Larkin," the computer supplied. "Adam Larkin."

"Larkin. Right. Thanks, Computer."

"Your channel is open, Ace. Ready to transmit."

"Captain Larkin," Rimmer called out. "This is Arnold 'Ace' Rimmer, commander of the Space Corps prototype Wildfire. I heard your grievance, and your ultimatum, and I'd like to offer my assistance. Will you parley?"

A crackle of static preceded the GELF's low, slurred voice.

"Commander Rimmer is it?" Larkin said. "Any relation to the criminals holed up on this sun-forsaken moon?"

"Admiral Rimmer is my mother," Rimmer told him. "That's my family you have hostage down there."

"Is that so? Then, might I presume you have the Admiral and General Metzeler aboard, ready to give themselves up?"

"Afraid not, Captain," Rimmer said. "They're on the surface. But, I'm not here on their behalf. I came to—"

"You may as well save your breath, 'Ace'," the GELF cut him off. "We're not here to negotiate. The monsters cowering beneath those domes know their crimes. They know exactly what they did to us. If they're too cowardly or too arrogant to hand themselves over to justice, they leave us but one option."

"Think about this, Captain," Rimmer urged, tapping at the Wildfire's controls as he spoke. "There are innocent people down on that moon – children, and reporters with access to live link-ups to Earth and Mars. If you take out Io's energy shields, how do you think this story's gonna play, eh? Do you want the people of the inner system to understand your anger – to share it, and join your call for justice? Or, are you simply out for revenge?"

"Optics!" Larkin exclaimed. "You expect us give a smeg about optics! This isn't an episode of Pick Your Politicians! We're not out to win a popularity contest with spin vids, sunbeams and smiles. Our faces are our truth! My people have been conned, mutilated, our futures have been stolen out from under us! We embark on a desperate search for answers, and find those responsible for our pain are being honored - celebrating themselves with lavish society parties! Well, we gave them their chance, Ace Rimmer, and they made the choice to ignore us. Spin it however you like, this whole damn mess is on them. And their time is up. Larkin to all ships: Lock on targets and prepare to fire, in three…two…"

"Now, Computer!" Rimmer shouted, and punched the icon to initiate a quick series of targeted proton waves.

From the outside, a proton wave doesn't look like much. In fact, without specialized scanning equipment, it doesn't look like anything at all. No spatial distortion effect, no flashing lights, no bolts of energy, nothing to engage the eye and crank up the observer's pulse.

But, within the scout ships' weapon systems, the rapid bombardment of subatomic particles created a resonance effect that grew exponentially. Flabbergasted GELFs fought to regain control, to fire at Io's protective shields despite the odd vibrations, but the trembling only got worse, shaking and juddering until explosive sprays of sparks left their weapons consoles dark and silent.

"Message coming in, Ace," the Wildfire reported. "It's Captain Larkin."

Rimmer's lips twitched ever so slightly upward.

"Patch him through, Computer," he said, leaning back in his seat.

"YOU!" Larkin roared through the comm system. "I know it was you, Ace Rimmer! What did you do to our ships!"

"Captain Larkin," Rimmer said, his voice rich with warm geniality. "So good to hear your voice again. You know, you never did give me a chance to explain why I wished to contact you."

"You said yourself, your family—"

"Not all relations share the same views, old man," Rimmer spoke over him, rather grimly. "Truth is, I'm here to help. My friends and I believe your story one hundred percent. So, naturally, I couldn't sit by and watch you sabotage your one shot at real justice. I mean, consider your situation. You made your journey in stolen ships, disabled communications outposts along the way... However rightfully and justifiably angry you may be, did you really think destroying the population of Io would get you a fair shake?"

Larkin growled low in his throat.

"What do you want from us," he rumbled.

"There's a ship parked below. Starbug," Rimmer said. "It's neutral territory. Choose some representatives and follow me there, and I pledge to you, I will do all in my power to assure that your voices are heard. Together, we can hold Metzeler and my mother to account for what they've done."

"Why would you do this, Commander?" Larkin demanded. "Why should we trust anything you say?"

"Because, as Ace Rimmer, it's my job to fight injustice," Rimmer said. "But, more than that... My brother Frank is one of the soldiers affected by Mother's GESS serum. I watched his transformation with my own eyes. I heard his screams, and I know the pain he went through. The pain you're still going through."

"You mean..." a deeper, more feminine GELF voice spoke up. "You're saying Admiral Rimmer gave this poison...this mutagen...to her own son? But...how...?"

"You have to know Mother," Rimmer said dryly. "Now, I'm not saying this will be easy. My mother is a master manipulator and, from what I've seen, Metzeler is much the same. But, if we can convince them to own up to what they did to Frank – to you… Your case, my friends, is as good as made."

To Be Concluded…

Thanks so much for your encouraging comments! This story is so close to being done - just the conclusion and the epilogue still to go! Will Ace really be able to help Frank and the GELFs, or will everything fall apart? Rimmer's final confrontation with his mother is coming up! Stay tuned, and thanks for reading! :D