Angelic Weapon Seraphim

Chapter 11 - Out Of The Frying Pan

"They're unarmed," said Eve.

"I'm aware of that," said Ophir "They're still a threat to us. To our mission. To everything."

Eve flushed with anger.

"I don't care," said Eve "They're defenseless."

"So how do we know you're not an Imperial spy, hm?" asked Ophir, cocking her head.

"You don't," said Eve "You can't. But I'm the only damn Seraphim pilot you've got, so you had better hope I'm not a spy because if I am you're all screwed already."

Ophir obviously didn't like the answer, but she turned back to her console.

"Setting a course for Angloumis," she said.

"Eve," said the Mayor-Captain, suddenly very serious "Normally I would explain to you the gravity of the decision you're making right now but we're too desperate for me to risk talking you out of it. Welcome aboard."

"Thanks," said Eve, still uneasy about her decision.

The Jules Verne put some distance between itself and anything large enough to interfere with it, then made the jump to the Angloumis system.

* * *

The next day the Jules Verne was docked at Alibi Station, the most amazing place Eve had ever seen. It was filthier and mess well maintained than the Ray Bradbury but the sheer size of it more than made up for this. The hallways were so large that if she stood in the right place Eve could stand with her arms outstretched to their absolute limit and still not touch either wall. She kept doing so just because she could.

Eve had been left to her own devices. The Mayor-Captain was off negotiating the price of fuel. The rest of the crew hadn't exactly warmed to her yet. They're probably upset about Chloe, Eve figured. They might even blame her.

She wasn't sure how she felt about Chloe but she was determined not to think about it too much. It made her want to be sick.

Alibi station consisted of a series of three concentric rings connected by various hallways and supports like spokes on a wheel. It had been repaired and modified so many times over the years that it had a very haggard appearance from the outside but this was fundamentally still the design.

Eve couldn't believe how much open space there was inside. Not just in the hallways but in the stores and the other rooms. Alibi seemed to have a lot of the same sections as the starships she'd lived on but just so much larger. So much less crowded.

There were people, to be sure, but they were actually spread out a little. They could walk past each other in the hall without have to squeeze. Eve was actually able to claim a small measure of personal space most of the time.

Not only people, there were children! Eve couldn't remember the last time a couple got permission to reproduce back on the Bradbury. Eve had counted eight children since she came aboard. It was unfathomable.

Eve felt like she would be content to explore this place for the rest of her life.

Eve had heard rumors that the Emperor himself lived on a stationary construct like this, but she never imagined there could be a rogue station of this kind. If only the knowledge of how to build such marvels still existed...

Eve was so lost in thought she almost bumped into a young man. He skillfully dodged her.

"Oh!" exclaimed Eve "Sorry."

"My fault entirely," the man lied, tipping an imaginary hat to her "Name's Samson, what's yours?"

"Eve."

"Forgive me for asking, Eve, but you're with the ship that just docked here aren't you?" asked Samson.

"I am," said Eve hesitantly, a little wary now.

"That would be the Jules Verne, correct?" he asked.

"Why do you asked?" asked Eve.

"Well it's just that I've heard of you guys but I've never met one of you," said Samson.

"A rebel?" asked Eve.

"Oh we're all rebels here my dear," said Samson "I'm just searching for a diplomatic way to express the thought. Maybe dreamer? Treasure hunter?"

"Just say what you want to say," said Eve.

"Fine," said Samson "What I'm trying to express is that you're the folks still out there trying to find some lost Earth, right? Like there's another living world out there somewhere and the only reason we haven't found it yet is that a plucky enough crew of misfits hasn't searched hard enough yet? Don't get me wrong I love the idea. I think it's charming, romantic even. Lost causes and all."

"That's what I thought too," said Eve "It might not be as lost a cause as you think."

"This is exactly the kind of talk I wanted to hear," said Samson "Could I buy you a drink and we could discuss the viability of the existence of a living world in greater detail?"

Eve didn't have a chance to reply. Suddenly a siren blared and everyone scattered in all directions. She turned back around to find Samson running down the hall at top speed. Eve seemed to be the only person who didn't immediately panic at the sound.

This can't be good, thought Eve, I have to get back to the ship.

She ran through the hall towards the Jules Verne as fast as she could. Thanks to the size of the hallway it was quite fast indeed, and Eve allowed herself to take a small amount of joy out of that despite the obvious seriousness of the situation.

The sound of the siren continued.