Susan stood beside Elder Miller as he activated the transmission to Eris. She felt mildly uncomfortable standing there, though she was merely one of a group. The captains of the various warships had joined her as well, along with what remained of the Advisors to the Speaker. After some argument, the Keeper had joined the group, though he stood sullenly apart, with a perpetual frown on his deeply lined face.
Even Gabriel was there, once again uncomfortable in his stiff, formal uniform. She watched him fidget slightly; it still surprised her how glad she had been that he survived the battle. Everything about him should have been a near-constant irritant, yet somehow some shred of fondness persevered. Only time would tell if he would manage to live up to it or not.
As if he had heard her thoughts, the rig pilot turned and caught her watching him. He gave her a confident smile, and she jerked her eyes away. Her face felt warm, but she kept her attention on Elder Miller. The Speaker had started the message.
“People of Eris. It has been four years now since the people of the Way came to live among you and built a city in New Sonora. During that time, we have striven to be good neighbors, friends, and countrymen. We tried to build up our community and support the government of the Known Worlds. Every follower of the Way did their best to become an ideal citizen and fellow wanderers in this path of life we all share.”
He paused, and his hands shifted on the cane he held. The expression he wore grew sad. “Unfortunately, while there were some among our neighbors who welcomed us and gave us a home, not all were so willing to allow us to live beside them. There were murmurings and contention, insults and unkindness, which grew among the people of Eris like a cancer. There came to be groups of people, some highly placed, who decided that we were now worthy of death, and discarded any appearance of decency in order to achieve that aim.
“A band of mercenaries known as Bennett Securities was hired to destroy us by those whose hatred we have borne. Those mercenaries proceeded to strike at us quietly, to murder us and scourge us, in an attempt to break our resolve. When they failed, they turned to more obvious means of destruction. Assassins were sent among us, hijackers were used to ensnare and manipulate Directorate personnel, and at the last, when we merely sought to flee from their harassment, they brought their fleets to make war on us directly. Their ships were strong, but the Lord was with us.”
Elder Miller turned and gestured with one hand. “The brave crews and captains of our defense fleet have seen the end of that threat. Though we have lost comrades whom we will mourn, their sacrifices have not been in vain, and we are now free.” He inclined his head. “There are few people who could endure what we have endured without a thought for revenge. Few men and women could suffer so much pain without a moment of spite in return.” Miller brought his head up. “But revenge is not the part of the Way we follow. Vengeance is His, and He will repay those responsible for our misfortunes.
“Instead, we are leaving the people of Eris and departing from the Known Worlds. If the Lord’s people are no longer welcome among you, then we will find the place He has prepared for us to live beyond the Frontier.” Elder Miller directed his gaze into the receiver for the transmission. His eyes were unwavering and calm. “To those who wish to join us, may the Lord bless you with the chance to find us. To those who will continue to seek our destruction, I warn you in the name of the Lord that He will not tolerate your assaults upon his people any longer. The fate of Bennett Securities awaits you as well.”
Another pause, and Elder Miller’s voice lost some of its edge. “Farewell, New Sonora, the city of beauty and peace. Farewell Eris, where we took rest from our trials until our enemies stole our peace again. Farewell to the Known Worlds, where our fathers struggled to make a place for freedom and protection. May the Lord judge you as He sees fit, and may we meet again before His judgment bar. Elder Clark Miller, Speaker of the Way, out.”
The final transmission over, Susan watched as the fleet began to move for the last time. Evacuation ships full of every willing soul on Eris turned to join the formation she had planned for the defense fleet. Cruisers, frigates, and escort craft formed a protective framework for the more vulnerable transports and cargo ships. At the center of the formation was the Concord, trailed quietly by the Compass, as the Wayfarer fleet made its way into the void.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
She felt a sudden pang of homesickness—the Wayfarers were not the only ones leaving something behind. For all her life, the Directorate and the Known Worlds had been her nation, her home, her purpose. Now, it would all be left behind as she followed these religious pilgrims into the unknown. For a moment, Susan questioned if it would all be worth the cost.
Then she glanced over at Gabriel, caught the edge of another smile, and knew that it was.
Grateful for the end of the conference, Gabe hooked one finger in his collar and worked it around a bit so he could breathe. One day soon, he was going to track down whatever perverse tailor had created this style of uniform and throttle him, just to return the favor.
The small gathering afterward had not been much better. Susan had stepped forward to issue the standard movement instructions for the fleet, which she had already done via messages earlier. Then his father had congratulated them on their victory and pronounced the Lord’s blessing on their journey. The Speaker had been leaning on a table and gesturing with the cane in his hand. Gabe grimaced every time he saw that cane. A legacy of his father’s wound, the doctors had predicted he would need it the remainder of his life unless he decided to get a replacement leg. Knowing his father, he would refuse and simply hobble around.
What followed had been a simple meet-and-greet where ex-Directorate officers mingled with Wayfarer captains. The Advisors were there too, ranging from the solemn Elder Morsely to the chipper Elder Rollins. Elder Evans’ absence left a hole in the gathering, but at least Gabe knew that no more people would be lost to their enemies. All the same, the mood of the meeting had been formal enough to drive him to the nearest empty corridor to find some air.
Despite the stuffy atmosphere and strangling collars, Gabe felt as if he were suddenly free. All of the oppression of the siege of New Sonora and the persecutions heaped on his people were gone. They were on their way to a new place, a new start, and there were no longer any dark threats lingering along their path. The Lord had truly blessed them, and if they remained faithful, He would provide the Way.
He worked his finger at the collar again, releasing a satisfied sigh as the movement gave him a measure of relief. The corridor ahead was empty, providing no witnesses to his irreverence. Gabe turned back toward the door and stopped with a jump when he saw Admiral Delacourt waiting for him. She watched him, her eyes unnervingly calm. “Admiral Delacourt.”
“Captain Gabriel.” She nodded. There was a pause and she smiled, the expression a bit uncertain. “I missed you at the party. Not fighting with the Keeper again, I hope.”
“Not this time, no.” Gabe shook his head, amused. “Actually, tonight he’s almost pleasant to be around. Don’t know how long that will last, but we’ll see.” Her smile grew a bit, and he folded his arms. Then there was an awkward silence that said volumes. Epics, even. Finally, Gabe sighed. “So, will you stay in command now that the Concord is coming with us? Or will you leave now that the Outriders are done?”
Susan snorted. “As if I would let some rig pilot like you lead the fleet. You’d probably have the ships running into each other even if no enemies appear.” She met his eyes. “I’m staying.”
Gratitude and joy flooded into Gabe’s heart, and he barely resisted the urge to crow a victory cry. He settled for a grin wide enough to make his cheeks ache. “Glad to have you then, Admiral. I’m happy to see that this is what you want after all.”
“Well, the command of the fleet is, certainly.” She met his eyes, and he saw a flicker of mischief on her face. “As for anything else, I suppose we will still have to see.”
Gabe blinked. “Oh. Well. That’s good then.” He hesitated. “Anything I can do to help you decide?”
She laughed, a beautiful sound. Gabe grinned a little, pawing at the hair on the back of his head. He felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment, but he stood his ground. “Come on, that’s not fair.”
Delacourt’s laughter faded to a chuckle. “Well, what is it they always say, Captain? All’s fair in love and w—”
Gabe didn’t give her the chance to finish. Before the words had left her mouth, his lips found hers, and he swept her into his arms for a moment. Just for a second, then two, maybe only enough to stop her from tormenting him. Her lips were hungry against his, and she fit far too perfectly in his arms. The seconds stretched as they kissed, until finally he drew back, breathing hard.
She was breathing just as hard, which gave him a little burst of satisfaction. Then she smiled at him. “Well, I suppose I could get used to that.” With a few quick movements, she straightened her uniform. Her calm, professional expression returned, though he could still see a blush on her cheeks. She gave him a level look. “Don’t think this means I will go any easier on you. We still have a long way to go, Captain.”
He chuckled and threw her a sloppy salute. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, Admiral.”
Susan smiled. “Then shall we see what the fleet has been doing?”
“I’m right behind you.” Gabe followed her back toward the others, feeling unreasonably happy. The Wayfarer fleet continued on its journey and left the troubled world of Eris behind. No doubt life would get fairly complicated soon, but for now he was at peace, with the ones he cared for close, and that was all that mattered.