On the Roster - Chapter 12

“What did you say your name was again?” Kiri asked.

She had arrived at her bunk exhausted and sore, but feeling very satisfied. They had survived because of her. If she wasn’t flying soon for them, they were fools. She was going to grab a hot clean in the ablution stall, a quick bite to eat, and then a long restful sleep.

The mood lasted as long as it took her to peel back the curtain covering her bunk. On the pillow lay a little note. “Found you sister. I’ve come to get what’s mine.”

She had crumpled the note and turned just in time to see two members of the Disciplinary Office approach. “Come with us please.”

And that was how she found herself in this room. Still filthy, hungry, and tired from the mission. And as the adrenaline wore off, she felt each of those more.

“I am Disciplinary Officer Osterall. And you need to tell us where you got this pistol from.”

“I told you already. It’s mine.”

“This,” Osterall said, gesturing towards the plasma pistol on the table — her plasma pistol — “is a finer piece of work than our tech priests have ever seen in their long lives. Forgive me for not believing that it properly — legally — belongs to a Voidsman.”

“Well, it does.”

Lieutenant Creustal sat at the back.

“What noble did you steal that from?” Osterall asked. His calm expression betrayed by his white knuckles as he gripped the back of the chair in front of him.

“I didn’t steal it at all.”

“Then where did you get it? These things don’t just appear in the air.”

Creustal leaned forward. “Havelock, how did you get on the list?”

“Sir?”

“I spoke with Ensign Festerwel, and Leading Voidsman Marrick. Neither of them had put you on the Voidstalker’s list last minute. And I know you weren’t on that list the prior night.”

“Sir…”

“Who are you spying for Havelock?” Osterall asked.

“I’m not a spy!” Kiri raised her hands palms up, pleading. “I saved the team, I’m not working for anyone! Ask them!”

“You have to admit that something doesn’t add up here,” Osterall said. He pulled back the seat and sat in it. “Tell the truth, and we’ll try to make this as easy as possible.”

“Sir, I’m not a spy.”

Lieutenant Creustal stood up. “I believe you, but nobody put you on that list, which means you must have done it.” He jabbed a finger at her.

Kiri felt herself close to tears. “Sir… they’re alive because of me.”

Creustal sat down again and folded his hands in his lap. “I know. Leading Voidsman Marrick made a point of commending your flying and initiative. And Dravik said he saw you take down a stealer. That’s a feat most can’t lay claim to. It may save your career in the long run, but we need to follow orders and there needs to be trust. It may be years before you can fly again.”

The door opened.

Osterall shot out of his seat.

“Uleno, I told you not to disturb us!” he shouted.

“I’m sorry Sir,” the voidsman at the door shrugged, “but … well, you’ll see.”

He stood aside and a man walked into the room.

Dressed in a long black greatcoat with polished black combat boots, his pallid skin was framed by a shock of red hair. He had an augmetic eye that clicked and whirred as he stepped into the room. There was a long gun on his back, a pistol on one hip, and a sword on the other. But it wasn’t the weapons that were the biggest shock.

Held out in the man’s hand was an Inquisitorial rosette.

“Lord Inquisitor…” Osterall began.

With a slight tilt of his head, the man cut him off. “I am Interrogator Alinium. At my Lord’s service.” He folded up the rosette and tucked it into his coat.

Kiri held her breath. She’d only come across inquisitors twice in her life. And even her father, who was afraid of nothing and no one, had given them a wide berth. She stared at this interrogator as if he had a primed pistol pointed straight at her head. Which, she thought, he might as well.

Alinium cleared his throat. “She is telling the truth. She is not a spy.”

Lieutenant Creustal’s eyebrows shot up.

Osterall shot his glance to the pistol on the table. The detailed filigree shone in the bright light of the room. “The pistol?” he asked.

Interrogator Alinium approached the table and grabbed the pistol. Creustal’s eyes widened even more, and Osterall nearly choked, but neither moved to stop him.

Alinium turned the pistol over in his hands. “Your father’s, no?”

“He gave it to me!” Kiri protested.

“I understand that is still an open issue.”

She glowered at the man. Inquisition or no, she wasn’t going to get into her family’s affairs here.

The Interrogator placed the pistol back down on the table. “She will be coming with me.”

“Sir…” Lieutenant Creustal began.

“Perhaps your Lord can talk with my superiors then,” Osterall said. “We’ve received priority orders to collect this pistol. If I let that pistol out of this room, my career is over.”

Alinium made a dismissive motion with his hand. “Keep the pistol. I only want the woman.”

“Wait, don’t I get any say?” Kiri stood up and slammed her fists on the table. “That’s my pistol. You can’t take it.” She turned on the Interrogator. “And what if I don’t want to come with you?”

He smiled, like a cat enjoying the futile struggle of its prey. “Do you really want to stay here? Why do you think his commanding officers are squirming? Your brother is leaning on them.”

She glowered at him.

“You don’t have to come with you if you won’t want. I’ll leave you three to it.”

Kiri looked at the others. Lieutenant Creustal had a severe expression on his face. Osterall was looking at the pistol with glee. She sighed. It wasn’t really a choice.

“I’m coming.” She moved to follow him. “Let me get my things.”

“Oh you won’t need any of it.” He smiled over his shoulder. A predator’s smile. “Come, let’s meet the rest of the misfits on my Lord’s roster.”

Le fin

(for now)