Chapter 12 

"Bryn Sanders, he's been on the wanted list for years now, though I haven't heard much about him lately," mused Flannery looking back into the past. "His main claim to fame was being a member of the most notorious pirate gang this system has ever known. They operated almost with impunity for several years but they were finally brought down, just as I started on Bast. Nicholas Mars was their leader, I remember, he had a reputation for ..." his voice trailed off as he looked at the two men in front of him. He swallowed. "But I'm sure you know all about that. I'll just have a word with the rockeater operator," he backed away. 

"What was that all about?" asked Connell, frowning. 

"No idea," lied Rice. Damn. He bet the news would be everywhere by tomorrow, he supposed it had only been a matter of time before somebody would make the connection. He'd known the risk he was taking when he accepted the assignment so he could hardly complain now. He would just have to keep working through it, let the gossip wash over him until people got bored. 

Before he met him, he had been certain that Connell would be his biggest stumbling block if he ever encountered him, but once he got to know him, he changed his mind. Even though it was impossible now, he thought under different circumstances they could have become friends. In hindsight, he wished, not for the first time, that he had sat down with him at the start of his placement on Aykut and laid his cards out openly and honestly on the table. Connell was angry yes, but despite what he had expected, he didn't seem the manipulating, vindictive man his father had portrayed. 

He looked sideways at his Lieutenant. He honestly couldn't tell how much he did or didn't know. Earlier in the tunnel he had been suddenly convinced he must know the whole sordid truth, but now he wasn't so sure, he looked genuinely perplexed by Flannery's behaviour. 

He supposed he would have to have a talk with him in private, but here in the cave with everyone coming and going around them, was neither the time nor the place. He would ask Connell to come and see him in his quarters when they returned to Aykut. 

He changed the subject. "We'd better take the bodies with us up to the station. Once we formally identify them, we might find they have families who want them back for burial." 

Connell nodded and set to work.  

XXX 

As soon as Rice limped out of the shuttle on Aykut however, a medic van whisked him away to the clinic despite his protests. He would have to arrange a time to talk to Connell as soon as he got back to the station, he thought, fretting. 

"The sooner we get that treated, the sooner you'll be able to return to duty," admonished the young medic firmly, but with a smile for the handsome young officer. She was young and pretty, with curly dark hair and holovid perfect skin. She hadn't touched his head injury but was carefully cutting the uniform away from his bad knee. She scanned it, checking the extent of the damage. 

"Just a sprain," she reassured him, spraying an anti-inflammatory over the swollen area. Instantly it felt cooler, less angry. "That should help," she smiled again. 

Stefan Rice smiled back. 

He had been living very austerely since arriving on Aykut, concentrating on his new position so hard that he hadn't realised how lonely he had become. He had no close friends at the station, which was admittedly his own fault, but an affair with a pretty girl might be the answer to that. On Capella, he had had a bit of a reputation as a ladies' man. Without being too conceited, girls seemed to fall over themselves to go out with him, something about the combination of sparkling blue eyes with a warm smile. He liked girls, he liked their company, he just hadn't found anyone he could be serious about yet. 

He checked the small hologram ID on her uniform. "I'm glad to meet you Hannah, I'm Stefan. I'm new to Aykut, perhaps you could tell me what people do here for fun."  

He flirted lightly for the rest of the trip to the clinic. At least somebody liked him. Maybe they could go out together for a drink or something later. 

XXX 

Connell also found himself at the clinic later that day. After ensuring that everything was under control at the patrol station, he decided to visit Kim, who was confined to the clinic as a patient for the rest of the week at least. Grigoryan and Nakamura had been cleared for duty already and were back at work, none the worse for their experience, but Kim was still recovering, instructed to keep to his bed for another couple of days before even trying to walk, to allow his bone graft to heal. 

Connell spoke to Medic Rahmin on his way in, he was confident Kim would make a full recovery as long as he followed his instructions. 

"How are you Kim?" Connell smiled at the youngster, whose light brown skin was looking paler than normal, showing the effects from the loss of blood even now, a day later. 

"Getting better, sir," he answered, determinedly cheerful. "I hear you found the Captain, can you tell me what happened?" 

Connell pulled up a chair and told Kim all about it, keeping him enthralled with the story. He kept an eye on his colour, careful not to stay too long and overtire him. He liked Kim, he was a likeable young man, but he didn't fancy him, despite what anyone else might think. 

He supposed he should drop in on Captain Rice before he left. He had already heard that the medics had admitted the Captain for overnight observation. The blow to the head had given him a mild concussion. 

After their last conversation, this was going to be really awkward.