September 12, 3025 – “Icebox” Prison Complex, Weldry
Wil watched the members of the Roughnecks filter away from the gravesite slowly, conversing in small knots of two or three mostly. The Leopard’s crew, the Medbay staff, and the mechtechs were generally somber, but as usual, the mechwarriors were much livelier, telling stories with swooping hand gestures and gentle laughter. Dekker’s only request was to be buried as close to where he fell as possible. Kamea’s doing her part and committing this area Icebox as part of the remembrance park she plans to build here. Someday, but not today.
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A while later, the Hysteria was back in orbit and docked again with the Argo. Wil was headed away from the bridge and almost back to his cabin, when he heard footsteps approaching fast behind him.
“Wil? Radjak!,” came Kamea’s shout.
I really don’t need this right now, Wil thought as he came up to the hatch to his cabin.
“Commander Steinitz!” The voice had command in it this time, and anger.
“Yes, your highness,” spoke Wil as he turned to face Kamea, and Kamea’s face tightened at the honorific.
“What is this I hear that you are rejecting the Argo? I thought I made my plan clear at the briefing.” The words were clipped and spoken just short of a shout.
Bristling, Wil responded just as harshly, “Yes, your plan was clear, but what it wasn’t, was cleared through me first. You may hold our mortgage, Kamea, but you’re not in charge of the Roughnecks. We’re not House troops to be reconfigured at a whim.” Kamea’s expression darkened at each word and broke on whim.
“The Roughnecks may be your organization, but they are in my employ. I expect my mercenaries to comply with my orders. And it’s not like the Argo is some burden. Any other company would be delighted to have such a wonder to operate from.”
“So would I, if it was going to last. But it’s not, right? What happens when you retake the throne? Do I give the ship that has been my and my company’s home for months or years back? Do I sell off the equipment that won’t fit back in just the Hysteria? Fire the extra mechwarriors? For you, everything changes when you’re back on Coromodir. For us mercenaries, it’s back to reality.” Wil and Kamea were toe-to-toe now in the otherwise silent corridor. Faces peered around corners, and all eyes were on them.
“Let’s take this out of the hall, and all of you have assignments, I’m sure. If you don’t, I can certainly find some for you!” The spectators vanished as if exorcised as Wil opened the hatch and preceded Kamea into the room. After the tenseness in the hall, both silently recovered for a moment.
With an audible sigh, Wil started, “I’m sorry. That should not have happened, and I should have discussed this decision with you first.”
“Wil, I’m sorry, too. Especially if you thought I was being callous with the Roughnecks. I mean it when I’ve said that you are crucial to achieving our goals. And I shouldn’t have surprised you with the Argo decision. But, because you are crucial, I need the Roughnecks as strong as they can be. If you’re worried about what happens later, well, I hope you still trust me enough to know that we’ll work something out. I would not leave you in the lurch. You know that, right?” She’d gone from angry to almost pleading by the end. Wil could see that what she needed was faith in her and her cause. Faith that Wil realized he was withholding and tried to figure out why.
“Wil, I know there has been some tension between us lately. Does this have anything to do with Darius’ recent questions for Alex. Asking about the time before the coronation?” At the obvious flaring of Wil’s temper, Kamea continued, “He hasn’t asked anything inappropriate, but Alex could read enough between the lines enough to know something is wrong and that he was troubled about it. So, is there something … personal… at work here?” she finished almost awkwardly.
“No, at least not what Darius is worried about. I think he reads too many of those epic novels of his with unrequited love at every page,” Wil saw Kamea relax at that.
Wil grew silent and Kamea seemed willing to wait out the silence. “The tension is related to you in..,” Wil faltered, then continued “Look, I have a tendency towards self-destruction. I know that. When I was young on Loric. After the family moved to Fronc. Then for one moment in time, when I trained with Raju, I began to see a better way. When he left my father’s service, I made a pact with myself to be better, more responsible. Even after my folks and my sister died in the accident, I tried. When the debts rolled in, and I realized I was in over my head, I even tried to reach out to Mastiff for help. But I wasn’t even sure where he was at the time. Eventually, I ran out of money and made the decision to head to the Frontier. Figured I could make a living there until I established a record to sign on to one of the merc companies like every other fool that heads out there.”
“It took ten years, longer than most, but I was just about done, ready to turn pirate or worse, when I happened to run into Raju on Novo Tressida. Luckiest day of my life really. I could tell he was shaken at what he saw, but he canceled the rest of his trip and said he had a spot for me back in the Reach if I wanted it. He delayed the trip back to get me in shape again. But he did it, got me a spot in the guard. I thought I finally had a path forward. Then Coronation Day.”
“If it weren’t for the Marauders, I wouldn’t have made it. They gave me a purpose, and eventually, they became my path back from the brink. And not just for me, but for them as well. I finally had my home. When I saw you again, alive, it threw that all into confusion again. And it’s been gnawing at me ever since.”
Kamea listened quietly, but when Wil finally looked at her, he saw tears in her eyes. “Wil, Raju didn’t just happen to run into you on Novo Tressida. Soon after he left Fronc, he entered my father’s service. First as a mech tutor for Victoria and myself, then as member of the Royal Guard and head of my security detachment. Over the years, he often spoke of recruiting a promising former student, who I can only assume was you.”
Wil broke in, “I think he tried before he left, but my father talked him out of it. Said I was needed at home for the family’s business.”
“Yes, that makes sense. When Raju heard about the loss of the Junipur and saw your family on the passenger list, he left immediately for Fronc, but he was too late. You had moved on. I don’t know for sure, but I think he had people looking for you. He knew you were in the Frontier somewhere, but not where to find you. He would get leads every once in a while and take off for a few months, coming back empty handed and sadder each time. Until he didn’t come back alone.”
Wil wiped tears from his face, “I never knew that. He didn’t give me any indication that it was more than an accident meeting like that,” Wil stood and looked to Kamea, “Thank you for telling me this.”
“Of course Wil. Can we move forward now, the two of us?”
“Yes, I believe we can.” Wil felt the tension leave him, “Care to show me around my new ship?”
