Free Wanderer 3: Tainted Universe by Simon Goodson Page A

slightly as Jess spoke.  He’d forgotten the others.  They had waited patiently until Jess broke the silence.  The young captain’s voice was confrontational.  He was steadily becoming more hostile to Dash, something Dash didn’t fully understand and wasn’t sure how to counter.
    “The Wanderer will be unloaded first,” Jess continued.  “Our passengers are already free of their control collars.  Our robots will work their way through the other three ships, removing collars and getting the prisoners ready to be transported.  The Wanderer should be empty in a few hours.  I need to know which ship you want to go to.  It’ll be better if we send several shuttle loads there at least.”
    “ Jess, you know he wants to stay,” Sal snapped at Jess.  “He wants to come with us.”
    “ And what if we don’t want him to?” Jess shouted back, anger blazing.  “I don’t trust him.  I don’t want him here with us.  What if he’s just waiting his chance to try to take control of the ship again.”
    “ He didn’t the first time!”  Sal was shouting back now.  “You know he tried to stop it.  He risked his life to stand by me.”
    “ So he says!  How do we know anything he’s told us is true?”
    Dash winced.  This was bad.  He did want to stay, but a showdown between Sal and Jess was unlikely to achieve that.
    “You can’t just decide that!  Ali and I haven’t had a say.  Or are you pulling rank as captain again?  Ali, what do you say?”
    The younger woman pulled a face.  Her eyes found Dash’s face, but quickly slid away.  That was another bad sign.
    “I’m sorry Sal.  I agree with Jess,” Ali said quietly.  “I just don’t know whether we can trust Dash.  We have to put our safety first.”
    Sal turned to Dash, tears in her eyes.  “Tell them Roberto.  Make them understand that they can trust you.”
    Dash stared into her face, then took her hands gently in his.  He shook his head slightly.
    “ I can’t.  All I can do is ask them to trust me.  To trust me as you have.  I can’t blame them for refusing.”  He turned his head towards Jess.  “You’re making a mistake though Jess.”
    “ Really?  Why's that?” Jess responded, eyes narrowed.
    “ You should unload the other ships first.  You know as well as I do that within those ships are people who won’t survive unless they are freed now.  Those on the Wanderer have food, water and medical help already.  If you are determined to get me off the ship then fine, but don’t make those prisoners suffer for it.  Free them first, then offload me.”
    Jess looked like he’d swallowed something bitter.  He didn’t answer for several seconds, then gained control of himself.
    “Fine.  You’re right,” Jess said with bad grace.  “Just don’t get comfortable.  You’re not staying.”
    “ I can’t believe…” Sal stopped speaking.  Shaking her head angrily she stalked out of the room.
    Jess stared after her.  Dash saw determination and concern flicker across the young captain’s face.  He realised Sal would be the key to his staying on the Wanderer .  She already wanted him to stay.  The problem was getting Jess or Ali to see things the same way.  Dash wasn’t sure it was a problem he could solve.
     
    *****
     
    Jess made a point of ignoring Dash as he coordinated sending the shuttles out.  He soon felt a familiar presence as Ali linked herself to the Wanderer .
    I’ll take some of the shuttles, she sent.
    Thanks, Jess replied.
    He could manage easily on his own but understood that Ali felt the need to be involved, the need to watch for any issues.  He could feel the extent of her worry through the link.
    Soon Jess had forgotten all about Dash.  He was absorbed in his work.  His heart pounding every time they opened a new prisoner transport, wondering what they would find.
    Sometimes everyone within was reasonably healthy, though confused at the sight of the Wanderer ’s robot.  Confusion