Free Ep.#1 - "Escalation" (The Frontiers Saga: Rogue Castes) by Ryk Brown Page A

real air, feel real sunshine on my face, every day .” Vladimir sighed again. “Ten years in space is enough for me.”
    “Galiardi won’t be in command of the Sol sector forever, Vlad,” Cameron reminded him. “He’s getting up there in age, you know.”
    “It’s not just Galiardi,” Vladimir told her, “it’s the life. It’s the tedium. The drills, the meetings, the patrols… It’s just not the same…”
    “As when Nathan was in command?”
    Vladimir looked at Cameron. “It’s not you, Cam. You’re a fine captain, and a close friend. You know that. It’s just…”
    “I know,” Cameron sighed. “I miss him too.”
    “When Nathan was alive, this all felt like a grand adventure. Each day was exciting, with new challenges to face. And we faced them together. Now…” Vladimir paused again, as he remembered his long-lost friend. “Like I said, it’s just not the same anymore.”
    Cameron had nothing to say. She knew exactly how he felt. She remembered her time as Nathan Scott’s executive officer, and the grand adventures they had all shared in the Pentaurus cluster. “You know,” she said as she sat down, “I despised Nathan when I first met him.”
    “Yes, I know.”
    Cameron looked at him, her brow furrowed at his quick answer.
    “He complained about you a lot in the beginning,” Vladimir explained.
    “He did?”
    “Yes, but I think you made him try harder. Even if it was only to beat you.”
    “I see.”
    “But, later, he admitted that you made him think more before making decisions,” Vladimir added.
    “It was always his biggest fault, acting impulsively,” Cameron remembered.
    “It wasn’t impulse,” Vladimir corrected, “it was instinct. And it was also one of his greatest strengths.”
    “It also got him killed,” Cameron pointed out.
    “And saved us all,” Vladimir quickly corrected her. “It all depends on your point of view.”
    “You’re right.” Cameron sat silently, watching Vladimir pack. Finally, she spoke again. “Did you ever believe it?”
    “Believe what?” Vladimir replied without looking up.
    “That he was Na-Tan ?”
    “He was,” Vladimir said without missing a beat. “At least he was for those who needed him to be. That’s all that mattered.”
    “I suppose,” Cameron said, a pensive look on her face. She took in a deep breath, letting it out in a long sigh. “What time are you leaving?”
    “I’m catching the afternoon shuttle out.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner? My treat?”
    “What, salad?” Vladimir laughed. “No thank you… Unless, of course, you would like to give your old friend a goodbye romp in the sack?” he added with a lascivious sneer.
    “Seriously? You’re hitting on your captain?” Cameron laughed, rising to her feet to give her friend a heartfelt embrace.
    “This could very well be your last chance…”
    “In your dreams,” she told him as they hugged. She pulled away from him suddenly, sneezing. “You are taking the cat, right?”
    “Of course.”
    * * *
    “After you finish shutting down, go and help Neli prep the passenger cabin for the next boarding,” Captain Tuplo instructed Josh.
    “Come on, Cap, Nelican handle that herself,” Josh complained.
    “Everyone helps with everything,” the captain said firmly as he climbed up out of his seat in the Seiiki’s cockpit. “It’s either help Neli, or help Marcus in the cargo hold,” Captain Tuplo said. He looked at Josh, waiting for a reply. “Well?”
    “I’m thinking.”
    “Not your strong suit,” the captain said, patting Josh on the shoulder, then turning to exit.
    “Where are you going?” Josh asked.
    “To see if I can rustle up some extra paying cargo for the run to Rama. We’re going to have some extra room in the hold after we offload the cargo bound for this port.”
    “I thought I was a pilot, not a steward,” Josh grumbled as he finished shutting down the Seiiki’s systems.
    “And I thought I was a ship