Free Prison Ship by Michael Bowers

he wanted to scream. “I could have killed you.”
    “I’m watching your back,” Sam answered.
    “I don’t need your protection.” Steiner realized his voice had risen too loud. A deep breath calmed him enough to continue. “I don’t care what happens to me, but I want to make sure you’re safe. If you’re seen with me, it could put you in jeopardy.”
    “You saved me from Al,” Sam replied. “I owe you.”
    “I didn’t bring you along so that you can repay me.”
    “That’s the only reason I came.”
    Steiner sighed. From past experience, he knew it was useless to try to change the boy’s convictions about anything. If Sam was determined to protect him, then nothing would keep him from doing so. However, there was a chance that his mission could be modified.
    “Sam, if you truly want to help me, then you must pretend you don’t know me.” When the boy tried to speak, Steiner covered his mouth. “Hear me out first.” He waited for a nod before he removed his hand.
    Sam’s eyes sparkled with the fire of determination, yet he remained still.
    “Blend in with the other convicts,” Steiner told him. “Act like them. Get them to trust you. Then, you can function as my eyes and ears for any approaching danger.”
    The boy’s gaze softened. “I’ll agree if you watch your back better.”
    “I spotted you, didn’t I?”
    “After being followed halfway across the ship. If I had a weapon, I could have—”
    Sam deflected Steiner’s hand as it came up to silence him again. The memories of their defense-training matches at Atwood came back to Steiner. He twisted the boy’s arms together. Sam fought vainly to release himself, but he had never been a match for Steiner physically. A grin cracked the boy’s strained face as his strength gave out.
    “I’ll beat you someday,” he said between gasps for breath.
    Steiner couldn’t prevent himself from chuckling softly. “But not today, amigo. Are we clear on your role?”
    “How can I warn you if I can’t be seen with you?”
    “Use Mason as a messenger.”
    When Sam nodded, Steiner freed his arms.
    “Be sure to keep one eye behind you,” the boy said.
    “I will. Now, get out of here.”
    Sam punched him in the arm lightly, smiled, then slipped out of the niche.
    Steiner hated to think how much he would miss the teenager’s company.
     

     
    THE next two days passed as the first, long and filled with anxiety. Steiner didn’t allow himself to sleep even for a few hours. Above all else, he had to maintain an unpredictable schedule, which would make it difficult for anyone trying to kill him.
    Nobody had tried yet.
    The effects from lack of sleep finally caught up with him as he patrolled through the firing range. Inside the darkened arena, his vision blurred worse than it had all day. When he closed his eyes to allow them to adjust, the haze building in his head seemed to ease. After a few seconds, he opened them, determined not to be tempted to sleep again.
    He toured behind the BLUE team as they stood in a line, armed with fake assault rifles, shooting light rays at targets on a far wall. The camera in the back corner of the room panned along with Steiner. He could feel Tramer’s stare boring into him. Since the beginning of the voyage, the cyborg had never left the command center. It kept watch over the entire ship through the security monitors.
    Steiner stopped behind one of the gunners, James Grant, impressed by the accuracy of his shots. The man might be the best marksman they had. As Steiner watched, the flashes on the target began to blur together into a fuzzy, twinkling star. All the surrounding sights and noises faded out. The sparkling orb grew in radiance until it was all he could see. His mind floated into its grasp.
    Mary looked up into his eyes, sharing a secret smile with him before placing the wedding band on his finger. Her eyes watered as the minister pronounced them husband and wife. They kissed.
    A shout pierced his