JULIA
03 Feb 2017Mara Korine
The trip back to Jaques was uneventful and direct. With Jim and Thelonius sharing piloting duties, they arrived within a week and a half to restock the ship's supplies. Jim checked in with Francis soon after they docked. He'd offered to take Mara from Jaques to the bubble at minimal cost if he could pick up a suitably paying job to subsidize her. Thelonius decided to shut himself off and not risk being found. This would be the first place anyone would expect him to resurface. Mara stayed on the ship, also nervous from her last visit. She wondered how Flea and Robert were doing and if her family worried for her.Her comm buzzed. Jim was the only one who knew how to contact her right now so she answered right away. She was surprised to hear the voice of Francis Marten.
“Hello, Mara. I've heard that you will be heading back home soon. I wonder if you might be interested in a little job I need done in Seti III. I would be very appreciative, and of course you would be compensated fairly,” he offered.
“Thank you Francis, but I'm afraid I'm quite busy and not in need of a side job.”
“You're being hunted by Donnelly Vallum. As it happens, a client of mine is looking for a certain schematic. You might just come across it while sorting out your own situation. I understand that you're not in desperate need of money but this would make me, and our little community of happy little helpers grateful. Helpers you may wish assistance from in the future. Please think about it. I'll send you the details. Of course I trust you won't share them with anyone but your current company.”
“I won't betray you, but I can't promise to do this. It sounds like a shady business, and I can't be a part of anything like that.”
“My dear, I'm afraid you must be willing to get your hands dirty you want to beat Donnelly. They aren't afraid to. But it is your choice,” Francis insisted.
The whining, clunking, sound of the ship's entryway announced Jim's return.
Francis continued before ending the call, “Think it over Mara and let me know when you agree. Remember, old data is worthless so expedite if you can. Good day Ms. Korine.”
The comm buzzed once more. That must be the package Francis mentioned. Mara checked and found an encrypted attachment. The aroma of pizza came through the room before Jim came in, carrying several boxes. “I got a salad too!” he declared, as if it would justify the junk food. Mara the pizza smelled delicious, but the thought of fresh vegetables was especially welcome after a month long jaunt to the rim. Jim placed the boxes on the table and started fishing in his pockets. He tossed a chip to Mara and explained, “Here, this is from Francis. It’s a decryption key. I think he wants to recruit you.”
“But why would he think I would be interested, or useful? I'm not like you or Flea or Robert. I don’t have any criminal inclinations,” Mara complained.
“When you’re taking from the morally corrupt, is that so bad?”
“I can’t break in and steal anything. Where would I start and why would I do it? And from what I understand you do break laws which does make your actions criminal, even if you may be doing it for a good cause.”
“You're right, we do break laws. And to tell you the truth, when times are tough it's not always for a good cause. But me, and the people I work with, we do the best we can. I’m not going to try to justify it any more than that. You don’t have to do that job you know. I vouched for you being trustworthy but it’s only an offer. You don’t have to take it. If you’re not going to go after Donnelly, then what are you going to do?”
“I will go after them, but there must be a way to get to them without breaking and entering. I’ve got resources at home. I should try those first.”
Jim handed Mara a plate with some pizza while she was looking up the Borderlands publication. To her dismay, there was no mention of her at all, not even as a contributer. Data she had collected was included but not attributed. “I’ve been erased,” she frowned, “Donnelly Vallum is never going to let up unless I disappear I suppose.” Jim grunted in affirmation as he swallowed his food.
“Yeah, Francis says they are one vicious corporation,” he expanded when he could speak, “My cargo pickup will be ready soon. Is there anything else you needed while we are here?”
Mara answered that she did not and so after they had eaten, they were off. They travelled through a few systems before activating Thelonius, who was pleased to be awake once again. Being on the ship with Jim and Thelonius was starting to feel right to Mara. Jim’s music playing as they travelled, Thelonius acting out and invading personal space, these were becoming normal and intimate in a more organic way than Mara’s usual friendships. Thelonius had a use for her, she understood his motivation but she couldn’t think of why Jim went out of his way to help her. He had mentioned that she would owe him a favour, but she couldn’t think of a way she would be able to make good on it. Jim was resourceful and he was the one coming to her rescue when she was in trouble. Could it be that he actually likes me after all? She wondered about that for a moment but the worry of having a large, unscrupulous, corporation who had sent assassins after her overpowered the daydream. The feeling washed back over her with a gravitas that she’d never known. She felt she needed time to think and started spending more time in the cargo hold with nothing but a pen and paper scratch pad for company. She split her time between writing down everything she knew about her situation, trying to solve the puzzle she’d found in Tosia, and wandering the cargo area. Bay 1, empty. This was the one she’d performed her experiments in. Bays 2 and 3, Jim’s cargo. The panel showed it was drawing a lot of electricity. Mara wondered what was in there, but didn’t pry beyond what was showing immediately on screen.
After two days of self-prescribed isolation, Jim came to visit her. “Are you ok?” he asked, “You’ve been skulking around the hold for days. Thelonius and I are starting to worry about you.”
“Did Thelonius send you after me?” Mara questioned.
“Not this time. Really, are you ok? I was thinking to do another dinner and it wouldn’t be much of one without you. Hardly worth putting down for. Thelonius doesn’t eat much you know.”
“I don’t know, Jim.”
“We don’t have to do the dinner if you don’t want.”
“No, I don’t know if I’m ok. What am I going to do? I have trained so hard and physics is the field that makes the most sense to me. What am I going to do if I can’t do what I’m made for? Lay low and choose another career and leave all my education for nothing? I can’t take on a corporation, not alone.”
“You’re not alone, Mara. You know where you can get help if you need it. I’ll do what I can, and you know Robert and Flea will be by your side if there’s real work to do. Have you looked at Francis’s job?”
“No, I can’t do it.”
“Open it up.”
Mara pulled up her comm with a feeling of resignation. What will this prove? That I’m a failure and have been outplayed? She opened the attachment from Francis and read it out loud.
“Payment, five hundred million credits. Time frame, job is to be complete one week before DV’s next financial report. Details as follows. Client requires data files to be retrieved from vacuum data stores. DV JOB OFFER,” she paused and explained that the rest of the document contained details about the files and the facility they were believed to be stored in.
“Five hundred million split 4 ways is a good payday you know. We could get Robert and Flea in on it. Think about it, Mara. You could find out who’s got it out for you.”
Thelonius’s voice called out over the intercom, “Split five ways you mean!”
“Split five ways,” Jim corrected, “and stop eavesdropping bear, or you can ride the next jump strapped to the outside of the hull.”
“Are you kidding? That’d wreck! I need to get me some aviator shades and a scarf to ride it in style. But fine, I’ll stop listening,” Thelonius ended his connection with an overtly artificial click.
Mara felt lost and didn’t believe that Jim should be encouraging her to do this. “I’m the wrong person for the job. I just want to see my family. I miss them dearly,” she explained, closing the file and putting her comm away, “Can we just head back? I’m quite homesick.”
Jim agreed, “Of course, Mara. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I didn’t mean to pressure you, I just wanted you to know what your options were, and that you wouldn’t have to attempt it alone. I know you’re unsure of the etiquette with these types of jobs, and that kind of pay is given with the assumption you would split it with a team. There’s no pressure at all though. If you want we can call Francis and let him know to pass it on to someone else, but I’d suggest you hang on to it and think about it for a while. At the very least find out when that corporation is putting out that financial report.”
Mara took the advice and assured Jim that she would do just that. She pulled herself closer to the handhold she was steadying herself on and pressed her forehead into the wall.
“No, no,” Jim said, “Come up with me to the common room. Things are going to be fine, I promise.”
“Why do you go out of your way for me?” Mara wondered.
“Because you’re clever as a fox, adventurous, and you’re a joy to be around when you’re upbeat. A guy could do a lot worse than look forward to your company,” Jim said, extending his hand to grasp Mara’s arm, “Come on, let’s go upstairs. We’ll set down, have a meal, then get you back to your family.”
Mara smiled and let go of the handhold and let Jim pull her toward him. “Alright, let’s go,” Mara said and added, “Thank you for being a friend, Jim.” She was still unsure of herself and her situation, but Jim was comforting and there was no use in moping so she followed him up into the common room. Thelonius had made himself busy with a deck of cards. They were floating and spinning haphazardly as he clumsily pawed one into a stable position, creating a triangle with two other cards.
“House of cards? You mind keeping Mara company?” Jim asked.
“You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to make one without gravity,” Thelonius answered, “and without fingers,” he added.
“Without fingers, it will be even harder to pick up the cards when we land!” Jim joked, leaving Thelonius and Mara to settle in and prepare for landing. They collected cards for a bit when some of them suddenly drifted toward the ceiling as Jim apparently shifted the ship’s attitude. Mara chased them down and Thelonius shoved cards in her general direction until they had to buckle in. As they descended, Mara took the opportunity to put on some music. Her curiosity led her away from the song listings on Jim’s systems when she found what seemed to be the cargo manifest. She remembered the high power draw from the cargo bays and stared at the file. It was password protected, and she swiped away when Thelonius said, “The password is JULIA. You know you want to look.”
“How do you know the password?” Mara asked.
“I’m all up in his system 24/7, baby,” he boasted.
“I wonder who Julia is,” Mara pondered and then entered the password. The file lit green, and then asked for the authentication code.
“It’s got another security layer Thelonius, why didn’t you mention that? It will have sent him a notification!”
“Shit! It was hidden, and his manifest didn’t have any extra security before Jaques!”
Jim didn’t mention the breach during dinner. He didn’t mention much of anything. The conversation felt colder than usual to Mara and she felt guilt and embarrassment wrapping around her. Thelonius hid in their room for the duration of the landing and Mara wished she could join him. After dinner when they would have relaxed Jim cut the landing short, saying that they would be able to get to Mara’s home in a couple of days if they hurried. He spent the rest of the trip in his cabin, or the cockpit playing his music loud enough to prevent any conversation. Mara was certain he was upset with her and she didn’t blame him at all. She had betrayed his trust after all. When the radio chatter began to pick up as they approached the bubble of civilization, Mara longed for home. The first thing I will do is find Father and give him a big hug. Then I will write Jill again. I miss her very much. And I will spend an entire afternoon in a bath.
A day and a half’s travel brought them to the station where Mara and Thelonius would depart. The small terminal was set in a small valley near the peak of a steep and craggy mountain on an airless world. Adjacent to the terminal was a ski-hill that had been built under a large dome. Mara’s father owned the ski-resort and she knew every run intimately. Looking down at her favourite hill, Mara felt at home but sad to be leaving Jim especially on the bad terms she had created. She cleaned, and packed up her things as they were docking. There was still the matter of payment for the escort to settle and Mara asked Jim what she owed him. He gave her a figure, which she paid with a generous tip. Should I say I’m sorry, or is he even mad? I can’t be sure. He’s been quiet but he hasn’t brought it up. I can’t believe I did that after telling him I couldn’t steal files. The moment passed without apology and Mara left feeling bittersweet. I’ll just focus on the good. I’m home as soon as I can call the shuttle to take me to the house. Mara strapped her backpack on, with Thelonius secured to the side and headed to the cafeteria to wait for her ride.