Chapter Eight
Sometime later, Jack strode onto the command deck, trying very hard not to look too pleased with himself.
“I guess thefelidcaught theaviazzyet again,” snorted Quinn.
“Not that far off from what actually happened, my dear Quinn,” Jack said amiably. “It was, of course, vital to our interests to see to the well-being of the Lady Aria.”
Giles, who was preparing their coffees, made a rude noise. Low chuckles rumbled from members of the command crew.
“Well, someone has to make the hard decisions,” said Jack loftily.
“Enough with the double entendres,” groaned Quinn.
“Okay, okay,” said the pirate, waving a hand in surrender. “Now, if you don’t mind, catch me up on the general state of affairs.”
Giles handed him a mug of coffee. “Nothing new on my front, aside from what I shared with you earlier,” said the big man. “Have you had any luck teasing out your thread of thought, Jack?”
“No,” admitted Jack. “I’m trying to let it lie dormant. It’ll surface when it wishes.”
“Fair enough,” said Giles.
“What’s this about?” asked Quinn.
“Something about the dates rings a bell,” replied Jack.
“What dates?” pressed Quinn.
“The year when Aria joins the Gryffin family as an adopted newborn then sixteen years later when her mysterious father reappears, only to disappear again.”
“Hmm,” mused Quinn. “Damned if I know. What year did Aria appear with the Gryffin family?”
“The year 2451,” offered Giles.
“The Onin Rebellion,” said Quinn quietly.
Jack whirled around.“What?”
“That was the year the Onin Rebellion began,” said Quinn. “The Onin System declared its independence from any kind of galactic regulation or supervision in 2451.”
“Holy thundering Tyrios,” said Giles. “Are you telling us that Aria’s real father is one of the Onin Rebels?”
“I’m not telling you anything,” said Quinn. “I’m just saying that was the year.”
“Hold on, hold on,” said Jack, thinking. “When did the Onin Rebels finally surrender?”
“Their capital fell in 2467,” said Giles, paling. “That was when resistance collapsed.”
“Sixteen years later,” said Jack and Quinn simultaneously.
Everyone fell silent. The Onin Rebellion was one of the nastiest, bloodiest chapters in the galaxy’s recent history. It had been a bitter, protracted struggle, and rumors had flown wildly about atrocities committed by both sides. When it had finally ended, after the loss of countless lives, the galaxy had breathed a sigh of relief and tried to go on as if it had never happened.
“That’s it,” said Jack, “that’s the thread that my mind refused to let go of. The dates match. Well done, Quinn.”
“I’m not sure if I should say thanks or not,” replied Quinn warily. “If it’s true, I’m not sure what that means.”
“It could mean that Aria’s real father is an intergalactic war criminal,” said Giles darkly.
Jack shrugged helplessly. “Or not,” he said. “We don’t know; this is coincidence piled upon coincidence, with no hard proof of anything. In any case, Aria is mine, and I’m not giving her up for anything.” He ran a hand over his face. “I’ll understand if anyone else wants to take leave though.”
