by S. H. Jucha
“Is he okay?” Liam asked.
“Shaken up, as I was, but he’s fine,” Idrian replied. “Sika wanted shelter. According to her, she works for Dorelyn, who ordered Sika to kill my son. I think that woman has lost it.”
“You don’t have to worry about either one of them,” Liam replied. “Sika, who we knew as Luna, is dead. She poisoned Dorelyn and then killed herself.”
“What’s Dorelyn’s status?” Idrian asked anxiously.
Liam figured that Idrian wasn’t inquiring after Dorelyn’s health. He replied, “Eaton thinks Sika dosed Dorelyn with something nasty. Dorelyn’s still alive, but Eaton thinks that Sika’s intention was to ensure the woman suffered a slow, painful death.”
Idrian shuddered. “I never liked that woman, but I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” he said.
“Yes, I know what you mean, Idrian. If you’re going to make someone disappear, at least make it quick and painless, right?” Liam asked sardonically.
When Liam saw Idrian’s surprise, he said, “Surface airlocks are being restricted to JOS security access only.”
“When can we expect the return of our property?” Idrian asked, recovering his composure as he watched another armload of sticks being carried past.
“If I have my way, never,” Liam retorted. “By the way, how many security personnel do you have?”
“Is that a requirement of your presidential order?” Idrian inquired. “I don’t remember seeing it in your document.”
“No, it’s not there, but I can return with that order,” Liam retorted.
“When you have it, then we’ll comply,” Idrian said. Then he excused himself, accessed the lift. He wanted to talk to Imian.
“How many?” Liam asked Afato, as they left the house after the sergeant and his officers had finished searching every meter of it.
“About the same number as we collected at the first house, sir, nearly two hundred,” Afato replied.
“There can’t be that many agents in the house,” Liam said, shaking his head. “I know they’ll want round-the-clock protection, but a third of their time will be at night locked up inside this fortress they call a home.”
“I was marking faces, sir,” Afato replied. “I estimate between fifteen to seventeen agents on duty tonight.”
Liam made some quick calculations. Then he said, “Those numbers don’t work. That’s too many weapons for their probable number of agents.”
“Well, sir, on a mining site, time is of the essence,” Afato remarked. “We often carry four or five backups of critical items, especially power tools. These sticks need charging. What if you were prepared for a fight? Would you have time to wait for your weapons to recharge?”
Liam stared at Afato and congratulated himself, once again, on the hiring of spacers. They brought an entirely different perspective to the job.
“That makes me wonder who they’re preparing to fight,” Liam mused.
Afato’s booming laughter cut the air. “Begging your pardon, sir, that’s something for officers, like yourself, to figure out,” he said. Then he touched two fingers to his brow and went to see to the loading of the stun sticks.
Liam called Cecilia. “How’s progress?” he asked.
“We’re working quickly,” Cecilia replied. “Doesn’t look like anyone was worried about complex encryption.”
“Why would they?” Liam remarked. “Every downsider knows what’s on the other side of those airlocks.”
“True … lovely lethal Pyrean atmosphere,” Cecilia said sweetly.
“Detail two officers, Major, to return to the El’s dome,” Liam requested. “They’re to standby to receive cargo, which they’ll transport topside.”
“What are they collecting?” Cecilia asked.
“Stun sticks,” Liam replied. “We’ve hit two houses, and we’ve collected nearly four hundred of them. We’ve more than twenty houses to go. You do the calculations.”
“I’ve an idea,” Cecilia said, “but before I voice it, I’m wondering who’s making these stun sticks for the families.”
“Oh, for the love of Pyre,” Liam moaned. “Now, you think to pose that idea, Major.”
“Sorry, sir,” Cecilia apologized. “I had no idea you’d uncover so many sticks.”
“Not your fault, Cecilia,” Liam said. “I should have thought of that too. I’ll start questioning the subsequent family heads. We might have more work tonight than we expected. What was your other idea?”
“Rather than my group returning topside after the airlock panel changes, let’s dedicate my officers to helping clean out the houses. The techs can manage the loading and transporting of the sticks to e-carts. One e-cart can easily handle two thousand sticks,” Cecilia offered.
“Good ideas, Cecilia, make it happen,” Liam ordered.
“I can spare most of my officers and half the techs now. I’ll commandeer two e-carts for them. Where do they meet you?” Cecilia asked.
“We’re headed to Rufus Stewart’s house. I’ll get the location from Noel and send it to you,” Liam replied.
Liam’s experience at the first two houses falsely set his expectations for the next house. Rufus had no desire to cooperate with him. The front door was locked, and Rufus yelled to Liam through it.
“If you don’t comply, Rufus Stewart, you’ll be arrested for obstruction of a lawful order,” Liam shouted back.
“Go away,” Rufus yelled. “We’re not interested in your new president’s directives.”
“Henry Stamerson is your president too,” Liam argued.
“Who says so?” Rufus declared hotly.
Liam scratched his head. Nothing in his station experience prepared him for this sort of situation. If he wanted access to a cabin or business and had a lawful reason to enter, he entered a priority override code and the door slid aside. This door was solid and was hinged by a long single shaft on one side. The other side had a flat plate that hid an electronic lock. However, there was no external control panel to override, not that he would have possessed the code for it, if there was one.
Afato examined the door. “Commandant, there’s a weak point here,” he said, pointing and grinning. “The locking mechanism could give with a little persuasion.”
Liam realized that if he moved on to another house, word would be passed to the other families. Then he’d be rebuffed at every front door.
“How do you propose to force it?” Liam asked.
Afato’s grin widened, and he patted his substantial shoulder.
Liam’s eyebrows tilted up at the idea. “I don’t need you hurt, Sergeant, by breaking through that door,” he said sternly.
“Understood, sir, but I think the aliens made me as good as new. I’ve been dying to test this body out,” Afato replied.
“Okay, Sergeant. You know the agents will be waiting for us on the other side,” Liam warned.
“Yes, they will be, sir,” Afato said, not intimidated by the thought.
“Then let’s get to it,” Liam said.
Afato reordered his squads. He put spacers in front, with the known scrappers right behind him.
“No shots to the heads,” Afato warned his officers. “When this door gives, make like its downtime and these fools are denying access to the last cantina.”
Liam hid his smile, as Afato stepped back and ran at the door. The sergeant hit it on the locking mechanism’s side. He hit it hard, and the door screeched in protest, as it slammed open. Rufus was directly in the path of the swinging door, and he was knocked unconscious.
The security chief was the first to confront the rush of officers. He swung his stun stick like a baton, aiming for Afato’s head. The ex-spacer snatched the stick from the man’s hand. Then he stuck his stick hard into the man’s stomach and down he went.
Liam stood in the doorway and watched the mêlée. The house agents were well-trained, but Liam’s ex-spacer recruits were experienced. Furthermore, those officers fought dirty. More than a few kicks were aimed at the a
gents’ shins, kneecaps, and groins. Liam watched Afato dump an agent over his head. The man landed flat on his back, knocking the wind out of him, and a second officer immediately stunned him.
Within less than three minutes, the few agents still standing dropped their sticks and threw up their hands.
“Smart boys,” Afato commented to them. “No use fighting if you’re going to lose and lose badly.”
Liam had Rufus and his security chief arrested. They would be added cargo for an e-cart.
“Collect their sticks and search the house, Sergeant,” Liam ordered. Looking toward one of Rufus’s agents, he said, “Don’t stand there looking confused. Call for your med techs. You’ve got some injured.”
Afterwards, Liam stood inside the doorway and watched loads of stun sticks being hauled out. Rufus had more than three hundred of them. He eyed his officers as they passed by. They displayed cuts and bruises, but they were grinning and chatting about the fight. Two of his officers were laid out in front of the house, while they recovered from stuns. He noted that they were stationers, not spacers.
The remainder of the night became routine. Family heads, for the most part, met Liam at the door. They stood aside and told their security personnel to cooperate. The houses were searched and the stun sticks collected.
More than one family head stared at the marked faces of Liam’s officers. It was the security chiefs who noted the gleams in the JOS officers’ eyes. Had they ever seen a large predator up close, they might have recognized it.
-38-
One More Look
“What?” Devon asked Aurelia. “You’re not focused. What’s on your mind?”
Aurelia gazed at the constant stream of aliens and equipment arriving, while she absentmindedly returned personnel via the gate.
“I was thinking about the differences between our first exploration and our second,” Aurelia replied.
“And?” Devon pursued. He edged Aurelia aside to take over the console, and she leaned back against its side to reflect on her thoughts.
“Didn’t you think the differences were definitive?” Aurelia asked.
“That goes without saying,” Devon replied. “I mean, you name it … number of domes occupied, armament developed, traps employed, offensive strategies … everything was different.”
Then it hit Devon what was bothering Aurelia. Immediately after that thought, he had one of his own. “What more do you think they could be doing?” he asked.
“I don’t know, but shouldn’t we find out?” Aurelia asked.
“Harbour and Jessie are tied up until after the elections,” Devon said. “They won’t be ready to explore for a while.”
“I wasn’t thinking of asking them,” Aurelia replied, watching Devon carefully.
“No,” Devon said firmly.
“Yes,” Aurelia replied, closing on Devon and leaning against him.
“It’s too dangerous to explore without support,” Devon protested.
“We’ll get support,” Aurelia assured Devon, as she nuzzled his ear.
“Apologies for interrupting your mating rituals,” an alien said, “but we require transport.”
Aurelia laughed.
“Ready,” Devon told the hairy and horned alien, who then hurried to join his engineering team on the platform. Devon was grateful that the alien had no idea of human coloring. He was sure that the heat in his face must be displaying a nice red glow of embarrassment.
“I’ll make the arrangements,” Aurelia said to Devon, as he sent the alien team to Rissness.
“No,” Devon repeated, and his anger threatened to boil over.
Aurelia eased some of Devon’s emotional turmoil, and she said, “We don’t need to contact the Colony. I’m interested in their reaction to our intrusion.”
“We’d only count stars,” Devon said earnestly. “You promise?”
Aurelia kissed the tip of Devon’s nose, and said, “Promise.”
Aurelia’s first cube was sent to Tacticnok. She asked the ruler if Kractik could be spared to run the Triton console, while Devon and she investigated the Colony’s status. Also, she inquired if Jaktook would like to accompany them. She made it clear that the envoy and her advisor were busy with Pyrean affairs. Her second cube was sent to Crocia, and she invited Mangoth to accompany them.
* * * *
Tacticnok and Jaktook were on Na-Tikkook, when they received Aurelia’s message.
“Interesting that Devon and Aurelia intend to explore without the envoy,” Tacticnok said. She lounged on a pallet in a private room of the royal apartment. Jaktook and she were enjoying a private moment.
“I think it’s the nature of the exploration that warrants discussion,” Jaktook said, and he played the message again. “Aurelia’s intention,” he continued, “is to witness the Colony’s expansion. She doesn’t expect to contact them.”
“Then a journey to one gate outside of alliance territory should suffice,” Tacticnok reasoned.
“With the capabilities the pair possesses, it should,” Jaktook agreed. “Based on our experience with the Tsargit council, it’s good that she’s inviting witnesses.”
“Witnesses, yes,” Tacticnok said. “But I expect that Mangoth and you will also be support.”
“We’ll hardly be needed in that regard, one journey outward from the alliance, especially if we leave from the Sylian dome,” Jaktook pointed out.
“And you think that aspect of the message originated from Aurelia?” Tacticnok asked. Her bushy eyebrows rose in a query.
“Ah, Devon is protecting his mate,” Jaktook surmised.
“Just so,” Tacticnok replied. Then she fell silent.
When Tacticnok continued to dwell on her thoughts, Jaktook asked her to share.
“I see an opportunity, Jaktook,” Tacticnok replied, “but I believe it requires a subtle stroke. Devon and Aurelia are right to wonder about the Colony, who has surprised us twice. In addition, they’re right to request witnesses, but then there is the council.”
“You believe that Mangoth and I are insufficient witnesses to sway the minds of the councilors,” Jaktook reasoned. “There is always Solseena.”
“That’s what I’ve been considering. A direct request to someone of her status would be presumptuous,” Tacticnok mused.
“But a simple message via cube to Shevena, the dome administrator, to tell her of our impending journey through her non-alliance gate would only be polite, especially if the Sylians have taken steps to bar that platform,” Jaktook offered.
“The message must be sent by you and inform Shevena of who journeys through her dome,” Tacticnok said, sitting upright. “Furthermore, she should be told that the explorers journey only to investigate the Colony’s expansion.”
Jaktook had sat up too. He said excitedly, “I must work into the message that Devon and Aurelia have new console queries to test and they require an empty dome.”
“Is that true?” Tacticnok inquired.
“I assume it is,” Jaktook allowed. “Their knowledge grows with every few cycles. Returning workers, journeying through Rissness, have told others that the Pyreans have discovered how to shift the domes’ view from internal to external.”
Tacticnok shook her head in amazement. “Such a young, but clever race,” she commented. “Nonetheless, Jaktook, be vague there. Don’t say anything that could be proven untrue. If a Tsargit committee does become involved, they’ll expect results.”
Jaktook dipped his head in apology. His enthusiasm had run away with him. That didn’t demonstrate the worth of a master advisor.
“Retire, Jaktook,” Tacticnok said, patting his knee. “It’s been a long day. Compose your message in the morning when you’re fresh. Have Kractik send it via cube, and then inform her that she’s to relieve the Pyreans at the Triton dome.”
* * * *
Aurelia and Devon were thrilled to see Kractik appear on the platform. The females let out expressions of joy, and Kractik ran to be embraced by Aurelia, wh
o had fallen to her knees to receive the little Jatouche.
Several species of aliens paused to witness the encounter. It gave them hope for the future of humans, if they would so heartily welcome another race.
“If you don’t kneel, Devon, you might be embarrassed by my greeting,” Kractik remarked. Her level gaze was slightly below his waist, and she flashed her teeth in humor.
Aurelia snickered, and Devon acquiesced and knelt.
As Kractik hugged Devon, she deliberately rubbed her muzzle along his jaw. As they parted, Kractik turned her gaze toward Aurelia, and her bushy eyebrows rose dramatically.
In turn, Aurelia laughed at Kractik’s antics.
For Devon’s part, he was blushing and refusing to comment.
“When you’re ready to journey,” Kractik said, “I’m ready to relieve you.”
“You have the console,” Aurelia replied. “We’ll grab our duffels, and you can send us.”
“Kractik, these races are operating around the cycle,” Devon said. “Do you have others coming to relieve you?”
“Not to worry, Devon, I’ve made arrangements,” Kractik replied.
When the couple returned from below, they were carrying not only duffels but launchers and satchels.
“I thought you didn’t anticipate encountering the Colony,” Kractik queried.
“If we’re journeying into non-alliance territory, we’re going armed,” Devon declared.
Kractik glanced at Aurelia, whose face remained neutral. Apparently, Devon desired this, and Aurelia didn’t think it was worth arguing over.
The couple stepped on the platform, and Kractik sent them to Rissness.
Aurelia and Devon were greeted with bows by the Jatouche. Other races stopped to honor the explorers. The races were learning of the explorers’ exploits and sacrifices, and they valued the warning of the Colony’s spreading territory.
The Pyreans were informed that Jaktook and Mangoth waited below, and the couple chose to wait on deck, while a tech ran below to collect them.
When Jaktook scurried up the ramp and Mangoth lumbered behind, Devon glanced at Aurelia with an I-told-you-so expression. Jaktook and Mangoth carried launchers and satchels.