Renegade Star Origins Box Set

by J. N. Chaney

  Arriving near the old gate surrounding the orphanage and its many buildings, I was beset by an unexpected sense of nostalgia.

  I couldn’t remember when I first arrived here as a child. I’d only been about five years old, but all of my best and worst memories were of this place, and for the most part, the good outweighed the bad. Waiting in line for breakfast. Marching up to the schoolroom with the other kids. Asking annoying questions to Sister Amber and hearing her sigh in frustration as the other kids giggled.

  I had fond memories of coming outside to play with Clementine. Hearing her talk about what she’d learned from the sisters, who seemed to speak around us without thinking. I’d rarely understood any of it, but Clem had always had a sharper mind for things like that.

  I smiled, circling around the massive cathedral before setting the shuttle down at one of the two landing docks down the street. In that time, a quick scan revealed no snipers’ nests or high cover targets to worry about. Only ground personnel, which I could mostly avoid if I played things the right way.

  From the dock, I jogged to the rear entrance behind the church complex. It took longer than I cared for, but it was the safest way to get inside.

  As the church came into view, I recalled one instance where I’d tried to scale the bell tower as a girl. I was clumsy back then, and I’d gotten stuck on a window about halfway up. It was the most afraid I’d ever felt in my whole short life. If Clem hadn’t helped me, I wasn’t sure what I would have done.

  “If only seven-year-old me could see me now,” I whispered, stepping through the rear gate.

  Clem apologized to me later that evening for daring me to do it. I told her that I’d been the one stupid enough to accept the challenge, so I deserved the grounding that the sisters gave me when they eventually got me back down.

  A bittersweet memory, that one. It was the first time I’d felt like Clem and I were sisters instead of just friends. We became almost inseparable after that.

  I spotted a large, military-grade van along the side street to the orphanage. That made more sense than a shuttle, considering how landing one so close to the building would only draw attention from the police.

  The team—whoever they were—had already arrived. I was late to the party.

  There was a decent chance that if anyone was inside that thing, they’d already spotted my arrival. I’d lost the element of surprise.

  Still, they might not know why I was here or whether I was even a threat. I wasn’t exactly imposing.

  I made sure that my holster remained hidden underneath my jacket.

  I stepped out of the shuttle, holding my pad and looking down at it like my whole life was crammed into this tiny piece of technology. For all anyone knew, I had a set of adoption papers on this thing and simply couldn’t take my eyes off of them. I completely ignored the armored vehicle as I made for the entrance.

  When I was halfway there, a man in a security uniform spotted me and approached. I didn’t recognize the logo, but I already knew it was fake.

  “Excuse me, miss?” he asked with guarded concern in his voice. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hm?” I looked up like I didn’t know exactly where the voice was coming from. “Are you talking to me?”

  The man stood a few meters from his vehicle, a fake smile on his face as he approached.

  There was a bulge in his jacket and belt, indicating a weapon. “Yes,” he said, still walking to me from across the yard. “You shouldn’t be here right now. This area is off limits. I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

  I tried to look surprised. “Oh, I see,” I said, touching my chest and widening my eyes.

  “I’ll walk you back to your vehicle,” he said slyly, and he motioned to where I had parked my shuttle.

  My hand stayed close to my open jacket. “I can’t believe this. I came here to ask about adopting. I’m in the market, you know. Well, my husband and I. We’re newlyweds.”

  “That’s nice,” he said.

  I began to turn away from him, but only enough to slip my hand between my jacket and grab my pistol. With the other, I took out my pad. “Oh, let me show you the little girl I was looking at,” I said, bringing the pad high into the air. His eyes followed it away from me, and I took out the gun and shot him through the head.

  He dropped to the grass, face-forward.

  I squatted down next to him. His weapon had been silenced, but it was a military-issued .45. He had police-issued body armor, but it still had nothing on my own equipment. Whoever he and his friends were, they probably hadn’t expected to run into someone like me.

  I pulled his comm from his ear and put it in mine. Someone else was already talking.

  “—finished with that witness yet? Barry? Hey, man, you there?”

  A short pause.

  “Fuck. Okay, I’m coming outside. You’d better be dead or so help me gods,” said the voice.

  I hurried to the rear entrance, holding my pistol up and at the ready as I slipped through the door this man had been watching.

  His people would come to check on him soon, which meant I’d have to be fast before things really got out of hand.

  If these men had only just arrived, there was a decent chance they’d caught everyone during dinner. That was good because it meant I could reasonably predict where most of the kids would be, unless they’d been moved.

  Mable generally had her dinner in her office, although I was pretty certain I wouldn’t find her there.

  Still, I decided to check there first, just in case, since it was nearby.

  I hurried up a short flight of carpeted stairs, weapon ready and my eyes darting to every available entrance. I knew this place like the back of my hand, so it made things all the more easier. I had the advantage, however slight.

  A quick glance in Mable’s office was enough to know she wasn’t there, but I did spot a plate of uneaten food on the desk.

  “I found Barry!” sprang a voice in my ear. “Looks like a clean shot. Professional hit.”

  “Find the nun and sweep the floor!” barked another.

  The nun? Did they mean Mable? Had they still not found her?

  “One of the nuns told me where her room is. I’m on my way there!”

  Mable’s room was two floors down. I made my way down quickly, my boots moving over the steps without a sound.

  I was about to reach her quarters, when the door creaked open, and I huddled with my back to the nearest wall, next to the door.

  Since these people had already cleared this area, the guard wouldn’t think to do it again. I just had to wait here long enough to—

  I retrieved a small stun baton from my side, waiting for him to step inside the room, aiming at the back of his head.

  A quick tap of the trigger sent a shock through his entire body, causing him to double over. I drew a garrote from my jacket sleeve and wrapped it around his neck, leaping onto his back with my full body weight to strangle him. He tried to reach me but couldn’t, and instead stumbled into the nearby walls. I couldn’t see his face, nor did I want to, but I imagined the fear in his eyes as he realized he might not survive this moment.

  He dropped to his knees, and I gripped the cord with all the force I could give until, finally, he closed his eyes and fell against the carpet.

  I shoved him out of the way, heavy as he was, and pulled the handle down enough to crack the door. Then, using my foot with my back against the adjacent wall, I pushed the door all the way open, staying out of sight.

  Nothing.

  The room was empty, but another door was open on the other side. I knew that one led to a branching hallway and then on to the main office.

  I heard someone clear their throat on the other side. A gruff, deep voice saying something inaudible to himself.

  At that moment, the comm in my ear sputtered alive with talk. “Spotted her in the head office! She’s running! I’m on it!”

  I cursed. Normally, I’d try to lure the nearby guard into this ro
om, but there wasn’t enough time. I’d have to get through him and make it to Mable before it was too late.

  Easing the door open, I spied the armed soldier holding his rifle by the strap around his neck as his hands rested on the barrel. Good. He wasn’t on guard or ready, which meant it would take him time to react.

  Time enough to get in close.

  I checked my stun baton, but it still wasn’t finished charging. That meant I’d have to use the knife if I wanted to keep things quiet.

  Hesitantly, I withdrew my blade. I’d have to be like Clementine. I wasn’t strong enough to strangle him without the baton, after all.

  I took a quick, steady breath and exhaled.

  Immediately, I bolted from the door and into the hall, moving quickly and staying low, my steps quiet and soft.

  The man began to turn when I was halfway to him. By the time his eyes were on me, I’d slid beside him along the smooth wooden floor, and before he could react, I sent the dagger into his crotch where the leg met the pelvis. The armor was thin there, and the blade eased into him without much resistance.

  There was also a major artery, making the following moment significantly messier.

  He yelped in surprise, dropping partially to the floor, and I leaped from my feet and took him by the arm, raising it high enough to stab him twice in the armpit. From there, he gasped while going for his own knife, but I stuck mine through his hand and stabbed the floor, securing him there.

  He attempted to scream, but I already had the cord around his throat, choking him. A moment later, he was on the floor, the same as the last one.

  I got up and glanced at his face. He looked innocent, almost like a child. Almost peaceful.

  I pulled the dagger free of him then reached higher to his neck and stabbed with my full force, piercing his throat and spilling what remained of his life.

  Before he had a chance to hit the floor, I started moving.

  I approached the other end of the hall. As I neared the doorway, I slowed my pace and checked my breathing, trying to stay as quiet as possible.

  The door was already open.

  There were no sounds from inside. Had they already moved on?

  I peeked around the corner. Twice the size of Mable’s room, its walls were lined with decorative statues. I always wondered what the point of those were. They only sat there, useless, doing nothing. It took me a moment to realize that most of them were prayer shrines, each representing a different god, and each given an offering. It had been so long since I’d been here that I’d already forgotten about them. Now that I tried to remember, it truly seemed like a lifetime ago.

  As I took in more of the room, I saw one of the men was lying face-down on the floor but barely seemed to be moving.

  I checked my blind spots before going in but couldn’t see anyone else. I kept my weapon trained on the squirming soldier as I moved closer to him. Maybe he had information I could—

  A small barrel pressed into the back of my head, and I froze.

  “Drop the gun,” a woman said, and my eyes narrowed. I knew that voice.

  I dropped my pistol to the floor before slowly turning around. A familiar set of eyes met mine.

  “Sister Mable?” I asked.

  “Abigail?” she answered, lowering the gun a few centimeters while still keeping it raised on me. “What are you doing here? Speak quickly.”

  She still looked exactly the same, although I was certain I’d grown enough to warrant a pause. She was still beautiful and determined, the same as when I knew her.

  I lowered my hands. “Mulberry heard someone was after you, so he sent me to bring you home with us. He said they’ve got eyes on your safehouse.”

  She hesitated, and I could see the distrust in her eyes. All those years working in the shadows had made her naturally skeptical, and I understood that.

  “Mable,” I said, slowly raising my hands. “It’s me. Really. I’m not here with these men. I’m here for you. To get you out. I swear it.”

  She swallowed, twisting her lips as she studied me. “Okay, Abigail,” she finally said, allowing herself to relax a little. “You’ll have to forgive me, dear. It’s instinct at this point.”

  I smiled and offered her a hug. She came forward and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “I’m glad you’re safe, Sister Mable,” I told her.

  “That makes two of us,” she said, and I could tell she was smiling. As she pulled away, her eyes were suddenly glassy. “Look at you,” she whispered, stroking my cheek and running her fingers through my hair. “Already so grown up. Feels like yesterday when I left you.”

  I bit my bottom lip and forced a smile. “I should have visited, but—”

  She shook her head. “You and I both, but let’s focus for now and catch up later.”

  “Right,” I agreed. “We need to get you out of here.”

  “Help me with that one,” she said, pointing to the unconscious guard.

  “Sure,” I said, grabbing the legs while she took the arms. He was heavier than both of us combined, but Mable had some strength in her legs that I didn’t expect.

  We brought the guard into the side closet then shut the door behind him. “I know Sister Murphy has the key to this somewhere around here,” she muttered, quickly searching through the desk drawers. “Aha!” she exclaimed, lifting the key to show me.

  I answered with a smile.

  She locked the door and stuck the key in her pocket.

  “Aren’t you worried he’ll scream when he wakes up?” I asked.

  She smirked. “Hasn’t Mulberry taught you anything? That boy won’t be conscious for at least a few hours. Chances are his friends will find him before he even realizes where he is.”

  “Let’s get out of here, then, and get you to safety,” I said.

  She shook her head. “I can’t leave those children. These men are likely to use them as leverage to get to me. If the police show up, they’ll become hostages. They’ve already gathered most of them in the refectory.”

  I thought about that for a moment. “If we can lead these men into the yard, I can call in the drones. We’ll mow them down with fire and brimstone before they have a chance to do anything.”

  “Drones?” she asked, raising an eye. “Mulberry uses those now, does he?”

  “They’re effective,” I said.

  “Things really have changed,” she said. “This game just isn’t what it used to be.”

  We reached the yard in less than a minute, the drones already on their way. They’d be here shortly, giving us just enough time to get to the shuttle, call the local authorities, and handle the remaining soldiers.

  “Any idea how many there are?” I asked.

  Mable glanced at the body in the middle of the yard. “Based on what you’ve told me, I’d say four more,” she said.

  “How you can be certain?” I asked.

  “I saw them when they arrived from the office window,” she explained.

  “And you’re sure you didn’t miss someone?”

  She raised her brow at me.

  “Right, so four of them,” I said. “That makes it easier.”

  The comm in my ear told me the drones were two hundred meters from the church but would remain elevated until the targets showed.

  “Get to the shuttle,” I told her, motioning to our ride. “I’ll draw them out.”

  She looked like she was about to argue but didn’t. Instead, she nodded and started jogging to the ship. Maybe she knew better than to tell one of Mulberry’s people what to do, or maybe she simply trusted me enough to let me handle it. Either way, that was exactly what I was going to do.

  I cracked the door to the church. “Run! Run! Hurry, Sister Mable! Get out through the back! Come on!” I shouted so loud it hurt my throat, but the hollow walls would carry my voice all the way to the dining area. If this didn’t work—

  The second comm lit up. “They’re headed outside!” barked one of the soldiers. “Get out there now!”

>   “I’ll stay with the hostages,” said another.

  “Everyone else, after her!” said the first.

  Three out of four would have to do for now.

  I ran to the side of the building and readied my pistol after a quick magazine check. I glanced down to my waist at the smoke grenade I’d brought. Now might be a good time to use that.

  As soon as the door swung open, I tossed the grenade. A large cloud formed, enveloping the men as they arrived. They coughed and shouted, rushing out into the yard to escape the fog. “Over there!” shouted the smallest of the three, pointing to my shuttle.

  Now that they were out in the open, I had them exactly where I wanted them.

  I brought up my pad, keying in a command to autopilot the shuttle home. The ship ignited thrusters, lifted off the ground, and began to bank away. Mable would probably be pissed about this, but I had my orders, and right now, her life was the priority.

  The shuttle took off into the sky and towards the eastern part of the city. It would take a while before it arrived at the garage. “Godsdammit!” yelled one of the soldiers. “Get after that ship!”

  I touched my comm. “Now,” I whispered.

  As the three men moved toward their vehicle near the church gate, the drones descended from the sky, stopping almost a meter above the van.

  The three men stopped when they saw the machines, scrambling for their weapons, but it was too late.

  The drones unloaded a cascade of heat and flame on them, causing them to scream and run, fire riding their entire bodies until they finally collapsed into the grass.

  Three lifeless bodies were lying in the yard, smoking and charred beyond recognition. “One to go,” I whispered.

  I ran inside the building, hurrying to where the last of the soldiers remained. He’d be surrounded by children. Not an easy target, to say the least.

  “What’s going on out there?” asked a voice in my ear. I already knew the source. There was only one person left.

  I said nothing as I hurried towards the far end of the main hall, taking the first turn and nearing the kitchen. I’d come in through the back, using the counters for coverage.