by Amy DuBoff
“Shit, me either.” Ava took an unsteady breath. “I can’t wait to get the fuckers who’ve orchestrated this madness.”
“That makes two of us.”
Ava stepped toward the door. “All right, let me give Kurtz and Widmore the update. We need to shut down that lab.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Karen stared at her desktop in silence. I just admitted I was about to murder a head of state. Hearing the words out loud made her realize just how misguided she’d been. Assassination wasn’t the way to bring about a better future.
She reached for her desk drawer, realizing that her hands were shaking. Inside was the syringe she’d been given by her secret contact for the purposes of the impending deed. She’d hidden it under a stack of hardcopy reports no one was likely to go looking for. The slim, metal case looked like something an old-fashioned fountain pen might be presented in as a gift. Karen pulled the box from its hiding place and examined the contents. It was just like she’d left it.
No, someone has been playing me. I can’t trust one side over the other like I’d wanted to. Everyone has their own agenda. I’m not helping my world if I’m just a tool in some master plan. She rose from her desk and dropped the case and syringe into a hatch set on the back wall, which led to an incinerator—one perk of being in a government office dealing in sensitive information. I won’t use this. Not now or ever.
Karen took several calming breaths. It was time to really make an impact.
She left her office with nothing in hand and took the elevator to the level containing the president’s administrative suite.
Leon was in his customary position behind the reception desk. “Hi, Karen. I don’t have you on the president’s calendar for today.”
“It’s an urgent matter—can’t wait,” she said, not breaking stride.
The two guards outside his office tensed as she approached.
Karen spread her arms. “I have critical information regarding Alucia’s safety. Please let me pass.”
The left guard held up his finger and then knocked on the door. He stuck his head inside and said something. After five seconds, he swung the door open and gestured for Karen to pass.
“Thank you.” She nodded to him.
Inside, the president was seated at his desk. “Karen, what information do you have?”
She closed the door behind herself. “Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Connors frowned. “We’re in the middle of a crisis here. If this is a new issue, I’d rather not know yet.”
“It’s connected—regarding the Coalition. They’ve sent a battleship toward Alucia.”
“Fuck! They wouldn’t…”
Karen swallowed. “This isn’t an official tip, but it’s coming from a source I trust. They knew we wouldn’t be able to pick up a single craft on our scan.”
“Whoever your friends are, we’re indebted. I’ll reach out to the chancellor right away and see if I can get to the bottom of this.” He activated his desk.
“That’s not all, sir.” Her stomach turned over.
“I’m listening.”
“Sir…” Karen searched for the words. There was no right way to put it—may as well go all-in. “Sir, I originally was sent here to kill you.”
The president’s face drained. “What?”
Karen held up her hands to show she was unarmed. “But I’m not going to do that. I realize now that I was manipulated into thinking about my world as an individual entity and that remaining isolated was the best way forward. I believed that with all my heart, and much of me still does. But I’ve just learned that NTech has been working on a project using the natural resources of Coraxa. Those enemies have been working to pit Nezar and Alucia against each other so that they may claim Coraxa for themselves. For what end, I have no idea. But I do know that the only way we can stand up to an opponent like that is by unifying, not separating.”
Connors’ hand hovered over his desktop. “I should call security on you.”
“I’ll understand if you do. But I beg you to trust in my conviction to save my world.”
He studied her. “We both share Torcellan ancestry. They believed in peace and goodwill—and forgiveness. Against any advice I’d receive, I will give you a chance to regain my trust.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Sit in on this call with the chancellor. I could use another set of ears.”
Karen took a seat across the desk from the president. If anyone was worthy of her loyalty, it was him.
***
Allowing his would-be killer to remain in his presence had put President Connors in an odd mood. On the one hand, it saddened and terrified him to think that this woman he’d trusted had only worked her way into his employ so that she could end his life. On the other hand, he was flattered and humbled that she’d alter long-held convictions because she believed he was worthy of her following. He’d need time to process the development, but right now he needed to focus on finding out why the Nezaran Chancellor had authorized a battleship to advance on Alucia.
“Pay attention to her wording,” Connors instructed Karen while he prepared the call. “We need to determine if she’s lying, subverted, or just really does hate us that much for whatever reason.”
“I’m ready,” Karen confirmed.
Connors activated the connection. Let’s hope she even picks up.
He watched the call status on the desktop readout. It had been acknowledged by the chancellor’s administrator, and appeared to be on hold. Come on…
Fifteen seconds later, the call was accepted in the chancellor’s private office.
Chancellor Cynthia Heizberg’s dark brown hair and pale green eyes were opposite to Connors’ own coloring. Fitting that her personality was also a stark contrast. “President Connors, I’m surprised to hear from you.”
“Really? I thought one of your battleships heading for my planet was a worthwhile reason for us to have a chat.”
“What?” She shook her head and cracked a smile. “You must be joking.”
“According to my scan data, it’s no joke at all.” Stars, I hope Karen’s contacts had this right—we have no physical proof.
The chancellor leaned forward, her hands folded on the table. “Connors, I can account for all my ships. Can you?”
He faltered. “You know Alucia’s space military barely has a ship between them.”
“And Nezar’s is not so large that one battleship could go rogue without me knowing.” She looked down, then back up at him. “I have confirmed—as I already knew—that they are berthed at the stardock. If there’s a ship heading toward you, it’s not one of ours.”
“Chancellor, please forgive the accusation. My information—”
“You have always distrusted us.” Heizberg’s eyes narrowed. “I wonder if perhaps we shouldn’t claim your planet and be done with this.”
“Cynthia, we both know—”
“Oh, so first name familiarity, eh? Not this time, President Connors. I know the FDG is staging at Coraxa. This was all a distraction so you can make a play for Nezar. Well, we’re not going down without a fight, that’s for damned sure.” She ended the call.
Connors slumped back in his chair. He glanced at Karen. “No, I don’t think I need a second opinion on that.”
Karen looked ill. “Sir, I would trust those who told me that information with my life.”
I’m not sure how much value she puts on a life, given what she was going to do to me. But he didn’t see deceit in her eyes.
“Your contacts may have been misled themselves. Maybe this was the real plan all along.”
“My god…” Karen hugged herself.
“We only have one option.” Connors took a deep breath. “I need to sign the vassal agreement with the Etheric Federation.”
“Right now?” Karen paled further.
“We need immediate military support. If Nezar wants war, I want the biggest fucking military we can get.”
***
All told, sixty new subjects had been added to Andrea’s collection. Unfortunately, not a single one of them had responded to the first treatment in the way she’d hoped, nor had the man she’d tested earlier that day.
“Worthless! Every one of them. They have all the same markers. Why isn’t it taking?” she mused aloud, not expecting a response.
“I think I’ve identified the problem,” Jared replied from the adjacent workstation. He had dark circles under his eyes from working through the night, but his passion was stronger than ever.
Probably trying to make up for giving away all their secrets, if Andrea had to guess. “What is it?”
“We missed one sequence in our splicing. The nanocytes are still looking for one Were marker in order to activate. We need to strip out that remaining reference, and then it should work.”
There were thousands of lines of genetic code programming within the nanocytes. It wasn’t surprising they’d overlooked one tiny segment. “Except it’s worthless to us without a subject. It’ll take two weeks for the nanocytes to clear from the blood of this batch. I was so certain it would work…”
“I was, too. I’m sorry I let you down again.”
“Oh, Jared, a pity party will win you no favor. Redeem yourself through the work.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He turned back to his work station. “I’m completing the corrections now. We should have a new batch of nanocytes ready within half an hour.”
“Finally, some good news.”
The question remained, however, for who to test it on. Subjects were all disposable, but she was running out of time and needed to maximize her investments.
While she could find just anyone—perhaps even Jared, himself, if she got desperate—she’d much rather find a native Coraxan. If her estimations were correct, such a person would possess far stronger abilities than someone with no innate Etheric connection. A Reader, in particular, would make a most excellent prototype to bring to her benefactors, even if that would be over-selling the product a bit. After all, that was the nature of sales.
Andrea still had her eye on one Reader who she’d be all too eager to turn into her pet. And if the FDG landing vessel parked a kilometer away was any indication, Ava would be walking right through the front door and into her hands any minute.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“All right, fucking-shit-up mode activated,” Ava said to her team while detaching her plasma rifle from her back.
“Be careful in there.” Concern filled Luke’s face, but his tone was confident. Ava felt that much more energized.
Samantha cast another appraising look between Ava and Luke. “It’s the enemy that should be worried.”
“You mess with Weres, you mess with the best tac team in the whole fucking Force de Guerre.” Edwin’s eyes took on an amber cast. “And we won’t stand for injustice.”
Nick laughed. “You sound like a recruitment ad.”
“I would make a great spokesperson, and you know it,” Edwin said with a grin.
“Or there’s Ava’s latest video entry,” Samantha offered.
Ava rolled her eyes while she grabbed her helmet from the mount on her shoulder. “I have a very long memory, my friends. Payback is cumulative.”
“It’s all empty threats. Secretly she likes it,” Nick said.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait to find out.” Ava slipped on the helmet, and her vision was replaced by the view on her HUD. “Comm test?”
Her team slipped on their own helmets and sounded off.
“Check clear,” Ava acknowledged. She turned back to Luke and activated the external speaker on her armor. “See you soon.”
He nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Ava returned the suit settings to internal comms and then loped down the hill in the direction of the NTech lab. Her unit and three other teams of four fanned out in formation.
Another two dozen FDG warriors had gone ahead to scope out the opposition from inside a tree grove that stretched between the landing area and NTech. Her team slowed as they entered the trees, eventually arriving at the other side of the grove near the NTech entrance. The advance teams had taken up positions along the tree line.
Ava pressed her back against a tree with sightlines to the door and peered around the trunk.
The lab’s parking area nearby was now occupied by a matte gray transport ship. Two military-grade mechs were patrolling the entrance, accompanied by eighty visible soldiers, plus the automated assault gun on the roof.
“Well, those weren’t there before,” Ava said on the private channel to her team.
“Yeah, figured you probably would have mentioned that,” Nick replied.
“What do you think—NTech private security or Nezaran military?” she asked.
Samantha peeked around her own tree. “Tough call. I don’t see any distinguishing marks on the ship or mechs.”
“My guess is mercs, and not Bad Company mercs,” Nick chimed in.
“I’m inclined to agree,” Ava replied. She switched over to the common band for all teams present. “Looks like the welcoming committee sent us our favorite kind of gift basket. Let’s go for a meet and greet, but try not to damage the goods.”
Acknowledgements lit up on the periphery of her HUD. She took a deep breath and centered her mind. “Go!”
As one wave, the forty FDG warriors dashed across the darkened plane toward their target.
The mechs’ thermal sensors picked them up first, and they pivoted their mechanized firing heads toward the group. Both fired an RPG, but the team’s distributed formation made the mechs’ aim ineffective, and the grenades detonated on open ground between two warriors.
The Force warriors shook off the blast and continued their charge.
Enemy guards opened fire with a mix of kinetic rounds and plasma blasts, illuminating the battlefield in a purple electrical glow. With the strobing weapons fire, the action unfolded in freeze-frame motion before Ava’s eyes, and her HUD adjusted to minimize the fluctuation in light level.
She spotted a clear path to the right that would take her near some rock formations, and she sprinted down the hillside, firing at the ground near the enemy guards in the front line to drive them into a tighter clump.
Sensing that the grenades hadn’t hit their marks, the mechs switched to plasma beams. Two beams shot out from each mech, slicing scorched trenches through the ground.
Fucking beam weapons! Ava dove and rolled to the side to narrowly miss one of the glowing beams as it crisscrossed in a random pattern across the field.
Her powered armor’s integrated electromagnetic field could deflect plasma fire for short durations, but more than a solid second of exposure and the nanocarbon would be as good as butter.
Butter… food. Damn, now all I can think about is how I haven’t eaten since dinner! Ava leaped to avoid another beam arc and took cover behind a boulder protruding from the ground five meters away. The sooner this is over, the sooner I get breakfast.
She took aim with her plasma rifle around the edge of the boulder, firing a shot into the rotator plate between the first mech’s upper weapons array and main body. The mech lurched backwards as a shower of sparks and smoke erupted.
The second mech pivoted its beams toward Ava’s position.
That wasn’t part of the plan! She ducked behind the boulder just in time to avoid a clean plasma sweep through the air where her head had been moments earlier. The rock wouldn’t last another three seconds.
“I need some cover!” she shouted into her comm, then dashed out from behind the boulder to the left.
Her team responded in force, laying waste to the second mech and then finishing off the first.
The next critical target was the gun on the roof—no armor-melting plasma rounds, but a couple high-powered ballistic rounds could be even more dangerous when their aim was true.
Ava strafed down diagonally toward the entrance door. Her fire combined with the team’s quickly tore the
gun to shreds.
Seeing their main line of defense deteriorating, most of the armored guards pulled back to the main entrance door, but others held their ground; some brave souls even began advancing toward the approaching warriors.
“Non-lethal shots,” Ava reminded her people over the common channel. They switched over to handguns.
The warriors took aim with sonic blasts, but the guards appeared to have in-ear comms, and the weapons had no effect.
Damn it, just had to make things difficult! Ava switched her handgun to kinetic rounds and ran to a rock twenty meters from a group of five guards who’d opted to seek cover in some shrubs. Bad move, fellas.
Ava lined up a shot using the aim assist on her HUD and fired a kinetic round, catching one guard in his right thigh.
He dropped to the ground with a yelp, scrambling to get his rifle back in firing position. His comrades quickly traced the shot’s origin to Ava’s position, but she let loose four more shots before any of them could fire. If these guys were military, then the Nezaran armor had nothing on the FDG’s.
Unfortunately, shooting the guards in their legs only served to immobilize them. She needed them unconscious, but so long as their comms remained in, the sonic stun mode on her weapon was useless.
Two of them squeezed off poorly aimed shots in her direction, and she shot both of them in the arm.
Ava cycled through the comm frequencies until she spotted an active channel not controlled by the FDG. This must be them. She opened a link. “So, I really don’t want to hurt you because I know you’re just the hired help, and probably underpaid, at that. If you want to take out your comms, I’ll just knock you out and we’ll call it good. Otherwise, I’ll put a bullet in each of your arms. Up to you.”
One guard laughed, “Is this a fucking jo—”
Ava shot him in his right arm. “No joke.”
He let out a cry of agony and ripped out the comm earbuds with his good arm. His companions followed suit.
“There! Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Ava shouted at them using her external comm. She switched her handgun to the sonic pulse mode and fired.