by Melissa Good
She hadn’t thought about killing, Dev hadn’t thought about saving her own ass. What did that say about both of them?
She looked up at the ceiling, flat on her back on her upper bunk as Dev worked to consolidate the scan files and parse the data inside.
Dev.
Dev had done good. She’d done just what a tech was supposed to do right up until she’d broken orders and bolted across the deck, more concerned about Jess being in trouble than her job. Even though that was against regs, and wrong from an ops perspective, Jess was smiling at the ceiling because every agent she’d ever known always wished for a tech who would do exactly what Dev had done.
You wanted to trust. You wanted to know someone really, honestly, had your back.
Jess thought about what Dev’s body coming apart in a blast meant for her, and she closed her eyes, because it did hurt. A fierce pain gripped her chest and she reached up to rub the spot, shaking her head a little at the discomfort. She flushed the image and after a moment the pain faded, and she could breathe again.
“Jess?” Dev came over and stood next to her head, her blonde hair gently reflecting the dull light in the cabin. “Here’s an ops recap. Do you want to review it?” She leaned her arms on the bed frame and turned the scanner so Jess could look at it.
Jess found herself unable to focus on the screen. She looked at Dev’s profile instead, watching the faint twitches along her smooth skin and admiring the nice shape to her face. After a moment of silence, Dev looked over at her, head tilting just a little in question.
What amazing eyes she had.
“Jess?” Dev asked, after another long, silent moment. “Are you all right?”
Jess grinned briefly. “Yeah,” she said. “Sorry. I’m still buzzed from the fight. Takes me a while to come all the way down.” She focused with some effort on the screen. “Roll it. Let me see if you got my good side.”
Dev complied, glad that the ship had mostly stopped tossing around. She held the scanner steady and watched Jess watch it.
“That is an old carrier,” Jess said, after a pause. “They were current when I was in field school. I trained on them.” She studied the text scroll. “Look at those guys.” She leaned closer and pointed at the figures dropping from the carrier. “Lines.”
“Not the jet pack we have?”
“No. They’d be idiots to use that in the weather we were in anyway, but this is old style. We used to rappel before they stabilized the packs so—” She watched the scanner print the ident details on the still moving figures. “Nice job of integrating the scan, by the way.”
Dev smiled, and her eyes twinkled a little. “Thank you.”
“This guy.” Jess pointed at the screen. “He was chipped.” She studied the readouts. “We won’t know who he is until you squirt that back home, but he was one of us.” She watched the man move. “See that? That’s field school training.” She watched him swing clear of the deck obstacles and release at just the right time to drop him behind a barrel for shielding. “He went faster, and got behind something. Not an idiot.”
Dev nodded. “Those people didn’t.” She watched three others drop. “But they’re all in our uniforms.”
Jess nodded. “They make a good show, but one thing’s for sure, they don’t have current comp because if they scanned us before they put a move on us they missed picking up on me.” She flexed her hand. “They didn’t know I was here.”
“No, I don’t think they did,” Dev said, as she watched the recording. “You can see this person here, that one you said was real? He saw you, and look.” She pointed. “See his face?”
Jess smiled ferociously. “Know what that is?” She said. “That’s an ‘oh shit’ face.” She could, in fact, see the expression and the widened eyes as her own figure flickered past, arms outstretched, guns firing. It always made her twitch, watching herself on the comp, always thinking of what she could have done better or different, always finding some fault with her body position or aim or...
Anyway.
“You move so fast,” Dev said. “It’s amazing.”
Jess eyed her. “You think so?”
“Yes.”
Jess watched the scan play out, until the lights blared on and she saw the carrier start a recovery phase, and the picture suddenly got out of sync and lost focus. The pickup caught some low voice and then Dev’s yell to her warning of the carrier gun shift. “Did you curse?”
Dev pondered that. “I think so. When I realized they were going to try and shoot you.”
Jess reached over and patted her on the cheek. “Good girl. You learn fast.”
Then scan cut out, the playback ending as Dev had shut down prior to her bolt across the deck. The scan screen went dim, and Dev shut it down. “Do you want me to send it?”
“You think you can get a signal out?” Jess asked. “No, wait, tell you what. If you can get sig, then just squirt the bio idents we pulled off. Let’s see what that gets us. I’m not...” She paused. “I’m not really sure where the vector is on this, Dev. It could be tied in with the leak.”
Dev nodded. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.” She turned and sat down on her bunk, then she squiggled back and leaned against the pillow, raising up one knee to brace the scanner against as she worked.
Jess folded her hands over her stomach and studied the ceiling again. There was so much to think about. Who were the impostors? Why were they attacking ships dressed as Interforce agents? Were the interesting little golden sparkles in Dev’s eyes something that happened naturally, or were they engineered that way?
She let out a slow breath. Now, where did that thought come from? Why should she care either way about those sparkles? “Hey Dev?”
“Yes?”
“When they make you,” she said. “Do they pick stuff like what color hair you have, or is it just skill sets?”
Dev didn’t answer for a little while. “I’m not really sure.” She finally said. “I never heard Doctor Dan say anything like that. About what we look like, I mean.” She paused. “It’s more about what you do, than what you look like I think.”
“Huh.”
“Why did you ask me that?”
“Just wondered,” Jess said. “Just was curious if he did it on purpose or not.”
“Do what?”
“Made you so damn cute.”
Dev swiveled and stuck her head out from under the top bunk, peering at Jess with a puzzled expression. “Am I?”
Jess rolled over onto her stomach and peered over the edge of the sleep bag. “I think so. I really like looking at you.”
Dev blushed a little, but grinned. “I’m glad.”
They remained in place, studying each other. “You think I’m cute?” Jess finally asked, resting her chin on her wrist.
“I think you’re beautiful,” Dev answered readily. “And also cute,” she added, when she saw the surprising blush darken Jess’s skin. “I’ve never seen anyone as pretty as you are.”
“Okay, got it.” Jess felt lightheaded from the blood rushing to her head. “Thanks.”
Dev pulled her head back in and extended her body out on the bed, resting her head on the pillow area of her bag. That had been interesting, if a bit confusing. She was glad Jess liked how she looked since she didn’t have any choices in that area.
It did make her wonder though, about whether they made bio alts look a certain way or if they left it to chance like the natural born did. That made her think about what Sigurd had told her, about family, and how he thought he could see something in her face that he recognized.
Was that true? She flipped through the vid in the scanner until she picked up an image of him and she studied it briefly. Was there something familiar there?
She really didn’t know. But then the image shifted and Sigurd glanced at the record sensor with a certain look and Dev realized there was something she recognized there but not from her mirror. There was something in that look, in the half humorous expression that reminded h
er very strongly of Doctor Dan.
Ah. She nodded to herself. Maybe that was why she felt like she knew him. That idea made sense to her, more so than some story of ancient connections between them. Feeling more settled, she set up the transfer for the squirt and started parsing for signal, narrowing the range and tuning out the discord of the metal interference around them.
She could feel the ship moving under her, pitching back and forth but the motion was far more gentle and it came across as almost soothing. The scanner meeped at her, and she regarded the tuning, shaping the signal and altering the waves to lock on to a master sync passing overhead.
From the met sat, she registered the channel and riffled through the interconnects to find one for her relay. There were two, and she picked the strongest, encapsulating the squirt and sending it through. A full second later she got the relay confirmation and then she severed the connection, backing out of the sat and closing down the channel.
She set a timer to go back for retrieval, since the scanner was a send and reply system only not consistently online like the carrier was. “Jess, the ident has been sent and accepted.”
“Good,” Jess said. “Sigurd said the carrier was on top of them before they realized what the signature was on their radar. Too much EMF. Not surprised they didn’t see it.”
Dev was studying the scanner, keying through its comp. “We didn’t see it either,” she said.
“What?”
“I left the scanner on low band,” Dev said. “While we were resting. It didn’t pick up anything either.”
“Really?” Jess swung her head over the bunk edge again. “Nothing?”
Dev slid out of bed and set the scanner on Jess’s bunk again, displaying the screen. “Just the systems onboard. Even the met scan, I see the storm edge here, but nothing else.” She ran the comp back several hours, flickering across the screen. “See?” She leaned her elbows on the bunk, her head nearly touching Jess’s.
Jess ignored the screen, and leaned closer, grabbing Dev’s earlobe in her teeth and gently nibbling it. She heard the hastily stifled laugh from her partner, and then she released her and refocused on the scanner. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
“Um.” Dev studied the screen. “No scan. No sign of the carrier before it attacked us.” She ran the comp again. “I didn’t try to scan them as they left, though.”
“You were busy protecting my ass,” Jess said. “So.” She studied the data. “Either the trash in the sky obscured them or they obscured themselves. Found a way to block the scan spectrum.”
“Is that possible?”
“Used to be. We used to know how to build stuff that could hide from anything. Now?” Jess shook her head. “Why bother? We can use storm fronts and vectors to slip in undetected. Stealth is expensive.” She pondered the thought. “Though it sure gave them the advantage tonight, didn’t it?”
“Did it?” Dev asked. “What would have happened if Sigurd had seen them coming?” She set the scanner down and studied Jess instead. “Could he have hid this ship somewhere?”
“Granted, not many places to duck behind on the sea, but Sigurd’s been sailing these waters since the dawn of time. He could have avoided them I bet.”
“Hm.” Dev put her chin down on her forearm. “Do you think these guys were the pirates?”
Jess shook her head. “Other side.”
“Even though that one person had a chip?”
“Even though.” Jess sighed. “A few have changed sides, over the years. I didn’t recognize him though. Not someone I knew. Could have been from another base. I’m thinking they wanted the ship to help them infiltrate one of our centers. Maybe even Base Ten.”
Dev propped her head up against her hand. “So. They were trying to do the same thing we are?”
Jess chuckled wryly. “More or less, yeah.”
“I see.” Dev straightened up. “Would you like some hot tea? I will go get some from the big room.” She shut down the scanner and put it back in its cradle. “I think we’re still in the ice thing.”
“Sure,” Jess said. “Just be careful. After tonight I don’t think any of them would put a finger on you, but watch out.”
Dev shrugged into her jacket and closed the fastenings, tugging the hood up into place before she went through the hatch and stepped into the hallway. Mindful of Jess’s warning, she looked in both directions, but the hallway was empty and she turned and proceeded down it toward the common room with almost silent steps.
Far off, she could hear the sounds of the crew working, and below, the grind of the engines and gears. It was quiet as she emerged into the central corridor and then made her way to the inner hatch, pushing it open and going inside cautiously.
The room was mostly empty as well, only the two women were inside, working at the rear of the room. They turned and looked as she entered, but then went back to what they were doing without speaking.
That was okay by Dev. She went to the dispenser and took out two cups, studying the choices. After a moment’s pause, she decided on seaweed tea and requested two portions, waiting as they brewed and emitted a gentle cloud of spicy sweet steam into the air.
The inner door to the room opened, and a set of piping voices emerged. Dev turned to see two of the children come in, their tow heads and small bodies attracting her attention. A little boy, and little girl. They clamored around the two women asking for a snack, their tousled hair and hide singlets contrasting with the steel deck and dull gray paint in odd counterpoint.
One of the women turned and caught Dev watching. “What are you looking at?”
“The children,” Dev answered readily.
The two had spotted her now and they focused on her. “Who’re you?” The boy asked, tipping his head back to look up.
“Dev.”
“Keep clear of her, Edguard.” The woman said. “Her kind’s not safe for the likes of you.”
Dev regarded herself, then she looked at the woman in question, cocking her head to one side. “My kind?”
“Those that do nothing but kill and maim, and take,” the woman said. “Like those who attacked us. You’re one of them, no matter you don’t carry the guns openly.”
Dev capped the now finished cups. “We defended you against them,” she said, after a pause. “Does that make us the same?” She studied the women. “We mean you no harm.”
“Don’t you?” The woman herded the children back into the inner sanctum, leaving the other woman to finish the work.
The second woman waited for the door to close, then she turned and regarded Dev. “Don’t mind Eva. She hates everyone.” She came over, a small case in her hands. “Some of us know the difference between techs and agents, and between you lot, and pirates. Really.”
Dev produced a mild grin. “Jess doesn’t think the people who attacked you before were Interforce.”
“Of course she’d say that.” But the woman smiled back, offering the box. “Have a cake. I bear no ill will to you. If they were, or weren’t, you fought on our side tonight so all’s fair for now.” She studied Dev’s face. “They said you were a spacer.”
“Yes.” Dev took one of the wrapped items in the box. “I was born in space, on a bio station.” She examined the item, then put it with the cups. “Thank you.”
“My name is Hilda,” the woman said, and offered the box again. “Take one for your...ah...whatever it is you call each other.”
Dev did. “Jess is my partner,” she said, unable to repress a tickle of pride at the words. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it, so thank you.” She put the cake with the other one and picked up both cups, grasping the handles in one hand. “Please excuse me now. The tea will get cold.”
Dev ducked through the hatch and re-entered the corridor, now spotting two dimly lit figures making their way toward her. The ships roll had almost ceased now, and she was able to keep a steady balance as she approached the men.
Would they cause her trouble? Dev kept her expression mild, a
s she came within the nearest pool of light and they spotted her. But the two men paused as they recognized her, and both moved back flat against the wall to let her pass.
“Tech.” One said, in a respectful tone. “Can I get the hatch for ya?”
Ah. “Yes, thank you. It’s that one there.” Dev waited for him to undo the latch and open it for her. “I appreciate that very much.” She smiled at the crewman.
The man touched his head with one hand, and then they went past, continuing down the hallway toward the commons. Dev stepped through the hatch and leaned against it to close it behind her, her eyes flicking to the inside of the room to find Jess near the far wall, her suit stripped down off one arm. “Hello.”
“Hey.” Jess turned to face her, one hand holding a pad against the front of her shoulder. “Give me a hand with this, wouldja?”
Dev put the cups and the cakes down and went over to her. “What’s wrong?” She stripped off her jacket and put it on the hanger.
Jess removed the pad, exposing a puncture wound halfway between her neck and shoulder. “Pain finally kicked in. Just need you to clean this out and pack it.” She regarded her arm dourly. “When I’m fighting I never feel it.” She looked past Dev. “Whatcha got there?”
“Some tea, and some little cakes the woman called Hilda gave me,” Dev said, absently. She focused on Jess’s shoulder and nodded a little at the burst of programming that told her what to do with it. This had come in the second round of deep time, and she’d woken with an almost discomfiting understanding of critical aid.
She retrieved the small aid kit from their pack and took out the cleaner, as Jess edged around her and investigated the cakes. “I got to see the children. They seemed to be afraid we would damage them.”
Jess snorted, as she unwrapped the cake and sniffed it. She took an experimental nibble as Dev cleaned her shoulder, making a pleased, grunting noise at the taste. “Not bad.”
“How did you get this?” Dev asked, ignoring the edible commentary. “I thought they had energy weapons with them. This seems to be a sharp implement that hit you.” She could see whatever it was had a jagged point, and it had gone almost the length of her finger joint into Jess’s body. But the bleeding had already mostly stopped.