by Cary Caffrey
"Good man."
*
Harry Jones exited his building, walked quickly to the waiting taxi, and punched in his destination on the map screen.
He didn't doubt what they had told him—about the Council being alerted to him, or their warning. It was only a matter of time. Only a fool would think otherwise. Still, he didn't think it would be so soon. There were only two possible conclusions. One, he'd slipped up somewhere, and the Council had discovered his treason. Two, and Harry thought this more likely, there was a spy in his midst. Someone close to him.
Curiously, that didn't disturb Harry. It intrigued him.
But the Circle had been wrong about one thing. One very important thing. And this made Harry smile. For Harry did know about the reactivation of the Scorpii Relay.
Not only did he know, Harry had been singularly instrumental in effecting its repairs. The assets lost on Scorpii were far too valuable to be left marooned for long. Acting on Randal Gillings behalf—without the chairman's knowledge—Harry had seen to the negotiations with the Daedalus Corporation personally. When the CTF Forces returned to Scorpii, Harry Jones had been there, in spirit if not in body, overseeing the capture of the surviving Independents. Most had been taken into custody. Some had escaped.
Harry had seen to that, too.
Not all of Project Andraste's assets had been retrieved by the Council, and not all personnel captured. It had taken most of his remaining resources, but Harry Jones had arranged for the retrieval of one very important asset.
Dr. Joseph Farrington.
Many bribes, and more threats, had made certain the good doctor found his way unerringly to Bellatrix. If all had gone to plan, Dr. Farrington was already in his possession.
The fact that the Circle remained unaware only confirmed his suspicion: the men of the Circle had reached the end of their usefulness. He had been right to distance himself. They were fools—old men and bureaucrats, drunk on their own delusions of power. Their continued partnership would only drag Harry down.
The Council's growing interest in him proved that. But if the Council was truly curious about him, if they were growing suspicious, then he would draw their attention away and give them a new target of interest. Something they couldn't possibly ignore.
The taxi made its final turn into the hospital parking lot and deposited him at the visitors' entrance. His wife would be waiting for him, as she had been, as she always would. Harry bypassed the nursing station; there was little purpose in investigating her status. It would remain unchanged.
Harry checked his watch as he entered the elevator. In a little less than four hours a lone suborbital transport would lift off from a small atoll in the Pacific. Its cargo, two wealthy businesspersons, would be left to wonder what had happened to Harry Jones and why he'd been foolish enough to remain behind.
"Poor Harry," they would say as they savored unconscionably priced brandies and marveled at their stock quotes. "He was a good man—useful in his day."
That transport would not reach its destination.
CHAPTER FOUR
New Alcyone
September 24, 2348
Pegasi Space
Sigrid leaned against the rail with her arms crossed, looking out the forward view port of the Ōmi Maru. The gas giant Circe loomed above her, but Sigrid's focus was on the much smaller blue orb below. Medea shone brilliantly tonight, her vast sweeping oceans beckoning a welcome. Of course, it was no longer called Medea. It was New Alcyone now, named so by all the girls. This was the place where they could finally be safe. It was their sanctuary. It was their home.
For Sigrid the sights of home brought little comfort. She had failed in her mission, and their supply situation was now critical. The men who pursued them were still out there, and they would have to be dealt with. She would have to deal with them. To wait was to invite disaster. Sigrid knew that now. She was done waiting. She would find these men. Find them, and kill them.
But how? And where?
The deck plates shook beneath her feet as the Ōmi Maru pierced the upper reaches of the atmosphere. The view ports glowed first orange, then yellow as licks of fire and flame danced over the glass.
"You seem troubled, Ms. Novak."
Sigrid turned. She hadn't noticed the captain standing at her side. He held two cups of tea, one for him, one for her. Sigrid declined; her eyes were fixed on the planet rushing up beneath them. Soon they would be on the ground, they would be home, and Sigrid would have to tell them.
"They don't know—they don't know we failed them. I failed them." She didn't think to mention the much darker thoughts that filled her head and the plan she was considering.
"Ms. Novak, one learns quickly as a mercenary, when you return home, with your ships intact, your crew alive…you have had a successful mission. You will come to appreciate that. In time."
"But, Captain Trybusz…" Sigrid's tongue stumbled yet again over the older man's name.
"Trybusz-kiewicz." The captain enunciated each syllable for Sigrid's benefit. "I thought you girls we're genetically superior. How can you not pronounce such a good, simple Polish name?"
Sigrid caught his wink and knew the older man was teasing her again. "We're human, Captain. Just as you are. We're simply augmented, not superior."
The captain took a sip of his tea, facing her. "That, my dear, is something you will never convince me of. And you are far too young to have such worries. Tonight, you will arrive home, you will be with your friends. We can debate strategies tomorrow."
The captain was being kind, Sigrid could tell. Still, his words helped to loosen some of the stress. Perhaps he was right. Tomorrow. She would worry tomorrow.
The freighter pitched down sharply, shedding altitude and spiraling in a wide sweeping circle as she started her final approach. In the middle of that circle was their home, a small island surrounded on all sides by blue ocean. Buildings that appeared as mere specks only a moment ago grew larger as they closed the distance. Sigrid saw the habitats and storage facilities, the new Academy, the many small houses her sisters had claimed for their own. Their enclave had grown, even in the short time she'd been gone. But there was much work to do.
A simple landing platform had been built atop a bluff, barely large enough to accommodate their meager fleet. A single ship sat perched on the tarmac. She'd been left behind as a precaution, a last means of escape in the event the four freighters failed to return from their mission. It was the Morrigan.
At fifty meters, the Morrigan was small, even for a scout. Her slender, needlelike crew section thrust proudly forward, dwarfed by the hulking thruster fairings to her stern. She was a fast and scrappy ship, already proven in battle with several kills to her name.
And she was hers.
The platform beside the Morrigan was clear, and Captain Trybuszkiewicz brought the much larger Ōmi Maru softly in at her side, the nearly one-hundred-and-fifty-meter vessel settling easily on its eight landing columns.
Sigrid heard the power systems of the freighter grinding down as the captain ran the crew through the shutdown sequences. Data-pad in hand, she worked to call up the meager cargo manifest, scraps salvaged from Konoe, and began allocating the unloading duties to the crew. Captain Trybuszkiewicz would have none of this, though. As far as he was concerned, Sigrid had more than earned her share of R&R, and the captain insisted she get some rest. But he had one final order before dismissing her.
Captain Trybuszkiewicz tapped a finger behind his ear, about the same place where Sigrid's PCM access port resided; the small two-millimeter-wide port was the only physical means of accessing Sigrid's internal systems.
"I believe you have sustained some damage, Ms. Novak."
Sigrid reached back, her fingers tracing the tiny slot in her skull. "It's nothing, Captain. I'm fine. Really."
"Be that as it may, I have been charged with your care. I'm afraid I must insist that you report for treatment. Lady Hitomi would not forgive me should something happen to you
."
Sigrid had indeed sustained damage. Her comlink still failed to function, and she'd suffered damage to some of her core systems—injuries sustained when the Merchantman's reactor breached. There was also the matter of the two concussions and her shoulder where it had been dislocated. But Sigrid had other, more pressing thoughts on her mind. And someone she needed to see.
"Really, Captain, I wouldn't worry—"
The captain fixed her with a stern look. "Ms. Novak, if you think yourself unable to find your way on your own, I can, and will, arrange for you to be escorted."
"No, that won't be necessary. I'll go, Captain."
The captain nodded, satisfied, and the stern look softened. "Rest now, Ms. Novak. There will be more work for you soon enough."
"Yes, Captain."
Sigrid bowed, turned and left. The captain watched her move off.
"You spoil her," Chief Engineer Andrzej Topa said.
"Of course. For one simple reason, Andrzej: neither of us would be standing here alive if it weren't for her. I doubt she even realizes."
*
Sigrid swung down the ladder and dropped to the ground next to the freighter. After the weeks breathing recycled air, the fragrant ocean breezes of New Alcyone were enough to overwhelm her sensors. But it served as a soothing reminder that she was home.
Coming down from the rise, she had her first glimpse of the progress made in her absence. The original collection of prefabricated structures had metamorphosed and blossomed into quite the village, all designed and arranged by Lady Hitomi Kimura, and built by the Kimuran crews so fiercely loyal to her.
Rows of small wooden buildings, with their raised floors and peaked, tiled roofs, encircled the compound. In the center stood the main habitat, the largest of all the structures. Sturdy wooden posts supported a tall and gently curving roof, the eaves extending far out to cover the wide veranda. Sigrid climbed the steps, slid the paper-thin door aside and stepped into the main hall. Lacquered bamboo flooring caught the light from the lanterns suspended from the bracketed ceiling, bathing the entire hall in a welcoming and warming glow.
Despite the lateness of the hour, her mistress was awake and waiting for her in her offices, though Sigrid was surprised to find Dr. Garrett there as well. Both women looked up at her as she entered. Sigrid had the uncomfortable impression she'd interrupted a conversation, and one about her.
Lady Hitomi wheeled her chair toward her. With great effort, she rose to stand before Sigrid, leaning heavily on her lacquered cane. Hitomi extended her free hand in greeting, and Sigrid took it, helping her to sit back down, though not before attempting an awkward curtsey, something she knew would make her mistress smile.
"Sigrid, goodness, you do look a fright." Hitomi brushed the locks of blond hair from her face to better inspect the numerous cuts and the bruising to her temple, now turned from purple to black.
"Mistress," Sigrid said, pulling the hair back over her face, more to hide the evidence of the failure of her mission than her injuries.
"Do you mind if I take a look?" Dr. Garrett said; Sigrid saw the data-uplink in her hand as the doctor stepped toward her. "I'm afraid I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way—what with your communications module being out."
"Oh, of course." Sigrid pulled her hair out of the way, heard the snick, and felt the familiar pinch as Dr. Garrett inserted the device.
"This will only take a moment, Sigrid."
Dr. Garrett affixed a set of reading glasses to her nose and took a quick look at the data-pad in her hand. She tapped it twice and swiped the screen clear. Sigrid saw the multitude of progress bars and waited as Dr. Garrett verified the telemetry had downloaded without error. When Dr. Garrett removed the probe, it made her ears pop.
Sigrid saw the creases in Dr. Garrett's forehead as she scrutinized the information.
"Is everything all right?"
"Oh—it's nothing. You'll be fine. But I will need to see you in my office tomorrow. We'll have to replace the communications module. And there appears to be some scoring along your secondary processors. I'll have to see to those as well."
"My processors?"
Dr. Garrett lowered her glasses. "You practically fried them. Sigrid—you were standing next to a ship's reactor when it breached! You're lucky to be alive."
"Oh…you heard about that."
Hitomi nodded, more amused than concerned. "Captain Trybuszkiewicz's report was most illuminating."
"Actually, I wasn't really next to the reactor. I was two decks up."
Dr. Garrett put the pad down to inspect the physical damage Sigrid had sustained to her face and shoulder. "And you might want to try avoiding unnecessary trauma in the future."
Try avoiding…?
"I'll do my best, Doctor."
"Sigrid," the doctor said, "you must understand. There are some things I can replace; others I cannot."
"You, for one," Hitomi added.
"You must be more careful, Sigrid."
"Yes, Doctor."
Hitomi's tea service was laid out, and the lady poured three cups, inviting Sigrid to sit by her. Sigrid took the offered cup, holding the cup and saucer on her lap.
"I think you'll be pleased," Hitomi said. "The darjeeling has taken very well to the local climate. I think it bodes well for future crops."
Sigrid put the cup to her lips. The temperature was a splendid eighty-two degrees. "Thank you, Mistress. It's wonderful."
"Now, about this business with the Merchantmen."
"I have prepared my report, Mistress. I must apologize. We did not secure the necessary supplies. There were…difficulties."
Hitomi waved the pad away. "Captain Trybuszkiewicz has already informed me. He has told me everything I need to know."
"Then…you know I failed."
"Failed?" Hitomi spooned a dab of honey into her cup and stirred. "The captain must have omitted that part from his report. I only recall reading about some unusual tactics employed by a most resourceful young woman. Captain Trybuszkiewicz was very impressed with your service, Sigrid. In fact, he reports it was only by your actions that they returned alive. He finds you to be an exemplary young officer."
"Officer? Me?" Sigrid couldn't hide her surprise as she fumbled, then nearly dropped the cup in her lap, sloshing a good portion of the tea.
"Yes, dear. You. If you were to ask me, I'd say the man has grown rather fond of you in your time together."
"But, Mistress, it was my actions that put him in danger! The captain warned me. The whole crew did. But I ignored them. I jeopardized the mission."
"Nonsense. Sigrid, it was I who chose to deal with the Merchantmen. I arranged the meeting. If you insist on blaming anyone, you may blame me. Although, frankly, I prefer to blame the Council. It was they who put us in this situation, Sigrid. Not you."
"But the supplies—"
"We will discuss our supply needs tomorrow. You should rest now. Isn't that right, Doctor?"
Dr. Garrett looked up from her pad, still studying Sigrid's telemetry. "Hm? Yes, most definitely. Rest. And food! Your caloric intake hasn't been nearly adequate, Sigrid. You're not eating enough."
"Sorry, Doctor. There wasn't much time."
"In that case," Hitomi said, "I order you to rest. I understand your friends are waiting for you. I believe they have prepared something of a surprise feast for your return. We can discuss the rest of our business tomorrow—after you see Dr. Garrett."
"But—"
"That is my command to you, Sigrid. Besides, you don't want to keep her waiting too long, do you, dear?"
Sigrid looked up. She had never discussed Suko with Hitomi, nor their relationship. She wondered if Hitomi would say more, but her mistress merely continued to sip her tea quietly.
There was so much more on Sigrid's mind, more she needed to tell Hitomi. She couldn't imagine what the lady would think if she were to tell of her promise, or of all the dark thoughts lurking in her mind.
"You're delaying, dear," Hi
tomi said, seeing Sigrid hesitate. "There is nothing so important that can't wait until tomorrow."
"Yes, Mistress." Sigrid bowed, first to Hitomi, then to Dr. Garrett, before departing.
*
Lady Hitomi put her empty tea cup back on its saucer and waited as Dr. Garrett folded her pad back into her pocket.
"Well?" Hitomi said expectantly. "I suppose I don't have to ask that you found something. How is she?"
Dr. Garrett removed her glasses and gave them a polish. "Well, that really depends on what you mean?"
"I mean," Hitomi said, "how is she?"
"I can repair the damage to her processors, swap out the communications module. We've already discussed the new firmware package. All of that is routine. But the damage to her PCM is extensive—I'll need to extract it if I'm going to fix it."
"Extract? Can you even do that?"
"Well, it's not as simple as replacing a heart or a lung, but I suppose I can prepare a backup unit. I can keep her hooked up in the surgery while I make the repairs. We should consider retrofitting some radiation shielding for the PCM. Some microdampers might be in order, as well. That unit was never designed with this kind of treatment in mind. It's supposed to help keep her from harm’s way, not put her directly in its path."
Hitomi smiled knowingly. "Doctor, I'm afraid none of these systems were designed with her in mind."
"She's young, Hitomi-san. She doesn't understand the risks she's taking."
"Oh? Actually I think she is very aware of the dangers she puts herself in. I simply don't think it matters to her. Not where her friends are concerned."
Dr. Garrett leaned back against the desk, crossing her legs at the ankles. "You're very fond of her, aren't you?"
"I am. She is a remarkable girl."
Dr. Garrett opened her pad again, unfolding the paper-thin device. "There's more. If you wish to see it."
Hitomi wheeled herself closer.
"She's not a girl anymore, Hitomi-san. She's becoming a young woman. She's still growing."
"Growing?"
Dr. Garrett nodded. "Yes. And she's still changing."