Games of Command

by Linnea Sinclair

We have at least eight hours before sunrise, she told him. The planet’s slower rotation worked in their favor. Reilly and Tank are working hard. And Tasha and Kel-Paten know where we are, because of Tank. Another two hours, and we’ll be able to—

  Something large and dark suddenly appeared out of the corner of her eye. She spun the chair toward the diag bed. Jace was already moving toward it.

  Tank, fur matted, ears flat to his head, stood unsteadily in the middle of the bed, a large black furry form by his front paws. A low, keening cry was coming from the fidget’s throat, and his tail lashed frantically back and forth.

  “Reilly!” Eden gasped out the name, lunging for the furzels.

  Jace had one hand on Tank’s head, another on Reilly’s back. Eden grabbed Reilly’s front paw.

  FriendReilly sick. Tank’s small voice whispered in her mind. Help FriendReilly, MommyEden. JaceFriend. Help…

  And Tank collapsed.

  THE MINING RAFT

  “Hypothesis, Sebastian.”

  Sass raised her forehead from where she’d rested it on her hands and looked at Kel-Paten. Arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against the sanifac’s door-jamb. That was the first thing she noticed. The second was that his eyes weren’t luminous. He had powered down. That had to mean he no longer regarded her as a threat.

  But most important, he called her “Sebastian” and demanded her hypothesis.

  She chanced it. “You still owe me coffee from the last one.”

  “Noted.”

  His tone told her nothing. She opted for the premise that he recognized they were, if not friends, at least on the same side. “I posit Big Crazy Silly Space, as Tank calls it. Bad Thing took Jace and Eden to the outpost. Then came back and brought us to a place where it could set up scenarios and feed from our reactions.” She touched her thumb and little finger. “McClellan’s Void.”

  He mimicked the Rebashee gesture. His gloves were back on. “Gund’jalar taught you that?”

  She shook her head. “Worked on a Rebashee freighter when I was a kid. Not that that has anything to do with my hypothesis.”

  “It has everything to do with your hypothesis. Unless what we see here is not part of your life.”

  “What you see here,” and she made a broad sweep with one hand, “are people I know, but their roles or relationships are wrong.”

  “But the United Coalition knew you were Lady Sass when they permitted your transfer to my ship.”

  “The United Coalition killed Lady Sass seven years ago. Up until that point, I was either Lieutenant Sebastian or Lady Sass, depending if Fleet or UCID needed me. But after Lethant, I was just Sebastian, happily cruising the space lanes on the Regalia, assigned to Fleet, not UCID. Then you asked for my transfer. Demanded it, from what I heard. Surprised the hell out of Ace—Admiral Edmonds—and shocked the shit out of me. You even brought me on board before the official start of the APIP. I’m here on your orders, not because I’m a spy or a traitor.” She drew in a breath. “I did not set you up.”

  She waited for his next question but he stared past her. She wanted him to keep questioning. In spite of her hypothesis, she wasn’t sure if she was on HV-1 and hallucinating or physically in the void. She suspected the latter. Kel-Paten, with his ’cybe senses, should be able to tell for sure.

  “You withheld information about Serafino from me.”

  “Initial evidence suggested you were part of the problem. I had to put aside my personal feelings and focus on protecting the Alliance. And since Serafino was the repository of that evidence, I had to protect him as well.” She leaned her head back against the wall and regarded him evenly. “You never gave me any reason to think you trusted me. How was I supposed to trust you?”

  “Fynn knew my reasons. Knew,” he hesitated, “how I felt. She told you.”

  “She only said that she got conflicting readings from you. We didn’t know how to interpret that.”

  He walked over to her, then hunkered down, hands loose against his knees. His eyes narrowed. “So ‘fun while it lasted’ was a game you played to find out?”

  Fun while it lasted. Kissing him in the Galaxus’s cockpit because she didn’t want to hear that he loved her. Gods, the depth of her own stupidity never failed to astound her. But to explain that meant to explain—admit—that she had broken into his cabin and downloaded his files, including his personal logs. She wondered how much more he could possibly hate her.

  She could obfuscate her way around it, but then this damned void would no doubt plop them in a scenario in his cabin just so he could watch her be exactly who she denied being: Lady Sass, hired by the U-Cees to steal the Vax’s secrets.

  And maybe, she realized with startling clarity, considering how damned exhausted and turned inside out she was, that was their ticket out of here: don’t give Bad Thing anything to work with. No more secrets, no more lies. No more games.

  She looked at him squarely. “I knew how you felt about me before we left the Vax. By mistake, I ended up with copies of your personal logs—”

  He dropped down on one knee, his back straightening, hands fisting. “You what?”

  She held up her hand. “Let me finish. You can kick my ass all over this damned void if you want to after that, but let me finish.”

  His mouth thinned, but he nodded.

  “I found them. I read them. They scared the hell out of me—”

  “Because I’m a ’cybe,” he cut in tersely.

  “No, you trock-brained idiot! Because I’m not the top-of-her-academy-class well-bred Tasha Sebastian you fell in love with. I’m not anyone you could fall in love with. I’m a merc, a rim runner from Kesh Valirr. An undercover operative that Ace Edmonds and UCID deliberately recruited after the Admiral Wembley scandal—you remember: prostis, trefla, double agents.” She ticked the items off on her fingers. “He got off with a hand slap. UCID couldn’t risk that again. I was their off-the-books project, just like Gund’jalar’s been for years. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, you know?”

  His only response was a slight narrowing of his eyes. But the fact that he didn’t like what he was hearing didn’t stop her. “They dangled something I couldn’t resist: the chance to legitimately be somebody, to be part of Fleet. I was nineteen years old, a raft rat ’jacking Triad haulers. So I took it, gladly, went deep cover with Gund’jalar, worked with arms runners, other mercs wanting to stop the Triad, stop you from doing to the U-Cees what you did to Danvaral.

  “But they also put me on their own ships and stations as Tasha Sebastian, looking for double agents like Wembley, for security leaks, for abuses of power.

  “But when I killed a senator’s son they cut me loose.” She thrust her hand through her hair as if she could shove the memories away. “He was selling children for sex. His father’s position made him untouchable. UCID unofficially gave me and Gund’jalar the go-ahead to set up a compromising accident. That’s all it was supposed to be—just something to put him in the hospital long enough that we could dismantle his organization. We spent five months tracking him, making sure we had the facts right. Then things went very wrong.” She sucked in a deep breath, shuddering. She’d forgotten how much pain was involved.

  “He had two little boys with him, on his estate,” she continued, watching his face for a reaction, seeing none. It didn’t matter. He had to know the truth. “If I didn’t take him down, he was going to kill them. I had no choice. But Internal Affairs didn’t see it that way. I was tagged for death or a mind wipe. Then Ace intervened and made deals I can’t even begin to comprehend.”

  “Lethant,” he said.

  She nodded. “Lady Sass had to go to prison and die. But Commander Sebastian had turned out to be one damned decent officer and could still be useful. But not,” and she stressed that, “as a UCID agent anymore. My posting to the Vax was a total surprise. Ace and I figured that if you—if the Triad—knew who I was, I’d be the last person ever assigned there. Then Serafino shows up and says he has proof of Triad corrup
tion and that my posting was part of that. Something like ‘killed in the line of duty, courtesy of Kel-Paten.’ So I thought the Triad knew.”

  “That’s insane—”

  She held up her hand again, silencing him. “The implant in his head left big gaps in his knowledge. We needed the whole truth. My only option was to go to the one source that might have details on a highly classified PsyServ-ordered implant that was blocking his memory, details Eden couldn’t find anywhere else. Your personal logs just happened to be in the same directory as those files.”

  He stared at her for a very long minute. “The only access to those files is in my quarters.”

  “Yup.”

  “You broke into my quarters?”

  “The furzels did.” Gods, she missed Tank. “They unlocked the door from the inside.”

  “The furzels.” He glanced away, shaking his head slightly, then turned back to her. “And did the furzels also bypass all my security to get the files?”

  “No, I did that. If we ever get back to the Vax I’ll show you how, and then you can court-martial me for it.”

  Another very long stare. Probably hand-picking the jury. Then he relaxed back into a half crouch again. “I’ve been thinking about that.”

  “Court-martialing me? UCID will deny any knowledge of who I am, of course. But since Lady Sass wasn’t supposed to resurface again, they’ll roll over.” She huffed a short laugh and stretched out her legs. “Tell me Riln Marin at least has a decent bar in the prison compound. I really need a drink.” She knew she was being flippant. It was a defensive mechanism that had always worked in the past. Her impromptu confession left her feeling drained and uncomfortably vulnerable—she had no idea where she stood with him. And he wasn’t offering any clues.

  “Sebastian.” He paused.

  Her heart—idiotic optimist that it was—did a tiny flip-flop.

  “Kel-Paten.”

  “I think I know a way out of the void.”

  Well, next to “I love you,” those were undoubtedly the words she most wanted to hear. “What do you need me to do?”

  “Help me hijack a ship.”

  “Any particular one in mind?”

  He nodded, a small crooked smile curving his lips. “Zanorian’s.”

  “The Windblade?” A Strafer-class cruiser maxed out to any respectable pirate’s specs.

  “This is a semblance of your life we’re stuck in. I assume you know where she’s docked. Zanorian’s likely in sick bay on board.” His mouth quirked again. “And won’t put up much resistance.”

  “He’s more likely at Ranza’s,” she told him, naming a nighthouse. “One of the prostis there is also a Healer. He’d have Angel or Drund—is Drund still alive?” She didn’t remember seeing him get off the floor after Kel-Paten hit him. Annoying if he had to die twice.

  “Should be.”

  “Then he had Angel or Drund seal the ship. He thinks his codes and his security are impregnable.”

  “I know the feeling.”

  Complaining or commenting? She couldn’t tell. “And where are we taking the Blade once we get her?”

  “Remember those mathematical theories I used to prove that McClellan’s Void couldn’t exist? I reworked them based on the hypothesis that it could. I’ve narrowed them down to two. One of those, and the Blade’s hyperdrive, should get us home.”

  “HV-One first,” she corrected him. “That’s here in the void too, isn’t it?”

  “We’d be in a stronger position to rescue them if we leave the void and come back with a team from the Vax.”

  “We would. But I don’t think Eden and Serafino have that kind of time.”

  THE OUTPOST

  The Ved will pick up on it as soon we start using the energies of Novalis, Jace told Eden. He was sitting on the diag bed, an unconscious furzel cradled in the crook of each arm. Lights were dimmed as low as possible. They had informed Mara they needed at least an hour’s rest before starting the surgery or else Eden’s skills would be impaired by exhaustion.

  What they were actually doing was just as risky as the surgery, given the number of Ved in the outpost. But he knew they had no other choice. You’ll have to be ready.

  Eden, next to him, nodded. Her eyes were shadowed. He knew her heart was breaking. Reilly was fading, would have died if Tank hadn’t transferred some of his life essence to the older furzel. That, in turn, almost killed Tank.

  But on the Galaxus we used the energy, and there was a Ved on board.

  The furzels weakened it. They must have done the same thing on the Vax. But there are a lot more of them here. Dozens. So I don’t know if we’ll have time for a strong healing. Plus, I’ve never taken a telepathic furzel into Novalis. I’m not sure how they’ll react to its concentrated energy. But whatever kind of healing we can achieve should at least keep them alive until their bodies’ energies kick back in.

  Sad to say, he didn’t know if he and Eden had that much time left. There wasn’t anything more they could do against the remaining Ved. They knew their only chance of escape now had to come from outside—from Kel-Paten and Sebastian, who might not know anything about the Ved but could definitely handle Bianca’s human guards.

  Bianca. He didn’t know what bothered him more: that he had been so blind as to what was really going on with her, or that he’d been so easily manipulated. PsyServ plucked his petty hatreds out of his thoughts and twisted them, making him believe the very people who could help him were his enemies. Like Kel-Paten, the infamous Tin Soldier.

  He’d justified his taunting of the Triad admiral as a means to break down whatever programming PsyServ had put in the ’cybe—when in truth he was the one who’d been programmed.

  Jace. Eden’s hand rested on his arm, her fingers touching the furzels’ soft fur. Her warmth, her love washed over him. He was so unworthy, but he clung to it, absorbing all he could.

  As soon as you’re there, start working on Tank. Jace, being stronger, would start the healing process with Reilly. Don’t let anything distract you. No matter what you see, what you hear, ignore it. Focus on Tank. Furzels are a Ved’s only natural enemy. He’ll know if there’s a problem. He drew a deep breath. Ready?

  Ready. Jace?

  I know, Eden. I love you more than life itself too. Never doubt that. Never forget that. Now come, sweetling. Close your eyes. He reached out mentally for her, laying a light trance over her mind. Her breathing slowed, steadied, and he matched his to hers.

  Heart of my heart, breath of my breath, life of my life…

  Gray mists swirled and parted, sparkling. She was a few feet in front of him. He waited, holding the sleeping furzels as she hurried to his side. He passed Tank to her. She held the limp form as if it were the most precious thing in the universe.

  Jace sought one end of the stone bench as Eden found the other. He sat, positioning Reilly against his heart. Friend, he called. Friend. Follow me. Follow my voice. Follow my energy.

  The Ved erupted around him like howling demons. He flinched in pain as lasers slashed and split his skin. Fire raced up his spine. He was on the bridge of the Novalis—his ship, not this dream place—as the ship imploded around him, his crew’s lifeless bodies sucked out the hull breach into the dark, cold vacuum of space.

  He felt it all. He saw it all. He spoke to Reilly.

  Friend. JaceFriend is here to help. MommyEden is here to help. Reach for us. Reach for our energy.

  A small answering glow. A slight twitch of a black tail.

  Beside him, Eden swayed. He scooted over, let her lean against him. The Ved were wearing her down. He could feel it. But she was fighting, sending energy to Tank. He could feel that too.

  A ship’s corridor. A lift bank. He pushed the vision away, but it slammed back on him. A ship’s corridor. A lift bank. He was waiting for the lift, Triad crew in black moving around him. The Vaxxar. He was on Kel-Paten’s ship. The lift doors parted and he started to step in.

  Eden stopped him. Eden in the lift with a T
riad officer, clinging to the man in an intimate embrace. The man kissed her, caressed her roughly as Eden demanded more. Then she looked at Jace and laughed….

  No, no. It never happened. He’d been in that lift. So was the man, a security officer. And Eden was there, but nothing had happened. She hadn’t laughed at him; she still loved him….

  Reilly. Where was Reilly? Jace forced himself to step away from the hallucination, concentrated on the feel of fur beneath his fingers, the small rise and fall of the narrow chest, the tail now curling over his arm.

  Jace…Friend?

  Reilly’s voice was weak but it was Reilly. An indescribable joy surged through Jace. JaceFriend is here, Reilly. Right here. You’re safe. Grow strong. Use my energy.

  Tired. So many Bad Things.

  You killed a lot of them. You did very well. Use my energy. Grow strong.

  Tank?

  Tank’s here too. With MommyEden.

  Bad Things…JaceFriend.

  Don’t worry for now. Grow strong.

  No, JaceFriend. Bad Things. Reilly’s tail twitched harder. Bad Things took MommySass. BrandenFriend. Gone. Gone.

  And from the fidget in Eden’s arms came a low, keening cry. Mommy gone!

  Jace? Eden’s voice in his mind wavered. Their hope of assistance from the inimitable Tin Soldier had just vanished.

  I’ll think of something, sweetling, he told her as another Ved poured boiling oil over his face. I’ll think of something.

  THE MINING RAFT

  It was too risky to use the main corridors on their way to the Blade. McClellan’s Void or not, an officer in Triad blacks wouldn’t be welcome on a U-Cee raft off the rim world of Kesh Valirr, home to many Danvaral refugees and the target of raids by the Triad over the decades.

  In the main corridors, Zanorian’s mercs would be the least of their problems. The tunnels, while not remotely safe, were less risky. And only the mercs would be looking for them in there.

  Kel-Paten watched the way Sass stopped and listened at each tunnel junction, tested the security of each ladderway before climbing. Watched the way she held her body with a deceptive looseness, as if she could be caught unprepared. He doubted she could. She was moving, thinking, and reacting less like Tasha Sebastian and more like Lady Sass now. It was one of the reasons he hesitated completely trusting her, hesitated sharing his thought processes. Hesitated telling her how his entire world had ended when she disappeared through that hole in the wall and fell into the blackness.