“Yes.” Why was that embarrassing to her?
Wilga was too shocked not to pry more. “I thought you wanted to work on the black floor?”
Wilga was referring to IRID, where Talon would have been working if the universe hadn’t completely turned inside out. The floor itself was unmarked, and since the projects there were oftentimes highly classified, the term black site had been replaced with the nickname black floor.
“They didn’t give me my first choice,” Talon managed a half-hearted shrug.
“Oh,” Wilga’s shoulders shrunk in empathy, “I’m sorry, Tal. That’s not fair given your class rank.”
“Yeah, I know.” Wilga’s validation of the unfairness felt good.
“At least you’re on the brown floor. I guess this is the next best thing.”
All the divisions were informally designated shades of color based on how badass they were. Brown really was the next best shade. “You’re right. As long as I stay ten floors above vanilla, I’m good,” she joked. “So if you’re on the black floor, why are you here?
“I’m guessing we are working the same mission…it’s interdivisional. Since all IRID employees have top clearance the meeting is here.”
“I see. So are you in the ‘R,’ or the ‘I,’ part?”
“The ‘R’ part I guess. I actually do surveillance in the reconnaissance branch. It sounds much cooler than it actually is. I’ll just sit around doing IT stuff all day. Br…,” Wilga stopped her sentence short and gave Talon a worried glance.
“Brody? What about him? He’s on the black floor too?”
Wilga pursed her lips in a reluctant nod. “And he’s working this mission, whatever it is.”
Damn the little turd. Not only was he getting the job she wanted, but now he would have rank over her. Just when she thought it couldn’t get worse…
“Hello, Talon.” Brody moseyed out of the bioscanner and looked around. “It’s cozy down here. I might just stop by and walk around whenever I need to stretch my legs.”
Talon forced a smile. She wouldn’t dare give him the satisfaction of knowing she was incredibly jealous and pissed.
“Ms. Terry, Ms. Fron, Mr. Dutton.” Eon Waverly walked up to them from behind. “Follow me.”
The conference room was not unlike any other. There was a characteristically long lacquered table fitted down the center with a hologram maker, and the air-conditioner blasted at an unnecessary level. Several people were already sitting around the table’s perimeter, although she only recognized one of them. Mobee Mackintosh was another member of her former committee and Chief Directives Executive of the entire building. There was also a beautiful black-haired Sydces woman who looked to be in her early-forties, a Ryley man, and another dark-haired Sydces guy. Over the next few minutes a few more people trickled into the room and Eon stood to close the conference door.
“Secure the room,” he ordered into the air.
Talon could hear the movement of steel in the walls and she could feel the room lift upwards. After several loud bangs and a couple more jerks an automated voice spoke to them. “Room secure.”
After introductions, Mobee sat down in his chair and opened his laptop. The hologram strip flickered on and shined a soft blue. Talon watched as a miniature version of the moon appeared a few inches above the table, hovering as a perfect representation of Earth’s first satellite.
“Shall we get started?” Mobee asked the group rhetorically. “We received word yesterday morning that five ships were stolen from a storage bunker belonging to the company LDShips Incorporated.” A crater lit up on the floating moon, indicating where on the crust the business was located.
Talon was thrilled and perplexed. Although the moon colonies were known to be very behind the times, she wondered how anyone could have gotten away with stealing an entire fleet undetected.
“What about the LBI?” asked Aberdeen Green, the dark-haired Sydces woman. She had on an investigator badge.
“LDShips and their investors have asked for a third party investigation.”
“Why?” someone asked.
“Apparently there’s some bad blood between them. The Lunar Bureau of Investigation’s approval ratings are pretty poor all around. The LPF doesn’t fare much better. We’re taking the lead but you’re going to have to work with them. They’ve been informed of our involvement.”
“I’ve been to the moon a couple of times to work with the LBI and can vouch for their ineptness. They probably don’t even know which direction the ships went.” Kelly Ravashay said. He was the dark-haired Sydces man.
“That brings us to the other matter. Once the ships left their fly zone, they became a matter of intergalactic security, thus the reason why this is an interdepartmental case.”
“Is there something special about these ships?”
“No, not to my knowledge. But their micro-particle trails were undetectable a thousand kilometers out.”
Everyone at the table scrunched their face in confusion. Every ship left a micro-particle signature, which made them relatively easy to track down if lost or stolen.
“Let me guess, the LBI said that?” Kelly shook his head in exasperation. “By the time we get over there it’ll be too late to reassess the measurements.”
“Yes, so you’re just going to have to evaluate their methods and results. Talon and Aberdeen are going to be lead investigators on this.”
Most everyone looked in Talon’s direction, and some not favorably. She tried to ignore the obvious scrutiny of being assigned lead investigator on her first day.
“We need you to meet with the company and process the site of the theft,” a man named Hamlyn Witicker directed. Talon had never met him before today but she soon found out he was her new boss as the Investigation Branch Director. He was who she needed to impress now. “You will need to conduct employee interviews also. I need daily reports.”
“And my team will have digital access to these reports,” Eon stated. “Kelly, Brody, Tanshik; you will be gathering intelligence on any suspects Aberdeen and Talon have identified as possible leads. I would also like you to gather information on the LBI and LPF. If there’s a cover-up, I want to know.”
“Do we have any leads on motive?” Talon inquired.
“It’s possible the ships are being taken apart and sold on the black market but our informants haven’t heard anything yet. Another possibility is that the ships went to support terrorist activity. I’ve prepared files and directions for everyone,” Eon said, sliding USBs to each person at the table. “Here is the passcode.”
Everyone plugged their USBs into their tablets and followed the access directions hovering above the table in the hologram strip.
“Since the intelligence team are under cover, they will be taking a civilian flight out of here tomorrow morning. Mrs. Green and Ms. Terry, you will catch a ride with a military ship that embarks tonight.”
“So they will get a day head start?” Brody asked in a borderline whine.
“The military uses a GrAS, so even more than that.”
Talon saw a hint of pleasure in Eon’s eye as he said it and she bit her lip to prevent a smile. It appeared Brody didn’t just annoy her. It also appeared, for this mission at least, that working for the brown team was the better position and she found herself getting excited. Talon had never given the moon much consideration and tried to recall how it had come to be in its current state.
Shortly after The Great Rescue, when it became entirely possible to colonize the moon, a Corporate Homestead Act was put into place. At the time it seemed like the fairest way to allocate the massive underground lava tubes where colonies would be built, and the land directly above them. As with most laws, however, this legislation was created in haste and under pressure and bureaucratic drama. Something happened that was unexpected, and because of mistakes and omissions in the fine print, it could not be stopped.
A mogul in the ship manufacturing business named David Miller received a multi-bil
lion dollar investment to start his ship construction commerce on the moon, which he subsequently named LDShips Incorporated. It was exponentially more economical to launch ships from the moon, where gravity was considerably less and there was no atmosphere or air resistance. As a result, LDShips Inc. flourished and quickly became the most successful ship manufacturing business and supplier in the solar system. Now, most spacelines contracted them to build and assemble their fleets.
Just as a college town grows economically on the foundation of the local university, so the moon’s livelihood was due mainly to the success of LDShips and the thousands of jobs it created for the lunar inhabitants. The most interesting part about the moon, however, was the sociocultural weave that was created due to the company, its stockholders, and their religious agenda.
David Miller and his main investor were members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, and the church’s Quorum agreed to move as many of their members to the moon as possible. Talon clearly remembered a high school teacher saying, “If Mormons could colonize Utah in the 19th century, they could certainly colonize the moon!” All the Mormons in the world could not fill the lunar rock though, so in a landmark event, the Lunar Mormon Society, backed largely by LDShips, initiated the largest religious-based global campaign in history.
They sponsored half a billion followers of the world’s major religions to relocate to the moon. In their mind, living amongst people of any religion was preferable to living in the secular world Earth had become. Over time, and quite naturally, these different creeds had divided themselves into the major lava tubes of the moon. The place really was a mecca of religious freedoms and any theologian’s dream place to study.
Talon stood from her chair to leave when she heard Eon call her name in an unspoken request for a private conversation. As people scuffled out of the room to prepare for the upcoming journey, she caught the stink eye from Brody. It was just her luck that she would have to continue to work with that rain-cloud-with-legs.
Eon waited until everyone had left before speaking. “I hope you can see now what a great opportunity this mission is.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.” It had come out less grateful than she was going for. As much as she appreciated the assignment, she was still in shock and increasingly distressed that she would not be working on the floor above. Now her real, familial mission would undoubtedly be postponed. What that would mean for her and Levi’s security and relationship, she did not know.
“We did not do this to punish you, Talon. You are one of the brightest and most valuable students our program has ever produced. If indeed your personal life settles in the next year we can reevaluate your position. I just want you to know,” his face took on a serious look, “the type of lifestyle you are hoping for is very hard on family life. Perhaps down the road you will look back and see this was all just a gift in disguise.”
His words were spoken with such personal conviction that they stayed with her as she went home to pack. They still weren’t enough for her to answer Levi’s attempts to HoloChat. You should at least tell him you’re going somewhere, she supposed. She imagined the conversation in her head…
“I’m sorry you can’t be a spy because of me.”
“Me too.”
“So where are you going?”
“The moon.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“I don’t know.”
“When are we going to get married?”
“I don’t know.”
She found herself reaching chopsticks into her carton of lo-mein instead of for the answer button. She wasn’t mad at him – it wasn’t his fault he was famous and had inadvertently forced her out of her dream while he lived his – but she didn’t very well want to talk to him about it right now either. No point in kicking up more dust in their already swirling haboob.
She swirled her lo-mein instead. Listening to the wet sounds made her lose her appetite and she pushed it to the side. Talon threw her pack over her shoulder and headed for the door, the ringing of the phone growing quieter as she got further down the hall.
4 DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART…
Maybe it’s just the time difference?” Fletch offered democratically.
“No,” Levi countered. “She’s purposefully ignoring me. I can feel it.” And it surprised him.
There were apparently a few things he was learning about her since their engagement. For one, Levi thought Talon had given up her vendetta to find her father. She hadn’t so much as made a passing comment in years to suggest otherwise. Now he found out she was still obsessed by the notion of revenge. Levi puffed out an air of frustration.
The worst argument of their relationship ensued on what was supposed to be one of their happiest nights together. Talon even had the audacity to justify everything using him as an excuse. She had kept shouting selflessly about his safety and the security of their future children, but all he could see was retribution shining back at him through her impassioned eyes. It scared him that her drive came from an external source she hadn’t seen or heard from in years…other than a harmless black cotton beanie.
Didn’t she understand how much he hated this man too? Didn’t Talon remember they were both victims of his cruelty and insanity? But Levi wasn’t going to let some psycho determine his life path, and he sure as hell wouldn’t let fear butt into his love life. But Talon…
Maybe it was because Kravis’ blood ran through her veins. Maybe the sheer violence of her mother’s death left her traumatized. She was the last Terry and had to keep her mother’s name alive, she had explained through her tears. Levi feared that the name wasn’t as much a sentimental way to respect the dead as it was a daily remembrance of injustice and, therefore, a daily reminder of her deadly crusade. Why couldn’t she see that in her desire to be the controller, she was still the one being controlled? Her fear was keeping her from living.
Talon had indefinitely delayed their nuptials until she settled the business of her father. It was ridiculous, Levi stewed, brushing his teeth so hard his gums bled. Her job would never approve of a first – or second – year spy going on some wild goose-hunt across the void for the most-wanted man alive. Hell, he didn’t approve of it! What was she thinking? She wasn’t thinking, he concluded. She was being delusional. Levi was sickened by the fact that he woke up the morning of their engagement more confident than ever, and went to bed questioning it all. He still was. If she wanted to ignore him, than he wouldn’t bother her anymore.
“Hey Vi, you ready?” Fletch called, snapping Levi out of his dark place.
He tried not to laugh at the sight of Fletch wearing a beanie with a little white cotton ball sewed to the crest. They were in Scranton, Pennsylvania in the middle of October and the temperature outside was cool, but not subzero. He had to remember his alien friend grew up in India. Well, he grew up in sunny California so perhaps warm gear wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Yeah, let me just grab a jacket…and a hat…and gloves,” Levi narrated as he walked around the room picking up the articles of clothing. He hurried to put on his boots and asked, “Are Sherman and Peanut already in the lobby?”
“Yeah. Getting breakfast before we go.”
“Morning,” Sherman greeted, cleaning a dribble off his New York Giants jersey. Sherman was their tour manager, originally from North Jersey. He had a head of thinning hair and a dramatic pot belly for his relatively slim frame. Levi had never seen him in anything but a sports jersey and a pair of worn blue jeans.
“You might not want to wear a Giants jersey in Eagles’ territory,” Levi warned.
“I just wear these things for the feel,” he explained, doing a little dance in his seat.
Levi still couldn’t completely grasp his tour manager’s personality. He mostly carried a happy-go-lucky persona and his rapport with the kids was unmatched, but like any true New Jersian, he sometimes had a temper. Sherman kind of reminded him of a family pit bull – loving, but loyal to a fault and quick to tear into anyon
e who threatened his people.
Levi’s mouth began to water and his stomach began to grumble as his senses became overwhelmed with the savory smell of bacon and eggs. He looked towards the buffet, but it was already being dismantled tray by tray. He had spent all morning trying to Holochat Talon and had missed breakfast.
“Here,” Peanut said, seeming to hear Levi’s stomach tantrum. The Hamza giant pushed his plate, piled high with food, towards Levi. Peanut was the oxymoronic nickname given to their tour’s technician. He was the epitome of the Hamza sect stereotype, being one of the largest, burliest men Levi had ever laid eyes on. Contrary to the fact that he looked like the love child between a Neanderthal and a wooly mammoth, Peanut was one of the kindest souls Levi had ever met.
“I’m not going to eat your breakfast,” Levi insisted.
“He already ate. Dished out more for you two,” Sherman explained.
Peanut nodded in confirmation. It was a small but meaningful gesture and not surprising since he was a man of little words. The two young men took the plate graciously, and he and Fletch began to chow down for the few minutes they had. As Levi sat filling his belly, he looked around the table and realized he was having one of the best times of his life here on the ground.
Fletch, Sherman, and Peanut were high quality people, and the four of them were becoming fast friends. Mantys once said to him, “saying no to an experience is saying no to life.” Levi kept that in his weighing mind.
“Are we ready?” Sherman asked the group.
Soon the four men squeezed into a dull-grey Toyota Sienna van. It was one of the few cars that still took gasoline. Despite being old, ugly, and loud, the van was relatively cheap and hauled them around like a trusty steed. In it was packed everything they needed for the tour including their sound equipment, three different Extension models, and all the various equipment that came with each kind. Between all that and their suitcases, there wasn’t an inch of space left.
An Eagle's Revenge (Across the Infinite Void Book 2) Page 5