by M. D. Cooper
“Raynes?” Liberty gagged a laugh. “That idiot can barely stay on script. None of this would have happened if he’d held you like he was supposed to.”
“Then who?” Kylie yelled.
Liberty gagged and shook her head—as much as she was able. “Can’t…even if I wanted to…I can’t.”
The others…Marge had been referring to those on the Liberation, her father’s ship.
Marge said.
Which meant only one thing.
Liberty had been sent by whoever had corrupted her father in the first place. And now that thing…her father’s angel, wanted Kylie dead.
* * * * *
Kylie flew the pinnace out of Chimin-1’s north docks and pulled up the Barbaric Queen’s location on scan—it was a few light seconds away from the Chimin Group, burning hard with another ship nearby.
Kylie was flooded with relief to hear his voice. Even though she knew Ricket had gotten him the injection, it was good to hear the spark in his voice once more.
Rogers complied, and the image of a beautiful woman appeared on the pinnace’s main holo, her deep blue eyes bearing both gratitude and concern. Long, blonde hair fell past her shoulders and a beret sat on the top of her head.
“Captain Rhoads, I presume?” the woman asked after a short delay from the light lag.
Kylie nodded. “Captain Rastock. Yes, I’m Kylie Rhoads. I have you to thank for some assistance, I hear.”
“Well, that was our intention, and I’d like to say that we were a great help, but I think we just made for a useful distraction. You have one hell of a pilot and shooter there. We just helped move things along.”
“He’s the best pilot that ever dropped out of SSF academy,” Kylie said.
Rastock offered a polite smile. “I would like to know what your intentions are with Chimin-1. We got a distress call from Chimin-9 saying that they had been unable to communicate with any other installations for several days now, and you seem to be in control of Chimin-1…”
Rastock let the words hang, and Kylie nodded slowly. “Chimin’s governor is gone, and someone had taken over their police force, running things behind the scenes to produce a rather virulent virus. That’s what Papote was here to collect. We took care of them, but Chimin-1 is a mess—going to take some work to put it all back together again.”
Rastock breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, I’m glad that things are mostly under control. The people will need to decide which way of life they want to embrace. Either Papote’s way or Colasce’s but that will only happen if we can get the word out.”
The woman’s wording was obtuse, and Kylie raised her brows. “Are you asking something, Captain?”
“I’m not entirely selfless, but I do want to help rebuild Chimin, spread good will. If people know we are there for them and the Papote Allegiance is not, that will go a long way. To do all that, I’m going to need help. What better help than Kylie Rhoads and her people?”
Kylie wished she could stay and help rebuild. “I’ll be here awhile longer, but we have to get back to our original mission soon. However, I can promise you strong allies. They’re already on their way. They will be here to protect and rebuild Chimin. Get them back on their feet and see to it this doesn’t happen again.”
Rastock nodded. “I’m saddened to hear you’ll be leaving so soon. We’ll stay close by. I hope perhaps we can meet before you’re off onto your next stop? Maybe we could break bread together and discuss the future for the people of Hanoi.”
“I’d like that. Give us some time. There’s an illness outbreak. We’re returning to Chimin now and will start administering the cure. You may not want to dock until it’s under control.”
“Would you like help administering that cure? Surely more hands are better than one. Consider it an olive branch.”
“Captain, I will take you up on that, but the dockmaster has long been missing, and the STC is down, but a shuttle should be able to make it in without too much trouble.”
“Then we’ll see you soon.”
The screen went dark as Rastock cut the communication and Kylie breathed a sigh of relief.
Rogers chuckled.
Rogers was a special person, a special person indeed.
RESTITUTION
STELLAR DATE: 11.07.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Chimin City Hospital ER
REGION: Chimin-1, Hanoi System (independent)
Kylie administered the cure to the last person on the list Nicole had given her—a little girl lying in a bed in the children’s ward. Her cheeks were flushed deep red with fever, her breathing was labored, and there was a scared look in her eye. She clung to a ratty old stuffed bunny with a blue ribbon tied around its neck. When Kylie tried to leave, the little girl wouldn’t stop staring at her, a slow puckered frown appearing on her face.
Who could leave a little thing just like that?
Kylie slid onto her bed and stroked the little girl’s head. “You’ll be OK now, Sasha. You, your mom, your sister. Everyone’s going to be just fine. I promise.”
The little girl nodded and squeezed her eyes shut, like she had thought of something that scared her very much. “Will you sit with me until I fall asleep?”
“Sure,” Kylie whispered. She figured that it wouldn’t take very long for that to happen. “Do you know the ancient classic tale of the Princess and the Peach?”
The little girl shook her head.
“My father used to read it to me before bed. I have a digital copy I can read to you.” Kylie’s voice trailed off, imaging home, remembering how Peter Rhoads had pulled her up onto his lap when he sat in the old wooden rocking chair in the front room.
He had been a good man then. Misguided maybe, but a good man. Kylie’s heart ached for that man. And it broke for her, her mother, her brothers. It hurt to think about everything that had happened.
She brought up her copy of the book onto her HUD and started to read. Some time later, Kylie wiped the tears off her cheeks, only then aware Sasha had already fallen asleep. She slid off the bed and turned to see Nicole standing in the doorway, staring down at Kylie with the new set of eyes the Barbaric Queen’s medtable had given her.
“Nice story,” Nicole said. “Things look different with these eyes, but my ears know real heartbreak when they hear it.”
“We all have our stories to tell,” Kylie said. She didn’t want to talk about the pain she was dealing with. No one here could understand what she knew about her father had been real—once upon a time—like an old fairytale.
“I was wrong about you before…when we first met,” Nicole said as she stepped aside to let Kylie out of the room and proceeded to follow after. “And all the times between then and now. I’m sorry I judged you. Sorry we all did. I wish for better things for you.”
Kylie offered Nicole her arm and led her away from the little girl’s room and toward the doctor’s office. “I still have a job to do, unfortunately.”
“So, you won’t be staying. I wish I had gotten to know you better.”
“I’ll check on Chimin when I can. Come see you. I don’t know when I’ll get back through. There’s a lot of work to do out there.”
They reached Nicole’s office, and the doctor sat wearily behind her desk. “You have your part to do out there, I have mine here. ‘In this rock’ as you so eloquently put it the other day.
Kylie sat down on the edge of her desk. “These people are lucky to have you. You’re a remarkable person.”
“You’re saying good-bye, aren’t you?” Nicole’s voice was laced with palpable sadness. “You won’t be back again before you take off?”
“I have a lot to do. I probably won’t get a chance to…I’m sorry. I’d like to….” Kylie leant forward and gently kissed her cheek.
Nicole touched Kylie’s lips with her fingertips, stroking them tenderly. “Not where I wished you had kissed me.”
“My heart is…sort of occupied.” And her mind was on him more now more than ever before. Kylie did her best not to think of Grayson, knowing that he could be the one sent here to finish what she’d started....
They might see each other again sooner than she thought and what would that mean? Would she beat around the bush again or would she tell him exactly what she wanted to?
Nicole attempted a smile but failed. “I guess a woman like you…how could it be anything but, right? Who’s the lucky girl?”
“You’d be surprised. Until next time, Dr. Nicole.”
Nicole smiled, her fingers tracing Kylie’s jawline delicately. “You owe me a cruise. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the stars.”
Kylie smiled, knowing the expression was bittersweet. She slid off the desk and spared a parting glance before she headed back to the Barbaric Queen. On the way out, a nurse said hello, and a man took Kylie’s hand to thank her.
“Who knew a Rhoads would save us?” he whispered and kissed her cheek. Kylie didn’t know how to respond to such kindness and it was that way everywhere she went.
Well, that was certainly nice…but not warranted. Not yet.
* * * * *
Kylie approached the cell in the bowels of the Barbaric Queen where Liberty was being held. As soon as Liberty saw her, the woman began to fight against the restraints holding her to the thick plas chair.
After Liberty’s wild thrashing had continued for half a minute, thick needles extended from the collar around her neck and pricked her skin.
“I’d be careful about those.” Kylie crossed her arms and glanced at the needles pushing against Liberty’s neck. “This setup belonged to the former owner of this ship. I’m only vaguely aware of what those needles will inject into you.”
Liberty’s eyes widened as she tried to look down at them. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to name names. Who sent you? Who wants me dead? Don’t tell me you can’t tell me because I’ve already deactivated that chip in your head.”
Liberty’s eyes widened. “Chip? What are you talking about?”
Kylie sighed. “The one in your head that was ensuring you stayed on task. The one your mysterious benefactor implanted you with.”
“Implanted? I don’t recall…some things are fuzzy.”
“Then make it not so fuzzy and make it quick. In case you don’t recall, I killed my father not too long ago and it’s put me in a pretty bad mood.”
“I know. We all know.”
“Who is ‘we’? People like you?”
Liberty nodded. “People who work for him.”
“Him?” Well, that was a start.
“We never had a choice. He…when he calls, you answer. Something inside you won’t let you say no. He sends you places, has you do things, you don’t know why. You just do them. You do what he says.”
“Or….” Kylie prodded.
“Or nothing. You just do. You can’t resist. You can’t question. No one has broken free of him before.”
“He must have a name. If he’s so all-knowing, all-controlling, he must have a name. An identity. A location.”
“He sends others to talk to you. I’ve never seen him.”
“Is he the one who….” Kylie didn’t even know how to ask the question. “Did he help my father control his fleet? Did he help my father build up his resources?”
Liberty nodded but stopped as the needles grazed her skin. “Your father…your father might’ve been the only one I knew who met him. Even that I’m not sure of, but Peter spoke of a trip. Somewhere he had been. He met…he called it his enlightenment. I thought Peter was crazy, but after that, he changed.”
Kylie had so many questions. How had Liberty met her father and what had their relationship been? For now, she decided to shelve those inquiries and stay on the current path. “How did he change?”
“More resolved. Ruthless. Others wanted to know where Peter had been. He wouldn’t say. He’d only say…he’d only call him…he’d….” Liberty was resisting something, but Kylie had turned off the control chip. She didn’t understand why the woman fought so much.
Liberty gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. “I can’t….”
“You can fight this! My mother did!
What did he call him? Who was it that did this to you? Tell me already!”
“Caretaker!” Liberty screamed, her neck straining, the needles grazing her skin. She didn’t seem to notice them as her shrieking continued, eyes bulging from their sockets. Kylie didn’t think that kind of pain could come from the needles—especially since she hadn’t put anything into them.
Kylie reached out to deliver another dose of her own nano into Liberty when the woman’s head exploded, covering her in Liberty’s blood and brains.
By this Caretaker? Kylie thought it was highly possible, but if he could do that over great distances, what hope did anyone have of stopping him.
“Shit,” Winter’s voice came from behind her. “Who the hell is going to clean that all up?”
Kylie spun around wide-eyed. “Winter!” She crushed him in a fierce embrace.
Winter laughed and slapped her back. “Damn girl, I go to sleep for a few days and you have brains exploding all over the place. OK, now I’m covered in brains. Gross, yet kinda hot. Am I right?”
“It’s you,” Kylie whispered and pulled back to look at him. He grinned, his eyes shining, Kylie couldn’t remember the last time he looked so happy. “I mean, I’m going to have you clean this mess up.”
“Great.” Winter rolled his eyes. “I’ll do it if it means my skin isn’t splitting open. Thanks for saving me, Kylie.”
She slapped his cheek with happiness. “You owe me a story about how that dirt-bag got the jump on you.”
“Not my finest hour. I ate red gelatin,” Winter admitted.
Kylie scrunched up her nose. “Gelatin? That’s what you’re going with?”
“Poisoned gelatin.”
“Yeah, Bubbs already told us. I was just messing with you.”
Winter groaned. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
Kylie just shook her head and grinned.