by Jo Zebedee
“There.”
He followed the line of Charl’s finger and saw the small group of soldiers emerge from the barracks.
“Wait.”
This was what he liked about being a corporal: taking on a mission, being involved in the planning and trusted to carry it out. He brought his caster up, waiting for the last man to pass the transport. The scope zoomed in on the man, feeling oddly off-target with its calibration for the lighter gravity. Silom checked his features against what he’d been shown and confirmed he wore the livery of a general. Silom’s mouth tightened– a general who’d ordered the massacre two weeks ago on Callazon. There was a low buzz as the target was confirmed, and he pulled the trigger, a bolt pulsing above the snow field. The general let out a cry, the bolt lodging in his neck, burrowing.
“…two, one,” counted Charl, and the general’s carotid exploded in a gush of blood, spraying across the snow. His knees buckled.
“Go!”
Charl and Silom skidded down the hill, steps off-kilter, too light and fast, to where Davos and Kym were waiting, scoots primed. Silom climbed behind Kym, his hand around her waist. “Go!”
They crossed the snow to the waiting Banned transporter. The scoots cleared the wide gangway, their treads adjusting easily, and before the soldiers had dismounted, the gangway was closed and the transport lifted off, ready to join the Banned squadron above. Silom pulled down his hood and took off the balaclava underneath. “Well done, everyone. Good job."
The squad moved into the main cabin and Silom sank onto one of the seats, tired but proud. Space battles might be what newcomers wanted to be part of– he guessed there was an Ealyn Varnon in everyone– but this type of mission was pretty bloody satisfying, too.
Kym sat beside him, pulling off her thin gloves. Her hair, too, was mussed, but it suited her.
“They’ll have to close down the Nero base,” she said.
“I expect so. They wouldn’t have attacked so close, otherwise.” He paused, took a deep breath– he had to tell her; he’d been putting it off for a week. “I’ve been offered a transfer.”
Her eyes widened a little. “Where to?”
“Back on base.”
“Why the hell would you go to the base? It’s boring– you’ll end up stuck in a training role or something.”
He rubbed his hand over his chin. She was right, it was in the training corps. “I haven’t accepted it yet. I wanted to tell you first."
“I don’t want you to go,” she said, softly. “I like working with you.”
“Really? That’s the only reason you don’t want me to go?”
She smiled, her eyes shining. “Well, one of them…”
He was quiet for a moment, not sure what to tell her: that his friend was at the base, and he was choosing him over her? He’d be lucky if she didn’t shoot him, and with her aim, he’d be singing soprano. He put his head back on the seat rest. “It’s complicated.”
“Why?”
He could try the truth: sorry, I have this cousin, and his father said he’s going to bring down the Empress, and I’m pretty sure I’m involved somewhere, that I met him for a reason. Oh, and by the way I’m crazy about you, and the last girl I was crazy about got– what? …killed, questioned, escaped… her life turned upside down in some way because of it all.
“It just is. Look, if I did go back– we’d see each other, right? On leave and what not.”
“It wouldn’t be the same.”
True. “I’ll think about it.”
A door opened and one of the pilots came towards him.
“Corporal Dester?”
“That’s right.”
“There’s been a change of plan,” the pilot said, not quite meeting Silom’s eyes. “We’re to go directly to Holbec.”
“Why?”
The pilot looked away for a moment, and then back. “They didn’t say why. Just that you were to be brought in.”
Silom’s heart started to beat too quickly. It had to be Kare, there was no one else they’d recall him for. What had happened? Had he been taken? Or thrown his head up and left– and he might, if he thought he was becoming too much of a danger. He nodded his thanks and tried to stay calm; he'd find nothing more out until they landed and even at top speed, that was six hours off.
“What was that about?” asked Kym.
He paused for a moment, before reaching out and taking her hand. “That, I think, was the shit just hitting the fan.”
***
In the port– at least she’d called it right, wherever Kare was, he hadn’t been found– Sonly gripped Lichio’s hand so tightly it must be hurting him, but he didn’t complain.
Eevan paced opposite, casting dark glances across at them. “Ma’am, if they have him...” his words trailed off as he looked at Rjala.
Sonly swallowed, determined to face the truth. “They’ll question him.”
“They will.” Lichio put his free arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “I’m sorry.”
She gulped and nodded; questioning in Abendau meant only one place. She wondered what exactly they did in Omendegon, and pushed the thought away. It might not come to that. Oh, lord, please let it not come to that.
“Surely his information is limited to the project only?” asked Eevan.
Sonly looked at him, hating him. Kare was a person– more than that, a person who’d been holding her and kissing her a couple of hours ago. Tears pricked her eyes; why the hell hadn’t she made him stay?
Rjala crossed her arms. “If they have him, it’s serious.” She glanced at Sonly. “Serious enough we’d have to consider relocating. The project overarches our offensive and security programmes; the base would be compromised. How are we fixed for that, with Michael off base?”
Her words cut through Sonly’s fear, making her focus. “If we have to, we can: it’s prepared. I’d have to see Glen; he needs to mobilise the emergency base team.” Rjala nodded, and Sonly went on, “But that’s only if they have him, and he talks…”
Eevan snorted. “When he talks– he’ll not last two minutes in Omendegon. He may be some genius programmer, but physically he’s a sack of shit.” He spat in disgust. “Let’s hope we can find him. We’ve got ships tracking anyone who left tonight, but they have to board each– there’ll be some we don’t get to.”
Rjala took the decision. “Focus on what’s here. If he’s gone, we can’t do anything except prepare.”
“How sure are you he hasn’t decided to go himself? That he wasn’t here to get the information you’ve kindly given him?” Eevan asked.
“I’m sure,” Sonly said. “He wouldn’t do that; he wouldn’t betray us.”
Rjala paused, and then said firmly, “I’m sure. I trust him implicitly.”
There was movement at the entrance to the port and a sergeant came towards them. Sonly’s heart jumped, sure they’d found him. The sergeant stopped in front of Rjala and saluted. “Colonel, we searched his quarters, and found this.”
He handed something to Rjala. Lichio’s arm tightened on Sonly's shoulder, and she bit her lip.
Rjala looked at the object. “Thank you.” She waited until the sergeant went away. “It’s a message tab.”
She set the tab down and projected the image in front of them. Sonly gasped at the familiar features of the Empress. They listened to her words, and when the image faded there was silence.
“He’s known all this time she could get to him,” said Sonly, eventually. Tears started to form in her eyes, mostly from anger. Why the hell didn’t he tell us?
Eevan slammed his hand against the wall, making her jump. “The stupid bastard.”
Lichio shook his head. “It’s not that. He’d worried you’d put a security detail on him. Silom begged me to let him stay at base so he could be with him. He knew Kare wouldn’t risk anyone else– that he thought too many people had already died around him. Damn him.”
“Calm down, Lichio,” Rjala said. “This isn’t your fault, or Silom�
��s. A security detail isn’t what we should be focusing on. How the hell have they got into the base? He shouldn’t need security here– it is secure.”
Sonly shivered with shock. “Kare’s the one who decided to take the risk, Lich.”
Rjala interrupted. “And if… when… he gets back, he’ll face me about it. Eevan, this doesn’t change anything; continue the search of the port.”
Sonly sat– she didn’t know how long– and watched the search in silence, tears pricking her. She grew numb, the word Omendegon circling her thoughts.
Someone knelt in front of her and she turned her eyes to them, but it took a moment to realise it was Eevan. She slumped against Lichio, his arm encircling her shoulders. Eevan looked at Lichio and gave a small shake of his head before turning his attention to Sonly.
“We’ve searched every ship,” he said, gently. “He’s not on any of them. We have to guess they got him out as soon as they took him. I think you have to assume he’s gone, Sonly.”
He’s gone. The words ricocheted. She turned her head to Lichio, looking up at his face. It was so blurred that, but for the blond hair, he could have been anyone.
“What next?” asked Lichio.
“We’ll alert the spy network at Abendau, and hope they can tell us if he turns up.” Eevan turned to Sonly. “You’ll have to get in touch with Michael; he’s the only one with access to them.”
“Okay.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “If he does get taken to Abendau, we move. We’ll have to.”
Eevan patted her knee, awkwardly. “It’ll be hard for you if he is taken. I’m sorry.” He sounded almost human.
“Does Silom know?” she asked. “Someone should tell him.”
“His ship is due to land,” said Lichio. "I've asked him to report to me."
“Thank you. I’m going to my room,” she said. If the base was to be moved, she had preparations to carry out. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but staying here, waiting for news that could never be good, would be even worse.
“Do you want me to come?” asked Lichio.
“No, wait for Silom; he shouldn’t hear it from a stranger.”
“At least let me send someone with you,” he said.
She was too tired to fight about it. Plus, the thought of returning to the apartment on her own made her shiver again. The last time she’d been there, Kare had been with her, vibrant and alive and kissing her, and she knew the moment she walked in, the memory would hit her. She nodded, and Lichio waved a soldier over to them.
“Will! Go with Sonly,” said Lichio.
Sonly followed the soldier out, stepping round the search teams without thinking. They reached the apartment and Will led her to the sofa.
“Sit there– I’ll get the lights on.”
Sonly nodded her thanks and closed her eyes. She didn’t open them when she heard a soft noise behind her. “Thanks, Will,” she said. There was no response and she looked round. He wasn’t there, and the apartment was still in darkness. “Will!”
There was no reply. She got up and recoiled in horror as a hole appeared where she’d been sitting, the padding from the sofa expelled into the air in a soft puff. She dived to the floor and pulled out her firearm. She lay, trying to quieten her breath, not sure where the shot had come from. The apartment was silent. She got up, keeping low and quiet, and moved towards the alarm point. A shot grazed her leg, making her slip and cry out.
She rolled onto her side as her attacker stepped out of the bedroom. He was dressed in a dark uniform, his face masked. She raised her gun, but he had already taken aim. Her breath froze as he fired. The bullet came at her and she tried to roll but it was too fast. It touched her chest, and stalled, as if stopped–
She looked up to see a new figure, framed in the door to the corridor. Her attacker’s focus moved to the newcomer and she took her chance, crawling to the panic button and hitting it. Its shrill alarm filled the small chamber.
There was a yell and the framed figure in the doorway reeled back, shot. She knew who it had to be.
“No!” She got to her feet, planting them as she’d been taught at basic.
Taking aim at her attacker, she clicked off the safety, ready to fire. Before she could, the man fell to the floor, blood spraying from his neck. Something touched her foot, and she shrieked when she looked down and saw the dull shine of his lifeless eyes. She bit the scream back, and kicked the head away.
“You okay?” asked a rasping voice, barely audible over the alarm.
“Kare?” She knew it was him, that it had to be him, but still couldn’t quite believe it. She could see where her attacker’s head had rolled to– he’d killed him.
“’s– me.” He slumped to the floor, making her forget about the dead man. She ran and knelt beside him, horrified at the amount of blood spreading out and out. His shirt was soaked. She pulled it up, supporting his weight, and saw the huge exit wound in his back. He cried out at the pain.
“It’s okay, I have you.” She put her hand against the wound, trying to stanch the blood, but it flooded into her palm and down her arm, soaking into the thin material of her cardigan. The sound of footsteps running made her look up to see Silom and Lichio and a small squad of soldiers.
“It won’t stop bleeding! Help me: it’s everywhere.”
Silom pulled his shirt off and pressed it against the wound.
“Get the medics!” he told Lichio. Quickly, Silom’s shirt soaked through and he glanced desperately at Sonly. “This isn’t good. He can heal the wound, but he can’t make blood.”
He slapped Kare, and got a small murmur in response.
“Kare, you need to close the wound quicker. You’re losing blood.” He slapped Kare a little harder. “Now, Kare.” He glanced round. “Someone get some towels from the bathroom. And get the alarm off!”
Silom lifted his shirt away and looked at the wound.
“Good lad,” Silom said. “Keep going, get it closed, then we’ll get you sorted.”
Sonly, with Kare still slumped against her, looked at Silom, and he nodded slightly. “It’s closing. Keep going, another bit and you’re there.”
Someone handed Sonly a towel and Silom took his shirt away, throwing it to the side. She pressed the towel to the wound. Silom was right, the bleeding had slowed. Kare’s eyes flickered slightly. His face was very pale, and sweat beaded across his forehead. The alarms stopped, but the silence seemed just as loud.
“What’s wrong with his hand?” asked Silom.
Sonly glanced down; she had been so focused on the gun wound, she hadn’t noticed more blood running down his hand.
“Oh, lord,” she said, “his finger.”
She could see, now, that his little finger had been excised, a thin thread of blood running from the wound. The knucklebone was visible, white through the blood crusted around the joint. She was still looking at it and trying to think what it meant when the medics pushed her aside. They lifted Kare onto a stretcher bed and began to work with him. Silom moved to the side to let them work, his mouth drawn down, his hands clenched.
“Silom, I’m sorry,” she said. “This should never have happened. Not on the base.” And she’d be damned sure someone found out how and why, and made sure it couldn’t happen again.
He shook his head. “Sounds to me like my cousin had plenty of warning.”
The paramedics lifted the stretcher, their faces impassive.
“I should have insisted I stay and watch his back,” Silom said.
Lichio came up to them, his face shocked. He looked around the apartment, at the blood covering the wall and carpet, and the headless corpse on the floor.
“What happened?” he asked, but Sonly didn’t respond. She clutched her arms, trying to stop shivering.
Silom stepped forward and looked at the body. “I assume Kare happened,” he said. “That’s new: he’s never done that before.” He sounded off-hand, but he was pale and shocked. Kare, it seemed, had talents he’d never shown anyo
ne.
“Kare? Kare can decapitate people?” Lichio’s voice was high, and his eyes flitted between Sonly and Silom.
“Apparently,” Silom said.
“He beheaded someone,” protested Lichio, his voice rising.
“I know. You might want to think about that the next time you roll in late or hungover.”
In another circumstance, Sonly might have laughed, but not tonight, with danger touching them all, even in her calm apartment in the centre of the Banned base, where it should be safe.
“Hell,” Lichio said, sombre and shocked. “We’ll get someone in to clear up." He tapped Sonly's shoulder. "Don’t go into the bathroom– Will’s in there.”
“Is he…?” asked Sonly. Lichio shook his head, and she started to shiver again.
Silom walked to the door of the apartment. “I’m going to the hospital.” He looked down at Sonly’s leg. “You should come too, get that looked at.”
Lichio stepped forward. “You two go on. I’ll liaise with Rjala and Eevan– they need to find out who our headless friend is and if he’s on his own.”
Sonly walked beside Silom. His bare chest and arms were smeared with blood, and he looked as shocked as she felt.
“How does he do it?” It would better to keep Silom talking and busy. “The healing?”
“I don’t know,” Silom said. “I’m not even sure he knows. He’ll tell us, if we ask, that he just moved a part of his mind. It’s one thing he’s never worked out– where his power came from. Ealyn didn’t know anything about his background, nor did my mum.” He paused for a moment. “Kare’s tried everything to find out– he said it was important to know, that his worked differently from anyone else’s, but he couldn’t.”
“There are other psychers,” she said. “He’s not unique.”
Silom glanced sideways at her. “Know any others who can take the head off an attacker?” She shook her head. “Thought not.”
He opened a door and Sonly stepped outside. The jungle was starting to come alive, the caw of a parrot breaking the silence, a streak of light visible in the sky. The lights from the hospital block shone out against the darkness.