by T S Paul
“Well?” the kid asked.
“I don’t actually know the future,” Nicole said. “But I do know what you can do to help for the time being.”
“Really? What?”
“Cody volunteered to help find this mystery woman, and Steve is about to do something rash. They are intermingled needs, help them both. The answers to those questions will lead to Taylor.”
Parker realized this was a typical Nicole answer, vague and mysterious.
“Okay,” Parker said. “Help Steve and Cody. I can do that.”
“Good.”
Parker liked working to help Taylor. It was great news since they hadn’t had any real leads on him. If helping Cody and Steve unearthed more on Taylor, that would be amazing.
The CATT left the gym acting like she had gotten a nice workout in and left Parker there. The young woman departed the gym and went straight to find Cody and see what she could do to help him.
Chapter Thirteen
They exited the last jump and were getting ready for New Reno. Steve didn’t bother to go to the bridge for this one. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been to New Reno before. He had visited several times before. This was nothing new, and the last time only held painful memories. Best to be not be reminded of his failure here yet again. Time to turn New Reno into a success, and one that the crew will remember for a long time to come.
What he did want was information on Drake. The pirate was going to be here. They needed to confront and surprise him. If they did that, they might get the upper hand. Then they might finally learn where Taylor was and discover more about this woman. No more just reacting to whatever was thrown their way.
Steve respected Rea and trusted her with his life. But he was going to do this whether she was okay with it or not.
Steve felt the ship descend to the planet and make its way to the landing bays on the planet. Not all ships could land on the here, but their ship with its cargo would be allowed. Even though it was a cargo ship, it wasn’t a large freighter ship. It made it easier to land on the planet.
Steve wasn’t going to tell anyone his plan. This was a solo mission.
A knock sounded on his door. Opening it slowly, he saw Cody and Parker. Plus, Nicole. That wasn’t a good sign. That group had been up to something, just like he was.
“What?” Steve asked. He didn’t want to offend them, but that might be the best way to make them leave so he could do his job.
“We know what you are planning,” Cody said.
“You can’t stop me.” Steve snarled at them.
“We don’t want to,” Cody said. “We want to help.”
“You do?” it didn’t really surprise the Marine. The crew of the Rossi was tight-knit and always willing to help each other. Yet, Steve wasn’t sure they wanted to do what he did. That part truly shocked him.
“Sure.” Cody appeared to be genuine.
Steve didn’t want to involve the others. “It’s dangerous.”
“I know where Drake is,” Cody said. His tone confident, and certain. Steve didn’t know the man well, but that tone and posture were different. This was for Rea and if Cody had what Steve truly needed. This was going to be a good day.
“Okay, but, Parker, you can’t come.”
The girl eyed him with trepidation. Parker wanted to prove herself. “But,” she said, “you trained me. I can help.”
“Help by distracting Rea. Keep her here.” Steve knew that the captain wouldn’t approve of them leaving. Rea would try to stop them and do it by the books. Right now, Steve wanted nothing to do with the books. He was ready for some revenge.
Parker hung her head. “If I must.” She sounded dejected as if being refused meant not being part of the team. That wasn’t Steve’s intention, but he wanted her safe. Parker was like a child to him, and he would do what he could to keep her safe when possible. Plus, distracting Rea was vital.
“Please, kid. It will make me feel better. And really help. “
“Fine,” Parker said.
Both Nicole and Parker left. Steve and Cody went over the details as the ship landed. It wouldn’t be long before Rea wanted them all to report to the bridge to make a plan. Steve knew she would try to stop him.
He also knew that she would see what he was up to as soon as he joined her. She knew him like an open book. Generally, it would be a good thing, but not when he wanted to plan something she wouldn’t approve of.
Chapter Fourteen
Before the Marine even made it off the ship once it landed, he was greeted by Lindsey.
She wasn’t pleased with him. “What do you think you are doing?” she asked.
“I’m taking Drake out,” Steve said. “Cody and I.”
Lindsey’s face was red, and her arms were folded across her chest. Steve could see that she was furious with him. But he was just trying to keep as people on the ship safe.
“You are going to step into the hornet’s nest,” Lindsey said. “And you didn’t even want to take me.”
“You know I want to keep you safe.”
Cody slowly slipped to the side, out of Lindsey’s view and fury. Steve didn’t blame the man one bit. Steve wished he could do that same, but Lindsey wouldn’t let him just tiptoe away from her.
“You think maybe I could help you?”
Steve wasn’t going to win this argument, that much was certain, but he might be able to ease her anger. “Help me? One hundred percent. But I want to make sure you are safe. I don’t know what I would do if you were hurt.”
Lindsey smiled. “As sweet as that is, you need to stop treating us like babies. We’ve been in plenty of fights.”
That was true. Over the years, it felt like they were constantly in fights, but this one felt different somehow. Steve couldn’t put his finger on it, but it felt different.
“You have,” the marine said. “But this is Drake.”
“All the more reason to take me with you. Three is better than two.” She tapped her hip and the gun that was there, the same one she had used on Mars. “I do know how to use it.”
“Fine,” Steve said. “You can come. Let’s go before Rea stops us.”
Cody joined them.
Lindsey turned to him. “Don’t think I didn’t see you. I know you are just as much to blame.”
The pudgy man’s face was flush, and he shrugged. “I, unlike you, do not want to make Steve angry with me.”
Lindsey laughed. “Steve’s really just a gentle giant. I can show you how to handle him.”
“Hey,” Steve said. “I’m no gentle giant. I’m a Marine.”
“Okay, big guy,” Lindsey teased.
Leaving the ship didn’t take long, and they started off to the place Cody had identified as Drake’s location. New Reno has a decent taxi system, and they were able to find one immediately.
Some twenty minutes later, Steve exited the taxi with Lindsey and Cody. It wasn’t the best part of New Reno, but it wasn’t as bad as the section Taylor had visited when he had been abducted. Steve and the others stayed close together and walked around the area checking it out.
One good thing about bringing Lindsey was her keen eyes. The engineer was nearly as good as Steve at taking in her surroundings, and that was always useful to have. The streets and buildings were remarkably well-kept for the roughness of the region.
“He is in the one down the block on the right,” Cody said. He pointed to it, and Steve slapped his arm down.
Indicating the target wasn’t ideal. From what Steve knew of Cody, he should have known better. He had worked as a hacker and been part of the underground movement on New Philly. And something else nefarious too, but Parker and Aldis acted like no one else knew.
Steve wasn’t going to push it. The crew of the Rossi was filled with people who had a checkered past, whether real or forged like Steve’s own past. Those who didn’t know him would think he was a dishonorable man. One who had been thrown out of the Marines. A man deemed unworthy to serve.
Chapter F
ifteen
Rea was on the bridge when the rear hatch of the Rossi released. The captain hadn’t authorized anyone to leave the ship yet. The bridge door opened, and Parker walked in. Aldis was already with Rea on the bridge.
The hacker looked up at Parker. “Hey.”
“Aldis,” Parker said.
The teen had a shifty appearance, one that Rea as a leader had grown to recognize. It said Parker was plotting something.
The young girl walked over to the Aldis and sat next to him.
“You saw Cody recently?” Aldis asked. The hacker appeared annoyed by the disappearance of Cody.
“Nope.” The young girl sounded stressed and nervous. Not her usual self, but Aldis didn’t notice.
Rea knew that was a lie. She had seen Parker and Cody talking not more than a few hours ago. She was definitely hiding something.
“Parker,” Rea said.
The young girl jumped and looked at the captain. She had a look of horror on her face. “Yes?”
“What are you up to? You wouldn’t know who left the ship without my approval, do you?”
Parker shrugged and pursed her lips. She obviously did and didn’t want to tell Rea. Parker had been spending time with Cody and Steve a lot. That wasn’t unusual.
Rea crinkled her nose and thought about it for a moment. Cody was looking for the mystery woman, and Steve was searching for Taylor and Drake. There was a good chance they found Drake and wanted to keep her in the dark.
If they had found Taylor, Rea was sure that they would have told her, and the same went for the lady behind it all. But that wouldn’t be the case with Drake. Steve had it in for him. Steve would do whatever it took to make the man pay.
Not that Rea blamed Steve. Her brother had been a thorn in their side and needed to be dealt with. That much Rea agreed with. Taking Drake out was the first step, but they hadn’t needed to go off without her.
Rea was a reasonable captain. She would have agreed to the mission, at least if they were open and honest. Steve just was being his noble self, and he never wanted the others to risk getting hurt. It was one of his fatal flaws, and it was going to someday get him killed. Or a team member.
“Parker,” Rea said. “Where are Steve and Cody going?”
At that moment, Nicole arrived on the bridge. “I can tell you, and it isn’t just them.”
Rea rolled her eyes. “Lindsey too.”
Parker’s eyes were wide in shock. Clearly, that was news to her. She didn’t appear to be pleased with learning that.
“Lindsey?” Parker asked.
“Yes.” Nicole was sitting the floor with her regal pose. “They are going to Drake’s local hideout. The only reason I am telling you is that Steve is about to be ambushed by two different people. We are one group. The others, well, I did mention the Navy.”
Rea groaned. “You did. I thought they were after us?”
“They are, but Drake made it sound like he got what he wanted from you already.”
That sounded just like her brother of old, promising something he didn’t have. Rea hoped it bit him in the butt. He deserved the wrath of anyone who wanted to take him out.
“Nicole, the Navy,” Rea said. “Is it a rogue element?”
“It is.”
Now, it made more sense to Rea. They hadn’t done anything to really draw the ire of the Navy. Well, not recently. Sure, she had stolen or rather transported, a few stolen parts of Navy vessels. They made her good money.
Though, it also pained her and hurt her inner Navy persona, the one she had tried to let go of so long ago. Unfortunately, it kept lingering.
“Are you going to tell me where we need to go to save the others?” Rea asked.
Nicole relayed the information. Rea wasn’t sure that the three of them would be enough, but they would have to make due.
Chapter Sixteen
Steve led the way into the place. This was the location where Drake would store the cargo if he were able to steal it from them. It was large enough to hold everything. Lindsey and Cody were right behind him.
Inside, it was empty. Steve walked to the center of a sizeable room. Their footsteps echoed as they went. Steven and the others reached the center, they were greeted by Drake and Roberts. The kid pirate looked worse for wear.
The Marine felt bad for the kid and what he was going through. It was never easy being forced to work for a guy you didn’t want to.
“So, you found me,” Drake said. He jerked his head to the left. “Seems you aren’t the only one.”
That was when a group of men appeared coming through another doorway and spreading out. It was a mix of marines and sailors. In the center, a man Steve knew all too well. It was the Marine who had Steve kicked out. The one he was sure was a Cabal member.
When he saw Steve, he laughed. “A twofer,” Colonel Beyer said. He was a tall man, just a bit shorter than Steve, and several years older. In his prime, Beyer had been a skilled fighter, but those days were long past him. Not to say that he wasn’t still able to handle himself, he was.
If there was any man who Steve hated more than Drake, it was Beyer. He was the bane of Steve existence. Beyer was the one who had put him down this path, though in retrospect, it wasn’t as terrible as it might have been.
“Beyer,” Steve said. He wasn’t sure who to keep his eyes on more. Both were just as likely to kill him.
Drake burst out laughing. “You know each other? Brilliant.”
Steve didn’t think it was funny. With these many marines (at least a dozen), he wouldn’t be able to get out unscathed. This whole thing was going to hell and fast. Steve tried to take in the space’s layout. The building had many exits, but the other fighters were surely armed, and knowing Beyer, they would be shooting to kill. Steve would rather not die.
Beyer faced Drake. “I was told you had the cargo.”
This time, it was Steve’s turn to laugh. “He told you that? And you believed him. You really are stupid.”
Beyer growled at him. “He didn’t tell me, but apparently, he spread some rumors.”
Steve thought that was just great. It didn’t surprise the Marine one bit that Drake had spread rumors making it sound like he had the cargo. That was a very pirate thing to do, something Steve could see most anyone he had dealt with doing.
“That is what you get for listening to rumors and pirates,” Steve said. “Look. As much as I want to expose you, Beyer, you have to go. Drake and I have some unfinished business.”
“Not before I get him,” Beyer said pointing to Steve. “And that cargo. The parts alone will be enough for me to set myself up and retire.”
Steve rolled his eyes. The cargo on their ship, whether the stuff they picked up legally or illegally, wasn’t worth that much. Steve saw what they were being paid.
Rea wouldn’t let them be ripped off by the shippers. Aldis or Nicole always made sure Rea knew the proper payment for the shipment. The way they were acting, it was worth a fortune.
Lindsey leaned over and whispered, “He is right. The stuff we got on Mars, the parts, the legal stuff, that is worth a lot on the black market.”
Steve hadn’t thought about it. Usually, he left that sort of thing to others. Rea would have known the cargo’s value, but they also needed to keep up a solid reputation. She wouldn’t allow the parts to be stolen and sold. They would get them to the rightful owner. It was what the Rossi crew did. Just because they could make a few more credits didn’t mean anything.
Steve was still trying to find a way out of this. Drake and Beyer just might take each other out. That would be ideal for Steve, though perhaps not be the best of scenarios. Drake might serve a purpose if Steve took him prisoner. Then, they could find Taylor and the mystery lady. That was the only reason not to let Beyer kill Drake.
“Look,” Drake said. “Steve’s ship has the stuff you want. If we take him out, we can get it.”
“This ‘we,’” Beyer said. “That doesn’t work for me.”
Drak
e shrugged. “Think of it as a finder’s fee.”
Steve had to give the pirate some credit. He was under pressure here, but able to hold his own. Beyer was a tough man to deal with. The Colonel wasn’t a slouch, and he intimidated most people. He had an aura of power about him.
“I think,” the Colonel said, “that I’ll remove the middleman.”
Just then, more echoes sounded, and Rea appeared next to Steve.
Chapter Seventeen
Rea couldn’t believe her eyes. In the room were three groups just as Nicole said. The CATT had actually left the Rossi with Rea this time. That was rare for her, Nicole wanted to be here. She hadn’t said anything more than it would be something important. That scared Rea half to death. If Nicole was saying it, the CATT feared she was going to lose a crew member…. Not that the CATT was totally callous about the crew, but still. Rea’s mind went there.
This was going to be a hostile situation, and as soon as Rea was close enough, she saw why. Not only was Drake here, but another man she knew, one who she was sure was making Steve’s blood boil.
He was the reason why Steve was on the Rossi in the first place. Beyer was a man who Rea if she were honest, had a love-hate feeling toward. The Captain despised him for being dirty and ruining the career of a good Marine. Then again, he was the reason she had Steve on her ship.
Steve was worth several men, and Rea would never give him up. Never.
As she and the others neared the three groups, the tension ratcheted up. It was approaching a breakpoint. Rea wasn’t sure if she would be able to stop it from boiling over.
As Rea stepped next to Steve, the other two groups looked at her. The captain didn’t mind the attention her arrival was getting.
“What did I miss?” she asked.
Next to her, Steve groaned but didn’t say a word.
Beyer, on her left, smirked. “Captain,” the colonel said. “Picking up my castoffs. How is that working out for you?”
“Well,” Rea said. “You were a fool to let Steve go.”
“He’s nothing but trouble,” Beyer said.