by Justin Sloan
Lingering, she remembered her own desk back home. The years she had spent there learning to code, studying everything she could about penetration testing and how to land a job in the industry. She had always known that it was about finding a way in, because that’s when the real education began. She networked like crazy and was willing to start anywhere, but it just so happened that she was lucky enough to land a spot with the government first. That had led to a Christmas party where she’d met Marick. Where the two… Wait a minute… Christmas. She realized something at that thought.
She had often joked about the miners’ Christmas trees, knowing it was where Swinger lived and giving him a hard time. He had once shared, after a few too many drinks, that as a child he had run away to hide in a Christmas tree farm. He said he liked the trees, and didn’t care what she said.
If he was hiding, it was entirely possible he would have counted on her remembering that. And in case she hadn’t come to that conclusion by herself, she noticed a small carving by the door—the kind done in haste when someone’s making a run for it. A trunk with four lines going across it. Nothing to most eyes, but a clear symbol of a Christmas tree to her.
Making her way back the way she had come, she ignored the old lady staring at her from one of the open doors. She understood that people brought their families here. Everyone had that right. But the elderly didn’t do well in space. What were they thinking?
A few children were playing in the trees, pulling each other on a piece of metal sheeting as if it were a sled. She wanted to warn them to be careful, to tell them that they could cut themselves on the metal, but she wasn’t their mom.
Instead, she made for the cardboard house at the back, a little shack the children had labeled Santa’s workshop. He wasn’t there—Swinger—and neither was the fat drunkard who often insisted he was Santa. Good, maybe the PD soldiers had done something right for a change and gotten rid of him.
She glanced around, wondering if she was wrong, then noticed another little scratching on the side of the shack. Again, the tree, but this time there were two smaller ones next to it. Pursing her lips in thought, she considered what this meant. Ah—the tallest tree in here, she guessed. She looked about the cluster of trees, and saw that one was indeed slightly taller than the rest, near the rear wall.
Making her way over, she noticed the old lady from before, still staring at her. Now it was getting creepy, and she had to assume that even the old lady might be a lookout for the PD soldiers. She doubled back, ducked behind another row, and then worked her way in a zigzag path to the tall tree.
Maybe she was being paranoid, but she had learned in her line of work that wasn’t really a thing. You were smart, or not. Nothing else.
At the tallest tree she glanced around, and then saw one of the makeshift sledding hills the children had made. First glance showed nothing, but looking closer revealed the carving. She had to laugh.
“Swinger, it’s just me,” she hissed.
A moment later, his voice whispered, “Dammit, took you long enough.” He popped his head out of the side of the hill and gave her a half-assed smile. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’ve got everything we need,” he replied, pulling out his screen and a bag of chips.
“Please tell me you went to the bathroom somewhere else… for the sake of the kids.”
He smiled at that, then nodded. “Yeah, just hiding out in here when I need some downtime.
“And Norwal?”
“That’s what I’ve been doing… trying to find her.”
Alice frowned. “My contacts, they said you two were safe. That the PD forces didn’t get you.”
“At first, yeah. But then we were running, making for you, when I turned and she was gone. My best bet was they knew where to find us, that the room was compromised… So I came here to lay low, hoping you weren’t captured and that you’d find me.”
“Here I am. Let’s get to it.”
He eyed her skeptically. “Alice, we were made. They leeched us, do you understand that? We’re done.”
“No, we can’t quit now,” Alice said, reaching out a hand for him. “We’ll find her. We’ll rescue Norwal and Scorpio… trust me.”
He paused, clearly thinking, then took her hand and stood. “You have replacements for the team?”
She shrugged. “Intrepid found us some extras.”
“Mr. Social himself?” Swinger laughed. “You’re pulling my chain.”
“Trust me, with where your chain has been, I wouldn’t pull it.”
“Oh, come now.” This time his smile was genuine, not forced. “You really think we can do this?”
“Let’s go, there’s an old lady watching me. I think she’s with them.”
“Down the hall, with the beehive hair?” He laughed. “No way. She’s looking for me for, ah, other reasons.”
“Not her too, Swinger. Come on.”
He shrugged. “It was before Norwal, if that makes you feel any better. I owed her. All she wanted to do was—”
“Ahh! No details, please.” Alice held her hands up, ready to put them to her ears if he continued.
“Deal, as long as we get the hell out of here and start this op already. Okay, who are these new friends of Intrepid’s?”
She cringed as she said, “You won’t believe it, but… Titanians.”
“Oh, no. Religious fanatics don’t always make the best partners in times like this.”
“You have better ideas?”
“Not a one.” He shook his head, gesturing for her to lead the way.
“Then it’s settled, we’re going to get this team together my way.” She started off, again careful for watchers but much less worried about the old lady. “I don’t want to hear any complaints, and no… no seducing the religious people. You know they’re into all that, but we have a job to do.”
“Ah, the Titanians are the best. But honestly, me and Norwal… I’m telling you, it’s different.”
“Then we’ll have to save her so you can prove that to me, because I’ve known you too long to believe you’d ever settle down with just one man or woman. Or one species, even.”
He chuckled, but held his hand on his heart. “You’ll see, you’ll see.”
They found Intrepid and Yerbuna waiting at the main Horus hall, a grand hall with a painting of a white crown at the front surrounded by tapestries. Crowds were milling about, some sitting and eating on the glass steps at the edge, more of an art piece than anything useful. Others were playing a game of soccer at the far side—one of the old sports that had made it through to modern times.
“The boy?” Alice asked after introductions, glancing around for him.
“His name’s Oliver, and he’s gathering a friend or two,” Intrepid replied, nodding to Swinger. He looked at Alice, and she shook her head, silently signaling that Norwal wasn’t going to be joining them. “The sneaker and his buddy, they can handle physical entry. Nothing to worry about there.”
Swinger nodded, glancing around. “Why a public place? Why here?”
“Mostly, because he’s here,” Yerbuna replied, nodding over to a table where a man ate by himself.
“Network perimeter?” Alice asked.
Yerbuna nodded. “He’s the best at breaking through, from what I’ve seen. Worked a few jobs back on Earth, perhaps you’ve heard of him.”
“Please don’t tell me he has a hacker name.”
Yerbuna raised an eyebrow. “Like… Alice?”
Alice blushed, wondering how many of them suspected that wasn’t her actual name. Instead of responding, she waited.
“Lady and gents, you’re looking at the one and only Lovekiller, or what others know as the Anti-Cupid.” Yerbuna rolled her eyes at the names, struggling to say them. “Why, you ask? Because most of his targets involved large-scale company mergers, such as the very one that brought New Origins to be in charge of Project Destiny.”
&n
bsp; “B.S.,” Swinger said, turning to see the man. “The legend himself.”
Alice turned him back to the group. “Maybe don’t make it obvious? Okay, so what’s he doing up here?”
“Ed, as he’s known now,” Yerbuna said with a smile, “found religion. He’s dedicated himself to becoming a citizen of Titan, when the time comes.”
“And he’ll help us?”
Yerbuna gestured to herself. “You happen to be looking at a high priestess of the Titanians, must I remind you? Means, he’s in.”
“But why are you in?” Swinger asked.
Alice’s first reaction was to chide him for sounding like he was making a personal attack on Yerbuna, but she realized he had a good point. She still wasn’t completely sure what made this woman so eager to help.
Yerbuna cleared her throat with a quick glance around, then lowered her voice, “Revenge.”
Alice stared, waiting for more. The others did, too.
Finally, when the word had ample time to sink in, Yerbuna turned her gaze to the symbol of the white crown. “Space Station Horus is an in-between, a waiting ground. We’ve put up with the abuse at the hands of PD, but… New Origins has gone out of their way to make us feel unwanted, to ensure that any preaching is kept at a minimum. They think our lessons will incite rebellion, so—”
“To be clear, we’re talking about teachings that say there will be a war between all of you and Earth, someday,” Swinger interrupted. “Sounds like rebellion is right.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him like a bug on her arm. “I never said they were wrong about that. I said I want revenge, and my means of revenge means I’m going to help you all. Anyone making a move against them will have our support, provided they aren’t standing in our way themselves. So, tell me Mr. Swinger, do you stand in our way? Your tone of voice certainly doesn’t paint you as a friend of Titan.”
For a long moment, he glared back, then allowed his smile to return as he held out a hand to her. “I look forward to doing business with you.”
“Wonderful,” she replied, ignoring the hand and nodding to them. “Alice, you and me will convince Ed.”
“I thought you said he would be in,” Intrepid said in his normal, growly way.
“He will be, once we convince him.”
Alice nodded, and followed Yerbuna to the man’s table.
Ed glanced up, eyes first moving to Yerbuna and then dancing over to Alice, at which point he froze.
“You,” he said, moving a hand back to his screen and pocketing it. “I recognize you.”
“We were colleagues once?” she guessed.
“More like… you were a target.” He bit the inside of his cheek, looking back at Yerbuna before adding, “I’m okay with saying so, because she’d only be introducing you to me for one reason.”
“I’d hoped people from before wouldn’t be able to recognize me,” Alice said, wondering how he had known who she was after so long, and now in her disguise.
He offered a knowing smile. “When I’d assess targets, I was prepared for anything. We expected our targets to discover us, so I had you analyzed in numerous disguises. That way I’d be ready for you to try an escape or reverse target.”
“Ah.” She cocked her head, not sure how to interpret this guy. “Since you’re not rotting in a cell, I’m guessing we never caught you.”
“Not many are as good as I was, but I’m done.”
Alice looked over to Yerbuna, waiting for her to step in. But the woman raised an eyebrow, waiting to see what she would do.
“Here it is,” Alice said, deciding truth was the best method here. “They took my husband from me, told me he was dead. Is that true? Maybe, maybe not. I mean to find out.”
“And everyone else with you?” he asked. “They’re helping out of the kindness of their hearts?”
She shook her head. “Some are friends, of a sort. But all have their reasons. Intrepid there, his reason is freshest of all… they killed his brother, earlier today. Even before that, though, he was going after them because he knew my husband. They were friends. Marick would’ve done the same, so he’s here doing what he can. PD also took one of ours, two maybe… and we mean to get them back.”
“Did you say… Marick? As in Marick O’Donnel?” he asked. When she nodded, he smiled and stood. “My brother served in the Marines. He’s alive today, all thanks to one man.”
“Let me guess,” Yerbuna said, finally joining in. “That man’s name was Marick?”
Ed nodded. “Consider me yours.”
“Our other friends are nearby,” Yerbuna said, gesturing to the soccer court where the boy from earlier, Oliver, was standing with a girl his age. They both pretended to be watching the game, but glanced back, made eye contact, and nodded.
“Looks like we have no reason to wait, then,” Alice said, relief washing over her. They had waited long enough. Her teammates, her husband… they’d all waited long enough.
13
Stealth: Taipan Chambers
While the Heel had escaped, she had clearly suffered a defeat. The Taipans had not only taken out many of the Os Dragoes, but also captured Veles. As far as they were concerned, it was a victory.
Nightshade, still wearing her helmet, had instructed two of her soldiers to imprison Veles for questioning, then told the rest to celebrate. She, however, went off on her own, moving down the hallway toward the training room.
“She doesn’t join us?” Stealth asked.
“That’s her way,” Tropical replied. “Always beating herself up, training extra after a mission.”
As much as Stealth understood the need to unwind and what celebrating did to boost morale, he was actually with Nightshade on this. He would much rather be training, learning his craft, than playing in the sandbox with his new pals.
Pete and Bloodhound came limping in, both of them still looking horrible but already healing. The only way that made sense was if this team was getting an advanced form of enhancements. Hits like they had taken would take overnight to heal, maybe even a couple of days with standard PD enhancements. But these two looked almost good as new already.
“The man himself,” Pete said, beaming. Pete and Bloodhound now wore similar navy-blue jumpsuit uniforms, and Stealth could better see who these men were. Pete still had the beard Stealth had noticed earlier, but his head was shaved. With dark skin, his eyes had the same piercing effect as his sister. Bloodhound was a lot thinner than he’d appeared in the armor, with a thick stubble and thin eyebrows.
“You two doing okay?” Stealth asked. “A man takes a beating like that…”
“Oh, rubbing it in?” Pete asked with a laugh. He nodded to Bloodhound. “This little pup should probably be in bed for another day or two, but you know dogs, always wanting to follow their masters.”
The left corner of Bloodhound’s lips rose as he said, “You, my master? Then why’s it you’re always begging me for scraps at chow time?”
“And don’t forget the time he tried to hump your leg,” one of the women said, who then stood amid laughter and shook Stealth’s hand. “Call me Breaker, as in ball breaker. Or Dawn, either way works for me.”
“To be clear, it was Breaker here who tried to hump his leg,” Pete chimed in, patting her on the back. “I thought about joining in, but she’s not really my type.”
Judging by the way the man looked at her, Stealth had a hard time believing that. He couldn’t blame the guy—she was well built, with welcoming eyes and hair that looked to be made from woven gold, cut short to fall just below her ears.
A couple of soldiers were pouring drinks. Others from the team had already changed too, though a few were entering just now and moving off to the hallway that led away from the rooms.
“Should I be changing?” Stealth asked with a glance down at his body armor and exoskeleton. It felt good to wear the suit, making him stronger and sturdier… but it wasn’t exactly comfortable. Not in that sit back and relax way, at any rate.
&n
bsp; “Shower’s just over there,” Breaker said, eyes doing a quick move across his body. “Want me to join?”
He laughed, but wasn’t entirely sure she was joking. The showers back on the rest of the PD side were shared—no modesty among soldiers, apparently. They were all supposed to be equals here, or some bull like that. Stealth had always figured the higher-ups were just too cheap to build separate shower rooms. Some commanders set up separate shower times for the sexes, simply to keep their soldiers from seeing the showers as anything other than a quick chance to get clean after a grueling op, but most didn’t give a damn. They certainly wouldn’t care if a man and woman both went at the same time, if they wanted to, though you’d get in quite a lot of trouble if they caught you doing anything other than showering in there.
“I think I can figure out how to work a bar of soap,” Stealth replied when he saw she was actually waiting for an answer.
“Your loss.” She shrugged and winked at him before moving over to the drink table, leaving Pete and Bloodhound with Stealth, still chuckling at that little exchange.
“She’s harmless,” Bloodhound said, eyeing Stealth as if the woman’s advance—if that’s what it had been—gave him a new level of respect.
“If by harmless, he means she won’t actually try to jump your bones in the showers, then yeah,” Pete added. “But she’s not afraid to check out the goods either, so if you’re shy….”
“Nothing to worry about.” Stealth noticed Trish now, sitting at the couches on the far side where Breaker had just gone. Those blue eyes roamed across the room, stopping on him when she saw him looking. With a tilt of her head, she frowned.
“That one’s off limits though,” Pete said, no longer smiling.
“I’m here to do my duty,” Stealth countered.
“As long as your duty doesn’t include planting your flag anywhere near my sister, we’re good.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Stealth turned to Bloodhound to see if this was serious, but he had an ‘Uh-oh’ look on his face. Apparently, this was Pete’s soft spot. “You think I’m confused about where I am? I know this isn’t prom, and I’m here to keep the station safe, to hunt down any enemies of Horus. Don’t be turning on me just ‘cause I’m nice to your sister. You prefer I be a dick? Tell me now, because I can do dick.” His cheeks flushed. “That came out way wrong.”