The Mutineer's Daughter

by Chris Kennedy

  “Okay,” Garcia said, stepping forward again. “That’s something for the future; at the moment, we need to concentrate on what’s possible now. Our largest problem is that we are under-armed to go up against the Terran forces. We’ve had a few successes, but we’ve also had a few setbacks. Most of these were because the Terrans have better weapons.”

  “Well, of course they do!” the man in the back exclaimed. “They’re professional soldiers.”

  “Yes, but many of us were once professional soldiers, and we live on the frontier. Nearly everyone has a personal weapon.”

  “I used to,” someone called. “Damn Turds took ‘em from me!”

  “Indeed,” Garcia said. “They have collected all the weapons they were able to, as well as all the ammunition and weapons’ batteries they could get their hands on. However, they were nice enough to put it all in a single warehouse on the outskirts of town. A warehouse that, if we are quiet and fast enough, should prove a treasure trove of weapons for us.”

  Garcia scanned the audience, then added, “That’s our next target. Tonight, we’re going to hit the warehouse and take back our weapons.”

  Chaos threatened to overwhelm the group as many people shouted their thoughts and suggestions. Mio learned a couple of new swear words and shook her head. If this was how adults planned things, the resistance was in trouble. She nudged Dan. “Are meetings always like this?”

  Dan shrugged. “Sometimes. We’re a large group and most people don’t really know each other, much less trust them. If you add in that most of us farmers don’t trust the city aristos very much, there’s usually a…wide variety of opinions.” He nodded at Garcia, who was holding up his hands for silence. “He’ll get control of the group, and he’ll have his way in the end. He always does…it’s just we farmers like to be heard, I guess. We’ll hit the warehouse tonight; you can count on it.”

  * * *

  “Oh, stars!” Mio exclaimed as the plate slipped from her hands and slapped into the soapy water, spraying suds up her front. She drew her hand back to slap the suds in the wash basin, but a stranger stepped in front of her.

  “Careful,” the man said. “There’s no need to splash me with that; I’ve already had my bath this week.”

  Mio could feel her cheeks ignite, and she looked down. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

  “That’s fine,” the man said. “I always like to beat up inanimate objects when I do something clumsy.”

  “It’s not because I was clumsy,” Mio said without looking up, “it’s just that…oh, never mind; you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that,” the man said in a slow drawl. “I may have been frustrated a time or two in my life.”

  “No, you wouldn’t understand because you’re a guy, and you’re old,” Mio said, a fierce expression on her face as she looked up at the stranger.

  The man raised his eyebrows. “I’m old, am I? Shoot, I never considered myself over the hill, but I reckon I’m now beginning to see where that hill is.”

  He really didn’t seem that old, Mio thought as she looked him over; he was probably no more than 40 standard years. His face had a number of scars, though, and, on first glance, they made him appear older than he really was. Her cheeks grew hotter still.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean old, old,” Mio replied, “just that you’re an adult. People listen to you.”

  “Sometimes,” the man allowed, “other times, not so much. Are you having a hard time getting your opinions heard?”

  “Yes,” Mio said, her shoulders slumping. “I want to go on the raid tonight, but no one will listen to me. They think I’m too young to go. Or that I’m just a girl, which is even worse.”

  “Hmm…” the man said. “Well, the age thing’s gonna fix itself if you’re patient. The girl thing, though, you’re kind of stuck with that.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ll never be taken seriously because of it.”

  “That’s not true,” the man said. “Were you at the meeting today?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, you heard Ashley Beaufort talk?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, once upon a time, Miss Ashley Beaufort was known by another name, Admiral Ashley Beaufort, and she was one of the most respected admirals in the Terran Fleet.”

  “Really?” Mio asked, excitement in her eyes. Then it faded. “Well, that was the Turds; they must be different.”

  “No, it’s no different. If you work hard, people will come to respect your opinions, just like anyone else’s.”

  “Not here they don’t. Here, if you’re not a guy or can’t pull a plow, you’re not worth listening to. Women are second-class citizens.”

  “Admiral Beaufort is second in command of the resistance,” the man remarked. “I think her opinion is very valued.”

  “Well, she’s old; of course, people listen to her. And the admiral thing helps, too, I guess.”

  “She wouldn’t have ever become an admiral if people didn’t listen to, and respect, her opinions,” the man argued. “And it can be the same for you. You just have to be patient and wait for your chance.”

  “Patient? I’ve waited here two whole weeks! In that time, I’ve done nothing but wash dishes and carry water. When am I going to get my chance to do something important?”

  The man smiled. “Two weeks can seem like an eternity, sometimes, I know. And yet, at other times, it’s a flash in the pan. Besides, washing dishes and carrying water are both important things, too. Right now, you don’t have any experience with warfare, but by carrying water, you allow the people who do have that experience to continue with their jobs of planning operations, without having to stop and go to the creek to get their own water. See? What you’re doing is important. Everyone here helps out in the manner they’re best suited to.”

  “I can see that carrying water is important, but I don’t want that to always be my job. I want to help on the raids. I can do things too, and I’m a quick thinker.”

  “Those are both good qualities,” the man said. “Keep working on your abilities, and I’m sure you’ll get your chance to contribute in other ways. Until then, though, would you mind…” he looked down at the plate in his hand.

  Mio sighed. “Sure, I’ll do it,” she replied. She took the plate and submerged it in the soapy water.

  “Thanks,” the man said. “Think about what I said. Everyone has a part to play in everything we do, whether it seems like it’s important or not. Just be patient, and you’ll get your chance.”

  “I’ll try.”

  The man nodded and turned to leave. “Hey, just a second, mister,” Mio called. The man looked back over his shoulder. “Are you new here?” she asked.

  “Yes, I am,” the man said. “My name’s Harry. I think I’ll be here…probably for a while.”

  “My name’s Mio.”

  “Nice talking with you, Mio. Remember what I said.” The man turned and left.

  * * *

  Mio watched through half-closed eyes as the resistance members gathered their things and melted away into the forest. Throwing off the blankets, she scampered out of her tent, already clothed, stopping only to pick up her backpack along the way.

  She had no problem following the raiders in the dark; not only was the larger moon up to light her path, but she had also marked out the likely route they would take earlier in the day. As expected, they headed out to the south before looping around to the east. She knew her woodcraft skills weren’t the best, but some of the raiders’ skills weren’t much better, and she was able to follow along behind them using the sounds of broken branches to guide her, while allowing her to keep her distance from the main body.

  The raiders stopped once as they approached their target, and Mio almost walked into their midst before she realized they had halted. A brief snatch of whispered conversation, barely heard but far too close, caused her to freeze alongside a large tree.

  “Did you hear that?” a voice whispered.

  �
��No, and I can’t hear anything with you running your mouth,” another whisper replied. “Shut the hell up, before you give us away.”

  Mio leaned against the tree, not moving, and prayed to anyone who would listen they wouldn’t come looking for the source of the twig she had inadvertently snapped. The tree had a number of large branches and would be easy to climb if she needed to hide herself, although they might hear her climbing. She decided against it and pressed herself tighter against the trunk.

  After an eternity that probably only lasted five minutes, a third voice whispered, “Are you guys ready?” When it received two affirmative replies, it continued, “The edge of the forest is only another 20 yards in front of us, and the warehouse is another 40 yards beyond that. Move up and wait for the signal.”

  Sounds of movement followed, then faded away.

  Only 20 yards from the edge of the forest? She looked up into the tree and could see branches that continued on above the height of its neighbors. Deciding she might be able to see better from higher up, and knowing she’d be less likely to be found, she began climbing.

  Within a couple of minutes, she was above the trees that separated her from the warehouse, just in time to see the attack begin. The warehouse grounds were lit, and she could see two guards at the warehouse entrance on the north end of the building. Private guards, not Terran soldiers, they were dressed in some security outfit’s uniforms, not those of the Terran Army. Mio smiled; they must be resistance fighters who were going to look the other way while the raiders liberated the weapons inside the building.

  Two shadows detached themselves from the forest and ran to the west side of the structure. Although both were big men, they flowed silently like wraiths as they moved along the side of the building toward where the guards waited. Mio tried to identify who they were, but both men had hoods over their heads, and their faces were lost in the darkened interiors. Mio couldn’t figure out how they’d be able to get close to the guards without being seen; the entrance lay halfway along the next side once they turned the corner, and they would have to cross 50 feet of lit space to get to it. The men reached the corner of the building then paused, out of sight of the guards. Three more raiders ran from the forest to the building moments later, then another five.

  Mio’s eyes went back and forth between the guards at the door and the raiders along the wall, waiting for something to happen. Without warning, one of the guards dropped his rifle and clutched his stomach, where something black was sticking out. An arrow, but Mio couldn’t see where it had come from. The other guard drew a breath to yell, but a second arrow appeared, piercing his throat and pinning him to the wooden door. The arrow must have nicked an artery, because blood sprayed in all directions, coating him and the door. The man struggled weakly a moment or two, then went limp. The weight of his body pulled the arrow down, and he slid off it and collapsed in a heap. Mio’s stomach roiled at the vision; she had never seen so much blood.

  The raiders sprinted around the corner and ran to the second guard, who was struggling toward his rifle. The leader of the raiders kicked the weapon away from his grasping fingers, then drew a large hunting knife and stabbed him in the chest twice. More blood. Mio was repulsed by how easily the leader killed his victim, quickly, with little apparent remorse.

  One of the raiders held up something from where he was searching the other guard. The leader took it, then made a shooing motion with his other hand. Four of the raiders grabbed the dead guards and took them to the forest. The leader took the object, a key, and opened the door. Light from the interior lit his face. Dan. Dan had been the one to kill the guard so casually. Mio felt tears well in her eyes. Kind, gentle Dan was a killer.

  The raiders poured into the warehouse. After a few moments, a shot rang out, and a siren began wailing. Seconds later, the raiders began appearing, heavily laden with weapons and large, bulging packs on their backs. One man and two women. Wait, there were women participating after all! The raiders loped back to the forest, much slower due to the weight they were carrying.

  Mio heard a yell from the south as two more raiders appeared, and she turned on her perch. Terran troopers were on the way! A group of three soldiers was sprinting toward the warehouse, followed by a second group of three; all of them wore helmets and armor, and they looked ready for battle.

  Five of the raiders had already fled the building, and three more appeared as her eyes flicked back to the warehouse. Two men, a third man supported between them. The third raider was wounded; a large bloodstain coated the right side of his chest. The other two men struggled under his weight and several weapons they carried over their opposite shoulders. They made it to the safety of the forest as the first group of Terran troopers reached the warehouse. They came up the side of the building closest to Mio, while the second group angled to approach from the east.

  Where was Dan?

  The first group of troopers raced along the side of the warehouse, and Mio was sure Dan was going to get caught. At the last moment, though, Dan and another raider left the warehouse and sprinted for the safety of the forest. They reached the corner of the building at the same time as the troopers.

  “Look out!” Mio shouted, unable to stop herself.

  The raiders crashed into the troopers, and both sides recoiled from the collision. Although both groups were obviously surprised by the appearance of the other, the raiders were quicker to recover. Dan had two rifles slung over each shoulder, but they didn’t keep him from using the one he held in his hands. Reaching out, he swung the butt of his rifle in an uppercut, knocking the rifle from one of the Terrans’ hands. Spinning to the right, he drove the butt into the jaw of a second soldier. Mio could hear the impact from the tree; the soldier dropped, unconscious.

  Turning back to the left, Dan found the first Terran retrieving his weapon. He slammed the butt of his rifle into the back of the soldier’s head, and the soldier collapsed. Dan spun around to find his companion and the third soldier wrestling over a rifle. The soldier won, breaking the weapon free from the raider’s hands. The trooper stepped back and leveled it at the raider, only to be shot in the face by Dan. The Terran fell backward, the rifle falling from his senseless hands.

  The raider scooped up the rifle, and the two men broke for the trees. As they sped for the safety of the forest, movement caught Mio’s eyes—the second soldier rose from the ground, grabbed his rifle, and turned to aim at the fleeing men.

  “Look out!” Mio yelled again.

  This time, Dan heard her and shoved the other man to the right while diving to the left. The soldier fired, aimed, and fired again. A return shot from Dan struck the Terran, and he went back down.

  Dan started to run, then turned and came back to the other man, who lay at the edge of the forest. The man waved him off, but Dan grabbed him under his armpits and lifted him so he could stand on one leg. He’d been shot! Dan threw the man’s left arm over his shoulder, and they hobbled off into the forest. As the man turned, Mio could see what looked like a stain on his left leg.

  The raiders crashed into the forest, giving up stealth to put some distance between them and their target. They passed Mio’s observation post without looking up, and Mio could see Dan carrying most of the other man’s weight. The other man’s hood had fallen back, and Mio caught a glimpse of him in the moonlight as they passed. It’s Harry! Harry’s been shot!

  She stood up to climb down the tree but froze at the sound of metal on plastic. Her eyes snapped to the warehouse—the other three Terrans had arrived! Each of them went to check out one of the soldiers lying on the ground, and Mio could see the soldier that shot Harry point toward the forest. His finger pointed almost exactly at her, and her breathing stopped as the troopers all looked in her direction. She had moved away from the tree trunk and was completely exposed! Mio wanted nothing more than to move back to the trunk and hide, but knew the movement might catch the soldiers’ eyes, so she remained where she was, petrified.

  After a moment, she de
cided the troopers were looking lower, along the ground, and she began to breathe again. Slowly she eased herself over to the trunk, and a huge sigh escaped her as her chest met its bark. She was safe.

  No sooner had the thought crossed her mind then one of the troopers raced off in the direction from which the soldiers had come...and the other two turned and entered the woods, coming right toward her!

  Mio wanted to jump from the tree and run, but she was too high; she knew she couldn’t escape with a broken leg. She plastered herself to the trunk and tried to still her breath as the men drew near. Maybe they hadn’t seen her. She was afraid to look down and have the moonlight reflect off her face, so she was forced to gauge their approach by listening to the sticks the soldiers broke as they walked through the trees. The soldiers weren’t very good woodsmen; Mio was able to tell where they were…and when they stopped right underneath her tree! A light snapped on.

  “You see?” she heard through the blood pounding in her ears. “Right there.”

  “Sure do,” a second voice said. “Just like Jenkins said.”

  Oh, no! They were looking for her and had found her! Mio flinched and started to turn. Better to climb down then have the soldiers shoot her out of the tree. She started to sigh.

  “Yeah,” she heard from below. “That’s definitely blood. Jenkins must have hit one of them.”

  Blood? Although she had picked up a few scrapes going up the tree in the dark, she wasn’t bleeding. They weren’t looking for her, after all; they were looking for the raiders, especially Harry. Her sigh froze in her throat. Too late.

  “Shh!” the first voice said. “Did you hear that?”

  “What? I didn’t hear anything.”

  “I swear I heard a noise.”

  “Well, I didn’t hear anything.”

  “That’s probably because you breathe like a horse.”

  “It was just the wind through the trees. Are we going to go after these guys or not? I mean, I’m okay with waiting until morning when we have backup, if that’s what you want to do…”