by Jim Proctor
“Why? So you can kill him, too?” Niles asked.
General Nelson shook his head. “Captain, I need you to remember what floor you were on when you talked to the corporal.”
Niles thought for a moment. “It was two or three floors down from the penthouse. I’m sorry, I can’t be more exact.”
“Well, I’m going to have to do some extra damage control, but it isn’t like nobody would find out the first admiral is missing,” he said. “It’s been a long day, Captain. You should go back to your work and let me do my job.”
“Did you really kill Admiral Bennett?” Niles asked.
“You need to go back to your work, Captain,” Nelson said.
Chapter 22
“Senator Kase,” General Nelson said, “First Admiral Bennett has been eliminated.”
A smile flashed across the senator’s face, quickly replaced by a solemn expression as he nodded. “Good work, General. I’ll report to the full senate as soon as possible. We’ll need to appoint a new first admiral. In the meantime, who’s in charge?”
“I believe the ranking officer would be Vice Admiral Saunders. However, she is on deployment with the Second Fleet,” Lance said.
“Well, then, who’s next in the chain? Someone needs to take charge until Saunders returns,” Kase said.
“That would be Vice Admiral Tompkins. However, he has disappeared.”
“I see. And the circumstances of his disappearance?” the senator asked.
“Tompkins was extremely loyal to the first admiral. He has… vanished from sight, sir,” Nelson said.
“That is most unfortunate,” the senator said. The corners of his mouth twitched as he fought to keep from smiling. “Perhaps I should put you in charge of SACOM temporarily.”
“No, sir. That job should go to a SACOM officer. Besides, I have my hands full dealing with security. When word spreads that the first admiral is gone, things could become tense around here.”
“Good point. Well, is there anyone who can take charge until a new first admiral is appointed?” Kase asked.
“If you’re asking for my recommendation, there is a hard-working captain who I believe would make an excellent choice as a temporary head of SACOM.”
“A captain?” Kase asked.
“Only until Vice Admiral Saunders returns, or a new first admiral is appointed,” Nelson said.
“I don’t know, Lance. I was hoping for a more senior officer to take command for now.”
“Perhaps you should visit us, sir, and meet Captain Jiorgenson personally. You know, an interview,” Lance said.
The senator suddenly looked very uncomfortable. After a moment, he said, “I suppose that would be prudent.”
“Yes, sir, prudent.”
“Very well. I’ll be there in a week. I will inform you of my precise arrival time after I receive landing clearance,” Kase said. The link closed.
Lance Nelson leaned back in his chair and smiled.
“Well done, sir,” Major Anderson said, sitting behind Lance’s data unit where the senator couldn’t see him. “You pulled him in effortlessly.”
“Oh, it took some effort, I assure you. He doesn’t want to come here… not yet. He has no idea what Bennett might have told us. I could see the fearful, hunted look in his eyes.”
“So, we have a week to make our plans for his arrival. Are you seriously recommending Jiorgenson to run SACOM?” Eric asked with a smile.
“Only temporarily. We need someone we can trust in charge until Senator Kase shares the same fate as the first admiral.”
“I’m looking forward to arranging that,” Eric said with a broad smile.
“In good time, Eric. First, we have to deal with the rest of the goon squad. Somehow, Bennett knew we were coming for her. I’m sure the rest of her goons would have been there, too, if they weren’t out searching for Tompkins,” Lance said. “There will be trouble when they return.”
* * * *
Lieutenant Steven’s data unit chimed. “What now?” he groused as he pulled it from an inside pocket of his vest and scanned the notification. Opening a new message, he began reading.
He moved earlier than expected. He has already killed First Admiral Bennett and Vice Admiral Tomkins. Return immediately. Kill him and his followers. Promotions and commendations for all members of your squad will be forthcoming.
“Oh, hell. Come on, we need to get back to Central Command now!” Stevens said.
“What’s going on?” Pierce asked.
“Nelson already made his move! He’s killed Bennett and Tompkins,” he replied.
“I thought Tompkins was around here somewhere,” Pierce said. “I mean, that’s why we’re here… to look for him.”
“It was a ruse to waste our time. Bennett and Tompkins are dead! That’s what the message says,” Stevens said.
“What about the rest of our squad? They were supposed to be guarding the first admiral. Do you think they’re all dead, too?” Pierce asked. A murmur ran through the squad.
“Shut up, the lot of you!” Stevens barked as he stopped and began typing a message. Everyone stood, waiting for the chime signaling a reply.
“They should have replied by now,” someone said.
“They’re all dead,” said another.
“Come on! We’re going back as fast as we can, and we’re going to kill Nelson and anyone who helped him,” Stevens said as he turned and began running down the street.
“We should have left someone with the truck, you know, to come and pick us up,” Pierce said.
“Shut up and run,” Stevens said.
* * * *
“What makes you think the rest of the goon squad will be here soon?” Anderson asked.
“Because one of the goons in Bennett’s office told me Stevens ordered them there to protect her. He knew we were coming. I don’t know how. I suspected Kase of feeding information to him, but Kase thought we weren’t taking action for five days,” Nelson said.
“But nobody else knew, except those of us who went up there,” Anderson said.
“Someone tipped Stevens off.”
“Do you think we have a traitor in our group?” Anderson asked.
“I can’t think of another explanation, can you?”
“But how? We were all together the whole time. Nobody had a chance to send a message,” Anderson objected.
Nelson shook his head slowly. “I don’t know, Eric. I just know someone tipped Stevens off. That’s why I expect him and his goons to show up any minute. We need to be ready.”
“They have to come through a gate when they get here. We’ll have plenty of warning, and we have them outgunned,” Anderson said.
“That would be more comforting if I didn’t care about killing them,” Nelson said.
“Then we’ll make them surrender,” Eric said.
Nelson frowned. “Not Stevens. If he knows what’s happened here, he’ll be out for blood—my blood. He won’t give up without a fight. He’ll probably head for the arsenal first, to increase their firepower.”
“I’ve got the arsenal on security lockdown. Nobody can get in there without authorization from you or me,” Eric said. “Hell, even Bennett wouldn’t have been able to get in there.”
“That will be the best place to take them. There won’t be any personnel down there, except us, so there won’t be unnecessary casualties,” Nelson said.
“I’ll send our squads down there. Shall we join them?” the major asked.
“Not yet. It will only take us a few minutes to get down there. We’ll go as soon as we get word from a gate that they’ve arrived. I want things to appear as normal as possible up here until we’re needed.”
* * * *
The goon squad’s truck rolled down Water Street and pulled to a stop at the gate. A corporal checked their badges and then opened the gate, smiling as he waved them through. Casually returning to the gatehouse, he pulled out his data unit and opened a link to General Nelson.
The tr
uck came to a halt at the facilities loading dock of the administration building. Stevens and his squad climbed out and ran to the door. Running down a corridor, the group turned right, passed the elevators, and went through a door into a stairwell. Stevens led the way as they quickly descended two floors. He halted just inside the door, looking through the small security window before slowly opening it and sticking his head through enough to look up and down the hallway. He gave a hand signal for his group to follow, and then opened the door fully and stepped through.
They moved quietly down the hall until they reached the first junction. Stevens peeked around the corner into an empty hallway. He could see the arsenal door a short distance away, its window dark. He moved cautiously to the door and waved his badge over the sensor. Nothing happened. He waved it again with the same result. He motioned to Pierce, who stepped up and waved his badge. The door remained locked.
“I would appreciate it if you would all put down your pistols,” General Nelson said.
Stevens spun around, drawing his pistol as he turned, but kept it aimed at the floor as he looked into the barrel of a ballistic combat rifle. “Well, if it isn’t the enemy of the state, himself?” Looking past the general, he said, “I suppose you all know the general killed First Admiral Bennett and Vice Admiral Tompkins.” Looking at Nelson again, he said, “Yes, they probably helped you, didn’t they? You’re all enemies of the state!”
“Put down your pistol, Lieutenant Stevens,” Nelson ordered.
Stevens’ arm swung up and he tried to take aim when a deafening bang startled him. He stared at Nelson for a moment, feeling a burning sensation in his chest. Before he realized what had caused it, he collapsed to the floor.
Pierce pulled his own pistol, looked down at Stevens, and then reluctantly tossed it to the floor. The other goons added their pistols to the pile.
Major Anderson stepped forward and kicked the pistols away toward Nelson’s group before signaling his own squad to take the goons into custody. “Well done, sir,” he said, nodding to Nelson. Turning to his squad, he said, “Take them to the security cells.”
“I don’t feel well,” Nelson said.
Anderson spun around and saw that the general was beginning to sway. Then, noticing the dart in Lance’s upper arm, he said, “He shot you, sir! Let me pull that out for you.” He grasped the dart and pulled. Nelson fell forward into Eric’s arms, eyes wide, his breathing labored.
“He’s allergic to the tranquilizer, Major,” Corporal Sparks said. She rushed forward, unzipped a pocket on the general’s vest, and pulled out a cylindrical device. Pulling a cap off one end, she dropped to her knees and thrust the end of the device hard against the general’s thigh. She looked up at the Major. “It’s his epinephrine injector,” she said as she stood up.
“Allergic? Then why was he down here for this operation?” Eric bellowed.
“Because he refuses to send us into a situation he won’t go into himself, sir,” Sparks replied. “Come on, he’s not out of danger yet.”
Three others stepped forward and took Nelson from the major’s arms. After picking him up, they began running toward the elevators.
Eric watched as the general was rushed to the infirmary. Then he turned around and saw his own squad leading the goons away in handcuffs. He wanted to go with the general, but he was responsible for the prisoners. “The rest of you,” he said to the remainder of Nelson’s squad, “take Stevens to the morgue.” He hesitated a moment before turning and running after his squad.
Chapter 23
“Where are we meeting Ronnie?” Nolan asked.
“She’s coming here, tomorrow morning. You haven’t been getting enough rest,” Megan said.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean… Becca died on this ship.”
“Yes, and so did John! Do you really think I’ve forgotten?”
Nolan looked away. “No… I know you haven’t. Wake me if you need me,” he said as he stood and walked to his cabin.
Megan watched him go, angry that he had questioned her judgment on bringing Ronnie here. At the same time, she regretted snapping at him. “I need sleep, too,” she said as she turned and walked to her cabin, closing the door as she entered.
Crossing to the bed, she sat and stared at nothing as a tear ran down her cheek. “Oh, John,” she whispered, “I miss you.” She pulled the pillow to her chest and hugged it as she lay down on her side and curled up into a ball.
Nolan rested his head on his pillow and looked at the ceiling. He hadn’t felt tired a moment ago, but now he was exhausted. Pains he had been ignoring were now reminding him of how broken his body still was. “Lights off,” he said. The room went dark.
* * * *
Ronnie Carr walked up the ramp into the Griffin. Reaching the corridor, she paused, having never been aboard the ship before. She could hear Megan and Nolan talking and followed the sound. The smell of food and coffee grew stronger as she went. Rounding a corner, she found them in the galley eating breakfast. “I’m sorry; I’m a bit early… Oh, Nolan, are you okay?”
“I’m getting better,” he said.
Megan stood. Rushing over, she pulled Ronnie into her arms. “You’re welcome to join us. What would you like?” she asked.
“Just some coffee. I already ate,” Ronnie said.
Nolan stood with some difficulty. A long night’s sleep had done wonders for his mind, but his muscles were now stiff from inactivity. He limped to the counter and filled a mug with steaming coffee. The ladies were just sitting down at the table when he set the cup in front of Ronnie. “Do you want anything for it?” he asked.
“No, I like it black,” she said.
Nolan nodded and sat.
“Did SACOM do this to you?” Ronnie asked.
Nolan nodded, but said nothing.
“They nearly beat him to death. You’re just seeing the fading of the bruises,” Megan said.
Ronnie reached over and squeezed Nolan’s hand gently. “You shouldn’t be here. You should leave Caldon and get far away from here.”
“I’m not going to run away,” he said. Then, changing the subject, he said, “Here, I have something for you.” Reaching inside his shirt, he pulled the necklace out and over his head. “This was Rebecca’s. She always wore it, except when we worked in micro-gravity. She said it kept her safe.”
Ronnie gasped when she saw it. “I gave her that for her sixteenth birthday. How did you get it?”
“Our last job… it was a micro-gravity job. I found it in her cabin when I was cleaning the ship,” Nolan said.
“So she wasn’t wearing it when she died,” Ronnie said.
Nolan looked at Megan, and then back at Ronnie. “It wouldn’t have changed anything.”
To his surprise, Ronnie smiled faintly. “I know. We used to joke about it being a protective talisman. It was just a bit of silliness between us.”
Nolan held out the necklace. Taking it, Ronnie slipped the chain over her head. She rubbed the silver Rebecca between her fingers for a moment, and then tucked it inside her shirt. “Thank you for returning it to me. I wanted something of hers to keep… something that was special to her. This was special to both of us. I couldn’t ask for a better remembrance.”
Megan reached over and rubbed Ronnie’s back.
“You’re welcome,” Nolan said.
“Would you like to look around the ship?” Megan asked.
“Can I? I’d love to see it. Becca spent a lot of time here with people she loved, and I’ve never seen it,” Ronnie said.
“You can show her around,” Nolan said to Megan.
Megan smiled and nodded. Standing, she held out a hand to Ronnie. Nolan sipped his coffee as he watched the ladies walk out of the galley.
* * * *
Major Anderson rushed into the infirmary, crossed the waiting room, and entered the exam and treatment area.
“Hello! Where is General Nelson?” he called.
A woman stepped into the corridor. “Come
this way, Major.”
Eric followed her into an examination room, where General Nelson was resting in a bed, wires connected to his chest and tubes to both arms.
“How is he?” Eric asked.
“He’ll be fine. If that corporal hadn’t been quick to inject him with the epinephrine, we probably would have lost him,” the woman said.
“Really? From a tranquilizer dart?” Eric asked.
“The general is extremely allergic. I don’t know why he was involved in a situation where the darts were likely to be used.”
Eric shook his head. “You and me both.”
“He isn’t likely to wake up for some time. Between the tranquilizer and the drugs I’ve given him, I’d say he’ll be out until morning, at least. Why don’t you come back then? We’ll take good care of him, Major,” the woman said.
“Thank you, Doctor. I’ll come back in the morning,” Eric said before turning and stepping out of the room. He walked down the corridor and turned right, stopping at the service elevator. One floor below was the morgue. The door was open, and a gurney stood by the back wall of the elevator. He stepped in and pressed the down button. The inner mesh door rattled as it came down, and then the large outer doors rumbled as they closed, meeting with a bang, and the elevator began its descent.
When it stopped, the outer doors opened, followed by the inner mesh door. Eric stepped out and looked around. He’d only been to the morgue once, and that was more than ten years ago. Straight off the elevator was the hall leading to autopsy and cold storage. To the left was an office, the door ajar and the lights on. He walked to the door and knocked.
“Come in,” called a man from within.
Eric pushed the door open and stepped into the office. “I would like to examine Lieutenant Stevens’ effects.”
The man seated behind the desk nodded and stood. He crossed the room, unlocked a large cabinet, and removed a box. Setting it on a table in the corner, he said, “Here you are, Major. Everything the lieutenant had on him is in here, except for his bloody clothes. Those went into the biohazard waste bin. Any objects that had blood or body tissue on them were bagged and sealed. Do not open any bags, sir.”