by M. D. Cooper
It could solve all his problems and buy him piece of mind.
* * * * *
Later that day, Smithers boarded a shuttle and arrived in Silstrand City a few hours after. He’d spent most of his life in Dessen and didn’t like to leave—thinking the travel was a waste of precious time. But some situations, and people, demanded it of him.
There were some people he’d travel to meet, should they bother to ask.
Despite his growing distaste for its people, Silstrand was a beautiful world, and the capital city was well refined. Sophisticated, even.
After taking a skycar from the spaceport to the far side of the river, Smithers lost himself in the crowd and walked along the canal that ran alongside the alliance’s federal buildings.
Across the narrow stretch of water were some of the best steakhouses and coffee shops for lightyears, at least in his opinion. You’d dine with the upper crust, magnates, governors, generals, and socialites and have them eating out of your hand.
“Smithers?”
He turned and saw Ginia coming toward him. She had once been his assistant, but more than that, she’d been someone he could confide in. She prided herself on her work and her loyalty, something Shinya lacked.
Shinya was an adequate assistant, but to her, it was a job. Nothing more. He had to be careful every day not to let something slip, because he knew Shinya would have no problem rolling over on him.
“It’s so good to see you.” Smithers turned toward the canal and rested his hands on the rail. He gazed at the sparkling water, watching as ducks and geese swam by.
“And you.”
Ginia stood beside him and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a piece of bread and began to tear off a piece, throwing it down into the water. Smithers stole a glance at her and rejoiced in her smile.
What a beautiful woman, he thought.
How he’d like to have her. All the years he had been alive, that was the one thing he had been missing, wasn’t it? Someone to share his fortune with.
“What is it you need me to do?” Ginia asked with a slightly labored breath.
“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, but I need to know what they’re saying up there. And if it’ll interfere with my plans.”
Ginia nodded and swallowed hard. “It’ll be my head if I get caught. Are you sure we need to do this? You have money. So much of it. Can’t we just…go?”
Smithers swept her hair behind her ear, but when he realized what he had done, he stepped a bit further away. “It’s the principle of the thing. They ruined me, now I’m going to ruin them. If you’re with me, really with me, you’ll understand.”
Ginia nodded. “I’ll do it today, when he’s away at a meeting. Then I’ll send you the credentials on our private channel.”
Smithers allowed himself one pleasure, to kiss her hand before he quickly dropped it.
She flustered, her cheeks turning bright red. “We can’t see each other again until this is over. My wife—she’s beginning to suspect I haven’t stopped seeing you.”
If only Ginia had left her wife when Smithers had first asked, but she hadn’t wanted to. He never understood it, and if he hadn’t loved her the way he did, he never would’ve accepted it. No one else would’ve gotten away with it, that was for damn sure.
Ginia was his. Smithers just had to be patient a little longer, and soon their status would be permanent. And he’d see Colonel Grayson and Captain Kylie Rhoads burned to ash before he left Silstrand for good.
It wasn’t for money. It wasn’t for power. It was for revenge.
CELEBRATION
STELLAR DATE: 01.26.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Protein Grub, Chimin-1
REGION: Chimin Asteroid Group, Hanoi System, Silstrand Alliance
The day Winter didn’t think would ever arrive finally had. Elections and celebrations. The day when he wasn’t tied down anymore by bureaucracy and he could get back to doing what he did best.
Shooting things.
Protein Grub, the best restaurant on Chimin, famous for steak and lab-grown shrimp, had been decorated with red table cloths, blue and white balloons, and red streamers. Small white plates were passed around with shrimp, cheddar grits, and tiny pieces of steak.
Way too small a portion size to Winter’s liking. If he was going to eat steak, he wanted something the size of his forearm. It’d be seared, but red in the middle, seasoned only with salt and pepper.
Perfection on a plate.
Instead, he had to munch on a damn shellfish he didn’t even like on something that should’ve tasted like mashed potatoes but didn’t. How was that fair?
“It’s grits,” a Silstrand lieutenant said.
Grits, Winter thought, What the hell’s a grit? He grunted. “I’ve got grit, that’s all I know.”
The officer laughed and slapped him on the back. Winter glared. He really hated spending time with the military.
How’d I get pulled into this mess in the first place?
He knew—it was a volunteer gig, that’s how.
It was nearly over. The SSF Fleet that had arrived at Chimin had returned to Silstrand, or moved on to bring other systems into the alliance, but three ships remained, and they had sent officers down to join the celebration.
Battian representatives, along with the Coalesce Legion had arrived and sent representatives to the asteroid. Winter had been more than a little happy to see that Lana was one of them. She wore the blue colors of Battia in a form-fitting outfit that flattered her shape. It made her easy on the eyes.
All too easy.
She stood next to Lew, the father of Ranstock—who was Battia’s new empress. Winter would have far rather dealt with Ranstock than her crusty dad, but he understood why the empress couldn’t be traveling off-world just yet. Things were still in a state of transition, and the citizens of her world weren’t ready to be on their own.
While the media took photos, Winter approached the rather impressive cake and stood across from Doctor Grace, the newly elected governor of Chimin. She had really seen the people through the worst of the worst, even waiting to get her new eyes installed until everyone else was treated ahead of her. She was a fine choice for governor, and Winter finally felt like he could relax and leave the asteroid group behind in her care.
They shook hands and held their smiles for the photographs—well, Grace held it better than Winter did.
“Good luck, Doc, you’re going to need it, but I know Chimin is going to get back to its former…er…glory.”
“Thank you.” The doctor ignored his gaff. “This is only possible because of you. You really stepped up and organized us when we needed it. I don’t know if we would’ve survived without your leadership.”
Winter doubted they would have, but knew not to put a damper on the event. “Might’ve been tough, but Chimin would’ve been fine. Hearty folk. Best damn people I’ve ever met.” Winter raised his beer in the air to toast, and a roar of applause broke out.
Damn, Winter thought, it’s great to see everyone so fucking happy.
He hadn’t thought he’d see the day.
He moved down the line to congratulate Grace’s newly appointed cabinet, ending with Cassandra, his former assistant. “Guess we’ll pass the baton over to another Governor of Chimin.”
Cassandra smiled. “I’m sad to see you go, Mr. Winter. Real sad. It was an honor working for you.”
He doubted anyone had ever said anything so nice to him. “More like I worked for you some days. I gotta tell ya, without your advice and know how, I would’ve landed on my ass more than once. That’s how I know Grace will be OK. She’s smart to take you on. I just hope you get the appreciation you deserve, kid.”
Cassandra blushed. “You have a way with words. You know…what people say about you….”
“People talking about me behind my back?”
“I guess so. I just
…I’m trying to make a point.”
No shit, Winter raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What is it they say?”
“How rough around the edges you are. How big your muscles are. You liken yourself to be some sort of attack dog, maybe a mercenary for hire. But I don’t buy a lick of it.”
“You don’t? Oh, c’mon, Cass….” Winter shrugged and rolled his eyes in one sweeping movement.
Her face brightened. “You’re a good guy. More than you give yourself credit for. I wish you were staying at Chimin, but we’re a little small for such a big personality.”
Winter locked eyes with her and knew that if he wanted Cassandra, he could have her, but the truth was—he didn’t. There was a time he would’ve taken her just because he could, but something had happened to him since the Dauntless had crashed on Gedri.
Damn, Winter thought with horror, I’m going soft. I’m settling down. How the hell do I stop this? Am I contagious? Shit!
He did, however, kiss Cassandra’s cheek. “Never change, you hear me? I might be planning to leave, but I’m going to come back and check on you. You just remember that.”
“I will.” Cassandra grinned. “Safe travels.”
Winter sipped his beer as she walked away, heading back into the crowd of people he now counted as friends. When he lowered his bottle, he caught sight of Lana making her way over to him. Inwardly he groaned, even if he was happy to see her. She had a way of complicating everything.
She smiled as she stopped before him. “I thought it’d be weird if I didn’t even stop by to say hello. Congratulations on getting Chimin to where it is today.”
“Yeah, thanks, but I think it follows its own orbital path, you know.” Winter ran his tongue along his teeth.
Lana giggled. “Nice. Yeah, guess you’re right about that.”
“You’ll have to thank your empress for the support pledged by the Coalesce Legion. We had some tricky times we wouldn’t have pulled out of except for them.”
Lana nodded. “Sure.”
“How’s she doing, by the way?” Winter coughed nervously as Lana continued to stare him down.
“Getting her footing, and things are starting to gel. Her confidence is back where it should be. With her father here for the long-term, she’s ready for me to move on. I guess Grayson had filed papers for me to be on temporary assignment, so I’m back in the space force now. Looks like we’re both out of here.”
Winter felt like groaning. “So, what? You think we can hitch a ride together? Shit, Lana….”
She shrugged. “The SSS Tiberius is shipping out for Silstrand in a few days, and I’m going with them. I’m just saying, if we’re leaving roughly at the same time, why not bum a ride? It doesn’t have to be weird.”
“No? This is normal to you?” Winter narrowed his eyes. “The way you stormed out of my apartment, the last things we said to each other. Look, you don’t owe me any favors.”
Lana set her jaw, and a bit of that familiar fire leapt back into her eyes, but then her shoulders relaxed, and she said, “I was just being cordial. No hard feelings, OK? And I’m sorry I stormed out. That was wrong of me. I should’ve been more adult about the situation.”
Shit…since when did this hotheaded girl pass me in maturity—not that it’s hard, I guess. Her admission made him slow to respond, but after a few beats, he nodded. “Damn straight you should’ve been.”
“And with how you’ve been staring at me all night, I thought I’d break the ice, come over. Offer you a lift.” Lana shrugged as she spoke, and turned to walk away.
“Wait a second.” He chased after her and caught up by the dessert table, where she was popping a few grapes into her mouth. “I haven’t been staring at you all night. I’ve been keeping an eye on the area, making sure nothing funny is going on.”
“Uh-huh.” The corner of her lips curled up with amusement. “That might work on some women, but I’ve been trained by the best that the space force has to offer—which is to say Kylie. I know how to observe, and I observed you doing a whole lot of nothing. Except for staring.”
Winter shook his head. Had he been staring? No, of course he hadn’t.
“I was checking the perimeter.”
“Uh-huh.” Lana put a hand on her hip. “You’re a pretty bad liar for a thug.”
“And you’re a pretty girl for a space force brat.” Winter narrowed his eyes. Oh shit, too far.
Lana pursed her lips in a show of defiance. He had seen it enough times on Kylie’s face to know it meant trouble with a capital ‘U’ for ‘Uh-oh’. Lana wasn’t going to back down, and that would mean they couldn’t share a ride off Chimin-1 together.
Taking a step back, he said, “Sorry, girl, but I already have transportation arranged. You’ll have to leave Hanoi without me.”
Lana’s cheeks flushed red, but she didn’t call his bluff. “All right. Well, it’s been nice catching up with you.”
It didn’t rain on Chimin, but sometimes it really did suck.
* * * * *
Winter couldn’t believe what he had just seen, so he replayed the message again, trying not to stare openmouthed as the view of a bridge—with an Orion Guard general in the forefront—floated on his HUD.
The message ended, and Winter felt just as sick as he had the last four times he’d played it. He had almost gotten off Chimin, the place was running smooth, people were happy…but now this. Would they ever stop being nothing more than pawns in the military’s games?
“For fucksakes,” Winter mumbled and rubbed his face. “Anyone else see this yet?”
Grace shook her head. “Just us. I haven’t sent a response yet, but I know what it is I need to do.”
“If it isn’t ‘fight with everything we’ve got’, your answer is wrong.”
“We give them what they want, Mr. Winter. We give Orion the virus. Or we make them think we’re going to.”
He grunted and crossed his arms, sitting on the edge of her desk. “My patience wanes pretty fast, so you better start talking.”
“Delay and stall them. Sell them a story about searching the compound. Meanwhile, we find a way to figure out exactly what we’re dealing with.”
“They’re bluffing. I bet they don’t have anything more than that one ship up there.”
“Perhaps, but are you willing to risk it?”
Winter thought it over. “I had the labs scrubbed and blasted clean. All of Raynes’ operation is long destroyed.”
“Except,” Grace sighed, “for what’s in the hospital’s medical lab.”
Winter’s eyes pinched and he felt his fuse ignite. “Meaning?”
“Meaning we extracted a lot of it while we were working on the cure. Tissue samples, blood, there’s a lot of infected material stored in cryo just in case we need it again in the future. Comparatively speaking, what’s left is a miniscule amount, but it might be just enough to replicate.”
Shit. “You have it destroyed, soon as you can, Grace. If Orion…we didn’t clean this place up just to walk right into their hands, you got me?”
&n
bsp; “I got you. So what do you think we should do?”
Winter rubbed his chin, quickly pulling together the details. “You contact that general and tell him we’ll get back to him with a statement soon. As for the rest of it, time to assemble everyone we have—Coalesce Legion, SSF—and figure out what the hell we’re going to do next.”
Grace swallowed hard. “I’ll join you soon.”
“You got this.” Winter gripped her shoulder. “Welcome to the big leagues. You happy you won yet?”
PLANS
STELLAR DATE: 01.26.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Governor’s Offices, Chimin-1
REGION: Chimin Asteroid Group, Hanoi System, Silstrand Alliance
Everyone assembled in conference room one, not far from the governor’s office. In attendance were the three SSF ship captains and one of their assault team commanders, captains and mates from the Coalesce Legion, and the Battian representatives Lew and Lana.
Winter was glad that they had already been on the station, or the Orion Guard would have noticed the increased activity and transmissions and known something was up.
Lew Ranstock glanced at Winter and Grace as he settled into his seat. “We sent a transmission to my dau—the empress. She’ll want to remain apprised about what happens here. She’s long cared about the people of Chimin.”
Winter nodded as the assembled settled down, murmuring amongst themselves. Cassandra bustled about the table with two carafes of coffee, and he gave her a wink as a sign of thanks while she hurried quickly around the room. She was nothing if not efficient.
When he picked up his cup of steaming brew, he noticed Lana giving him the stink eye, but when he returned her gaze, she quickly looked away.
If only they could be mature about this…. Except, Winter didn’t know how to, either.
“Do any of the ships you brought from Battia have combat capabilities beyond what scan shows?” Captain Quaker of the SSS Hammerstrike—and the senior SSF officer present—asked Lew Ranstock.