“It was still a fine date. No one is as exciting as Kylie Rhoads.”
She snorted. “I could do without some excitement for a short while. A roaring fire, a cup of cocoa, a nice blanket.”
“Sounds nice,” Grayson admitted. He glanced at the window. “I’m afraid it’s time to go to work.”
“Raincheck?” Kylie asked.
He leaned down and kissed her lips gently. “Raincheck.”
* * * * *
Kylie was standing across the road, near the back of a medshuttle, as she watched Grayson speak with the police captain in charge of the scene.
Kylie said.
Marge said.
Marge’s avatar shook her head. The AI giggled, and Kylie couldn’t help but feel slighted.
Kylie cut her off.
Kylie said as she looked up at the towering spacescrapers that rose all around.
She enjoyed the feeling of the cool breeze on her cheeks as traffic holos directed skycars away from the scene.
Finally, after some time, she said,
Marge said apologetically.
Kylie glanced back and checked to see that Grayson was still talking to the police. Her dreams of getting cuddly by a fire were slowly going up in smoke. Maybe it was for the best. She didn’t want things to move along too quickly, did she? Or maybe that’s exactly what she wanted.
When did she get so complicated?
“Excuse me, Miss Rhoads, can we get a statement about what happened tonight?” a voice called out, and Kylie turned to see a woman running across the street toward her.
She shook her head. “No, I really don’t think so.”
The dismissal didn’t abate the reporter’s zeal in the least. “I love your dress! Is there a special man you’re out with?”
“Are the rumors about you and a certain SSF colonel true?” asked a man who had followed on the first reporter’s heels.
“Whoa,” Kylie held her hands up. “Isn’t that a little personal? I’m not interested in being involved in any Silstrand reality show.”
“Might be a little too late for that.” The reporter held out her hand, and a holodisplay activated. Kylie was shocked to see vid of herself and Grayson exiting her hotel suite.
Her lips turned down into a snarl. “Is this what you do for fun? Ambush people?”
“You’re a person of interest. Your brother, Paul Rhoads, is standing trial for genocide. How can people not be interested in you? It humanizes the lot of you!”
“We’re not entertainment. We’re not here to—”
Kylie decided to stop talking before she punched the woman.
“Get out of here before I call the cops over.” She added a dark glower to her words.
Slowly, the reporters backed up, retreating to a safe distance before they turned and began addressing their camera drones. They didn’t move any further, and Kylie felt her anger simmering.
Marge said sweetly.
Kylie admitted.
Kylie said.
Rogers cried out.
Ricket informed her.
My blood, Kylie thought.
Rogers said.
Kylie’s anger boiled back up. What did Rogers and Ricket know, and when had they found it out?
Ricket said.
Kylie tried to control her reaction. She knew she was prone to fly off the handle, but she didn’t want tonight to be one of those nights. She wanted to salvage what was left of it and maybe at least get a good sleep.
she said.
A moment later, her armor registered a warm spot on her chest.
Marge said.
Kylie dove behind the medshuttle just as two hover bikes slid down for a landing. For a moment, she thought they were more enemies, but her HUD flagged them as Rogers and Ricket.
They leapt off and crouched behind the shuttle, Ricket handing Kylie a rifle.
“I got you a present.”
Kylie couldn’t help but laugh. “My favorite!”
Marge announced.
Kylie said before glancing at the hoverbikes.
The pilot turned his head toward her, eyes wide.
Kylie didn’t take the time to respond. She hopped on the bike and took off, ignoring Ricket shouting out to her.
She slewed around the building, her bike a few centimeters off the ground. Past the main entrance, she went down the staff and service ramp while tracking the shooter on her HUD. He had come down to the second level, heading for the bridge that would take him across the river into the southern side of the city. He was ahead of her by several blocks.
Kylie punched the hoverbike’s throttle, carefully timing it as she streaked through two intersections, narrowly avoiding oncoming traffic. A ramp led up to a viewing deck that overlooked the river, and she raced up the slope, boosting the bike’s a-grav systems to get over the railing. She sailed through the air, angling toward the bridge, which was twenty meters to her left.
Marge called out, and Kylie saw that she was right.
Ahead, she spotted the shooter on the bridge and realized that she had one chance.
Locking the bike’s a-grav on full, she climbed onto the handlebars. Just as the bike reached the zenith of its arc, she jumped.
The force pushed the bike down, and it smashed into the side of the bridge, while Kylie flew over the railing and collided with her target.
She and her shooter rolled onto the ground in the middle of the road as groundcars skidded around them. Somehow she ended up on top and pulled herself forward, kneeling on the attac
ker’s hand while tearing off their helmet.
“Who do you work for?” Kylie asked, grabbing the woman under the throat.
“No one,” she gasped. “I work for no one.”
“Liar,” Kylie snarled and squeezed the woman’s throat, while she clawed at Kylie’s hand.
“Like…I’d tell…the likes…of you,” the woman choked out
“Tell me, or I’ll—”
You’re too late,” the shooter whispered. “He’s already decided to kill me for failing him.” She gasped for breath, her hand falling away from Kylie’s and landing on her own chest.
Why would people sign up for this?
Kylie sat back on her heels as a hoverbike slid to a stop, Ricket and Rogers leaping off.
“You shouldn’t rush off like that,” Ricket said. “How can we protect you?”
“I’m not some delicate princess that needs protection,” Kylie said with a snort.
Ricket snorted right back. “Excuse me while I count the times I’ve saved your ass.”
“Are you all right?” Rogers asked, shooting a quelling glance at Ricket.
Kylie’s answer didn’t come right away. She was inspecting the dead woman’s hand. There was a red tattoo on the back, one she remembered well; it had been engraved on crates of food she’d stolen ages ago.
Back when her life revolved around Jericho. Back when she was nothing more than a salvager.
This woman was a member of the Mark.
DIVERGING VIEWS
STELLAR DATE: 01.27.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Governor’s Offices, Chimin-1
REGION: Chimin Asteroid Group, Hanoi System, Silstrand Alliance
Grace reacted the way Winter had expected her to. She paced behind her desk, finger to her chin like she did when she was testing out excuses in her mind.
“Stalling the general is one thing, that I can support. Kidnapping him and torturing him is quite another. I can’t have a blatant act of war be my first act in office, Winter. That Orion fleet will destroy Chimin!”
“I don’t want that any more than you do, but we need intel. We need to find out how many ships Orion has out there—if there is even a fleet at all.”
“We’re talking about a few white lies, that’s all,” Lana reassured the governor. “We take the general, put him somewhere secluded, and convince him that we’ve injected him with the virus.”
“A muscle stimulant masked as a virus. That’s all,” the Winter explained.
Grace sighed. “And when his AI figures out your game? I appreciate the dedication both of you are showing, but I won’t sanction this.”
“I’ll get him to talk fast. I’m stronger—and better—than most.”
Damn, Winter thought, Lana’s gotten a bit overconfident.
Grace shook her head. “I’ll contact the general personally and tell him to stand by, that we’re searching for the drug. That should buy us some time.”
“It’ll be a few days before the Coalesce Legion gets here. He sure as hell isn’t going to wait that long. He only gave us two hours,” Winter argued.
Grace pursed her lips. “Then we do the best we can.”
It wouldn’t be good enough, not by a long shot.
“Captain Quaker is ready to use troops to repel an attack if we take General Levin. He’s onboard; you should listen to the SSF on this,” Winter pressed.
The governor sighed and nodded. “I will, but first, I want to try and buy more time. We both want the same things, but our tactics are different.”
Winter thought about pressing her further, but the look in her eyes said not to bother trying. He stormed out of the governor’s office and Lana followed after. In the hall, they encountered Cassandra. Her cheeks were flushed, as though she’d been sprinting all over the asteroid.
“Well?” she asked.
Winter shook his head. “You think you can change her mind?”
“Probably not, but General Levin’s just reached out again and wants to talk to the governor.”
Winter and Lana exchanged a worried glance. “Can you let us know what happens?” Lana asked. “Just so we can stay in the loop, of course.”
Cassandra nodded. “She won’t like it, but I can. I know you want to help.” She finished up her statement with a nervous smile.
Winter gave her a wink. “Be careful, and do what you can.”
The governor’s assistant hurried into Grace’s office, and Winter noticed Lana staring after her with a blush creeping up her neck. So, Lana was jealous of the time he spent with Cassandra.
“She was just my assistant, you don’t have to look so put out.”
“I’m not put out. Whatever it is you think I’m feeling.”
Winter chuckled. “Girl, I know what a fine catch I am. Women have been tugging on me all my life.”
Lana shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible. Listen, Mr. Ego, I’m going to talk to Captain Quaker, see if he can work an angle that gets us that Orion general. Get in touch when you hear back from Cassandra.”
Winter watched her go, appreciating the view of her rear more than he’d ever admit. He hated to make Lana mad; OK, maybe he actually liked when she was mad, but he felt bad about it.
Better than her giving him doe eyes all the time.
* * * * *
“Complete and utter stalemate,” Captain Quaker said from his place at the table. “We can read that one ship’s shields and weaponry, but we have no idea how many of them are out there. We can’t make a move without knowing their positions, but the second they get their hands on the virus, we have no choice. We can’t let them leave the system with it.”
“Coalesce has your back, Captain,” Captain Penelope said. “Does the general population know what’s happening yet?”
Lana shook her head. “No official statement’s been made. The STC noticed the ship, but Winter made sure that the guys and girls in the tower are keeping their mouths shut. The governor doesn’t want a panic.”
“She better warn them at some point, before that’s exactly what she has on her hands.” Quaker stood and pushed his chair into the table. “She needs to get ahead of this thing before it rules her.”
“I’ll see what I can do, Captain,” Lana replied.
“Good. Honest assessment: is the newly elected governor up for this sort of crisis?”
Lana took a deep breath. “She was instrumental in getting everyone through the virus. People look to her for leadership. They trust her. I do, too.” Lana was surprised at how easily the answer came, even if she didn’t exactly answer the question.
“All good and well to hear, but if the crisis escalates and you think she can’t handle it, report it to me at once. We’ll take more direct control of Chimin and see it through to the other side.”
It made sense, but Lana feared that the people of Chimin would see that sort of help as an occupation.
Still, she replied, “Yes, sir.”
Then she excused herself and headed out of the conference room.
Lew, Empress Ranstock’s father, caught up to her. “I’ve seen that look in your eye before, young Lana. You have a plan?”
“One no one wants to hear.”
“I do,” Lew said sincerely. “You’ve not steered my daughter wrong yet, and you kept her safe when she was on Chimin. I know you’re strong, and if you have an idea, I fully support it.”
Lana smiled. “I guess you’d better come with me then, so we can fill you in.”
* * * * *
General Levin sat at the captain’s desk in his ready room, broadcasting a message to Chimin-1.
to give us immediate clearance. It’ll be easier if you have escorts to guide our teams. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee how tidy we’ll be.>
Levin cut the transmission and sat back, a stoic smile on his face. He glanced up at Commander Thea. “We’ll have it in two hours or less. I guarantee that these dust monkeys know precisely where it is.”
“I don’t disagree with you, sir, but is it wise to go there yourself? I can lead the teams. You could be walking right into their trap.”
“Commander, we suffered considerable losses at Dante, and that virus is the main reason we established a presence in this backwater region of the Inner Stars. The only reason why this rock survived the virus is because of Rhoads’ sister, but she’s not here to protect them, and without her, these people don’t have the spine to stand up to us.”
As he spoke, Levin stood and started for the exit, stopping at the door.
“Assemble a boarding party of six soldiers and two scientists. Have them meet me in shuttle bay two.”
“You’re not worried about Silstrand being here?”
“Those three cruisers want to engage us less than I want to engage them. Like I said, if they had any backbone, they’d have already hit us. But don’t worry, Thea. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * * * *
Winter stood outside the Good Eats cafeteria doors as Cassandra sprinted by.
“Cass, over here.”
She turned abruptly at the sound of his voice and hurried toward him, glancing around as though she might get caught.
“A lot is happening. I don’t have time to talk.”
Winter already knew that General Levin was on his way, but he didn’t have many details.
“What’s up? Maybe I can help.”
Cassandra flinched. “I…don’t know….”
“Grace is freezing me out. I know she wants to handle this her way, but you know I have a lot of experience in this sort of thing, right? Grace is a doctor. A fine peace-time leader, but she ain’t a fighter. All I want to do is help.”
Cassandra took a deep breath. “She’s arranging for one or two people to meet with Levin. Take him where he wants to go.”
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