by M. D. Cooper
“Oh, sister, I can see what you’re thinking. Don’t worry, I would never put you in that position. I’ve already done it. I’ve finally managed to do something that isn’t selfish.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I knew they wouldn’t stop coming, and at first, I admit, I wanted to escape. But I saw Mom’s heartbreak, yours. The Revolution is defeated. I know it’s over, and I won’t be paraded in front of the courts any longer. My time is up.”
As Paul spoke the words, a hypospray fell from his hand and clattered to the deck, followed a moment later by his body
“Paul?” Kylie rushed over to him, forgetting about Alberta, forgetting about everything.
She picked up the hypospray, wondering what it was he had done.
“That was for me, not you!” Alberta shrieked and charged after.
Paul struggled to breathe, and Kylie took his hand. “Paul, for star’s sake, what did you do?”
“Freed you. Freed everyone of our curse. You don’t need to bear it any longer.”
Kylie knew what that could mean for her brother and knew that he’d hate it…hate what it would do to him.
It can’t end this way, she thought;
She took both of Paul’s hands in hers as Alberta pounded on her shoulder, begging her to do something.
“Help him! Help him, please!”
He struggled to breathe, his legs beginning to kick out. His hand squeezed hers harder.
“I’m sorry,” he wheezed out. “This is how it was always going to end. Let it be on my terms. Let me go, baby sister.”
Maybe letting it end like this really is just for the best.
Kylie’s eyes spilled over with tears. “I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I let this happen. I should’ve taken you with me. I should’ve….”
“Not your fault,” Paul said as his eyes turned red, and red blisters began to pop up on his face. “Let me go, Kylie. Tell Momma I’m sorry.”
“Paul….” Her voice quivered, and she felt his hand go slack in hers. “No!”
She reached forward and stroked his hair back, holding his head in her hand as blood seeped out from the corner of his lips.
He was gone. Kylie didn’t need Marge to tell her.
Beside her, Alberta screamed. She clung to Paul’s side like a true believer.
“He’s dead, he’s dead. This can’t be! He wasn’t supposed to die! Why couldn’t you let us go?”
Kylie couldn’t have allowed that, but there was no way to convey that to this woman, so she stood and stared down at her dead brother’s body and the heartbroken woman beside him.
She shouldered the pulse rifle and aimed it at Alberta.
“He can’t answer for what he did here, but you will.”
“Please,” Alberta lifted her head off Paul’s. Her teeth clenched as she sobbed. “Kill me. I have nothing left. Kill me.”
Kylie might have once, but the desire to pull the trigger fled her as she looked down on the morose woman.
It was finally over. Really over. Kylie felt a rush of relief followed by an overwhelming sense off loss. It was like being crushed by a boulder.
The thought put fresh tears in Kylie’s eyes.
Maybe not forever, but long enough.
ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS
STELLAR DATE: 02.25.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Kylie’s Suite, Entourage Hotel, Silstrand City, Silstrand
REGION: Silstrand System, Silstrand Alliance
Kylie stood on her suite’s balcony at the Entourage Hotel as everyone inside celebrated the victories of the prior day—mostly focused on being alive and together again.
Despite a difficult chapter in her life finally being over, Kylie didn’t feel much like joining in, though she knew she needed to make an appearance before long.
She was happy that her crew was finally all together and having a good time, but she worried that she’d bring everyone down. Her ears still echoed with her mother’s screams and cries from when Kylie had given her the news of Paul’s death.
And Kylie would forever wish that life had dealt Paul a different hand. Peter too.
Kylie admitted.
Kylie gripped the railing and peered out at the city. The night sky sparkled with the lights of stations and ships, some just going about their business, others working on cleaning the debris from the battle. Below, the city lights shone just as they had prior nights. There was no sign of the battle that had swept across it the previous day.
“What are you looking at?” Grayson’s voice came from behind her, barely above a whisper.
Kylie sighed. “Just thinking about how it looks like none of it even happened, how there’s no damage out there.”
“There’s damage,” Grayson said as he reached her side and handed her a glass of whiskey, “but it’ll all get repaired.”
Kylie stared into her drink. “I’m sorry. I know how much you love it here.”
“Not your fault. And only partially true. I love it up there.” Grayson nodded toward the sky. “Same as you. That’s how I know we’ll be all right.”
“My mom’s asked me not to be at Paul’s cremation. Actually, it was more of an order. I don’t think she’ll be talking to me for a long while.”
She blinked back tears and then poured her whiskey down her throat before letting out a long, anguish-filled sigh.
“You didn’t kill him. She’ll come around and see that.”
“I might as well have.”
Grayson studied her and exhaled. “Whatever it is you need, I’m here.”
“Hugs are always nice.”
He complied, and Kylie thought there was never a better place for her. Nestled against him, she half turned and peered in through the sliding door. She watched as Rogers teased Mr. Fizzle Pop with the laser pointer, sending the poor cat running around in circles.
Kylie laughed. “Looks like fun in there.”
“You should join the party. Moping can only be tolerated for so long.”
“A little bit longer,” Kylie peered up at him.
“All right.” Grayson smiled. “Death and war aside, I can’t think of a nicer way to spend a night.”
He went quiet, and they spent several moments just enjoying each other before he spoke again.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Kylie.”
Uh-oh, Kylie thought.
Deep thought Grayson never brought good news.
“I’ve decided I’m going to resign my commission with the SSF.”
She lifted her head and gawked at him. “And do what? Follow me across the stars?”
“If that’s what you want. Your mission is over. You can do whatever you want. If the SSF has their way, they’ll keep me tied to them for an eternity, rejuv me up and keep me in service.”
“Just what you’ve always wanted. You’ve always been a career man.”
“Maybe I
want something else.”
He looked sincere, but Kylie was skeptical. “You’ll grow to resent me. It won’t happen all at once, but it will happen. I appreciate the offer, Grayson, but we’ll find another way.”
“What other way? Our lives are dangerous, Kylie. I don’t want to find out you were killed via a comm relay.”
“Mr. Optimism,” she murmured.
He gave her a tempered look. “You know what I mean.”
“Listen, I don’t want that for either of us. And I appreciate the offer more than you know. I’ve always wanted you to pick me over the SSF, but the offer is enough. Maybe I can get the Hand or the field marshal to make me some sort of special envoy to Silstrand or something. That, I’d like.”
Grayson grinned, lacing his fingers through hers. “The Polis Fury and the Barbaric Queen, plying the black together?”
“If that’s what it takes. Hey, don’t you think the name the Polis Fury sounds like—”
Grayson placed his finger against her lips. “Don’t you say it.”
She would’ve said it, she would’ve teased him, but he kissed her instead, and Kylie thought that was better. A lot better.
* * * * *
Bubbs glanced up from the sofa as Rogers dealt out another hand of Snark. Mr. Fizzle Pop was snuggled on her lap—now that the red dot had been slain—and Bubbs absently stroked him.
“They do that a lot?” she asked, jerking her chin toward the balcony. “Kylie and the stiff.”
Ricket glanced around and smiled. “Kiss? All the time.”
“Damn pair of teenagers,” Rogers agreed as he picked up his cards. “Who is feeling lucky tonight?”
“Grayson is,” Lana said with a snort.
She plopped herself down on a chair in the suite’s mainspace and sipped her beer.
“Want to be dealt in?” Rogers asked.
Lana shook her head. “Nah, I don’t like cards.”
Everyone stopped and turned to look at her. Winter shook his head.
“Wish I knew that before,” he muttered.
“Before what?” Bubbs asked.
Winter shrugged. “Before nothing, OK?”
“Touchy.” Bubbs cocked an eyebrow.
Lana grinned, and Winter grinned too—an exchange missed by no one.
“What do you think we’ll end up doing?” Rogers asked as he dealt out the first hand.
Ricket picked up her cards, organizing them absently. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. Mission’s over. President Sera and the ISF sent us out to get Paul Rhoads. We’re done. Trial’s…well, we’re done.”
Ricket felt lightheaded at the mere suggestion, knowing that once Petra got her report in Scipio, another assignment would come her way before long.
“I guess we’ll see what happens. Maybe they’ll have another mission for us,” she said.
“Whatever it is, we stick together. A team.” Bubbs raised her eyebrow. “Maybe the SSF will give me back my ship.”
“Your ship?” everyone asked in unison.
Winter grabbed another beer out of the mini fridge. “I say we ditch this hero shit for a while and go out and make some money!”
Ricket threw a cup at him.
“What? We can help a few people along the way, OK? But I’m not a saint.” He casually sat in a chair beside Lana.
“No one would ever accuse you of that,” Ricket said.
He chuckled. “Probably the only thing they aren’t accusing me of, sweetheart.”
“What about you, Lana?” Rogers asked. “You going to ship out with us for old time’s sake?”
Lana sat back in her chair and folded arms. “Other than dinner with my dad tomorrow, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’d like to stick around, but I’m commissioned, a crewmember aboard the Polis Fury.”
Winter shook his head. “Fucking penis,” he muttered.
Everyone gave him another funny look.
He cleared his throat. “How about a toast, huh?”
He raised his beer.
Ricket thought that was a great idea. She lifted her beer into the air. “To the crew, the ship, even the cat. To the Barbaric Queen.”
“And all her assorted friends,” Lana added.
“To the Barbaric Queen!”
* * * * *
Ricket finally got Rogers to agree to a hotel for the night, rather than a shuttle ride back up to the Queen. They ordered room service and watched some of the popular Silstrand vids. Eventually, Ricket excused herself to the bathroom. Once inside, she changed into a sexy negligée for a little surprise. As she styled her long, black hair, she felt a pinching cramp in her abdomen, but wrote it off.
Ricket paused.
“What!” she yelled out loud before clamping her mouth shut.
Oh stars, Rogers.
The party flyboy who liked to talk food, sports, good times, and games. They worked well together…it was fun, and Ricket loved him, but would he be ready for this? Would this be what he wanted?
Would he be ready for such a change?
Ricket didn’t think so. The Barbaric Queen wasn’t exactly set up for a baby. Ricket’s life wasn’t set up for a baby.
Laura joked.
Ricket closed her eyes and exhaled a calming breath. A knock came at the door, and she patted her hair and pulled the door open.
Rogers gave her a sly grin. “There’s my girl. Don’t you look amazing.”
Ricket posed slightly as he leaned in for a kiss.
“Let’s make tonight a night we’ll remember, OK?” she suggested.
“OK. Any special occasion?”
She smiled. “Just us.”
Rogers grinned. “I like the sound of that. Why don’t we go celebrate being us with another round and—”
Ricket was about to activate her nano to clean the alcohol out of her blood, when she saw that Laura had already done so. A moment later, she glanced back at Rogers to see him grimace and grab onto the wall.
“Jim? What’s wrong.”
“Nothing.” Rogers expelled a long breath, but his eyes were still shut. “Just a headache. It’ll pass, give it a second.”
“How bad are the headaches?”
Suddenly, something clicked for him, and the evidence that hadn’t added up all fell into place.
“Oh, shit,” he murmured. “Fuck no. It’s—he’s come back. He’s back for her.”
“Who?” Ricket demanded, grabbing Rogers’ shoulders as he went limp, falling back onto the bed.
His heart rate was erratic, his blood pressure falling fast.
“Rogers!”
MORE SECRETS
STELLAR DATE: 02.25.8948 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: Kylie’s Suite, Entourage Hotel, Silstrand City, Silstrand
REGION: Silstrand System, Silstrand Alliance
Grayson stayed behind in Kylie’s hotel room after everyone else had left. A few hours later
, she was still in bed, a sheet wrapped around her torso, as she watched him get dressed.
While she enjoyed the view, she didn’t hold back her concern.
“You can’t keep burning the candle at both ends.”
As he buttoned up his shirt, he threw her a glance. “I sometimes forget you come from the sort of place where people still remember what candles are.”
Kylie raised her eyebrow. “I’m serious. When was the last time you actually got some sleep? You’re with me, then running back to the SSF.”
“It’s a troubled time, and it won’t last forever. Besides, if you’d let me get some sleep….” Grayson winked.
Winking!
He was being entirely un-Grayson-like. Kylie decided to see how far she could push him, pouting and turning her head.
He only chuckled and gave her a kiss. “My mods will keep me going. I’m fine. It won’t last forever.”
“I sure hope not. Or I’ll have something to say about it.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Kylie asked with a raised eyebrow.
Grayson chuckled. “Nothing. See you soon. C’mon, Kylie. Someone has to question Ginia, compare her answers to Smithers’, cross-check what they give us to make sure we’re not being led on.”
“Why is it always you? That’s not even your job.”
“It affects your safety. Besides, when you’re the best…”
Kylie rolled her eyes and pushed her hand against his face. “I think you’ve gotten delusional.”
“Perhaps. Get some sleep,” he said with a departing kiss on his way out the door.
She sighed and lay back down on the pillows. She pulled his location on her HUD and watched his tracker move toward the elevator.
Marge said with a sad emoji.