"Come on, Chutz. He's gone. And even if it ended up not quite the way I wanted it, it was worth it," she said. She patted the bed beside her and Chutzpah, after a moment, leapt up to join her. Too much had happened in the last few hours, and suddenly she felt exhausted.
She lay back and thought about the discovery. It had to be the answer. It had to be. She also thought about Pellis. Perhaps in time .... She enjoyed Pellis, his company and his humour and his sense of irreverence. It had been a long time since she had felt like this about anyone. Perhaps it would turn into something, perhaps not, but she mustn't let her memories get in the way of their relationship. He was not the same. She knew he wasn't.
She continued to think about him as she lay there, idly stroking Chutzpah with one hand, while the other one propped up her head.
"You know Chutz," she murmured as she finally drifted toward sleep. "I think I like Timon. He's a good man and a good friend. You'd better learn to like him as well."
The next morning, she felt a little the worse for wear. Her head still hurt and the night's memories struggled back hazily. Her sleep had been troubled again by dreams of the Sirona, and of that terrible voyage.
She had taken quite a knock from the duster, but she didn't think there was any permanent damage. Slowly she pulled on her clothes, remembering the side of Pellis that he had revealed last night. Gradually, as she pieced together the happenings of the previous evening, she had further reason to smile to herself, but it was tempered with caution and doubt about whether she was right. She wondered how things would be this morning, whether there would be an awkward embarrassed silence following her revelations, whether it would tarnish her relationship with Timon, him knowing.
Timon made it to breakfast a little after she did and he flashed her a smile as he entered the eating area. He casually nodded to the others assembled as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. Mahra bowed her head and avoided his eyes as he sat, the discomfort of the previous evening still weighing on her mind. She could feel him watching her across the table, and finally she met his gaze. He tilted his head to one side in query, and raised one eyebrow. Slowly, she nodded, and he blinked his eyes at her.
Sind was with them and he caught the interaction, quizzically raising one eyebrow, and then narrowing his eyes as his obvious suspicions started to take shape. Timon gave him nothing to feed upon, launching straight away into a discussion of plans and the news of Mahra's discovery.
It seemed she had at least one more thing to be grateful to him for. Maybe she was right after all. Perhaps in time ...
Chapter Twenty-Five
When he got word that the ship supposed to meet The Dark Falcon had disappeared without trace, and there had been no sign of The Dark Falcon since, Valdor dropped completely out of sight. He reasoned that the Sirona must know that he had tried to outdo them, despite their conversation. He didn't want them to find him. Not yet. Not just yet. He had to try and do something, and it had to be without their interference.
Marina was most understanding. At least the Sirona hadn't made that connection yet, so he remained where he was. Marina really didn't seem to mind him extending his stay with her, she was accumulating the size of the favour he owed her with each passing day. By the time the Sirona did make the connection, he might be ready for them. If he was right, they wouldn't be ready to play their hand yet, regardless.
Valdor was sitting quietly sipping at a glass and listening to music on Marina's system when the door bursts inward followed by several uniformed guardsmen, visors covering their eyes. He didn't move. It was obvious to him immediately that the odds were clearly in favour of the newcomers. His first thought that this was some new show of force by his alien opponents.
Valdor didn't feel comfortable when he couldn't see people's eyes, but he wasn't going to let them see that. He made a great show of calmly swirling the wine in his glass and looking thoughtfully over its rim as the troopers filed in and stood covering each exit without a word. When they had made the area secure, one motioned outside to the hallway and a tall, white-haired man walked through the door and stood before him. Silvered lenses covered his eyes and he wore a trim grey suit cut high to the throat. There was something about his bearing that shouted authority.
"Is there something I can do for you?" asked Valdor calmly. "Normally it's customary for a visitor to announce themselves."
"Valdor Carr," the older man said. There was no question in his words. It was a simple statement of fact. "Or is it Milnus? But no, that can't be. We have Mezzer Milnus in custody somewhere else."
Milnus in custody? But that couldn't be. No, this wasn't Sirona. This was CoCee.
"All right, point made," said Valdor, carefully placing his glass down on a nearby table. "But I don't see how I warrant all this." He waved his hand in the direction of the scattered guardsmen.
"Possibly not, Carr. But we were eager to talk to you and we weren't sure whether you might have been less than enthusiastic about being around to talk to us."
Valdor didn't like his tone, but at present his visitor seemed to have the advantage.
"So, who are you? Law? Military? I don't know what you think I've done, but I'm starting to think that I'd like an explanation."
"Yes, no doubt you would. May I sit?"
The tall man waited until Valdor indicated a chair with a tilt of his head. The man sat, then looked at Valdor for a while before speaking. Valdor studied him in return. His clothes were well tailored, but somehow severe, and his attitude had the same sort of severity about it.
"Mezzer Carr, it may come as some surprise to you, but we know quite a bit about you and your activities. For some time, we've tolerated you and Carr Holdings because they suited our purposes. Now the time has come to call in the favours."
"Um, just let me interrupt for a moment. Who exactly are 'we'?" Valdor asked. He didn't like the direction this was headed.
"I'll get to that in due course, Carr. First let me fill you in. We've been carefully monitoring most of what you do, particularly the little enterprise you put together with ILGC. We've had step by step progress reports from our own people inside. Unfortunately, it seems you also attracted the attention of another party with your activities. I don't think I need to mention their name. That party has become a shade too interested and far too involved in what's been going on." The visitor stilled Valdor's protests of ignorance before he had time to voice them. "Let's not mess around. We both know what I'm talking about. I'm here to offer you a choice. Either you throw your resources behind us fully and willingly or Carr Holdings will simply cease to exist — every part of it."
Valdor chewed at his lip as the full implications started to filter through the shock. Somehow, he didn't seem to be in a bargaining position. The man sitting watching him had access to a great deal more information than anybody had a right to. It left a hoard of unanswered questions, but he could deal with those later. What he needed now was a solution.
"Who are you? At least give me the courtesy of knowing who I'm dealing with."
"You can call me Aegis, but I don't think that's what you want to know. I suppose there's no harm in telling you. You'll find out eventually, and it might better help you to understand the position you're in. We, Mezzer Carr are CoCee. I presume you've made that connection already, but we are a part of the CoCee rarely seen. There are quite a few of us, and in places you probably wouldn't believe."
"So why would the CoCee be interested in me? I'm not political."
"Ah, but you see, Carr, anybody who wields the sort of resources you do can't help being political, whether they like it or not. That's the nature of the beast. We've been watching your growth and monitoring it for some time. In some ways, we admire the way you have gone about things. We can ignore some of your indiscretions. On occasion, they have actually saved us from having to expend our own resources. Whether you like to think it or not, Valdor Carr, you are not unique in this world. There are others like you and we monitor all of them in th
e same fashion. You might have carried on for years without us ever having to act. And you would have been none the wiser. But I'm afraid the current chain of events has meant that we need to rein you in."
Valdor reached unsteadily for his glass. There was a sudden dryness in his mouth. He couldn't win. Either it was the Sirona on the one side, or this new face of the CoCee on the other.
"All right, Aegis. Perhaps you can do what you say and shut me down. But even if I'm to believe all this, why offer me a choice? If it's as easy as you suggest, why don't you just do it?"
"Oh, rest assured, Carr, we can do it. You should have very little doubt about that. It's just that it would be a little more difficult. You do not take out the key man in a network without suffering some repercussions. You, of all people, should know that. We just don't have the time at the moment. I'll be honest with you. You have stumbled unknowingly onto something that is of a great deal of importance. You could have no way of knowing just how important it is. We presume the other party in this matter does know, and it's only by sheer accident that we found out exactly how significant it is to them and why. Anyway, I think I've told you enough for you to realise how things lie."
"What if I say no?" asked Valdor, feeling the walls pressing against his back.
"Now, Carr, please don't disappoint me."
Aegis motioned slightly with one finger and the trooper standing behind him dropped the barrel of his weapon a fraction toward Valdor. "I had hoped I had made our position clear. It would be a pity for anything to happen to such a keen mind as yours. Let's not be childish."
If there was one thing Valdor hated more than being made to look less clever than he was, it was being patronised, and this man was doing a respectable job managing both. The position was unavoidably clear and like it or not, he was clearly going to have to play along.
"All right. It appears that you have me… So, what do you want me to do?"
"Oh, it's very simple really. We would like you to continue looking after your operations. Of course, you would do so with our assistance and supervision. That's the easy part. The problem is that they've became a little exposed here on New Helvetica. For that reason, we're suggesting a move to a more convenient location. Have no fear though, I imagine you will find everything you need to satisfy you there. And, Carr, I'm glad you've chosen to be sensible."
"Now hold on a damned minute," he said, ignoring the weapon that started to track him as he rose from his seat. The full implications of what Aegis was suggesting were starting to hit home. "How in the hell do you expect me to run my 'operations' as you call them, from somewhere else. I have everything I need here."
"Oh, don't worry. I thought I told you. That will all be taken care of. You cannot expect us to allow things to continue under the watchful eyes of our friends do you? Now, I suggest you sit down and listen."
Valdor glared at him but grudgingly resumed his place on the sofa.
"We've already put steps in motion to move your centre of operations to your new location. I can assure you, you will have everything you need. And if you don't, we'll provide it. For the most part, your business dealings will be taken care of while you're away, but you will have direct control over the parts that really matter. And for once, Valdor Carr, you might be doing something worthwhile with your talents."
"So why the hell is your offer any different from theirs," Carr spat. Whatever way he looked at it, he just couldn't win.
"Because, Valdor Carr, for once in your life you'd be working on the side of right."
That really was it. He was dealing with a moralist as well. But the way things looked, he had little option. He sank back into the sofa, and with a sigh, ran his fingers back through his hair. "Fine. It looks like I really don't have much of a choice."
"Good, that's settled then. I didn't believe you were a stupid man, Carr. If we've finished talking we can get under way."
"Wait! There's a lot more I need to know first, and I have things that need to be put in order."
"All that will be taken care of and you would be briefed on the way."
Valdor bit his lip, drained the last of his wine and moved toward the door, running his eyes one last time over the familiar trappings of Marina's apartment. Aegis stood and followed behind. As Valdor made his way into the corridor outside, guardsmen fell in to either side and to the front of him. It was perfectly clear he wouldn't be slipping away. He wrapped his arms about him as he walked within the cocoon of uniforms.
He felt suddenly very cold.
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With the increasingly frequent visited of aligned ships and crews, the information flow to the small base on Belshore improved. They started to receive regular updates about events around New Helvetica. There had been a marked increase in Sirona activity and that was of some concern. Mahra wondered whether it meant the Sirona knew about their escape. There was no way of knowing. It wouldn't affect their plans though. The Sirona would find out in time. They were all sure of that.
The CoCee had arranged for the acquisition of a number of factory sites on Belshore. Gradually the freighters that had been coming and going over the past weeks had shipped in consignments of parts and equipment, ready for their ambitious production plan. Jayeer's role was to supervise that process and make sure it all went without hitch. He had logistical support of course. That was provided with a rotating staff who came in and out as needs dictated, but Sind himself provided overall continuity. His primary input was for the technical aspects of the plan and he had overall supervision of that area.
The core idea was that Belshore was to become the site for the refit of a number of ships with the new drive. The ships would land on Belshore routinely, and, one by one, their drives would be enhanced, ready for the day when they could be piloted by those who would eventually have the ability to navigate through jump. The Dark Falcon's experiences had proved the drive was viable.
A few days later they received something other than a piece of news.
They were due an incoming shipment of information and parts along with the courier. They were all sitting round chatting about this and that when the guardians at the door put them on immediate alert. Garavenah motioned for quiet as she spoke rapidly into the com.
"Weapons everyone," she ordered. "We have company."
They waited expectantly while Garavenah listened to the proceedings outside the vast warehouse door. With rapid hand gestures, she ordered coverage of vantage points and the group members scattered, taking up position behind protective crates and girders. Keenly they watched the narrow passageway that led from the building's front. Two raced quickly up that same artificial hallway on silent feet. There was the sound of metal scraping against metal as the inner door was pushed inward and then silence. Everyone held their breaths in anticipation.
The two who went to check at the front return herding three more people in front. Two of the newcomers were regular CoCee crew and they were known to Garavenah's group. The third looked vaguely familiar and Mahra and Timon exchanged a glance across the intervening space. One by one, the group members emerged from their defensive positions and joined the three newcomers in the centre of the open communal area where they waited.
Garavenah stepped forward first, acknowledging the two crewmen with a quick nod of her head. She took her time over the vaguely familiar stranger, scanning him slowly from head to foot and then back again.
"So, what have we here then?" she asked speculatively.
The hawk-faced man standing before her returned her gaze through heavily lidded eyes, a slight sneer upon his lips as he spoke.
"Indeed, what have we here?" he said contemptuously as his gaze left Garavenah and roved over the warehouse interior. Mahra recognised the voice and the manner as soon as he spoke.
"Milnus," she and Pellis said in unison.
"Ah, you two," he said, gaze flicking now in their direction. "For a moment or two your appearances kept me from seeing it. So, where's your fat little companion? And ju
st out of interest, the name is Carr. Valdor Carr. And it's thanks to you, no doubt, that I'm here."
Suddenly a whole lot of unanswered questions fell into place for Mahra. She knew the connection between the events leading up to their involvement with the Sirona and Carr Holdings. The fact that the man they knew as Milnus turned out to be the head of Carr Holdings made a lot more sense.
One crewman accompanying Carr handed Garavenah a small package and waited while she tore it open and read the contents. She nodded and the two crewmen withdrew.
"Well, my friends," she announced. "It appears we have a new recruit to our humble group. Allow me to introduce the illustrious Valdor Carr, head of Carr Holdings. He has generously agreed to assist our efforts here on Belshore. For the duration, he is to be a guest of our joint benefactors."
Valdor rolled his eyes heavenward, and hissed between closed teeth, obviously not too pleased to be among them. Garavenah immediately became more business-like.
"Saran will show you to where you sleep. You eat with the rest of us. I don't know what you're used to, Mezzer Carr, but we all have things to do here. You strike me as a man with attitude. Now for as long as you're here, you will keep that attitude to yourself. We don't need it. Be damned sure I'll be watching you. Now, I suggest you get settled."
She watched his retreating back as he was led off to his quarters. No doubt he'd be unlikely to find them to his satisfaction.
As he left, the others drifted off to whatever they were doing. Garavenah called Mahra and Pellis over to her.
"So, you two know him, do you?" she asked, the tone of authority not having left her voice.
She waited as they explained the circumstance of their meeting. Garavenah looked thoughtful for a moment or two and then spoke.
"Yes well, that all makes sense. But I'll tell you now, I don't like the looks of that one. He seems like trouble. That communication I had suggested as much. Carr's here for a specific purpose. He has access to a range of people and processes that have started to provide us with the tools we need to master your little discovery, Mahra. The problem is that the Sirona were, or are, very interested in him too. Somehow or other they managed to become aware of what he was up to and took a more direct interest in his operations. The CoCee have moved him here because they decided to take him out of the New Helvetian picture, but remain in control of the biolab side of things. Now even more than before, with what we need, that side of things is crucial. The delay in his arrival was because they needed time to set things up for him at this end."
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