by Andrew Gates
“You mean sit here and wait?” Dave asked.
“It’s what we do best.”
A Strong Hand of Cards
Earth Date (Revised Julian Calendar): 04.29.5673
Location: The Bridge, VSC Patriot, Outer edge of Thrace System, Vexa Corp Controlled Space
The bridge.
Natalie found this to be the most impressive place in the Patriot. If the engine was the heart of the ship, the bridge was its brain. Natalie had been here once before, a long time ago, but everything was the same as she remembered. Men and women sat at attention, combing through data, studying holograms and staring aimlessly into space as they connected to the ATG. Other crewmen darted back and forth, as if racing to get to their destinations. Natalie wondered where they could have been going.
“Excuse me, ma’am, can I help you?” asked a guard, taking her by surprise.
Natalie checked the man’s bio. The guard was named Reginald. He had only held the job for a month and four days.
“I need to speak with Captain Daltus,” she explained, wasting no time.
“I’m afraid I can’t just let you-”
“She knows I’m coming,” Natalie interrupted. “I contacted her daughter, Lyla. I told her I have some information to share.”
“Lyla is not Captain Daltus.”
“No, but Lyla must have told Captain Daltus that I’m coming.”
“Sounds like a lot of assumptions to me,” Reginald responded. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you stay here.” He lifted his hand, as if ready to take her away.
“That’s alright, Reggie,” a female voice added.
Natalie glanced up to the source of the noise. To her surprise, Lyla stood before them, garbed in her usual professional attire. Her look today included a white blouse and a dark skirt.
“Lyla,” Natalie greeted. She held out her hand. Lyla approached her and shook it.
“Natalie.”
“It’s good to see you again,” Natalie said.
“Reggie, please leave us,” Lyla ordered, facing the guard. He nodded his head and promptly walked away. “Good to see me again, eh? I wish I could say the same,” Lyla said once the man was out of earshot. “Come, let’s talk in private.”
Lyla escorted Natalie to a room on the other side of the bridge. They walked along in silence. Natalie could not help but feel nervous. Her heart raced.
Lyla opened the door and Natalie entered first. A four-limbed servitor stood inside, motioning for Natalie to take a seat at the long table at the center of the room.
Captain Daltus was already in attendance, silently sitting at the head of the table. She stared Natalie down like a predator waiting to pounce.
“Hello,” Natalie greeted, not sure exactly what to say. She remained seated the entire time.
“Hello?” repeated the captain. She snickered. “Is that what you have to say to me?”
Lyla took a seat across from Natalie as the door closed shut.
“I mean… uh… well, what do you want me to say?” Natalie asked.
The servitor began pouring a Natalie a glass of water.
“For starters, you can tell me why it is so urgent I meet with you. According to my daughter, you have some information you think I will find important and it couldn’t wait.”
“I do,” Natalie began, “and I want you to know that I can make this information public at any second.”
“Is that a threat, Natalie?” Daltus asked.
“It’s a warning, not a threat. If my vital signs take a hit in any way, I’ve programmed the data to go live. So don’t hurt me, and I won’t hurt you.”
Daltus adjusted in her seat and glared at Lyla for a moment, before turning her gaze to Natalie again.
“Alright, Natalie. We won’t hurt you,” the captain said. “But if you’re making warnings, I’ll make a warning too. We have disruptors installed in this room to disable the cameras in your eyes. So you won’t be able to record a thing. You should understand, this is standard procedure.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, what is it that’s so important?”
Natalie leaned forward in her seat as the servitor placed the water glass onto the table.
“I know you know that Corporal Ellen Milsen and David Cutter are innocent and that you’re drawing out the interrogation process until they confess to a crime they did not commit.”
“That’s a bold claim,” the captain calmly replied. “What makes you say that?”
“Video footage.”
“Video footage?” The captain snickered as if she did not believe the story. “I don’t know how you could have come by footage like that.”
“It may be easier than you think.”
“Are you implying that there is a leak in our military? Someone recording things behind our backs? Because if this is what you’re implying, you are surely mistaken.”
“That is what I’m implying, and there’s more.”
“Do tell,” she said, amused.
“I know that Lyla and David Cutter are having sexual relations with one another.”
Lyla choked on her water.
The captain’s face went white. She froze for a moment, keeping her eyes on Natalie.
“Excuse me?” Daltus eventually asked. She turned to face her daughter now. “Is this true?”
Lyla placed her glass on the table and turned to face her mother. She froze for a moment, then stood up and walked to the head of the table. She leaned in close to the captain.
“Can I speak to you in private, please?”
“Right now? In the middle of this meeting? We just started!” Daltus asked. There was a tone of anger in her voice.
“Yes.”
The captain sighed and stood up. She nodded to the servitor.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” the servitor said as it approached Natalie. It motioned to the doorway.
“Just give us a few minutes, Natalie,” Daltus ordered. “We will fetch you soon.”
Natalie nodded and exited the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, she let out a deep breath and felt her heart pound like a drum.
“Holy shit,” she said aloud.
Natalie assumed that the captain knew of the affair between Lyla and Cutter. After all, such a relationship would be hard to hide. But Daltus’s reaction told it all: she didn’t know. Nobody knew.
Holy shit was right.
The room was soundproof, so Natalie could only guess what they were talking about inside. She imagined Lyla confessing to her affair and Daltus being furious. Just thinking about it made Natalie snicker.
Time passed by at a crawling pace. Natalie was forced to stare at the bridge crew and wonder what was going on in the closed doors at her back. Finally, after five minutes that felt like ten, the doors reopened. Natalie spun around. A distressed Captain Daltus stood before her.
“Come in,” she demanded.
Natalie did as she was asked. She entered the room and sat down in her chair. The captain returned to her own seat at the head. Meanwhile Lyla held her head down to her palms, as if she had been sobbing.
“You claim to have damaging footage about me and my daughter. You claim that I am drawing out the investigation just to get a confession. But I’m afraid you have no story,” the captain said, bluntly.
“Why is that?”
“Because, Natalie, I already have plans to release the suspects.”
Natalie froze. She did not expect this.
“You’re… you’re releasing them?”
“I am,” the captain nodded. “So you see, you really have no story.”
“No.” Natalie shook her head. “I see what you’re doing. You weren’t planning to release them at all until now. You’re just doing it to avoid looking bad in the press.”
“Maybe I had it all planned, maybe I didn’t.” The captain shrugged as if this were all a game. “Honestly, it doesn’t really matter. No one is going to care for a s
tory about holding prisoners if the prisoners aren’t being held anymore.”
“You’re really just going to drop it like that? After all this time?”
“I am.”
“Well what about the affair?”
“In less than an hour, Cutter will be publicly revealed as an innocent man.” Daltus leaned forward. “My daughter cannot be criticized for having sexual relations with an innocent man, can she? If anything, the press should be ashamed for publishing footage taken of them without their knowledge. This will look very bad for your news organization.”
Natalie did not know what to say. She did not expect this turn of events to happen so suddenly.
“Out of words, are you?” the captain said with a grin. “I don’t know what you came here to do today, if it was money you were after, power, fame, or just letting the prisoners free.”
“I just came to warn you. I didn’t come looking for a bargain. I was going to publish the story no matter what.”
“Well, Natalie, that was a stupid idea. I know you’re new to this game, so allow me to teach you a lesson: never reveal your cards to your opponent, even if you think you have a great hand. You can always be outmaneuvered.” Daltus stood up from her chair and motioned for the door.
Natalie sighed. Daltus was right. She should have just published the story without saying a word.
“Good day to you, Natalie.”
“Captain,” she said, before turning and exiting the room.
Natalie leaned against the nearest wall she could find and closed her eyes. All that work, all that effort, gone in an instant.
“Idiot,” she said to herself aloud. “I’m an idiot! Why did I warn her? Why didn’t I just publish the story?” She slapped her head and let out a deep sigh of frustration.
It was all over. She had nothing.
The Caged Bird Flies Free
Earth Date (Revised Julian Calendar): 04.29.5673
Location: The Bridge Conference Room, VSC Patriot, Outer edge of Thrace System, Vexa Corp Controlled Space
“How could you have sex with him?” Daltus screamed. She slammed her fists against the table. “Are you insane?”
Lyla looked up from her sweaty palms. She sniffled as tears streamed down her face.
“I’m sorry, mother. I don’t know what happened. Things got out of hand. One thing led to the next.”
“Did he force himself on you?”
“No, it’s not like that,” Lyla said, shaking her head. “Look, I don’t know what to say. I felt comfortable with him in a moment of weakness.”
“Weakness? Do you realize your secret rendezvous with him has potentially ruined everything we’ve been trying to do?”
“I know that now, I do!” Lyla pleaded. “But please, forgive me. You have to understand, I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“You’ve fucked this up. Do you understand?”
“I do.” Lyla nodded her head.
Daltus ran her hands through her hair and paced around the room. Her face was red. Her hands shook. Lyla could tell she was about to burst, but she tried to act calm. Daltus let out a deep breath.
“I know you’re not alone in this, but that doesn’t make me any less angry. That pesky reporter, she’s also to blame. The two of you are both responsible.”
“And whoever leaked the footage to her,” added Lyla.
“Well, there would be nothing to leak if it weren’t for you!”
“I’m sorry, mother. I really am!”
“Not another word!” Daltus spat. She picked up the glass of water before her and downed the whole thing at once. She slammed the empty glass onto the table. It practically shattered in her hand. “I will make this right, but I’m going to need your help. You can’t fuck this up again.”
“Yes, of course,” Lyla agreed. She nodded her head.
“This is how I see it,” Daltus started after a deep sigh. The tone in her voice sounded calmer. “We have to release the prisoners now or this story will go out and expose everything.”
“Right. I heard you tell Natalie that we’re releasing them. I agree with that decision.”
“But Milsen and Cutter don’t know any of this. As far as they’re aware, nothing has changed,” Daltus continued.
“Right.”
“If you recall, Milsen tried to make a deal with me a few days ago. She promised to hand over valuable information about rejuv in exchange for letting her free.”
“I think I see where you’re going with this,” Lyla said. She sat up straight in her chair. “You want to accept Milsen’s bargain.”
“Exactly. That way, we can still leave this mess with something of value.”
“What if she’s bluffing?”
“Then we don’t lose anything we haven’t already lost.”
Lyla wiped some tears from her face and nodded her head. She was ready for this task. She would not let her mother down again.
“I understand. I’m on it.”
“Not alone, you aren’t. Milsen made her offer to me, not you. That means I should be there in person to accept it.”
“You’re coming with me?”
“I am.” Daltus nodded. “I told you, I’m going to make this right. I plan to see this through all the way to the end.”
Lyla gulped. She could not explain why, but she did not like the sound of those words.
***
“Corporal Milsen, thank you for coming in today,” Daltus greeted as Gresham escorted Milsen into the interrogation room.
Milsen’s clothes were covered in dirt and grime. Her hair was disheveled. Her eyes were red, as if she had not slept a full night’s sleep in days. Lyla could not help but feel sorry for her.
“Captain Daltus,” Milsen greeted in a strained voice. Her eyes met Lyla. “Detective Lyla,” she added.
“Hello again, Milsen,” Lyla replied. She remained seated next to her mother.
Milsen sat down across from them on the other side of the table. Gresham stood at attention by the door.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Captain?” Milsen asked, getting right to it.
“I came here to talk.”
“I figured as much. What did you want to talk about?”
“Your bargain.”
Milsen slowly nodded her head. She quickly glanced to Lyla, then back to Daltus again. Lyla wondered if Milsen thought she had something to do with this deal.
“The rejuv,” Milsen said.
“Yes, the rejuv. When we last spoke, you offered me encrypted data on advanced rejuv technology.”
“I still have that data. My offer still stands,” Milsen said, “but only if you release us.”
“Don’t worry, Corporal. I am willing to make that trade,” the captain explained. “You have my word.”
Milsen paused for a moment and stared blankly into space as she consulted her internal AI. Eventually she met Daltus’s eyes again.
“Release Dave first. I won’t send you anything until he’s free.”
“That’s fair,” Daltus said, nodding her head. “I will release Cutter first, then you will send me the data, then I will release you. We’ll do it in that order.”
Milsen paused again, but for a considerably shorter time. Then she nodded her head.
“Alright,” she agreed. “Do it.”
This is Lyla to Prisoner Hold, Section 4, by order of Captain Daltus, we are to release prisoner David Cutter, Lyla said over the ATG.
Lyla, this is Nooma in Prisoner Hold, Section 4. Orders received.
Please send video confirmation.
Roger that. Coming in just a moment.
“David Cutter is being released as we speak,” Lyla reported to those in the room.
“I want proof,” Milsen shot back.
“And you will get it. Wait just a moment… and… here it is. Transmitting it now to your retinal displays.”
Lyla sent the live feed to Milsen. She could not help but peak at the footage too. Dave was alive and
well, walking through the corridors as a free man. The sight made her smile.
“Allow me to talk to him over the ATG,” Milsen ordered.
“Very well,” Lyla replied.
Nooma, please drop all ATG access restrictions granted to David Cutter and Corporal Ellen Milsen.
All of them?
Yes, Nooma, all of them. They are free citizens.
Milsen smiled as she stared blankly forward. She wasted no time talking to him.
“Satisfied?” Daltus asked, interrupting Milsen’s telepathic conversation.
“Yes,” Milsen replied, returning her gaze to the captain. “I am satisfied. Thank you.”
Dave, it’s Lyla. Are you safe?
Yes, I’m fine. Ellen just told me what’s happening. I suppose I have you to thank for this, Dave said. The tone in his voice sounded tired, but happy.
Actually, no. I did very little, Lyla admitted. Most of the credit goes to a reporter named Natalie. She found enough dirt on my mother’s conspiracy to scare her into releasing you.
Who?
Don’t worry about it. What you need to know is we’re getting Milsen out too. In just a few minutes, you both will be free.
Thank god. I can’t wait to go home.
Those words brought a smile to Lyla’s face.
“So, Corporal, I’ve held up my part of the deal. Send over the data,” Daltus ordered, pulling Lyla’s focus back to the conversation at hand.
“Yuri, do it,” Milsen said.
The room was silent for a moment as the data made its way over the ATG. Lyla’s breathing seemed like the loudest thing in the room. After a few seconds, Daltus smiled and nodded her head.
“Thank you, Corporal Milsen. It all seems to be here.”
“It is. That’s all of it.”
“It had better be, because I’m letting you go.”
“I’m free?” Milsen asked.
Daltus nodded her head as the laser cuffs on Milsen’s wrists powered down. The former prisoner quickly nodded to Lyla, then stood up from her chair. Gresham did not even try to stop her as she pushed her way past him and walked right out the door.
Once she was gone, Daltus let out a deep sigh of relief.
“It’s finally over,” Lyla said. It was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.