by Ryk Brown
Jessica drove their car down the street, past the parking lot that Abby’s driver had pulled into. “Keep your eyes on them,” she instructed Nathan, “they may be trying to shake us.”
“I think he’s parking,” Nathan said, his head turned to his right to keep his eye on the car. “Yup, he’s parking.”
Jessica pulled into the next parking lot, pausing just inside the entrance. “Is he getting out?”
“Driver’s door is open.”
Jessica eased their car forward as if looking for a parking spot.
“He’s getting out. The other guy is getting out, as well.”
“What about Abby?”
“Wait……front passenger guy is opening Abby’s door…… Yup, she’s getting out too.”
“Are you sure it’s Abby?” Jessica asked.
“I’m sure.”
Jessica pulled into an empty spot.
“She’s headed for the grocery store,” Nathan said.
“Are they going in with her?”
“No, it doesn’t look like it.” Nathan continued watching. “No, they’re both staying with the car.”
“Definitely not spec ops trained,” Jessica observed. “Hat and coat.”
“What?”
“Put them on.”
Nathan reached over and grabbed his hat and coat from the back seat. “It’s not even cold.”
“It’s Florida. It’s never cold.”
“Won’t we look odd?”
“I doubt they’ll even notice,” Jessica insisted. “Besides, there’s a breeze out this evening.” Jessica pulled a light jacket on and then placed a ball cap on her head, tucking her hair up underneath.
“What are you doing?” Nathan asked as he donned his hat and coat.
“Trying to look like a guy.”
Nathan giggled. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Don’t make me smack you around,” Jessica said as she got out of the car. She closed the door, zipped up her jacket, and pulled her cap down snugly. She hunched up her shoulders a bit, pushing them forward and putting her hands in her jacket pockets, spreading the jacket slightly outward to either side.
Nathan got out of the car, as well. He closed the door and put on his cap, walking around to Jessica who was already walking toward the buildings nearby. “You don’t look like a guy, you know. Just a girl with mental problems and no fashion sense.”
“From up close, maybe,” Jessica replied. “Follow me, and don’t look at them.”
Nathan followed her toward the buildings, and then along the front. At the end of the building, they turned to the left and headed for the back edge of the store. “Where are we going?” he asked.
“Trust me.”
They continued to the back of the store, then along the side street to the next intersection, well out of sight of Abby’s escorts. They crossed the street to the same side as the store Abby had gone into and headed back in the direction they had come, but on the opposite side of the street. Jessica removed her hat and jacket, tossing them into the bushes.
“Lose them,” Jessica said.
“The hat and coat?”
“Duh.”
Nathan removed his hat and coat, as well, tossing them into the next bush they passed.
Jessica pulled her shirt down tight, accentuating her bosom, and tucked it into her pants. With her shoulders pulled back and hanging normally, and an entirely female gait, she had changed her appearance completely in less than a minute.
“Impressive,” Nathan commented.
“Poorly trained escorts only notice surface details,” she explained. “Two men, hats and jackets. Man and hot girl. Two completely different profiles.”
“And you’re certain they’re not spec ops?”
“Mid-thirties, bad back, potbelly; mid-twenties, lanky, perfect uniform: Not even close.”
Nathan and Jessica continued down the street to the corner of the grocery store.
“Take my hand,” Jessica instructed.
Nathan did as instructed, immediately recognizing the role she was having him play.
They turned the corner, headed to the front door, in full view of the two men standing at Abby’s car, and entered the grocery store.
“Grab a basket, honey,” Jessica instructed in an affectionate tone.
Nathan picked up a basket and followed her inside. They turned down the first aisle, where Jessica immediately grabbed a few items and placed them in the basket. They continued to the end of the aisle and turned right, toward the center of the store, strolling along as if they were trying to determine which aisle they needed. As they passed the third aisle in, they spotted Abby reading the back of a package.
“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” Jessica asked.
“Uh, sure?”
Jessica stopped at the meat department, smiling at the man behind the counter. “Excuse me, is there a public restroom?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the young man replied. “Straight ahead and to the left, down the corridor. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you.” Jessica returned to Nathan’s side, took his hand, and the two of them continued down to the far side of the store and down the corridor. “Perfect,” she said. “A single, unisex bathroom. Lock the door and wait in here. I’ll send Abby to you.”
“If the door’s locked, how is she going to get in?”
“She’ll knock, you open,” Jessica explained, rolling her eyes.
“Of course,” Nathan replied, feeling stupid.
Abby turned the corner and made her way around the end of the aisle, not noticing Jessica coming out of the corridor at the far side of the store. She continued deeper into the aisle, stopping at the dried pasta section. The store was not very busy, which was not surprising for a Friday evening. Cocoa Beach had a young demographic, most of whom would be going out that evening. As she browsed the different pastas, a familiar voice spoke to her from the periphery.
“I prefer the penne, myself,” Jessica said. Then, in a hushed tone, she added. “Keep your voice low, and don’t overreact, Abby.”
Abby suddenly became concerned and turned to look at the person talking to her. Her eyes widened when she realized who it was. “Jessica?”
“Surprise.”
“I thought you moved to…”
“I did.”
“What are you doing back on…”
“No time to chat, Abby. I need you to go to the bathroom, back right corner of the store. There’s someone who needs to speak with you…covertly. Knock on the door, and he’ll let you in.”
“What’s going on?”
“Trust me, Abby…just go,” Jessica urged, moving on as if she was continuing to shop after exchanging pleasantries with a stranger.
Abby looked around trying, but failing, to look inconspicuous. She had no idea what was going on, or who Jessica was asking her to meet with. She wasn’t even sure if she should go, or immediately run to her escorts and report the incident.
But it’s Jessica. If there was anyone she could trust, it was her.
There was barely enough room to pace back and forth in the small bathroom, but that didn’t stop Nathan. It had been hard enough to figure out what to say to his father. But there was a family bond there, one that had been strengthened by all they had endured together. Although he and Abby had been through a lot together, as well, it was different.
Or was it?
Three, barely audible knocks came at the bathroom door. Nathan took a deep breath, unlocked the door, and pulled it open, taking care to stay behind the door, out of Abby’s sight, until she was all the way inside.
Abby entered the bathroom, immediately looking around the door and spotting Nathan. Her eyes became even wider tha
n when she had seen Jessica a few minutes ago. “Oh my God,” she exclaimed in a near whisper, her breath escaping her.
Nathan pushed the door closed behind her, quickly locking it.
“Is it really you?” she whispered.
Nathan turned on the water in the sink, letting it run to hide their voices from anyone who should pass by in the corridor. “It’s me.”
“Nathan?”
“The one and only.” Nathan held his arms open just enough to invite an embrace, which he immediately received.
“How is this possible?” Abby asked as she hugged him. “We all thought you were dead.”
“Actually, I was…technically.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Does your father know you’re alive?”
“Yes, I met with my father and sister two days ago,” Nathan told her.
“Then, everyone knows?”
“No, only a handful of people in the Sol sector know I’m alive,” Nathan explained. “But it may not be that way for long, I’m afraid.”
“Why are you here?” Abby asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m terribly happy to see you, especially since I thought you were dead, but…”
“I need your help, Abby,” Nathan began. “We need your help.”
“We?”
“Me, Jessica, Telles, Vlad, Cameron, Deliza, the Aurora…all of us.”
“The Aurora is in the Pentaurus Sector?” Abby asked. “I thought the Alliance decided they couldn’t afford to send…”
“We’ve reformed the Karuzari to fight the Dusahn in the Pentaurus cluster.”
“Who are the Dusahn?”
“A rogue caste of the Jung, exiled centuries ago. Somehow, they got their hands on a jump drive, upgraded their fleet, and captured the entire cluster. We’re trying to keep them from spreading, becoming more powerful, but we need your help. We need a stealth jump drive for the Aurora.”
“Then, the Jung are not about to attack us?”
“No, it’s a false-flag operation by the Dusahn to make the Alliance think they are about to be attacked, so that they won’t send ships to the Pentaurus sector.”
“I don’t understand,” Abby said. “If that’s the case, then just tell Galiardi…”
“Galiardi already knows,” Nathan interrupted. “Jessica and the Ghatazhak sent him that intel a few days after the invasion, but he kept that information to himself. He wants a war with the Jung, because he knows if he defeats the Jung once and for all, he’ll be a shoo-in at the next election cycle. Galiardi wants power. Why? I don’t know and, frankly, I don’t care. What I do know is that he’s willing to sacrifice millions of lives, both here and in the Pentaurus sector, in order to get that power. For all we know, he could even be working with the Dusahn.”
“You don’t really think…”
“I admit, it’s only speculation at this point,” Nathan admitted, “but anything is possible. One thing is for sure, he is purposefully hiding the truth from the Alliance council. That alone is reason enough to distrust him.”
“Oh, I’ve never trusted Galiardi,” Abby agreed.
“Then help us,” Nathan begged. “Help us develop and implement a stealth jump drive on the Aurora. Give us the edge we need to defeat the Dusahn, or at least buy us time until my father can get Galiardi under control and send ships to help us.”
“How am I supposed to help you?” Abby asked. “I’m here, and you’re…” She suddenly realized what he was asking her to do. “Nathan, no. You can’t possibly ask me to…”
“I know I’m asking a lot, Abby, but…we need you.”
“But my family…”
“Bring them. They’ll live on a luxury cruise ship right next door. You’ll see them every day, I promise.”
“I don’t see them every day now,” Abby commented, her mind racing.
“Now you’ll be able to,” Nathan pointed out, reaching for anything that might help sell her on the idea.
“I don’t know, Nathan. Erik has been trying to get me to give Galiardi the stealth jump drive and walk away, so we can get on with our lives. What you’re asking will just suck us back in more deeply…and on the other side of the galaxy. How am I supposed to convince him… How do I ask my children to give up their lives…again?”
“You’ll think of something, Abby,” Nathan assured her. He could see the despair in her eyes. “Just bring your family to Harris Cove tomorrow, at noon.”
“What? Why?”
“Tell them it’s a picnic at the beach, or something. Jess and I will be there. We’ll help you convince your family to go.”
“Just like that?”
“Hopefully.”
“I don’t know, Nathan.” She touched his cheek. “I want to help you, I really do. I hate Galiardi, and I’m afraid of what he’ll do with a stealth jump drive, but Erik. My children…”
“Just be there, Abby, that’s all I ask.”
“And if they don’t want to go?”
“Then Jess and I will leave you alone, I promise.”
Abby looked at him, sighing. “We’ll be there,” she finally said. “But that’s all I can promise.”
“I’ll take it.” Nathan reached around behind her and flushed the toilet, then turned off the water in the sink. “You’d better go finish your shopping, so your escorts don’t get suspicious.”
“Right.” Abby stepped over to the door, pausing to look back at Nathan. “I am so glad you’re alive, Nathan.”
Nathan smiled at her as she turned and headed out the door.
* * *
Loki walked down the corridor of the Capital hotel in Winnipeg, where President Scott’s administration had put them up during their stay. It was a grand hotel, by far the finest that Loki had ever stayed in. He only wished that he could have brought his wife along. She would love to have seen Earth, even if all they were seeing was this hotel and the Winnipeg spaceport.
Josh, of course, had made himself right at home in their suite, ordering room service almost hourly and watching every vid-play on the menu. He had even ordered an in-room massage, although he had been considerably disappointed when the masseuse turned out to be a man.
Loki knocked on the door to room eight zero nine. A moment later, the door opened revealing Yanni.
“Loki,” Yanni greeted, stepping aside to let his friend in. “What’s going on?”
Loki entered Yanni and Deliza’s suite, waiting for the door to close before speaking. “I just wanted to let you know that the ship is fully repaired and we will be departing tomorrow, no later than eleven hundred hours.”
“I see,” Yanni replied. “Did you hear that, Deliza?”
“Yes, I did,” Deliza replied, walking toward them with a piece of paper and pencil in hand. She handed it to Loki, who immediately wrote a message on the paper and gave it back.
They made contact. Will depart tomorrow on schedule. Unknown if additional passengers.
Deliza nodded, taking the paper to the desk. “Thank you for keeping me updated, Mister Sheehan.” She stuck the scrap of paper into the small shredder next to the desk, which silently devoured it, leaving only a pile of dust in the basket below. “We will see you in the morning, then.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Loki replied, turning to exit.
CHAPTER TWELVE
A convoy of six, black, NAU vehicles drove across the tarmac at the Winnipeg spaceport, toward landing pad one four.
“We’re popular today,” Marcus said to Josh as they watched the local ground crew finish loading the Seiiki’s cargo bay.
The convoy pulled up to the landing pad and stopped. The two middle cars pulled inside the outer four, positioning themselves between the Seiiki and the other four vehicles in the con
voy. Four black-suited men got out of each of the four outside vehicles, moving in well-rehearsed fashion into their assigned positions.
Once in place, two more men got out of each of the two inner vehicles, opening the rear doors to allow their passengers to exit.
Deliza and Yanni stepped out of the first vehicle, pausing to wait for the president and his aide, Miri, to get out of the second vehicle.
Once out of his vehicle, Dayton Scott paused to take in the full view of the Seiiki. “So, this is his ship,” he said, low enough that only those next to him could hear.
“Yes, Mister President,” Deliza confirmed. “She is only using her former name for the purposes of this trip. She has been the Seiiki for the last five years.”
The president smiled, imagining his son walking down the cargo ramp to greet him, his customary debonair smile on his face. “Jumping around from port to port, never knowing if you’ll make enough to get by, let alone get ahead.” He walked up to the starboard engine nacelle, putting his hand against it. “Fits him, doesn’t it.”
“It does,” Miri agreed, smiling.
“Mister President,” one of the men in black suits said as he approached. “Shall we load the items?”
“Yes, please,” the president replied.
“Even more?” Deliza asked. “You’re too kind, Mister President.”
“A few…sentimental…items, that your captain will find particularly useful,” the president explained. He looked at Deliza, taking her hands in his. “I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for him. You have renewed the hope of an old man who was barely holding on.”
“He would do the same for any of us,” she insisted.
“Take care of him, Miss Ta’Akar,” the president said.
“I shall, Mister President.”
“Safe travels to you all,” the president said, shaking her hand. “I hope we will meet again.”