“So, what do we do now?” Kaly said, repeating her original question.
“Now, we wait for something else to happen,” Grammy told her.
***
The Goddess did not keep Grammy and the others waiting long. Lilith and Ingrit arrived in the Free City the following afternoon. Their reception was far different than the one Grammy’s party had received however. When they stepped out of the military shuttle, they were met by a small contingent of Marines, led by an officer.
“Commander Bertasdaater sends her compliments, ma’am,” the Lieutenant said, saluting. “She also asked that you contact her at your earliest opportunity.”
“Thank her for me, Lieutenant,” Lilith answered returning the courtesy with a salute of her own. “At the moment however, I’m here on some urgent personal business. I need to speak with the port authorities and track down a group of women.”
“Already done, ma’am,” the officer advised her. “Admiral ebed Cya sent word ahead of you and we contacted the Xee. Ms. Mariasdaater and her party are staying at the Gravedeep Hotel, here in town. If you like, I can send the Shore Patrol over there to get them for you. The Xee authorities have agreed to let us handle this matter ourselves.”
Lilith shook her head. “No thank you. This is a family matter, but we wouldn’t mind a lift.”
“Of course, ma’am,” the officer replied. “We have a ground vehicle standing by.” She led them out of the port and onto the street. Their transportation was an official Free City hover-limo, evidently on loan for the occasion. There were also two Marine AHPC’s nearby which Lilith guessed were coming along to provide security.
The small convoy headed for the hotel and Ingrit volunteered to sit up front with their driver so that Lilith could use the limo’s com terminal to make a secure call to Katrinn. Wife or no, she understood the realities of being a military bride. Some of what Lilith would need to discuss with her sister required a clearance level to overhear. The only demand that she made was that Lilith add in her greetings and best wishes.
When Katrinn answered the call, she was anything but alarmed. In fact, she seemed rather amused by the whole affair.
“That’s our Grammy for you,” she said. “She always has been headstrong, and I’m not surprised that she talked the other two into coming along with her on this little escapade. Please, Lily, when you catch up with them, don’t be too hard on your adjutant or the N’Deena girl. Grammy can be pretty compelling when she wants to be.”
“I know, and I won’t be,” Lilith promised her. “N’Deena’s not my problem, and on the way here, I decided against having Bar Daala courts martialed. However, once this is over, I will be shopping around for a new assistant. I can’t have her blasting off for goddess knows where whenever she feels like it.”
“Well, I certainly can’t blame you there,” Katrinn agreed.
“So, tell me, “Lilith asked, changing the subject. “What is going on with Golden and this RSE operation?”
“So far, very little,” Katrinn answered. “General bel Thana came aboard a few days ago with fifty agents, none of them below the rank of Major. She also brought along some SRU Teams that she said were for security. They took over Officer’s Country right away and Bel Thana has been up on the bridge ever since.’
“She has us watching the Free City and a spot out in the middle of the ruins. All she’s told me is that it has something to do with the Marionites and the Hriss.”
“And you don’t believe her?” Lilith inquired.
“Frankly, no,” Katrinn admitted. “The DNI hasn’t gotten one whiff of the Marionites having any cells in Ashkele, and the Clans that are working for the Xee wouldn’t want to mess up a good thing. The Xee pay their mercenaries too well. Even the Hriss know better than to shess in their own nests. The whole thing just doesn’t add up.”
“I concur,” Lilith said. “There’s more to this than Bel Thana is letting on. Anything else?”
“Yes,” Katrinn answered. “Bel Thana is also very interested in the movements of the Hriss mercenary ships that the Xee have working in-system patrol. She also wants to keep tabs on what the Seevaans are doing. So far at least, the only Seevaan ships near here are the ones involved in the war games in the next quadrant over, and they’re all accounted for.”
Lilith sat back and stroked her chin thoughtfully. From what Katrinn had just told her, Bel Thana had clearly involved the Athena in something that went much further than simply nabbing a small group of terrorists.
Ebed Cya was right to be concerned, she concluded. Whatever was really going on here clearly had the potential of involving the Hriss and the Seevaans, and it centered on a deserted stretch of the Necropolis that appeared to have no military value whatsoever.
“All right,” she said at last. “Let me know if you find out anything more, and if we have to, I’ll recommend to Rixa that we appeal to the Circle to give us back operational control here, and dispatch additional forces at need.”
“Thanks, Lily,” Katrinn replied, visibly relieved by the offer. This was not a situation that any Battle Group Commander would have wanted to find herself in.
“By the way,” Lilith added, “Did Shore Patrol manage to scoop up the Lady Felecia?”
“They did,” Katrinn said. “We have her aboard the Athena. I’m planning on shipping her back to Thermadon on the next outbound transport, but right now, she’s cooling her heels in Officer’s Country.’
“That’s one area where Bel Thana has actually been a plus. She didn’t object to the billeting, and she was the one who told the girl about her mother. Apparently, the two of them knew each other back in Thermadon, and I’m glad for it. I didn’t look forwards to giving her the bad news.”
“I can imagine,” Lilith replied. It was never an easy thing to tell someone that a loved one had died—or in this case was ‘presumed’ dead. It was also part of an officer’s responsibilities. “Please extend my personal condolences to the Lady Felecia if you get the chance. Her mother was a great stateswoman.”
“I will.”
“And as soon as I can stuff Grammy onto the first flight out to Zommerlaand, I’ll come upside and make an ‘inspection visit’,” Lilith promised her. “Given what you’ve told me, I think that Bel Thana could use another pair of eyes watching the situation, don’t you?”
Katrinn smiled elfishly. “Ganz gaaf, Lily” she said. “I’ll tell the crew to pick up their toys and make their beds before you get here. Oh, and good luck with Grammy.”
***
Jan’s agitation had increased with each passing hour, and as lunchtime came around, she was absolutely certain that Celina was making preparations to go into the ruins in search of the Tree.
Finally, she announced the news that they had all been waiting to hear. Celina was on the move at last. Immediately, everyone began to gather up the last of their possessions, and Grammy ordered them a ground vehicle from a local rental agency. They were just about to leave when a holo-image appeared in the center of the living area. It was Lilith, and according to the data-tag, she was downstairs in the lobby.
She was also livid. “Grammy!” she exclaimed. “What is all this nonsense? Ingrit and I are here to take you back to Zommerlaand!”
“How thoughtful of you,” Grammy responded, nodding surreptitiously to the others to gather their belongings. “You and Ingrit shouldn’t have traveled all this way just for me. Really, I’m quite fine, and when we’re done with my business here, I can find my own way back.”
“No!” Lilith retorted. “You have no business in Ashkele and you’ve made us both absolutely sick with worry. I need you to come down, right now, and come with us.”
“Yes,” Grammy replied evenly. “Perhaps you are right. Give me a minute or two to get myself ready, would you?”
Lilith’s brows raised. She had clearly expected more of an argument. “Fine,” she agreed. “A few minutes. We’ll be waiting for you.”
Grammy ended the call.
&
nbsp; “Time to leave!” she declared. Then she grabbed her bag and gestured for Kaly and Jan to follow. Once out in the hall, she avoided the Lifts and headed straight for the Hriss guard instead. To their utter amazement, she planted herself right in front of him, and addressed him in perfect, unaccented, Hriss’ka.
“Worthless, impotent excuse for a male, “she said. “We superior beings are in need of an escape. Can you gather what few wits you have and show us to the rear exit? Or is that too much for you to comprehend?”
The guard snorted back at her with a mix of amusement and contempt. “Useless egg-layer, I would split your worm-eaten scull for showing me such disrespect! But this establishment forbids me to properly defend my honor by splattering your brains all over these walls!’
“The exit you seek is behind me, and down the hall to the left. May it buy you the time that you need to lay a trap for your enemies!”
“I would thank you,” Grammy responded with equal politeness, “but doing so would only sully the honor of the eggs that I once carried within me. A wretch like you does not even deserve the spittle that I would grace the dirt at my feet with.”
“Go with the Emperor’s blessing and befoul me no more with your presence,” the Hriss replied, standing aside to let them pass. “I shall make certain to delay the worms that follow you.”
Nodding with the proper degree of curtness, Grammy led the way down the passage, and her dumbfounded companions followed right behind her.
“Grammy?” Kaly finally asked as they were exiting the hotel and making their way down an alley. “Where did you learn to speak Hriss’ka so well?”
“Oh, anywhere and nowhere,” Grammy answered nonchalantly. “You never know what you’ll need to keep a farm up and running these days, so it pays to learn everything you can.”
“Sure,” Kaly replied. By now she had decided that in addition to all of her spiritual wisdom, the woman was also a consummate liar. She was also reasonably certain that she had not witnessed the last of her surprises by any means.
Their crawler was waiting for them behind the hotel. Once it had received payment, the rental agency had dispatched the vehicle, and its on-board AI had guided itself through the city to their location, parked, and engaged its lethal anti-theft system.
It was not unattended however. The hotel driver was there, and she was accompanied by half a score of Hriss warriors. They were all armed.
As the crawler canopy popped open automatically, the woman smiled, and started towards them. There was something in her expression that put Kaly on her guard right away. Her hand edged towards her needlegun.
“Bian dea, jantildamé,” the driver said. “I just heard that you are leaving for the ruins. You could use my knowledge of the area and my friends here wish to come along with us, and be your security.”
“How very kind,” Grammy answered. “But quite unnecessary. My companions and I can take care of ourselves.”
While she said this, Kaly noticed the way that Grammy was holding her walking stick. It had been with her since they had left Zommerlaand, and until just then, she really hadn’t paid it much attention. It was made of polished wood, and a meter and a half in length, with a fist-sized brass sphere at its top, and capped with a brass cone on the bottom.
She had it in a loose grip and her body was just as relaxed, but in the manner of a seasoned fighter. Clearly, it was either a weapon of some kind, or Grammy knew how to make it into one.
Another surprise, Kaly thought, unsnapping her energy pistol without bothering to be quite as subtle about it.
“The ruins are a very dangerous place,” the driver insisted, still smiling. “Come, let these noble warriors lend you their protection.” She had continued to close the distance, and the warriors behind her had unslung their weapons and were fanning out to block the alley.
“I’m afraid that we must refuse,” Grammy answered, “and ask that you stand aside and let us leave.” She was smiling as well.
She had also pressed a hidden button on her walking stick. Steel rods sprang out from both ends with a loud ‘snick’. Now it was nearly 2 meters long and the heavy ball and end cap had ceased being mere ornaments. They had become a small, but sturdy mace-head for dealing hard blows, and a lance tip well suited for stabbing.
The sight of this primitive armament did not make the driver retreat, and the warriors with her were equally unimpressed. They were also starting to bring their own weapons up to bear.
“I am sorry, jantildam,” the woman said regretfully, “but we cannot allow you to go on without us. The thing that you seek is too precious for anyone but the Emperor to possess, and if he cannot have it, then no one can.”
They knew, Kaly thought in alarm. Somehow, they knew who they were and why they were there. The answer came to her right away. They had been tipped off by someone, and had been waiting for any human women who were trying to go into the ruins.
Her eyes darted to Jan, and she saw that Bar Daala had produced a needlegun of her own. For an instant, she wondered where it had come from, but this was not the time to speculate. She braced herself for action instead. The Hriss were all carrying military-grade weapons, and Tatianna was still packed away in its case. It would be an ugly little fight.
Suddenly, something moved in the corner of her vision, and she felt the wind of its passage. By the time she had turned her head to see what had caused it, Grammy wasn’t there any longer. A bodiless shadow flew away from where she had been standing, moving at a speed that was almost too fast for Kaly’s eyes to track.
A half-second later, the warriors were all falling to the ground, struck down by an invisible force, and leaving only the stupefied driver still standing. She gaped in amazement at the unconscious forms of her cohorts, and then at Grammy, as she reappeared out of thin air, right next to her.
Before she could react, Grammy tapped her head with the tip of her fighting stick. There was an arc of electricity, and the Communion woman spasmed, and joined the heap of warriors on the ground.
“Well,” Grammy said as she pressed the stick’s hidden controls and the metal rods retracted, “That was certainly unpleasant.”
“I’m not going to ask you how you just moved so fast,” Kaly said to her. “Or where you got that thing.”
“That’s a dear,” Grammy replied, her eyes twinkling. “It’s always the wiser to let some things stay a puzzle. It makes the Universe a more interesting place to live in, don’t you think? Now, let’s get going before Lilith finds us and we get ourselves into some real trouble!”
***
Still waiting in the lobby, Lilith accessed her psiever. They had been there for more than five minutes, and her patience, already thin from the long trip, was nearly exhausted.
“What’s taking her so long?” she complained.
“Lily,” her wife responded. “It’s only been a little while. She’s probably still packing everything up in her kit-bag.”
They stood together in silence for another minute and then Lilith decided that enough was enough. “I’m calling her again.”
This time, no one answered. She spun on her heels and strode up to the main desk.
“I’m still trying to get my elderly in-law to come downstairs,” she told the human clerk. “I think that she may have had an accident while she was getting ready. Can you let me go upstairs and check on her?”
The clerk, who was already well aware of the situation, maintained her composure, and her professional smile, and promptly summoned the Concierge, who explained—again—that only registered guests were allowed past the lobby.
“Fine!” Lilith huffed. “Could you at least send someone from your staff up to check on her? Or at the very least, help her to bring her luggage down?”
This, she was told, was something that they could do. Five more minutes elapsed before the Concierge returned. From the troubled look on her face, Lilith knew that she was about to hear some bad news.
“Jantildam,” the Concierge began, �
��I’m very sorry, but it seems that your relative has left the Hotel. Her bill was paid however, and in full.”
“What?” Lilith spluttered. “Where did she go? Tell me!”
“Forgive me, jantildam,” the woman answered. “I don’t know. We did however help her to rent a vehicle in order to tour the Necropolis. Perhaps the rental agency could tell you more.”
She gave her the name of the agency. Lilith didn’t waste any time thanking her, and with Ingrit in tow, went out to find the Marine security detail.
“Lieutenant!!” she barked.” I want those women detained. Find them and bring them back to me. Now!”
“Lily!” Ingrit protested. “You can’t—“
“I can and I will,” Lilith retorted, her eyes bright with anger. “Enough is enough, and if that makes you upset, then I’m sorry!” She turned to the officer, “Lieutenant? You have your orders. Get moving!”
The officer saluted and began to muster her troopers. Halfway to her hover vehicle though, the woman stopped, adopted a puzzled expression, and then turned and walked back to Lilith.
“Ma’am”, she said. “I just spoke to the Xee, and they refused to help us.”
“Refused?” Lilith asked. “What in all space are you talking about?”
“They said that your in-law paid their police officials a bribe,” the officer answered uncomfortably. “A very substantial one.”
“With what money?!” Lilith demanded.
“Ma’am, I-I don’t know,” the Lieutenant stammered, “but unless we pay them more, they won’t— ma’am—you have to understand, this sort of thing is perfectly legal here. “
Lilith’s head felt like it was going to explode from pure frustration. “Lieutenant, I don’t give a flying fek what’s ‘legal’ here! I want them stopped! Do you hear me?”
Ingrit gasped. In all their time together, Lilith had never used any profanities in her presence.
The Lieutenant looked positively ill. “I-I’m sorry ma’am, “the officer replied. “I can’t. This is Xee space. If we go out there, charging around their streets and grabbing people, we could start a diplomatic incident.”
Sisterhood of Suns: Daughters of Eve Page 69