The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: No More Lies (Book 3)

by Thomas Wright

“Okay, I’ll let go,” she said hurriedly. I felt her release her grip. I turned and threw her at Harry, who caught her easily.

  “Harry, take her to the shuttle and don’t let her get away,” I said to him.

  Adeen’s eyes got big. She started to thrash and Harry shook her like a rag doll. When her head stopped rolling around, he touched her nose gently.

  “No!” Harry said.

  “Adeen, he isn’t much on dialogue, and doesn’t repeat himself,” I told her. “Don’t push your luck or try to seduce him, his girlfriend is seven feet tall.” I enjoyed seeing one of my old commanding officers being carted off by a being just shy of twice her size.

  “Shawna, we are coming out,” I said into my com.

  “See you in nine seconds, boss,” she replied.

  “Let’s go, Taz,” I said. “It was good seeing you, 53, but you should probably hit the road and keep on going. You’re dead, after all.” I smiled at my friend. “I have some friends on Anubis, if you like farming and farm country. They will take care of you so you can lay low for a while. Just a thought. Ask for Gus at the little bar and grill at the edge of town if you go.”

  I turned and moved for the exit. Mira was in front of me, but she stumbled and fell. She seemed to be in pain, so I scooped her up and kept walking. The shuttle was waiting, ramp down and dark. We ran up the ramp and Snake closed it as we ascended into the night sky.

  Chapter 34

  “What are we going to do? She isn’t answering her com,” Binda said.

  “We wait,” Lorelei replied.

  “We have been waiting! She has been gone for twelve hours. We need to find her and leave this place,” Binda exclaimed. “I know Benjamin has probably been destroying whatever and whoever gets in his way, and we will be next if anything has happened to her.”

  “I will go and search for her,” Nedra said. “I am warrior trained and a faster runner than any of you. I will stay within a perimeter close to the Claymore and leave my com on so that you can track me and warn me of approaching predators.”

  “It’s a good idea, Lorelei, but I would add arming the Claymore and providing Nedra with cover fire if needed,” Aisling said. “I have been watching the local wildlife. They hunt in a minimum of a pair and usually more like a pack.”

  “Lorelei, look at this!” Binda yelled. “It looks like Imelda, and she’s moving fast.”

  “Yeah, I don’t blame her. Looks like twenty, no, thirty pursuers on their six,” Lorelei said. “All of you, arm yourselves and get the rest of the crew. Open the ramp and give them cover fire while I turn the Claymore around.”

  Binda, Nedra, Aisling, and Buddy were on one side, and Grubb, Angel and Adam were all armed on the other as the ramp lowered. The Claymore was about a hundred and fifty yards from the tree line, and they could hear the calls, growls, howls, hisses and caws getting closer. The whine of a rail pistol cut through the chorus of predator calls.

  “We’re almost there, Imelda, just a little farther,” Natalia yelled. She had the visor on the helmet up.

  I would rather fight these abominations and die with honor, child, than run like a coward, Imelda answered silently.

  “And I would rather have you around to continue my lessons, so run and we’ll live to fight abominations another day.”

  We may wish later that we let those vile creatures catch us. It would be far better than what you father will do when they tell him what we have done, Imelda explained.

  Natalia could see the Claymore waiting with the ramp down. Laser fire began streaking past them, but some of it seemed to be a little too close. She decided not to complain.

  “Some of the pursuers have slowed or stopped, but not all. Keep firing!” Lorelei called out to the crew.

  “What are they? They seem wrong somehow,” Aisling said. “And what is Natalia getting ready to do?”

  The black ones looked like a cat with the head of a snake, and the others looked like Allith, with the body of a hairy bird. They saw Natalia turn and face the rear, firing her pistol the crouch like she was going to jump. It didn’t take long before the creatures were thinned out even more. Everyone moved against the inner hull wall to give Imelda room, since it was clear she wasn’t slowing down.

  Ten yards to go and Imelda let out a blast of webbing behind them. Creatures were caught and tripped up, falling and rolling while clawing and biting at each other and the web that held them. One of the cat-snakes leapt over the mass of bodies and was in the air. Natalia pointed her pistol and it clicked, signaling it was out for the count. Shoving it in her holster, she drew her katana instead and leapt into the air.

  The claws of the cat-snake slid across Natalia’s armor as the katana she swung buried itself in the neck of the beast. Both Natalia and the creature continued falling in the direction momentum dictated. The cat-snake landed on the loading ramp. Laser fire hit it from three directions. It was still alive, but smoking heavily from the holes in its body.

  Imelda looked down at the creature, and with a quick flick of her leg, it went sailing off the ship. Natalia landed on the ground easily, ready for the next one.

  “Grubb, close the ramp,” Lorelei said. “Prepare for departure.” Natalia held up her hand as Imelda spoke.

  “Grubb, hold up!” Natalia called out. “Imelda needs the ramp open for a few minutes. She says it will be to your benefit.” She ran up the ramp as she spoke.

  “You heard the captain, Natalia,” Grubb said.

  “Yes, and I am telling you to leave it open.” She had been reloading her pistols as they had the conversation. “I’ll take care of the ramp, Grubb, there’s no need for you to be stuck in the middle.”

  Imelda walked out on the ramp and hung her head over the edge. The retching sound made everyone back further into the ship, but they couldn’t take their eyes off of her.

  “She gorged herself,” Natalia explained. “All of that would have made its way to the floor of your cargo hold, Grubb, if you had shut it.” She paused again with a small smile.

  “Imelda says she is sorry, Grubb; she doesn’t want you get into trouble. I will take the heat. I know I’m already in pretty deep.”

  “That you are, girly, that you are. At least it ended well, and we got to shoot at some scary-looking beasties.”

  “Binda, report to the bridge,” Lorelei announced.

  “It would be my guess you are about to have a visit from the captain, Natalia,” Nedra said.

  “Let her come!” Natalia hissed.

  zzz

  “Adeen, please tell Shawna the coordinates for the building Gray is holding up in.”

  “It will do you no good, you can’t get in,” she said.

  “I know, you keep saying, that but you know how I am; I like a challenge. Plus, if you keep stalling instead of telling me what I want to know, I’m going to start removing pieces of you from your body,” I told her.

  “Lady, if I was you I would tell him whatever he wants to know. I saw him cut pieces off of someone already, he doesn’t know how to bluff,” Shawna said.

  “I thought we were friends, Benjamin. We went through a lot together,” Adeen said, looking hurt.

  “I thought we were too, Adeen. I’ve tried to make it clear how important this is to me, and yet you continue to evade my questions. So I have to think you aren’t the friend I thought you were.”

  “I’m just trying to save you and your people from getting killed, don’t you see that?” Adeen argued.

  “You can ask them; I’ve already tried to save them myself, but they are true friends. Just like Terri and Elizabeth. You remember them, don’t you?” I growled. “Now give us the coordinates or I’m throwing you out the door. We have to be at twenty-five hundred feet by now. That’s a long drop. Snake, get the door open.”

  “Okay, okay! Just hold on,” Adeen said. She began rattling off numbers, even giving landmarks when Genius switched the command center to translucent view like we had earlier under the lake.

  “How are you
doing, Genius?” Adeen asked.

  “Better than you, ma’am,” Genius replied with a chuckle. “We are at three thousand feet now, just so you know.”

  I liked it when my team got it, and they did; each of them knew I would throw her ass out the door. We weren’t far from our target. I had them make a circle around the area so I could finish my planning. I grabbed Adeen by collar and pulled her back, pushing her into the seat next to Harry.

  “You sit there,” I said, “and don’t cause me any problems. You understand me? If you start then I’ll have him hold you while I play. You don’t have testicles last I checked, so I’ll start with fingers or an ear.”

  “Benjamin, when did you become like this?” She protested. “I knew you were always hurting inside, but you were never crazy in such a sadistic way.”

  “You say sadistic. I say it’s what it takes to get your attention. How many times did I ask for the information?” I snapped. “Here’s the deal, you push my buttons and I cut off your fingers. You lie to me, I throw your ass out the door, and you will be forgotten by everybody here the moment the door closes. I’m this close to finishing something that has been a part of me for over twenty years. Now, what floor is he on? I see it’s only a four-story building.”

  “Third floor. There should be almost no staff there at this time of night. He’ll have his body guards; they’re special, chemically and physically enhanced. He loves to tinker and make things like me and 53, but he doesn’t like to have us around in public. These guys look normal, but they are super strong. Back when he had his arm candy — you know her, right? looked just like that one there.” she said, pointing at Mira. “He wanted her to go through the process, and she wouldn’t do it.”

  “Why are you telling me this? We all had lives before we met,” I said. “She was entitled to hers.”

  “They had a knock-down, drag-out argument over her and her team getting the enhancement drugs, and she broke it off with him, at least on a personal level. He was still her commanding officer, and he gave her a new assignment. You know what that was, don’t you Benjamin?”

  “Again, why are you telling me all this?” I asked.

  “To save your life. He isn’t just going to let you waltz in and kill him. He’s going to want to talk to you. He’ll want to tell you all about their relationship. He took her to all the best places and treated her like a queen.”

  “I doubt that,” Taz said.

  “And how would you know?” Adeen asked.

  “Because I am a queen. I am Tazleaha, Queen of the Cjittan Empire, Empress of a Thousand Stars. I know what it is to be treated like a queen.”

  Adeen sat with her mouth hanging open, unsure what to say. “Um, it’s just a figure of speech, ma’am,” she said finally. “He treated her very well, is what I meant. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “Okay, I get it!” I said, trying to move the conversation along. “He’ll try and tell me all the sordid details to get me off my game. Is that it?”

  “Yes, Benjamin, that is it. I don’t know them all, and can’t tell you what’s true and what’s made up just to piss you off. I know about the mission, and what followed because of Hanson. Hanson enjoyed that it all backfired on the general when she fell in love with you. One more thing — if you find him, you will probably find Senator Sims as well. He returned about a month or two ago, and Gray has had him on a short leash ever since.”

  “Your president does not know of his return,” Taz said. “He questioned me about the senator when I visited him, Benjamin. I told him what we had found, and that the trail had gone cold after that.”

  “I was hoping the senator had nothing to do with my family’s death,” I said. “But I guess I was wrong, or else the general wouldn’t be keeping him in hiding.”

  “Benjamin, I don’t feel so good,” Mira said. She was listing to one side, her head resting against the padding on the wall.

  “Ronnie, take a look at her,” I asked. I got up and moved over next to her. She felt cold to the touch.

  “Benjamin, there is no need,” Taz said from behind me. “Her time is quickly coming to an end.”

  “What do you mean?” I yelled. Adeen jumped; she was already on edge. Taz just looked sad.

  “I believe Mira has a built in expiration date that was triggered by being released from the compulsion,” Taz said.

  “What can we do? I promised I would help her get a new start,” I said. “This can’t be happening.”

  “Nothing. Her brain is going through a systematic shutdown of her internal organs. If we could get her to one of my ships, we could try to reprogram her, if there is not too much damage done.”

  “What can we do right fucking now? We don’t have one of your damn ships. What about cold to slow down her functions, or drugs to shut her brain down, or both?”

  “Hey boss, what about electricity? Can we short circuit her brain?” Genius asked.

  “Taz, would that work? Can we short circuit her?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. It might work,” Taz answered.

  “Snake, when we get inside this building, you and Ronnie should go find their infirmary. They may have a crash cart or portable unit. Bring it here if you can, or com for her to be brought to you. Taz would be happy to bring her.”

  “Benjamin, I’m not leaving your side,” Taz said.

  “You will, and you’ll be happy to fucking do it. You understand me?”

  “You love her that much, Benjamin?” Taz asked, clearly hurt.

  “I made her a promise,” I said, “and I will use you or anyone to do whatever it takes to fulfill it for her.”

  Taz smiled, just when I thought we would start swinging. “You will make a strong, honorable ruler of the Cjittan Empire, Benjamin Jamison. I will do everything in my power to help honor your word to Mira.”

  “What’s the plan, boss?” Genius asked.

  “Okay, let me lay it out for you,” I said.

  Chapter 35

  “Benjamin, open the door!” Taz yelled.

  I pushed the button to make an announcement. “Everyone needs to be in their seat and buckled in. Harry, sit next to Mira and hold on to her. Adeen, sit on the other side of her. All I can say is, if you’re not strapped in within the next three minutes, it’s gonna hurt really bad.” I had a clear approach from the west. Everything was below two stories from that direction.

  “What’s going to hurt? What are you going to do?” Taz asked.

  “Your Highness, are you sure you want to be with him? He isn’t right in the head,” Shawna said, smiling at Taz. “He’s going to fly the shuttle into the side of the building.”

  “Oh shit!” Snake said. “We did this before, actually, and it worked out pretty well, except we couldn’t get our personnel carrier untangled from the building. We had a hell of a time on foot after that.”

  I didn’t think they knew I had left the com open to listen to them. I smiled, remembering the incident Snake was telling them about. I armed the forward weapons, shut the cloak off, and accelerated. I began firing at the building. It didn’t break the siding, but it was heating it up. It wasn’t clear any longer when the nose of the shuttle hit. I had cut the power a second before impact. I figured there was no need to damage the drives.

  The squealing of metal on metal was torture on my ears. I waited; the shuttle didn’t move, so I left the drives off. Unbuckling myself, I opened the door with all eyes on me. Not all held the same expression, but none seemed to angry. I grabbed the door, opened it and smiled. Something went right, I thought as I stepped out onto the office floor. Lights flickered on the ceiling and sparks were jumping around. Damaged office equipment was strewn to the left and right of the shuttle.

  The shuttle was taller than a story, so it had done a number on the fourth floor. I was looking up through the debris in the air. It looked like the shuttle should be able to free itself with little effort.

  “Shawna, you and Genius start running checks and get the shuttle out of
the building,” I said. “Be ready to get the hell out of here in five. Taz, you and Harry are with me, and Ronnie — you and Snake know what to do. Adeen, you keep an eye on Mira and yell out if she starts getting worse.”

  I expected the resistance to have their act together by now. I was ready; all my blades were in place, and my weapons were charged and ready. Taz and I went shoulder-to-shoulder in front of Harry to give him as much protection as possible.

  The hall ran the length of the floor, with two intersecting hallways. Laser fire erupted from the first intersection. I motioned to Taz my intention and she pushed Harry towards the wall. I logged that for later conversation. I motioned to the opposite corner and fired through the wall, with Taz doing the same. We rushed the intersection to find two bodies and the hallway empty. One was still alive and in a lot of pain. Harry swung my axe and ended the man’s suffering. I was a little irritated by this, but I kept silent. I would have liked some information from the man, if possible, but that wasn’t Harry’s style.

  “Hey, you two, we need some live ones. Okay?” I said. I saw something on the wall. It was a directory of the offices, showing who occupied each one. Gotcha, assholes, I thought. You both put your names on the wall.

  “C’mon” I said, and pointed at the board. I ran down the hall. I knew I was in the right place when I rounded the corner and got clotheslined. Four rather stout individuals began to kick the shit out me. My armor protected everything but my pride.

  I grabbed a foot and twisted it, turning myself and kicking out at a second attacker. In the blink of an eye, they were gone. I heard their bodies being beaten against the walls. The cavalry had arrived. It struck me that they had taken so long. They should have been just seconds, instead of half a minute behind me. Taz extended her hand. She was smirking while she helped me up. Four even stouter individuals stood down the hall, staring us down. They were taller than me, and broader too. I holstered my pistol and walked towards them.

  “I’ll deal with you later,” I said to her.