She needed to find passage south. She had Covenant credits and even the more primitive English coins. If she could get herself cleaned up, have her wound tended to, and find some new clothes, she might be able to pass security measures and slip on a train.
Renee started walking again.
Sue
Sue sat in the doctor´s office thrumming her fingers nervously on the table. The lab technician had taken her blood, and she wondered if they could detect that she wasn´t taking her meds anymore. Of course, the doctor still gave her the shot every week, but she was off the self-administered drugs, and she wasn’t going back, no matter the risk. She wondered how far the doctor was willing to go if he found out.
The headaches had lessened dramatically, which was a relief. She felt so much better, and she´d already begun looking for work. She didn´t quite know what she would like to do, but she figured she´d take the first job she could land and then be open to any opportunities that might arise. After all, any job would be better than staying in the apartment, going nuts. A few memories had returned, some of them quite disturbing, and she had begun to suspect all wasn´t as it should be. What had happened on Luna? What was she doing on Luna in the first place? Why had she felt so betrayed by Evan? Why did she think of him as Evan and not as Tacticus Hordvik? Perhaps she would understand more as she got more memories back.
One thing she wasn´t confused about was staying off the drugs. From what the doctors had said, she ought to be dead already. From her earliest moment returning to Charlestown—an event she didn´t remember much of anyway—they had all stressed the importance of the drugs. Unless she kept to a rigorous medication regimen, she could drop dead at any moment, they had said. And she had feared it in the beginning. It was a strange thing to know that every minute could be her last. What the doctors didn´t know was that any soldier would know exactly what that felt like. And any soldier would have come to terms with this fact somehow. Once she´d made her decision, it was easier than she´d expected to stick with it. Besides, she wasn´t dead yet. She grinned wryly at the thought, but quickly wiped it off her face when the doctor came in with the latest results. He sat down in front of her.
"So, Miss Atlas, how do you feel?" the doctor said without taking his eyes off the printout.
"Fine, I guess. The headaches don´t come as often or as heavy. That´s a good thing, yes?"
The doctor nodded absently.
"Still, I´m afraid we need to increase the dosage. You´ve had an increase in certain neurotransmitters lately that could come from your adapting to the meds more quickly than we anticipated. Do you know what a neurotransmitter is, Susan?" Sue shook her head.
"Well, it´s quite complicated. It´s a kind of electrical charge that jumps from one synapse to another, nerve endings, if that´s easier to understand. These charges form a connection between the synapses and, suffice it to say that you shouldn´t have as many active neurotransmitters as you do. Interestingly, neurotransmitters are what both form and recall memories, and without them we´d be brain dead. But they can also cause overload, which puts you in danger of an immediate and permanent wipeout. It could come as a stroke, or it could simply wipe your mind clean. Either way, you´d be just as dead." The doctor paused for a moment and regarded her sideways.
"You say you´ve been taking your medicines, right?" he said, a sudden sharpness in his voice. Sue felt a chill go down her spine.
"Yes," she began, but the doctor cut her off.
"No, you haven´t. And as of right now, you will be given all medication here in this office." He shook his head. "I expected more from you, war hero and all." He stood back up and stared down at her.
"We´re out of this particular drug right now, but I´ll order another shipment that should be here tomorrow evening. You are to meet me here at eight sharp the morning after tomorrow, and we´ll set up a new medication schedule. Let´s just hope you don´t drop dead in the meantime." Sue cringed. The doctor seemed different now, no longer the sympathetic and friendly physician. Sue knew there was no way to avoid returning to the drugs. She managed to hold back tears. She wouldn´t cry in front of this man. She got up quietly and walked out, head spinning as she desperately tried to find a way out of this situation.
Chapter 10
Renee
Renee walked along the low houses, avoiding the light wherever she could. It was darkening, and she would have liked to wait even longer. But she couldn’t wait if she was to make the train that would take her south. So she kept to herself, looking for a suitable place to get out of the open. She found it just a couple of minutes later and stepped inside the Rollins Bar, straightening as she entered. She had already ditched the jumpsuit she had worn in the woods and donned a smart grey and black two-piece suit that was supposedly the typical civilian apparel for well-dressed but not overly fashion-concerned Moon people.
Renee walked straight to the bathroom. She might have a good-looking suit, but she probably smelled of the woods and stale sweat. Once inside her private stall, she undressed and washed. She finished by spraying an odorless liquid that would suppress her scent followed by a subtle perfume. She dressed again and exited the bathroom.
The people of Fort Winter had a healthy dose of respect for the Moon people, and no one tried to hit on her as she walked up to the bar. The barkeeper, a plump blonde with cleavage that almost made Renee blush, came over and smiled at her.
"Ma´am, what can I do for you?" she asked. Renee smiled and produced three English coins.
"First, I´d like a shot of your finest," she said. The blonde complied and produced the liquor quickly. She handed Renee the shot glass.
"Thanks," Renee said, gulping it all down. The barkeeper was still waiting when Renee put the glass down.
"Another one?" she asked. Renee shook her head.
"Just keep the change. I´m supposed to head south this evening. Can you direct me to the train station, please?" she said.
"Sure, just head down the street, then take a right in about a hundred meters. You´ll see the sign."
"Thank you," Renee said and produced another coin.
"Thank you, ma´am," the blonde said.
Renee walked out. It had grown darker, which suited Renee just fine. She walked down the street, following the barkeeper´s directions. Soon, she saw the sign that said Fort Winter Station.
She slowed when she saw a checkpoint just outside the station proper. Time to see if her ID and cover story held up. There were two lines: the one for English twice as long as the one for Moon people. She entered the shorter line and had to stop herself from picking up her ID and holding it ready for the security personnel to inspect. That´s what the English would have done. She, on the other hand, was Moon blood, and Moon blood played it cool.
When it was her turn, she said her name before picking up her papers.
"Ivana Lian," she said as confidently as she could, not even sparing the guard a look. The guard, who was English, said the name aloud and checked his tablet.
"Seems good, madam. Can I see your ID, please?" Renee snorted, but replied politely enough.
"Absolutely." She produced her ID from her pocket and showed it to him smartly. The guard hardly looked at it. She was in the system, so why should he? It was just another formality. Selma had been right about that.
"What is the purpose of your trip, madam?" the guard asked politely, not even looking up now.
"I´m planning on investing in the new territories up north. I need to check with an associate of mine down south. I cannot tell you more since there is, obviously, confidential information involved."
"No need, madam. That´s all I need," he said. Renee tapped her foot impatiently. The guard looked up and smiled.
"You may pass, madam," the guard said. Renee walked past the checkpoint without a word. She wondered for a moment if she ought to make sure the open ticket was where it should be, but she decided not to. If she didn´t have it, she would buy one on the train. She was Moon blood. She didn´t
care that the price for a ticket on board would be three times as steep. She found the cart marked by a crescent moon and entered. "Moon people only. No English," a sign said.
Once on board, she sat down near the exit and tried to relax. She had been through a lot, but the hardest part of the mission was still ahead of her. She stared out the window while the train began to move. It moved quietly and smoothly, just like she’d been told. She´d never been on a maglev train before. It was nice. She decided she might be able to get a couple hours of sleep.
Mark
This must be what the English feel like when they turn fifty, Mark thought. Then it hit him: I´m English as well. He´d been attached to the Moon people for so long, and they had depended on him so much that he´d become one of them except for the name. And the blood, he thought. Never forget the blood.
In five minutes, he´d leave his room and be taken into another part of the hospital where the next part of the procedure would start. He knew every part of the treatment well—the basics hadn´t changed—and he knew that everything might be over when he woke up again. If he woke up again.
In the days that had passed since Evan´s visit, he´d gathered his thoughts as well as external information, and it was clear what had happened. Evan had usurped Covenant leadership with the support of most Nidaros-based families and quite a few of the ones originating out of New Moscow as well. In fact, he´d united more of the Moon people than most of his predecessors. Then he had disbanded the Luna council, effectively shutting down all opposition, which left him in total control. Even if he were to be challenged, there would be no lawful forum in which to do anything about his position. Evan Hordvik was now referred to simply as the Leader.
He must have planned this for a while, Mark thought. He missed his friend Alexej, but at least they hadn´t killed him. As far as Mark knew, Evan wouldn´t have a man killed unless it was necessary. On the other hand, if it was necessary, he wouldn´t hesitate for a second.
One big question that remained unanswered was if Evan knew that Mark had killed his father. If he did, he hid it well, but Mark wouldn´t be surprised to find out he did. He was beginning to reconcile with the fact that he wouldn´t have a say in anything anymore, but he wondered what Evan would do if he knew the name of his father´s murderer. Kill him? The two Hordviks hadn´t been close, but the Moon people put a lot of emphasis on blood ties, so who could tell?
Mark got up from the bed and walked over to the window, taking a small bag from the side of the bed. He took a moment to look out the window and down to the streets below while he took out the bag´s content, a small black box. The streets were packed with people, almost as many as if it had been daytime. People, Moon people, were out partying, displaying their riches, spending without a thought to the fact that most of their abundance came from the toils of English and even the dark slavery they called the Corpus. No, they were oblivious and happy in their ignorance, enjoying what they were told was their birthright.
Legacy never slept, not even in the middle of the night. Not even in pivotal times such as these. Mark stood with the black box in his hand and spoke quietly into it for a couple of minutes before he pressed an invisible button on the side. A green light blinked three times before disappearing again. Mark put the box back inside the bag and placed it by the bed. He sat down to wait for the doctor.
Evan
Strategos Command had grown increasingly busy since Evan´s takeover. He was glad to be back after a few days off to inspect other areas that demanded his attention. Yesterday, he had learned of the experiments in Corpus territory, where scientists were nearing a breakthrough in genetic engineering that would enable Corpus servants to become stronger yet more docile—the perfect workers. They had even made breakthroughs that might improve various forms of perception, something more suited for the military or even regular Moon people. "Our post-human future", the young scientists, Dr. Knudsen and a student, Felicia something, had called it. Evan was curious to learn more, but he had a million other things to consider, so it had been a brief visit followed by a scramjet ride back to the capitol. Today, he had spent an hour listening to ecologists proposing a revolutionary technology for restoring previously uninhabitable areas in the North. This was something he was particularly interested in since he had trudged through the radioactive wasteland himself in those terrible days of slaughter when the North had been conquered and the French annihilated. He was now listening to briefings from the heads of the main military branches. Once the last of them had finished, Evan walked around the central table, around which high-ranking officers stood, waiting for him to speak.
"So, Air and Sea is one week away from having all assets on high alert. The Janissaries are on high alert already, as are the Wardens. Missile command is on fifteen-minute alert. I want that raised to five, but without any obvious changes. That could alert Buchanan. Orbital platforms are on high alert. Missile defense forces on high alert. Finally," he said. Strategos Alexandrov, head of Strategic Assets, including missile defense, let out a relieved sigh. This area had been an Achilles heel for years, Evan knew, and was probably what had held the Covenant back for decades. There would be no attack unless they were ready for a counterattack. He continued.
"Moon people land forces in the North, six-hour alert status. That´s unacceptable. I want you up to the same standards as the Janissaries and the Wardens. Finally, the Luna Brigade on high alert. Excellent." He paced again, keeping his thoughts to himself. Not long until we´re ready, he thought. At last.
"Okay, so let´s say we do this. In combat, there´s no such thing as a perfect plan. There are, however, a few crucial milestones we need to be absolutely sure of before we fire a single shot. First of all, we need to make sure we can take out their strategic assets in the first strike. Within 90% is acceptable, and 80% is failure. If we leave them 20%, we´ll lose Legacy. You can bet on it." A Strategos from Air raised her hand.
"We can do multiple precision bombing runs." Evan cut her off.
"We can, but we need to have the targeting at a 100% accuracy. So we´ll send ground forces in covertly. Special teams from the Luna Brigade will be first across. These will be tasked with targeting strategic assets." Strategos Jenssen of the Luna Brigade nodded. He was a short, stocky man of few words, who never expressed any political ambitions. All he ever wanted, as far as Evan knew, was to lead his troops.
"Jenssen, how soon can you have your teams placed inside Buchanan?" he asked. Jenssen seemed to think about it for a moment before answering.
"Sir, my teams are ready to deploy right now, so it´s just a matter of transporting them and infiltrating. If you give me a week, I´ll have them all deep undercover inside Buchanan. We can move faster, but we will risk discovery.
Evan nodded thoughtfully. Jenssen never bragged, but he was confident when he spoke. He was a voice of reason among so many eager to impress.
"All right. We´ll hold off for now. The Moon people land units need to be on high alert before we can act. Air and Sea also need to be on high alert, and we need the alert level of missile command to be no more than five minutes."
"Sir," First Janissary Ivanov said, "we can move right now, and I think we should." Evan cut him off.
"No, we need all branches to be ready. This is too big to launch before we´re absolutely ready."
"Yeah, I remember someone else who said the same thing. Where is Alexej now, if I may ask?" Ivanov said. Evan almost jumped him right there.
"First Janissary, listen very carefully. You will do as I say. When I say it. How I say it. Now, just to be clear, was that some sort of thinly veiled threat?" he pressed. Ivanov backed off, but kept his blue eyes locked on Evan.
"No, sir. Just remember who got you this far."
Evan decided to refrain from retorting. Ivanov had been a useful ally for about ten minutes, but now he was a nuisance. Yet, Evan needed the Janissaries, and no one held the Janissaries’ attention the way Ivanov did. His rule depended on the First Janissary, for th
e time being, but Evan would deal with Ivanov when the time came. Right now, he had more important issues to deal with.
Dave
Dave was out by the shuttle again, as he had been every night since it landed in the mountains near the Frost Observatory. He had gotten to know Tina and Ramon, who appeared to be the only ones from Aurora on the ship, which they called the Ark. They didn´t go into detail about how they had managed to travel the distance of more than forty lightyears from Aurora to Earth, but apparently they had done it in only five years.
Dave had brought them food, and they had savored it. Ship´s rations, while tasty and nutritious, weren´t really food, Tina claimed. She seemed to be the most knowledgeable about Earth, and Dave learned that she´d been born here. She had to be really old for that to be possible, much older than she appeared, but Dave didn´t inquire. He figured he´d learn soon enough. Ramon, on the other hand, was born on Aurora, and his mother was, from the way Tina spoke, an important figure there.
The spacefarers seemed to appreciate learning what Dave told them. He had decided early on not to hold anything back, and when he told them of his time with the Wardens and of Bliss, he had shed a tear. Tina had hugged him and told him it was all right. Ramon had gritted his teeth, saying that it seemed they had been right to come.
This night, Dave was tired. He´d had way too little sleep since the shuttle had landed, and he had considered staying home to catch up, but had decided against it. Ramon was telling a story his father had told him about a hunting trip. His father, Thomas, had watched a small rodent scare off a full herd of big beasts by jumping up and down, screeching loudly. The way Ramon told it, it was so funny that Tina and Dave almost fell over laughing.
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