by Ted Iverson
“Perhaps capturing them would not be in our best interest.”
“Elaborate, please.”
“Well, sir, as you know, Sam’s friendship with Ty has helped with things thus far. Once again it has assisted us. She came to me earlier this morning and confided in me. She was working last night when they arrived at the AxMet.”
“AxMet? They’re here in the capital?” Axion leaned forward, ready to hear more. “Go on, Thoma.”
“Yes, and when her shift was done, curiosity got the best of her. She overheard them discussing the prototype. Sir, they know exactly where it’s located. If we take them into custody now, they’ll never give us the location. I’m certain they would rather die. But, if we allow them to remain free, they’ll go in search of the prototype. They can’t finish the FTL ship without it and, quite frankly, neither can our men. Let the Bindls deliver it to us.”
“Thoma, a fine idea, one worthy of praise. We will do as you suggest. You are in command of this operation. If you succeed, I will personally nominate you as my successor, but if you fail and I fall, you fall with me.” It was a stiff warning.
In his mind, he’d failed already, so Thoma didn’t much listen to the last statement. “There’s more.”
“Continue.”
“There is, no doubt, going to be a battle. They have the capability of amassing men to fight. I’m not yet certain as to the number, but it seems to be several hundred or more. We’ll need to start preparing our men. They may not be needed for several days, maybe a week or more, I don’t know, but before we need them, they’ll need to be equipped to handle the battle. Sir, I would personally like to lead the men.” Thoma had nothing to live for, so he felt that an appropriate request.
“I see. If that is your wish, you may lead our armed force. Go now.” Axion motioned toward the door. “Oh, one last thing.”
Thoma turned and looked at the evil man.
“Meet me out front at, say 3:00 p.m. I think we should pay a visit to some friends.” His vileness showed through.
Thoma turned and exited quickly. He didn’t look back. His only thought now was to find Orion and Zach. Not to apprehend them, but to warn them. There was only one man who could help.
Paul Spencer was behind the desk in the lobby when he heard a commotion outside. He’d begun walking around the desk when the doors swung open and Senator Thoma bolted through, flanked by four of Axion’s guards. It was a shocking entrance for the usually reserved man.
“Senator, to what do we owe this visit?’
He stopped in front of Spencer. “I am here on a grave issue. I understand that you are harboring two known criminals. Paul, if that is the case, you are in most serious trouble. Is this true?”
“I assure you that I am not.”
“Really? Our sources state otherwise. I should like to talk with you privately.”
Thoma pointed at two of the guards, “You two go back to your regular duties. We have things in hand.” They turned and headed out of the lobby. Then he motioned at the other two, “Come with me. As you were saying?”
“Yes, of course, if you’ll just follow me?” Paul turned and headed toward the room where he always hosted dignitaries.
This could be interesting he thought.
Spencer had no worries of Thoma finding Orion and Zach if he decided to search the hotel. They were sleeping in a special concealed room.
When Spencer and Thoma arrived at the conference room, Paul entered first, with the senator close behind. The two guards followed and took their places just inside the door as it closed behind them.
“As I stated, Orion and Zach Bindl are here. You are the only one they would come to see. You know it and I know it. So?”
“I am sorry. I thought you wanted to speak to me in private.” Spencer nodded respectfully toward the stoic guards.
“As you wish.” Thoma raised a hand chest high and gave a small wave. The guards came to attention and turned to leave. As the guards stood waiting for the door, with their backs to the other two men, Thoma slipped his hand into his robes and brought out a weapon. Shocked, Paul backed away swiftly as the senator fired two shots. The weapon’s energy rounds found their mark, striking each man directly in the back of the head. There had been barely any sound. The guards slumped to the floor lifeless as blood began seeping through their hair. Paul stood in shocked silence.
“It was a necessary cover.” Thoma slipped the weapon back into the robe’s folds. “Things are very dangerous right now. We don’t have much time. I need to talk to the young men now. Their survival and that of their brothers depends on it.”
“You’ve been working with Axion, apprehending the innocent and locking up my best man for a crime you arranged. Now you shoot two of your own men and you want me to just deliver Orion and Zach? I must be hearing things. Are you for real?”
“Yes, actually, that is exactly what I’m requesting. I have made many bad decisions in my life, but it’s time to try to rectify them. Axion has taken the very life from me, everything I ever had. I can’t stop him. It’s too late for that. But maybe those boys can.” His eyes were pleading. No, they were begging. “I still have to play his game, but if I could alter it just enough for him not to notice, the balance might turn. Do you understand?”
“I feel that you are being sincere, but I just don’t know.” Spencer hesitated, then spoke again, “If you have deceived me, Thoma, I will personally see to your death.”
Thoma looked down at the ground. “My friend, you cannot kill what is already dead.” He raised his gaze to meet the other man’s. “It is your decision, but since you know what I have planned...” He slipped his hand into his robe and withdrew the weapon, pointing it at Paul. “At this point, one more life on my hands is nothing. Your answer?”
Spencer thought that nothing could shock him further—until the senator made that statement. “Please, put your weapon down. You really are serious?”
“Paul, I have nothing to lose. Please.”
Spencer made his way over to the com panel, tapped a few buttons, and said, “You boys need to make your way up here now. Take the back way, through the galley. Make it fast.”
“What was that about?” Zach asked.
“I’m not sure. He did sound different. Think we should go?”
“If he’s in some sort of trouble we’ve got to find out.”
Throwing on a shirt, Orion made his way to the door. “Hurry, Zach. We can’t waste time.”
“Right behind you, bro. Right behind you.”
Thoma was standing straight, but Paul had leaned against the wall while they waited. The com came to life. “Paul, we’re here.” The door slid open and the boys entered. Zach went first and nearly tripped over the body of one of the guards. “What in the blazes happened?” He looked up and froze.
Orion followed and looked at the two corpses, then immediately spotted Thoma. He too froze as the door slid shut behind him.
Zach glared at Spencer. “You set us up!” Without any hesitation he lunged at Paul.
Thoma swiftly moved between Spencer and Zach. “This is not a se—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish. A powerful blow to his left cheek sent him staggering, and another to his stomach left him kneeling on the ground gasping for air. Just as another blow headed his way, a hand grabbed Zach’s arm.
“Stop!” A powerful set of arms dragged Zach away from the helpless senator. “Zach, I told you to stop!”
He still needed some restraint, but he’d stopped struggling to get free. “He set us up! I warned you back when we first got here.” His eyes bored into Paul’s.
“If I let you go, Zach, you better stay put. We’re in now. Let’s hear what they’ve got to say. There’s nothing we can do at this point anyway.”
“Okay, okay,” Zach said. Orion released his grip and Zach rubbed his arms where his brother had held him back.
“Thank you, Orion.” Paul said, taking charge now. “Zach, this is not an ambush, as yo
u would like to believe. The senator is here to offer an olive branch of sorts. Why don’t you let the gentleman speak his mind?”
Paul moved over and helped the senator to his feet. With labored breath, Thoma said, “I understand your thinking, Zach. It was to be expected. Please, can we sit and discuss why I came here to see you?”
Without waiting for an answer, Thoma lowered himself gingerly into a chair. When they were all sitting, he went on to explain everything that had transpired to bring him to this moment. It took quite a while, as he left nothing out. When he was wrapping up the story, he paused, “I will not ask for your forgiveness, for I know that none can be given, but if you give me one last chance at redemption, I will try to help.”
Zach and Orion sat in silence for a long time, looking at one another then back at the expressionless Thoma. Neither wanted to talk first, but someone had to. Orion decided to end the uneasy silence.
“How can you help?”
“I can get you information as to where your brothers are being held, the number of men we have, and more. I have all that, for starters.”
“Okay, but here’s the problem. I’m sure they’re heavily guarded. If we show up, we’re not getting out.”
“True, but maybe I could get a message to them, at least make them aware that you haven’t been captured and that you’re working on a plan.”
“That would be good. Probably what we will—”
Zach began to snicker. He leaned over and whispered something into his brother’s ear. Orion’s eyebrows rose. Zach leaned back in his chair, his hands under the table. Orion looked down and smiled, then looked at Zach and nodded with approval.
“Senator,” Zach said, beaming like a proud father, “do you think you could deliver something to Ed or Alec?”
“I believe it could be arranged.”
“Well then, I’ve got a plan.”
At 3:00 p.m., Senator Thoma was waiting outside the Senatorial Complex. A hover showed up, and the driver exited and opened the rear door of the hover. “Senator Thoma, I am here for you and Senator Axion.”
Thoma noticed that the driver wore camouflage utilities and that the vehicle had been greatly modified. It looked indestructible, as if it were made of armor. He boarded the vehicle. Within minutes, Axion arrived, entered the vehicle, and took a seat next to Thoma.
“Good afternoon, my friend. We have yet to pay our captives a visit. It’s rude not to have done so.”
As the hover flew off, Thoma sat quietly in the back, reading the newspaper he’d brought along. Although the holonews could be seen in the vehicle, Thoma still preferred getting his news the old way on occasion. Besides, he hoped it might cover up the fear he was feeling. He glanced up occasionally, but Axion was busy pouring over some holofilm on the player built into the hover.
The long ride was uneventful, and Thoma was relieved that Axion didn’t try to make conversation. The craft pulled up in front of what appeared to be a military installation, and they had to make their way through some large and heavily guarded gates. After the hover came to a stop, the driver moved to open the doors for the men. Thoma exited and stood next to the hover. He could see clearly now that they were indeed at some sort of installation.
Must be run by Meteoric, he thought.
Axion started for a small building and Thoma followed. As they entered, two guards came to attention. The only thing in the building was a narrow winding staircase, which the men now slowly descended. Thoma guessed it must have taken them two stories down. They passed through a steel door and into a small room guarded by two more guards, who also snapped to attention as they entered. The guards relaxed when Axion gave a short nod.
“Open this,” Axion said, pointing at the next steel door.
As they passed over the threshold, a smell like that of an open sewer hit Thoma. He could barely stand it. They moved a little further in and he saw three cells. Two were occupied. “Despicable conditions, even for them.”
“Despicable conditions for despicable people,” Axion answered back. “Guard! Keys.” He was handed the set. “Stay here in case they decide an escape attempt might be in order. That, of course, would be unwise.” He unlocked Alec’s cell. “Cuff him.” The guards moved in and did as ordered then retreated from the cell.
Alec stood still, his hands cuffed behind his back as Axion moved closer to him. “So, why the visit, Pete? Miss us?” Alec said in defiance.
“Miss you? Why no. I just wanted to tell you that my company is doing just fine without your brothers. It seems as if projections for this quarter are on track for a record profit.” The evil in his voice was undeniable. “I believe that we will be able to offer the public a plethora of new inventions that Space Tech has been unwilling to share. Your family has been hard at work, have they not?”
Alec took one step forward and found himself quickly on his knees as Axion lashed out with a hard kick to his mid-section. Alec raised his eyes and found the leg approaching again. He moved sideways, but the foot caught the right side of his rib cage. He felt a crack, and a painful cough followed. Blood dripped from his mouth, making its way slowly down his dirt-caked chin and onto the ground. Somehow he managed to stay on his knees. He tried to stand.
As he did so, Axion struck once again. This time a boot met Alec’s face. His head whipped backward and he crashed to the ground. The last thing Alec heard was Axion laughing. Then everything became very calm and dark. Axion looked back at his prisoner and ordered his guards, “Uncuff him.”
They reentered the cell and quickly took the handcuffs off Alec’s wrists then relocked the cell door as they exited.
The senator looked over at Ed, who could only stand and watch. “You should come in here.” Ed’s voice was composed. “It’s easy to beat an unarmed, bound man. That’s right, come here and we can do this man to man. I’d like to see just how tough you really are.”
Axion just laughed and headed out of the room. “Thoma, I’ve got some paperwork to tend to. I’ll see you at the hover in a short while.”
Thoma instantly shot over to the bars that divided the cells and leaned in as close as he could. “Look, I don’t have much time,” he whispered, looking directly at Ed, who had moved a little closer, yet kept his distance. “They’ve arrested Ty and are still looking for your brothers. I know where they are. I’ve talked with them. I know you don’t trust m—” He began to choke as Ed, even in his weakened state, swiftly closed the gap, thrust his hand through bars, and clenched Thoma’s neck.
“Trust?” I doubt you know the meaning.” Still clutching the senator’s neck, Ed went on, “You helped set us all up and now you speak of trust? I trust that I still have enough strength to kill you.”
Thoma tore at Ed’s hand, trying to tell Ed to let him go, but only choking sounds came out. Somehow, using his own two hands, he managed to break free of Ed’s one-handed death grip. Down on his knees now, he fell back just enough to avoid Ed’s grabbing hand.
Thoma found his voice and coughed out a sentence: “Not trusting me seems the order of the day. But you’re going to have to.” He peered into the prisoner’s unforgiving eyes.
Ed gave a small grunt and watched in disbelief as the man moved up to the bars once again.
“Ed, I trust you and hope with every fiber of my being that you believe what I’m telling you. Zach gave me something to give you. This might help you believe.” He waved his hand for Ed to come over.
Reluctantly, Ed moved to the bars once again and stood in front of Thoma.
“Give me your hand,” Thoma ordered.
Ed reached through the bars and was able to open his aching hand just a bit. Thoma placed an object into his palm and tenderly wrapped Ed’s fingers around it. Ed pulled his hand back into the cell and looked at the senator.
“Zach said you’d know what to do with it when the time came. I must leave before Axion gets suspicious. I am sorry for all of this.” Thoma turned and hurried out of the cell chamber.
The door s
lammed shut behind Thoma, and Ed heard the lock’s multiple clicks. Sure no one was watching, he opened his hand slowly. As he saw what was in his hand, his eyes widened and out of his dirt-encrusted face a small grin appeared.
As they were leaving the complex in the hover, Axion spoke, “Now, let’s go see how our other Bindl, Ty, is holding up.”
Thoma could only look down. He was thinking to himself that this day would never end.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Orion was trying to contact Captain Lyet and find out the droids’ progress. He was still bringing the holonet up when the door slid open and Paul entered.
“I received this a little while ago,” Orion said, handing Paul a sealed envelope with senatorial seal on the back. “It’s from Thoma.”
“Wow, a wax crest. I didn’t know those even existed anymore.” Spencer broke the seal and pulled out a small disc. “A holodisc. Well, little guy,” he said, speaking directly to the disc, “let’s take a look at what you hold.”
He placed it into the holoplayer. A small list appeared and hung motionless in front of them.
“Enlarge, one hundred twenty-five percent.” The list flickered and then grew. Both men could now see it clearly. It was a table of contents. As they browsed through it, they were amazed to realize just what they were looking at. The disc contained vital information on Meteoric. There were schedules for incoming supplies and outgoing items, guard schedules, training times, and much more. And there were employee registers for each company location.
One entry intrigued Orion: it was labeled “Militia.” Glancing over at Spencer then back, Orion ordered, “Open ‘Militia.’” The image shifted to a large report with rapidly flipping pages. When it stopped flipping, they saw the section had its own contents page, which they quickly browsed.