by Chandra Ryan
“Will it hurt?”
Parker laughed at the question. “I managed to live through it. I think you’ll be okay.”
“Okay then. Let’s get this over with.”
Harlow placed her hand in his and then slowly sank into his mind. It was a cold environment filled with plans and contingencies. Each contingency was linked to a series of probabilities and exigencies for if they failed. When she sank further, though, she found layers of secrets and government deals any prosecutor would give his left nut to know. The man was a vault of leverage.
“Getting a little crowded in here. Have you found what you needed?” His words boomed through her thoughts so loudly she wasn’t certain if he’d thought them or if he’d actually spoken them.
“Almost. Believe me, I don’t like this any more than you do.” She’d finally found the root memories of his imprisonment and transport. There was no way he could possibly fake or even stretch those. Not at the level she was at. So she pulled herself out of his mind just as cautiously as she’d placed herself in it.
When she finally broke free she let go of his hand and grabbed a metal vase on her desk. Her whole body shook and her stomach cramped painfully.
“Are you okay?” Parker asked.
She nodded but kept her eyes closed tightly against the light in the room as she sought out some sort of peace of mind. “He’s telling the truth.” She took a deep breath. “About this at least.” She opened her eyes slowly as she regained control. “I hope I never have to do that again.”
“You and me both.” Lee smiled as if he wanted to defuse the tension of the moment but there was too much strain in his jaw for her to fall for the expression.
She nodded in sympathy. “So who would want your son impeached?”
Lee laughed. “It’d be quicker to start with who wouldn’t.”
“Barkswell can’t be on both lists,” she pointed out to Parker. “He’s ambitious and connected to Prime Minister Lee. I can’t imagine him wanting to throw away his best political contact.”
Parker gritted his teeth. “As much as I hate to admit it, he doesn’t seem like the most likely candidate now.”
“It’s time to start looking at people who have connections with other politicians.”
Parker typed a command into his reader and the crew’s personal communiqué folders came up on the screen. “There’s a lot of political correspondence going on.” His focus stayed on the handheld reader as he spoke to them. He listed off several names but Lee shook his head at each of them.
“None of them would benefit enough if Jasper were tossed in jail to outweigh the consequences of being caught. Plus they’re all lackeys.”
“Damn it. Where else should we look?” She started pacing as she thought through the problem. There had to be other avenues to explore but she’d exhausted every option she could think of.
“Engineering would be able to spot any hidden files,” Lee suggested.
Parker shook his head. “They’re too busy trying to patch up the ship right now to pull Vance away. Besides, I already spoke with him about this a couple of days ago. He hadn’t noticed anything suspicious. And if he saw anything today he would’ve told me about it.”
She stopped pacing and turned to look at Parker. “Wait. You’ve already talked to Vance about this?”
“Not about this specifically. How could I? I only learned about all of this a couple of minutes ago.” He ran his fingers through his hair in apparent frustration. “But I did pass along my concerns about sabotage and asked him to keep an eye on Barkswell.”
“That’s odd.” She sank down to sit on her couch as she thought. “When I spoke with him earlier he acted as if it was the first time he’d heard about a possible saboteur. And he gave me your name as a possible traitor.”
“Why would I go to him looking for a traitor if I was the traitor?”
“I’m not sure.” She stood again and crossed the room to stand next to him. “His actions don’t make sense. Pull up his files.”
He complied and quickly began scanning through the correspondence. “I don’t see anything here.”
Lee looked over his shoulder as he continued to page down. “Stop there.”
She instantly recognized the name but shook her head. “That’s one of our crew members. Or, he was until I kicked him off the Tempest for disrespect.”
“He’s Colonel Speck’s son,” Lee said sharply.
“I’m well aware of that. Believe me, he made sure I knew who he was.”
“Speck and Jasper have a past. One Speck would love to come out on top of in the history books.”
“But that would mean Vance was tied to the sabotage.” Even as she said it she had a hard time wrapping her head around the implications.
“Tied to it? My dear, if this is right, he is the key player.” He pointed to the form Vance had filled out asking Speck to serve aboard the Tempest.
“No. It has to be a coincidence.”
“Has Vance ever formally petitioned to have a soldier stationed on the Tempest before?” Parker’s voice was soft as he asked the question.
“No.”
“Then I don’t see how this could’ve been an accident.” Parker maximized the file on the screen. “His one request is the son of the man who wants to bring down Lee. On a run where Lee’s father will be our prisoner.”
Her heart hurt at the truth of the statement. “But why? He’s a good soldier. Of all the members of my crew, he’s the only one who was already on the Tempest when I was assigned here. We came up together.”
“And yet you’re the captain.” The words rang through her head. “Not him.”
“If he’d succeeded and tied me to this plot, I could’ve lost my ship.”
“Along with your commission and, most likely, your freedom.”
“There wouldn’t be any Subs in the military,” Parker added.
“Something Speck is working for anyway. His son told us that while he was aboard.”
“And I wonder who would’ve been promoted to captain of the Tempest with you gone?” The harsh tone in Parker’s voice told her he’d already decided. As had she. There was no doubt in Harlow’s mind. Vance would’ve been captaining the Tempest before the courts had gotten the guilty verdict recorded.
“No wonder they were willing to risk being caught. If they succeed, it would be a win all the way around.” Lee shook his head in disgust.
“But they aren’t going to win.” She smiled as everything came into sharp focus around her. Now that she knew what she was up against she knew what she had to do.
“What have you got in mind?”
“They don’t know that we know. And all we’ve got is circumstantial evidence. We need something more concrete.” She heard the telltale bang of the boarding ship trying to gain access to the Tempest. “But first I believe we have some guests to welcome aboard.” She touched her com. “Captain to engineering.”
“Engineering here.”
She wanted to yell at the sound of Vance’s voice. Still, she needed the man for a little longer. “Have you gotten the division fields back up?”
“Just about to complete the last sequence, sir.”
“Good. I think we’re about to have more passengers. I wanted to make sure we had comfortable accommodations for them.”
“Captain, if I might make a suggestion?”
“Of course, Vance. You’re always free to speak your mind. You know that.”
“I don’t think it’s wise to capture these men. You’ve already said they’re trying to free one of the prisoners. What if being tossed in the cells with him is part of their plan?”
“What would you suggest I do, then?”
“The Fleet has a no-tolerance law. Anyone who makes it aboard the ship should be shot on sight.”
“That’s tantamount to a death sentence. Without a trial. Even they have the right to assumed innocence and a trial.”
“It’s no better than what they’d do to us if they still had their
other ships with them. Outnumber, overwhelm and destroy everyone. It’s common procedure. And it’s what we need to do in return.”
She was betting he had another reason to want the witnesses killed. The fewer people to question, the more likely he was to get away with this. “I’ll take your advice into consideration.” She tossed a small digital recorder to Lee and nodded. “In the meantime,” she continued. “I have something important I need you to keep an eye on for me until this is over.”
“Of course, Captain.”
“My XO is in my quarters with the package. You’re to relieve him when you get here.”
“On my way.”
“Captain out.”
As soon as she turned her com off, Parker started pacing. “You can’t leave Lee alone with Vance. He’ll kill him.”
“He won’t kill him.” She shook her head defiantly. “It’d leave too much evidence behind. And a dead prisoner wouldn’t be enough to implicate Prime Minister Lee. But he might just help him escape if he thinks one of the hostiles made it onto the ship.”
Lee nodded. “And if I record the encounter we might just get that evidence we need.”
“That’s the plan.” She looked at Parker. “After you leave, I want you to stay by the door. They can’t take him off the ship. You’re to use any force necessary to make sure they stay onboard. Am I understood?”
“Perfectly, Captain.”
“Good. See you on the other side, Parker.”
She left her quarters before she could consider the ramifications if her plan didn’t work. It had to work. And she had her part to do. She’d just made it around the second bend when the call came over the com.
“Breach.”
She ran the rest of the way. “Stun, don’t kill. We need them alive for interrogation.”
The conflict took longer than she would’ve liked to contain, but after all the hostiles were subdued she started making her way back to her quarters. She had one of the men with her wear an assailant’s uniform in the hopes of misleading Vance. They just needed him to think he was safe enough to confess and it’d all be over. This whole episode would be nothing more than a memory. As she approached her quarters, though, she knew something was wrong. It was too quiet. It took her a moment to realize that Parker wasn’t where he should be.
She ran into her quarters and searched the rooms but they weren’t there. Where the hell had they gone? “Captain to Barkswell.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Locate Commander Vance and Lieutenant Commander Parker.”
“They are in shuttle bay two, Captain.”
“Seal it down and send security there immediately.”
“Yes sir.”
She ran toward shuttle bay two at full speed. Whatever Vance was up to, he had Parker. And it was her fault. Her plan had failed somehow.
When she reached the bay she pressed her palm against the scanner and the door swooshed open with a soft hiss. “Stay back, Captain.”
Inside the hangar Vance had a weapon pressed to Parker’s head. It made her heart race and her palms sweat but she had to focus. They had a job to do. “Where is the prisoner?”
“Vance gave him something. He’s unconscious but alive in the shuttle.”
Vance pointed the weapon at her. “And now that you’re here, we can get off this ship.”
“It’s over, Vance.” She shook her head. “I’m not going to give that order. I know why you’re doing this. And I’m not going to let you get away with it.”
“Please. If you had it all figured out you never would’ve left me alone with Lee.”
She turned to the security officer still standing behind her. “Officer.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Please return to my quarters and search for a digital recorder.”
“Yes, Captain.”
That seemed to get Vance’s attention. “What?”
“I let you near Lee to lure you into confessing everything. I don’t know what’s on that recorder, but I’m interested in finding out.”
It took a few minutes but eventually the man’s voice came over her com badge. “I found it, Captain.”
“Patch it through to the Prime Minister’s office immediately. Whatever’s on the device is his concern and his alone. Use clearance code alpha, sigma, prime.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“It’s done. It’s over, Vance. Let Parker go.”
He shoved Parker in her general direction but then turned the weapon on her again. “It’s not over. You don’t get to win. Not this time. If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me.”
It took her a split second to realize he had his gun pointed at her head. He meant to kill her. As the weapon discharged, though, a streak of black raced in front of her vision. He hadn’t hit her. Weapon fire filled the hangar as her security team showed up. But she still didn’t understand. Everything was happening so fast. Vance collapsed under the hail of laser bursts. Only then did she see the body lying in front of her on the floor. Parker had been the streak of black. Or rather his uniform had been. He’d been injured protecting her.
“Medical. I need medical in shuttle bay two now.” She knelt down next to him and took his hand in hers. “Why?”
“You told me to take whatever measures necessary. I was just following orders.”
“To protect Lee. You had to know that.”
He smiled weakly. “You have your definition of necessary and I have mine.”
His eyes closed and his pulse became thready under her touch. “Medical. Where the hell is medical?”
It couldn’t end like this.
Chapter Nine
Parker swam through consciousness for the next few days. At least he thought it was a few days. For all he knew it could’ve been weeks or months. But when he did swim to the top—in those few moments when he was aware—she was there with him. He felt the warm dampness of her tears. Smelled the spicy aroma that followed in her wake. Heard her voice as she talked consistently to him. He wished he could give her some sign that he was okay. Hell, he wished he was certain everything was going to work out.
“Is he awake?” A male’s voice seemed sharper than usual.
“We’re pulling him out of the coma now. He should be waking up momentarily.”
For the first time he felt a burning pain radiating from his arm. And the chemically sanitized room stung his nose.
“Umhmer?” He’d tried to ask who they were. But he wasn’t sure where he’d gone wrong. It was as though he couldn’t remember how to form specific words anymore.
“Relax.”
Had he gotten tense? He didn’t remember.
“We’ll have you awake in just a few more minutes. You’ve been in a medically induced coma for three hours.”
Three hours? It seemed so much longer than that.
“Can you hear me?”
He nodded. The simple move made pain explode in his head but he felt a sense of accomplishment at having done it.
“Can you understand me?”
Seemed like a silly question. If he hadn’t understood him, he wouldn’t have nodded at the previous question. Still, he nodded again in answer.
“Good. Can you feel this?” A gentle pressure brushed against his forearm.
“Yes.” The word sounded heavy and slurred but it was recognizable.
“Good. Do you know where you are?”
“Medical?”
“Yes. Do you remember how you got here?”
“Vance shot me.”
“Excellent. It looks as if he’s coming out of the sedation well.”
“Arm hurts.”
“That’s to be expected. Your genetic enhancement speeds the healing process. Unfortunately faster means it hurts worse. Can you open your eyes?”
He found it strange that he hadn’t thought of doing it already. When he did open them, though, the bright lights made the pounding in his head worse. “Too bright.”
It was quiet for a few minutes
. “There. I’ve dimmed the lights. Can you try again? We need to check your pupils.”
This time the light wasn’t overwhelming when he opened his eyes. Sure enough, he was in an examination room. There were the usual beds, tables, equipment and IV stands, not to mention the team of people in scrubs and long jackets standing over him. “So how many doctors does it take to change a light bulb?” He smiled at his own joke.
“Seems as though you’re feeling better already.” The doctor shined a small penlight into his eyes. “Pupils are equal and reactive. No sign of a concussion.”
He unwrapped the gauze that covered the wound next. “And the laser burn appears to be healed.”
Parker looked down at his arm to find a small scar but otherwise no laceration. “That never fails to amaze me.”
The doctor leaned over and whispered, “Us too. That’s why there are so many doctors in the room.”
His head now felt remarkably clear and the throbbing pain had receded to more of an annoying headache. “So I’m guessing the prognosis is good.”
“Looks good to me.” The other doctors each took a turn examining his scar before filing out of the room one by one. “If you feel up to it, there’s someone who would like to have a word with you.”
He smiled in anticipation of seeing Harlow again. “Of course. Send her right in.”
The doctor paused at the door and turned to face him once more. “Him. I’ll send him right in.”
His momentary confusion cleared when Prime Minister Lee walked through the door. Of course. He would be given priority over a ship’s captain. Even if the injured party wanted to see the captain more. “Hello, sir.”
“Please, call me Jasper.”
“Okay.” He wasn’t really sure how okay he was with it but when the prime minister asks you to do something, you did it. “It’s an honor to meet you in person.”
“The honor is mine. It’s not every day I get to meet someone as exceptional as you.”
That seemed unlikely. “I’m a soldier. One of a million. Nothing all that special.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree.”
He smiled. “I guess we will. How is your father?”
“He’s awake and comfortably back in custody. Thank you for asking.”