“I think you’re doing wonderful, sister.” The baroness smiled. “I know those of you working the streets only see one perspective on crime, but I’d like to tell you how we see it. If I may?”
Remembering she still had a glass of water in her hand, Eryn took a sip, then nodded at her.
“The problem with the syndicate is far more than the sum of all the crimes they commit. The problem is that their constant criminal activity complicates other things. It interferes with the governance of the colonies, as well as the distribution of wealth. Now, I know that’s not your place to worry about those things, and you shouldn’t have to. What happens though...because of the syndicate, and the problems they cause us, it trickles back down to you. And when you spend all your time trying to solve crimes, you aren’t keeping the peace. There is no peace. And these complications only encourage them to continue their activities.”
“I don’t understand,” Eryn said.
Chandler smiled again. “Over the last year, there have been some personnel changes in the government and a new meeting of minds among the upper class. Captain Rhodes is now on the executive council. Then Rhodes appointed Michelle Rayner to be director of the protectorate. Now we have Arbiter Aris on our side. Now, all we need is someone like you to help us rid the colonies of the syndicate.”
Eryn cocked her head. “Why me? I thought you said you’ve seen my records? Most people in the protectorate would like me to find another career. Apparently, I don’t play well with others.”
This time Ursula answered. “This is completely off the record. If any word of it leaves the room, I promise you, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Understand?”
Eryn nodded.
“We want you to deal with the syndicate,” Rhodes replied. “Not just for us, but because it’s best for the colonies.”
“And when you say deal with them...” Eryn prompted.
“We want you to eliminate the threat.”
“Be clear,” Eryn said. “I’d love a chance to put the syndicate out of business.”
“I’ll be very clear,” Rhodes said. “Since Ivan Strashny created the syndicate, things are progressively getting worse. The lower classes are supporting him, his ranks are swelling. If this reign of terror continues, society will be on the verge of anarchy in no time at all. I’ve given Director Rayner the authority to bring the hammer down on the lower classes, but she’s wishy-washy about dealing with the syndicate. So, from our perspective, the protectorate isn’t going far enough. That’s where you come in.”
“Say exactly what do you want me to do. Exactly.”
“It’s simple,” Ursula spoke this time. “Bring down the syndicate. We don’t care how.”
“I assure you, Eryn,” Rhodes added, “All you have to do is say yes and you’ll be a very wealthy woman.”
Eryn didn’t care about having a lot of money, all she wanted was a decent lifestyle and some internal peace. What she did want, however, was to put the syndicate out of business. She was sick of the way they treated innocent girls. When they weren’t kidnapping them, they were allowing them into their sex clubs. But, more than anything else, Eryn had a mountain of simmering rage inside for what they had done to her mother. They assassinated her. And she wasn’t even a threat to them.
Although the government considered her mother’s murder “case closed,” Eryn did not. She had a seething hatred for the entire organization. The only way she could see this ending is someone confessing to ordering her mother’s assassination and explaining why it was necessary. It wouldn’t prevent her from killing the asshole, but it sure would take some of the fire out of her soul.
And the more Eryn thought about it, the more appealing this job sounded.
“You sure you know what you’re asking?” Eryn asked. “How much freedom do I really have? What’s my limit?”
“What is it you want, sister?” Chandler asked.
“Let me carry a weapon that I choose, let me go where I like, and no questions about anything I do, or how it’s done. Give me that and I’ll hand you Ivan’s head.”
“You can have all that, but you are not allowed to kill Ivan,” Chandler said. “We need him to stand trial and show the world that justice has been served. The last thing we want is to prove to the lower classes that he was right about us.”
“And if I say yes, what about Monika? I report to her. She’s the senior partner. She’ll never agree to this.”
“She’ll be called in for a chat,” Rhodes assured Eryn. “On paper, she’ll continue to be senior partner, but from now on, she goes where you go. I’m turning you loose.”
“What if there are questions? If I’m hunting the syndicate, they have a headquarters somewhere and it’s not in Arcadia. Do I need to worry about explaining myself to Rayner? Or Marshall Brenner? Or the Inquisitor General?”
Rhodes laughed. “Don’t worry, Eryn. No one is going to interfere with you. Everyone will leave you alone. In order to hunt down the syndicate, you can go to any colony you like.”
The only problem remaining was that Eryn had been using their illegal sex clubs, and she had been doing so since she was thirteen. It wasn’t something she could afford to do often, but sooner or later these three women would surely hear about it. They were going to be watching now, tracking her progress, and looking for a return on their investment. Eryn knew herself well, if her salary was going to get larger, she would be in those sex clubs more often. She had sexual needs that weren’t being met.
“One more thing.” Eryn paused to take another deep breath. “If I do this... In order to find Ivan, I’ll need to be on the inside of their organization from time to time. I must know who all the players are. And I don’t want any questions about their sex clubs.”
It was Ursula who assured Eryn this time. “Sister Hill, I will purge anything I see with your name on it. All the arbiters in the seven colonies answer to me, none of which will be interested in you from now on. Why are you so hesitant? I think we are all on the same page here, and I doubt we can make it any clearer than what we’ve already stated. We don’t care what you do anymore, or how you get results. All that we want to see is that you’re working on bringing Strashny to justice.”
Good question. Why was she being so hesitant? This sounded like the perfect job for her. Eryn was tired of always being forced to play by rules when the criminals never followed any. She wasn’t certain if these three women understood what would happen if they allowed her to take on the syndicate, but Eryn was fairly certain that this was going to turn into a bloodbath.
“Fuck it,” Eryn said. “Count me in. I’ll fight your war for you, and you have my word. I won’t kill Ivan. But, these people murdered my mother, so I’ll kill anyone who stands in between me and Crazy Ivan. Tell me now if that’s going to be a problem.”
“No problems, sister,” Ursula said.
Rhodes added. “If you get any flak, any at all, from anyone, just let me know and I’ll handle it.”
Then Chandler smiled at Eryn. “In the morning, I want you to look at your bank account. Starting today, you’re on my payroll and you won’t have any more financial problems. Starting tomorrow, you just concentrate on what you do best, and leave everything else to us.”
Eryn had always wanted a katana, and now, suddenly she could afford it.
Starting tomorrow, it’s payback time. I’m going to scare the living shit out of the syndicate. I’ll dismember everyone between me and Strashny. Those fuckers are going to know exactly who I am. I’ll start a war unlike anything this world has seen before.
The Companion
By Taylor A. McKnight
EDITOR’S NOTE: Every ranger learns to survive within the jungles of Mars. Some learn it quicker than others, but all soon learn that there isn’t anything as hopeless and unforgiving as being alone and stranded within a hostile environment.
This is the story of Private Katee Alexander and a training exercise that went very wrong.
Mars,
Arcadia Colony
Hall of Justice: Sub-Level 2, Hearing Room #1
Closed Door Session
Year: 2254
For the record, the purpose of this deposition is to establish the chronology of events surrounding the wreck of Columbia 9, and subsequent loss of life, on chronometer date 225405.08. File number: 1161-269R. This hearing is presided over by Captain Sarrah Rhodes of the Executive Council, General Kym Kurtz of the General Staff, and Major Kurt Dietrich, your Division CO. Also in attendance, by request of General Kurtz, is your commanding officer, Commander Lewis Graves. On behalf of the General Staff, this interview is conducted by myself, Staff Sgt. Nora Brent and archived by Lance Corporal Ciera Ingram.
Do you understand why you’re here, soldier?
“Yes, sir.”
State your name for the record, if you please.
“Private First Class Katee Alexander. ID: Alpha Charlie 7192.”
And for the record, what is your current assignment?
“I’m currently assigned to Commander Graves’ Deep Recon Infantry Unit. Our current patrol quadrant is Chiron’s Grove.”
How old are you, private? And how long have you been serving under Commander Graves?”
“Sixteen, sir. Nearly a year.”
Which platoon?
“First, sir.”
Which platoon was assigned to the Columbia?
“Second Platoon, sir.”
Where you on board the Columbia on 405.08?
“Yes, sir.”
And as you understood it, what was the Columbia’s mission?
“Advanced Survival Exercise. We were to be shuttled to an undisclosed location, dropped off, and then make our way back to camp with only the supplies in our packs... sir.”
And as a member of First Platoon, how did you end up on this shuttle with Second Platoon?
“I had asked Commander Graves for more responsibility, but he only said he would consider my request. Then, I was told that morning, I was assigned to the Columbia for the training exercise. I worked hard trying to get promoted and I could only guess he was testing me, sir.”
And how many people were on board the Columbia at this time?
“Twelve rangers... I think... Yes, twelve. Not counting the pilot, of course.”
That made you the thirteenth ranger assigned to the exercise?
“Yes, sir.”
You speak to anyone during the flight?
“No, sir. Everyone ignored me. It didn’t bother me much. I was a stranger to them. So, I figured I would have to prove myself once to Corporal Tate.”
Did you know any of the other rangers on board?
“No, sir.”
Not even the commanding officer for the exercise?
“Oh, I knew who Corporal Marcia Tate was, but I had never spoken to her before. I was the last person aboard and the shuttle lifted off as soon as I sat down.”
And how did you know who Marcia Tate was? And are you positive it was her?
“When I was ordered to join the exercise I was told Corporal Tate was in command. Once I was on board, I looked at her name tag sewn onto her top. It said, Tate. That was all I needed to know. I’m sure it was her.”
Did you look at all the other girls’ fatigues for their names?
No. Only the corporal. She was the only person I saw with two stripes on her sleeve.”
Okay... During his testimony, Commander Graves stated he planned on promoting you. He wanted to make you a corporal for First Platoon. He still does. Were you aware of this?
“No, sir. I always wanted to be promoted, but he never said anything to me, one way or the other. I just did everything I was asked, and to the best of my ability.”
This is important because what you say after this is very crucial to putting this horrible incident to bed, once and for all. We’ve already heard the testimony of the protectorate investigators, the forensic experts, and Commander Graves, so we already have a good idea what happened.
But, that said, several things bother us about your version of events. We’ve all read your statement, and we’ve puzzled over it for the last three weeks. It doesn’t match up with the facts as we understand them. So, this is where you and I are going to iron out all those wrinkles.
Understand that I’m not here to put you on the hot seat, private. Nor am I here to blindly accept any bullshit story you tell me. My demeanor during this inquiry, calm or aggravated, will depend on your cooperation. I’m only seeking the truth.
And I’m clarifying this because of the seriousness of this deposition. You are under direct orders to give me straight and complete answers to every one of my questions, regardless of how uncomfortable they are to you. Knowingly withholding information, or misleading me in any way, will only prematurely end your career. Take this seriously, for your future, your promotion, they rest on how you respond to my questions. Do you understand everything that I’ve said to you?
“Yes, sir.”
No questions?
“No, sir. I understand.”
Want any water or a restroom break before we proceed? We’re going to be here a while.
“No, sir.”
Outstanding... Now, tell us in your own words what happened on the morning of 405.08. Begin with the flight. The events just before you realized something was wrong.
“It was just after 0600 when we suddenly heard a roar. It sounded like metal grinding on metal. That was soon followed by a metallic snapping sound. After that, things were kind of a blur, but I remember the shuttle listing onto its side. The pilot began cursing as she tried to regain control, but it was crystal clear we were dropping out of the sky like a brick.
“The cabin began filling with smoke coming from the cockpit, so the corporal opened the cargo hold door. Palm trees were racing past. We were barely above the treeline. And then a burst of flame shot out of the cockpit, barely missing my face. As I was in danger where I was sitting, I unbuckled and tried to navigate to the rear of the cargo hold, using the hand railings as support. But then the shuttle lurched, and I remember losing my grip, reaching for the safety straps... I don’t recall anything else after that. Well, until I awoke.”
Did you know where you were before this happened?
“If you mean our location, yes, but only in a general sense. I knew we were northwest of Olympus Mons. Perhaps fifty klicks or so.”
You said the shuttle experienced this malfunction around 0600. What time were you scheduled to reach the landing zone?
As I was last aboard, I never heard the briefing. All I had heard was it was an undisclosed location. It’s only a guess, but we didn’t seem to be anywhere near our destination.
But, you knew you were over the jungles of Chiron’s Grove, correct?
“Yes, sir.”
And you don’t recall the actual landing, is that correct?
“No, sir. The last thing I remember was the shuttle plummeting and then waking up near a stream.”
You have a burn scar on the side of your face. Was that a result of the crash landing?
“Yes, sir. I sustained severe burns on my face and neck. I’m not sure if it happened before or after the wreck, but that was the extent of my injuries.”
What was the first thing you remember after you awoke?
“Not knowing what happened to me. The first thing I did was scramble to my feet and take in my surroundings. I found myself on the bank of a shallow and wide stream. Perhaps fifty to seventy-five yards wide. Full of river rock. My initial thought was that it became a raging river during the monsoon season. A major drainage system that would eventually lead to the sea. I figured by following the stream, it would lead me back to civilization.
“Then I noticed objects near my feet. There was a piece of the shuttle that someone had used as a bowl to collect water. Another shard of metal held my field knife and several Aloe Vera leaves that someone had filleted like a fish. That’s when I realized there were a couple Aloe Vera pads glued to my face and neck, stuck like j
elly. Which meant that someone had tried to attend to my burns. But, there was no one else around me at the time.
“Above the palm trees, I noticed black smoke rising up into the sky. South of my position. That had to be the shuttle crash site. But it seemed like I was a long way off. And that’s when I knew that I was alone. I was stranded without any supplies or any way to radio for help.”
You say you were alone. But, in your statement, you stated that you were not alone. Which is it?
“I was alone at that point, but not for long.”
Continue. Then what happened?
“Things got worse.”
Explain.
“That’s when Talia showed up.”
And this is where your story and the facts as we know them begin to part company, soldier. Be very clear on what you’re telling us. Who, exactly, are you claiming to have seen?
“It’s not a claim. It’s a fact. It was Talia Scott. She told me her name was Talia, and the tag on her fatigues told me her last name was Scott.”
Talia Scott. You’re absolutely sure?
“Yes, sir. No question about it.”
According to Commander Graves testimony, there was no Talia Scott in Second Platoon, nor under his command. We have a complete list of all the rangers assigned to that exercise, and the name Talia Scott wasn’t one of them. And when the protectorate investigated the crash site, all the missing rangers were accounted for. She wasn’t aboard the Columbia, private. Now, do you want to rethink your answer?
“I can’t change my answer because it’s the truth. She was there.”
You survived a crash landing. No one would fault you if told us you were disoriented, had hallucinations, or some type of temporary memory loss. It was a traumatic event. It’s certainly possible you attended to your own wounds, isn’t it?
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