by M. D. Cooper
“Why?” He finally asked.
“Why betray my people, or why leak information to Steven?” Katrina asked.
“Both,” Markus replied.
Katrina sat back in her chair and put her hands on her thighs, a posture he had seen Yolanda take often when giving thought to an issue.
“I don’t think it would come to you as a surprise that I have never fully identified with Luminescent Society,” she said slowly. “I have been a spy for my people amongst yours for many years. During that time, I’ve come to be disgusted with how the Noctus are treated. The Lumins deem you less than human, and not worthy of further consideration, other than for the products you yield.
“I see your families, your many unique cultures, I see you as people.”
Markus couldn’t help but notice the venom in her voice when she spoke of her people. She chewed out the word Lumin, almost as much as Sarah.
“I didn’t know what to do with my uncertainty, until that day my father killed your assistant, Simon. I saw that day what utter monsters we are, what a monster my father is. I resolved that day to help you.”
“Why have you lied to me…to us?” Markus asked.
“Would you have believed that I was here to help if I had approached you directly? I came to your platform as a follow up to my father’s actions, to ensure there was no unrest. What I found was an installation that was too smooth, too perfect. I knew something was up. It didn’t take long to find out that you were planning to something. I insinuated myself into your inner circle in order to help. I have fed misinformation to my handlers and saved you several times from being outed.”
“If that’s the case, why feed Steven real intel?” Markus asked.
“He was suspicious of you. He also felt that things were too perfect. He was sniffing around and eventually he would have found something. I gave him enough to hang himself with.”
Markus let Katrina’s statement sink in. She had spoken very casually about setting a man on a road to death. Though he supposed when you were a Lumin spy you often sentenced people for death.
“I’ve been doing this for some time,” Katrina said. “I know you must think me a monster—I can see it in your eyes. But I’m trying to do my best, to keep my people from harming your people every chance I get.”
She seemed sincere. If she were playing him, to what end? She could have undone his Endeavor whenever she wanted. The only possibility was that she was telling the truth—she really was trying to help them.
“I guess I owe you my thanks,” Markus said.
Katrina smiled, it was deep and genuine. “No thanks necessary. This is a war; we’re all doing what we must to stay alive.”
Markus returned the smile. “This may sound crazy, but I feel as though, if life hadn’t put us in these positions, we could have been close friends.”
Katrina laughed, “Markus, we are friends. Given what I’ve done for you, I may be the best friend you have.”
Markus was silent for a moment before something Katrina said clicked. His eyes widened and he looked at her in surprise.
“Wait! Yusuf is your father?”
Katrina grimaced. “I was wondering when you would pick up on that. Yes, he is.”
Markus couldn’t help but reconsider the possibility that she was playing him. Although, there was a lot to hate about Yusuf—being his daughter was probably no party.
“What are you going to do now?” Katrina asked.
Markus sighed. “For now, its probably best that this stays between us.”
CHANGE OF PLANS
STELLAR DATE: 3248427 / 10.16.4181 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Mining Platform SK87
REGION: Noctilucent Space, Sirian Hegemony
Four years had passed since the events which took Steven’s life.
After a long investigation—where Katrina fed the Lumins false information—she was sent to another platform. She continued to feed the rebellion intel, and occasionally managed to pass through SK87, taking time to meet with Markus.
In fact, she was due to arrive in just a few weeks—if the fates allowed.
The Endeavor itself was nearly over. To the uninitiated, it appeared as though the platform was still under heavy construction. Hundreds of cargo nets floated in space surrounding the platform; scaffolding, support girders, and temporary storage yards adorned nearly every surface.
Despite this facade, the station’s upgrades were nearly complete. Just a month, maybe a little more and they would be ready to cast off their shackles and leave the Sirius system.
As far as the Lumins were concerned, things were on schedule and yields were up. If Yusuf had checked—and Katrina assured Markus that the vice president had indeed checked—he would have found SK87 to be the model installation. To all outward appearances, his show of force in killing Simon was a success.
“Markus, are you with us?” Sarah asked, waving her hand in front of his face.
He blinked and refocused on the meeting at hand.
“He’s thinking of Yolanda’s next visit,” Peter grinned. “Continuing the most unlikely pairing of all time.”
“Your jealousy is showing,” James cast Peter a quelling look. “Can we get back to the issue at hand?”
“Please,” Dmitry nodded. “If I can’t get those intercoolers installed in time our trip is going to be short. I need the shorty guards distracted while we bring the shipping crates from the yard to the engines.”
“Easier said than done,” Markus sighed. “You’re going to have to pull them clear across the yard and around the south tower before you can get them to the engine docks.”
“So we’re going to need a distraction in the tower too,” Sarah agreed. “I have just the thing.”
There was a knock at the door and a clerk from the outer office stuck his head in.
“Administrator, a shuttle approaches,” he looked concerned and Markus wondered what the urgency was. Shuttles approached the platform hourly.
“And?” he asked.
“It’s an unscheduled Lumin long range pinnace. It will be at the VIP dock in ten minutes.”
“Do we know who is on it?” He asked.
“It only gave its ID and the correct codes, we don’t have any passenger manifest, but it is priority code alpha.”
Markus nodded and dismissed the clerk. He looked back at his command team.
“Prepare for the rush contingency.”
Solemn expressions and slow nods where the only response.
Markus left the administrative wing and made the short trip to the VIP dock.
He prepared himself to deal with a surprise inspection. It would be hard to keep everything under wraps, but not impossible. In the worst case scenario an accident could be arranged in order to keep the Endeavor safe.
The corridors were as utilitarian at the VIP dock as anywhere else. The Lumins didn’t spend extra money on mining platforms—even for their own comfort. The only enhancement was newer security equipment, allowing visitors to go about their business faster and leave sooner.
The shuttle was passing through the ES shield when Markus arrived. The bay doors closed behind it and within a minute the ramp lowered.
A pair of fashionable boots came into view, followed by legs wearing a radiant outfit that glowed and flashed a kaleidoscope of color around the dock. Seconds later Katrina’s face came into view.
Her studs were in, from the bridge of her nose up to her hairline; her expression was haughty and laced with disdain as she cast her eyes around the dock.
Markus started for a moment, wondering if he was betrayed at the hands of this woman he had come to appreciate in more ways than he could ever have expected.
She locked eyes with him and her right hand twitched ever so imperceptibly and he got the signal. Play along.
Behind her Luther strode down the ramp, his expression a combination of anger and shame. He brushed past Katrina and pointed a finger at Markus.
“Did you k
now about this?” He shouted, the accusation ringing across the dock.
Markus didn’t know what to say, Luther was a fool and he never expected to be confronted by the overseer. Katrina saved him by placing a hand on Luther’s shoulder.
“Not here, Overseer, we need a secure location. We do not know where loyalties lie and there is no need to cause alarm until the others arrive.”
Luther’s eyes darted about the dock, taking in the several workers unloading the shuttle and the B guards standing at the dock’s security arch.
It appeared, for just a moment, that Luther became quiet frightened—an emotion Markus was certain he did not often feel. Then the overseer schooled his expression and nodded.
“Yes, let us proceed to the administrative wing.”
He led the way, passing through security and into the corridor.
Katrina fell behind Markus and spoke brusquely. “Administrator. Your platform appears to be in some disarray, with your upgrades underway. How secure is this section?”
Markus understood her meaning and replied. “Perfectly secure. There is nothing that could endanger us here.”
Katrina took his meaning and stepped past Markus to stand in front of Luther.
“In that case, Overseer, I’m going to need to bind your hands and sequester your Link.”
“You’re what? What do you think you’re doing?” He raised his hands to protest, but Katrina was both taller and stronger. She forced his hands behind his back and slipped a pair of binders on them.
Markus took a moment to wonder where she had hidden them in her skintight outfit as she replied to Luther.
“I’m helping Markus, what does it look like?”
Luther began to hurl obscenities at her, and, without a moment’s hesitation, Katrina punched him in the mouth.
“Any more outbursts and I’ll just kill you. You’re a valuable hostage, but not so valuable that I’ll put up with your crap.”
Markus smiled, he really did like watching Katrina work. Once Luther’s hands were secured, Markus pulled a handgun from his jacket and thrust it in the overseer’s back.
“Walk.”
“You’ll never get away with it,” Luther snarled. “No rebellion has ever succeeded. The fleet will simply destroy the platform and accept the losses if they have to. But I doubt that will happen. A full company of shock troops will be here within the day to purge this installation.”
“Seriously?” Markus looked to Katrina.
“Well, within two days. I lied to them about the time I would need to recon the station and get them the intel they needed. I also faked my advance warning to the platform security forces. They have no idea what I’m here for.”
“I guess we’re advancing the schedule,” Markus said.
“Yes, yes we are.”
“There’s a wrinkle,” Katrina scowled and Markus gave a moment’s thought to how—even when angry or worried—she was still so beautiful.
“Isn’t there always,” Markus sighed.
“They’re on a stealth interceptor. It’s a new type of light-destroyer that is almost impossible to detect. We won’t know they’re here until they’re right on top of us.”
Markus increased his pace, pushing Luther ahead of him. “Then we better get this party started.”
They marched into the administrative wing and Markus called out, “it’s time!”
In seconds the seven Lumins who worked in the wing had been shot with hand-held stun devices. Noctus converged on them, cuffing the Lumins and carrying them into one of the conference rooms.
“Impressive,” Katrina smiled.
Markus took a stunner from his personal assistant and dropped Luther.
“Put him with the others.”
Several minutes later the command team rushed back into the conference room at Markus’s summons.
James was first in, “has it begun? I saw them dumping some shorts next door.”
Markus nodded, “It has. They have found us out and a ship is on its way.”
A moment later Sarah entered the room and her eyes immediately locked onto Katrina who stood near the head of the table. “What is she doing here? Another hostage?”
“No,” Markus said. “Sit, I’ll explain when everyone has arrived. Sarah and James took their customary places at the table, suspiciously eying Katrina who kept her expression neutral.
Within a minute everyone had reassembled and Markus began with a smile. “I’m not sure why you’re all being so hostile. Yolanda is a part of the team, after all.”
Cries of disbelief sounded around the table as Katrina nodded slowly.
“It is true. I have been with you for the entire Endeavor; though I was not able to reveal my identity for all our safety.
“Huh,” James’s face broke into a slow smile. “Your intel was always really good for just a message runner. I should have guessed you were more than meets the eye.”
“I don’t believe it,” Sarah said, her words filled with venom. “She has you fooled, Markus. There’s no way one of them would side with us—no way you would work with one of them freely!”
Markus knew that Sarah would be the hardest to win over. Her blind hatred of the Lumins made it as hard for her to see them as human—just as they could not see the Noctus as anything more than property.
“She does not have me fooled. I have known her true identity since the event with Steven. She helped us greatly then. We could have fallen under much greater scrutiny, or worse.”
“Then how were we found out this time?” Sarah asked. “No one here talked, we would never betray our own.”
“I know that,” Katrina said. “I believe it was a contact on another station. Perhaps the yardmaster on SK47—I’m not certain. Yusuf got wind and launched a covert investigation. They did a long-range scan and picked up some of your engine modifications.”
“I don’t care what you say, I won’t accept it,” Sarah replied, anger lacing her words.
“I know it’s hard for you to accept.” Katrina altered her voice, adopting a softer accent common on the platform. “But I hate them nearly as much as you do—I’m only half Lumin…what my mother suffered through.... I would see our Endeavor succeed and leave this place—leave them behind forever.”
“Those are just words,” Dmitry said. “How do we know that they are true?”
“Because I say they are,” Markus replied. “I kept you in the dark for your safety and hers. What she did was too risky for any slip-ups. Also, I was worried about how you’d react—I couldn’t have dissent fracturing us while we worked to gain our freedom.” He looked to Katrina. “Sit, please.”
She lowered into a seat at his left side and Markus surveyed the team.
“We have just under forty hours to finalize our preparations. Anything that can wait until we’re in transit must wait. Propulsion and navigation are our only concerns.”
He was met with nods, even if some were sullen.
“James, hit the armory. The sergeant on duty is Larson; he’s bought and paid for. Disperse the weapons to the rally points and send the word that we move on all Lumin positions in one hour—sooner if we can manage.”
HYPERION
STELLAR DATE: 3248427 / 10.16.4181 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Mining Platform SK87
REGION: Noctilucent Space, Sirian Hegemony
The ease with which the inhabitants of SK87 secured the platform made Markus nervous. It should have been harder; there should have been pockets of the Lumins that took extreme measures to flush out making for pitched battles and bloody sacrifices.
There were none.
“It’s not surprising,” Katrina said as they surveyed the results of the overthrow from overwatch.
“No?” Markus replied.
“This isn’t the first time an overthrow has been successful. You don’t hear about most of them, the workers in Noctilucent Space are kept as isolated as possible.”
Markus took a long draught of coffee
. “You never said they happened that often.”
“Well, once every few decades. There are thousands of worker platforms and stations. It’s a pretty good ratio. It’s not worth the cost to have Luminescent security forces at the levels it would require to stop them all. It’s cheaper to lose the odd installation here and there.”
“Or catch things before they get to this point,” James grinned. “Like what you’re supposed to have done.”
Katrina nodded. “Precisely.”
“Makes sense,” Markus nodded. “With a population close to a hundred thousand you would need at least three or four thousand security guards to ensure any uprising was crushed.”
“More, statistically,” Katrina said.
Dmitry entered overwatch. “Everything is secure, but we’re going to need another week to get everything ready for the transformation.”
“You likely have twenty hours,” Katrina said. “The battalion I spoke of will be here soon and they’ll purge this platform for re-seeding.”
“There’s no way we can be ready in twenty hours,” James shook his head.
“We need those intercoolers installed,” Dmitry nodded his head in agreement. “If we don’t this will be one short trip.”
Markus was silent as he considered their options.
“At least we don’t need a distraction to get them across the station. You have ten hours to get them moved and installed.”
The next morning Markus addressed the entire station, much of which was assembled in the main promenade to hear his speech in person.
He couldn’t help but think of the grand corridors and markets of the Luminescent stations. The platform had nothing to compare, only the few shops and company distribution centers that were somehow grander, now that they belonged to his people and not the Lumins.
Through the dim lighting, he surveyed the crowd below him, elated that this day had arrived. His happiness was dampened by the niggling worry in the back of his mind that the last, crucial phase of their Endeavor could still fail.
He pushed the doubt from his mind and schooled his expression. No trace of uncertainty must show to his people.