by C. R. Daems
RED ANGEL
Book II: Raiders
By
C. R. Daems
The Red Angel: Book II: Raiders
Copyright © 2016 by C. R. Daems
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from C. R. Daems.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-0-9863514-3-3
ISBN-10: 0986351431
Check out all my novels at:
crdaems.com
talonnovels.com
CHAPTER ONE
The Red God Cult
CHAPTER TWO
Raiders
CHAPTER THREE
Visit to Stone Ring
CHAPTER FOUR
Visit to Holy Star
CHAPTER FIVE
Visit to Eastar
CHAPTER SIX
Oxax: The next step
CHAPTER SEVEN
Oxax: One step closer
INTERLUDE
Oxax: A deal they can't refuse.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Vulcan: Good days and bad days
CHAPTER NINE
The gamble
CHAPTER TEN
Awaiting the raiders’ next move
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Incident at Westar
The Cabiri: Captain Hargrove
The Lapis: Captain Thayer
The Vulcan: Captain MacLin
CHAPTER TWELVE
Decision time
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Incident at Safe Harbor
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Missing pieces
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Westar: NIA Headquarters.
Novels by C.R. Daems
CHAPTER ONE
The Red God Cult
When I entered my second floor office complex at the Naval Intelligence Agency, NIA, Adrian was at his desk as usual. His tan complexion, narrow face, and sharp features made him look intent, but he was an easy person to work with and always willing to help. He looked up from his desk and his face eased into a smile. He waved. "Hi, Anna. How did it go yesterday?"
"The only way that idiot could have sped up getting caught would have been to leave his navy ID at the scene of the crime. He wore a mask and black trench coat but had his navy uniform underneath. The clerk recognized his two unimpressive navy ribbons when the idiot reached for the money and the coat fell open. They were easy to identify: a marksmanship and a cruiser duty ribbon. Only one cruiser, the Hecate, is docked at the space station, so I spent less than ten minutes in the cruiser's personnel files identifying all the enlisted personnel with only those two service ribbons. There were only three individuals. It took another thirty minutes to establish two had alibis, which left Seaman Brent Mills the lone contender for thief of the day. I had the XO search his room, where he found several of the stolen items. They took him off to the brig, and I went home early," I said as I stored my service laser in my desk drawer and locked it.
"Good work, except now Commodore Stauffer has to find us another case to work on," Adrian said with amusement in his voice. "He's been struggling to keep us busy while the Naval Intelligence Agency waits for another high-profile case to surface."
Normally, they would have dissolved the team and reassigned us after we solved the smuggler case, but Admiral Rawls wanted to keep us together for when the next big problem surfaced. The problem was that at the rate we had been solving cases, Commodore Stauffer was having trouble keeping the rest of his section busy.
"Maybe he can give us the Red God case," Kris said as she bounced into the office area with a smile on her heart-shaped face. She had become close to me during the smuggler case, like an older sister I could rely on. "They managed to gain access to the Windon Medical Research Center and steal the three red-headed kraits kept there for Coaca Virus research." She gave me a hug, ignoring the red-headed krait that was curled around my neck with its head on my shoulder. "Hi, Red," she said to it, releasing me. "I wonder if they know you have one, Anna?"
"It's a hard secret to keep. It made the headlines and vids when they discovered red-headed kraits could keep the Coaca Virus in check. The hospital tried to keep my name out of it, but the news hounds smelled a prize-winning story—four-year-old child with a symbiotic krait that keeps the Coaca Virus in check. Since then, neither thieves nor a man who had the virus have had any trouble finding me."
"Civilian crimes aren't the NIA’s concern," Adrian said as he stood and came to join us. "But because Anna has one, Commodore Stauffer may consider it relevant."
Just then Stauffer strode into the room. "I do, and I've already talked to the Oxax Chief of Police. He says he would welcome our involvement." Stauffer was an average looking man—perfect for a spook, as he didn't stand out in a group. He was a good superior, and didn't try to micro-manage his people. "And it might keep you three busy for more than a day or two." He laughed but quickly sobered. "Besides, I think this Red God Cult poses a danger to Anna."
Kris shook her head. "Their antics would be funny if red-headed kraits weren't the potential cure for the Coaca Virus."
Adrian sighed. "That’s actually why they believe the kraits are gods and that it’s therefore their duty to free them. Of course, if the red-headed kraits were gods, then they wouldn't need help escaping. But little details like that are unlikely to deter zealots. I'm sure their leader has convinced his or her followers that it's a challenge the gods have set for the faithful to gain their favor—or some such rubbish."
"Find them and hopefully the kraits they stole. That's your team's priority," Stauffer said as he left.
"Let's convene in the conference room and decide how we should proceed," Adrian said, assuming his normal role as our project leader. Our area was semi-isolated from the rest of the floor by a wall that ran three-quarters the length of our space. Unlike the rest of the floor, we had no partitions for our four standard steel desks, but we had a dedicated conference room.
Kris and I smiled. Neither of us objected. Leadership involved a lot of administrative work, and Adrian was a good team leader.
"Any suggestions?" Adrian asked as we sat with our drinks.
"I could get news coverage on me having a Red God and then arrest them when they show up to steal Red," I said more as a joke than a serious idea and reached up and stroked Red, who not only kept me alive but had become a dear companion over the seventeen years he had been with me—night and day.
"They may be zealots, but I would be surprised if they didn't already know about him. This is the cult's forth theft of red-headed kraits. We can assume they're well funded and have done their research, since the facilities they hit were on three different planets. And in each case, the facility had reasonably good security because the kraits are worth close to one hundred thousand credits each on the black market. To make matters worse, they killed two people and injured several more in their quest for them." Adrian's face grew serious. "They're twice dangerous, Anna. They’ll kill you if necessary to acquire Red, and even if they didn’t, without Red your Coaca Virus would become active and you would die anyway."
"Adrian's right. They’re extremely dangerous and you should assume you’re next, since they're currently on Oxax." Kris leaned forward, concern in her voice.
"That solves one problem—"
"What?
" Adrian and Kris blurted simultaneously.
"Finding them." I didn't smile. Whether it was thieves, or someone with the virus, or the Red God Cult, what was the difference? If even one of them succeeded, the result was the same—my eventual death. "I'm not making light of the threat. This isn’t a new problem, nor will it be the last time." Unless they succeed, I mused, feeling Adrian and Kris's deep concern through my connection with Red. I had no other way of explaining my ability to sense people's strong emotions.
"That's true, but I think it would be better if you found them first," Adrian said, frowning in thought. "I've put in a request for the police files for each of the four thefts. That might help us determine their likely approach—or better yet, the identity of the cult."
"Good idea. I would like to know if they keep the kraits or let them go." If it was the latter, I felt certain Red would find his way back to me. He had found me lying in the snow. Why would a cold-blooded reptile be wandering about in the winter and in snow? The only logical explanation was that he sought me out for some reason that remained a mystery. And he had returned to me after he had killed a man with the Coaca Virus who had stolen him. We both had the Coaca Virus, so why hadn't he stayed with him? Red knew the answer, but he wasn't sharing. I laughed, which snapped Adrian and Kris's heads in my direction. "Sorry. I was wishing Red could talk. Red may look like a red-headed krait, but he sure doesn't act like one."
"I'll vouch for that." Kris stared at Red, whose head was pointing in her direction. "He's had a hundred chances to bite me, but he hasn't."
"I'm afraid that if they knew that—which they might already—it would make Red a very attractive find, so I'm off to get those records."
* * *
"Mother, you need to be extra careful." I felt a growing concern. Alexa and I were sitting at the dining table eating and discussing our day's activities—a nightly ritual. Tonight it included the Red God Cult's activities.
"What about you, Daughter? You're the one threatened by this group of … fanatics."
"Anyone close to me is in danger." I had a growing feeling that I should move out of the house. It would break my heart, but I would die inside if Alexa were killed by the Red God fanatics while trying to protect me. Alexa had delivered me from a life of hell and given me a loving family. I couldn't repay her in a hundred lifetimes. A tear trickled down my cheek at the thought of her being hurt because of me.
She leaned over and wiped the tear away. "You're my daughter and the love of my life, Anna. If you’re in danger, then we join forces to eliminate it. We're stronger together than apart, so forget any ideas of moving out to protect me." She pulled me into a tight embrace, which I melted into feeling like a child again.
Reluctantly, I agreed.
* * *
When Adrian saw me walk into the office the next day, he waved Kris and me toward our conference room. Kris looked to have just arrived and was getting coffee, so I joined her and mixed up my favorite coffee-milk drink, which she had nicknamed moo-coffee. Together we made our way to the conference room. As we sat, Adrian slid a folder to Kris and one to me. "That's the reports I received from Eastar, Westar, and Oxax. Eastar had two break-ins, one at the Eastar Medical Research Center in New Hope and one at its Advanced Medical Research Center in Lex City. The break-in on Westar was at a private company, Norton BioGen, and the latest one on Oxax was at the Windon Medical Research Center. To date, the cult has stolen a total of thirteen kraits, which is the total number of red-headed kraits maintained at the various UAS research institutions. The only known captive krait they don’t have is yours, Anna."
"And we have to assume the cult knows it." Kris paled and looked at me with eyes widened. "My God … Anna, you need round-the-clock protection."
"That's also my impression." Adrian also looked worried. "They may have chosen the Windon facility first rather than Anna so as not to alert authorities as to their presence on Oxax until they had the three at Windon."
I was more concerned with their plans for the kraits—release or keep—and began reviewing the files for any clues. Eventually, Adrian and Kris also opened their folders, and the room descended into silence, except for the gentle hum of the air-conditioner and the rustle of turning pages.
After a while, I closed the file. "If they’re keeping the kraits, which I think they are, where are they being held—or are they traveling with them, and if they are, how?"
"What makes you think they’re keeping rather than releasing them?" Adrian asked.
"Because they’re fanatics. Releasing them would mean they could be caught again, so they would keep them to protect them. They would consider themselves saviors rather than jailors."
"That’s also my assessment," Kris said. "I think the size of the cult would determine where they keep them. If they have a substantial following, they might share them among the various groups."
"Like at a place of worship on each planet or in each major city with their followers." Adrian nodded, eyes downcast in thought.
"That would imply a leader or high priest. He or she has organized a group to steal the kraits, which would enhance his position and power," I said, aware that Red was lying on my forehead with his head pointing at the folder, and I felt a growing feeling of being right. Red agrees, I almost said, but decided against it. They both knew I thought Red was somehow more than a normal krait, especially Kris, but they put it down to the symbiotic relationship and years of companionship, not to any special abilities of Red.
"Anna, what if I move in with you for the next couple of weeks?" Kris asked.
"Thank you, but I don't want to put you in danger. I couldn't live with myself if you were hurt trying to defend me. Besides, at home I'm safe. Mother has a Safe Room we can retreat into if there’s trouble; otherwise, I would have moved out long ago. I'm a dangerous person to be around."
* * *
In truth, I was nervous about the Red God Cult. It wasn't surprising they were violent. Those convinced they do God's work don't feel subject to societies' laws. And this group seems very well organized for a small cult. It wouldn't be difficult to find out where red-headed kraits were being housed, but gaining access to the secured facilities couldn't be easy, even using force. From the reports Adrian had obtained, it appeared the thieves had inside information—and possibly help.
Suddenly, a skimmer was in my lane … no, I had drifted into his. I swerved back into mine, chastising myself for getting distracted while flying.
I was relieved to see the house after my near accident, but surprised to see a car parked out front. I wondered if Alexa was home early and had a guest. Knowing security monitored the property and would have verified their reason for being there, I set the skimmer down gently on the parking pad at the side of the house. The pad was placed near an acre of woods separating our house from our closest neighbors. I locked the skimmer and had only gone a few steps when three men and a woman appeared from around the front of the house.
I froze. I knew it had to be the Red God Cult even before the two athletic men drew their multifunctional weapons, Mfws. The third man was in his late twenties and wore dark blue slacks, a pale blue dress shirt, and a lab coat with a Windon Medical Research Center patch on the left side.
The woman was leading the group with long, muscular strides. She looked middle aged, but she was trim. She had a smile on her long, narrow face, and I sensed her excitement. "Anna, if you'll give us the Red God, no one will get hurt and we'll leave."
"I'll die. You don’t consider that being hurt?" I asked, positive she didn't care but stalling for time.
"You might survive the virus. Some do. But, my dear, the freedom of the Red God is more important than your petty needs. You may not be experimenting with the one you have like those medical centers were, but you've imprisoned him and made a god a slave to your needs." Her voice was soft and gentle to start but grew increasingly strident and loud. By the end of the tirade, her face was twisted in anger.
"He found me. I
didn't catch him, and he's free to leave if he wants," I said, watching the men with the lasers while I debated my nonexistent options.
Their expressions hadn't changed while we talked, and I felt nothing from them—cold as ice. The man in the lab coat was nervous and wanted to leave.
The woman's emotions went from excitement to a coldness devoid of feeling to hate so strong it felt like a physical blow. "Liar! You feed him drugs so he can't leave!"
"I'll let him go if you want." I unwound Red from around my neck. He hung limp rather than wind around my arm as he usually did. She was either a wacko or a shrewd manipulator as many cult leaders were, but damn if Red didn't do things one easily interpreted as … intelligence.
"No! The Red God will only be safe with me … and his followers. Give him to me." She held out her hand and stepped closer, blocking the view of the two men with lasers.
Now or never resonated through me like a struck tuning fork. I spun around while holding Red's head to the back of my head with his body hanging down my spine and took off running toward the trees, hoping they would be afraid to shoot me for fear of hitting Red.
"Stop her!" The woman shouted, and then she screamed, "Careful not to shoot the krait!"
I smiled as I ran, but two steps later I heard the crack of a shard gun firing and pain shot through my right calf, causing me to stumble. Two lurching steps farther, pain like a hot poker burned across my legs and they gave way. As I fell forward, I used the momentum to fling Red like a javelin, arching into the forest. I landed face first on dead leaves and damp earth and lay there laughing hysterically between waves of pain.
I didn't know how they had managed to circumvent security, but the sound of that shard gun would activate the sensors around the property, so the police would be here in less than five minutes. This group would never get away. Red was free, and Mother wasn't scheduled to arrive for at least another twenty minutes. As I lay there with my face in the dirt and dead leaves, I saw the woman's feet next to my head.