Taking Command

by Jennifer Leeland

  The complete stillness of George's demeanor proved she was right. “I don't know."

  "He's going to try and kill me, George. Do you want my blood on your hands?” They'd both seemed to have forgotten about Jake's presence.

  "It won't happen,” George insisted.

  "How do you know?” Jake spoke and Daniella jumped.

  George stared at Jake. “Just protect her. I can't tell you anything,” he repeated.

  The tense silence between the three of them was broken by an alarm screeching through the military compound.

  "What the hell is that?” George burst out.

  "We have to go, Daniella.” Jake glared at George. “We're not finished yet, Finton."

  George nodded. “I know that."

  The bruising grip Jake had on Daniella's arm tightened as he yanked her out of the mechanic's shop. “Let's go and see if Troy is okay."

  Jake glanced over his shoulder and George stood in the middle of the room, shoulders slumped and wringing his hands.

  "What's the alarm for?” Lestrano questioned Jake as they marched toward the infirmary.

  "I think it's a distraction.” Jake was pretty sure that he'd made a huge error. He'd sent Troy to the infirmary with bodyguards, but this was a Tribunal rogue. He should have kept them all together. Big mistake. The rogue's goal was to get them in the VFR.

  When they reached the infirmary, Jake found the staff there dead. All of them. The two nurses, the doctor, and the two bodyguards had been murdered and Troy was nowhere to be found. Five people dead and it was his fault.

  "Where is he, Tarune? Where?” Sashina's voice was shrill.

  Lestrano answered for him. “He's in the VFR."

  "No.” Sashina's comment came out in a breath.

  "This is my fault.” Jake ran a hand through his hair.

  "I would have done the same thing,” Lestrano tried to reassure him. “I missed this, too. It should have been obvious, but I'm endowing this prick with more subtlety than he actually has."

  "He doesn't need subtlety.” Jake tried to clear his mind. The visage of his brother being used against him punched a hole in his confidence. Maybe he should just turn the team over to Lestrano.

  "He'll expect all of us to go,” Lestrano stated.

  "Not you. He doesn't know who you are. He only knows you exist."

  "He'll distract me and it could get you killed."

  "We have to go. That asshole will hurt him. If he hasn't killed him already.” Sashina paced back and forth.

  "We'll find him, Sashina.” Daniella laid a hand on her friend's arm, stopping the woman's restless energy.

  "The general needs to be in on this,” Lestrano suggested. “He can maintain the VFR programming. His unlimited access is what we need now. I'll try and locate Pasquel."

  "Right. I'll contact him.” Jake wasn't looking forward to that little meeting. Failure wasn't something he liked to admit.

  Daniella seemed to read his mind. “The mission is still intact. Sashina and I are still alive."

  "True, but now the guy has manipulated the game and we're going into a possible death trap.” He slapped his hand against his hip. “And it's my fault."

  "Then take the responsibility and come up with a plan,” Daniella snapped. “He's not invincible. We're pretty sure it's Donny, aren't we?"

  "I'm pretty sure.” Jake nodded.

  "Call the general. We'll never catch this guy without his help,” Lestrano spoke softly.

  Jake nodded and picked up the vid phone.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Thirteen

  The meeting with the General went as badly as Jake anticipated. He was berated for being distracted. His plan was torn apart. The General was pissed off.

  "To top it off, Tarune, this guy has sabotaged the ATHVs again. While you were playing ‘Robin Hood’ or whatever the hell that was, he was disabling our equipment."

  Jake exchanged a glance with Lestrano. George Finton was definitely involved somehow.

  "We believe that Donny Pasquel is our man,” Jake told the General.

  "You believe? Let me get this straight. I have fifty disabled military vehicles, two dead military escorts, a missing soldier and you believe Pasquel is your man?” The General's face was red.

  Jake had to take it. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but Daniella started to speak. “Would you rather we go beating down doors and arresting people we're not sure are guilty? Jake did the right thing. We had to be sure."

  The General whipped around on Daniella and Sashina stepped in front of her. “Sir, the rogue has issued an ultimatum and Captain Tarune is planning on going in. What we need is your help. Can you reprimand us later?"

  The old man glared at her. “Sergeant Matins, you'd better believe reprimands will be forthcoming. What's the plan?"

  As Jake laid out the sketchy plan to the General, he could see the man's face pinch with disapproval and resignation. In the end, they really had no choice.

  * * * *

  Nervous, Daniella stood with Jake and Sashina outside the VFR. Her hands were sweating and she wondered what awaited them inside the doors.

  Jake's hand rested on her shoulders. “It will be okay.” He squeezed her shoulder.

  "What if he's killed Troy?” she whispered so that Sashina wouldn't hear her.

  "We'll deal with that when it comes up."

  "It's time.” Sashina was calm. Too calm. Daniella thought it eerie, like the eye of a hurricane.

  The doors opened and the three of them slipped into the VFR.

  It was completely black with a stream of light focused on the far wall. Troy hung, lifeless and bruised from metal clamps on the wall. A mechanical voice, distorted and emotionless, reverberated out of the darkness.

  "I'm so glad you've shown up.” The mechanical laughter that followed was eerie. “You see your prize, your reward if you play my game and win."

  "How do we know he's still alive?” Sashina's voice rang across the room.

  Troy's head lifted, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Sashina. It seemed to Daniella that he was memorizing her as if he would never see her again. It was a heartrending gaze. A small sound escaped Sashina's throat and she stepped towards him.

  The light winked out and Troy disappeared. The three of them waited in the darkness. Daniella listened for the breath of her two companions and tried to remain calm. She couldn't even imagine what Sashina was going through.

  Light flooded the VFR and their new surroundings came into Daniella's focus as her eyes adjusted to the brightness.

  White walls with three utilitarian chairs in the center of the room were all she could see.

  "It is time to face your fears. This program is one of my own. I hope you enjoy it. Three challenges. Failure means Troy Lider's death. Believe me, I'll enjoy killing him."

  Daniella shivered and put an arm on Sashina who tensed and stared toward the wall as if to rip out the voice.

  "I don't know why you're important to the Ang and I don't care,” the voice sneered. “You're pathetic and I'll prove it."

  Fear raced along Daniella's skin.

  Three holograms appeared before them. One, she recognized as Bradley, Jake's brother. The second was a hologram of Troy. The third had her gasping.

  Her father.

  The mechanical voice spoke again. “Welcome to your own personal therapy. This program will end when you resolve your issues with these people or die.” Then, there was laughter. In the emotionless voice, it was a chilling sound.

  The VFR shifted and a bedroom appeared with a large picture window on the far wall that showed a view that could only have existed on Earth. The other two holograms had disappeared and Bradley sat on the edge of the bed and faced his brother. Daniella finally noticed the neuroblaster in Bradley's hand.

  "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me she was fucking someone else?” Bradley's face was ravaged by pain. The gun lay loose in the hologram's hand. Daniella shot a glan
ce at Sashina. She seemed thoughtful, but not shocked. Jake's face twisted in anguish.

  "I didn't know myself, Bradley.” His voice was harsh and strained. Daniella held his hand and he gripped it.

  "You must have. Why didn't you know I would be destroyed by the news that the woman I loved was marrying someone else?"

  "How could I?” Anger vibrated through Jake. Daniella could feel the impact. “I didn't even know you were in love with her."

  "You knew,” Bradley stated.

  Jake shook his head. “No. I knew nothing about it. Part of me believed I ought to have seen it, but I didn't know."

  "You caught us together.” Jake went completely still. Daniella stared at Jake's face. This wasn't something he expected. Apparently, the rogue had information Jake hadn't revealed.

  "By the time I caught you together, Trina was going to marry the other guy."

  "Is that why you told me that way? Is that why you dropped it on me when she and I were naked in bed together?” Bradley's voice was full of pain.

  Jake's own features were etched with guilt and hurt. “Probably. I was angry with her and you got caught in the crossfire."

  "You were angry with me, too,” Bradley insisted.

  "Yes.” The hand Jake held was almost numb from the pressure. “You were sleeping with the woman I loved. I was angry with you."

  "So, you allowed me to die."

  "How was I supposed to know you'd shoot yourself? I didn't. Why was your pain any deeper than mine? At least she only betrayed you once. She betrayed me twice and once with my own brother."

  "You're the reason I died, Jake.” The voice echoed in the room. Every heartbeat in Daniella's chest ached, knowing Jake suffered.

  "You died because you chose to. I wasn't responsible for your suicide."

  "The last thing you said to me was that I was no brother of yours."

  Jake winced. “No. The last thing I said to you was that I was sorry.” He raised his voice. “You missed that one, rogue."

  The Bradley hologram disappeared. Apparently, Jake's suffering was over.

  As the VFR shifted, Daniella grasped Jake's hand. He squeezed it and gazed into her face for a brief moment with so much emotion Daniella gasped.

  A dark room with silk and leather dominating the décor appeared. There was a throne-like chair and a table with an array of sex toys and floggers. The room smelled of sweat and spice that filled Daniella's senses. The candlelight flickered over Sashina's face and it was clear she recognized this room, this place. The Troy hologram materialized and knelt in front of Sashina. Daniella slipped beside Sashina.

  "Permission to speak?” The hologram was so like Troy, it was scary.

  "Speak,” Sashina choked out.

  The eyes, those dark brown eyes, were so like the real man that Daniella reached for Sashina's hand and held it.

  "You're failing me as a Dom. Why won't you meet my needs?"

  "You only want my body,” she stated.

  "You know that isn't true.” His voice was soft, persuasive.

  "I don't trust you.” It seemed difficult for Sashina to get the words out.

  "You expect trust from me, but won't give it?” He tipped his head to the side.

  The emotions rolling from Sashina were so strong Daniella could feel the tension. “I asked you for time."

  "You asked me to surrender, but you won't serve me."

  "I never asked you for surrender."

  "You have, in every way except the actual words. You're a prick tease, aren't you? Getting me sexually turned on and walking away is a power game."

  "It's the game you agreed to."

  "I play the game because I have to."

  "It's our choice, not mandatory.” Sashina's voice sounded weak.

  "I love you. It's not a choice for me.” The words dropped into the room like a stone. Sashina was a statue.

  "You don't love me,” she shouted, the noise startling Daniella.

  "You need proof?” His quiet voice contrasted with her shout.

  Tears filled Sashina's eyes. “No.” Her voice was a whisper.

  "You do. You demand it. What can I take? How much will I submit? Will I take another beating for you? How much blood will you demand, Sashina?"

  A tear slid down her cheek. “No blood. I never wanted your blood."

  "Then say it, Sashina,” he demanded.

  "I love you.” Her hands covered her face.

  The hologram of Troy disappeared.

  Fear skittered along Daniella's nerves. Her father was next. Would she be able to find a place of forgiveness there?

  The room shifted. Daniella almost fell to her knees as the scene appeared before her eyes. It was her mother's room with the flowered comforter, the portable oxygen that breathed life into her still, pale form and the light blue walls that emphasized her mother's visible veins. The vision of the desiccated form of the once vibrant woman burned in her brain and churned Daniella's stomach. The details were so perfect it was as if she was back in that moment, that day.

  "Daniella.” Her father's commanding tone slammed into her.

  "Father.” She tipped her chin and faced him. Jake stood on one side and Sashina stood on her other.

  "You disappoint me.” The hologram's voice captured the gravelly sound of her father's voice.

  "I know."

  "You killed your mother.” He waved a wrinkled hand at the still form on the bed. “If you had become the woman your mother wanted, she'd still be alive."

  Daniella winced. “Daddy.” Her voice broke. Jake's hand clenched on her shoulder and Sashina held her hand. “Mom died of cancer. I couldn't have stopped that."

  "She died of the stress. You were supposed to go into mathematics or computer programming. Instead you chose to be a lowly mechanic. We threw money at your education. You wasted it."

  "Mom died of cancer. I'm not to blame.” But her voice carried no conviction.

  "Your life is one disaster after another. Then you join this lottery to become a colonist. You've wasted the time and energy we put into you."

  Tears choked her. “I became the best at what I do and I love it. Isn't that enough for you?"

  "Your obedience is what I asked of you. You defied me.” Her father's voice was cold.

  Daniella straightened her spine. “I did. I became a mechanic because I love it. Mom understood."

  "She died because of you.” The man spit the words out.

  "She died because she was sick."

  "And you didn't come,” he yelled at her and Daniella recoiled.

  "You didn't tell me! Why, Daddy? Why didn't you tell me Mom was dying? What kind of a monster are you?"

  "You would have made her death worse and more painful."

  "How could you know that? I never got to say goodbye to her. You kept me from saying goodbye to my mother.” Her whole body was strained and Jake and Sashina had to hold her back.

  "I kept you from killing her quicker."

  "Why? You still haven't answered my question. Common decency demands that I would know, yet you informed me over the vid phone that my mother was dead. Why?” She forgot this was a hologram. Tears poured from her eyes.

  "I did what I thought was best. And what did you do? You cut me out of your life. You lied to the lottery commission and told them you have no family."

  "I have no family. You are not my father. You're a monster,” she shouted. This wasn't going well. Words she never said to her father streamed from her mouth. “You can't be my father. I deny it. I'll deny it until I'm dead.” There was no forgiveness here.

  "Then you'll stay trapped here forever."

  Staring at her father, she realized she'd been trapped in a cage of her own making. Her father's rejection, his cold dismissal of her dreams and her feelings kept her stuck in a cycle of fear and distance. It kept her from getting close to anyone. If her father could betray her like that, then anyone else could too.

  "No. I won't let you rule me anymore, Father.” She met her
father's faded blue eyes and his lined face twisted in an angry mask.

  "Your friend will die and you'll be responsible, just like you're the reason your mother died."

  Daniella stepped closer to the hologram of her father. “Daddy, I don't know what happened to us, but I'm not going to do this anymore. I didn't make Mom die and I can't bring her back. I was hurt by what you did, but I know you were hurting, too."

  The hologram of her father went blank. “I did nothing."

  Daniella nodded. “You're right. Doing nothing was easier, wasn't it, Daddy? It was easier than feeling or loving someone. Holding me at arm's length was easier than loving me. But it's empty, isn't it?"

  There was no reaction from the hologram. She gazed up at the ceiling. “You've got nothing, rogue. I'm right, but my father would never accept it. You lose.” She covered her face with her hands.

  "You did it, honey. He's gone.” Jake wrapped his arms around her.

  The VFR shifted and they were in a tunnel.

  "Shit,” Sashina cursed.

  The mechanical voice spoke again; the sound reverberated off the metal walls around them. “One more test, boys and girls. I've got Troy, or what's left of him, at the end of one of these tunnels. Good hunting.” The voice flipped off.

  "What is he doing?” Daniella was confused. Why not kill them? Was he distracting them?

  "I think he's lost his mind.” Jake started down the length of the tunnel.

  "We have to get to Troy.” Sashina matched Jake's stride.

  "I only hope the General is on this,” Jake muttered.

  Daniella reached a fork in the tunnel. “Which way?"

  Jake peered down both causeways. “Let's go left.” He grinned at Daniella. “I don't have a good reason for going that way, but it's a gamble either way."

  They crept along the tunnel and soon they heard grunts and moans echoing off the tunnel walls.

  "That's Troy.” Sashina started running.

  "Sashina! Wait!” Daniella ran after her. She was just in time to see Sashina crash through a metal door and go into the darkness beyond.

  Daniella and Jake reached the doorway seconds after Sashina. Troy hung by metal rungs, his body striped with bleeding cuts and large bruises.

  "Help me get him down.” Sashina was frantic, yanking at the restraints holding Troy upright against the stone walls.