by M. D. Cooper
Though, that’s just what would make her the best spy, came a thought in the back of Markus’s mind. He dismissed it. Nothing good would come of that thinking.
He couldn’t see Samantha or Aaron as Lumin informants either. They had worked tirelessly toward the platform’s eventual freedom. He knew they had sacrificed much to get this far.
His eyes slid across several other members of his inner circle, Peter, Dmitry, and Xenia, until they landed on Yolanda. She had joined their quiet rebellion five months ago after a transfer from platform SK45. She was efficient in every way and functioned as an excellent runner, as her work often took her to other platforms.
It also gave her ample opportunity to communicate with the Lumins with no witnesses.
Her eyes locked with Markus’s and for a moment he thought he saw something he recognized from somewhere else. A moment later it was gone and he let out a long sigh.
“Put out your feelers, but don’t let everyone know that we suspect a leak. If the general populace finds out they’ll all suspect their neighbors and that’s all but a guarantee for some uncontrolled event to occur.”
They spoke of several other matters, and soon dispersed to get what rest they could before the following day arrived. Markus watched them file out as his thoughts wandered, wondering who could be leaking information to the shorts; who would want to.
It wasn’t as though there weren’t those amongst his people who would sell their neighbor to their oppressors for a meager reward, but he was certain they were all fed false information.
Their sort had been easy enough to identify. The malcontents who believed they were owed something were the first on the list. They were the least risky, as they usually were given access to smaller secrets.
The other likely group were the ones who craved power, but did not have it. They were marked by their ambition and their constant striving to rise in the ranks whether they had earned it or not.
Markus poured over names in his mind, coming up with no one, as none stood out. He refused to suspect everyone, that way led to madness.
He started as a hand touched his shoulder and looked up to see Yolanda standing beside him.
Markus chuckled. “Forgive me, I thought I was alone.”
Yolanda sat down and Markus couldn’t help but admire her lithe figure. Even through the drab, shapeless Noctus clothing, he could see she had an attractive body. Every move appeared deliberate and sensual, highlighting the curve of her hips and breasts.
He blinked and refocused his thoughts, there was no chance a beautiful woman in her prime would be interested in an aging specimen such as himself.
“Yes, you were alone, I slipped back in after the others were gone,” she replied.
Markus felt his pulse quicken. Was she here because she had feelings for him? He took a deep breath; if she weren’t present he’d slap himself for such foolishness. She must know something she didn’t want to share with the rest of the leadership.
“What is it?”
Her deep green eyes locked with his. “I know who the spy is.”
He felt even more foolish for thinking she was there because she was interested in him.
“Who is it?” He asked softly.
Yolanda lowered her head into her hands; her hair slipped forward and obscured her face.
“Please understand.” She raised her head and brushed her hair back from her face. “It is me.”
Markus’ breath caught. Yolanda’s face was subtly different, not so much that you wouldn’t recognize her, but enough that she appeared to be an entirely different person—one that he recognized all too well.
“Katrina…” he whispered.
She nodded slowly, not breaking eye contact.
Markus was surprised to see sorrow in her eyes and a glistening in their corners. He made to rise, he needed to call Sarah and James, but Katrina caught his hands in his.
“I have not betrayed you,” she whispered. “I have betrayed them.”
Markus stopped and lowered
himself back into his seat. He stared at her for several long minutes, looking for a twitch, a flinch, anything that would give her away. Either she was the consummate actor, or she was telling the truth.
“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 pass
ed 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 know 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 la
ter 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.”