by Neal Jones
"No. I've got a belt."
"Good enough. Help me get him into that chair."
Several minutes later, as Shaundra bound Avyrem's wrists, Varis poked her head into the hall, looking both ways and listening for the distant wail of sirens. There were none. All seemed quiet and undisturbed. She stepped back inside and locked the door. Shaundra was patting the man down and searching his pockets.
"I've neutralized his bio-net. He doesn't have anything else on him." She passed her palm over his head, arms and torso. "No suicide implants either."
"I can't believe we didn't set off any alarms with all that weapons fire." Varis sidestepped the pile of black dirt.
"One of the benefits of being in this part of town." Shaundra pulled the other chair next to the bed and sat, placing her disruptor in her lap.
Varis activated the wall screen and scanned the news headlines. "You're right. None of our neighbors seem to care about what they might have just overheard. Still nothing about Swyn or Vasik's condition." She shut off the screen and sat on the edge of the bed to examine Avyrem's weapon. "This model is old. It doesn't require a bio-net coding in order to be fired."
"That makes sense. It's easier to conceal from security scanners when you're passing through shuttle terminals." She pointed to the pile of dust. "What are we going to do about that?"
"I'd like to take a sample back to Exxar-One if I can find something to put it in." She rooted through the desk drawers but came up empty.
"And after we're done interrogating him? Then what? We just let him go?"
J'Soran gave the pile of dust a wide berth on her way to the washroom. "It'll be up to you. I'll have to leave in the next few hours. You and your siblings are going to have to deal with this." She emptied a small bottle of shampoo into the sink and then began to rinse it out.
"Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say that." Shaundra walked to the window to peer through the privacy screen. The street outside was dark and empty.
Varis reappeared and knelt beside the pile of dirt. She carefully scooped some into the empty bottle and then sealed it before slipping it into her pocket. Shaundra watched her, scowling.
"There's only two species in the Federation that are capable of changing their appearance at will. But their physiology isn't anything like this."
"No, it's not," J'Soran agreed, rising. "I've met one of the Nhyys. They have an extra layer of muscle beneath their epidermis that allows them to change certain facial features, but that's it. The Slakt use a combination of genetic enhancement and bio-technology to enable their shapeshifting abilities, but I've seen holographic demonstrations of that, and it's nowhere near as advanced as what she displayed." She knelt once more and scooped up a sample of the dust, rubbing it between her fingers.
Avyrem suddenly jerked and gave a snort. Both women reacted, reaching for their weapons. By the time he blinked and came to, he was staring down two muzzles. He looked up, calmly assessing his captors.
"I don't recognize you," he said to Shaundra.
"Good, because I don't recognize you either. Let's start with your name."
"You really think I'm going to just tell you whatever you want to know?"
"Of course not," Varis replied evenly. "All we have to do is wait for the neutralizing agent to wear off, and then I'll access your bio-net."
Shaundra looked at her, startled.
"Oh, I don't think that's possible," Avyrem sneered, "even with someone of your net's capabilities."
"Well," Varis shrugged, "I guess we're about to find out." She walked around the chair to check Avyrem's wrists. She then passed her free hand over the side of his head, down his neck and back, and then walked around to scan his arms and torso. "Hhmmm," she muttered.
"What?" Shaundra asked.
"Still not detecting any suicide implants. They're probably installed in your 'net, right?"
"I guess we're about to find out," he echoed, smiling.
"You said you didn't recognize her," J'Soran remarked, "but you know who I am?"
"Of course. Brantar Varis, class three field operative for Federation Central Intelligence."
"You've been following me ever since I arrived on Anjisald?"
"Yes."
"You killed Doctor Reldun."
"No, you did. By meeting with him, you risked our exposure to the public. I was forced to neutralize a threat."
"And what about Doctor M'Harri?"
Avyrem looked at her, unflinching.
Varis stepped forward, pointing the disruptor two inches from his nose. "Why??" she snarled. "Why didn't you come after me instead??"
"We did," he replied calmly. "Had we known about your friend, it would be you in this chair and me holding that." He glanced at the weapon.
"I don't understand something," Shaundra interrupted. "Why are you here now? Doctor Moru disappeared five years ago. You didn't take this kind of action with M'Harri or anyone else that the local police investigated. There was a threat of exposure then. So why didn't you act on that until now?"
Avyrem glanced at her, but said nothing.
Varis watched him, her eyes narrowed. "It's because Doctor Moru's disappearance five years ago was planned. There was no threat of exposure because they knew exactly where he was."
Shaundra's eyes widened as she realized what Varis was implying. "A second project," she said, stunned.
"Exactly. Except this time, they didn't give Korik the luxury of closing his accounts, selling his house, and quitting his job." She looked at Avyrem. "Why? What was the hurry?"
He ignored her, staring at Shaundra, wide-eyed. "You're one of them! You are…aren't you? One of the twelve!"
"So you are connected to that project," Varis interrupted. "What was it called? Who funded it?"
He turned to her, shaking his head. "Sorry, brantar. You'll have to find those answers on your own. You're headed in the right direction, though. All I know is my orders. My jurisdiction is this sector. My companion and I were tasked with monitoring Doctor Moru and all his associates – past and present. I was instructed to interrogate M'Harri, Reldun, and Prill to learn what information they had given you."
"You failed in your attempt to kill Vasik," J'Soran spat. "His condition is stable."
"For now."
She leaned forward, pressing the gun to his cheek. "Give me a reason not to kill you now!"
"And then you'll learn nothing." His calm tone infuriated her. He glanced down. "I believe my 'net is coming on line."
"J'Soran, be careful," Shaundra warned. "Net-melds are never safe, especially when you have no idea what his is capable of."
"I know. Just keep your weapon ready." Varis laid aside the disruptor and walked behind Avyrem to check his wrists once more. She paused, mentally clicking and moving through her own 'net's menus and processes until she found the program she needed.
She placed her hands on either side of Avyrem's head, below his ears. Her thumbs met at the back of his neck, and, after some light probing, she found the interface. She closed her eyes and initiated contact.
Shaundra watched, both hands gripping the disruptor, glancing back and forth between Varis' face and Avyrem's. His eyes, too, were closed, their lids twitching as if he was in REM sleep. Several seconds ticked by, and then –
– a siren shattered the strained silence, reverberating in the tiny room like an exploding bomb. A calm, detached female voice began speaking.
"This is an emergency alert. Please follow the indicators to your nearest exit. This hotel must be evacuated immediately. This is an emergency alert. Please follow –"
The wall screen came to life and flashed a map of the hotel with lighted arrows pointing to the exits.
"J'Soran!" Shaundra shouted.
Varis jerked, her eyes flying open, and she stumbled backward, catching herself just in time. Avyrem's head went limp.
"Wha-what happened?"
"Someone must have pulled the fire alarm! We have to get out of here now!"
&nbs
p; Varis grabbed Avyrem's disruptor and turned to face him.
Shaundra was already at the door, but she turned when she realized that Varis wasn't behind her. "What are you doing?"
J'Soran adjusted the setting on the disruptor and then fired point blank. Two bursts was all that was needed to vaporize him. She tucked the weapon into her belt as she joined Shaundra.
"I assume there's a back way out of here?"
Shaundra nodded.
The siren was even louder in the hallway, and the two women joined the small crowd of confused and angry guests as they made their way to the closest exit. Once outside, J'Soran followed Shaundra into a nearby alley where the darkness swallowed them.
Chapter 18
____________________
( 1 )
"Hey, Doodles!"
"Daddy!" Emalie ran to her father, her half-open backpack flailing from one arm, and he scooped her up while turning to her teacher.
"I'm so sorry about this, Madeline. Did Jen say why she was late?"
"No." The young woman hesitated.
"Em, go put the toys away, and zip up your pack." Ben turned back to Madeline. "What?"
"It's none of my business, but this is the third time in two weeks that Jen has been more than an hour late picking up Emalie. The last couple times I was able to get a hold of her, but this time she didn't answer her comm. I tried three times."
"Okay. I'm sorry about this. Thanks for letting me know. Em, let's go. Wait, zip your pack first." Ben grabbed his daughter's hand as they left, and he said to Madeline over his shoulder, "Thanks again."
"Daddy, I did all my homework!" Emalie crowed as they waited for the PTL.
"That's good, Doodles," Ben murmured, staring at the com panel beside the door.
"Daddy."
"What?"
"What's a-matter?"
"Nothing, sweetheart." He smiled and swung her arm. "Daddy's just tired, that's all."
"That's what mom says," she replied glumly. But then her face brightened. "Guess what Becky brought to school today!"
( 2 )
Ben kissed Emalie's forehead and tucked the blanket under her chin. "Night, Doodles."
"Night, daddy," she murmured sleepily, and then yawned.
Ben shut off the light as he left her room, glancing at the com panel beside her door to ensure the privacy screen was activated after it closed. He didn't want her to hear the conversation he was about to have with her mother.
Jen emerged from Jeremy's room just then and started picking up toys. "He went down, finally," she sighed.
"Why did you put him down for a nap at fifteen hundred?"
"Oh, Ben, don't start. He takes a nap when he takes a nap. I can't help this new schedule he's on."
"Except when you take a nap too and it makes you over an hour late for picking Emalie up from school."
Jen shook her head as she dumped the toys into their bin and slammed the lid. "I already apologized," she snapped. "Will you just let it go already? It was only an hour."
"No, it was an hour and a half." Ben closed the distance between them, blocking her path to the bedroom. "Madeline said this is the third time you've been this late picking her up. You're supposed to get her everyday on your way home from school."
"I didn't sub today, remember? I'm exhausted, Ben, and I really don't want to have this conversation right now." She brushed past him and marched into the bedroom.
Ben followed and waited for the door to shut before activating the privacy seal. "That's too damn bad, because we aren't going to bed until we've had this conversation."
Jennifer turned and stared. "Excuse me?"
"What medication are you on right now?"
"What? What does that have –"
"You said the other day that whatever Doctor Nals gave you made you tired and nauseous. Are you still taking it?"
"That's why you think I fell asleep and forgot about Emalie?"
"Answer the question!"
"No, I'm not! Jesus Christ, Ben, what the hell is the matter with you?" Jen tore at the clip in her hair, shaking her dark, frazzled curls loose in a way that reminded Ben of the way she used to do it years ago – when she was pretending to tease and tempt him.
He shook his head, roughly shoving the memory aside as he followed her yet again. "That's exactly what I want know." He forced his tone to remain calm as he watched his wife stare into the sink. "I've had enough of this, Jen. I am so tired of this – right here. It's all we do."
"Oh, and what? It's all my fault?" She faced him, crossing her arms and glaring defiantly.
"No, I didn't say that. But I do think that whatever you've been going through these last few months has finally pushed me to my limit." She started to snap off a retort, but he interrupted. "No, I get it! I understand post-partum depression. I'm a doctor, Jen, remember?"
"This is not about my depression or the pregnancy!"
"Good. Tell me what is then." He crossed him arms and leaned casually against the door frame.
For a moment, Jen looked as if she was going to rush him, but then she turned, running a hand through her hair as she paced to the shower stall and back again. "Isn't it obvious, Ben?" she sighed, facing him. "I fucking hate this station. I hate living here. I've hated it since the day we arrived."
"Oh, fuck you!" Ben glared at her, his fury finally exploding to the surface. "I am so tired of having this same argument! So I broke my word! Get over it!" He turned and stormed back into the bedroom.
"I'll get over it as soon as you give me an honest apology for it!" Jen marched after him, and then stopped short as he whirled on her.
"If you hate it here so much, then why don't you just go back to Earth? Stay with one of your sisters until my tour here is finished!"
"I almost did!" she spat, and then caught herself. The admission stunned both of them, and she turned away, blinking back tears.
"What?"
Jennifer swallowed, and then coughed as she faced him. "I almost didn't come back last year. You have no idea how badly I wanted to stay."
"Then why didn't you?"
"It would have been three years, Ben! I didn't want to break up our family for that long?"
"I didn't either!"
"Then why didn't you take that other assignment?"
"Oh my gods, no, I can't have this argument again." He turned to leave, but Jen grabbed his arm.
"No! You wanted to know what was wrong with me, well here it is: I fucking hate it here, Ben. And yes, the depression hasn't exactly made things easier, and, honestly, there are days when I wish we hadn't fucked last year because I really didn't want another baby."
Ben blinked, staring at her with shock and disbelief. He broke out of her grasp, putting some distance between them. The door slid open behind him.
Jennifer, too, was stunned by her admission. The words had exploded from her before she realized what she'd said, but, now that they were spoken, she felt as if something crucial had been drained from her, like poison from a festering wound. "Don't look at me at like that. He was a surprise for both of us, and you didn't look thrilled that night I first broke the news."
"Yes, you're right. It was a surprise, but never a regret. So that's what this is really about? Do you want out of this marriage, Jen? Are you tired of being a wife and mother?"
"No!" She started towards him, but he walked out of the room. "Ben I don't want a divorce!"
"Then what do you want?" He didn't break his stride as he entered the kitchen and started rummaging in the cupboard.
"What are you looking for?"
"I don't know. I'm thirsty."
"Just sit. I'll get something from the dispenser."
"I don't want some replicated shit."
"Well, what do you want?"
"I don't know!"
Now it was Jen's turn to blink, and she stepped back. Ben sighed and pulled out a chair. He watched Jen access the dispenser menu.
"You're ordering tea, aren't you?"
"
Yes. You want some?"
"No."
She sat across from him, both hands wrapped around the steaming mug, and they both examined the tabletop for several long moments.
"I just can't do this anymore, Jen," Ben murmured. "I feel like everything is a minefield with you, and I never know what's going to set you off. I want to help you, but –"
"Bullshit."
He looked up. "What?"
"Bullshit." She sat back, crossing her arms, the tea forgotten. "You went to exactly two sessions of couple's therapy. Two. I went for all eight. You're not the one who's gone through five different medications and still wakes up every morning feeling as if each day is worse than the one before. You remember the conversation we had six months ago? Right here at this table. We were going to try and make this work, Ben, remember?"
"Yes, I remember. And I tried. All you ever did in Counselor Moore's office was attack me."
"I wasn't attacking you! I was trying to get you to understand my point of view! You're never here, Ben! You told me awhile ago that you were going to stop spending so much time in the research lab, that you were going to be home before eighteen hundred every night. I told you that I needed help around here, and you promised you would be around more often, especially when Jeremy was born!"
"I'm the chief medical officer of this goddamn starbase, Jen! My job is not just eight hours a day! You know that! And I took almost two weeks of leave when Jeremy was born!"
"But it's not sixteen either! And since when does eight days count as two weeks?"
Ben suddenly stood, shoving his chair back. "I need some air. Don't wait up for me."
"Where are you going?"
"What the fuck do you care?"
"Ben!" She started after him, but he was already gone. Jen returned to the kitchen to nurse her lukewarm tea but then hurled it against the wall with one angry swipe. The mug didn't shatter. It bounced twice and then half-rolled against a chair leg. She sat, crossed her arms, and watched the murky liquid dribble down the wall until Jeremy's crying emerged from the nearby com panel.
( 3 )
"Sam!" Chris unzipped her uniform jacket and tossed it on the nearby desk chair on her way to the bedroom. "You won't believe the day I've had. Four more on my gamma shift called in sick. What is it that's going around anyway? Is it some new strain of the flu?" She sat on the edge of the bed to take off her boots and then headed for the kitchen. "Whatever it is, you need to come up with something – " She stopped short in the doorway, staring at the table – and then her boyfriend.