The clues Glen gave clicked in the Agent’s head. “You are the one who the cadets hired to bring them weapons. The one who kidnapped the Summer girl.”
“And the one who by all accounts crashed into a moon and died in a shuttle accident. Being dead can be a warm blanket during a cold storm.”
A dangerous man like this could shift the balance of The Agent’s equation significantly, and he was yet a wild variable. “Why have you stayed in so hostile a place?”
Glen volleyed back, “Why have you? You tried to help those senior cadets defect, didn’t you? But they were caught, yet you are still here and trying to change how the Academy runs. Why? Because they weren’t the whole it, were they? You’re trying to rip this place apart. Slowly, perhaps, but you want these walls to collapse.” He cut in fast, before the Agent could speak to deny it. “Look, I don’t care why you’re doing it. I sliced this deep into your systems to get your attention. To prove my point. I don’t know you, and I don’t care to know you. If you want to tear this whole planet apart, that suits me just fine. My home world would be better off not sacrificing bright minds to serve an Alliance not worth sustaining.”
The caustic anger laced through Glen’s speech caught the Agent’s interest. There was an offer on the table. “Then what is your purpose, if not to betray us.”
“To help.”
“What help do you suspect we need, Mr. Sanders?”
Glen smirked. “Trying to get me to show my cards before the hand is dealt, Admiral?” He waved away the implied threat. “I’m not here to play games. I’ve been watching for years, and what I’ve seen of your hidden networks just confirms what I already suspected. For whatever reasons, you want this current crop of cadets to fail badly. You are hurting the others, but these ones you want to suffer. You know what I want.”
“Johanna Summer.”
“Yes. But she’s being watched, and she will be watched until the day she ships out to join the Alliance Navy on one of its warships. At that point, reaching her will be a thousand times more challenging. If she fails now, the protection surrounding her will vanish. She will be forced to return home, exactly where I need her to be.”
The Agent was surprised at Glen’s admission. He must be desperate indeed to admit his goals so openly. “So, act on your own.”
Glen scowled, “Don’t play with me. You know the limitations I am under. I dominate the networks in a way you can’t imagine, but that access cannot translate into resources or contacts. I can’t even show my face. But you can. You can deliver her to me.”
The Agent assembled the pieces, wanting to say it aloud. “And you have penetrated the very security protocols I need removed to humiliate the cadets and see them fail their next test.”
Glen didn’t hesitate. “I have the access you need. I’ve crawled through everything, even if I can’t make blatant changes or tip my hand. They’ll notice errors on that scale. I can’t just change Summer’s rankings and trust they would dismiss her without question, now can I? That’s why I need you. You have a plan. One that can seem like natural failure. You can get her ousted from this black hole so she falls outside of their control and observation. I can give you the access to put it all in motion.”
Glen leaned into the video pick-up. “So, where should we begin?”
Chapter 7
Samuel Pierce was not fond of owing anyone. After a rivalry that had lasted three years, and an entire youth spent under the crushing expectations of a powerful Trinitian family, he flat-out hated owing anyone from his home world.
He muttered under his breath, “I shouldn’t have come.”
Brenna Styles reached over and squeezed his thigh with one of her manicured hands, “You’ve been saying that for an hour, sexy. Shut up and enjoy.”
Sam tried to ignore how warm that hand felt above his undress uniform pants. He’d been lured in by Brenna before. As stunning as she was, he had resolved to never let her bend his mind again, no matter how much he might enjoy it.
Fortunately, the spectacle in front of them proved a worthy distraction. The holographic stage extended into the crowd. A barrage of super-high-resolution images blended with a cacophony of smashing music and background effects to bring the holovid to life. The resulting climactic scene was an astonishingly close approximation of real life.
Except, of course, for the ridiculous nature of the action. But that was part of the enchanting fun of it all.
Rubregor clawed his way up the side of the rocket-shaped launch vehicle, his exoskeleton-enhanced hands tipped in metal studs that let him punch right through the thick steel of the hull.
The rocket’s bottom half was concealed inside a massive chasm. From the lip of the nearest drop-off, a sinister laugh came from Trager, Rubregor’s mortal enemy for the last two hours. It didn’t matter that hearing him at such a distance would have been impossible, even for Rubregor’s augmented hearing. “You’ve lost! Can’t you hear the roar of the engines? It’s over!”
Indeed, a bass rumble was starting to fill the air and shake the theatre onto which the artificial terrain was projected. Why the rocket was being powered by older direct-thrust fuel instead of an onboard miniature fusion reactor was impossible to say. Probably because it sounded better when the explosive force of it kicked in.
Rubregor’s metal-covered hand clenched down, not letting go. He turned to face Trager and delivered his return line with the calm poise of a man who knew he was invulnerable. “It’s never over until the heart stops beating, Trager!”
Ponderously, the rocket’s thrust began to overcome gravity. It started to lift away from the chasm, filling the pit with scorching fire. The holovid frame moved with the rocket as it lifted away from the world below, carrying Rubregor with it. The hero bellowed with fury and passion as he punched the side of the rocket, trying to dig his way into its inner mechanisms before he was carried off into space. That the thrust of the rocket soon had them traveling at well over the speed of sound didn’t seem to faze him in the slightest as he ripped open the heat panel and tore out random circuit boards that would surely prove vital to the rocket’s inner functions.
Sam didn’t know how anyone could have acquired a copy of the much anticipated Rubregor V a full six months before it was released to the public, but he was used to the blatant shows of favoritism to his kind. As guilty as he might feel sitting in the audience, he’d been unable to resist that sort of privilege.
The film blasted its way to a predictable conclusion filled with seventeen explosions, a truly impossible hang-glider scene, and enough bad puns and blatant word plays to make a dozen audiences groan. It was everything the Rubregor series was known for, and Sam was cheering along with the others as it smashed its way to the end.
The holovid went dark and the lights in the room revived to a dim glow that was easy on the eyes. The room churned a little as the crowd began to break up.
The always strict presence of Commander Ryan appeared at the front. “Fourth years remain behind.”
Only eleven Trinitians were in the graduating class, though that was a substantial enough number considering there were under a hundred, and the Alliance had over 20 star systems as members, many with multiple inhabitable planets. All contributed members to the central Navy, but not all in equal measure, and not all kept their representatives through to the end.
Even twice their number would not have impeded the progress of the first three years of students from leaving. The fourth years had been given the best seats, just a small part of their due. The senior form before them had just graduated and departed through the Gate, which put Sam and the other ten among the senior cadets in the Academy.
Eventually, the room cleared. Ryan kept her peace until she had her charges truly alone. She tapped a quick code against a nearby panel, shutting off the surveillance for the room. Some conversations were not meant to be recorded. She stepped to the middle, leaning against the holovid base in a fashion most would have called casual, though her back re
mained as straight as an iron rod. “I hope you enjoyed yourselves.”
Most eyes went to Tanner Mathem. His face was deceptively plain, though his brown eyes held a striking sort of chill calculation behind them. They weren’t looking at him because he pleased the eye. He was the undisputed ring leader of the fourth year Trinitian clique. They were waiting to take their cues from him.
Tanner flashed a challenging look at Sam, demanding to know if Sam would dare to upstage him.
Sam just smirked, gesturing for Tanner to do whatever he wished. Sam had vowed not to play this game. He was the only one in the room not beholden to Tanner for some favor or debt. But he wasn’t going to provoke just to cause trouble. He’d learned his lesson about stirring up trouble without cause.
Tanner scowled briefly, then decided not to question the gift. He turned back to Ryan and answered, “Certainly got our minds off work, Commander.”
Ryan was satisfied with the comment. “Well, time to get your minds back on it. Tomorrow, assignments for the extended expeditionary evaluation will be given out. Yes, that is what Trip-E stands for, not for the state you’ll be in once you get your hands on the narcotics and booze available outside the Academy controlled zone.” She waited for the snickers to die down. “By working together, you’ve managed to secure some key positions in the student standings. For your effort, I should be able to position you well for the Trip-E. I am sure you will all get your first choices.”
She deliberately met Sam’s gaze. He deliberately looked away, irritation simmering under his skin. Of course, this was a test. Tanner had written Sam off back in first year, but Ryan had never stopped luring him back toward the fold. She had brought him here to remind him of the perks of loyalty. And test him with this overt admission of favoritism. He was the only one in the room that might try and make the unfair treatment public.
Part of him wanted to do exactly that. So what if he’d be marked as a traitor to their stupid cause? But he knew that would only continue a war he had no wish to fight. He had only ever wished to be left alone. Let them have their inside paths to victories they didn’t deserve. He refused to be a part of it.
Sam stood up and returned her measuring look. Careful not to sound insubordinate, he said, “I won’t be putting in any preferences, Commander. I’ll let the staff put me wherever they want.” No favorites. No ability to play him. No ability to give him what he wanted, only to lord it over him.
Brenna reached for his hand, holding him up. What might pass for sympathy clung to her as she held him. “This is how we survive, Sam. Can’t you see that?”
Tanner was watching, contempt thick on his face as he watched Brenna try yet again to bridge an impossible gap. Ryan kept trying out of duty, but he had been sure Brenna would understand why Tanner had given up on Sam years ago.
Sam turned his wrist in a simple curl that broke him free of her. “Sorry, Brenna. I think I’ve decided to survive the way the Academy expects.”
She snapped back, angry that he would refuse them. Refuse her. “Through sheer stubbornness?”
Sam smiled. “If I need it. Or, just by kicking ass.” He turned and strode from the room.
Brenna rolled her eyes and hissed with open exasperation. Confronting Tanner’s smirk, she sniped back, “Don’t say a word. He’s impossible!” She stalked out of the room.
Slowly, the other Trinitians filed out, whispering softly about the spectacle they’d just witnessed. Many were wondering if they should branch out during the Trip-E and push their personal limitations.
Tanner watched them go while he stewed in frustration. That idle discussion couldn’t be controlled and was the worst byproduct of Sam’s rebellion. Most of his crew would be far worse off without the group’s mutual support. They couldn’t deny that. But the message he wanted wasn’t ‘you should consider being with us’. Tanner wanted them to believe ‘the only possible choice was to align with us’. Every day that Sam persisted and excelled without that support made Tanner’s message ring more and more untrue.
Tanner paced into the middle of the room, trying to calm his irritation.
Ryan appeared in front of him. Her hand reached out and pushed him against the holovid deck. She stepped into his space and sank against his body. Her lips descended on his, demanding they renew the intimacy they had often shared in the last two years.
Tanner’s anger evaporated instantly as he surrendered to her soft mouth with the hard edge of her will guiding it. His mouth responded to hers, opening when she wished it, his tongue massaging hers as she liked it.
Her hand remained planted on his well-defined chest. Applying a little pressure, she pushed off just a few inches. Pinning him against the holovid base, she said, “Do you remember all the times I’ve told you that connections will save your life and your career? Well, the time has come for you to see it work like never before.”
Tanner scowled, “We’re midway through the fourth term, Commander. Most of the class has earned all their basic ranks in each of the fields. They could graduate even if they stopped doing anything right now.”
Ryan reached up and gave a small love tap on his cheek, a gentle chastisement against exaggeration. “Hardly. But most would not collapse on their own. That is why certain elements within the Academy have decided to aid in their embarrassment. They’ve decided that this class will graduate with Trinitians filling out its top ranks. For that to happen, a significant number of the most promising cadets will have to fail in a spectacular fashion during the Trip-E.”
Tanner flushed with joy. Not only was this happening, but if Ryan was bringing this to him now, then it meant she was including him in the plans. Revenge wasn’t going to be distant or a dim hope for the future. It was here and now! He didn’t question it any further. He wasn’t about to try and find the reasons for being given exactly what he wanted. “What do I have to do?”
Ryan returned a pleased smile, rewarded herself now for having cultivated her favorite so well. To receive such instant loyalty. “Pick six members of your team. Each will receive instructions on what they must do. There will be just under 20 Trip-E teams heading out, spread over 12 different missions. There will be two larger missions with 5 teams each, then another 10 missions that are a little more specialized with smaller groups. Your six will cause an embarrassment to occur in half of them, including both larger ones. Those failures will include a significant percentage of the top performers in your class. The chosen elite of the Academy will be shamed on their first mission outside the Gate, before their careers even start.”
Tanner bared his teeth. “Including Pierce? I want to be there to see his chin hit the dirt.”
Ryan grabbed his face, forcing him to meet her eyes, “Pierce had his last chance tonight. That is why he was here. So yes, he will be included. This will help shift blame away from Trinitians, since one of our supposed ‘own’ will be one of the failures. But you won’t be the one. You won’t be near him or any of them when this happens.”
Tanner opened his mouth to protest.
She cut him off, “No, Tanner. Think about it. We’ve taught you strategy here, and kings move their pawns. They don’t ride into battle in front of them. Always have cut-outs. If the plan is compromised, you don’t want to be the one to take the fall.”
Unable to quell the petulant resistance, wanting so badly to personally set Sam up to fail, Tanner quipped back, “Is that what I am? Your cut-out?”
She leaned back into him. With well-honed skill of an experienced lover, she treated him to another deep kiss. When she surfaced from him again, she spoke soothingly, inviting his belief, “No. Oh, I could. After all, I don’t want to take the fall. But that is why I am showing you how to protect yourself. If you are protected, then I am shielded in turn. You are my protégé. This is your team. I’ve brought you all this way. Helped you talk Brenna out of her depression after Raymond’s death. Helped you stop Virri from quitting so she could carry your team through advanced logistics classes. Helped you ge
t Kolia Mekkar expelled and Arnold Greysmith to bend the knee and join his team to yours in third year. Does this sound like someone preparing a scapegoat? That’s why I’m stopping you from blunder into risking your own reputation for a little personal vengeance. Sometimes, sacrifices need to be made. This time, you’re going to have to enjoy Pierce’s fall from a distance. That’s the sacrifice.”
Tanner lowered his eyes, unable to find any argument to resist. This was a high-risk move, and she was right. If they succeeded, the Academy’s Trinitian elite would credit him with leading the team through this little coup. If they failed, he could blame it all on his underlings. He spat out the last residual of his anger, “Fine. What do we need to do?”
Ryan let out a seductive purr. “There is much to discuss. Be at my personal residence at six bells this evening. We’ll go over what needs to be done, and then figure out other ways we can celebrate.”
Lustful heat spawned in Tanner’s eyes. “You’ll wear the -?”
Ryan reached up and pressed her finger to his lips, quelling the words. “Don’t I always?”
She leaned in, and her lips claimed his once more, sealing the bargain.
Chapter 8
Dianne spun the inflated leather ball in her hand, tossed it high, then jumped off the sand. She was relatively tiny as people went. In normal situations, even her best leap wouldn’t let her block at the net splitting the court. But they had the gravity generators along the edge of the court set low. She could get another three feet of height into her leap.
Of Bravery and Bluster Page 6