by Dennis Young
Two days later, Briggs arrived, then Dosu that afternoon. Both had been in the western outback of Theia on safari, photographing native wildlife and collecting samples. Briggs had become a bit of an amateur archeologist, and discovered a fossil of a previously unknown bird species. Dosu was a born tracker; quiet, patient, and loved the open spaces. He remarked to Talice he was considering retirement after this mission. In fact, she knew several of the team were thinking about it.
One of those was Rory. He had purchased a small farm in the hills and was looking for ranch hands. Within two days after the rest of the team arriving, he was huddled with Nikolay and Bělinka, discussing the possibility of them becoming his managers. Talice watched Bělinka nursing her daughter, and felt a twinge of jealousy. But she was truly happy for the new parents. Damn bugs. Damn ’em.
Ollie drifted in, fresh from a sailing venture, tanned and looking great. Then Jian. Talice watched him unload his gear from the turbocopter. They hadn’t seen each other since their last kiss. She wondered if he really remembered. Then he flashed a smile and winked.
She smiled in return and waved.
They held a brief ceremony for Martin that evening. Though Talice hadn’t known him well, his service as a Marine and member of the team had been outstanding. A corporal in Special-Ops, he’d received more than one commendation for his bravery. And Talice had seen him stand in the line of fire as a merc. They all raised a glass, drank them down, then shattered the glasses against the fireplace in the common room the first night they all arrived.
Talice thought of Cowley, the first member of their team to die, and the promise she’d made to herself to retrieve his body. And kept. Dammit, I’d carry every one of these people on my back with my last breath if that’s what it took to get them home.
The biggest news of the reunion was Mac’s legs. The team surrounded her as she showed them off sitting in her hoverchair, her cropped camis cut very short, showing the surgery attachment line of dark-to-lighter flesh. Mac beamed, and everyone gave her an ovation. And a “Hua!”.
Slowly, the party wound down, and everyone but Talice, Mac, and Briggs headed for their assigned quarters. The trio sat at a hightop, sipping a bit of contraband, a small bottle of single-malt Scotch Talice had secreted into the Base. Only for medicinal purposes, as she put it. They all gave a false cough, and she poured two fingers around.
Talice raised her glass. “In the words of the Goddess Babs, ‘this’ll cure what ails ya’.” They touched rims and drank.
“We’re all soft as Mac’s legs look.” Briggs nudged Mac, who smiled.
“We’ll start PT day after tomorrow. Give everyone a day to settle in and get their thoughts moving in the right direction.” Talice sipped, rolling the Scotch over her tongue. “Babs will be here every ten days or so, and I’ll ask her to monitor everyone for the first two or three visits. I don’t want anyone dying from living a soft life over the last year.”
“What’s this mission about, anyway?” Briggs passed his gaze between the women. “More hostages, or just shooting stuff up?”
Talice shrugged. “The Marines haven’t said, but I can tell you this… Gorg Evans is involved. He’s undercover again. Where, I don’t know. And that’s not for public discussion.”
Mac and Briggs nodded.
“And for now, I’m not bringing anyone else into the team. I want us sharp before we add a replacement for Martin.” Talice sipped and continued. “Briggs, I’m going to rely on you more than ever. I’ve got to keep Mac in line for her PT. You know what a slacker she is.”
Briggs snickered. Mac winked at him.
“So for the next thirty days or so, the team is yours. Mac and I will set up scenarios for later down the line. Your job is to get everyone back in shape by then. I’ll be working Mac’s PT with her, so check on me occasionally to make sure I’m not slacking.”
“What about…” Briggs paused. “You know.”
Talice nodded her head side to side. “My bugs are fine, thank you very much. I’m on the magic stuff that will keep me human for a while. If I keel over someplace and die, just bury me there. Babs says this is probably the last chance.”
Briggs considered for a quiet moment. “So you’ll be going in with the team? During the operation, I mean.”
Mac laid a hand on Talice’s arm. Talice put her hand on Mac’s. “Yeah, we’ll plan it that way for now, but we still need another trooper. Just in case.”
Briggs nodded. “Hua, Captain. Looking forward to working with you again.” He raised his glass and drank.
* * *
Talice sat in her room, cross-legged on the bed. She hadn’t been able to sleep, and finally rose to meditate for a bit. Babs had taught her this, though it was also part of her Marine covert-ops training. A part she’d paid little attention to, until the bugs came.
Here we are again, and maybe for the last time. Damn, am I almost thirty-seven years old? She chuckled. Sometimes it feels like ninety-seven. If I live to ninety-seven, Babs deserves a medal.
The door chimed. She smiled. “Come in.”
Jian entered. Talice swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. They held hands, just regarding each other.
“I thought at least I’d get a commtext from you over the last, oh, nearly half a year, maybe?” Talice touched his face with gentle fingers. “You avoided me at the greeting, too.”
Jian shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what to do. You’re still Captain, and I’m a Grunt on the team.”
“If I’d given you a big kiss on arrival, you think that would have been a problem for anyone?”
“Hope not.” He drew her nearer and kissed her carefully.
“Okay, that’s a good start.” She grinned.
Jian drew apart and sat. Talice took her place on the bed again. “Something’s on your mind.”
He nodded. “Still the last mission. Aya. Jance. The Marines took Nemesis apart pretty well. They’re talking about turning the complex into a Marine base.”
Talice nodded. “There’s no real government on Crius, Jian. As long as it’s a safe haven for the bad guys, Marines have to keep going back, and probably need teams like ours to do the real dirty work.”
“That’s my thought, too. But there were rumors on some of the nets—”
“Geez, please don’t tell me you’re a conspiracy nut. I mean, you gotta be a bit crazy to do what we do, but not insane.”
“I listen to see what they’re saying, yes, then I look for the more rational bits of truth in it.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “What if this is just the beginning of Theia looking to take over on Crius? Putting a military presence in place would be the first logical step, wouldn’t it?”
Talice studied his earnest face for a moment. “That’s a point, yes, but what if it’s truly a situation of the Marines wanting to keep the planet clean for decent people? Is there a problem with progress, and helping make Crius… like Theia? I mean, a successful colony?”
“People went to Eos to get away from Theia. Then to Crius to get away from Eos and Theia. Some people just want to be left alone.”
“They could have been alone on Theia, too. There’s still plenty of open land for the taking.”
Jian shrugged. “I suppose … it just worries me, that’s all.”
“You want to go back to Crius and fight Nemesis again? Rescue hostages? Take down more bad guys? Look…”
She knelt and took his hands again. “I know this ‘code of honor’ thing is strong with you. It’s the same with all of us, and you’ve… you’ve had a much more personal hand in it lately. With Aya. With rescuing Babs. With… me.”
“Humans can muck stuff up pretty quickly. Especially if they see a power vacuum.”
Talice nodded. “And that’s why the Marines took over the Nemesis complex. To see that doesn’t happen on Crius. Their base on Eos has kept things pretty quiet the last few years. They pay creditmarks to lease the land, they contribute to the economy, they… they’re a det
errent. Just like they’re supposed to be. And that’s all. They’re the sheriff in town.”
Jian sighed. “Yes, good points, too. Okay, I’ll just keep monitoring, and when the politicians decide to take over, I’ll say ‘I told you so’.”
They stayed quiet for moments, enjoying the silence and closeness. Finally, Talice asked, “What else? You didn’t come here just to talk politics and military coups, I’m sure.”
He nodded slowly. “This feels… like maybe the last time. For the team, I mean. Rory was talking about his farm. Dosu hasn’t seen his family in Southland for over a year.”
“Briggs has turned into an eight-year-old boy, digging in the dirt,” Talice added, and they laughed again.
“And Nikolay and Bělinka are contracted, and have a baby. Ollie and I are the only ones left, it seems.” Jian looked her in the eyes. “Even you. And Mac. We all know how ancient you both are.”
Talice looked at him from lowered brow.
He held his hands up. “Just kidding.”
She leaned into him again. “Apology accepted. Look, even if this is the last go-round, it’s going to be a while before we get our marching orders. So let’s take advantage of it.”
“I’ve thought about a team of my own, if this really is our last mission.”
Talice rolled her eyes. “You do that, and I’ll buy you a drink. Are you old enough to drink, by the way?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Well, if I’m not, you’ve already corrupted me so badly, it won’t matter.”
They shared a quiet laugh. He drew her closer.
Talice wrapped her arms around him. “Wanna get corrupted some more?” She glanced at the bed.
Jian smiled.
* * *
Thirty Days in the Hole…
Briggs took his assignment seriously. So seriously, a brawl nearly erupted during the third day of training. Talice had to intervene and send the combatants to neutral corners. All seven of them.
After a suitable cooling off period of several hours, she called them together on the live-fire line. Mac was there as well, off to one side. Talice wondered if Mac was considering throwing them all in the brig overnight, but knew all that would do was make them meaner.
“Look… we’re soft. We’ve all been away from this for the better part of a year. So no matter how we start out, it’s gonna be rough.” Talice stood in the middle of the circle.
“Now if you want to go back into the gym, we can do that. Maybe that’s where we should start, not in the field. Because I see some pretty sloppy muscle tone, and toting around SmartGuns and comm equipment and that fucking FunGun of Bělinka’s is no picnic. So we’re going to go back to Square One. Take tomorrow off, get your massage or whirlpool or steam bath, or whatever the hell treatment you need. Then the day after, we’re going to the gym, get muscles and stamina built back up, and work on putting this team back together. No guns. No armor. No tactics and no drills. Just the gym for at least ten days, maybe more.”
Talice paused, waiting for comments, but everyone remained silent. Briggs hardly met her eyes. Rory glared off into the sunset. Everyone else was basically noncommittal.
“Mac and I are doing gym stuff now, so we’ll all be in there together. First meal at 0700 Hours, then in the gym by 0900. Two hours, then four off, then two more in the afternoon. Briefings as necessary, and I’ll post those to your commsets. Otherwise, the time is yours. Lights out at 2300.”
She glanced around, catching everyone’s eyes. “Questions?”
Bělinka raised her hand. “Niky and I have a subject to discuss with you privately, Captain.”
“Fine. Let’s get dinner, then take the evening off.”
The team rose and drifted about. Talice watched Rory, Briggs, and Dosu stand aside, talking in low voices. Finally, they all shook hands and headed off for the barracks.
“Briggs.” Talice motioned him to one side.
“Sorry.” Briggs wasn’t happy, but said nothing else.
“Look, it’s my fault. I should have considered this earlier. Let’s do a fresh start and make it right.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. Nobody got hurt, but I need to talk to Ollie and Junior.”
Talice nodded. “Do that. Get it square. We’re a team, always have been, so the air needs to be cleared.” She patted his shoulder. “Let’s call up our old Marine gym routines and get those implemented.”
“I’ll do it. My job.” Briggs gave her a nod and headed off.
Mac slid her hoverchair quietly to Talice’s side. “Not good.”
“Too long apart, Mac. Too much soft living. I don’t know if we can do this again.”
“We’ll find out in a few days. If not… what are the options?”
Talice shrugged. “Tell the colonel to get another team. Hell, I don’t know. But we’ve sure lost our edge.”
“Maybe that’s why they’re mad.”
Talice turned and looked Mac in the eye. “You’re absolutely right. Damn, why didn’t I see that?”
Mac grinned. “You weren’t a DI. Make it the focus. Show them what they’ve lost and how to get it back. Lead them like you have before.”
“Mac, it’s all I can do to get through some of the routines we do, let alone full-ass training.”
“Lead. Teach. Help them help themselves.”
“Yeah… yeah.” Talice smiled. “I knew I kept you around for something.”
* * *
Talice met with Bělinka and Nikolay in the ready room. Mac had gone her way to see the evening meal got started. Colonel Fawkes had granted Talice a full housekeeping team, since their focus was getting ready for the mission. Two cooks and a full cleaning staff, not to mention a security platoon, helped quell her anxiety.
“You know our personal assistant has come with us to the training base, yes?” Niky cradled his sleeping daughter as Bělinka rested her head on his shoulder, eyes closed. “This has helped, yet we ask more. Time for Bělinka to be with Tanja. Time for me, as well.”
Talice shrugged. “Honestly, Niky, I don’t know why either of you are even here. You’ve done your duty for king and country, as the old saying goes. You were both Marines. You’ve served our team with your abilities as well as anyone.”
Nikolay shrugged. “We are still with the team, Captain. Truthfully, we are not ready to retire.”
“Niky… you know the dangers.”
He nodded, looking at Tanja in his arms. “Yes, as we always have. Still, we agreed between us, this one last mission, then we will become the parents we hope to be.”
Bělinka nuzzled into Nikolay’s arm and spoke. “We ask only one hour each in the morning and afternoon. Morning free for myself, afternoon for Niky. We promise to work twice as hard.”
Talice could only smile. “You two… get a room.”
Bělinka opened her eyes, smiling. “We did that. Many times. See what happens?”
Talice could only shrug. “Fine. I see no reason to deny such a request.” She nodded to Tanja, sleeping. “This little girl needs both of you safe and whole. We’ll manage.”
* * *
Talice sat alone in her room, thinking… concerned. Nearly a year off, and we’re strangers. Back to the beginning. This could end very, very badly, for everyone. The colonel said sixty days. If we can’t be ready in sixty days, can we ever be ready at all?
Her wristcom buzzed. Just a heads-up. Colonel Fawkes will be coming to the training center with me in four days for my first checkup on you and Mac. Expecting to see progress. No pressure, right? Babs.
Talice stood. Fawkes already? What’s his hurry? Secret stuff? Or just a surprise visit? Fuck.
The door chimed. “Come in.”
Mac’s hoverchair eased through the entry and the pocket door closed. “We need to talk.”
“What took you so long?” Talice gave a wry chuckle.
“I’m thinking this may not be worth it, Princess. It’s been too damn long. Everyone’s moved on. Rory. Briggs. Dosu. Certainly Nikolay an
d Bělinka. Ollie. Even you and me.”
Talice sat again and stared at the floor. “Yeah… I’ve been mulling that as well.” She showed her wristcom to Mac. They sat in silence for a few minutes.
“What do you want to do, Talice? Seriously, with your bugs and my legs, we’ve got a full plate. Do you honestly want to go through this with the team? With Niky and Bělinka trying to be parents and not getting killed on a mission?” Mac nodded to the wristcom. “With Fawkes coming in. With your… situation with Jian.”
Talice looked up. “How… did you know?”
Mac rolled her eyes. “I’m not blind, first. That silly damn grin when you two come within a meter of each other. And oh, yes, these walls aren’t soundproof. How do you suppose that’s going to affect your attitude during an operation? Or his?”
“So I shouldn’t be fucking the hired help, is that what you’re saying? Pretty stupid of me, wasn’t it?” Talice blew a breath.
“I’m saying you need to decide the way we’re all going. Whatever you choose, they’ll follow. They always have. Still… you need to make a decision, and tomorrow wouldn’t be too soon.”
“It just seems like I can’t focus anymore.”
“You’re just not focusing on the right things for a team to come together.”
Talice looked away again. “You think my situation with Jian is interfering?”
“Of course it is!” Mac chuckled. “No one cares as long as you do your job. If you and Jian want to roll around together, that’s your business. Once you’re out of the bed, though, you need to put your Marine face on again.”
Talice sat in silence for a bit. “Let’s see how the next couple of days in the gym go. Simplifying things should help.”
“Fair enough. But you need to have a decision made before Fawkes gets here.”