by Dennis Young
Babs said a year. It’s only been days. What the hell?
The door opened, and Babs entered with a male doctor Talice didn’t recognize. The look on Babs’s face told her all she needed to know.
“I was afraid we’d lost you,” said Babs, taking Talice’s right hand. The left had three real needles in it, under another patch. All connected to the IV bags. “You nearly flatlined on the way here.”
“Glad you got my message.” Talice swallowed. “Can I have some water? My tongue feels like it’s full of sand.”
Babs held a cup with a straw to her lips. Talice drained it, then laid back again.
“This is Doctor Idowu, our disease specialist. He’s been working with me on your bugs for the last couple of years.”
Idowu was a slender black man with a ready smile. “Hello, Talice.”
Talice only nodded slightly. “What… happened?”
Idowu paused before answering, and then only after a nod from Babs. “You had a reaction we’ve not seen before, but have been expecting. The Cemlac-12Ultra is affecting your immune system. I believe Doctor Cromwell explained this earlier.”
“She said… a year…”
Idowu nodded sadly. “That was only an estimate. Your disease is becoming progressively stronger, reacting to the increased strength of the medication, mutating. While we’ve monitored it over the years, it’s rate of mutation is growing. It’s outthinking the Cemlach-12.”
Babs took a seat beside Talice. “There was something else, too. Possibly an allergic reaction to something you ate recently. We didn’t pump your stomach—”
“Thank you.”
Babs smiled slightly. “So we don’t know what you had for dinner last night.”
“Last night? Noodles and tea at a Chinese place on the west side.”
“Possibly some spices then,” said Babs. “Something you don’t usually eat, or you might not even know you have an allergy to.”
“That would cause internal bleeding? Come on, Babs, be square with me.”
Babs sighed. “We don’t know what caused the bleeding… yet. We’re working on it. Some sort of tissue breakdown, or it might not even be related. You were banged up pretty badly when you came back from your last mission. Hit your head, you said.”
Talice looked away, then nodded. “I guess. What now?”
“We’re making progress, Ms. Wyloh,” replied Idowu. “Our suggestion is that you take some time off. Give your body a chance to heal from this lifestyle and let us continue our research. As I said, we’re getting closer.”
Talice was silent, looking away. Finally, she asked, “Can I have a little time with Babs. With Doctor Cromwell? Please?”
Idowu nodded. “Certainly. She’ll take good care of you.” He nodded, then left the room. The door closed quietly.
Talice looked at Babs. “End of the line.”
Babs shook her head. “It doesn’t have to be, Talice. Rest will help. It will allow your body to heal from your previous injuries, give you a bit of extra strength.”
“I told you what Jance wants. She knows nothing of this… nothing about my bugs.”
“So you turn her down. What can she do?”
“She’ll find a way to force my hand. Go after the team, one by one.” Talice paled. “Or my folks.” Or you again. Talice pushed the thought away and closed her eyes.
“Does she know where they live, or anything about them?”
Talice shook her head. “And they’re not in the public register. Dad wanted privacy. It would take some digging for her to find out.”
Babs nodded, saying nothing.
“Crap! How did I get here?”
Babs smiled. “I ordered an emergency medivac to your apartment and commtexted Mac. She met them there. Either she broke the door down or she has your code.”
Should have known, Damn, I’d be dead a dozen times over if not for these people. Talice looked at the IVs and the needle patch. “When can I get out of here?”
Babs looked at the chrono on the wall. “Give yourself until tomorrow morning. I’ll allow you to be discharged then.” She showed a warm smile. “So anxious to get away from me?”
Talice didn’t take the hint. “I need to talk to someone. I need intel, the kind I can’t get from the Marines or the team.” She nodded, as if to herself. I need to visit Scarbach.
* * *
Talice left the infirmary the next morning in an unmarked ground van via the underground entrance. It would have taken serious clearance for Jance, or anyone, to know how and why. Babs had authorized it, and in an hour, Talice was dropped off in the south side of the city.
She walked for a while, breathing in the early summer air, wondering how long she had to live. And how she might spend her last days. Or hours.
She took a circuitous path to Scarbach’s building, stopping in a coffee shop she’d never been in, and had a light lunch. She was hungry. And thirsty. She drank three cups of tea, then a full pitcher of water. Gotta keep those damn bugs fed. Fuck, I can’t keep my mind on anything but the fucking bugs. And Jance.
She took the stairs to Scarbach’s floor and entered the outer office. Joane was at the desk, and nodded to Talice, then buzzed her through. She entered Scarbach’s inner sanctum and did a double-take.
“Mac?”
Mac smiled. “Don’t get upset. I knew eventually you’d end up here, so I took a chance this morning. Come on, Princess, sit down so we can work out a plan.” She nodded to Scarbach, at his desk. “We’ve got some information you’ll find really interesting.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
It’s Not Just Me Who’s Crazy
(Part Three)
Making Sense of the Senseless
“Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory,
but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety
of circumstances.”
Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”
The office of Luis Scarbach, Advocate and Advice-monger…
The door closed quietly behind Talice. She took a chair away from the desk, looking squarely into Mac’s eyes. “I recall a similar situation in another office, a few years ago.”
Mac nodded. “I know. But this is different. And before you go hunting, you need to hear what Mr. Scarbach has found out.”
Talice gave him a glance. “I’m listening.”
Scarbach cleared his throat. “Jance Sukano is in town.”
Talice chuckled. “I know. I saw her.”
“She was seen at the Council Chamber Building yesterday,” said Mac. “And in the company of Earnest Holmeyer, one of the councilmen we’ve been advised of.”
Talice said nothing, nodding Mac to continue.
“We believe Jance has bribed Holmeyer to obtain info about the team. Our team, and their whereabouts.”
“Damn. I thought about this.” Talice forced herself to relax. “Why didn’t she just check the local register? Some of the team are probably in it.”
“What they don’t know is, the team’s real location. Which you and I do,” replied Mac. She motioned to Scarbach. “This info was delivered this morning by someone Mr. Scarbach knows personally. It’s valid.”
“But… this doesn’t make any sense. Jance had damaging info on these guys. Why would they associate with her?”
“They don’t know her,” said Scarbach. “No contact with her that I can find from either of them. I don’t know how she even got an appointment.”
Talice thought for a minute, then drew the card given her by the network man, Emil Lucas, at the coffee shop. “Do you know this guy?”
Scarbach glanced at the card and nodded.
“He approached me the other night with an offer from Jance.” Talice looked at Mac. “Her ‘one-on-one’ I told you about.”
“I don’t understand,” said Scarbach.
“Jance wants a duel, so to speak. Just her and me, on vid and web. The winner apparently gets part of the take, and the loser dies.
&nbs
p; “This is getting way too complicated,” said Mac.
Talice nodded. “Yeah, and I’m thinking the only way to get rid of her is simply accept her challenge.”
“That’s assuming you win,” said Scarbach. “Not that I think you’d lose.” He showed an apologetic shrug, then motioned to the card. “You know who TWN is, don’t you?”
Talice shook her head. “Should I?”
“You need to check them out. Before you sign anything.”
Talice looked to Mac. “We’ll do that. My guess is, this network guy got Jance the appointment with Holmeyer. She probably pretended to be a network bigwig. She’s trying to either get the city involved, or get them to stay out of it.”
Mac gave Talice a hard look. “This is crazy. Why would the city want anything to do with this?”
“I doubt they do. Which means this councilman has other dealings with Jance. Mac, I don’t know what’s going on, but things are getting weird. Jance may be setting something up to draw me into her web.”
“Like kidnapping a councilman?” Scarbach laughed. “Hell, they deserve each other, from what you’ve told me about Jance.” He paused, then asked, “Do we warn him? Alert somebody?”
Mac shrugged. “She can’t do anything nasty, or the locals will be after her.”
“Then like you said, she’s digging for intel on the team. That’s who she’ll go after.” Talice was quiet as Scarbach took a call on one of his phones. She caught Mac’s eye and mouthed the words “we need to talk”.
Mac nodded.
Scarbach ended his call after a few minutes, during which Talice paced the room. “What else? I hope this doesn’t put me in more danger.”
Talice smirked. “No more than you were. Honestly, Jance has probably forgotten about you by now.”
Scarbach’s face fell a millimeter or two. He perked up. “How’s Tooley doing, by the way?”
Mac waved a hand. “He’s fine. Good man. Glad you recommended him.”
Scarbach showed a fleeting smile. “I’ve got work to do. I’m sure you do as well.” He hit a button on the desk, and Joane opened the door a few seconds later.
“I think we’ve been dismissed,” said Talice, rising from her chair.
“We’ll be in touch. Thanks for the info.” Mac wheeled her chair around and followed Talice out. They were in the lift before either spoke.
“Jance is going to do something nasty, thinking she can force my hand. You and I know she’s gonna go after the team.” Talice leaned her head against the wall.
“So we warn them soonest,” replied Mac. “And get them back to the training center where she can’t reach them.” Then, “You wanted to talk. Let’s find a place and do that.”
Talice shrugged. “I’m dying, Mac. The bugs are winning. A year, probably less.”
Mac said nothing as she took Talice’s hand. “If that’s the case, we need a plan, and not just for Jance. Maybe between us, we can figure out something just crazy enough to work.”
* * *
Finding Solitude…
Talice sat in the hardwood booth at the back of a pub they’d chosen at random. The place was one she’d never been in, and she advised Mac to look for others neither of them had frequented.
“Jance is watching us, found our tendencies, worked out our schedules. That’s how she kept track of me. So we need to break those habits. And you know she isn’t going to let me take the team against her. And she’ll have some sort of help. Someone monitoring or advising her. Maybe that’s what this Holmeyer is. Wonder if he’s a former Marine, or other military?”
Mac sipped beer, listening, nodding. “That should be easy to check. His bio is public information, so I’ll look it up.”
“And in the meantime, we need a plan. I’m thinking you at TacOps with Jian and Tooley with me.”
“Why not Briggs or Ollie? Or Dosu?”
“Because Jian and Tooley are the newest, and she likely doesn’t know that much about them. Tooley is pretty sharp for a kid, Jian is simply dangerous, and Jance doesn’t know that.”
“And if she says no helpers?”
Talice snorted. “Fuck her. If she wants a couple of bodyguards, fine. But I’ll be damned if I’m going up against her alone, when I know she probably won’t be.”
Mac nodded. “She’ll have tech, if nothing else. Maybe even try to crack our comm. Again.”
“With Bird One in the shop, she might not suspect you on the line with me.” Talice thought. “Maybe a drone?”
“You’d better be sure of the rules, Princess, or we could all wind up dead. Assuming Jance wants rules, that is.”
Talice drank tea and thought for a minute. “She’ll want rules, but she’ll bend the hell out of them, too. Besides, if this is going to be through a vid network, they’ll insist she play it straight, or she won’t get paid. Assuming, of course, she wins.”
“This is crazy. Talice, you can’t be serious about this.”
“Mac, I’m gonna die. Babs told me. I’m not going to sit around and wait for it to happen. And if I have a chance to take Jance down, so be it. Otherwise, she’s still running around, and you know what will happen then.” Talice met Mac’s worried gaze. “Help me find a way to go out like a Marine.”
Mac’s face was sad. “Blaze of glory? That sort of thing?”
Talice nodded. “If that’s what it is, yeah. Otherwise, no telling what she’ll do. If I can keep her attention, maybe you and the team can figure something out for afterward. I mean, if she wins.”
“You can take her, Talice. You’ve faced her down twice already.”
“Yeah, and this has helped clear my head, too. Because the mental stuff, that’s what’s kept me screwed up. Now she’s offered combat. Something I understand.”
Mac nodded slowly, then sipped her beer again. “Point taken. Okay, let’s pull the team in and see what we can come up with. What about the Marines?”
“You mean, what about Fawkes, right?”
Mac nodded.
“I’ll talk to him privately. I need to be sure he’s not going to interfere. I don’t want him playing hero.” Talice gave a wry chuckle. “Besides, he’s got a girlfriend to consider now. I’m letting him off the hook.”
* * *
Talice headed home, taking a different route again. She took the stairs instead of the lift, then realized it really didn’t matter, because there were security cameras at each end of the hallway. If Jance had hacked into the building monitors, she knew exactly where Talice lived. She shrugged and voiced the door open. If she tried to break in, the security doors should stop her. But hell, she’d probably just blow the place apart.
Talice stopped. Damn, she’s still got that fighter she escaped in. Gotta be a way to trace that. Maybe Niky, if he’s up to it.
She was trembling, as she sat on the recycler seat. Her patch came away clean and still moist, so she put it down to nerves. And concern. And a growing anger deep inside. She stuck on a fresh patch, dutifully downed a bottle of S-H, and let out a deep sigh. Never thought I’d end up going against another Marine for all the marbles, but here we are. Damn, Jance, what did I ever do to you?
She dug out the wristwatch commset Fawkes had given her and typed out a message. I’d like an appointment to see you in your office tomorrow if you have the time. Official business. Talice.
The answer came back after a few minutes. Open after lunch. Come on by about 1400 Hours. Fawkes.
Talice nodded. “This will be pleasant. How to tell him I’m gonna go head to head with Jance, and maybe die in the process.”
She dug out the card, reached for her wristcom, and typed the address in, then waited for a connection. All she got back was an auto-note saying Emil Lucas was not available, returning to the office during business hours tomorrow.
No opportunity to leave a message. But I’ll bet Jance is alerted now. She’s probably tapped in with his comm. Fine, tomorrow first thing.
She called up music, then a yoga program vid. Spent an ho
ur getting hot and sweaty, letting the tension drain away. Showered, slid into a nightshirt, then curled up on the sofa with her SLATE.
The standard wristcom chimed. It’s late, but I wondered if you have time to talk and get a bite to eat. Kind of irregular, I know, but I hate to eat alone (grin). Jian.
Talice smiled. Damn, I’ve never been in a situation like this. I know Fawkes has gone a different way and Jian is sweet. And damn good. Fuck it... Company sounds great.
She sighed, then typed. Sure. Name the place and I’ll meet you there. Talice.
He came back a minute later with an Asian Pho shop she’d never known was in the neighborhood.
I really need to pay more attention to my surroundings, she joked to herself. She tossed on something casual, grabbed her jacket, and headed out the door.
It was a cool evening, and the place was only a kilometer or so away, so Talice decided to walk. She met Jian just as he was entering, and they found a corner booth away from the kitchen noises.
“Doing okay? I heard you had a bit of a problem at the infirmary.”
Talice gave him a glance. “News travels fast. How did you know?”
Jian shrugged. “I was there to see Rory. He’s getting a new leg eventually, and maybe some other work. And Abie was being admitted for her hand.”
Talice sat back. Geez, I hadn’t even thought about them. Yeah, we really took one on the chin. Flunkies did more damage to our team than Nemesis regulars ever did.
They ordered, received bubble tea and spring rolls, and ate in silence for a few minutes. Jian turned to her, earnest. “I talked to Tooley some more. We’re still interested in putting together a team, if this is really the last mission. I’d like your permission to talk with some of the others. And Abie, when she’s available.”