by TR Cameron
He shook his head and laughed softly. “Lady Elle, you are amazing at what you do, but I’m here on business.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “But Jackson, my business is pleasure.”
“Academy business.”
She dropped the flirtatious act with a sigh and slipped into the persona he’d seen during the planning session for their move against the Confederacy headquarters on the planet. He cringed inwardly at the memory of all they’d gone through only to discover they couldn’t get what they needed. At least no one got seriously hurt or killed on either side. That’s something, anyway. Well, except for the killer robot. He wasn’t a friend of yours, was he, Athena?
“No, Jax. I try to maintain a certain level of intelligence among those I call friends, and he was even less equipped than you in that regard.”
Ouch.
Lady Elle observed, “One day, Captain Reese, you’ll visit when you’re not working for the Professor, and we’ll see whether it’s possible to crack that serious veneer. But for now, my resources are your resources. What can I do for you?”
His room for the night wasn’t quite as nice as the one he’d occupied at the resort, but it came close. She’d pointedly not given him one of the best in the house, along with an explanation that she’d make sure he had an amazing experience when he visited specifically to indulge. Her flirty voice had returned for that comment. Wonder what she sees in me?
Athena snorted. “It’s nothing personal. You’re a challenge to overcome, and she likes to win.”
You know, you’re really not any good for my ego at all.
“Your ego is quite oversized enough as it is. Without my intervention, your skull would probably explode from the size of it.”
Jax shook his head and laughed for a moment at how the person operating the camera that was almost certainly hidden in the room might react to his facial expressions as he argued with the AI. Hey, are there video and audio pickups in here? Can you compromise them?
“Both, and I’ve already done so.”
Think the secure line she promised is actually secure?
“It’s hard-wired, so unless you want to take it apart and connect me, I can’t be sure. But I believe she is sincere in her desire to support you as long as you’re working on the Academy’s behalf.”
He picked up the thin cable that ran into the wall and slotted it into his comm. “All right, let’s give the Professor a call.”
A sigh bounced around in his head as the AI did as he requested. He found her irritation at being asked to do things he could as easily have done on his own amusing. It might have been petty, but then again, she was well able to hold her own in their battle of wits.
The line connected, and a computerized voice asked, “Name?”
“Jackson Reese.”
“To whom do you wish to speak?”
Dr. Juno Cray. “Professor Maarsen.”
“Please stand by.”
He waited for three minutes, the soft music playing in the background the only clue he was still connected to the Academy. He spent the time pacing the room, crossing from the entryway to the sitting room with its padded couch and large wall display, then into the bedroom, which held a king-size bed covered in far too many pillows. It made him want to sink into it and sleep for a week.
He was jarred from that thought by Maarsen’s voice. “Jackson, we’ve been waiting for your call. Are you safe?”
The Professor surely knew he was calling from the casino and thus was aware he was as safe as he was likely to get. Still, it’s nice to be asked, right? “Yes, for the moment. Thank you for the identities you sent. They will come in handy, I’m sure.”
Major Anika Stephenson’s voice sounded next, and it was only a small surprise. Recent events had proven that she was more deeply connected to the Academy than he’d initially realized. It made sense that she would want to speak with Maarsen in person, rather than risk someone on the Cronus intercepting her conversation. “No problems with the ship?”
“Got gobbled up by the local star.”
The Professor laughed. “Well done. A simple, elegant solution.” His voice turned serious. “So, we’ve been discussing your situation and have some thoughts. But first, what’s your assessment?”
Jax smiled but held in the chuckle that threatened. For Maarsen, every moment is a teaching moment. “My official conclusion is that I’m screwed.”
Stephenson’s laughter rang out. “I think he’s looking for a little more on the ‘what are your plans’ angle, as opposed to the ‘poor pitiful me’ angle, Jackson.”
“Oh, sorry. I thought we were honest here.” He stressed “honest” to show he was joking. “All right, seriously then, we need some intel. Probably the most important thing is to figure out who’s leaking information all over the place.”
Maarsen observed, “And that’s why you chose to go to Grefta, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “You got it in one, Professor. As the center of the local Confederacy government, it has the advantage of access to lots of data, likely with less security than I’d face elsewhere.”
Stephenson countered, “Except for the part where you already made a run at them there, which will have left them on a higher defensive footing.”
“True. There’s no way I’ll be able to do what I did before. I haven’t quite figured that part out yet.”
Maarsen switched topics. “I have some difficult news to share, Jackson, and I might as well quit stalling. Simply put, you’re on your own for a while. The only reason we were able to take this call was that it’s on a line we’re positive is clear. It’s only ever used to communicate with Lady Elle, and I trust her ability to keep it uncompromised.”
“I assumed as much. That’s not an unfamiliar situation for me. No worries. What are you doing on your end?”
Stephenson replied, “Running down every lead we can find. I’m working on backtracing the ghost who showed up on Vermar. So far I’ve identified the ship he came in on, and we’re looking for the records that detail where its previous posting was. But my guess is the Intelligence Division has some serious talent at work covering its tracks, so the likelihood we’ll find anything solid is low.”
The Professor added, “I’ve asked several of our occasional alumni to report in with anything they know, but they haven’t yet shared anything revealing.” Maarsen referred to his people as “active, occasional, and passive” based on how often the Academy gave them tasks. Some of the most valuable ones, he’d explained, were in the last category. Their positions were too risky, or too important, to reach out to them; it was a one-way communication path.
Jax shrugged. “You do your best, I’ll do my best, and we’ll meet in the middle.”
“There’s an additional complication.” Maarsen’s voice had turned colder like he was angry. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him angry. “The Academy and its current students are under surveillance. I presume many of our past students are as well.”
Stephenson’s voice carried a clearer indication of anger as she growled, “It has to be Arlox. Another move in the damn game the two of you play.”
Maarsen replied, “Almost certainly. But the timing is suggestive.”
Jax asked, “You mean you think he’s personally behind all of this? It’s not only his division doing its normal work?”
“Possible, Jackson. Definitely possible.” The other man’s tone was thoughtful. “But not enough information yet to be positive.”
Stephenson snorted. “I’m positive. That bastard is at the center of this web.”
“Now now, Anika. There’s no way to be sure.”
“I’ll trust my gut on this one, Nikolai.”
Jax interrupted, “So, back to the man on the run for a second. Will I be able to access the Academy’s resources if I need to?”
Maarsen replied, “Maybe. We can’t put out the call to let everyone know that you’re seeking assistance because we can’t trust the security of our normal channels. As peo
ple cycle through the Academy in person, we’ll let them know. But I’m sure Elle can give you some contacts.”
It was less than he’d hoped for, but pretty much what he’d expected. “Okay. How do I stay in touch?”
Stephenson sighed. “That’s the other problem. You’ll have to ditch your comm. I’m sure your contact there can provide a new one. But we’ll have to go old school. Messages on public boards in code, that sort of thing. She should have a cipher and instructions that you can use.”
Jax laughed. “So, I’m a total spy now, is that it?”
“Until we’re able to bring you in from the cold, yeah, pretty much.”
“Okay. Hell, it’s like an adventure vacation.”
Maarsen chuckled. “Except those don’t usually carry the threat of death or imprisonment.”
Jax grinned. “Clearly you’ve never seen the kind of vacationing that Special Forces soldiers get up to, Professor. This is a walk in the park.”
“This won’t be a walk in the park, Jackson.” Lady Elle sat across from him on her white couch in her beautiful living room, with sunlight streaming through the windows and equally beautiful curtains. Jax had slept until early afternoon, had taken a decadently long shower, ordered room service, and waited for her call. His adjusted schedule was apparently in line with her regular one since that summons came soon after he’d run out of things to keep him busy.
He nodded. “I know. But I think it has the highest chance of success. What can you do to assist?”
“A new identity is no problem. Doubtless, we have several that will be appropriate. Almost certainly some tech as well. But, aside from that, the best I have to offer is transport at the ready to get you to the spaceport and maybe a diversion if you need to escape. Are you sure you don’t have a better option?
He shook his head. “We broke in before, and there’s no question they’ll have beefed up security in this facility, and probably all their other ones as well. Doing it that way again is doomed before it begins. And that leaves only the one alternative.”
“And you think you’re a good enough actor to pull it off?”
Jax gave a cocky grin. “Of course.”
Elle made a sound that was a mix of a soft laugh and a sigh. “You’re insane. You know that?”
Athena added, “She’s right.”
He shook his head at both of them. “Crazy with a purpose. By tomorrow night, I’ll turn this thing around, and instead of being the prey, I’ll be the one doing the hunting. Count on it.”
Chapter Ten
Jax had spent the evening before planning and coordinating with Lady Elle’s people, and he felt he’d done as much as humanly possible to prepare for the day’s operation. Athena agreed that she’d also made her best effort in trying to poke holes in the plan. Unfortunately, it was decidedly more punctured than he would have preferred. But will I let that stop me? Hell no!
The AI groaned, “You’re an idiot. And you’re going to get us both killed.”
He laughed as he adjusted his tie in the mirror. All will be well.
“I should have a self-destruct mechanism installed. So I don’t fall into enemy hands.”
You want me to put an explosive device in my head? Under your control? Hard pass.
Athena offered, “It could be a bigger one in your torso if that would be preferable.”
Jax shook his head. No explosive implants, thanks. He checked the time on his comm, and the absence of his military version disconcerted him. The one he wore now was high-end, as befit his cover identity, and had some special features hidden inside that might come in handy in a pinch. Still, whenever he was without his comm, he felt incomplete. At least I have you, though. The AI didn’t respond. Come on now, no need to sulk.
“I’m not sulking,” she replied primly. “I’m contemplating my demise due to your excessive stupidity and overwhelming misplaced confidence.”
He laughed again. “Right. And on that note, time to go.” He headed for the casino floor, where his favorite guard awaited him, looking as severe and sardonic as the last time they’d met. She led him through the doors into the backstage area, then down to the garage, kitchen, and equipment room. The vault was much the same as before. She knelt on the floor and pulled up a panel to reveal the door of a safe beneath. She punched in a code, opened it, and extracted a large box.
He joined her at one of the tables, and she set it down and hit a button on the top. It unfolded with a small whir of motors to display four drawers that rotated around an edge post into positions where he could see the contents of each. “Nice.”
The guard nodded. “Nothing but the best for Lady Elle. Also, you realize that this plan isn’t even remotely smart, right?”
Jax rolled his eyes. “Didn’t we put this concern to rest yesterday?”
“I think you said, ‘we’ll have to agree to disagree’ as you stomped off.”
“Well, it’s a great plan, it’s going to work, and if you don’t agree, we’ll have to agree to disagree again.”
He picked up cufflinks, each with a diamond in the middle. “What are these?”
She shook her head. “We’ll be here all day if you ask questions. How about I tell you what’s in there?” He nodded and pushed down his desire to annoy her by interrupting. “The cufflinks are ordinary, but can be used as glass cutters.” She set them on the table and handed him a plastic case. Inside were a pair of decidedly fashionable glasses. “These interface with your comm. Scans won’t register them as anything other than ordinary display glasses if you keep them in their container, but they’re far more powerful than the usual variety.”
Jax scooped them up and tucked them into his inner jacket pocket. “You have no idea how long I’ve needed a pair of these.”
The guard’s head bobbed as she held out two more items for his inspection. In her left hand was a class ring with a large red stone in the middle and in her right, a wide silver band that could pass as either decorative or a wedding ring. “The smaller one is a dual interface. It takes a command to activate it, and another to unlock it. One end works on Confederacy tech, the other on Alliance tech. It connects wirelessly to your comm. Until it’s activated, it will appear inert to every kind of scan we know of.” Jax nodded, and she looked down at the other one. “This is also undetectable until it gets the message to turn on. Then, slamming it down on any surface generates a blinding flash that should at worst stun those who see it, and at best render them unconscious for a short time. Your glasses will dim automatically.”
He snatched them from her hands and slipped them on. “Amazing, although if I have to use the big one, I’m probably already toast. What else ya got?”
He wound up trading in his belt for one with a strong cord concealed inside it and accepting a pen-slash-stylus that was also a single-use stun weapon. Several other items of interest were available but didn’t quite fit with the persona he was crafting. Ultimately, disguise was his best offense and his best defense and compromising it even in small ways was a bad idea. The pen itself was a reach since normally an assistant would carry such things for the executive he would impersonate, but he could explain that away as a gift from a special person or a good luck charm, at need.
When they finished, she escorted him to the garage and put him in an unregistered limousine that the casino used for guests who wanted to maintain a low profile. Before she closed the door on him, he offered, “Thank you for your help. Really. Please tell Lady Elle I appreciate everything.”
The guard nodded. “Try to stay alive, Captain Reese, and come visit us again sometime.”
“I’ll do my best on both counts.” Then the door slammed, and the operation was officially underway.
He strode into the vast lobby of the administration building with a slight frown. He’d found it was always better when playing a role that involved projecting authority, to set others on the defensive immediately. People expected their bosses to act like jerks, and they noticed it when they didn’t liv
e up to that stereotype. He stopped in the center and looked around with a scowl, then continued to the reception desk.
Only one living being was present behind the counter, and a pair of humanoid androids flanked him on either side. Jax’s character, Reginald Terrigan the Third, would never lower himself to dealing with an artificial, despite his position as the chief lobbyist for a large, completely imaginary robotics corporation. He had declined to set up a meeting in advance, preferring again to leave people scrambling to accommodate him. The identity supporting his disguise would look powerful, influential, and most compellingly, lucrative to anyone involved in the technology trade for the Confederacy. Personally lucrative, if anyone noticed the hints of bribery sprinkled throughout the fictional persona.
He interrupted the man as he spoke over a comm. “Reginald Terrigan here to see Solomon Kier.”
The receptionist blinked at him. “Pardon?”
Jax scowled. “I said, Reginald Terrigan here to see Solomon Kier. If you value your job, you’ll get me an escort in the next thirty seconds.” The other man blanched and babbled into his comm.
Athena observed, “Well done. You’ve made a worker on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder obey you.”
I didn’t want to, and I don’t enjoy it, but remember, Reginald Terrigan is a class one bastard. And before you say it, no, it’s not an easy role for me to step into.
A woman in the standard uniform of a junior executive—perfect hair, minimal makeup, tailored suit, low heels—bustled up to him. “Mr. Terrigan?” He nodded, then focused his eyes over her shoulder to suggest he was looking for someone more important. “I’m here to take you to see Mr. Kier.”
He returned his gaze to her and stared at her forehead. “About time. Lead on.” She attempted to start a conversation several times during the elevator trip to a middle floor, but he ignored her efforts.