by TR Cameron
“Uh, Doc, painkillers?”
She laughed. “For a tough guy like you? You don’t need any.” She turned to one of her assistants. “All right, let’s give him some.”
Athena interjected, “I can keep you from feeling it.”
Jax lifted his hand. “Wait a minute.” Really? I thought you weren’t, uh, wired down that far yet.
“I’m not. But the pain registers in your brain. I can block the signal.”
Are there any risks?
Her tone was confident. “No more than with an injection, and likely less.”
He coughed. Okay. “Doc, Athena says she can take care of it. But maybe keep some on hand, in case.”
She frowned. “Are you sure?”
He gave her as much of a smile as he could manage, given that he was about to have part of his body cut off. “Yeah. I trust her.”
“All right, then.” She pointed at her people. “Stand ready. Athena, do your thing.”
The AI told him, “Done,” and he echoed the information to Juno. Then he closed his eyes because while he trusted the voice in his head, nothing in the world made him want to watch as they operated on him.
Several hours later, the procedures were done. He was the proud owner of a new, state-of-the-art prosthetic lower leg, even more advanced than his arm. It would be more resistant to bullets, which he counted as a significant improvement. Juno had mentioned during the procedure that if it had been his whole limb, they would have been able to do more. Then corrected herself and clarified that from a maximum efficiency standpoint, the best scenario would be to replace both legs at the hips.
He’d glared until she’d laughed and traded in her serious expression for a smile. “No, I’m not serious. Well, it’s true that it would work. But I don’t think we’re at the point where you should go full android or anything.”
He sat up on the table and looked down at the new leg. The metal was still visible since the skin replacement would take a few days to cover it fully. His other wounds were healed and covered with fresh skin as well, so he wouldn’t have any identifying marks to give him away. During all those times I wind up sleeping with spies and stuff, I guess. Gotta say the whole espionage thing is not like in the movies.
“Nice work, Doc.”
Juno nodded. “Hop down and test it out.”
He did so and noticed her looking at his bare torso instead of his leg. “Are we checking the leg out, or are you checking me out?”
Juno blushed, but only a little. “You caught me. I was trying to picture how far Athena’s connectors have made it so far.”
He shook his head. “Ouch. Point scored, but I totally don’t believe you. In fact, I think you’re avoiding saying something. But I won’t be distracted. Spill it, Doc.”
She laughed. “Okay, you got me. Jackson Reese, will you go on a date with me?”
He grinned. “You know it. As soon as the Professor lets me off my leash.”
“Well then, you’d best get dressed and go talk to him.”
Maarsen handed him a drink without asking as Jax sat across from him, then instructed, “Connect to Anika.” A holographic display popped up over his desk, and in less than half a minute the image of Major Stephenson appeared.
“Hello, Nikolai. What the hell, Jackson, are you trying to get yourself killed?”
He laughed, and the Professor echoed him. “Actually, Major, I was trying not to get killed if we want to be specific. Seems like that’s all I’ve been doing for the past week or so.”
Maarsen observed, “Fortunately, you seem to excel at it.”
“Yeah, that. So, I’m sure you’ve come to the same conclusions I have, based on the data I sent. The only question in my mind is whether it’s one leak or two.”
Stephenson nodded. “I think it has to be two unless there’s someone associated with the Academy who’s also likely to be a Confederacy stooge. But I’m sure we’d already know about them if that was the case, right?”
The Professor shrugged. “You’re aware of how rigorous our admission policies are, Anika. It’s highly unlikely, but still within the realm of the possible.”
Jax asked, “Does it hurt us to go forward as if it’s two different people? As long as we avoid making assumptions based on that, we can investigate each angle separately. If they lead to the same person, well, I guess that will answer the question.”
The other man tapped a finger on his chin. “That does seem like a viable approach. Do you want your team to work with you on this?”
Jax knew a test when he heard one. “No. We can’t assume they aren’t involved. Except for Cia. I don’t see any reason to doubt her. Do either of you?” And Juno, but I’m not going to say that out loud.
Stephenson shook her head. “No basis to decide. Seems nice.”
Maarsen stated firmly, “I trust Alicia completely. And I agree that every other student, and possibly some of the staff, could potentially be giving away information deliberately or accidentally.” His frown dominated his face. “Although I knew that such a thing was almost inevitable, it still galls me that Arlox has managed it.”
Jax tilted his head to the side in a question. “Are you sure it’s him?”
The Professor nodded. “It has to be. No one else would have both the resources and the inclination. We’ve penetrated his organization, although not as extensively as I would like, and he’s almost certain to have tried to do the same to us. And apparently succeeded.”
Athena observed, “Maarsen may be exhibiting hyperfocus on his chosen nemesis. We should keep that in context going forward.”
Good point, but probably not politic to mention it at the moment. He replied, “That makes sense. I hate the idea that it might be one of my team.”
The other man added, “As I hate that it might be someone within these walls. But the only way to deal with it is to assume that it could be anyone.”
Stephenson asked, “So, in practice, what does that mean?”
Maarsen closed his eyes and reclined in his chair. “First, we need to change all our codes and encryptions, but do so subtly enough that it’s not apparent. I can handle that. Second, we need to have the staff dig through the current lives of everyone who works for or attends the Academy. I’ll clear the first ones myself, and we’ll spread out from there. Major, if you’ll back me up on that, I’d appreciate it.”
She nodded. “Of course. If needed, I can bring my most trusted people in, too.”
Jax shook his head. “Can’t assume that they’re okay, either, Major. Someone ratted out the Cronus. This same thing will have to happen on your end.”
“I know. But I have a few I trust implicitly.”
“Fair enough.”
The Professor continued, “Third, we need to check every one of our systems, and the castle and its grounds for surveillance devices. We already do this routinely, but it’s doubtless time for a more serious search. I think we can hide that action by claiming we’re cleaning for an alumni party. Of course, that means I’ll have to throw an alumni party.”
Jax and Stephenson laughed. She added, “You don’t sound all that excited about the idea.”
Maarsen shrugged. “I enjoy seeing them, but it’s days of distraction with the welcomes, and the actual event, then the departures. The last one was a year and a half ago, though, so it’s probably time, regardless.”
“And what should I do?” Jax had some ideas about that, but he was curious about what the others thought.
Stephenson laughed. “Try not to get killed. If there’s someone at the Academy who’s a turncoat, they might make a move against you there. You should probably make sure you’re never alone.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared at the recording. Did she make fun of me about Juno?
Athena replied, “High probability. Apparently, she continues to picture you as a hormonal teenager.”
Hush. He put on a confident grin. “I think I can arrange that.”
Stephenson turned sudde
nly serious. “And Jackson? Be sure you have a weapon with you at all times. What’s in your head is precious to the Academy, and the meat sack it’s in is important to my people for some unknown reason. Don’t take this lightly.”
He nodded and swallowed hard. “You got it, boss.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Jax and Juno had agreed that waiting a day for him to heal up from the procedures he’d undergone would be a good idea, so he spent the afternoon kicking around the castle with no particular purpose. His goal was to keep his mind open and try to see things with new eyes, a process that Athena was more than willing to help him with.
They’d stopped off at the quartermaster for a set of display glasses, and the woman had furnished him with more than he’d expected, as usual. The unit provided more than an interface with his comm and the AI since it also had magnification options and thermal sensing. Jax gave over control to his passenger and concentrated on not crashing into things as the hallways he walked through suddenly zoomed in and out or changed colors as she scanned.
Find anything useful?
“The occasional sign of rodent activity, some spilled wine, and a couple of cracks in the floor concerning enough that I’ve sent a message to the castle’s groundskeeper. Otherwise, nothing.”
The rest of their wandering was equally productive. It did have the benefit of giving Athena a firsthand, or maybe secondhand if you were overly technical, tour of the castle. He was sure she stored the information against a later need.
He took her through the classrooms, the chamber where he’d welcomed Kenton Marshall to the Academy with a knife fight, and the exercise room where he’d first seen Cia and met Coach. The tavern wasn’t open in the afternoon, unfortunately, so their wanderings finished with a quick spin through the training area and a return to his quarters to get ready.
He took a long hot shower, shaved, and put on a black suit with a white shirt and no tie. The evening ahead was a mystery because Juno refused to tell him anything about their plans. He figured that a classic dark look would be suitable no matter what. In a nod to Stephenson’s advice, he slipped a small stun pistol into his inside pocket. It only held three charges but had the advantage of being no bigger than a typical business card case. Not that most people used physical cards anymore, but he could always play it off as an affectation at need.
He looked at himself in the mirror and adjusted a stray hair. “I think I’m ready. Also, Athena, if I hear any songs other than the ones I love, I’ll find a way to get revenge. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but it will happen. Oh, yes, it will happen.” The AI didn’t respond, but he sensed her amusement, nonetheless.
He worked to keep his grin from completely taking over his face as he hurried through the castle corridors toward the front entrance. He failed at the sight of his date, who stood between the opened doors. She was sheathed in a sparkling ebony dress that showed a lot of skin from just below the collarbone up, aside from two thin straps keeping it in position. Her arms were bare, and one hand gripped a rectangular clutch in black patent leather. Her hair was up, gathered on the sides, and lifted into a pile on her head that looked structurally unsound, in his opinion. Gems winked from the combs holding it in place. Her shoes had modest heels, and what he could see of her legs was covered in dark stockings.
He stopped beside her. “Good evening Dr. Cray.”
She nodded primly and replied, “And the same to you, Captain Reese. Shall we go?”
“After you.”
“As it should be.” She grinned and led him through the doors to the waiting sports car, a scarlet Ferrari Tributo.
His eyes tracked the car’s lines in open admiration as he circled to climb into the passenger seat. The interior was black leather and smelled freshly detailed. She slid in on the opposite side and adjusted her dress as she arranged herself. “If you own this car, the Academy pays way better than I thought.”
Her laugh was a little throaty and told him that she’d also been hit with the same powerful feeling of almost magnetic attraction the moment they’d seen one another. “I’d love to claim it as mine, but no. It’s a rental.”
“I didn’t see this on the list of options at the place in Inverness.”
She pressed the start button, and the engine growled to life. “No, I’ve been around here for long enough to know where the true treasures lie.” She stomped on the gas, and the car leapt forward. “And I have a couple of them to show you tonight.”
“I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy more.” He mentally added, Other than exploring your treasures. I mean, exploring treasures with you.
Athena groaned. “You should have taken a cold shower before your date.”
Go away.
She snarked, “Physically impossible, unfortunately,” then faded into the background.
Juno asked, “So, let’s get the work stuff out of the way. How’s the leg?”
Jax shrugged. “I’d say it feels more solid than the last one, and a little heavier, but I’m sure that’s my imagination. Otherwise, it’s stable, dependable, and stays where it belongs. Everything a lower leg should do.”
She laughed. “Very good. And you’re right. It’s a touch lighter.” The doctor took the curves to Inverness conservatively enough to keep the Ferrari on the road, but no more than that.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight?”
“None of your business. You’ll find out when I’m ready for you to know.”
He shivered theatrically. “Powerful women are so hot.”
She laughed again and shook her head. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, Jackson Reese.”
He gave a soft snort. “That, Doctor Cray, is the literal story of my life.”
They talked about random things for the rest of the drive, catching up on their time apart. She slowed to a reasonable speed as they hit the city’s edge and steered her way toward a part of it he hadn’t seen. Row houses on one side with small businesses that catered to them on the other seemed to be the dominant arrangement. She pulled to the curb outside a modest tavern called the Red Door, which did indeed have a crimson entryway trimmed in black. Aside from the simple letters above it, which stretched across the entire front of the narrow building, nothing indicated what might lay inside.
She smiled as she handed off her keys to a teenager in a maroon jacket. “Don’t get crazy. It’s a rental, and if you break it, you’ll spend the rest of your life trying to pay it off.”
He nodded. “I’ll treat it like it were my baby sister, Ma’am.”
Juno shook her head and walked toward the door. When Jax stepped beside her, she asked, “Think we’ll see the car again?”
He chuckled. “Maybe. He doesn’t seem too wild, and you’ve probably put some fear into him. But I still hope you paid for the insurance.”
“Of course I did. I might do something foolish and let you drive on the way back.”
He grabbed the handle and pulled open the door for her, then followed her inside. The place was less than twenty feet wide, but it stretched deep along its other axis. A duo of female musicians performed on a small stage at the far end, one singing and playing guitar, the other complementing her with a banjo and a kick drum. A bar ran the length of the left-hand side, filled with what appeared to be locals, to judge by their clothing and the faces reflected in the bar’s back mirror. A narrow walkway separated them from a row of small tables with chairs on one side and a black vinyl booth that ran most of the wall’s length on the other.
If he’d been called upon to describe the designer’s inspiration, Jax would have said “scraps.” While all the decorations and furniture in the room were complementary, they were rarely identical. Wood dominated, mostly dark, and where fabrics were present, they tended toward brown, red, and black. He felt immediately at home, and more so when Juno led him down the bar to two chairs with a small “Reserved” sign on the counter in front of them. One of them held a burly man with an impressive gin
ger beard that reached the middle of his chest. Jax tensed, but when she tapped him on the shoulder, the man yelled, “Juno,” and stood to hug her. “I kept your seat warm for ya.”
She grinned. “It’s good to know I can always count on you, Mac.” She turned to face Jax. “I’d like to introduce you to Kieran Maclain, one of the finest doctors in Scotland.”
He extended a hand. “Jax Reese.” The other man shook it with a strong grip. His voice was as burly as he was, deep and growly. “So, you’re the flavor of the month, are you?” Jax winced, and Maclain laughed. “I’m kidding, friend. Too often, Juno has had to while away the hours talking shop with me instead of being out on a proper date.”
She slapped him. “Shut it, you, and shove off.” The big man chuckled and waved goodbye as he headed for the other end of the bar. Juno slid onto the chair he’d vacated and patted the one beside her. “The people here are great. It’s my favorite spot in Inverness.”
He sat and ordered a local craft beer on the bartender’s recommendation. Juno selected a red wine, something regional, he thought, but he lost focus for a moment while staring at her. “I can see why you like it. Spend much time here?”
She shrugged. “I try to make it down once a week, but it doesn’t always work out that way.” She twisted toward him, and her face went still. “So, I need to ask you a serious question. It’s really hard for me, so I’d like to be sure you’re not busy staring at my,” she paused long enough for his brain to fill in a different but similar-sounding word, then finished, “Dress.”
He set his drink down as a chill wave of concern ran through him. “Yes, okay. You have my full attention.”