Duty and Obligation

by Sean Benjamin

  “That’s good,” replied Raferty. “We need to get some traveling clothes and accessories to look like two people on an adventure. No weapons.” He thought briefly of bringing Pope and his team into the building but decided against it. If the informant was in the clinic and the team was brought inside and were seen working with the two pirates planning an escape, the informant would tell the authorities who would beef up their response teams and insist on moving before two o’clock. There was no way Putinsky could ignore those calls, and the stage would be set for a shootout. Better to rely on Doctor Bergeron for the escape with little advance notice or fanfare so nobody in the clinic would be alerted. Rafe knew he could talk to Pope later, and the hit team leader would adjust on the run.

  Bergeron tilted his head in thought and then talked slowly as he organized a plan. “I can get the clothes easy enough without attracting attention. We have several items collected over the years from patients or lost by visitors or staff. Our little store downstairs has toiletry items. I’ll have our shuttle on the roof pad in two hours.” He turned to Killian. “I want you to stay as long as possible so the sonic chamber can do its work up until the last minute possible.” He pointed to Raferty’s borrowed reading pad on the bedside table. “You can check shuttle departures to other parts of the planet or the off-planet schedules on that. We can adjust your departure time from here to tie into the flight schedule, but I want your treatment to last as long as possible, and every minute helps.”

  He looked at his two patients and friends. “Don’t tell me what your plans are. I won’t need to lie about things I know nothing about.” He took a deep breath and then continued. “I am so sorry this happened. If it is one of my people who talked, there will be consequences.”

  Rafe shook his head. “Not your fault, Pierre. You have worked wonders for us, and we are grateful.”

  O’Hare joined in. “He’s right, Pierre. You’re a fine man and I wouldn’t go to anyone else in the quadrant before you. You saved both of us. Thank you so much.”

  Bergeron was clearly touched by the kind words. He nodded. “Thank you both. I will see to the arrangements.” He departed the room. The two pirate captains looked at each other with resignation. Any chance of revisiting the other night was long gone.

  “Our timing absolutely sucks,” O’Hare observed.

  Chapter 25

  The two patients were provided with clothes and were now dressed for departure. They had reviewed the departure schedules for off planet and came up with an itinerary for their return to their ships. They had only a general idea where Nemesis would be, but she did have to be within a three-day radius of Potenka. Predator would be meeting Gunfighter and Outlaw to return their hit squads to them and that narrowed down the possible locations where she could be.

  The two of them kicked a number of destinations around for a few minutes. Finally, Rafe said, “Let’s go to Ruvid. It’s two days from here and toward the area when our two ships should be. They can meet us there.”

  O’Hare nodded. “How are you going to send the message to the ships?”

  “I’m not. We can use Pope for that. I’ll ask him to do it when we tell him our new plans so he can cover us.”

  O’Hare stared at Hawkins. “Pope and a team are here?” Rafe nodded, and she continued. “How long?”

  “The morning after we got here. They have been outside and in the surrounding area.”

  Killian frowned. “When were you going to mention this to me?”

  Hawkins shrugged. “It never came up in conversation, but I would have gotten around to it eventually.”

  O’Hare stared at him. She didn’t like being left out on any information, but there were more immediate concerns now. “How are you going to get hold of him?”

  “Pierre has a comm link number for him.”

  Again, O’Hare stared at him. There was a whole aspect to their adventure here that she had not been aware of, and she didn’t like that, not even a little. Hawkins could sense her displeasure and talked quickly. “Before you decide to be pissed off, remember you have been out of it for the majority of the time here.” He smiled at her. “And the rest of the time we had other things on our minds.”

  She decided to let it go. She smiled at him in return. “I’m over it,” she remarked, but then added. “I would hate to see that type of omission become a habit though.” He nodded in response.

  Now that the schedule was set there was not much to do. O’Hare returned to her bed, and he took a seat next to her. One trusted nurse was appointed by Doctor Bergeron to assist in the escape. This kept the information of their imminent departure to only two people on the staff so, hopefully, if the informant was a staff member, he or she would not become aware of the change in plans. This nurse rotated through at odd intervals. She dropped off more clothes in two small carry bags and then dropped off toiletry items brought up from the store. These were stuffed into the two bags. Bergeron came in, and Rafe borrowed his comm phone to call Pope with a situation update and to inform him of their plans. Pope confirmed he would adjust as needed and would notify Nemesis who then would pass all information on to Predator. Rafe was comfortable with that. Pope knew his business.

  ~ ~ ~

  The time was coming up on noon. Raferty and Killian rested in her room. For the next hour, there was nothing to do. Their departure was set for one o’clock via shuttle from the clinic’s roof to the main airport of Aquaban. They would wait at the airport until airport shuttles took them and hundreds of other travelers to their passenger liner at 3:10. The liner would leave orbit at 4:40 for Ruvid and other destinations.

  The staff was already cleaning Hawkins’ room and would be in O’Hare’s room as soon as the pirates departed. Their two small carry bags were now on the floor by the door. The bags were more for show than anything else. If all went well, the two travelers would be back to their ships without having to change clothes along the way. However, all might not go well, so clothes could be needed if the trip was delayed or a detour was required. Also, people taking long trips on a passenger liner while carrying no bags would attract attention. The small bags, filled with appropriate travel necessities and clothes, were a must for appearance sake and if they were searched by local authorities.

  Then the door opened and Catherine Putinsky stepped into the room. Dressed in a dark suit with a shooter bulge under her jacket on her left hip, she was all business. She coolly looked them over with no expression on her face. O’Hare rose from the bed as Hawkins stood up from his chair.

  “You’re not supposed to be here until two,” O’Hare spoke as if an agreement had been broken.

  Catherine shook her head. “I said I would be here at two to search. I’m not here to search now.”

  The two women regarded each other. It was oddly emotionless. It was the exchanged look of potential fighters measuring an opponent as they calculated attack and defense plans. It seemed as if the next logical move would be for each of them to assume a fighting stance.

  Hawkins eyed them both and then shook his head. He had been through a lot recently. It had been a near call at the jail. Not only for him but, especially, for O’Hare. There was still a long road ahead in their Badlands fight, most of it uphill. This running feud between these two had been going on for years. Enough already. With the attack on the jail and the hunting of Fusilier, Flot 1 was taking care of old business. There was old business here that needed to be cleaned up, and he was in a mood to do just that. He spoke with more than a note of exasperation. “God, you two!” They turned and stared at him. He addressed Catherine Putinsky first. “They are still dead! Blaming yourself won’t bring them back. Both David and Eddie were for the attack on the processing plant, and they didn’t make it! Nobody’s fault!” He took a step toward her. “It was the beginning of the war. We knew nothing about fighting, but some of us got lucky and survived. They didn’t get lucky. Nothing deep here. Just some goddamn fighting and some people died. Never anything deep about that. The
war’s winners will make it deep and worthy in time but never before a conclusion to the war is reached. Fighting and war only become noble in hindsight after the suffering stops. You want their sacrifice to mean something, but it doesn’t. At least not yet. Maybe if we win.” His voice gradually lost volume. “Maybe then. Maybe never.” He stepped even closer. “Still, it was nobody’s fault. Sure as hell wasn’t yours. You voted for the attack, but you didn’t kill them. Forgive yourself for your vote and forgive the rest of us for surviving.”

  Pain crossed Putinsky’s face but Hawkins didn’t pause. He turned on O’Hare with his hard voice. “And you! Cathy made a choice to leave us and pursue her own destiny. We fight so people can make their own choices, but you won’t extend that right to your own sister. She has helped us many times, and you know it. She took a different route, but she never stopped being one of us.” His voice again softened. “She will always be one of us. That part is not open for negotiation or revision. It’s time to get over it.”

  O’Hare started to speak. “She is not my…” Her voice trailed to nothing as she stared at the two of them, and they stared back with narrowing eyes at her words. Despite her anger, she let the sentence die unfinished. She would not go there. She might not be allowed to come back. Even in the heat of the moment, some things should never be said. Besides, the statement would be a lie. If O’Hare truly believed Putinsky was not her sister, then she would never have held a grudge against her for so long. Such rancor is reserved for only family and close friends, not for people merely passing through our lives. O’Hare took a deep breath. She had a flashback to the recent jail fight and her own quick conversation with death as he passed by on his way to other dark engagements. Next time he might stop for a longer visit. Next time he might never leave. Hawkins was right. It was time to get over it.

  Killian looked at Putinsky and gave a half smile. She offered an olive branch. “I understand you’re getting married.”

  Cathy nodded. She had told Baby Doll in a message sent a few months prior while the flotilla was still at Wanderlust after the Electra System fight. Baby Doll was an information conduit as an intel officer and served the same function on a personal level. She figured Baby Doll would pass the information along to the others but was surprised O’Hare now mentioned it.

  Putinsky said, “I’m sorry I can’t invite you.”

  O’Hare gave her another slight smile. “We understand. You would have to arrest us after the ceremony. It dampens the happy spirit of the occasion.”

  Putinsky nodded and gave back a smile accompanied by a what-can-you-do shrug. The Potenkan authorities routinely overlooked visits by Flot 1 ships, but there was a limit to this benevolence. Hobnobbing with the cream of Potenkan officialdom at a social event in front of the media would be well beyond that limit. “What can we get you for a wedding present? Towels? Dishes?” O’Hare smiled broadly to take the edge off the sarcasm.

  Putinsky gave a matching smile. “No. We are good.” She paused now as she reconsidered. “Belay that.” Deep in thought and back in this company, she reverted back to naval phases she had learned in her former shipboard life with these people. “A piece of filth named Horst Manstein was arrested by my people a month ago. About ninety different criminal charges. During transportation to HQ, his gang hit the air car bringing him in and freed him. Three of my people died in the shootout. He and his gang of five have gone to Silverdale. We’ll pay hell getting him back through extradition, if ever.”

  She looked at her two former companions with a neutral expression. “He would be a lovely present. I’m sure nobody will get me one of those.” The two pirates nodded. They were also sure nobody would get her one of those.

  Putinsky moved a few steps to the bed and sat down. O’Hare sat next to her, and Rafe took his chair. They talked for several minutes about people and events as they caught up on each other’s lives. Rafe told her about Greg Paulsen being a key player on Agra 2. Putinsky told them about her fiancée.

  All too soon, Putinsky stood up and looked at both of them. She shifted her gaze from one to the other. “I have to go. I’m on a long lunch and have to get back to prepare for the search here.” She paused and then added. “I just had to see you both, if only for a couple of minutes.” Her voice cracked slightly. She quickly stepped to Rafe and embraced him. They broke, and she moved to O’Hare. Surprisingly, Killian grabbed her first and held her tight. “It’s been too long. I am so sorry for that. You were right to leave. You have done very well here.” She leaned back from the embrace so she could look at her sister. “I am very proud of you.”

  Cathy smiled at the compliment as tears filled her eyes. “Thank you for that, Anastasia. I have had a good life here, but I have often wondered ‘What if?’ I haven’t had a single day when I didn’t miss you all.” She held the embrace for a few more seconds as she savored this meeting. She broke it off and moved to the door. She put her hand on the latch but turned around for one last look. “I’m assuming I won’t see you this afternoon so until next time.” She turned but then turned back once more as a thought occurred to her. “I have been forced to put out a lookout alert for you. There are too many people in on this information about you, so I can’t ignore it or bury it in paperwork. I made the description as vague as possible and didn’t mention the hallie, but be aware the alert is out there.” They nodded their thanks and Putinsky left the room.

  The two pirates moved to the window and observed their longtime companion emerge from the building and get into her air car. She pulled out of her space and rapidly departed. They watched the entire evolution silently.

  Hawkins reflected on Cathy. When his mother’s group was moving from place to place, one of their continuing duties was to take forgotten children out of harm’s way and place them in a better environment. This could be with foster parents, church groups, charities, or government agencies. There were always more children than places to put them. Mother would never take in children on her own, and she ensured her professor companion, Charles Clayton, never got the urge either. Aberdene was all for saving the universe, but she did not want any of the universe living with her. However, the professor’s brother and his wife had children passing through the group all the time. Many stayed for a few days or a few weeks. A few of the babies stayed forever. Reverend Neil Clayton and his wife Sheila loved children. If the children arrived when the group was just setting up in a new place, there was time to move them to other circumstances. Occasionally, the group was given children as they were literally boarding transportation to leave the area. The standard procedure was to regretfully decline the responsibility. This worked with the older children, but Sheila would not abandon the newborns that were being handed off by their own mothers. She knew they wouldn’t stand a chance as the mothers would just dump them on a doorstep or in a trash can. Sheila took them in, and they would be given a home at the next stop. However, Sheila didn’t give all of them away. A few quickly captured her heart, and they stayed with the group. Sheila and her husband were practical people, and the Reverend came to the conclusion this could be a long-standing habit on the part of his wife so best to be organized now. Accordingly, he insisted on naming the children in alphabetical order. First was Anastasia, then Beatrice, then Catherine. Two boys, David and Edward, completed the family. Although not related by blood, the five were raised as siblings and thought of themselves as such. Zachary and Rebecca were the close cousins. There were no additional adopted children for the next several years as Aberdene, the traveling schedule, and the monetary situation wouldn’t allow it, but as the children grew and became more independent, there was talk of more babies coming to the group. It would have happened if the Bolindale incident had not occurred.

  After the killing of the adults and the destruction of the mining town, eleven kids were on their own, seven from the group and four townies. Raferty commanded the group, but everything was discussed and then voted on. A raid on an ore processing plant had been proposed and put up for
a vote. Cathy, David, and Eddie had voted for the attack. Rafe had been against it but was in the minority, so the attack was on. The raid had proven disastrous. David and Eddie had been killed in the ensuing firefight as the kids ran for their lives after the attack went bad. Cathy had been wounded. Cathy had been close to both boys and blamed herself for their deaths. She had always thought she should have voted against the attack, and she was sure she could have convinced the other two to vote her way. That would have been enough to change the outcome of the vote, and no attack would have been done. Hindsight showed how ill-prepared the group had been for any hostile action. Of course, hindsight is always 20-20 when you lose. Losers find it easy to see mistakes afterward, especially someone else’s mistakes. Nobody beats up anyone using hindsight when you win. Rafe had long ago come to the opinion that hindsight is for learning lessons, not dispensing blame or recrimination, so he did revisit the tactics and the planning of that episode with an eye toward improvement. He never revisited that vote.

  Due to their wounds, Cathy and Tactical were not able to help rescue the captured members of their group. After getting those members out of jail, the band got off Bolindale. The seven kids initially stuck together as they got odd jobs, mostly aboard ships, so they could put considerable distance between them and Bolindale. They began to learn legal and illegal skills. After six months, the remaining two townies tired of the travel and lifestyle. They also had somewhere to go, so they departed and joined relatives on other planets. The five group children had nobody and nowhere to go so the next several years were spent leading a nomadic existence of learning skills and saving money. Anastasia was changed by her jail experience, and Cathy was changed by her guilt over the attack and over not being able to participate in the jail rescue. Those two remained with the group but always on the periphery. Eventually, the five of them had the money and skills to work for themselves. There were plans to become pirate officers, then captains, and begin the process of forming Pirate Flotilla One. Cathy left them then. She moved to Potenka. She acquired a new last name and a new job with the police force. The newly named Killian O’Hare did not leave the group but did want her own ship. She stayed as a member of the group but separate from them. She eventually went to Outlaw while Rafe, Tactical, and Baby Doll joined Bandit. Contact with Cathy had died to nearly nothing. Only Baby Doll and Raferty maintained sporadic communication with her. As Flot 1 grew into a viable organization with expanded intel and scouting abilities, the pirates occasionally came across information that would help Officer Catherine Putinsky of the Potenka Security Forces. Baby Doll passed on the information, and Cathy made the most of it. Her own great skill and, to a lesser extent, pirate support helped her climb the ladder within the police bureaucracy. When a new government came to power two years ago, much of the old guard was forced out. Despite her youth and vague personal history, Catherine Putinsky was jumped over a couple of dozen more senior candidates and given the job of security commissioner. She did not disappoint anyone and was now regarded as one of the best appointments made within the new government. Since the attack by the OrCon squadron on Skyler Mallory’s Royal Navy squadron a little more than a year ago, the contact between Flot 1 and Putinsky had increased greatly. All the people involved found that the new level of communication suited them just fine.