“Our contract is to march in their parade and intimidate their neighbors, but they have offered us a ridiculous sum for four hours of our time. We figure there is something more, as in, they are going to use us to start a war with their neighbor, Frikanda. Our best guesstimate is that there is going to be a terrorist attack, and I use the term ‘terrorist’ loosely. We think the Flayse Conglomerate is going to conduct the attack and frame Frikanda for it.
“So, we have to be ready for an attack from an unknown location using unknown means. We probably won’t see our enemy. That’s how terrorists work. But we’re going to be in the kill zone. That’s why the cloaks and helmets. We’ll need an immediate response from everyone faster than you’ve ever reacted before, and we have to move as one. We expect secondary ambushes to be set up on the egress routes.
“I also personally believe that the Flayse are willing to sacrifice their own people to further their goals. How many? The ambitious have no limits on the damage they can do. I want to eliminate the traitorous Flayse at the outset, and we have a plan we’re working with Smedley to help us identify some of the possible candidates.”
The company continued to listen attentively even though Christina had stopped speaking.
Kim stepped up. “What rules of engagement do we need so we don’t kill any innocent bystanders?”
Joseph and Petricia walked forward, helmets in hand. “I volunteer to canvass the crowd, looking for anyone who plans to do us harm.”
“I was hoping you would. You’ll be our special liaison. Plus, they’ve already met you. They might flip their lids when they see the mechs, so you’ll be far more palatable to the sensitive and peace-loving murderers.”
“Have they already killed someone?” Joseph asked, although he already knew the answer.
“No, but they will!”
“What if you’re wrong?” he pressed.
“I’m not.” Christina set her jaw as if preparing for a fight, but then she relaxed and shook her head. “If nothing happens, we’ll take our credits and leave. Nothing would make me happier.”
“I don’t think you’re wrong.” Joseph wanted to explore all sides of the potential. “There’s something going on. I could hear it and sense it, but I couldn’t pin it down.”
“So we have to be ready for anything. We’ll have our people at the most strategic locations in and around the parade field.”
Kimber pointed at nothing, but it drew all eyes to her. “Besides damaging the Bad Company’s ego, what would be their best target? How would a terrorist who wanted to start a war with Frikanda do it to get the biggest bang for the buck?”
“I haven’t heard that phrase in a long, long time,” Joseph quipped. “But it makes sense. They want to hurt us, but only enough to make us angry and entice us to go after the so-called perpetrators.”
“I’ve been thinking about this all wrong,” Christina’s eyes lit up. “Joseph, you’re a genius. Reconvene upstairs in fifteen. I need to check on something.”
Band Rayal Seven, Okkoto
Terry hurried to catch up. “Are you okay?”
“I have a splitting headache. It’s been building. I’m sure it’s just being confined down here. I’d say I prefer the open air, but we live on a spaceship and a space station. I still like the green grass of home and getting naked under the sun.”
Terry wanted to smile, but despite her words, she had paled and looked to be in pain. She didn’t want Terry to worry, which made him worry more.
“I’ll handle the heavy lifting. Drink plenty of water and rest,” he offered.
“I stand ready to help. There is plenty in there that you can’t move by yourself.”
Lucinda walked along in silence.
Terry turned to her. “Is the air different down here since we arrived?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, which was the answer Terry expected. “Maybe we can get Tonie to help us? He seemed well-versed in what was going on around here.”
“Tonie Sall-mon?” Lucinda asked.
“Yes.”
“No.” She shook her head as she spoke. “He won’t be of much help.”
She continued to walk behind them without offering further explanation.
Terry couldn’t let it go. He didn’t trust the Erthos, although he believed their goals were aligned. “Why not?”
“He doesn’t think like us.”
Terry smiled. “Maybe that’s why we should ask him. People who think like you haven’t been able to get us out of here. All we want is to leave.”
Lucinda didn’t reply, remaining stoic in their march to the stairway.
Char perked up as they walked, color returning to her face.
“Time to move some rock,” she told him, determined.
“Rock the Casbah.” Terry worked his shoulders and arms to get them ready for what he figured would be a hard workout, bordering on a battle. He was in a fight against the rocks. His lip curled as his war face made a brief appearance.
They arrived at the fall without having to fight security bots. Terry hugged the wall, watching for movement. “Are we safe to work?”
“Yes.” Lucinda leaned against the wall and crossed her arms.
Char looked at Terry’s sour expression. “You didn’t expect her to get her hands dirty, did you?”
Terry thought about it for a moment. “Probably not in your job description, is it?” he asked before digging into the pile, moving what he could before enlisting Char’s help to leverage larger chunks of stone.
They made great progress over the next two hours before Char sat down, rubbing her temples. Terry shined his flashlight in crevices and cracks, looking for any sign of an opening beyond. All he could see was that it grew more densely packed. There would be no going over the top. The ceiling had become one with a boulder that wouldn’t be removed.
“Unless we blow it,” Terry muttered, more to himself than Char.
“The laser pistol won’t cut it.”
He realized he’d spoken aloud when he stopped and turned. “Explosives.” He climbed down and wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his sleeve. “Lucinda, is there a lab where we might find nitrates for fertilization? And a few other things we’ll need to set up a nice blast to help us clear this mess.”
“No,” she said.
Terry fought the urge to grab her and shake her. “We need to take a break and get some chow. Have to keep the engine fueled.” Terry patted his stomach. “And maybe a shower. Where can I get a shower?”
“Follow me,” Lucinda said resignedly.
Terry wrapped his arm around Char’s waist as she shuffled after the Erthos leader. He found that he was mostly supporting her and stopped to look at her face. Her eyes were unfocused and her breath ragged.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, giving her a small shake. “Char?”
“Head. Migraine.”
“I need to get you someplace to rest. Lots of water. Lucinda?” The Erthos was gone. “I fucking hate these people.”
Char chuckled softly before her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed. Terry caught before she dropped.
“Sorry, Tonie, I’m kicking you out of your room,” Terry muttered as he lifted Char into his arms and started to run. After turning the first corner, he collided with Lucinda.
“I wondered where you went. What’s wrong with her?” She looked at Char’s limp body.
“We need to get her into a bed to rest. I’m heading for Tonie’s room unless you have a better idea.”
“Follow me,” Lucinda said, and began walking at a leisurely pace.
“Hurry the fuck up,” Terry growled. She gave him a stony gaze while maintaining her same pace. When they reached the dining room, she opened the door and gestured for them to enter.
“You have got to be shitting me,” he said. Lucinda shrugged. “The more you dissemble, the longer you will have us around. The longer I’m here, the more likely it will be that I start fucking your shit up. We’ve alread
y killed you twice, or maybe it’s three times. I’ve lost count.”
Terry laid Char on the table and took the laser pistol from her waistband. He pointed it at Lucinda. Her expression and willingness to work with them had grown decidedly colder throughout their time together. Terry wondered where he’d gone wrong in leveraging her to help them.
He decided to ignore the Erthos and rushed to the food processor, ordering a liter of warm water. It delivered within seconds, and Terry hurried back to his wife. He cradled her head as he dribbled water on her lips. She smacked them slowly.
“Take a drink, Char. I’ll hold the water. Open up, and I’ll pour it slowly,” he said, trying to minister to her. In their long lives, they’d never been sick. They had been injured to the point of near death, but once through the worst, the nanos saved them. Terry didn’t know what to do since she wasn’t getting better.
He helped her with the first drink and then others until she’d downed half the container. After that, she was able to sit up.
“I must have been dehydrated or something,” she said slowly, slurring some of the words.
“We don’t get dehydrated,” Terry replied.
“Or something,” Bethany Anne added.
“Jesus! You scared the shit out of me,” Terry said after his initial jump. “Welcome back, by the way.”
“Where’s your ménage partner?”
“My what?” Terry looked past BA and saw that Lucinda had disappeared. “Sonofabitch.”
“You need to get your bitches under control, is what I’m seeing. If they tried that on me? Asses would get kicked. Why are you sitting on the table?” BA eyed Char.
“A little under the weather,” Char replied.
“Bullshit.” BA leaned close. Terry ventured a hand toward her. “Stop.” She threw a wink in his direction. “Nutsack out your mouth. Did you forget about that?”
“Nothing.” Terry failed at trying to look innocent.
“That’s some leg-humping nipple-pipe you have going on there. TH, you need to get this woman out of here right now.”
Terry’s mouth fell open and he grunted.
“What the fuck was that?”
“Trying to get out of here is the only thing I’ve been doing since we dropped into this cesspool!”
She stood up. “Stop trying and start doing.”
Terry’s shoulders slumped, and he held Char close as he looked down.
“Are you giving up?”
“I’m regrouping for a final assault by overwhelming force on Band Rayal Seven. I need to find Tonie and drag him around until he tells me something I want to hear.”
BA tapped her foot while she stood in her power pose, legs shoulder-width apart and tapping her finger to her lips before waving toward the door. “You better get going. I’ll stay here with Charumati. We have plenty to talk about.”
“If you stay with us out there,” Char interjected, “I could tag along. I feel better with you here.”
Bethany Anne looked down. “That’s because I’m holding back most of the Etheric energy that is eating away at you like acid on metal. We’ll stay right here.” She looked over to TH. “Put on your running shoes and get going. If I pop out of here again, Char gets an unfiltered onslaught. If the Etheric kills her, there’s no coming back from it.”
His brows narrowed. “How did she handle it until now?”
“Do you want answers or Char’s life?” She pointed to the door. “Don’t be a dumbass.”
Terry didn’t say another word, just waved his wristband to open the door and bolted through. He passed Lucinda, who was carrying a blanket and pillow.
“Good! She’s in there.” Terry pointed with his thumb over his shoulder as he ran for the power room, where he hoped to find Tonie.
Chapter Fifteen
Mess Deck on the War Axe
Christina looked at the Bad Company’s leadership – vampires, weretigers, and nano-boosted. A thousand years of experience in that one small group. She wanted to bring all of it to bear.
“What if it’s the Frikandans?” Christina asked.
“Why would they want us to march in the Flayse parade?” Kimber asked.
“They said the purpose was to intimidate their neighbors,” Christina replied. “What if that was all true? Who would be able to do something with that information?”
“Someone trying to unseat the Magnate?” Petricia offered. Christina tapped her nose, showing she thought that was one possibility.
“The Frikandans,” Joseph added.
“By badly trying to stitch up the Frikandans, we turn our weapons on the Flayse Conglomerate, when it might have been the Frickers in the first place.” Christina looked like she had a more complete answer but didn’t share.
“That puts us back to square one,” Kimber said, making it a question.
“A diplomatic counterattack to foil the terrorists without taking sides, so no matter who is responsible, both sides will be forced to the table.”
Joseph nodded. “’Forced’ being the operative word here.”
“We don’t protect ourselves. We protect the dignitaries—the Magnate and his people, and the Frikandans and their entourage. Then we stuff them in a room together and keep them from killing each other,” Christina explained.
“A good offense is the best defense,” Auburn added. He usually spoke very little, but when he did, it was a critical observation. Since he was named after a football team following the World’s Worst Day Ever, he’d had a forced indoctrination into all things related to his father’s passion. The analogy seemed to fit.
The others agreed.
“Occam’s Razor,” Joseph remarked. “The principle by which the easiest answer is most likely the correct one. We waste no time trying to figure out who did it or spin our wheels coming up with complex theories. In the end, the only thing that matters is that we finish this war, even if it hasn’t started yet.”
“End it once and for all,” Kimber declared.
“We will break the company into combat action teams with overlapping responsibilities to seize and protect the VIPs. Brief your people. Put Cap and Kelly in mechs, and have them pick two additional since I want four – one on each corner of our formation. Joseph and Petricia will be trolling the crowd gathering intel and showing the flag. First platoon has the Flayse and Second platoon has the Frikandans. The four-legged platoon will be carrying additional heavy weapons under their cloaks, and they’ll march at the back of the formation.”
“The four-legged platoon only has three warriors,” Kimber noted.
“They’re our heavy weapons. Biggest bang for the buck, right?” Christina closed her eyes as she viewed the parade ground in her mind’s eye. “Detail a squad from Second Platoon to fall in on the heavy weapons to assist Bundin, K’Thrall, and Slikira.”
Kimber took charge as Christina stepped back. She checked the time. Her plan had now become so complex that it required more practice time than they had, but practice they would, until the last second.
Band Rayal Seven, Okkoto
Terry ran down the empty corridors, his footfalls pounding a steady beat. He waved his wristband in front of Tonie’s door, but it didn’t open. Recoded it. He’s the only smart one down here, Terry thought.
He pounded on the door, as Tonie had done before putting his ear to it. No sounds from within. He hammered on it again. Still nothing. Terry bolted for the room at the end of the corridor, satisfied when it opened for him.
“You!” Tonie complained. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”
“My wife is dying,” Terry explained, “thanks to the abundance of Etheric energy being pumped into this place. I need you to throttle it back or help us get out of here.”
“I didn’t hear the option I’m going to select, which is do nothing.”
“You sound more like us than any of these other drones. Lucinda doesn’t like you because of it.” Terry moved closer to the Erthos so the sincerity of his next statement would be unmi
stakable. “If my wife dies, I will wreak havoc on this place. I will crush your cloning machines beneath my feet. I will turn every one of your hydroponics labs into an unrecoverable wasteland. At the end of the day, no one will know you ever existed, and I won’t care if I die while doing it. Believe this to be the truth as much as you believe any other fact you may embrace.”
“I’m still going to do nothing.” Tonie crossed his arms and jutted his chin with his defiance, but his expression had softened. “You seem to be the threat guy. Always threatening.”
“I don’t want to be that guy, but sometimes I’m impatient when I need stuff to happen. I’m the get-it-done guy.”
“Are you getting it done now?”
Terry smiled and hung his head. He was ready to kill this Tonie to see if a new one would be more tractable but thought he’d try one last desperate attempt. “Please?”
“If it’ll get you out of here quicker, then I guess it’ll be okay.” Tonie moved to the main control panel. Terry joined him, even though he couldn’t make any sense of the buttons and screens. “This is for the main shield that hides our existence.” He pointed to a screen at the top that was a single color. There were no ways to adjust any of it.
“These controls are for everything else within the complex.” Tonie waved his hand over the rest of the panel. “Let’s cut out all of manufacturing and production. We’ll change it to night mode across the board, reducing power to the hydroponics bays to a minimum. Environmental control is restricted and all manufacturing ceases, so don’t kill anyone. We can’t bring their clone to life while we’re in night mode.” Tonie pointed to the panel before turning to Terry Henry. “There! An eighteen percent reduction in power consumption.”
“That’s it?” Terry asked.
Tonie’s smile evaporated, and he glared at the human.
“The Etheric shield is seventy percent of our power usage, and that is a standard figure. We can’t affect it.”
“You could if you shut down the generators.”
“I knew you were a crazy man! I could tell by the look in your eyes,” Tonie accused.
Discovery Page 13
