Codename: Night Witch

by Cary Caffrey

  Surprisingly, Harry Jones laughed; it was a rasping, coughing chuckle, full of bitterness and spite.

  "The truth? Ms. Novak, all I've ever done is tell you the truth. There was even a time when you came to believe it. We're on the same side, you and I. The corporatocracy cannot be allowed to continue. I know it, and so do you—and I know you, Sigrid Novak. You won't stand idly by while billions of innocents suffer. You can't. You're not wired that way. Neither of us are. We were a team, these last six years. Together, we made a difference. We both want the same thing. Justice."

  Slowly, she turned away from him to look back to the smoking wreck of Jaffer's rig.

  "Perhaps," Sigrid said. "But maybe the difference between us is the price we're willing to pay. Some victories come at too high a cost, and I find nothing just in this."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The Wounded

  Two of the giant Kingfisher transports descended on the road behind her. Four Thunderhawks circled in the air above. Suko was the first to leap from the descending troop carrier. She jumped the last three meters before the craft hit the ground. Running straight for Sigrid, she threw her arms around her, holding her for what felt like minutes. Sigrid was in no rush to let her go.

  "It's over, Sigrid. It's all over. I love you so much."

  Over?

  It was over, wasn't it? They had Jones. Emily was dead. The pain and the whispered voices were gone. But for Sigrid, this would never feel like a victory. Jaffer had saved her—twice. First, when he'd plucked her from the road, and now here. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, if not for his kindness and his bravery. And now he was gone. She didn't even realize she was crying until Suko wiped the tears from her eyes.

  "Sigrid…I'm so sorry. I-I know what he meant to you."

  Still numb, still in a daze, she was only vaguely aware of the squad of Dalair mercenaries approaching. A young corporal approached her and removed her visored combat helmet. She blinked twice at the two unusual girls wrapped together with their arms around each other unself-consciously. "I was told by the magistrate to report to you directly, Lady Novak. Whatever you need, we are to see it done. Where would you like us to start?"

  Where indeed? Sigrid shook her head, fighting for focus. She still had a job to do. "Secure the area. And see to the wounded. I think we've had enough death for one night."

  "Of course, milady."

  "And take him," Sigrid said, glancing over to where Harry Jones lay huddled. "Secure him in one of the transports. I'll need him brought back to the Crossroads."

  The corporal snapped her a salute. "I'll see to it personally. And I'll have one of the medics have a look at you as well. Those burns will need tending."

  Sigrid looked down at her arm and her hand. The flesh was a dark red, and there were long patches of blistered, blackened flesh where she'd tried to pull Jaffer from the fire. She'd all but forgotten the burn. It wasn't that it didn't hurt, it simply didn't matter.

  "I'll be fine. Just see to Jones, Corporal. That's all that matters now."

  The corporal took one look at her, then nodded before saluting again. "As you wish, milady."

  Sigrid waited until she was out of earshot before turning to Suko. "I'm afraid I'll need your help as well, Suko."

  "Anything. Of course."

  "Go with them. Watch Jones. Don't let him out of your sight."

  "Sigrid, he's not going anywhere. He's finished."

  "He's alive, Suko. That means he's still dangerous. Take Victoria with you. And, Suko, whatever he says, don't trust him. Not a word. Do you promise me?"

  "Yes. Of-of course. I promise."

  Suko nodded, but Sigrid held firmly to her arm. "I know you want to kill him, Suko."

  "Sigrid, I—"

  "I need him alive. He's the key to my memories. Whatever happens, Harry Jones must live."

  ~ - ~

  Sigrid waited until the Kingfisher carrying Suko with her cargo of Harry Jones was aloft. She sent two Thunderhawks to fly escort and they chased swiftly after them. Now all she could do was wait. Wait, and hope that they made it safely back to the Crossroads. Harry Jones hadn't lied to her when he said there were people who wanted him dead. She didn't doubt that any number of them might try to kill him before they returned home.

  "They'll make it, Sigrid."

  Sigrid turned to find Lady Hitomi standing next to her. Without thinking, she threw her arms around her, sweeping her into a great hug that shocked both of them.

  "Hitomi!"

  Ever since waking, there were so many things Sigrid wanted to ask her: why she'd abandoned her, why she'd sold her, and of course, why her own troops had tried to kill her. But as Hitomi's arms came around to hold her, none of those questions mattered. The arms that held her weren't the binding arms of a master or matriarch, they weren't there to hold her down or restrain her. It was the loving embrace of a mother—one who had been separated too long from her daughter.

  "My Sigrid," Hitomi said. "My sweet Sigrid. I am so sorry."

  "No, mistress. You mustn't apologize."

  "You might not say that—not if you knew the truth. I have…done things, Sigrid. Things which I am not proud of."

  "Whatever you did, I know you had your reasons."

  "You are kind to say so, but I'm afraid I am not deserving of your mercy."

  "It's not mercy, mistress. If I had returned from Bellatrix, none of this would have happened. I failed you. This was all my fault, I—"

  "You didn't fail, Sigrid!"

  Hitomi took a step back. Standing was never easy for her; she'd lost the use of her legs decades ago. Even with the aid of the mechanical braces, standing was always difficult and draining. Yet in that moment, Sigrid thought she had never looked more powerful, alive, and there was a fire burning in her eyes as she held firmly to Sigrid's arms, holding her in place.

  "Mistress?"

  "You could never fail me, Sigrid. Do you hear me? I should never have let you go to Bellatrix. I was a fool. I didn't do enough to prepare you. I didn't warn you of the dangers. And when they captured you, I was the one who failed to bring you back. Worse than that, I gave up hope. I let myself believe the lies. I let them convince me that you were lost—a danger to us all! And when they threatened to destroy New Alcyone, I cowered like a frightened old woman. I sold you, Sigrid. Do you understand? I—sold—you! Emily was right. I did abandon you. And I did it for the worst reason of all. I did it to save myself."

  Sigrid sensed the waves of bitterness coming from her mistress, the self-loathing and shame. It was a torturous suffering that was far greater than anything she'd had to endure these last five days.

  "You're wrong, mistress," Sigrid said after a time. "I know you. You're not capable of cowardice. Whatever you did, you did it to save New Alcyone. You did what you had to do—what you always do. You had the courage to survive."

  "Courage? Is that what you call it?"

  "Yes, mistress. Courage. If I'm ever faced with a similar choice, then I hope I have your courage to do what needs to be done. Courage to save our home, our sisters and our friends."

  Hitomi shook her head. "I truly am a fool, aren't I?"

  "Please, mistress. Don't say that."

  "But I am. To think I could have ever lost faith in you. That is a mistake I swear I will never make again."

  Sigrid wrapped her arms back around her, holding her and not wanting to let her go. Hitomi, who was quite a bit taller than her, was left with little choice but to look down at the young girl grasping her in a rock-solid embrace, with her head pressed firmly against her breast.

  "You were wrong about something else, you know," Sigrid said.

  "Of that," Hitomi said, "I have no doubt."

  "You never really lost your faith in me. You never gave up hope."

  "While I would like to believe that—"

  "You wouldn't have come here, mistress, not if you believed I was truly taken. Not if you didn't believe I could be saved."

  "Oh?" H
itomi said, with interest. "You don't think perhaps I came here to do away with you? There is the matter of your bounty, you know. That's not a sum to be taken lightly."

  Sigrid smiled. "You didn't come here for any bounty, mistress. You came because you believed in me. Just as you always have. It was your love that saved me, yours and Suko's. Your love brought me back."

  "No, Sigrid." Hitomi leaned back to look at her face. "It was your love that brought me here."

  Smiling, Sigrid tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "Yes, mistress."

  "Oh, and Sigrid?"

  "Yes, mistress?"

  "You must call me Hitomi. I think we've both had enough of 'mistresses' for one lifetime."

  ~ - ~

  Rising fast, the Kingfisher cleared the last of the peaks surrounding Portillo to descend quickly down the cliffs and into the narrow valley beyond. Harry Jones lay bound to a stretcher on the floor of the craft. The Dalair medic stood watch close by, but only to make sure he didn't die. Neither Suko nor Victoria would allow him to do more.

  The young Dalair corporal sat across from her in the jump seat with her combat helmet on her lap.

  "You girls aren't much for giving care and comfort, are you?" she said. "The Mercenary Guild doesn't look kindly on those who refuse giving treatment to enemy combatants."

  "He's no combatant," Victoria said. "He's a war criminal. He'll get the treatment he deserves. Nothing more."

  The corporal shrugged. "I'll have to report you."

  Harry Jones snickered, drawing Suko's attention down.

  "You find this amusing?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do." Harry Jones gave a nod to the corporal. "She doesn't know, does she? You didn't tell her?"

  "Tell me what?" the corporal asked.

  Suko didn't bother to look at her. She was staring out the small portal next to her, scanning the ground below. "He knows we're not taking him to the Crossroads."

  The corporal sat upright. "Now, hold on a second. Lady Novak's orders were clear. We're to take him to the Crossroads."

  "Lady Novak," Suko said, "isn't here. I'm afraid there's been a change in plans. We're landing here. Pilot, take us down."

  "Down?" the pilot said. "No way! Look, I don't know what's going on, but I ain't getting busted off the flight list for disobeying—"

  The pilot shut his mouth as Victoria's large-caliber pistol came up next to his head.

  "Down," Victoria commanded. "Now."

  The pilot looked helplessly from the gun to Victoria and to the corporal.

  The corporal gave a half shrug. "Do what they say. Take us down."

  "All right. Okay. I got it. Down. Change of plans. I'm cool."

  Not needing any more encouragement, the transport pilot pushed the stick hard down, taking them low. The comm, however, went wild as the escorting Thunderhawks demanded an explanation for the change. Suko switched the unit off, silencing their calls.

  Snow-covered evergreens covered the landscape. The Thunderhawk flew low and fast, low enough to brush the snow from the tallest of the trees. Suko had the pilot maintain his new course as they followed a winding river that snaked along the valley floor. There was a frozen lake bed not far off. She pointed him in that direction.

  "There. Land."

  The pilot swung out and over the ice-covered lake, circling. He shook his head. "Ice won't hold. We'll break through."

  "Then drop down and we'll jump."

  "Jump?" Harry Jones said, with a doubtful look to his broken arm. "I'm not exactly sure I'm up for that. Though I don't suppose that matters to you, does it?"

  Suko ignored him. The Kingfisher came to a stop, hovering a foot off the lake bed. Victoria slid the door aside. The roar of the hovering thrusters filled the cabin as much as the blowing snow and ice. Leaning over, Suko undid the straps holding Harry Jones down.

  "Out."

  Clutching his broken arm, he sat up and swung his legs over the side. "Is this really necessary?"

  Suko shoved him out the side, where he fell with a grunt into the knee-deep snow.

  "I know what you're going to do," the corporal warned. "This isn't sanctioned! I'll have to report this to the Guild."

  "Fuck the Guild," Suko said. "And fuck you if you don't come back for us."

  "And if I don't?" the corporal demanded.

  It was Victoria who answered. "Let's just say our mistress will not be pleased. Trust me, Corporal, you don't want to find yourself on Sigrid Novak's bad side."

  Suko leapt from the transport, landing gingerly in the snow. Victoria followed after. As soon as she was clear, the transport blasted away, rising into the night sky. Soon, the only sound was of the wind across the lake and Harry Jones's labored breaths. He was on his knees, staring up at them, though to his credit, he neither shook nor shivered despite the freezing temperatures or lack of proper clothing.

  Suko withdrew her recoilless and chambered a round.

  "So, is this to be a straight execution?" he asked. "Or do you intend to have your sport first?"

  Suko didn't answer.

  "You're her partner, aren't you? Her lover? I thought so. She spoke of you often. She never stopped asking me why you abandoned her. Frankly, I wondered the same thing myself."

  "I didn't abandon her."

  "No? Then what exactly do you call it? You knew where I'd taken her. You knew about my wife. Your mistress, Lady Hitomi Kimura, told you. I know she did. You knew, yet you never came."

  "You were gone by the time we got there!"

  "Tut-tut," Harry said. "You still knew, just the same. You knew, and you did nothing."

  "Don't listen to him," Victoria said. "He's only capable of lies. He's a deceiver. That's what he does."

  "And when did I ever deceive you, Victoria? Yes, I do know who you are. I never forget a patriot."

  "I wasn't a patriot," Victoria spat. "I was a conscript. You lied to all of us. You told us you would give us a fighting chance."

  "And that's exactly what I gave you!" Harry said. Struggling, he did his best to rise from his knees to stand before them. "I gave you more than a fighting chance. You most of all, Victoria. You were a hero to the cause. Of course, that was before you betrayed us."

  "I betrayed nothing. You stripped away my mind. You stole my body and turned it into this. Killing me would have been more kind."

  Victoria spat on him. Ice crystals formed on the spittle as it ran down his face. Harry Jones did nothing to wipe it away.

  Suko grabbed him by the collar, forcing him back down. Kneeling beside him, her recoilless came up, jabbing him under his chin and forcing his head up.

  It was obvious he knew what was coming next. His nostrils flared and his jaw clenched tight. "Your lover will not be pleased," he said. "She wants her memories back. She wants her life. Only I can give that to her. Kill me, and she loses everything."

  "Sigrid can't know. Not ever."

  Slowly, Harry Jones smiled. "She's already starting to suspect."

  "All she knows is that she was at Procyon. She doesn't know what happened there. Or what she did. I won't have you feeding her memories back to her. Not you, or this patron of hers."

  "She's very thorough, Ms. Tansho. She will investigate—all of this. She'll find out soon enough. One way or another."

  "You're right. She will have her suspicions. And perhaps one day she'll learn the whole truth. But to suspect is one thing, Mr. Jones, even to be told the truth, another. But to ask her to live through it all over again, each and every bloody moment, knowing that it's all real?" Suko's grip on his collar tightened, and she pulled him close, close enough that their breath misted together. "I know my partner. She feels a great deal. Those memories will kill her, and I'll be damned if I let her relive those years over again. Maybe I can't protect Sigrid from the truth, but I can protect her from herself."

  "And what will you tell her about this? Will you tell her how you betrayed her and killed me?"

  "I'll lie," Suko said. "But it's a lie I can l
ive with."

  "She'll never believe you. She'll never trust you after this."

  "Perhaps. But she'll be free of you."

  Suko shoved him back with such force it drove him skidding backwards in the snow. Standing over him, she raised her recoilless and pulled the hammer back.

  The shot echoed across the lake bed and through the surrounding woods. But the shot hadn't come from Suko's gun.

  Spinning around, she turned to Victoria. She was standing at her side. Smoke wafted from the barrel of her sidearm, the exhaust vents glowing from the expelled gas.

  "Victoria! What did you—?"

  "He was right. If you try to lie about this, Sigrid will know. And if she knows, she'll only ask more questions. Questions, Suko, we dare not answer."

  "If she won't believe me, what makes you think she'll believe you?"

  "Because I'm going to tell her the truth. That I wanted Jones dead. That there was no way in hell I was going to let him leave here alive. I know what he did to her, Suko. I understand—maybe better than she does herself. The only difference is I remember. I remember everything. I wouldn't wish that on her. Not anyone. Not even him."

  Suko shook her head, still in shock and trying to grasp what just happened. "It's a half-truth. She'll know there's more."

  "Yes. And she'll hate me for it. But that's my gift to her. And to you."

  Ice crystals carried on the wind swirled around Suko. They penetrated the thin material of her suit, hitting her like tiny pinpricks only to melt against the heat of her skin. The gun felt suddenly heavy in her hand and she holstered it. It was over. The ordeal was over. Harry Jones was dead. And Sigrid was free. She stared down at his corpse. His eyes were open and vacant, staring up at the night sky. He couldn't hurt anyone anymore.

  Victoria knelt by his side, checking him, perhaps just to be sure.

  "My God, Suko. Seven of your own sisters dead—twelve hundred Kimurans—and all by her hand. She can't ever know. Not about any of this."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Crossroads

  June 30, 2354