Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3)

by Niall Teasdale

Frankly, it seemed to be taking the administration far too long to make a decision. Late spring break was several months away, so there was time, but there had been no other applicants and it seemed like the principal was dragging his feet. Or maybe some of the other faculty members were delaying things with arguments one way or another. Maybe Nava’s proposals were causing conflict. It was possible they might think she was going too far, but–

  A message notification appeared on her screen, popping up on the bottom right and, with nothing much else to do, she selected it. A window expanded and she found herself reading a message from ‘The Office of the Principal.’ She examined it carefully and then nodded. Selecting the reply box, she composed a return message, hit send, and closed the window. That was that over with then.

  ~~~

  ‘You didn’t say a thing about it all morning!’ Melissa squeaked at lunchtime.

  ‘It isn’t that important,’ Nava countered. ‘We had lessons.’

  ‘But–’

  ‘I have to agree with my fellow council member,’ Mitsuko said, ‘it is that important. I’m a little annoyed the administration didn’t notify me that they’d made a decision.’

  Nava shrugged. ‘When’s your next council meeting?’

  ‘Things have been quiet. We’ve been doing everything by messaging, but we’re meeting on Saturday afternoon.’

  ‘I expect they’d have notified you by then. They do know when you’re meeting, don’t they?’

  ‘Yes, it’s in the calendar Mel maintains. I’d like you to attend the meeting on Saturday. And you’d better get used to saying things like “when we’re meeting” since you’ll be a member of the council next term.’

  ‘Hm. Yes. If you want me there, I suppose I’ll be there.’

  ‘Sucks, doesn’t it?’ Courtney said, grinning a little maliciously.

  ‘I knew what I was getting into when I applied,’ Nava replied. ‘I want to start shadowing you at least some of the time. Attending SSF meetings. Maybe even a couple of patrols. If I’m going to do your job, I need to know what it really is, even if I’m going to redefine it.’ She turned her head away from Courtney before the latter could answer. Her gaze fell upon the approaching form of Taryn who did not look exactly pleased.

  ‘Congratulations,’ Taryn said as soon as she was in range. ‘They informed me of the decision this morning.’

  ‘Thank you, Taryn Borchardt. I don’t think they’ve made it entirely official yet because the student council hasn’t been informed.’

  ‘It’s done though. I hope you enjoy your victory.’ She turned, but this time Nava was not going to let her stalk off without an answer.

  ‘I’m not as competitive as you. I’d imagine someone will suggest celebrating, but it’s not really a victory.’

  Taryn looked back. ‘Of course it is. You won.’

  ‘I was judged to be the better choice. I didn’t win anything aside from a lot of extra work. Maybe thinking of it as a competition is why you weren’t selected.’

  ‘Yeah. Sure.’ And Taryn walked away without further comment.

  ‘She doesn’t like you,’ Courtney said.

  ‘And I can’t help but think that’s going to be a problem,’ Nava replied.

  236/4/11.

  Nava followed Courtney into the SSF’s HQ room, wondering what she could expect. By now, the whole team knew that Courtney was stepping down – they had known that for weeks – and that Nava was replacing her. Most of them knew that Nava had been scouted as a member the year before and had turned it down. How were they going to react?

  ‘Settle down,’ Courtney said as she walked up to the head of the meeting table in the room. There were currently ten people besides Courtney in the SSF, plus a few others who were considered auxiliaries and not present. The table could seat twelve comfortably and both sides were full, so Nava took the seat at the other end from Courtney. ‘As you all know, Nava Greyling Sonkei will be taking over from me during the next holiday. She’s going to be attending a few of our Saturday meetings and shadowing me while I take care of business until then. She may go out on patrol with some of you too. Get used to her being around, because it’s going to be permanent in four weeks.’

  Nava scanned the assembled faces, getting mixed results. A couple of them had expressions she would classify as hostile. A couple more seemed rather happy. The rest were various shades of neutral, so there was a slight majority who seemed to think nothing much was going to change. Interesting. Nava had expected some hostility. She was a little more surprised that some of the team seemed to expect good things. One young man looked positively enthusiastic; what had Courtney done to him to provoke that reaction?

  Courtney seemed to think they’d had enough time to take that in. She continued. ‘Before we get down to the usual business, frankly, it’s quiet at the moment and there’s not much to say, I’d like Nava to give you a rough idea of what she’s got planned for next term and going forward. She’s got some pretty interesting plans, so pay attention.’

  ‘Thank you, Captain,’ Nava said. ‘First, the SSF provides security for the school. That’s its primary purpose and I obviously have no intention of changing that. To a lesser extent, this organisation serves as an additional learning experience for those students who may wish to join the ASF or a Clan security force in a law enforcement capacity. That is an area I wish to expand upon. Both the school and the ASF have agreed to my proposals, so we’ll be going ahead with them next term. As the vice principal put it, starting next term, the SSF will also be the Police Club, a place where students can learn law enforcement techniques through instruction and practical exercise.’

  There was a rumble of sound from around the table. Most of it sounded surprised. Some of the surprise was noticeably positive, but not all of it. ‘We already learn tactics for breaching buildings and dealing with sieges,’ one of the men said. He was a fit, tanned, fairly big man with dark-blonde hair and brown-green eyes. His nose had been broken at some point and he had not bothered to get it fixed properly. It suggested he liked fighting and liked people knowing his preference.

  ‘And how often have you used those tactics while you’re here, Zayden?’ Courtney asked. ‘For real, not in a simulation room.’

  ‘Uh…’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘Most policing does not involve violent action,’ Nava said. ‘Even if you’re part of a Special Tactics Unit, you’ll likely discover that you aren’t involved in many military-style breaching operations. Sieges are normally hostage situations and are resolved by a psychologist, not a sniper rifle. In addition, the school doesn’t teach anything useful for forensic analysis and, as the loss of Don Ilbert has shown, the SSF needs that kind of skill.’

  ‘If the school doesn’t teach it,’ Zayden said, ‘where are you going to get instructors? Or anyone willing to learn it?’

  ‘The ASF. The programme is being put together now, in consultation with the school. As for who wants to learn it, I’ll be recruiting support students for that. The ASF has trouble recruiting support magicians due to competition from non-military organisations. Training people up in this kind of work is likely to incline them to move on to police work in the ASF.’

  Zayden grinned. ‘How did you get the ASF to agree to something like that?’

  ‘Zayden, you should just close your mouth,’ Courtney said. ‘You’re making a fool of yourself. I thought everyone knew Nava was here on an ASF scholarship. She has contacts. Her liaison officer, First Lieutenant Fawn Tyrell Hamilton, took the initial enquiry and is handling the communications between us and the ASF.’

  Nava noticed the smirk on the face of the most enthusiastic of Courtney’s staffers; it seemed to her that he knew Fawn from somewhere because the smirk developed right after Courtney said the lieutenant’s name. He was an attractive young man. Nava placed him no older than the third year, younger than Zayden. He was also tanned, but his skin was a little lighter than Zayden’s. He also lacked Zayden’s muscle, being more w
iry than bulky. His features were almost pretty with a sensuous sort of mouth, a relatively small nose, and sparkling blue eyes. His red-brown hair was cut short, though hardly in a military style. If he knew Fawn, then maybe that somehow explained his enthusiasm; he was not happy to see the back of Courtney but genuinely happy to see Nava take the position.

  ‘In case you’re wondering,’ Nava went on, ‘the support students I’ll be recruiting will be in addition to the usual complement of patrol staff. The remit for the SSF allows for up to twenty members, plus the captain. It has rarely had that many. I intend to expand closer to that maximum. There will be more patrol staff and they will have more backup.’

  ‘Is this training for everyone?’ someone asked.

  ‘Everyone who wants it. I can’t make you attend extra classes. These will be in the evening and on holidays. Second Lieutenant Fawn Tyrell suggested that the ASF might be able to arrange some external courses for those interested and the opportunity for senior students to shadow working officers. All this is extra commitment. Extra work for those who wish to take the opportunity. Take it up and you’ll be in a far better position to move into policing work when you graduate, but you’ll be putting effort into this. It won’t be an easy ride, gentlemen.’ She looked around the table once and then added, ‘I think I’ll look into recruiting more women while I’m adding to our team.’

  Courtney looked a little embarrassed. ‘It has been a bit of a boys’ club for a few years.’

  It was also pretty heavily dominated by the combat stream, but that probably went without saying. ‘I’ll see what I can do about that,’ Nava said. ‘I think there are a few women around who can hold their own here.’

  ~~~

  ‘Are you thinking of asking Taryn Borchardt to join?’ Courtney asked as they walked back to the house.

  ‘No,’ Nava said flatly.

  ‘Just checking.’

  ‘Who was the auburn-haired boy with the blue eyes who seemed so enthusiastic about me taking your place?’

  ‘Six? Uh, Sixte Wescott Kinnari. He has everyone call him Six because his name’s French and everyone pronounces it wrong.’

  ‘Wescott Kinnari?’ Nava asked.

  ‘Uh-huh. You know someone from that family?’

  ‘Major Deveraux Wescott. He’s the second lieutenant’s superior. Head of the Intelligence Response Directorate.’

  ‘Huh. So, he’d be your superior too.’

  ‘Operationally, yes. I assume there’s some relationship between him and Six. That may explain his enthusiasm. Not that my name should have been mentioned in connection with the major.’

  Courtney was silent for a second. ‘He’s a bright kid. I shouldn’t say “kid,” he’s a third year. If he knows anything much about the incident in Alliance City, he may have made a connection between you and the major. And Fawn, for that matter. I just said Fawn was your liaison officer, so that likely firmed up any suspicions he might have had.’

  ‘That’s not impossible.’ Still, Nava figured it might be an idea to mention Sixte to Fawn and see whether there might be an issue.

  ‘And the one who was all negativity is Zayden Hillam Beyer,’ Courtney supplied before Nava could ask.

  ‘Ah. Does he, by any chance, hold grudges?’

  ‘You did blow his cousin’s brains out last year. He was a little grumpy about it at the time.’

  ‘Dana deserved what he got.’

  ‘I’m not arguing, but Zayden probably would.’

  236/4/18.

  The temperature was beginning to climb toward summer, if gradually, and the night was a warm one. On the other hand, it was still April and it had rained on and off for most of the day before sunset. It was a warm, moist sort of night as Nava did the rounds with Courtney.

  ‘Patrolling isn’t normally much fun,’ Courtney said. She seemed to be taking the humidity badly, but then Nava would not have shown it if she was having trouble.

  ‘I’d imagine it’s mostly intensely boring,’ Nava replied.

  ‘That about covers it. It’s Saturday night, so we might see some action of some kind. Mostly, it’s just making sure drunks get back to their apartments safely. When I say drunks, most of them aren’t drunk drunk. Most students, and faculty, have more sense. It’s not so great when they throw up on your feet.’

  Nava looked down at her boots. ‘I’d prefer to avoid that.’

  Courtney gave a shrug. ‘Comes with the territory sometimes.’

  ‘Hm. If you’d told me that before I got the job, I might have let Taryn win.’

  ‘No, you wouldn’t.’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t.’ Nava’s gaze scanned across the front of the club the school’s young adults were allowed in. It was quiet, aside from the distant sound of music coming from within the soundproofed walls. The two doormen looked untroubled. ‘The clubs have professional security. Why do we need to be here?’

  ‘We sweep past, mostly. If the bouncers have real trouble with anyone, they’ll keep them in an office until one of us walks past and then hand them over. The clubs are mostly more like checkpoints. We go past each and sweep the areas between for trouble. Like I said, it’s mostly just people getting a little too celebratory. The end of each term is the worst.’

  ‘It’s early yet,’ Nava said. ‘I doubt we’ll see many people a little worse for drink at this hour.’

  ‘Well, you’re probably right, but some people like to get a head start on a bad hangover.’

  ~~~

  They did find someone a little the worse for alcohol outside the senior students’ club around ten p.m. She, however, was with two friends who were taking her back to her apartment. She had misjudged her alcohol tolerance, was very embarrassed even in her inebriated state, and was not going to be a problem. After checking the other two had her in hand, Courtney let them go.

  ‘We get that more than you’d think,’ Courtney had said. ‘People just coming of age don’t know their limits and get carried away. It’s better not to make a big deal of it. You also get the ones who haven’t noticed they’re drunk until they can’t feel their feet. Those are usually stress cases. We’re required to flag them to the administration for the psychologists to look over, but they’re usually no trouble.’

  ‘So, the SSF can be as much counsellor as police force?’ Nava had asked.

  ‘I think that’s true of the ASF as well. Sometimes, someone you come across doesn’t need punishment, they need to be taken care of.’ Pause. ‘And that wasn’t a euphemism.’

  Nava had almost smiled. ‘I didn’t think it was.’

  Now, as midnight approached and people were starting to head back to their homes, there were more people to check over. The club in the Estate, frequented by school staff, would be open for another two hours, the junior club was already closed, but the senior nightclub was emptying its load of tipsy men and women and the SSF were busy. Courtney was busy helping Zayden and another man with the aftermath of a drunken brawl which had broken out between a couple of students when Nava heard a familiar sound and went to investigate.

  Not that she could remember ever having made that noise herself, but someone was retching in the shadows of a nearby wall belonging to one of the mid-range apartment blocks. Whoever it was sounded like they were really suffering. Medical attention might be required. Nava’s night vision was better than a typical human’s, so she located the person responsible fairly quickly. Male: probably. Bent over with one hand on the wall, body trembling as it tried to rid itself of what was, essentially, a poison: definitely.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Nava asked, coming up behind the man.

  She was still in the light, so when he turned and looked at her, he could see her uniform clearly. ‘None of your business. You’re not a cop.’ Belligerence: Nava figured that was a common reaction to SSF staff sticking their noses in, but he seemed more annoyed that she was not wearing a gold-trimmed uniform.

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘Then fuck off!’

  Nava watched
the blow coming. She was not sure how competent the man was sober, but drunk he was so far below being a threat it was almost comical. His fist missed Nava’s face by several centimetres, then she moved and a second later he was lying face down in the mud. The soil beside the wall had obviously had no sun on it since the rain stopped. Then again, Nava realised as she applied a lock to the arm she had used to throw him that she had also delivered his head into the lake of puke he had left behind.

  A warning seemed appropriate. ‘If you throw up on my boots, I’ll break your arm.’ The only reply she got was a pained groan.

  ‘What happened?’ Courtney asked, walking over. Nava noted that Courtney was walking and not quickly. Unaccountably, that small vote of confidence from her friend left Nava feeling rather pleased.

  ‘He was throwing up,’ Nava said, ‘and when I asked if he was okay, he took a swing at me.’

  ‘Could you get him up?’

  ‘Sure.’ Nava pulled. Her victim let out a shriek of outraged pain, rising to his knees and turning into the light as Nava directed.

  Behind Courtney, Zayden and his partner had approached. Zayden was sneering and had apparently heard Nava’s explanation. ‘Sure. He took a swing at you, did he? You sure you didn’t– Oh, crap! That’s nasty. Yeah, you’re right, he probably did try to hit you.’ The about-face in attitude was a little surprising. The distaste had a more obvious reason since the man had half his last meal smeared across the left side of his face.

  ‘Rhett Allan Bishop,’ Courtney said, clearly recognising the man. ‘What a surprise. What’s this, your fifth disorderly conduct charge? And we can add assault this time.’

  ‘I’d prefer we didn’t,’ Nava said. ‘He missed by twelve centimetres and I think he’s paid for his mistake.’

  ‘Even without, you’re looking at suspension this time, Rhett. And, this time, I think Mercia Reynell will want to talk to you. You’re clearly having issues.’ Rhett moaned and tried to twist out of Nava’s hold. He was not going anywhere, however. Mercia’s name tended to strike fear into mortals, and she was just the school’s psychologist. ‘Zayden, Booker, take Rhett to the infirmary to sleep this off.’