Laricon's Ways

by Patricia Green

  Donaldson immediately hit a button on the phone and called the officer in charge of the stationary missile launchers. "Change in plans, Commander," he told the fellow. "Stand down the missiles until further notice."

  "Say again, sir?" the commander said with disbelief.

  "You heard me. Stand down the god damn missiles!"

  "Understood, sir. But, sir, if I may ask–"

  "You may not. Just follow your orders, soldier."

  There was a slight pause. "Yes, sir."

  Donaldson closed the connection.

  "Good, Donaldson," Michael said, nodding. "Now step back from the phone."

  Donaldson moved away half-a-meter. Michael changed the energy charge on his stunner and shot the phone into a hundred-thousand pieces. Everyone ducked.

  "Who the hell are you?" Walker demanded, brushing bits of plastic out of his hair.

  "Colonel Michael O'Malley, Solarian Federation Command Security. And you, gentlemen, are under arrest."

  The men looked at each other, seeking signs that any one of them had had a clue. Apparently, no one had.

  Michael backed toward the door. "If you'll all just wait here, I'm sure some nice fellows in Federation uniforms will be coming by to pick you up."

  "I hope you rot in hell, O'Malley," Fisk said vehemently.

  "I'm sure you do." He moved out the door, shut it, and turned to the guards stationed outside. "There are reports of trouble in The Great Man's suite," he told them. "Go check it out."

  "Yes, sir!"

  As soon as they were out of sight, Michael used his stunner to solder the door lock to the metal door frame. It wouldn't last long, but probably long enough to keep the council members inside until the Feds got there.

  Michael took Alyssa's hand. "Come on, honey." They hurried toward the flyer dock. He'd followed his orders and now there was no way in hell he was going to let Nina down.

  The dock was a madhouse as men scurried in and out on their important missions. Michael was able to slip by and slide into a flyer while it idled, awaiting its passenger. He pushed the pilot out, threatening the man with the stunner, and took the controls. "Sit in the seat there," he told Alyssa, gesturing to the copilot's chair. "And don't touch anything."

  "Yes, sir," she said, her voice trembling.

  "Lock down your restraints." He looked at her and winked. "You should probably like that," he teased. Her laugh was tremulous but genuine.

  Michael began a short conversation with the flyer control booth, and they moved forward out the airlock and finally out of the dome. As they flew over the surface of the moon, they saw the giant dome-breachers beginning to come down on the central two Laricon domes. They arrived at dome three just as a breacher landed on its roof.

  Michael and Alyssa left the flyer improperly parked and hurried out of the dock into the dome called The Farm. Teraformed, the interior was very much like a vast working farm with rolling fields, animals, and rustic central buildings. There were no people apparent and it was rather eerily quiet.

  "Where do you suppose she'd be?" Michael asked his small companion.

  She bit her lip. "In the bearing building, I think."

  "Okay, let's go."

  Alyssa led him down the artificial lane of barns and buildings until they reached a large quaint manor house. She walked up and opened the door.

  As they entered, an older woman, perhaps forty, her long ash hair tied back neatly, came rushing forward. "What's happening?" she cried. "They've told us to take shelter and wait, but," she gestured to the women, all in various stages of pregnancy who came into the main room, "we're frightened! It's not good for the babies!"

  Alyssa smiled sweetly. "I think everything will be well, Midwife."

  A few toddlers snuck out to peek, fingers in their mouths, and stared with wide eyes up at Michael's big form. He hunkered down and smiled at them, but they ran back to their mother's skirts. He laughed.

  "Where is Nina?" he asked the midwife. "She's my wife and I've come for her."

  The midwife frowned. "Your wife?" She wrung her hands. "But, I understood her to be The Great Man's–"

  "Midwife," Michael interrupted, pulling the woman aside to keep the conversation confidential. "The Great Man is dead." She gasped. "His dying wish was that Nina be well cared for, so he sent me to see to it."

  Reeling with the news, the midwife nodded. "But who are you?"

  "Michael O'Malley, Colonel, Solarian Federation."

  "Oh!" She turned to Alyssa. "Is this true? Are we captured?"

  There was a loud thundering as the dome-breacher set down on the roof of the dome and began the cutting operation that would lead to troop insertion.

  Alyssa nodded to the midwife. "Yes. But no one will be harmed." She patted the midwife's arm. "Where is Nina?"

  "I'm here!" called an enthusiastic voice from the stairs. "Damn but you waited until the last minute, O'Malley!" she scolded as she raced into his arms with a smile.

  He held her tightly, kissed her deeply. "Just a few details to deal with at home," he explained.

  Nina hugged and kissed Alyssa with enthusiasm. "Now what happens?" she asked.

  "We wait." He turned to the women watching. "We all wait. The Federation people will be here shortly. No one will hurt you. You'll all be returned to your homes."

  The women looked skeptical for the most part, picking up their toddlers to keep them close. A few, though, looked very hopeful, perhaps anticipating freedom from Laricon's bonds.

  Michael, Nina, and Alyssa went outside to watch the troop carrier cylinder drop on small rockets until it gentled into a field. Men and women in battle gear spilled out and soon started double-timing toward the buildings.

  "How is the baby?" Michael asked as they watched. Nina was soft and warm on one side, Alyssa on the other.

  "Fine, I guess," Nina answered. "Can't even tell it's there yet. But did you get a load of those whales inside?" she complained. "I can't believe what you did to me, O'Malley!"

  "I thought some of them were quite attractive," he said with a smile.

  Nina snorted. "You're a sick fuck," she decided. Alyssa gasped.

  "I see you haven't learned to watch your mouth."

  "I'll let you and Alyssa watch it for me."

  "I'll just see that it's busy doing other things," he said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

  "Promise?" She smiled.

  "Promise."

  Epilogue

  "I, Colonel Michael O'Malley, swear to uphold the Solarian Federation Constitution and to discharge my duties with loyalty, honor, and compassion."

  "Well done," the Federation representative beamed. He stuck out his hand for a shake. "Congratulations, Governor."

  Michael smiled and looked over at his girls. They were both happy as can be. Alyssa was dressed in a modern but loose-fitting dress. Nina was wearing a maternity-fitted skirt and blouse. The baby was five months along now.

  It had taken the Feds a while to realize that Laricon was too set in its ways for many of its people to be reintegrated into Solarian society at large. Their psychologists and sociologists had come to the conclusion that many of the men, and a great number of the women captives, would be better off remaining on Ganymede under the supervision of a governmental entity who understood them. And none of Laricon's younger generation would be even remotely prepared for Federation social mores.

  Michael had been chosen to oversee the nine domes and was given permission to allow most of the Lariconese customs to continue as long as the people were willing.

  The concept of bang-girls was the first thing outlawed.

  Governor Marsh was given a Mayorship of his two domes, reporting to Michael. And Michael was allowed to choose the Mayor of the Southern Continent's three domes. Edward Walker was Michael's choice, though he was under a long term of probation for his Federation crimes. The other councilmen were given choices of Federation jail or pledging their allegiance to the Solarian Federation and being on probation
for several years. General Liebmann was jailed for one year, and would be returning to Ganymede a regular citizen, losing any military rank. Ganymede's military presence was entirely Federation now.

  Michael backed away from the podium and took his girls in his arms. They kissed his cheeks softly.

  "Let's ditch this bureaucratic who-ha, go home and fuck like bunnies," Nina whispered. Alyssa gasped, but her eyes twinkled.

  Michael smiled. "Remind me to spank your butt for that foul language, Nina."

  "Spank mine, too!" Alyssa chimed in. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

  They all laughed.

  The End