Persephone Station

by Stina Leicht

  She made for Sukyi’s log.

  The trees began to sway and thrash to the song of a deep engine thrum. A shadow drifted over Kurosawa’s broken hulk.

  Shrike had arrived.

  The mechs halted their advance. Their less-armored friends took up positions near the mechs. Angel noted that only five of the regulars had made it with a little satisfaction.

  “Captain de la Reza.” A woman spoke over Shrike’s external com. “We would like to speak with you.”

  Enid cursed from her perch on top of the mound near Kurosawa’s nose. Sukyi glanced to Angel and frowned.

  Sukyi asked, “Why do I know that voice?”

  Angel said, “She does sound familiar.”

  “Captain de la Reza?” the woman asked again.

  Angel shrugged. “What’s the harm in talking?”

  “And what if they shoot you the instant you reveal yourself?” Sukyi asked.

  “We’ve got two pulse cannons and limited power packs,” Angel said. “If I can talk them out of a fight, we’re better off.” She then whispered, “I’d prefer Achebe to have her birth mother. I’m all right with being an auntie.” Turning to face Shrike, she stepped from behind the barricade and shouted, “I’ll talk. Not sure what we have to discuss.”

  “Surrender?” the woman asked.

  Angel still couldn’t match the voice to a face or a name. “Yours or ours?” she asked in an attempt to draw things out.

  “Why don’t I land this thing, and we’ll see?”

  Angel narrowed her eyes. “What do you—”

  Shrike dropped from the sky like a chunk of discarded stone. Several tons of ship slammed into the ground. It felt like an explosion. Angel staggered. The landing gear almost didn’t have time to engage. Three of the supports dug deep into the dirt but held. The fourth buckled with a groan. She could just imagine Lou’s wince.

  The ship’s loading ramp engaged. Shrike teetered and creaked. The ramp gouged the scorched grass. Once the ship stabilized, a lone woman walked down the length of the ramp. It took Angel a moment to remember her because she was so out of context.

  “Sorry about that. I’ve never piloted a ship before, and I didn’t have time to learn.”

  “Kennedy Liu?” Angel asked. A mix of emotions tangled in her throat—not the least of which was betrayal. “What are you doing here?”

  “I thought I was clear,” Kennedy said. “I am negotiating a surrender.”

  “I didn’t say we were planning on—”

  “Not yours,” Kennedy said. “Ours.”

  Sukyi stood up. “Wait. What?”

  “I, Kennedy Liu, an agent of the United Republic of Worlds Xenobiology and Planetary Division, do hereby surrender the Serrao-Orlov dropship Shrike to you, Captain de la Reza,” Kennedy said. “Please accept. A second attack on Ogenth is taking place. Vissia’s people will breach your defenses via the wind tunnels. There isn’t much time, if you want to save the lab.”

  Enid said, “Seriously? And the rest of these jokers are going along with this?”

  Kennedy said, “They’re mercenaries, M. Crowe. We’ve reached an equitable agreement.”

  “If you intended to surrender, why attack us?” Angel asked.

  “Their original commander is dead. There was some contention regarding the chain of command. It took some time to resolve the issue,” Kennedy said. “Nonetheless, I am in charge now.”

  “What exactly does that mean?” Angel asked.

  Kennedy paused. “I have added a substantial sum, including a liability waiver for accepting a contract from an opposing force. Most have accepted the new terms.”

  “Is that legal?” Sukyi asked.

  “It is now,” Kennedy said.

  “How many?” Angel asked.

  “Five. Two mech pilots,” Kennedy said. “Three regulars. The rest have agreed to stand down.”

  “I accept,” Angel said.

  “I understand that I’m supposed to give you a sword or something,” Kennedy said. “I’m a little unclear as to what sharp objects have to do with it.”

  “Shrike’s authentication codes will substitute nicely,” Angel said.

  “We’ve a problem.” Sukyi placed a hand on Angel’s arm. “It’s Lou. She’s unconscious, and I can’t wake her.”

  28

  TIME: 11:45

  DAY: SUNDAY

  OGENTH

  “We’re leaving. Serrao-Orlov’s forces have invaded the tunnels,” Kirby Sams said. “Ogenth was never intended to be a fortress. That’s why we had an evacuation plan in place long before you got here.”

  Emissaries of various shapes, colors, and sizes squeezed past one another via the now crowded passages. The air was heavy with a cacophony of organized panic and anger-laden scents—pepper, ammonia, and citrus. Fleeing people in human and Emissary forms carried valuables—electronic components, medical supplies, food stores, plants, and scientific equipment.

  The whole frontal assault was a diversion, Angel thought. Why didn’t I see it? “How many are there?” It was strange not having to shout.

  Kirby paused. “A little over forty. I think. I can’t be exact.”

  Forty more mercs? Angel thought. How? How did they do it? Shrike couldn’t have held seventy. There was only one ship. If there was a second one, Kurosawa would’ve spotted it. Right?

  Kurosawa mentioned a second blip. They approached from the other side of the mountain range.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. She frowned. “Which tunnels?”

  “TW-2 and TW-3. Both open on the western side of the mountain,” Kirby said. “They managed to get as far as the second access tunnel before the alarms sounded. They must have disabled the electronic monitors.” She sighed and her face darkened. “I didn’t assign anyone to watch those cameras. I didn’t even place drones in that area.”

  “Why would you? There’s nothing out there but a sheer cliff face,” Angel said. “This isn’t your fault. It’s mine.” She searched the crowd.

  “We tried to warn you but—”

  Angel interrupted. “Where are Paulie and Beak?”

  “They’re in the lab, sorting out the data and equipment.” Kirby directed yet another crush of fleeing residents with hand gestures and scents. “Backups were part of the evacuation plan, of course. But there was one last update to make before we destroyed the system. And we won’t leave any of our work behind for Vissia. We’re destroying the lab.”

  “Good plan,” Angel said. “Where are you sending your people?”

  “Just a moment,” Kirby said. She exhaled a combination of sharp odors that reminded Angel of fresh-cut lumber and ginger. Based upon body language and hand signals, Angel guessed that Kirby was telling a woman where to take an armful of medical supplies.

  Kirby returned her attention to Angel. “I’m sorry. There’s so much to do. What was I saying?”

  “Where are you sending your people?”

  “Oh. Right. Those whose duties are not necessary for Ogenth’s defense are gathering in the ship bay. We can secure it. And there’s room for the wounded. From there, we’ll travel to one of our older cities. Ileòke. It’s north of here. We sent a group to make it ready for a move after Vissia’s initial threat. We have the little shuttle and Hadley’s Hope. Transfer of the wounded is the next priority.”

  “Use Shrike as the gathering point instead,” Angel said. “It’ll be safer. It’s near tunnel TE-7.”

  Confusion pinched Kirby’s eyebrows together.

  Angel pushed on. “Shrike is ours. It has guns, a small medical facility with a drug replicator, and a qualified medic. The med bay might not have exactly what you need, but it’s better than nothing. The ship is twice the size of Kurosawa. And if it comes to that, we’ll stay to cover your retreat.”

  “How—”

  “I’ll explain later,” Angel said. “You can trust Shrike’s medic. Her name is Higbor. Oh. There are two mechs guarding the ship. One is black with pink stripes on it. The second one is grey and has
the word mouse printed on the front. They’re ours.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Talk to the pilot of the pink-striped mech. Her name is Annalee. She can help track down the missing if there are any.” And in this mess, there’s likely to be.

  It was the best allocation of personnel, given their limited numbers. The mechs couldn’t be used to defend Ogenth from the inside. They were too big. In any case, someone had to guard Shrike. With Lou down and Sukyi barely on her feet, Angel had run out of options.

  An explosion shook the mountain. Tiny fragments of rock pelted the floor. Everyone stopped what they were doing and gazed down the hallway—eyes wide. For a moment, no one moved. And then all at once people started for the ship’s bay.

  “Time is up,” Angel said.

  “But the lab techs are back there. And—”

  “I’ll handle it. Load up the wounded and go,” Angel said. “Can you— Can you take Lou?”

  She’d slipped into a coma and wasn’t expected to live.

  Kirby nodded. “We will take care of her. There’s no need to ask.”

  “Thank you,” Angel said.

  Jess appeared, grabbed Kirby’s hand, and tugged her away.

  Angel checked her mostly disabled CA and then the various drone camera feeds. All the drones in or near the northwestern part of Ogenth were inoperative. She focused on the stored video from the dead units. The last drone had captured a fuzzy image just before it’d gone black. After a couple of enhanced passes, her CA identified it as a dropship. Its name was Takagi.

  Damn it, Angel thought. The muscles at the base of her skull tightened. A tiny flash of light winked on the edge of her vision like a warning. She chinned her shoulder com. “Hey, Annalee. How’re you doing out there?”

  “Haven’t had to shoot anyone I had breakfast with,” Annalee said. “I’d count that as pretty damned good.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Angel said. “I’m sending the noncombatants to you. Tuck as many of them in safe as you can. Let Kirby organize. Then prepare for dust-off.”

  “You got it,” Annalee said.

  “Did you know Takagi was here?” Angel assumed that if Annalee and the others had known, they’d have told her. They weren’t particularly loyal to Serrao-Orlov, but assumptions could get one into trouble.

  “No,” Annalee said, sounding almost offended. She paused before continuing. “Captain Reese might have. She was in charge, but she took an extremely fatal log to the head.”

  “Fair enough,” Angel said. “Enid, Sukyi, Kennedy, and I are off to deal with the problem in the tunnels. If the opposition shows signs of heading your way, you go. You don’t hear anything from me or mine within forty-five minutes, you go. If Kirby Sams says it’s time to go, you go,” Angel said. “Got it?”

  There was a pregnant silence.

  “I don’t mean to be an asshole, but who’s buying the oxygen and fuel?” Annalee asked.

  “I am,” Angel said. It was a lie, of course.

  “Cool. And who’s buying when you’re dead?” Annalee asked. “Sorry, but I’m starting to rethink certain choices.”

  No shit, Angel thought. Her scalp felt like a drumhead stretched too tight. Squinting seemed only to make it worse. She massaged her temples. “Fuck the odds. Enid and I were in the Thirteenth.” She wondered if the attempt at bravado would fool another combat veteran—even a corporate one. Doubtful. She changed the subject. If worse came to worst, Kirby could handle the matter. “How’s Lou?”

  “Still unconscious,” Annalee said. “She’s in bad shape. You’ll have to ask Higbor for details. Should I put her on?”

  “Not now,” Angel said in a small voice. She suddenly found she couldn’t breathe. “You wouldn’t happen to have intel on Takagi, would you?”

  “They weren’t stationed in Brynner,” Annalee said. “That’s all I know.”

  “Any idea who and what they’re hauling?”

  “Takagi is one of Vissia Corsini’s personal transports,” Annalee said. “Number one rule of Mercenary Club is: Don’t spy on the boss. At least, not so she notices.”

  Is that rule in the same list as: Don’t flip sides in the middle of a contract? Because that one didn’t seem to stop you. Angel hated freelance mercs even if, technically, she was one herself. They were assholes.

  “All right,” Angel said. “Let me know if Lou’s status changes. And keep an eye out for bad guys.”

  To Annalee’s credit, she didn’t ask for a clarification on that. “Kennedy says I should do what you say.”

  Angel signed off, searched the hallway, and spied Sukyi. “Hey!”

  “Hey, yourself,” Sukyi shouted back. She wove her way to Angel’s side.

  “Where’s Kennedy?” Angel asked.

  “On her way,” Sukyi said. “Enid, too. Are we finishing this thing?”

  “That’s the plan,” Angel said. She spotted Enid and Kennedy, and waved again.

  “They’ve started moving everyone onto Shrike, the little shuttle, and Hadley’s Hope,” Kennedy said when she arrived.

  “Good. While you were in Brynner, you didn’t happen to infiltrate a dropship named Takagi while you were poking around Shrike, did you?” Angel asked.

  Kennedy shook her head. “Why would I?”

  “That explosion? It’s troops from Takagi,” Angel said. She sent the rest of the team what little information she had. “Pack as much bang as you can carry. Explosives wouldn’t go amiss. You’ve got five minutes.”

  She checked her own weapons and then reviewed a blueprint of Ogenth on her hand terminal while the others prepped. When they returned, she told them the plan—such as it was.

  “Stay close,” Angel said.

  The press of refugees had begun to lighten up. The children were gone. Most of the remaining traffic consisted of techs wearing lab coats. Somewhere deeper in the confines of Ogenth, gunfire echoed down the halls. She searched the passage ahead for signs of trouble and kept her weapons ready as she walked.

  “Why aren’t you cursing?” Sukyi asked.

  Angel shrugged. “You think it’ll help?”

  “I know you. You hate surprise parties,” Sukyi said as she eased into a position by her side. “Especially the kind where everyone attempts to shoot the guest of honor.” She coughed into a handkerchief.

  “You can’t plan for everything,” Angel said. “I now consider it an opportunity to evolve.”

  “You’ve changed.” Sweat glistened on Sukyi’s forehead, and her long red scarf was double-wrapped around her neck. Her usual grace was slowed by apparent exhaustion.

  “You sure you’re up for this?” Angel asked.

  Anger flashed across Sukyi’s face like an afternoon storm. “You sure you’re up for this? When was the last time you took your meds?”

  The truth was, Angel had forgotten in the rush. A migraine wouldn’t be far off. And if she let it go too long, it’d be a seizure.

  As if to emphasize the point, another set of nonexistent sparks twinkled in the corner of her right eye. She pinched the bridge of her nose. A blinding migraine in the middle of the fight would be such a great idea. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She reached into a pocket and dry swallowed all three pills. “Thanks for the reminder,” Angel said. “Just promise me you won’t fall over until after the fight. I need you. Alive.”

  Sukyi rolled her eyes. “I won’t.”

  “Promise me.”

  “Promise.”

  Angel resumed the journey through the now-empty halls. The soft, sharp sounds of multiple pairs of synth-rubber bootsoles grinding sand and dirt into the polished tile floor was the only sign the others followed. When she rounded a curve in the passage, they all waited for a cluster of stragglers to rush past.

  “Need to tell you something,” Enid said in a quiet voice.

  “What is it?” Angel asked, steeling herself for more bad news.

  Enid said, “Kennedy says Kurosawa is wiped.”

  Pausing, Angel glanced over her shoulde
r. “That true?”

  “I can make a more concentrated attempt later, but it doesn’t look good.”

  Lou and Kurosawa. Both gone, Angel thought. Her stomach felt hollow. She blinked back tears. “We’ll worry about that after we’re out of the black,” Angel said in a quiet voice. “Right now, we’ve other shit to deal with.”

  The last of the refugees rushed past with armfuls of equipment. Ahead, the way was clear. She signaled for the others to get their backs against the wall. She approached the first set of doorways. Edging to the closest, she searched it for trouble. To her relief, the apartment was empty. She moved on to the next. The others followed. She let Enid check the second doorway while she covered her. Glass beads clattered. When that, too, proved to be empty, they moved on. And so it went for the next fifty feet. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever.

  Another enormous explosion convulsed the mountain. She was knocked off her feet before she was aware of what had happened.

  The lights flickered. Powdered rock and smoke billowed, riding the force of the blast. Broken ceiling tiles crashed to the floor. Red-tinged darkness obliterated her vision and hearing—cut off like a flipped switch. Her palms stung. Shattered tile and rock cut into her back, legs, and buttocks. Short bursts of vibration in the floor spoke of a nearby battle. The reddish light from a fire down the hall fluttered white in time with the rhythm.

  The lab.

  She sat up. The rain of big and small impacts slowed to a stop. The grit-coated soles of her boots abraded the floor as she stood. Her ears began to ring. The world tilted. She put out a hand and caught herself with the wall.

  It was cracked.

  Please. I don’t want to be buried alive, she thought.

  Sneezing, she wiped pulverized rock and tile from watering eyes. She tried to clear her nose and throat. She understood her hearing was recovering when she detected the muffled sound of coughing.