White Fire

by Laurie Bell

  Inching open the access door, her jaw dropped at the sight beyond. Exactly the hanger I want! She shot the Ghil standing at the base of the Blackflame. It took three bolts to drop him.

  Dan and Berni hobbled into the bay. Doctor Telksh—moving under his own steam—trailed behind them.

  Berni surveyed the bodies. “Nice work.”

  “Thanks. Doctor Telksh and I have a date on Midock. I’m pretty sure if you leave a note, the guys here will let you borrow one of their shuttles.” Toni keyed her security code and spoke into the Blackflame’s voice lock.

  “You’re just leaving us here? Shenghi, Agent, you’re a piece of work,” Berni snapped. “Look at him.”

  Karmic justice, Toni figured. She actually did think about leaving him behind.

  Dan didn’t look like he had much left in him. Blood soaked his shirt from his head wound, streaking his face like something out of a horror holoflick. Khegh it! “Come on then,” she snapped.

  “Where have you been?” demanded Zach when the hatch dropped. Toni ignored the CII and helped Berni settle Dan on her small sofa. His feet hung off the end. Blood soaked into the fabric. She’d have to replace it now. She stared down into his face and didn’t know what to say. Her throat tightened and it was hard to swallow. If only he was someone different. If only she was. Let him go.

  Doctor Telksh swayed alarmingly. Toni lurched up to grab him. Her hands clashed with Berni’s. “Help me get him down the hall to my room.”

  “Yup.”

  Berni stopped Toni just outside the door. “Don’t forget, you dropped the bounty.”

  “How could I forget?”

  Hunting for the aid kit, Toni shoved it into Berni’s hands. “Sort them out.” She turned her back on the woman’s snort and headed for the cockpit. “Where’s Mate?”

  “Here,” Mate’s distorted voice rose from the floor. Zach fired up the engines as Toni dropped to her knees beside the C-bot. She hugged him tightly, throat thick with emotion. “Good to see you,” she whispered. His limbs twitched but he didn’t rise.

  “And you.”

  Toni dragged herself from the comfort of his familiar form and sat down in her chair.

  “Drop the lower gun,” she ordered. Taking over the controls herself, she fired a sustained blast at the Capacitor’s shield control room. It exploded. The outer dock shield disintegrated. Air, and any item not tied down, was immediately sucked toward the breach in the ship’s hull. The bay’s giant door slammed shut behind them, a last-ditch attempt by the Capacitor’s crew to save the ship.

  Toni flew the Blackflame out of the hold, cleared the Capacitor’s gravity well, and jumped into forcedspace.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  “Should not the Doctor be working on the antidote?”

  “I told him to get some rest first. He’s pretty banged up. Seemed to think it wouldn’t take long and that I have what he needs in the hold,” she told Mate as she poked around at his insides. The pulse looked to have fried several of his primary switches that she was now working on replacing. It was slow going but it helped keep her mind off her guests.

  “How does Doctor Telksh know what you have in the hold?”

  Toni shrugged. She hadn’t asked. She eyed the closed cockpit door—the door she never closed. She wasn’t hiding. Her mind laughed at her naivety. “Zach, how did you get into the Capacitor’s systems?”

  “Remarkably easily. Invite sent to all inboxes. Eventually someone clicked, someone always clicks. I tried to do more.”

  “You gave me the code to that final prison gate, Zach.”

  “Well, you did tell me to get the backdoor codes, Boss.”

  “And you redirected the guards and brought down the shields. You did plenty.”

  “I couldn’t help you.”

  She rubbed at her face, hiding emotions that were still too close to the surface. “You …” She wouldn’t convince him. Better to give him another job instead. She climbed to her feet, leaving Mate’s side panel gaping. “Zach, call Zaambuka.”

  There was a pause, and then Zach said, “Mary Jeller reports he is not available.”

  “Put her on.” The screen near Toni’s elbow flickered. Mary Jeller, Zaambuka’s assistant, appeared. As usual, her hair was immaculate and her sheer black shirt perfectly pressed. Crimson lips pursed as she stared at Toni. “Yes, Agent?”

  “What do you mean, he’s not there?”

  “Exactly what I told your CII, Agent Delle. Commander Zaambuka is not currently in the office.”

  “Well, where is he?”

  “I’m afraid that’s classified.”

  Toni frowned at the woman. “Sorry, what?” She and Mary Jeller were not exactly on friendly terms. Nor did they pretend to be. Toni had known Zaambuka’s assistant too many years to be impressed or intimidated.

  The feeling, as Mary often confirmed, was entirely mutual, telling her Toni’s cases generated more paperwork than the rest of Zaambuka’s agents combined. Mary made it clear she did not appreciate that extra paperwork, nor did she like working late. As a result, both women were often short in their communications with each other.

  “Commander Zaambuka is not available.”

  Toni huffed out a breath. Her leg ached, and a sharp pain kept stabbing at her left eyeball. The instant she’d stepped inside the cockpit, she’d blissfully wrapped her spare shades around her eyes, but the much-needed protection did little to soothe the pain in her head. The best cure would be sleep, and a lot of it. The old snalot stalling was not helping.

  “This is urgent.”

  “And?”

  Toni held back a scream, barely. “Fate of the universe urgent.”

  “Yes, yes, urgent, urgent. I get it, Agent Delle, but he is not here.”

  “When he gets in, tell him I’m on my way to Midock.”

  “Weren’t you supposed to be there yesterday?”

  Toni scowled at the woman’s blank expression. “Just make sure he gets the message.”

  Closing the call, she vented loudly. Sucking in a deep breath she held it for a moment and then released it slowly. “Zach, find a livestream of the Midock summit.” Her aches, bruises, and sprains needed time to recuperate, but she didn’t want to rest. With Dan on the sofa in the main room and Telksh on her bed, there was nowhere to go, other than the floor. She knelt back down beside Mate and gingerly shifted the wire leading to his hind legs.

  “—to vote on the alignment of the Allied Planets Executive Party and the United Planets Confederacy against a common enemy. A remorseless enemy. A bloodthirsty enemy. An enemy determined to enslave, decimate, and destroy.”

  Toni lifted her head to eye the screen. The speaker was a handsome bald black man. The pop up ident across the bottom of the screen named him Prince Chrismatt—leader of the Confederacy. “As many of you know, my home world is located close to the border of Ascendancy space. I have witnessed neighboring worlds lost to the Ascendancy’s encroaching armies. I have comforted families who have lost loved ones to the ships that advance across our borders. I have held my own grandmother through her gut-wrenching sobs when we were notified of my brother’s death at Ascendancy hands.”

  Listening with half an ear, Toni’s mind drifted back to Dan and her reaction to seeing him lying so still in the hanger. Anxiety yes, but also a sense of loss.

  How could you lose someone you never had? Perhaps it was more the death of a dream? Toni had never experienced anything like Dan before, and her emotions were wrapped in colored glass—the slightest shift and they would shatter.

  She opened her eyes on a heartfelt sigh. Don’t think about it anymore. Easier said than done. Her brain tortured her again with the look on his face, still dazed from the explosion, as if she was the only person he’d wanted to see. Stop it! She focused on the mini chip gripped between her fingers—the sides were burnt out. Khegh it! Do I even have any of these? As she climbed to her feet, she eyed the orator.

  “The Ascendancy has strength in numbers, a well-t
rained battle force, and an unquenchable desire to rule. They will not stop, they will not hesitate, and they will not retreat. When we are gone, who will stop them?” Prince Chrismatt certainly was a charismatic speaker.

  “Well, there’s a sight for sore eyes.”

  Toni’s eyes snapped over to find Berni standing in the doorway. When had she opened the door? “What is?” How long has she been standing there?

  “The Prince. Chrismatt.”

  “You’re from Sector Two right? It’s a long way. Why’d you leave?”

  Berni didn’t answer. She stared at the screen and listened to the speech, muttering. “Handsome fella?”

  Toni had certainly noticed. He offered a smile, full lips curling to expose straight white teeth to the crowd. His deep voice carried over the agitated room, instantly hushing the crowd. “Only together can we fight this unrelenting encroachment on our territories. Only together can we defeat these twisted, dark souls working to pit us against one another. Do not wait until they have destroyed us before you decide to act.

  “I have the support of my government and of my people to make this offer here today. Align with us against the Ascendancy. Stand with us, side by side and say no more. I support an alliance between us. I thank the spirits of Trelner who protect us in this time of uncertainty and I pray that they guide us here today to make the right decision.”

  The spirits? What a shame. Toni didn’t go for the religious types. As Prince Chrismatt stepped away from the podium, the Great Hall exploded into a cacophony of voices. Toni turned back to Berni. “He seems genuine.”

  “He is.”

  “The audience are responding,” Toni said referencing all the applause. They were quiet as they watched for a little longer. “Why didn’t you tell me about Gallian?” The question had been sitting on her tongue for hours.

  “What?”

  “Gallian and Zaambuka?”

  “Ah, yeah. Well, I knew you’d have to see it to believe it.”

  “You could have warned me.”

  In reply Berni said, “Look, I know you’re not going to trust me, but you should know, The Underworld—that’s the group on Marn—have been invited to take advantage of the Vice-President’s assassination. They were told to start an attack to coincide with the riots and to poison the water.”

  Toni’s mouth dropped open as the implication set in. Khegh! Marn was the main supplier of drinking water to Sector’s One’s Army. If Berni was telling the truth, someone was starting a war. It made sense. Attack the supply systems of the enemy and you hobble them before firing a single shot. Doctor Telksh’s poison? Toni swore under her breath and sat up. “How do you know this? It seems a little coincidental that you just happen to know the bad guys’ plans. Are you working for them?”

  Berni glared at Toni, her jaw clenched tightly shut.

  Toni stared back, waiting.

  “I pieced some of it together from what I overheard, guessed at some, and heard the dock master discussing locations to the bad guys who dragged me out of my ship.”

  “Dock master?”

  “Overheated hole called Kyth-tact.”

  “Humph, I know it. So that’s your only evidence? Supposition and hearsay?”

  “Look, I don’t care if you don’t believe me. That’s not my problem.” Berni spun on her foot and stormed out.

  Whether the information was accurate or not, Toni had to get it to Zaambuka.

  She followed the smuggler out, wanting to speak to Telksh and search for a replacement chip otherwise Mate’s legs were not going to work. Ignoring the smuggler snoring on the sofa, Toni made her way to her bedroom. It was empty. Where could the Doctor be? Conducting a thorough search Toni worked her way through each room until she reached the rear storage cupboard. The small one located above the hatch leading to the lower hold and engine room. The sound of glass clinking together drew her attention to the ladder. The two smugglers were back in the main room, so who was down there drinking? She feared she’d located the missing Doctor. The climb was uncomfortable but Toni managed it through gritted teeth. “What are you doing down here?”

  Telksh nearly dropped his drinking glass. “Oh good, Agent. When will we arrive?” He tugged at the edge of the stark bandage wrapped around his forehead. He tipped the glass he held into a smaller one in tiny increments until he seemed pleased with the result.

  “Within the hour. Doc, can the poison you created be used to taint water?”

  He nodded. “It was designed to be activated when placed in water.”

  “How much did you make?” she asked leaning on the table.

  “One small vial.”

  “What about a large body of water? Would a small vial be enough to poison a water supply, such as a reservoir on Marn?”

  He froze. “Agent, what are you saying?”

  She held his stare and didn’t respond.

  “Agent, we must go to Marn. The poison I gave that man must not be used.”

  “It was only a single dose, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, but dispersed in water, it will infect every molecule, regardless of the size. Xendia! I’ve been used to kill millions.”

  Toni eyed the contraption Telksh had set up on her small work bench. “What is this?”

  “I’m synthesizing the antidote. Agent, please. We must go to Marn. There is a limited window of opportunity. We dare not dally.”

  “Can you make enough?”

  “Only a small amount is required—the same size as the vial of poison.”

  Toni held her hands up. “Listen Doc, my orders are to go straight to Midock. The Vice-President’s life is in dan—”

  “You don’t understand, Agent. The attack on Marn will go ahead regardless of the Vice-President’s condition. It is clearly the real purpose of Gallian’s scheme. Can’t you see that?” The sheen on Telksh’s skin could indicate a fever, but it was hard to tell. His reddened face grew brighter. He huffed out a breath and practically stamped his feet. It might just be anger.

  Khegh it! “Okay, listen Doc. How long is this synthesizing going to take?”

  “Several hours.”

  “Right then. We’re heading to Midock, but as soon as we arrive, I’ll get you set up on a ship straight out to Marn.”

  He was shaking his head before she’d finished speaking. “Agent, you must reprioritize—”

  “Get it done, Doc. I’ll get you there, I promise, but I have my orders.” Hopefully she was making the right decision. She’d never disobeyed a direct order and she wasn’t about to start now. Gallian’s face appeared in her mind, reminding her of Zaambuka’s lie of omission. Was her boss a conspirator to Gallian’s plot? Maybe she should reverse her course. If Marn was the ultimate target, what was she doing heading to Midock? The summit would be crawling with security. She wasn’t needed there. Come to think of it, just as she was making headway with the Resonator caches, Zaambuka pulled her off the guns, ordering her to Midock. Is he the real enemy?

  Toni bit her lower lip as she climbed up the ladder. Why the khegh can’t I reach him? Where is he?

  She didn’t know what to do. Focus on what you can do. Fix Mate. She could discuss the problem with her team. Mate would know the best course of action.

  It took only minutes to find the chip she wanted in the top storage cupboard. What about another agent? Huh. Why hadn’t she thought of that before?

  Colten’s snores were growing louder. When they cut off suddenly, her heart lurched. A snort started them up again. She paused on her way past. His bruised face looked painfully swollen with dried blood around his nostrils and ears. He had to be uncomfortable lying like that. The sofa was not big enough. She stilled her trembling hand before it landed on his shoulder and forced her feet to return her to the cockpit. “Zach, get me Agent Nar.”

  The screen blinked on and Agent Nar’s grizzled face appeared. He grinned tiredly at Toni through the light years separating them. “Agent Delle, you missed Trena Gelin’s celebration day.”

&nb
sp; “I know. I was in the middle of a firefight; I would never have missed it otherwise.” Truthfully, she wouldn’t have gone to Trena’s celebration anyway. Toni couldn’t stand her. Besides, it was only Trena’s fourth child.

  Her friend scrubbed at his greying beard and ran a wrinkled hand over his drawn face. “You have a job for me?” He cut to the chase. This was why she’d contacted him. He was always on point.

  “Yes. I need you to meet me on Midock to transport an important package to Marn.”

  “I’m on warehouse clean up, Delle. The boss put me on it as soon as you sent through the information on the Resonators.”

  “This is more important.”

  “Marn? Really?” He huffed out a breath, his eyes crinkled as he smiled, deepening the lines around them. “Well, since it’s you, of course. I’ll hand off here. Deric will manage.”

  “I wouldn’t ask, but it really is urgent.” Toni confirmed.

  “I’m on my way.” He signed off leaving Toni staring at a blank screen. Another five hours before they arrived on Midock. She just hoped she’d get there in time. Closing her eyes, she tried to relax. Instantly, Dan’s face popped into her mind. Rubbing at her aching eyes, she dropped to her knees and returned to repairing her immobile partner.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  “Do not be fooled by the Confederate Prince’s exaggerated sense of morality and his play to your emotions. What threat, I ask you? Sector Three has every right to enforce the protection of their own borders. Are we suggesting each Sector no longer has the right to defend their own people?”

  Toni startled awake, opening her eyes on the live feed still streaming from the summit. Sparks exploded in her neck. She clutched at the spasming muscle and groaned. Her other hand jolted against cold metal. Khegh. She’d fallen asleep while working on the C-bot. She pulled her hand out of his insides and tugged white hair from her eyes, only realizing her hand was covered in lubricant when hair stuck to her fingers. “Who the khegh is that?”