by W. C. Bauers
For a moment Promise thought she’d miscalculated. The girl, Sephora, she’d been right about their predicament. They were both as good as dead. She envisioned Sephora lying on the deck; all the horrible things they’d probably done to her. Promise wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and cry. She’d only meant to help and instead she’d managed to kill the girl before her time.
“Ninety seconds, Lieutenant.”
You came to me. Something has you worried.
“I want safe passage off of the station and the girl goes with me. Otherwise, you’re going to regret this day.”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Watch your words as you value your life, Lieutenant Paen. You can’t hide behind your uniform, not from me. I make bad things happen to people…” His voice trailed off. “… very bad things, very slowly. My men like to take their time, Declan in particular. One Marine can easily get lost in a ’verse as large as ours.”
Shorty sounded like he was posturing. She got to her feet while making no effort to hide her injuries, and pulled nose-close with him. “You’ve obviously done some homework on me. I’ve tried to keep a low profile.” Promise shrugged indifferently. “I’m due back on Hold in a matter of days. After that my unit deploys. A lot of people know I’m here: your people; the station workers; the ship I arrived on; my commanding officer. After the Senate hearing, even some of the Congress knows, including Senator Terra Jang.”
Dropping Jang’s name was a calculated risk. The senator was a stalwart anti-slaver. Jang’s history with human trafficking was well documented, Promise knew. She prayed Declan’s boss knew it too.
I hope he reads the news.
“Thirty seconds.”
“When I don’t return on schedule my superiors will send someone after me to find out why. You’re a businessman in a line of work with enemies, and people know you’re here. My people know I’m here. You don’t want the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division snooping around. That could be very bad for business.”
“You sound desperate, Ms. Paen. I believe we’re done.” He turned to go.
“Taking Sephora off your hands will be doing you a favor.”
Shorty paused and then turned back to face her. If he was surprised that Promise knew the girl’s name he didn’t show it. His eyes flicked sideways. “Declan took care of her already.”
No. The room started spinning and Promise fought the urge to sit down. “I thought Declan liked to take his time,” she shot back.
His slight smile told her she’d struck home. “You can’t prove anything. Still, the girl is a … minor inconvenience.” Finally, they were getting somewhere.
“That’s true,” Promise said. “That’s why I’m going to do you the favor.”
“What can you possibly offer me?”
“My silence. And when I die doing my job on some forsaken, backwater planet, what I know about your operation won’t matter anymore. I’m a mechanized Marine in a frontline company that’s prepping for a long deployment to Sheol. We expect to take casualties. Do the math.”
Promise grabbed her side as a sharp pain hit her. “I’ll actually be doing you a huge favor,” she said through gritted teeth. “Sephora doesn’t want to be here any more than I do. If you kill her you’ll have to kill me too.”
“Don’t tempt me, Lieutenant. I can think of ten different ways to do you … just off the top of my head. It’s not complicated.”
“Let’s not circle round the issue. You’re going to have to deal with the girl one way or the other, and you’re going to have to deal with me, too. If I disappear there will be an investigation. What I’m offering you avoids that complication.”
“Perhaps. Say I kill you and dispose of your body. Maybe no one comes looking after all. Say I stage your death, tag your corpse, and space you out an airlock, and then retrieve your frozen body and smash you into a million little pieces. Say I strap you into a capsule and drop you into the sun with the rest of the trash. Say I do the same to you and the girl. Death notices are easily forged. I’ll write yours myself.” The man looked up in thought. “Ah, how’s this? As soon as you arrived, you shuttled down to the surface and hit the north shore. Regrettably, what passes for a shark on Guinevere dragged you under and had you for lunch. We never saw you again. I’m a good storyteller and everyone has a price. What then, Lieutenant?”
Promise didn’t miss a beat. “The Marine Corps will still investigate. We never leave one of our own behind. Consider my brain-box.” Promise tapped the base of her skull. “It’s implanted in my cerebellum. If I die, it records the time, place, and cause of death. It’s nearly indestructible. You can tamper with it but the Corps will know, and the Corps will want it back. They’ll go diving.”
The man scratched his head. “Maybe, assuming they can even find it. I’ve made a career out of solving difficult problems.”
“Go ahead. Make me disappear. Incinerate me.” Promise dared him. “When I don’t report in on time my superiors will file a report. I’ll be considered AWOL and the Corps will want to know why. Take it from me: I’m not the type to desert my post. Either way, the RAW-MC will come looking for me.”
The man pursed his lips and seemed to give her words some thought.
“Why, Lieutenant? Why should I believe either of you won’t talk if I let you walk? What prevents you from running to the senator you mentioned and trying to shut me down?”
“Like you said, the Republic’s laws don’t apply here. And, I keep my word. If either of us talked, I’m sure you’d make sure something unpleasant happened to us. Believe me, I very much want to live.”
“How good is your imagination, Ms. Paen? What’s to stop, as you put it, something unpleasant from happening to you in the future?”
“I’m going to lie.” Promise knew her decision would eat at her for the rest of her life. “I came here on vacation, had a good time, and told the staff so in writing. I even wrote a letter to the management expressing my thanks. Draw it up, name whomever you wish. I’ll sign it.”
“I want more. You’re also going to write to your commanding officer and you’re going to explain your injuries as an unfortunate accident on the planet’s surface, while telling him what a wonderful time you had. Please brag about our medical facilities and our staff. We took amazing care of you. We care a great deal about our military guests. By the way, thank you for your service. We’ve already created a backstory for the girl … in the event we need to dispose of her. Never deviate from the story for as long as you live. Do, and I’ll have you both disappeared.
“One last thing, Lieutenant. Please listen very carefully because I want these words to haunt you in your dreams for the rest of your life.” A thin smile crossed his face. “I know you’re an orphan, just like Sephora. But, you do have friends in the Corps. Kathy and Maxi. Did I get their names right? They each have families. Little nieces and nephews and parents who love them dearly. I found their stills on the nets, and both look like upstanding Marines. I would hate to think something might happen to either one of them, or their families. Or to Sephora. Something unfortunate. Something unpleasant. Something permanent. Do we understand each other? Do we have a deal?”
“Yes, we have—” Her words caught in her throat and it took everything in her to get them out.
Thirty-two
MAY 15TH, 92 A.E., STANDARD CALENDAR, 1214 HOURS
PLANET GUINEVERE, NIGHTSIDE
KIES ORBITAL TOUROSPHERE
STATION SECURITY, CELL TWO
A half hour later, Ms. Night opened Promise’s cell, her luggage and a fresh set of clothes in hand.
“Size four, right?”
Promise raised an eyebrow as she hobbled outside. “Where’s Declan? I want to say good-bye.”
Night appeared tense, fidgety even. “We’re stopping at Medical before you leave … for your first round of treatment. You may change there.” Night hesitated. “You’re staying aboard for the next couple of days, for th
e rest of your convalescence. I put you in one of our best suites. You won’t be permitted to leave your room or roam the facility. I’m sorry about that but there’s nothing I can do. I wish things … well … I wish you the best, Ms. Paen.”
“I would normally say thank you, Ms. Night. I’m afraid you don’t deserve it. What about Sephora?”
“The girl will join you when you leave the station.”
“What about my early check-in?” Promise couldn’t have been more sarcastic.
“Ah—”
“Please thank Troy anyway.”
Night looked like she wanted to say something more.
A nurse dressed in white scrubs with the Kies logo embroidered on the breast met them at the entrance to Kies Medical. Coastal scenes hung on the walls, and a holo of the human nervous system rotated on a dais. “I’m Nurse Haak,” the nurse said to Promise, and to Ms. Night, “Will you be joining us?” Haak looked Promise over and gave Night a perturbed look.
“No, I need to settle some matters,” Night said. “Ms. Paen, I’ll be back for your signatures in a bit.”
Signatures? Oh, right. You mean so I can falsify screenwork.
Promise tried to peel out of her clothes and found the blood had already dried. “Wait.” Haak sprayed her wounds down, dampening her clothes while wicking away the pain. “They break it and I have to put it back together. Some days this job doesn’t pay enough.” Getting her pants off ripped open the wound on her thigh anyway, and Promise nearly passed out.
“They did a piss-poor job of dressing that.”
“Tell me about it,” Promise said between labored breaths. Haak caught her underneath the arm and walked her to an examination table. “Guess they got their kilo of flesh too.”
“Best leave it at that.” Haak shook her head. “The less I know about you the better. Call it an occupational hazard.”
Haak cast a competent air about her. Stern eyes said she wasn’t one for small chat. Her chin-length hair was cut in a bowl and it swung gently as she worked, every movement precisely measured. She reached for a side table and a small cylinder about the length of her forearm. “Let’s wand the open wounds first. Then you point and I’ll shoot, okay?”
Interesting choice of words. “It’s a plan. My ribs are killing me.”
“Good. They’re up next.”
An hour later Promise walked out of Medical feeling more like herself. She was freshly showered, and dressed more or less as she’d arrived, minus the bloodstains and most of the swelling. Ms. Night, a taxi, and a pair of armed guards were waiting at the entrance. The larger of the two helped her get her head down as she entered. “Careful, Ms. Paen.” The driver turned around and offered her a beverage and a mint.
Rolling out the welcome mat. I guess we’re all friends now, Promise thought. She kept her situational awareness about her. If either guard reached inside a coat pocket or into the waistband for a knife or hypo or some other weapon, she wouldn’t hesitate. An elbow strike to the larynx—guard left. Then a back fist to the nose followed by a hammer fist to the groin—guard right. She’d grab the driver’s ponytail from behind and snap his neck. The phantom crack of breaking vertebrae made her smile. They’d all be dead before they knew what hit them.
The pain in her ribs had subsided to a midlevel ache by the time they reached the hotel. The bruising had mostly faded, so someone would have to really look to see it. The blistering on her hand had been severe and would require several more rounds of quickheal. Haak had debrided the skin before spreading a gel across the open wound, which quickly set while retaining its plasticity. Then she’d “wanded” the site to promote healing. Her palm looked pretty raw. She figured she could kill with it if she had to.
The taxi drove into a service hatch at the base of the hotel and found its spot among a small fleet of hatch-back bubbles. A private lift deposited her twelve floors up. She was escorted to her room, a hand on each arm. A small tray of food lay on a stone table in a well-furnished sitting room. The napkins said THE PEPPER SEED, and there was enough food for two people.
“Am I expecting company?”
Ms. Night gave her an unreadable look and sat down. “The pepper seed is actually a nut-bearing tree on the surface. The nuts have kick. I’m not fond of them.”
“Seriously?” Promise eyed the food, thinking it might be poisoned or something.
“Here.” Night took a bite. “See. It won’t kill you. Besides, we have time.”
“Yes, about that. My vacation isn’t due to end for a bit,” Promise said. She turned her attention to the large viewport against the outer wall. Several in-system vessels were docked outside. EN MOUVEMENT was stenciled in black on the largest vessel, a pleasure cruiser much like the one she’d jumped in on. Two rows of viewports ran the length of the ship from the cockpit to amidships, and she could see people moving inside. Her stomach growled; she wasn’t yet ready to put solid food in it. Maybe a cup of caf. “How am I going to explain the change of plans? I’m supposed to be on the planet’s surface.” The cockpit lights came on and the caf nearly burned her tongue. She turned to face Night. “I just arrived, yesterday.”
“We’ve taken care of that.” Ms. Night stared off into space. “En Mouvement is one of our finest vessels. The morning after tomorrow, she departs for a quick tour of the inner system, and a brief orbit of Alterra. You’ll be aboard. After that she returns here for the next group of guests.”
Best get this out of the way before I throw up. “Better tell me the official story, then.”
Night looked at her directly. “When you arrived, you stopped by White Kies for a late dinner, where you unfortunately came down with a bout of food poisoning. We felt so badly about it we gave you a tremendous discount on the intrasystem tour. While you recovered you took us up on the offer. You met Sephora as you boarded the En Mouvement. You hit it off and spent a lot of time with her during the cruise.”
Promise sensed there was more and cocked her head.
“You’ll still be billed for your stay and the tour but at a substantially reduced rate. The tour is, well, no-expenses-spared. The boss wants you off his station as soon as you’ve completely healed. After the tour, you’ll stop by the tourosphere just long enough to switch vessels and then return to Hold with the girl.”
“How much is all of this going to cost me?”
“We already ran the charge and you will be pleased to know it didn’t bounce. You’ve saved up quite a lot for a lieutenant.”
Wonderful. “What about Sephora?”
“The girl’s contract with us ends the day she boards the En Mouvement. She’s opted to spend her outstanding vacation and company credits on the same tour you’re taking. She’s worked at the Tribeca as waitstaff for the past two years. Her father was a maintenance worker and died in an accident. When he passed, she stayed on. She had no other family to speak of and we took her in.” Night looked down and fidgeted with her nails. “I’ve loaded the details into your queue. You only get to read it once before it self-deletes. Here.” She handed Promise a datapad. “That explains it all. Don’t try to link with the nets or get out a message. We’ve deactivated your implant too. You’re running dark until you board the jumpship for your return to Hold. We have assets in the Marine Corps so we may check in from time to time.”
Night’s admission was said so casually it took a moment for the words to register, and then Promise did a double take.
“Oh, I need a couple of signatures, here and on the next screen, and a retinal scan.”
“This is the letter I wrote?” Promise asked.
“Yes. You’re welcome.”
The simple script logo of Kies Inc. appeared in the upper right of the screen; the letter was thorough. The hotel’s concierge was mentioned, and the bartender at White Kies, Tanin. So were the resort on-planet and Troy who manned the welcome desk. He’d arranged for the early check-in she didn’t get to use. And two sentences praised Haak from the medical clinic. Promise didn’t disagree the
re. She cited all of them for “services above and beyond” her “every expectation.” She’d be sure to pass the word around the Corps too. Declan was even mentioned, and that went down like a jagged pill. The date stamp was four days from now.
“Nice to see Declan getting his due.” Promise read on. A minor mishap with a plate of undercooked surf and turf had sent her to the infirmary, the toxins nearly killed her. She’d been in her room and grown nauseous, fallen, and gashed her leg on a side table. She’d been boiling water for tea to help calm her stomach, and as she went down she’d reached out and brushed the hot plate and burned her hand too. She’d no reason to doubt the report except she knew it was all a fabricated lie. “The tour of the system was breathtaking and the ice rings around Alterra I won’t soon forget.” The last paragraph turned her stomach. “Everyone at Kies was wonderful, and in spite of being sick I’ve never been so pampered in my life. The staff was amazing. I’d tell you to hang on to Sephora but…” Promise put the tablet down for a moment and inhaled slowly, and slow-released her anger. “… but she’s already told me it’s time for her to move on. As it turns out we’ll be on the same in-system tour for two days so I’ll have the pleasure of her company for a bit longer. She was there when I needed her most, when I could barely get up to care for myself. You should give her a fat bonus as a sendoff.”
Promise signed the document with clenched teeth, swiped to the next document. It was addressed to her commanding office, Lieutenant Colonel Price Halvorsen, and the date stamp showed the current date only later that afternoon.
MAY 15th, 92 A.E., STANDARD CALENDAR, 1500 HOURS
LT COL Price Halvorsen, RAW-MC
Commanding Officer, Charlie Battalion, Fifth Brigade, Twelfth Regiment
Queue: MM-1 160 021 533
Dear Colonel;
I’ve been waylaid on Kies Tourosphere and never made it to the planet’s surface. Of all things I ate undercooked shellfish and the toxins nearly offed me. Kies Medical is top-notch and I should be good-to-go by the time my liberty is up. I’m writing to keep you informed … just in case. If my situation changes, you will know ASAP. Kies is comping most of my trip and if I’m up to it they’ve booked me passage on a two-day cruise of the system in the captain’s suite. Not too shabby for a lowly jane. A nurse is accompanying me to monitor my vitals. I tell you … these folks are tops.
