by Andria Stone
“Well, Forest, if we pulled all Terran military off that base, you’d be left with nothing but a few children and some shopkeepers. I’m going to let you keep that poor excuse of a doctor Illingsworth. If he ever comes any closer to Terra than a communication satellite, I’ll have him transferred in perpetuity to Anchorage’s Bertrand facility. They only work on cadavers up there. He misdiagnosed and mistreated the very person who apprehended the sabotaging thieves that were stealing proprietary scientific data. From a Lunar lab. On a Lunar base.” By now Dimitrios’s temples had started throbbing, and his face went florid.
“Your security held the other three victims for two hours, interrogated them without representation, even after my people sent you confirmation of the request for help. Plus, you had all the videos to back up their accounts. Hell, Forest, it’s the Wild West up there. You’ve failed to keep my people safe, so you’d better have them on a ship back here just as soon as Warren’s ready to travel, or I’m on the first warship leaving orbit in the next twenty minutes to get them myself. Now I want those two sabotaging thieves drugged unconscious, stuffed in cryopods, put under armored guard, on the next ship leaving Luna straight to Headquarters. You hear me, Forest?” Dimitrios manually terminated Yates’s connection. He loosened the top two buttons of his uniform, took a big gulp from a mug on his desk, steepled his fingers, and resumed in a much calmer tone.
“Maj. Torance, can you explain Warren’s reaction to the tranquilizer gas?
“No, sir. In his altered state of mind, he might have tried self-inducing pain to ward off unconsciousness. Otherwise, it’s an anomaly. Not everybody reacts the same way.”
“Are you sure he’s one of ours?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve personally scanned him numerous times. No neural implants. No augmentation. Totally human.”
“And he’s a scientist? The same one who caught that first cyborg after the attack on CAMRI a couple of weeks ago?”
“Hard to believe, but, yes, sir.”
“Well, hell. We should put him in armor. Turn him loose on the battlefield. I like this boy. He gets a Silver Star. Bring him and his team back to your base. We’re certain they’ll be safe there, right, Col. Harben?”
“Yes, sir. Over my cold dead carcass.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, Wayne. Now…I will have these two saboteurs interrogated until they’re reduced to nothing more than puddles of shit. We will find out who gave them the orders and when. As we speak, I’m implementing a Universal Order, mandatory scanning at every TMD facility including all research and development installations. If it breathes, bleeds, or farts, it gets scanned. No exemptions. I’m due for mine in five minutes. Next, we need to draw up a strategy for dealing with civilians running around out in public that might be a potential threat. Finally, are we any closer to locating this damned Beth Coulter?”
***
Twenty-four hours after the incident, the hospital released Mark into Axel’s protective care. A small strip of micro tape covered his head wound. He was more than ready to leave that facility. They were sitting in the back of a hover vehicle, driven by a burly sergeant. On the way to their quarters, both their tablets pinged with a message.
“Coming home to ND 08:00 Pet.”
Mark and Axel exchanged looks. Axel nodded and shrugged. Mark had anticipated this. Wreck a Lab. Damn near kill two men. What did he expect? Never mind that it wasn’t all his fault.
Mark commed Eva while Axel commed Kamryn, making sure everyone had received the message.
“Eva, we need to go to the lab and retrieve all our data.”
“No. Not to worry, though. Just come to my quarters.”
The sergeant dropped them off in front of their doors. “You four are restricted to your quarters. Indefinitely. Access to all other areas has been cordoned off. Your meals will be delivered. Do you have any questions?”
“Nope. Thanks for the ride, Sergeant.” Mark wouldn’t fight it. He didn’t have the strength. He had visions of emptying his liquor cabinet this evening. Might as well enjoy his last night on Luna.
Eva opened her door when she heard the voices and motioned them inside. “I’ve already taken care of the data.”
“When?’
“When Kamryn and I were released. We returned to the lab. Double-checked the data to make sure it was all there. I downloaded it, scrubbed the drives, then we took it to the security office and put it in the safe.”
“Great, Eva. Now we can sit back. Wait for our ride home.”
“There’s a hitch. I don’t know if the lab was breached between the time we were removed, and the time Kamryn and I returned. I’ve asked to see the vids of that time period. So far, there’s been no response.”
“Let me try. I need to take a shower. Change clothes first. I’ll comm you in a little while.”
He walked out. Axel followed him. Mark stepped across the hall and unlocked his door. It swung open. Hot damn.
An auburn-haired vixen, wearing nothing except very skimpy black lacy things—hardly worth putting on—but a whole lot of fun taking off—stood just inside his doorway. He smiled, probably leered, secretly thanking the gods his last night on Luna wasn’t going to be spent hugging a bottle of scotch. Scarlett looked intoxicatingly…delicious.
“Thought I’d drop by to see if you needed anything after being released from the hospital.” She sounded sultry.
“As a matter of fact, you look exactly like what I need.” He reached for her. She twisted away. He reached again. This time, she let him catch her. He kissed her, soft and playfully while they melted together. He picked her up and she straddled him, wrapping her legs around his waist. He didn’t know yet if those stun batons had scrambled his brains. The important parts of his body had recovered perfectly. When her playful mood turned inviting, he lifted her over his shoulder. She giggled and squealed as Mark slammed the door shut with his heel, followed by peals of laughter that rang down the hall.
***
Two hours later, Mark was alone. His tablet pinged with official orders direct from TMD Headquarters to return to Terra. Mark commed the store where he’d purchased his leather clothing and spoke to the owner. He described what he wanted, saying he would pay in cash. The owner assured him she had everything. He explained where they were to be delivered. Next, he commed the Golden Pagoda, then the Cancún Cantina, ordering meals to be delivered with the payment in cash. Lastly, Mark sent a message to Petra stating Eva’s concerns about the unviewed video which needed to be examined ASAP.
He took a shower, dressed in his captain’s uniform, gathered his gambling winnings, and headed to the closest checkpoint to the Plaza area. He approached the two soldiers guarding the entrance. They engaged in small talk until an older woman, dressed head to toe in burgundy leather, arrived carrying three shopping bags. She approached Mark.
“May I see the green one?”
She opened the smallest bag.
He peered inside. “Excellent. You’ll wrap that one and deliver it?”
“With pleasure.” Her eyes sparkled with their secret.
Mark slipped her the agreed upon payment. She handed him the other bags, bowed, and walked away.
Two waiters, one from each restaurant, appeared with bags of food. Mark paid, took the boxes and commed everyone that the last supper on Lunar was being served in his quarters. He was met by three salivating ravenous friends. After their initial pangs of hunger had been satisfied, Eva spotted the shopping bags.
“When did you have time to shop?”
“I ordered in, just like the food.”
She pointed to the nearest bag and gave him a questioning look.
Mark nodded, not wasting time talking. He hadn’t eaten any of the hospital food. After the extremely pleasurable workout with Scarlett, he was starving.
“Oooh…” Eva pulled out crimson red leather pants. Her face puckered up, eyes brimming with tears that spilled down her cheeks. She came over and threw both arms around his neck
. “You’re my best friend.”
Mark held up his index finger, pointed at the bag.
Eva went back, pulled out a pair of black leather long coats.
“Those are for Axel and Kamryn. I thought they’d be good for concealing weapons. Hell, you could carry a whole arsenal under there without being detected.”
Kamryn jumped up and tried one on. She smiled and in an uncharacteristic expression of gratitude, hugged him.
At last, Eva drew out an edgy looking black jacket decorated with jewel toned metal studs, decorative stitching, and pockets.
“For Petra. I couldn’t send a request for help to anyone here, without knowing who was compromised, so I contacted Petra. If she hadn’t acted so fast, I might be in the stockade awaiting trial.” Mark adopted a serious tone, looking at each one as he spoke. “I want you all to know how sorry I am for not getting to the lab sooner. I never knew CAMRIs security had been gassed until I read the report that morning. Then I raced over there. I was too late. If I had gotten there sooner…”
“You would have been on the floor with us. I knew about the tranq gas. It didn’t occur to me that it could happen here, too. Kamryn and I both wish it had been one of us that took down those two. It wasn’t. You came at the right time and neutralized the threat. A little unorthodox, but that seems to be your style. You are a soldier, Mark Warren. You may not see it, but we do. Soldiers learn they can’t stop all the bad shit from happening. We can only minimize the damage. You did exactly that. Take it as a win.”
Eva’s tablet pinged. “They’re sending us the vid I asked for. Petra says they’ve verified it’s authentic. It’s all original. Nothing’s been edited.”
They all watched the entire vid—without audio. From before they succumbed to the gas until all four of them were removed from the lab. Then two armored guards were posted at the door. No one entered until Eva and Kamryn returned to retrieve the data.
Axel stood, moving toward the door. “We need to pack. Turn in early. I don’t know yet when they’ll be coming to get us so we should be ready.”
***
After retrieving the data chips from the Security Office, procedures for leaving Lunar Base 3 were a reversal of how they’d entered. However, the lunar security barrier personnel failed to request the return of any of their weapons or vests. He made eye contact with Kamryn. She nodded in agreement. They stood by in the docking bay to board a shuttle bound for the Spacedock where they would catch a ship back to Terra. He hadn’t realized how eager he was to return to his home base until now.
The instant he stepped through the airlock, he spotted the cryopods in the rear of the shuttle. Axel raised his hand, halting the procession. “Who’s in charge here?”
A vertically challenged portly officer with a prissy attitude stepped forward. “I’m Lieutenant Jennings.”
“Sir, do those two cryopods hold the criminals bound for Terra?”
“Affirmative.”
“Our people cannot board this shuttle, lieutenant. Standard operating procedures mandate that protectees and detainees cannot travel on the same conveyance.” Axel’s hand cradled the butt of his sidearm. Kamryn eased up, taking a place at his side. Both towered over the lieutenant. Shoulder to shoulder, immobile, they blocked the airlock tube pathway.
“I have orders to transport you four to the spacedock. On this flight. So don’t give me any trouble. Sit down and harness up.”
“And I have my orders. Straight from Gen. Dimitrios of TMD Headquarters in Virginia.”
One of the armored personnel guarding the cryopods clanked up the metal aisle, stopping behind the lieutenant. “Problem, sir?”
He waved the guard away. “My orders are from Gen. Yates. He’s in charge of Luna. We’re on Luna. So you’ll follow his orders about leaving Luna.”
Kamryn held up her tablet. “Jennings, if you’d be so kind as to read aloud the TMD Article 9-65.140, I believe it will corroborate Sgt. Von Radach’s statement.”
The lieutenant craned his neck to look at it. As if the data on her tablet had been corrupted, he keyed it up on his own device. His pinched face expression was all the proof Kamryn needed.
“Thank you. Have a nice trip.” She and Axel executed a perfect about-face, escorting their protectees back through the airlock, out onto the docking bay.
While Axel searched for the person in charge of Flight Operations, the shuttle they were scheduled to be on departed. The sergeant in charge of the docking bay assured him another flight would be leaving in fifty minutes.
A loud commotion back at the last checkpoint caught their attention. Within seconds, Scarlett came racing down the ramp wearing emerald green leathers, waving, her auburn hair flowing around her face.
All docking personnel watched as Mark dropped his duffle, spread his arms, and she rushed into them. Their embrace was the kind women loved to watch in old Earth movies. Even Axel appreciated the view. Eva and Kamryn elbowed each other, captivated by the spectacle. Then he realized news of this would spread all over the base faster than an airborne virus in a wind storm. He needed to get them out of sight before Mark was arrested for sexually assaulting the general’s daughter. In public.
“Capt. Warren.” Axel jabbed him in the ribs. “You’re already on Yates’s shit list. I believe you might have crossed the line into the stockade this time.” He propelled everyone into the small waiting room, off to the side, out of direct view.
Without warning, an emergency siren started blaring from all comm systems in the docking bay. Lights dimmed to a flashing red.
The PA system announced, “There has been an explosion on the shuttle en route to the Spacedock. All future departures are canceled. A security lockdown is in place.”
Together, Axel’s team drew their weapons, as he kicked the door closed. Mark forced Scarlett down into a back corner. Axel sent a message to HQ with the report of the explosion. Kamryn dashed another off too their commanding officer, Maj. Buchanan. Mark sent his message to Petra, just to cover all their bases. Eva dropped to one knee beside Scarlett, guarding her.
There were never survivors of an explosion in space. If it hadn’t been for Axel, all four of them would be dead. There was no doubt now that Beth Coulter meant to kill them all.
Chapter 12
A disturbed flurry of activity enveloped the docking bay on Lunar Base 3. Armored troops marched down the ramp to the waiting room, broke open the door, disarmed everyone, and took all five people into custody. Mark tried to stay close to Scarlett, but the sexes were separated. He managed to get off partial messages about being arrested to Petra, while Axel sent one to HQ. Neither one expected help anytime soon. Fifteen minutes later, they were in the Stockade, including Lt. Scarlett McDonnell, the general’s daughter.
The three females were grouped into one large detention cell, with Mark and Axel in a separate cell across from them.
McDonnell, apparently never having been manhandled before, wasn’t accepting her current predicament very well. “Touch me again, you draconian metal head, and I’ll have you turned into a eunuch. Don’t you know who I am?”
“My prisoner.” The armored guard walked out of the holding area, metal door clanging behind him.
No sooner had he left than three JAG Corps Officers entered, followed by a tall, stately auburn-haired woman.
“Mother.”
The woman pressed a finger to her lips.
Scarlett fell silent.
The woman, Scarlett’s mother, otherwise known as Gen. Yates’s wife, motioned one JAG Officer to the men’s cell, one to the women’s cell, with the third solely to speak with her daughter.
Mark noted that getting arrested with the general’s daughter was by far the fastest way to receive representation. Tablets pinged, like a doorbell on Halloween, with messages from TMD Headquarters, and their release came minutes later. After all the charges had been dropped, Scarlett introduced everyone to her mother ending with Mark.
“Mrs. Yates, I apologize for all the
confusion. We’re exceedingly grateful for your assistance. What can we do to make it up to you?”
“Capt. Warren, you can explain why my husband’s been acting strangely—erratic the past few days?” Her request caught everyone’s attention.
Eva nudged Mark. He glanced at her. She mouthed the words “neural implant.”
“Ma’am, did the general give you any indication as to why we were sent here?”
“He mentioned your facility was attacked, and you’d been sent here to continue your research.”
“Yes, ma’am. There were extenuating circumstances. Might there be a private place we can talk?”
Six people gathered in, of all places, a small pantry inside the Cafeteria’s kitchen. All four of Mark’s group took turns divulging only relevant parts of the last couple of weeks to Ms. Yates and Scarlett. The two women stood together, arms around each other’s waists, with their demeanors growing more somber with every word.
Mark concluded by saying, “And your comment, ma’am, leads us to believe that the general may have no knowledge that he’s carrying an implant, or that it's remotely…manipulated.”
Mrs. Yates ventured, “Like the two men who were arrested? The ones on the shuttle that exploded this morning?”
“Yes, ma’am. The same shuttle we were scheduled to be on—if it hadn’t been for Sgt. Von Radach’s quick thinking and Sgt. Fleming’s persistence.”
Mrs. Yates turned ashen, sunk until she was sitting on a crate of canned vegetables. “I heard him give orders for all of you to be on that shuttle.” She cupped her head, elbows on knees, and began to weep.
Scarlett knelt to comfort her mother. “He wouldn’t do anything like that on his own. He’s a good man. He knows the regulations. He’s third generation military, for God’s sake. It’s been his whole life.”
Mark and Axel huddled for a moment, then agreed to send a priority message to HQ stating that the security of all three Lunar Bases might be compromised by its commanding general. Mark was torn between wanting to help him, or choosing to save the rest of the people under his command. Axel wasn’t conflicted at all, so he was the one who technically sent the message.
