by Simon Haynes
All very well for you, she thought. You don't have to give a speech.
"Officer Walsh?"
Alice jumped at the voice, and turned to see a middle-aged woman approaching. She was portly, with curly hair and a welcoming face, and as she got closer she put her hand out. "So nice of you to come, and at such short notice, too. The kids are really excited, let me tell you. They've never seen a real Peace Force officer before!"
"I—I hope I don't let them down."
"Oh, don't be silly. They'll eat you up!"
"That's what I'm afraid of," muttered Alice.
She followed the woman down the hall, and as they approached the classroom door Alice felt her feet dragging. How many times had she joined a new school, followed a new teacher to a new classroom, sat there in silence while everyone stared at her, judged her, evaluated her? This was ten times worse, because she had to stand up and talk to them!
Alice's footsteps faltered, and she was on the point of turning her back on the whole deal. Bernie was asking too much. She'd joined the Peace Force, not a speech club! And anyway, Harriet should have done it. She was confident, and older, and so much better at dealing with people.
Then she pictured Harriet's face, when she learned that Alice had bailed. She'd be kind about it, sympathetic, but there'd be disappointment too. Plus Bernie would probably give her another handful of essays to write.
The moment of self-doubt passed, and Alice strode towards the classroom.
"In here, officer Walsh," said the teacher, and she put a hand in the middle of Alice's back and guided her inside.
Chapter 11
Bernie had arranged the thugs in a line, and her head turned from side to side as she observed her captives.
"What are you going to do with us?" asked the leader.
"Do not speak and do not move." said Bernie. Desperately, she suppressed her battery warning. She'd already been low on charge when Harriet left, and knocking down the factory doors had reduced her to no more than four percent. From long experience, she knew this allowed her maybe a dozen footsteps, one moderate code-cracking session, or ten minutes of conversation. Her only hope was to get one of the offenders to secure the rest, but in her haste to attend the callout, she'd neglected to bring any cuffs. Briefly, she considered breaking a leg on each offender, but she decided her battery probably wouldn't last.
No, what she needed was to switch to her emergency power supply, but she would be powered down for thirty seconds. Could she get these people to stand where they were that long? Trouble was, the more she thought the quicker she drained her power. Then she had an idea, and she faced the captives with her most forbidding expression. "I am about to scan your faces for identification purposes. Do not attempt to disguise your features. Please remove any caps, hats or other headgear. Please do not smile."
There wasn't much chance of that. Every one of Tyron's thugs looked like they were attending their own funeral.
"This process will take sixty seconds. If anyone moves I will have to start again. Each time you force me to start again, I will kill one of you."
The leader stared at her. "What?"
"Believe me," said Bernie calmly. "It is far easier to scan a body than a moving subject. Now, please stand still as the process is about to begin." Mentally crossing her fingers, she configured her emergency power supply and triggered a reboot.
Instantly, or so it seemed, she was back again. Unfortunately, the line of captives had vanished. Bernie glanced this way and that, scanning the area for the fugitives, and she felt a rising anger as she realised they'd all escaped. Didn't anyone obey orders anymore?
Then she noticed something. Rather than thirty seconds, her reboot had actually taken thirty minutes.
— ♦ —
Smith was hunched over the intercom in his cabin, waiting impatiently for news. He hated relying on others to do his bidding, preferring to get his hands dirty, but in this case it was unavoidable. Snatching the girl would raise a stink, and he wanted to be sitting aboard his ship ready to blast off. The thugs he'd hired could take their own chances.
The intercom buzzed, making him jump. "Yes?"
"The Spaceport has granted departure clearance. We can take off at a moment's notice."
"Dammit, don't bother me with details!" snapped Smith. "I'm waiting for a call, here."
"Sorry, sir. Flight deck out."
Smith drummed his fingers. What was taking so long? They ought to have the girl by now, and if they weren't already halfway to the spaceport he'd be furious. Maybe he should have gone along.
The intercom buzzed again.
"This had better be my call," snapped Smith.
"Er, yes. Putting them on now," said the crew member hurriedly.
"Hello? Hello? Are you there? What's going on?"
There was a crackle from the speaker, and then a woman's voice, rushed and out of breath. "Total failure, sir. It was a setup. The team's scattered, and—"
"I don't give a flying monkey about the team!" shouted Smith. "What about the girl?"
"She never showed! The leader reports a huge Peace Force robot showed up and knocked half the building down."
"A who did what?" Smith blinked. "Are your people drunk or something?"
"Negative. They managed to get away, but they tell me the robot is still out there."
Smith cursed, long and volubly. This planet was supposed to be about as secure as a cardboard safe. Who the hell brought in a giant robot? Then he had a sudden thought, and this one was much more positive. If a robot had attended this call, and Harriet was still out of the way … why not try a third time? "Listen, I want you to make another call to the station, and let's make it simple this time. None of this faffing around with abandoned factories in the warehouse districts. We'll get the girl right where we need her."
"I'm listening."
Smith outline his plan. "Got it?"
"Sure. Easy."
"Then get on with it. I don't want that damned robot showing up again. Make sure, this time!"
"What about our people?"
"You mean your people. Mine are already on board."
"Is that how you want to play this? Really?"
"Just get the job done, all right? After that, call everyone to the spaceport. And tell them to hurry, or I'll leave them on this horrible little planet."
"What about the guy watching the Peace Force office?"
"Oh yes, bring him back," Smith's tone was chilly. "Especially him. I want to have words."
— ♦ —
"Trainee Harriet, I fear I have let the Peace Force down."
Harriet had been on her way back to the station, and Bernie had called to warn her about the ambush. Far too late, as it turned out, and Harriet had never heard Bernie so despondent. "Come on, it's not that bad!"
"It's worse! I had numerous suspects in custody, but my battery failed. When I regained consciousness, they'd all fled."
Harriet pursed her lips. She expected bad, but this was even worse. "Are you charging now?"
"I am using power from my cab. It is not happy about the damage to its wiring, but in cases of emergency the Peace Force comes before all." Bernie hesitated. "Trainee Harriet, this may already be apparent to you, but it seems we are being targeted."
You think? Harriet almost said it aloud, but Bernie was suffering enough. It had taken ages for Harriet's heartbeat to return to normal after her near-miss, but her nerves would take a lot longer. She'd been playing and re-playing the encounter in her mind, and she realised just how incredibly lucky she'd been to get away. Living on Dismolle, dealing with insignificant matters, even the community policing … it had made her soft and careless.
Well, lesson learned, and she was determined never to get caught like that again.
Now Bernie was reporting a similar incident, but even more dangerous. From the way the robot had described events, it was certain Smith's people were trying to get their hands on Alice, and that made protecting her sister a top
priority. "Steve, faster please. And let's have the lights and sirens."
"Are you sure?" asked the car. "We're not on a call, and the last time you broke with protocol—"
"Just do it," said Harriet quickly, before Bernie heard about Foster and the traffic stop.
"Trainee Harriet is correct," said Bernie, through the dashboard speaker. "Please do as she wishes."
"Complying," said Steve, and Harriet saw red and blue lights reflected off nearby buildings as they tore by. The siren was a quiet wail, partly muffled by the well-insulated interior, but mostly drowned out by the roar of the cruiser's powerful engines.
"Bernie, the targeting," said Harriet. "We both know it's Smith. Can't we arrest him, or shoot him or something?"
"Even the Peace Force needs proof, Trainee, no matter how tenuous."
"What about his people? Did you identify any of them?"
"I was about to, but—"
"Pity. Get them into the interrogation room and you'd crack them like rotten eggs." Harriet pictured an angry Bernie alone in the cells with the suspects … people who'd tried to harm her precious trainees. "Not literally," she added hastily.
"They ran down alleys and hid in buildings, and I decided it would be a waste of time. Not to mention I was unable to give chase."
"Have you warned Alice?"
"She is at the school, about to give her speech."
"Well tell her to stay there afterwards. Plus, if she stays long enough she might learn something." Harriet realised she was being waspish. "Look, I know I argued against sending her there, but … you were right, Bernie. It probably saved her from Smith's people."
Bernie was silent.
"Hello? I was just saying you're right. There's no need to go silent."
Nothing.
Harriet cursed. Had the robot gone flat, or was Bernie's comms system playing up? The robot had a big appetite for spares, and not all of them were direct replacements for the original parts. "Steve, have we lost her?"
"Negative. The line is active but there is no audio."
At that moment there was a click. "Apologies, Trainee Harriet," said Bernie. "I am dealing with a fresh emergency call."
"Smith again?"
"Most likely."
"All right, call me back afterwards."
"Why?" asked Bernie, sounding puzzled.
"So we can discuss it, of course."
"Why not discuss it now?"
"I thought you said you were dealing with another call?"
"I am. They are reporting a suspicious package at the spaceport."
"Well don't waste time talking to me. Deal with them first."
"Oh, I understand your confusion. I am dealing with both of you simultaneously, Trainee Harriet. There is no need for me to delay."
"Wait, you're talking to them as well? What a neat trick!"
"That's what simultaneously means," said the robot drily. "They have just given me the landing pad number, and apparently their so-called package has wires, and here I must quote them, 'sticking out all over the place.' I have reassured them an officer will be despatched post-haste."
"Did they ask for Alice?"
"No, that would be a little too obvious. I did, however, give them the impression that the only officer available was a young trainee. I may have actually mentioned Alice's name."
Harriet grinned. For a walking, talking computer, Bernie was pretty cunning. "So they'll be expecting her again, but this time you and I will both show up."
"I'm not sure that's wise. I think maybe I should handle this call myself."
"You can't chase anyone. I can."
"But the danger—"
Harriet remembered the three men with their wooden clubs and metal bars, and shivered. "No, they're after Alice, Bernie. We'll stand together on this one."
"Very well, Trainee." Bernie hesitated. "Apparently the package is now ticking. And buzzing."
"They're really going to town, aren't they?"
"No, they're at the spaceport. As is the so-called bomb."
Harriet sighed. Expressions were a waste of time with Bernie - both verbal and facial. "Wait, do they know who they're talking to?"
"Of course not. I am using one of my other voices. They think I'm a receptionist at the station, and are unaware that I'm travelling towards their location right now."
"You're already on the way?"
"Of course. There is no time to be wasted."
Harriet muted the call. "Steve, the spaceport. Quick!"
"We're already en route," said the car. "Bernie gave me a new course moments ago."
"Great. Yet another slip-up from Harriet Walsh, Dismolle's worst detective."
"You will be great one day. Now you are merely good."
Harriet flashed Steve a grateful smile, then put Bernie back on. "What's your ETA?"
"Nineteen minutes, twelve seconds. Yours?"
"Fifteen minutes or so."
"Then I shall force the cab to increase speed. I do not wish you to arrive early."
"Don't worry, Bernie. Steve and I will just drive around until you show up."
"An excellent plan. I should arrive ninety seconds after you. Please take care, Trainee. I do not like to see my people in danger."
"Me neither," said Harriet grimly.
"Incidentally, I hereby authorise lethal force."
"What use is that? I don't even have a gun."
"I was talking to your car." And with that, Bernie cut the call.
"Lethal force?" asked Harriet. "Don't tell me you have missiles or lasers I don't know about?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out," said the car. "It's not like you've ever seen under my hood, if you know what I mean."
"Oh brother," murmured Harriet, and she sat back to wait out the rest of the ride.
Chapter 12
"So, er, I'm Trainee Alice … erm, I mean… Officer Alice Walsh of the, er …" Alice swallowed fitfully. She was standing at the front of the class, facing about two dozen kids. The teacher was off to one side, sitting behind a desk, and as Alice turned a look of desperation on her, she gave an encouraging smile and a nod.
"I'm with the, er, Peace Force. We arrest crooks and, er, stop crimes." Alice looked at the sea of faces. She'd seen an old nature film once, where a group of big cat-like creatures sat in their enclosure waiting to be fed. The looks on their faces were almost identical to those on the watching children. Then, as Alice looked around, she saw a small boy with his hand up. "Yes? Questions?"
"Can I go to the toilet?"
There was a snicker of laughter.
"I guess," said Alice doubtfully.
"Not now, Jack," said the teacher, and the boy put his hand down.
Immediately, a girl put her hand up.
"Yes?" said Alice desperately.
"Oh. Nothing." The girl put her hand down again. "I was itchy."
Alice realised things were not going well, and she wished the ground would just swallow her up. Or better still, she wished Bernie had taken the school visit so she, Alice, could have chased down the vandals instead.
The teacher sensed her discomfort, because she got to her feet and came to stand beside her. "Children, Officer Alice is here to talk about the importance of obedience. Does anyone know what that means?"
Nobody stirred. Figures, thought Alice.
"It means obeying orders. Who thinks that's important?" The teacher put her own hand up immediately, and the kids slowly followed her lead, until Alice was the only one with her hand down. Hurriedly, she raised it.
"Now, I'm going to run a little errand," said the teacher. "In the meantime I want you to listen carefully to Officer Alice. Is that understood? I want you to obey her."
The children nodded, and the teacher left the room. Alice suspected she couldn't watch the train-wreck any longer, but she was grateful for the intervention. However, immediately the teacher left, a girl in a yellow T-shirt put her hand up. Alice's eyes narrowed, but this time there really was a qu
estion.
"Do you have a gun?" asked the girl.
"I'm supposed to talk about obedience," said Alice. The girl's face fell, and Alice decided a short detour from the script wouldn't hurt. "Yeah, I've got a gun. All Peace Force officers do."
The girl's eyes went round, and the boy next to her put his hand up. "Did you bring the gun with you?"
"No, it's back at the station. We have a shooting range, where I have to practice for hours on end."
"Have you shot anyone?" called out another girl.
"Heaps of people," said Alice, who was beginning to get into the swing of things. "They all deserved it, of course. Bank robbers, kidnappers, queue-jumpers … the lot."
"Cor!"
A boy with a red shirt put his hand up. "My dad says guns are banned."
"Your dad knows nothing," said Alice firmly.
"He says it's the law," said the boy doggedly.
"The Peace Force is above the law. That's what my badge says. Legem erga nos … a law unto ourselves."
The boy frowned. "My dad says—"
"— a bit too much if you ask me," said Alice. She crossed to the teacher's desk and sat on the corner. "Right, let's talk about obedience."
A boy put his hand up. "Have you ever met an alien?"
"Of course!"
"Did you shoot it with your gun?"
Alice shook her head. "I used a great big space cannon," she said. "Kablooey! Nothing left but a patch of blue grease."
"EEEEeeewwww!"
Alice grinned as the kids pulled horrified faces. This was more like it! "I was in this space battle once. There was just me, in my fighter, against—"
"The Peace Force are a ground-based organisation," said the boy in the red shirt. "That's what my dad says."
"Yeah? Well I'm with the Space Peace Force, and we have fighter ships." Having shut the little tyke up, for now, Alice launched into a hair-raising tale of dog-fighting spaceships, near-misses and extreme bravery. "And then," she finished, in a low voice, "the whole thing blew up! The galaxy was saved!"
The kids oohed and aahed.
