The Imperative Chronicles, Books One and Two: The Mars Imperative & The Tesserene Imperative

by Mark Terence Chapman

  Again, something in the timbre of his words made James’ skin crawl. However, despite his misgivings, he had no concrete objections. “Can I do anything else to help?”

  “You’ve done plenty already. Thanks. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.” His strained smile didn’t match the friendly words.

  “Okay. Good hunting, Lee.” With that, James left Tennant’s office, thinking furiously.

  * * * *

  “What is it now, doctor?”

  Dr. Shallitt’s holo image smiled back. “Lee, I just thought you’d like to hear some good news for a change.”

  Lee Tennant responded with a weak smile. “Absolutely. So what’s the good news, Tom.”

  “I’ve just released the last of the patients who were suffering from allergies and sinus infections. They’re all going to be fine. I’ve recommended a change in the allergy prevention shots everyone is given when they arrive on Mars, so this shouldn’t happen again.”

  “Very good, doctor. Let’s hope everything goes that well from here on out.” Tennant’s face went grim. “We still have a lot of other problems that need fixing.”

  And one two-legged problem in particular.

  * * * *

  For his part, Jardin was enjoying a pleasant drive cross-country while thinking about Tennant.

  I’ll bet he’s wetting his pants right now. He knows what I did, and there isn’t a damn thing he can do about it! That was good for a tight smile.

  I’ve dealt with people like him all my life. He talks a good game, but when push comes to shove, they always fold. I figure one more little nudge and he’ll fall into line with the others. Once he starts kicking in, the smaller outfits will do the same.

  The thought of further fattening his bank account broadened his smile.

  * * * *

  James and Daniel set their lunch trays down on the makeshift tables in the temporary mess and sat.

  “I’m worried, Daniel. He didn’t seem himself. He was holding something back, but I don’t know what.”

  “Look, James, he’s under a lot of stress. People have died on his watch. I’m sure he blames himself for not anticipating something like this from Jardin. I’m not surprised that his emotions are subdued. Did you really expect him to be doing cartwheels over the news that we might be able to catch up with Jardin?”

  “Well, no, but you had to be there. He wasn’t acting the way you’d expect. I don’t know how to describe it; it was just…scary. That’s what it was, scary. There was a look in his eyes that I hope never to see again. In his present state of mind, I’m afraid he might do something stupid.”

  Daniel shrugged. “So what if he does? He’s a grown man and you’re not his babysitter. If he’s determined to do something stupid, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  “I know. But I’d hate to see Lee ruin his life over human garbage like Doug Jardin. That would be a real waste.”

  * * * *

  “Sweetheart, I’m about to do something that’s probably incredibly stupid. Keep your fingers crossed. With any luck, I’ll be back in a few hours, no worse for wear. If things go horribly wrong, well, just know that I was thinking of you.

  “But I don’t think that’ll happen. In fact, I’ve got a two-legged insurance policy that I hope will help things go smoothly. If so, I’ll call you in a few hours to let you know how everything turned out. I miss you already. James out.”

  James’ broad smile faded to a worried frown as soon as he pressed the Send key.

  * * * *

  An hour later, Lee Tennant was nearly finished loading the cargo compartment of a Cat with the provisions he expected to need on his brief trip.

  I’ve got plenty of air and a week’s worth of food and water. What else do I need?

  Oh yeah; silly of me.

  He turned back to the table where he’d left a duffel bag. I can’t forget this. It’s the most important cargo I’ve got. It’s too bad the U.N. charter forbids firearms on Mars; but maybe it’s for the best. This is more fitting anyway.

  The bag he tossed onto the floor behind the Cat’s passenger seat contained several kilos of plastic explosive, a half-dozen radio-operated detonators, and two transceivers.

  I know Jardin killed all those people, but if I pull him in for questioning, he’ll find some way to slip out of the noose. His kind always does. I’ll bet he already has an alibi cooked up and a fall-guy to take the blame.

  The more Tennant thought about Doug Jardin escaping punishment, and the more he saw in his mind’s eye Jardin grinning at him with that smug look of his and a Diego Corona clutched between his fat little fingers, the easier it became to rationalize what he was about to do.

  On the other hand, if Jardin’s Cat just happens to blow up due to a poorly designed bomb he was carrying to his next target, well, that’s just poetic justice, right? He won’t be around to argue the point, will he?

  The angel hovering over one shoulder tried to tell him that this plan would doom his soul to everlasting torment. The devil sitting on the other shoulder egged him on; pointing out that the bastard deserved what he was getting.

  In the end, the devil won. Tennant pulled out of the garage with blood in his eye and murder in his heart.

  CHAPTER 23

  History of Space Exploration: Life on Mars—Because there is so little serious crime on Mars, rarely is there a need to involve the cooperation of multiple security forces. The most common reasons are an outbreak of disease or a manhunt for an escaped suspect. Escapees do not remain free for long, however, as there is nowhere to hide but other mining colonies. These colonies are essentially small towns, where everyone knows who belongs and who does not.

  The bombing of Mars Mining & Refining Site 23 in 2172 was one of those rare events that galvanized everyone. No one knew when, where, or whether those responsible might strike again. As a result, all sites and base camps were at a heightened state of alert. All MAGLEV trains and elevator cars were carefully scrutinized; however, on Mars much travel was ad hoc, by Mars Cat. This made it difficult to monitor people’s movements. There was talk of requiring travelers to file “flight plans,” but without a central authority to monitor compliance, talk was all that resulted.

  — Excerpt from Encyclopedia Solaris, 2176

  * * * *

  Four hours out of Site 23, Tennant reached down to get a sandwich from the cooler between the front seats. As he leaned to the side, keeping his eyes on the “road,” a sound behind him caused him to turn his head.

  Unexpected movement startled him, and combined with his awkward position, conspired to make the wheel slip from his fingers. The Cat slewed to the right, up a steep embankment, and seemed destined to topple over. Tennant grabbed the wheel and yanked it left. The cab teetered on two wheels, then turned back toward the rocky plain, pulling the rest of the Cat along behind it. Tennant jammed both feet on the brake and wrestled the vehicle to a halt just shy of an immense boulder. He turned back to see what had startled him.

  “James! Jesus, are you trying to kill us both?”

  “Actually, it’s ‘all of us’ and, no I wasn’t. I didn’t expect you to react so violently. By the way, you remember my friend, Daniel Lim. He’s down here from Barsoom helping with the cleanup.”

  By then Daniel had emerged from the same crawlway leading from the passenger area as James had seconds ago. Seeing the expression on Tennant’s face, Daniel hesitated, then gave a weak half-wave.

  Tennant wasn’t yet ready to surrender his anger. “James, are you trying to top the record for most wrecks in a year? In case you’re wondering, the record is four; set by Josh Peterson—the late Josh Peterson. Now, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “If I’m right, stopping you from destroying your life and throwing away a distinguished career.”

  “Yeah, some career. What good is a foreman who can’t prevent the needless deaths of dozens of innocent people reporting to him?”

  “Lee, you can’t blame yourself for
the acts of a madman. Nobody could have foreseen this.”

  “I should have. He gave me enough clues.”

  “That’s ridiculous! None of the explosions before had fatalities but the ones on Nautilus and Barsoom, and there’s no hard evidence linking Jardin to those bombing.”

  “Maybe not, but I still should have expected it. I knew the bastard was capable of it. It was just a matter of time. But it doesn’t matter. Someone has to stop that murderer, and since the law doesn’t seem to be able or willing to, I guess it falls on me.”

  “Look,” James said, “it’s only a matter of time before he hangs himself. Jardin will be caught and punished eventually and you won’t have to ruin your life to accomplish it.”

  “And what if he kills more people while I’m waiting for him to slip up? He’s gotten away with it so far, hasn’t he? As you just said, there’s no hard evidence tying Jardin to this or any other crime. Who’s to say he can’t keep doing it?” Tennant’s agitation, which had abated momentarily, now returned in force. “Until he screws up somewhere he’s a free man! I have enough deaths on my conscience as it is. I couldn’t handle any more.”

  James looked helplessly to Daniel for ideas.

  Fortunately, a puzzled Tennant saved him the effort of having to fill the awkward silence. “You came all this way out here just to try to talk me out of going after Jardin?”

  James nodded.

  “Why didn’t you just confront me before I left?”

  James shrugged. “I was afraid you’d brush past me and go after him anyway. I didn’t think I could stop you by myself. And I didn’t want to get into a big fight back at the base.”

  “So that’s why Daniel came along for the ride?”

  Daniel nodded.

  “We couldn’t let you ruin your life over that scum,” James said. “Someone had to stop you.”

  Tennant shook his head angrily. “No, damn it, you didn’t! You should have just let me do what needs to be done. If it means going to jail for it, I’m willing to pay that price to make sure all of Jardin’s victims get justice.” He sighed heavily. “But I guess I can forget that idea now.”

  The left side of Tennant’s face quirked up in a crooked smile. “So…what? You waited to ambush me halfway to Jardin figuring that this being Mars I wouldn’t just put you out on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere? And that I wouldn’t take you with me and commit murder in your presence and make you accessories?”

  “More or less.”

  Tennant looked hard at James, then sighed. “Well, you were right.” He restarted the motors and turned the Cat about. “I guess we’ll be eating dinner in the mess hall again tonight.”

  Daniel smiled and gave James a thumbs-up.

  Half an hour later, the radio trilled.

  “Tennant.”

  An excited voice blared out of the speakers in a rush. “Lee? Lee, this is Tom Shallitt. I’ve got some great news for you. About an hour ago one of my patients—one of the most severely injured in the blasts—asked to speak with me. He was quite weak and I didn’t expect him to last much longer.”

  “Whoa! Doc, slow down and tell me what’s going on. How is that great news?”

  The sound of Dr. Shallitt taking a deep breath was clearly audible over the radio. “He said he wanted to make a statement and asked me to make a holo of it. I thought he wanted to leave a will. Imagine my shock when he said he was involved in the bombings—he and two others.”

  “You’re kidding me! He confessed to the bombings?” Tennant’s countenance was a study in conflicting emotions. Elation and disappointment vied for supremacy.

  “More than that Lee. He implicated Jardin as the instigator of the plot; not only for the bombings at Site 23, but also the ones at Amalgamated and on the Ares Flyer and Barsoom. He spoke in excruciating detail for the better part of an hour until he died. We have a deathbed confession, Lee—recorded for posterity. I checked with counsel and I’m told it’ll hold up in court.”

  Elation won out on Tennant’s face. “Hot damn! We’ve got the sonofabitch now.” In an instant, he was all business again. “Make sure security in Emerald Star’s Base Camp 7 and all other nearby camps are alerted to place him under arrest. We can’t let Jardin get away this time.

  “I’m going after him myself, just in case he tries to run for it. He has spies everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hears this news before long. Let me know if there are any further developments. I’m heading for Base Camp 7. Get in touch with Kim Cappelletti on Sagan and have her track Jardin’s Cat and let me know if he changes direction.”

  “You got it, Lee.”

  Tennant turned to James and Daniel. “Your jobs are to make sure that once we catch the bastard, I don’t forget myself and kill him before the courts get a crack at him.” His wink leeched the seriousness from his words.

  Tennant whipped the Cat around yet again and turned back toward Base Camp 7 and, he hoped, a most pleasant confrontation with Douglas P. Jardin. Pleasant, that is, for Leland Tennant.

  An intense gleam ignited in Tennant’s eyes. I don’t think Jardin will find it all that pleasant!

  He enjoyed a private smile at the thought.

  * * * *

  Jardin continued his drive, thinking about what he’d buy with the new-found wealth that was about to come his way. It wouldn’t be long before he could afford to retire in luxury to the villa in the Pyrénées mountains of Andorra that he’d had his eyes on. Andorra’s lack of an income tax made it an especially inviting retirement haven. The remote location of the villa, tucked in the extreme southeastern corner of the country between the borders of France and Spain, was ideal for a man looking to remain anonymous. And it was only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Swiss Alps and the French Riviera, Europe’s playgrounds.

  I’ll have to find myself a comely wench—or two—to help me spend my money. His smile grew to a self-satisfied grin.

  Life could be worse.

  * * * *

  Five hours later, James’ hands hurt from gripping his seat arms so hard. I wonder whether my hair has turned white yet? And he calls me reckless!

  In his hurry to make up for lost time and catch up to Jardin, Tennant cut every corner possible. More than once he flew off a shallow rise, sailing the Cat for dozens of meters before jouncing off the ground and rattling James’ teeth.

  I have to give him credit, though. He handles this Cat like a pro. If they ever start a racing circuit on Mars, he’ll have a ready-made second career. I’d be dead several times over if I tried the same moves.

  He looked back at Daniel, sitting on the folded-down jump seat in the back. Poor Daniel. He looks like he’s going to be sick. Maybe I should have offered him one of my patches.

  “You okay, Daniel?”

  Daniel merely nodded.

  James turned to Tennant. “How much longer before we reach Base Camp 7, Lee?”

  “Less than an hour. Why, aren’t you enjoying the ride?” He grinned evilly.

  “Absolutely!” He rolled his eyes. “I wish we had a ride like this back home at the carnival.”

  “Sure kid. Your lips say ‘yes, yes,’ but your knuckles scream ‘No! No!’”

  James shrugged and flashed a boyish smile. “Okay, ya got me. So what are we going to do when we get to Base Camp 7?”

  “It all depends on what happens before we get there. If Jardin is already in custody, we’ll probably leave him there in the pokey. If he’s loose we’ll help track him down. Then—”

  He was interrupted by the trill of the radio. “Tennant.”

  “Lee, this is Tom Shallitt again. I took your hint about moles loose in the house, so I’ve been watching the radio like a hawk; but apparently someone still managed to get word to Jardin somehow. Kim just called to say that Jardin suddenly veered east twenty klicks short of camp. He was cruising along before, but now he’s going like a bat out of hell. There’s nothing between him and the horizon but a ravine. I can’t imagine where he’s h
eaded.”

  “Every rat has a bolt hole. I’m guessing he has a few hideaways stocked with air and supplies where he can disappear for a while. Can you get Kim to send a real-time feed of Jardin’s course to my Cat’s computer? I’ll head northeast and try to cut him off. He’s not getting away this time.”

  “Will do, Lee.”

  “Thanks, Tom. Tennant out.”

  If James had thought Tennant took chances before, he now learned the true meaning of recklessness.

  * * * *

  So, that impotent bureaucrat thinks he can track me with an eye in the sky, does he? He has no idea who he’s dealing with. With my contacts and everyone I’ve bought off, there isn’t a chance in hell of him laying a finger on me.

  It was just bad luck the moron I hired to blast Tennant’s compound failed to get himself blown up in the process. No matter. Two days from now I’ll be safely off-planet, heading for Earth under a fake name. Maybe I don’t have enough put away for that villa, but there’s nothing wrong with baking in the tropical sun with a couple of honeys and living off my Cayman bank accounts. Jardin chuckled. Yeah, life could be a lot worse.

  * * * *

  Daniel glanced at the tracking data from Kim Cappelletti. “We’re only a couple of klicks behind Jardin. It looks like he’s outsmarted himself. He seems to be cut off by the ravine.”

  “Don’t count on it. That guy is slipperier than a kilo of graphite.”

  “Lee, look!” James pointed to the right. “A dust cloud just over that rise.”

  “Hang on, gentlemen, we’re almost there.” Tennant gripped the wheel tighter than ever and jammed his foot on the accelerator.

  The big Cat flew over the crest of the ridge and sailed down the far side, bouncing once, twice, three times before slewing to a stop on the plain below.