The Huntress

by Michelle O'Leary

  "Mea doesn't know I've sent for it and the munchkin has no idea you're still around."

  "What the hell is going on?"

  "Follow them and find out."

  Growling with anger, Stone started up the ramp again, but Warren was too quick, ducking through the hatch and closing it with a laugh. About to start pounding on the hatch, Stone heard the hum of a transport and turned. It was a small one and beaten up, but he stalked down the ramp towards it anyway. If it was a trap, screw it. He was too frustrated to care.

  Climbing into the cramped quarters, he looked at the pilot. "A hunter transport just left here. I want you to catch up and follow it."

  "Why? I know where they're going."

  "What?"

  "Sure. They're all going to the same place tonight. Some big function at the academy."

  "Fine. Take me there." Stone moved to put his thumb in the ID creditor, but the guy waved him away.

  "It's been paid for. Lucky you." He stared at Stone for a second. "Well? I'm not moving 'till you sit and strap in."

  With a scowl, Stone did so and glared at the back of the man's head, thinking murderous thoughts.

  Mea tucked a stray lock of hair in with the others piled in a careless mass on her head and held there with two long, ebony sticks. Besides those two hairpins, she wore no other ornamentation. When hunters gathered for recreation, it was considered rude to wear jewelry of any kind, as it could be a concealed weapon.

  Looking down at the girl next to her, she grinned. Regan was wearing a sharp, little black suit, back in her boy disguise. She had refused to wear a dress, rubbing her short hair self-consciously, so Mea suggested going as a boy again. Powel had had fits, but they'd worn him down and even he had been pleased with the final result. She looked cute as hell, but she was plucking at the suit and fidgeting.

  "Nervous?"

  "Yeah. Uncle Mike scares me."

  "That's just his boss routine. You just give him a big ol' squeeze around the middle, and he'll melt like snow in the sun."

  Regan clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle horrified giggles, eyes huge. Mea snickered along with her, unable to help herself. They had both been finding damn near everything hilarious since they'd been told that Regan's family was financially unable to support her. Child Security had given Mea the go-ahead to adopt the girl and ever since, the two of them had been dizzy with delight.

  "I couldn't do that!"

  "I don't see why not. He's a big softy, you know. When I was thirteen he got me a holographic puppy because I couldn't have the real thing on the ship. But you should have seen his face the first time he stepped in holo-poop."

  Mea grinned like an idiot as Regan's high, sweet laughter rolled around her. She did manage to catch the child before she slid off the seat, but her laughter was contagious, and they kept each other in fits until the transport landed.

  "Okay, okay, it wasn't that funny! We've got to stop. I can't laugh at a wake, especially this one."

  Regan was still snickering, but managed to straighten beside her.

  "Breathe. Breathe deep." Mea wiped tears from the corners of her eyes and took her own advice, but almost burst into laughter again at the look on the pilot's face. He probably thought they were drunk or high or both. They were certainly acting like it.

  They stepped out of the transport and Regan sobered immediately at the sight of the academy, eyes wide with awe. "Wow."

  Mea looked at the place with a sense of nostalgia. She supposed when she first arrived here that she'd had the same reaction as Regan, but now it was a familiar and comforting sight. A huge, stone wall surrounded the maze of buildings inside and she supposed that with the dazzling colors of the setting sun and the backdrop of dramatically lit clouds, the old place did look pretty magnificent. The courtyard was bound to be amazing in this light, and she couldn't wait to see Regan's face for that one. "Come on, squirt."

  She took the girl's hand and tugged her toward the archway into the courtyard. The huge wooden doors were swung open, but she slowed with a frown to see several cadets standing at attention in the doorway. Next to them was a tall weapons scanner. This was something new.

  "Welcome to the J.P. Masterson Hunter's Academy, ma'am. Please place your right thumb on the ID scanner."

  The cadet held out a small scanner with great formality. With a quirk of her lips, Mea did as he asked. She must be getting old if she wasn't recognized on sight anymore by the youngsters. While he was inputting her print, another cadet with flaming red hair stepped forward and gestured toward the large scanner. "Please step through. Weapons check."

  She raised her eyebrows at him, a flare of annoyance stiffening her face. "Do I look like I'm wearing any weapons?"

  "No, ma'am. It's just routine—"

  She stepped close enough to feel his breath on her face and watched his eyes widen with understandable alarm. Eyeing him narrowly, she spoke in a low, threatening tone."Do you wanna frisk me—boy?"

  His young face turned seven shades of red to match his hair, but she had to give him credit for standing his ground. "E-everyone must go through the scanner, ma'am."

  Just then the other cadet interrupted, hissing alarm into the redhead's ear, "Are you nuts? That's the Huntress!"

  The redhead began stuttering so badly, the other cadet had to step forward and take over. "Please go on in, Hunter Brin. We apologize for the delay."

  Mea could hardly keep from laughing. It seemed her reputation was still very much alive. Smiling sweetly at both of them, she patted the redhead's nearly purple cheek with a gentle hand. "Keep up the good work, Cadets."

  Biting the inside of her bottom lip, she tugged Regan toward the archway. The girl was snickering softly and Mea refused to look down at her. This was no time for another giggle fit.

  "How come you didn't want to get checked for weapons?"

  "Warren wouldn't let me leave without wearing a transceiver, and I didn't want them to know about it. It's rude."

  When she didn't get a response, Mea looked down to see Regan staring open-mouthed at the courtyard, eyes wide with amazement. Mea grinned.

  "Pretty cool, huh?"

  The courtyard was cobble-stoned and framed on three sides by two story buildings made of stone with old style tile roofing. There were balconies on all three buildings held up by huge pillars. Adavanta vine coiled up these pillars and wound with natural enthusiasm over the balcony railings and up to the roof where tendrils hung like a lacy curtain over the edges. Adavanta was famous for its abundant flowers and delicate perfume—the vines here were no exception. Flowers in a variety of colors bloomed so eagerly that the green of the leaves was barely visible. When a breeze blew, a rainbow of petals would swirl down over the crowd below.

  The blazing sunset and the tiers and spires of the buildings behind only made the scene that much more fantastic. With fond eyes, Mea looked around and took a deep breath of the lightly scented air, letting it out on a sigh of satisfaction. This was as close to an actual home as she'd ever had, besides the Starfire.

  "It's good to see the old place again," she murmured, but was distracted from nostalgia when she saw Uncle Mike striding purposefully towards them. She tried to move forward, but Regan hung back, tucking herself behind Mea. She could feel the girl trembling slightly, little fingers clutching her own.

  "Big softy, remember?" Mea whispered just before he reached them.

  He was grinning at them like a proud parent and Mea smiled back.

  "How are my girls?" he boomed jovially, and Mea detached herself from Regan to give him a fierce hug. He embraced her just as tightly.

  "We're great. I know you helped us with Child Safety, and I want to thank you."

  "Seeing you together is all the thanks I need," he muttered gruffly in her ear, and she kissed his stubbled cheek before stepping back. He was looking over her shoulder at Regan with a curious expression and Mea turned to see the girl shifting back and forth nervously.

  "Well, that's an odd outfit for a g�
��"

  Mea elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

  "Oof. Oh, I get it. We're incommunicado tonight." He looked around them with exaggerated care, sidling closer to Regan. "What's your code name, son?" he asked in a stage whisper.

  Regan was looking up at him as though he'd suddenly sprouted feathers, and Mea's shoulders shook as she tried to hold in her mirth.

  "Well, spit it out! Be quick; they've got ears everywhere." He made a show of nonchalance, glancing around casually.

  "Reggie?" she squeaked, and he clapped her on the back hard enough to make her stagger.

  "Reggie it is! Fine young boy you have here, Mea."

  "All right, Uncle Mike. Now that you've convinced her that you've gone completely insane, would you mind telling me what's with the cadet guard out front?"

  He scowled at her. "You didn't scare them, did you?"

  She looked away guiltily. "Only a little. Why the weapons check?"

  "The rogue issue has scared people and made some hunters paranoid. It's just peace of mind for them. Just temporary." He narrowed his eyes at her. "You didn't go through the scanner, did you?"

  She refused to meet his gaze. "I sure could use a drink. How about you squirt? You thirsty?"

  Regan came over to her side, eyes bright and a smile playing about her mouth. Mea put an arm around her, renewed joy dancing at the edges of her heart when she remembered that this was now her daughter.

  "Put the fear of the Huntress into those cadets, didn't you?"

  He wasn't going to let it go, Mea thought in disgust. She raised her eyebrows at him. "Did you go through the scanner, Uncle Mike?"

  He scowled at her again. "I'm the director."

  "Which means no. How about that drink, Chief?"

  Muttering darkly under his breath, he led the way across the courtyard to where they had a buffet table set up and cadets to man it. On the way, Mea nodded in greeting at familiar faces, getting some friendly responses and some cool ones. Nothing new in that, though. There had always been some that were jealous of her success and suspicious of it, intimating that it was the result of favoritism from Director Conley. The truth was that Mike had always ridden her harder than the other hunters—he'd never liked her choice of careers.

  She also noted that there were members of the Coalition scattered around and frowned, offended that they would be at what was essentially a private ceremony.

  "Why are there Planitaries here?" she asked Mike as she got punch for herself and Regan.

  His lip curled in disgust as he caught sight of one of the Coalition members. "We're rabid dogs. We could start showing signs of it at any time." He caught her look and sighed. "They don't trust us to gather without incident."

  She snorted. "I don't trust us to gather without incident. You remember the last time?"

  "Oh god, don't remind me."

  A hunter's psychological makeup made him/her a solitary creature by necessity—they were gone from home base for long periods of time. Getting them together in large groups inevitably led to tension, not all of it aggressive. Frequently these gatherings degenerated into a meat market, the sexes hunting each other for a change.

  Tonight wasn't going to be any different. Mea's dress hadn't looked that conservative when she'd purchased it, but compared to some of the outfits she could see, she looked like a clergy member. She vowed not to stay too long after the ceremony and dinner, knowing that eventually it would degrade into the kind of explicit displays she couldn't expose Regan to. Not that she herself hadn't hunted at such gatherings, but Regan was too young for that kind of fun.

  "What happened last time?"

  Mea looked down at Regan's innocent face. As if she would actually tell her. "There were three separate fights."

  Which was true, but not the whole truth. The most memorable fight had happened because someone had tried to stop a couple from having sex in the middle of a crowd of dancers. 'Free for all' just wasn't enough of a description for that night.

  "I have to get this thing started," Mike muttered sourly and moved away from them toward a small stage set to one side of the courtyard. Once there, he called for attention in his booming voice and the crowd flowed towards him, assembling in loose rows in front of the stage.

  Mea and Regan drifted with the crowd, ending up close to the stage. Mea grimaced to see two Coalition members flanking Mike like sentries.

  "Fellow hunters, we have come together tonight to honor the memory of one of our own. Hunter Nat Bragan has fallen in the field. Most of you know the details of that death by now, but in brief he attacked another hunter and deliberately injured and threatened to kill a child. By our definitions and laws, he went rogue. The other hunter was forced to remove the threat to the child and herself by ending his life."

  There was a rustling in the crowd, and a low murmur rolled through them as many craned their necks trying to catch a glimpse of Mea and Regan. Mea ignored them, but she felt Regan push closer to her in reaction to the stares. Mea put an arm around her and gave her a reassuring squeeze, but didn't take her eyes off of the stage.

  "Those are the facts, but here they mean nothing. To pass judgment on Hunter Bragan now is futile. He's gone, beyond accusations, beyond punishment. Any death of a hunter diminishes the Corp, and therefore diminishes us. Tonight we will remember his long service to the Corp, and give him the honor due any hunter."

  He then began cataloging Bragan's accomplishments, and Mea felt a twinge of guilt. Bragan had been a productive hunter, if not the most inspired of their ranks. He might have continued his service and retired without incident if she hadn't provoked him. On the other hand, he might have gone on a killing spree and racked up a huge body count if she hadn't taken him down when she did. She comforted herself with the reminder that no hunter would have taken an innocent child hostage, hurt her so terribly and threaten to kill her—it was against everything they fought for. Even if she hadn't provoked him, there had been something in him that was rogue.

  Looking down at Regan, she knew she'd do it all exactly the same, ten times over if necessary. Where Bragan was concerned, she'd had no other choice.

  "For his great service to the Law and to the citizens of the Planetary Coalition, Hunter Nat Bragan deserves respect and admiration. Please join me in a moment of silence for our fellow hunter."

  Everyone bowed their heads, even Regan who had the least cause to give Bragan respect. Besides the occasional rustle of vine and chirp of a bird, the silence held for several long minutes. Twilight had fallen during Mike's speech, and strategically placed lights cast a soft, warm glow over the courtyard.

  "Your duty to the Corp," Mike intoned and the crowd's response was automatic, voices echoing hugely against the buildings.

  "Honor Law and Life."

  "Your duty to Law and Life."

  "Uphold and protect. Serve and preserve."

  Mike gave the echoes a moment to fade before concluding his speech. His expression was grim, and Mea knew he felt the loss of one of their own personally. As the director, he was responsible for every one of their lives.

  "You are the pride of the Corp, hunters, and you are my pride. Thank you. Dinner has been prepared should you wish to stay and share Bragan's memory with one another. If not, then you are dismissed."

  Mike saluted them by placing a fist over his heart, and they returned the gesture. He then stepped off the stage, ending the formal part of the wake.

  Chapter 15

  Like a sigh, the crowd of hunters relaxed, spreading out and forming smaller groups. Mike headed in Mea's direction, but the Coalition members stopped him. Mea didn't hear what they were saying, but as she moved closer, she did catch Mike's response.

  "Politics have no place here. One of my hunters is dead. Show some respect." he said in a clipped tone and turned away from them, face stony.

  "I need a drink," he muttered as he brushed past her, and Mea blocked the members from following him.

  Smiling stiffly, she addressed them, looking each
in the eye, "This is not the best time to pursue your own agenda with the director. Perhaps you should leave."

  The woman looked her up and down disapprovingly, expression cold. "What we have to say to the director is none of your business."

  Mea ground her teeth, but managed some semblance of civility. "True. What is my business is your presence at a private hunter gathering. Did either one of you—any of you Coalitioners—know Nat Bragan? No? Then your presence here is not only insensitive and disrespectful—it's offensive. I'm asking you to leave."

  The other member looked at her more carefully and something in his eyes told her that he was aware of who she was. He whispered in the other one's ear, and then gave her a short nod. "Giving offense was not our intent. We will do as you ask. Please tell the director that we will be contacting him in the morning."

  "Courtesy, especially at a time like this, is always welcome. Thank you."

  Mea turned away with Regan crowding at her side and moved toward Mike at the buffet table. She was stopped before she went three steps though, by a woman who looked vaguely familiar, but Mea couldn't place her. She had her chin set belligerently, and her short hair bristled with aggression.

  "You're a fine one to talk about giving offense!"

  Mea only raised her eyebrows, but exasperation grew as she felt Regan's unease. She and Regan should be celebrating, not be attacked from all sides. A weapons check, Coalition members, and now this woman.

  "You're Nat's killer and here you are, at his wake!"

  "I'm here to pay my respects to a fine hunter who died in the line of duty." Mea tried to shift past her, but the woman wouldn't let her.

  "Respects!" She seemed to be enjoying the dramatics. A circle was forming around them, and Mea was very close to just turning the woman over her knee for such childish behavior. "Did you show him any respect when you slaughtered him?"

  Stepping very close to the shorter woman, Mea held her gaze and spoke in a low, firm tone, "Nat Bragan tried to kill this little girl. I regret what I had to do, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. If you cannot give the same answer, then I suggest you reevaluate your career choice."