“Is she going?” Snake asked, motioning with his head towards Adeen.
“Yes, she is going. We need to either trust her or get rid of her. You know how I get rid of people, so what should I do, Snake?”
“Benjamin, if I understand correctly, you just put my life in Snake’s hands. I don’t think that is fair after all we have been through,” Adeen said. “Why did you bring me along if you don’t trust me?”
“That is exactly why,” I said, “because I don’t trust you. I wanted you along so I could keep an eye on you. I trust Snake, and so do Ronnie and Genius. We have been through just as much, if not more together. You, I found working for the enemy.”
“Benjamin, my choice was a medical discharge and to live the rest of my life with one arm. They weren’t going to pay the expense to supply me with anything, either. If I wanted a new arm, it would come out of my pocket. Gray offered me a job and an arm, and at the time there were no other offers coming from anywhere.” Aden’s speech grew softer as she spoke, and tears came to her eyes.
“I say we put her on probation, boss,” Snake said. “Back at the warehouse, she did surrender, even before things got ugly. I’ve been keeping an eye on her and she hasn’t done anything suspicious. What do you think, Genius.?” Snake asked.
“She has no transmitters on her person, not even a com, and hasn’t even tried to get near a terminal, so yeah, I say probation. What do you think, Ronnie?” Genius asked.
“I say shoot the bitch!” Ronnie blurted out. “She treated me like shit when I joined the unit after she got her corpsman killed. It took a year before I even got a good job from her, and it was when I was patching you up after that pirate stabbed you in the back.”
“I remember that. I think it was really because you are prettier than her, Ronnie, something as simple as that. I can’t shoot her because you’re prettier than her,” I said, smiling at Ronnie. “Any of you have any thoughts? I know you don’t really know her.”
“Leave her alone, Benjamin,” Harry said.
“There you have it, Adeen. Harry sees something in you, or smells something on you. I don’t know which or what, but you can stay with us if you promise to be nice to Ronnie from now on.”
The elbow Taz gave me was hard. She looked good sitting next to me. Her tight leather-like outfit she had worn on occasion, with her long platinum hair in a thick ponytail, was business and pleasure. The frown on her face told me I was not acting as she felt I should, given the situation. Must be business I’m looking at, I thought.
Adeen jumped in before Taz could speak. “It’s okay, Your Highness,” she said. “I am used to Benjamin’s sense of humor. I also believe that had the others here said otherwise, he would have killed me. Fate is whimsical and often unkind; the commander is now commanded, the lover long since forgotten.”
“Very eloquent, but not totally true,” Taz said. “He told you why you are here, and I will say you are alive because he hasn’t forgotten. He hasn’t forgotten the love or the broken heart you left him with. I don’t believe he would have killed you here and now, unless you were involved in some treachery against us. He would have killed you in that warehouse and burned your body with the rest if he truly hated you, Adeen O’Malley.”
“Okay,” I said, “we are off track now, going down memory lane. For the record — I’m good, as the team proposed, you’re on probation.”
“Damn, boss, are there any more of your exe’s we’re going to run into before this is over?” Shawna asked.
“No, I really don’t have many., Fact is, there are only two,” I said. “One is sitting here and the other is dead.”
“Except her clone is sitting right here with us,” Shawna added.
“And Mira is just that, her clone,” I said, looking Shawna in the eyes. “Let’s move on with our assignments. Enough about my life.”
“Still kind of weird,” Shawna said, pouting. I really wanted to change the subject.
“Shawna, we will start with you. You will pilot the shuttle and drop us off, and then you will leave and wait for us to call for a pickup. We can’t risk letting them get their hands on the shuttle if something goes wrong.”
“Genius, I want you to take Harry, Nedra, and Adeen and take engineering. If I had to guess, I would say the chief is loyal to Aisling, so go easy on them unless they prove otherwise. Secure your location first and kill communications, then reroute the bridge to your location and lock them in. Lock the loading doors open and start looking for any entries as to what happened and who is in charge. I want to know who the captain is and who is running the show. They may not be the same person. Look and see if there are any prisoners and where they are. The brig is too small for the number of people that would be against whoever is in currently in charge. I would guess the most dangerous of those loyal to Aisling would be in the brig,” I told them.
“Snake,” I continued, “you and I are going to take the brig and the bridge. Genius is going to let us in and lock us in until we have secured the location. Ronnie, I want you to go to medical and check the situation there. If you run into any trouble, just yell. Our targets are locked in their locations, so we can go back to them after we help you if you need it. Genius can work on the armory doors. My guess is that Lieutenant. Jared and some of his marines have been locked in the brig. They will need weapons once we free them.”
“Are we taking any prisoners?” Snaked asked.
“If it’s the group that replaced us as Gray’s team, then no. I remember the major and master sergeant; he brought out to the farm, but not the others so much. The regular crew will know who is who and point them out to us. Now if it is solely Aisling’s crew and they are a divided loyalty, then we take prisoners, unless it’s not possible to do so. They can answer to her and she can decide their fates.”
“How will we get in to begin with?” Snake asked.
“We will sit cloaked and wait. The minute a ship leaves or arrives, we go. We secure the shuttle bay and send Genius and his team on their way. If we get word from him, we send Ronnie. When Ronnie checks in, we move either to help her or to the brig. When that is done, we take the bridge and round up anyone who is a part of what went down. Once the ship is secure, we call the Claymore and get them moving.”
“So after Aisling arrives and has her ship back, then what?” Ronnie asked.
“I told you all before that you are my friends and I will never force you to go where I am going. I am going to work, but the kind of work I think I will enjoy. The amount of space that is controlled by the Allond and Cjittan is so vast that we would all grow old before we could see even a quarter of it. I am going to see as much of it as I can before I die, and be the first human to explore these two ancient empires. I’m sure there are wonders beyond our imaginations just waiting out there to be seen. In most cases it won’t be that we are the first, but we will be the first humans to see and record it with our own eyes.”
“So when we’re all back together with the others on the Claymore, we will go over this again?” Genius asked.
“Yes, and before we leave the Warhammer. Some of you may want to stay with Aisling. It’s possible she will venture back to Alliance space someday, and just that alone might be enough of a reason to stay with her,” I explained. “But I’m not sure I will ever be going back. Like I said, I’ve given you the option before, and you are not under contract to me or anyone. Back when Andrea was alive, we sat down and discussed how we would like to go forward. My vision for Reaper Inc. at the time was to provide jobs for you, my friends. We had been through so much together, and when they cut us loose there isn’t much out there for misfits like us. Most of what there is isn’t on the right side of the law, either.”
“You did this so we could have jobs after the military let us go?” Snake asked.
“Yeah, I had come into ownership and part ownership of four ships. Ships need a crew, and paying contracts. Who better to work at my company than the people I have trusted with my life day in a
nd day out for years? Now it’s all changed, but not totally. I’m going to talk to Emperor Xamand and Queen Tazleaha about hiring the Claymore and her crew to help with any needs they may have, from transportation to annihilation. I happen to know all the owners of Reaper Inc., and I’m pretty sure the crew of the Claymore will be paid very well.”
“I’m in!” Snake said.
“Me too,” Ronnie added.
Everyone else who had served with me, including Adeen, was in, judging by their nods and smiles. Harry and Nedra hadn’t said anything, however, and neither did Mira.
“We can get back to our future plans at a future time. For now, let’s get the Warhammer back for Aisling, and then we will sort out the rest.”
“I take it that you do not wish me to accompany you, and that is why I was left out of your plans?” Taz asked. After being quiet for most of the meeting, she sounded a little hurt.
“That is correct,” I said. “We can handle this without getting you involved.”
“Is this because I will not let you use my soldiers?”
“No. I would have done everything the same had you offered them to me. I don’t want you along on this!” I said, raising my voice. The room became very quiet and all eyes watched the loveseat, which seemed to be misnamed at the moment.
“You presume to order me to remain behind while you sit on my ship!” Taz said heatedly. “I am not one of these humans you seek to protect as if they were children.”
“You guys should go, now!” I said, looking around the room and indicating that we were finished. They all got up and hustled towards the door.
“You send them all away so they don’t see me make a fool out of you,” she snapped.
“Can you calm down?” I asked. “Yes, I want to protect you, okay? So sue me and get over it. You’re not going and that’s final.”
Taz looked at her attendants for support and was surprised she found none. “We agree with Benjamin, my queen,” one said. “It is not our fight nor a reason to put your life in jeopardy. His logic is sound and we wish you to stay.”
“I will stay on the shuttle with Shawna out of harm’s way but close enough to aid you if you need help. I believe that an acceptable solution,” Taz said after a pause.
“I would rather you stay right here on your flagship and wait for me. But you will whine, cry, bitch, and moan ‘til you get your way, I know that,” I sighed. I turned to her attendants. “What do you three think?”
“If we can accompany her on the shuttle, I think it would be acceptable.”
“There. Are you happy now?” I asked Taz.
“No, not really,” she pouted, “but it will have to do.”
zzz
We didn’t have to wait long at all; the doors to the shuttle bay were already open and there were no shuttles anywhere in the immediate vicinity. The last time I had seen the Warhammer the hold was full of goods, but it looked mostly empty now from what I could see. There were two crewmen on duty and they were sitting on two smaller crates, playing cards.
“Shawna,” I ordered, “I want you to get us inside as fast as possible. Most of you know the drill — drop the ramp on the way in, hit the ground running, and if they make a hostile move then immobilize them first. I can’t say I remember every single person we served with on this ship. Cooperation by the crew may not be exactly voluntary. More than likely, they will know me on sight, so it won’t take long to understand who they are loyal to.”
We moved at a snail’s pace. I glanced at Shawna but didn’t say a word. Her speed was correct; my adrenaline was just moving faster. Taz sat next to me, her face mostly unreadable; she was still pouting, but the others were all smiling, even Harry. The three sisters seemed happy as well; they had brought along a number of weapons cases, which was odd to me, as they were supposed to be staying in the shuttle. I had already questioned them once about it and they indicated they did not believe in the false sense of security of a cloaked shuttle when it came to the protection of the queen, which seemed reasonable.
“Benjamin, you go in three, two, one!” Shawna called out.
I hit the floor running straight at the two card players, catching them off-guard. One reached for his weapon and the other started speaking rapidly to the first, forcing him to stop. The rest of the team was right on my heels. If they weren’t scared of me already, then Harry and Nedra surely commanded their attention and fear.
“Very quickly and quietly, tell me who is in charge and where they are at the present,” I ordered. I had a hold on his shirt at the neck and shook him as I asked the question.
“That would be Major Drummond. He is on planet, more than likely at the bar. Master Sergeant Lilly is currently in charge and on the bridge,” he answered quickly.
“It seems very quiet on this ship,” I said. “There was a compliment of at least 250 crewmen, where is everyone?”
“At least forty are in the brig and others are locked up in various rooms. There are about twenty with the major.”
“Forty! In the brig? It holds ten tops, son of a bitch. Who is in charge of engineering?”
“The chief’s assistant, Chief Miller, took a beating rather than do what the major asked. He’s in the infirmary. There are two guards in engineering and they are armed.”
“What about the infirmary, how many guards?” I asked, shaking him again.
“Two there, and two guarding the bridge. I assume you will want to go there next.”
“Any patrols walking the ship?”
“No, not anymore. When they first took the ship they did, but they think they got away with it, and we are out here in Trillond space, so they are a little lax in security, as you can see.”
“Who are you loyal to?”
“You, Reaper,” he answered quickly.
“You better not be,” I told him. “Your captain won’t like that when she returns.”
“The captain is alive? They said you took the captain and the general to kill them.”
“Did they tell you why I did that?” I asked, then shook my head. “Doesn’t matter, I didn’t. Aisling is alive and not very happy, and I am even less happy. So, again — who are you loyal to?”
“My Captain, Captain O’Shaughnessy!”
“Good,” I said. “You two guard the shuttle bay. You know who is who around here, so don’t waste time, just stun them and keep them that way.”
“Genius,” I called out behind me, “you heard him. Get going. Get this ship locked down and keep communications open, only in engineering. I want to know when they are coming back, no surprises.”
“Copy that boss. Let’s go,” Genius said as he took off towards the corridor to engineering.
“Ronnie, let’s get you ready to distract a couple of bored soldiers,” I said, stepping in her direction. “Take off your armor, I’m counting on your other assets to protect you.” I unbuttoned her shirt and folded the sides back, exposing enough creamy brown cleavage to give them and Snake wet dreams. It wasn’t the first time I had done this, but it worked and that’s what was important.
“Snake,” I ordered, “stop staring and go scout ahead between here and the infirmary. We’ll be right behind you.”
“Copy that,” he said, turning quickly to hide his smirk. “On my way.”
There was a pile of beer cans on the floor. Aisling was going to be angrier about that than over them taking her ship from her. I picked up two and handed them to Ronnie, then took her pistol and tucked it in the back of her pants.
“When you walk up to them, hand the one in your right hand to whichever one you choose and draw, fire, drop and roll. Fire again if the other is still standing, and he better not be, or you can shoot Snake. How’s that?”
“Deal!” Ronnie said. “Then can I button my shirt back up?”
“I don’t know, I kinda like it.”
“I’m gonna shoot you and Snake.”
I chuckled. “Yes, my friend, you can, and put your armor back on as well. We will have a shu
ttle with possible drunks coming back from the planet, so sooner or later or we may go down and find them, whatever happens first.”
“You know, you should send the shuttle down to do some recon and locate them. It would get you in your girlfriend’s good graces to give her a part in this. I’m pretty sure those five on the shuttle could take the whole planet for you if you asked them to,” she said.
“Let’s go. “Once you’re safely installed and in position, I’ll think about it.”
Chapter 42
“Harry,” Genius said, “you and Adeen go down the hall and enter through that door. Nedra and I will enter here.”
“They are bored and distracted, Genius, but not dead, so move fast. I can tell you know the assistant in there with those two guards,” Adeen said. “The grimace on your face at her kissing one of them tells me all I need to know. If you can’t do what it takes, then I will, okay? You’re in charge, but Benjamin wouldn’t want you to get hurt just because you hesitated. She may not be the person she was.”
“I’ll be fine, Captain,” Genius replied. “You just do what I tell you and everything will go according to plan.”
“I’m not your captain, Genius, I’m just Adeen.”
“Well just get going, will you!”
Nedra and Harry stayed out of it, not quite understanding the dynamics between the two. Adeen and Harry were at their entry point and Genius motioned them in. He and Nedra went through the other door. The guard who wasn’t holding a woman in his lap jumped up and grabbed for his weapon. Nedra fired, and a chair moving quickly hit him from behind. He went down in a heap on the floor. The engineering assistant sprung off the other guard’s lap and began backing away.
“Shoot her, Nedra,” Genius said, and the woman fell down, not far from the guard. “You, my friend, have won the lottery. Now get your hands behind your head!” Genius yelled at the last one standing. The guard raised his arms slowly and locked his fingers behind his head. “Are there any traps, viruses, new firewalls, or anything you can think of to tell us that will keep you from being hurt?” Genius asked.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: No More Lies (Book 3) Page 34
