Valerie stopped at the door and almost swore. She left her ID card back in the Workshop in Zeus and it would undoubtedly be in her Tea Chest, on the other side of the door. Without it she couldn’t get into these quarters. She turned to go back to the lift. She would have to go back down and ask Shannon for one to let her in. Going back into that crowded bay was the very last thing she wanted to do. She could com her or C&C and ask someone to come down with an ID card. It would mean facing another human being she didn’t know, who would look at her with the sympathy, hope, condemnation and everything else she saw on the faces down there.
Steeling herself, Valerie decided asking C&C would be the best thing. At least it would be limited to a single person. She was about to call, when a small note of paper, tucked into the very corner of the door, caught her eye. Her name was on the front and was folded in two. As she picked it up, Valerie noticed the back was slightly sticky. It must have fallen off from wherever it had been attached. Opening it, she felt a genuine smile blossom on her face.
I bet they didn’t give you back your ID before you left. It said in the messy scrawl of someone unused to writing. I’ve set the door code to the day we met. You’re welcome. Hanna.
“Clever girl,” Valerie muttered to herself and shook her head. “You knew I’d make it out and did this before you even left the ship. The question is, did you use the Terran or Blaze calendar?”
Valerie guessed it was the Blaze one and entered the code, after taking a few seconds to work it out. Every planet used its own calendar based on the rotation and using the seven days of the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was used for local reference or it would get very confusing having days change at two in the afternoon. Ships, space stations, governments and anything not on a planet, used the ancient Gregorian calendar. It was also how people measured their age.
Hanna was a child of Blaze and until recently, had not been out of the city she was born in. It was a good bet that is what she would have used and Valerie was right. She sighed as the door slid open and she entered the entrance hall. A Privileged Brigadier in the Legion, expected comfort when she was on deployment. The designers of the FOBM ensured she got it.
Valerie took a minute to explore. She had never been into the Brigadier’s quarters, having never deployed with one on a FOBM in her career. She was surprised at how extensive they were. Conference room, dining room, office, large reception room with a low coffee table and seating for over a dozen people, stewards quarters attached, a small kitchen and finally a large bedroom. It was there she found her Tea Chest and the door beyond led to what she was really looking for.
“Where have you been all my life?” she asked, staring at the luxurious ensuite bathroom. She was sorely tempted by the deep bath set into the floor, but it was the large shower she wanted. Throwing her helmet on the bed, she started deactivating and unbolting her armour. Gauntlets and arms first, followed by the chest piece and then came the legs and boots. Finally she dropped the pelvic section onto the ground with the rest and stripped off what was left of her prison jumpsuit.
Completely naked, she walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower. Setting the water to just below scolding and at maximum power, she hit the start control. Water struck her from jets above and all around. Until she saw it standing there empty and ready for use in the corner, she hadn’t realised how much she missed a hot shower. The water blasted over her and she revelled in every second. She had not experienced one this sumptuous, since the morning of her birthday three years ago.
She froze as that single thought stopped her in her tracks and tried to think. She had seen the date on the armour’s HUD and not noticed. It was another year since that horrendous day. On the Rock, they didn’t know the time or what day it was. She lost track and that all-important date passed her by unnoticed, unremarked and without acknowledgement.
Her knees were on the floor of the shower and she did not know how she got there. Tears poured unrelenting from her eyes, mixing with the hot water cascading over her. The box snapped open, sobs of anguish and pain ripped out. Again and again, she watched her family gunned down. Again and again, they died in front of her.
Valerie pounded the floor. Designed to be non-slippery and comfortable underfoot, its surface yielded under her fists, saving her from breaking her hands, such was the force she used. She screamed with all of her might, until her throat was sore and she came to a coughing and stuttering stop. With the water continuing to wash over her, she curled up in a ball and lay on the floor crying softly.
Time passed unnoticed and, as it did every other time, the pain and grief which overcame her, receded slowly back into the depths of her mind. She came back to herself and opened her eyes. The water still continued in an inexhaustible cycle. It poured down upon her, flowed down the drain, was cleaned and reheated, before being sprayed out again.
Slowly, mechanically, Valerie pulled herself to her feet. Without really taking notice of what she was doing, she washed her hair and body. Finished, she switched the shower over to the dryers. The hot energy, washed over her and the moisture faded away from her body in a cloud of vapour.
Sliding open the door, Valerie stumbled out. A soft, white robe hung on a hook next to the shower. A corner of her mind told her it hadn’t been there when she went in. She pulled the robe on and ignored the thought. It wasn’t strong enough to penetrate her damaged psyche.
“Are you OK?” a gentle voice asked, and Valerie looked up in surprise. There were two comfortable chairs in the bedroom. In them sat Hanna and Deni. It was Hanna who spoke as she half stood.
Valerie stared at the ground, the tears were there again and she shook her head ever so slightly. A set of arms wrapped themselves around her, a mess of light brown hair on Valerie’s chest. It was followed by a second set of arms and auburn hair. Valerie’s mind was a blank slate as she grappled with a new flood of emotions crashing over her. There was no pain amongst them, no grief, though the original emotions were still all there inside of her.
“We’re so glad you’re alive,” came a muffled, tearful admission from one of the girls. It was difficult to tell which one, but Valerie thought it came from Deni.
Once Valerie promised herself, no harm would come to Hanna if she could help it. When she made that promise, she hadn’t understood why. She made it on instinct and shied away from examining her own reasons. At some point in the last couple of years, and Valerie couldn’t say when, Deni was included in that promise. Now, for the first time, she saw what they meant to her. Valerie recognised that she hid it from herself, time and time again. She had pushed those emotions away, in fear of the pain they led to, and she couldn’t do that anymore.
Hesitantly, Valerie wrapped her arms around the two girls and felt her knees go weak. The three of them collapsed on the floor in a heap, as they hugged one another tightly. Tears flowed from all of their eyes and, for Valerie, it was not grief and pain causing them. It was relief at seeing these two girls again, safe and alive. Joy at their reunion. Pride at their accomplishments, in bringing all these people together to assault the Rock. Above all else, there was love for the two daughters she had adopted in her heart without even realising it.
“I... I love you both,” she said softly after almost ten minutes of quiet tears.
Hanna squirmed her way out and Deni did the same. The girls faces were both flushed red with tears still on their cheeks. The two friends glanced at one another and smiled.
“We know.” Hanna said with just a hint of her impishness.
Deni shrugged slightly. “We worked it out a while ago.”
Valerie chuckled gently. “Why didn’t you say anything? I’ve, I’ve not been easy to live with.”
“That’s why,” Hanna said. “You had so much pain inside of you. You didn’t have room for anything else and yet you still went out of your way to look after us, teach us.”
“You were there, more than any other person we’ve known
since we lost our families.” Deni said.
“And I will continue to be, for as long as I can.” Valerie admitted and they nodded, they knew she would not stop her crusade for vengeance. Embarrassment filtered through the rest of the emotions bombarding her and she wiped her eyes. “Come on. We can’t lay on this floor all day.”
The three of them climbed to their feet and sat on the bed together. Hanna was looking down at the floor.
“You know, Valerie. You really should have taken your boots off before coming in here.” She pointed at the carpet. “You’ve left great big dirty boot prints in the carpet.”
Valerie shrugged and laughed softly. “I see what you mean. If my kids had done that they would have been in trouble.” The words came out of her easily and though the pain was there, it was manageable. For the first time in years, she said something about her family, unconnected with their loss and if felt right.
“Damn right,” Deni agreed laughing along with her. “This place is nicer than our flat and it should be respected!”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Valerie told her. “There are floor cleaning bots set under the furniture. They come out while you’re asleep. By the time you wake up, it’s all pristine again.”
“We need to get some of those, Hanna. You can program them to pick up your clothes!”
“Hey! Who was it who spilt the tomato sauce all over the cooker and didn’t clean up the stuff that ran down the back? It was still there when we moved out!”
“You didn’t know it was there until we moved the cooker, so what’s the harm?” Deni shot back.
“Speaking of food,” Valerie interrupted. “What does it take to get some around here? Someone in this room has been in prison for the last six months and hasn’t eaten since yesterday.”
“It’s not been that long,” Hanna contested. “You’re exaggerating.”
“Whatever it has been, it’s been too long. I bet you two have been at my ration bars on the Spectre.”
“We may have had one or two,” Deni admitted.
Valerie rolled her eyes. “I’m sure it was more than that. So back to my question. How do we get food or do I have to go out to find and kill it myself?”
Hanna jumped off the bed. “Come on, Valerie. You didn’t think we’d really let you down did you?” She nodded her head to the door. “This way.”
Deni got off the bed and waved for Valerie to precede her. Sighing, Valerie shook her head and smiled.
“Alright, what have you two been up to?” They didn’t answer, so she followed Hanna out to the quarter’s dining room. The long table could seat twenty people easily and at one end, three places were set. Each one with a covered dish in front of it, with several more spread about in easy reach.
“Your table is served, Madam.” Hanna said in an accent and tone that would have impressed any of the top restaurants in Inferno. She completed the act with a deep bow and floral wave of her hand.
Valerie took a seat and lifted the cover off the plate in front of her. Underneath was a hot, succulent steak, smelling suspiciously like venison in a rich, red wine sauce, kept in perfect order by the cover.
“Is that venison?”
“That’s what it said on the processor,” Deni said.
“Why did you pick that?”
Hanna shrugged. “You would not believe what they have in the pantry here. It’s only accessible by the kitchen in these quarters. When I looked at what they had, we picked stuff we liked the sound of and never tried before.”
“They also had the price tags against each one for re-ordering.” Deni put in.
“And you picked the most expensive ones?” Valerie asked with a smile.
“Well, not the most expensive,” Hanna said. “There was something called veal and when I looked it up, it said it came from baby cows. We didn’t like the sound of that.”
“You’ve chosen well. I love venison.” The two girls beamed at her. “Let’s see what you’ve got to go with it. Roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots, I’m going to pass on the sprouts, peas, green beans. I’m liking your selection and there is even a big jug of extra sauce. You’ve outdone yourselves, girls.”
The three of them attacked the side dishes with relish.
“I thought you two had eaten?”
“Not really,” Deni said around a mouthful of roast potato. “Didn’t have time.”
“We were too busy,” Hanna took over before Deni sprayed the table with food. “I was keeping an eye on you and the rest of the assault team, while Deni had to watch out for the Battle Group with Hans.”
“Well, keep eating then, but while you do that, why don’t you fill me in on everything that has been going on while I’ve been away. Make sure you don’t miss out what I’ve got to do with all this.”
An hour later, the last of the thick, rich, chocolate cake had been devoured. Valerie had her feet up on another chair with a large glass of whisky in her hand. It was a good one the girls procured as a welcome home present for her and they chose well. She suspected Tatiana or Frank, in the Dawning Sun, were part of the decision making process, but it didn’t lessen her appreciation for the gift one iota.
The girls finished their tale. Valerie swirled the neat amber liquid round in her glass as she contemplated it all. She looked up at the girls. Hanna with a hot chocolate and Deni was sipping from a cold bottle of beer.
“You both did well,” she told them seriously. “Very well.” They nodded back. Valerie felt pride welling up inside of her at the maturity of their response. There was no bragging or false modesty, only the acknowledgement of a well-deserved compliment.
“Now we’ve got four disparate groups, who all have the same objective, and have come together for this one operation.” Valerie continued.
“Four?” Deni asked.
“The Spartans,” Valerie told her. “I’d put money on them being in this fight to the end, win or lose. The Pantheon have kicked over an ant’s nest there. They probably don’t realise just how deep it goes, nor how badly if can hurt them.” She took a few minutes to fill the girls in on what she knew about Sparta.
“Those of us who have actually met the Spartans in the field, have always urged caution when dealing with them for good reason. They take their blood debts seriously and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is exactly what they will consider this to be, once the Polemarch, their war leader, finds out. Sending a pirate to raid their customers, with the aim to trap a Spartan Lochas, is pretty high on the lists of things that will piss them off.”
“What are you going to do?” Hanna asked. “Shannon is certainly waiting for your OK before committing fully, and it goes for the rest of the Company. Sneaker is being his usual pragmatic self. He’ll undoubtedly have an out for the Tops. Baccurin is the one who is most on edge. He’s bet a whole lot on you coming through with the Legion.
“So I understand. Button’s cousin Cherilyn was quite vocal back on the Rock, when she thought I couldn’t hear.”
“She goes by Julianna now,” Deni told her. “Julianna Sazia.”
“Ah, I did wonder why Troll called her that a couple of times.”
“You didn’t answer the question,” Hanna pointed out.
Valerie sipped the whisky and took a moment to enjoy it. “You’re right, I didn’t. It’s because I don’t know what I’m going to do, not in the long run.” A thought suddenly occurred to her. “When are we going to Jump? That Battle Group must be heading towards us by now.”
“We’ve, err, been in hyperspace for a couple of hours now.” Deni said a bit uncomfortably. “We jumped while you were in the shower.”
“Oh, I was... distracted.”
“We saw,” Hanna said. “We came round and let ourselves in, heard the shower running and fixed dinner. When we realised you had been in there a while, we checked on you.”
“We didn’t think it would be a good idea to disturb you,” Deni explained. “So waited in the bedroom until you were ready.”
“It’s fine,
” Valerie said with a sad smile. “I realised I missed the anniversary of their deaths while I was on the Rock. It... It became too much...”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to us,” Deni said gently.
Valerie shook her head to clear it of the morbid thoughts the subject re-awoke and it was easier than ever.
“It’s fine, thank you. Where are you two staying? Which one of these are you staying in?” She waved her hand around to indicate the luxurious quarters.
“We’re a couple of floors down,” Hanna said.
“We wanted a double so we can stay together,” Deni explained.
“Who’s on this floor then? Shannon and Hans?”
“No, they’re in their usual quarters from what I’ve heard.” Hanna said. “No one else is on this floor, they’re all empty except this one. The Rebels have their own quarters on board already and Shannon wasn’t keen on letting the gangs use them. Sneaker actually agreed, so he’s in quarters for a Major, same as Shannon, and everyone else has to be below him.”
“Grab the one next door then and get some people to help you get an extra bed in there. If it comes to it, I’ll carry it in on my own, but that’s something for the morning. Right now, I need some sleep. I think it’s going to be a very long day tomorrow.”
“Don’t you want to know where we’re going?” Deni asked.
“Not really,” Valerie answered with a smile and a shrug. “If we’re in hyperspace, we’re safe and can’t do anything until we leave. I’ll worry about it after a good night’s sleep.” The girls got up from the table with Valerie. “Before you go, I’ve got something for the both of you, as long as you packed all my stuff up from Zeus that is.”
Crusade For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 2) Page 45
