by Imogene Nix
His second’s mouth thinned into a long white line. “That’s not good enough. We stuck our neck out for you and then she...” He stopped, blinked, and shook his head. “Sir...Commander Ito, we have to report this to the Traffic Control and the Moon Base Governor. Then on top of that, we have the military—”
“Who will only deal with me. Jordan, this is one case where you don’t need to know.”
The man blushed beet red. Renjiro knew it was simply a case of being unable to accept the blanket ruling, but in this instance, even though it looked bad, there was nothing he could do. His hands were effectively tied.
“Sir, I must protest.”
“It is noted. Jordan, there is more than meets the eye. Just trust me.”
The man searched his face and gave a begrudging nod. “I’d like my protest noted formally.”
Renjiro nodded. “Do so. Then return to my office. I will be out all day.”
Even as Jordan backed away, Renjiro noted the communication device buzzing. “Yes?”
“Commander, this is Governor Ingra. Please tell me why a vessel carrying an Indy under a blue tag registered to you failed to respond to Traffic Control.”
“Governor, at this time I cannot give you that information. As soon as I am at liberty, I will share what I can.” Weariness threaded through his voice. He’d been awake less than an hour and he already felt as if he’d completed a grueling day of training.
“This is a government matter?” The voice was steady and probing.
“It is.” There was silence and the comm badge now winked blue, another call. “Governor, I have another incoming I must take. If you will permit me?”
“Indeed, Commander. But I will expect a full briefing as soon as you can.” Then the connection died.
“Yes?”
“Commander Ito, this is Captain Carmichael Snow. I am requesting your presence aboard the Emancipation. I need to have a discussion with you, I believe.”
Carmichael Snow was a legend in military circles with his impressive military record. Why would the captain of the Emancipation be requesting his presence? His thoughts were firmly on where the hell Selina had gone to and he wasn’t sure he could cope with further intrigues right now.
Renjiro wanted to scream and yell. To kick the walls. Anything to wash off the frustration building inside himself. “Of course, Captain.”
“I’ll send my personal skip over to pick you up. And Commander? You might not wish to discuss this visit.”
The layer of secrets would normally whet his appetite, but his concern for Selina over rode everything. “I understand.”
He moved at a rapid clip, heading for the berth such skips used. He arrived in time to see the tiny craft land. As he stepped on board, the men closed the hatch and indicated he should take a seat. The trip was quick and uneventful. The Emancipation was reached in a matter of minutes. The crew members escorted him to a room several decks above the hangar bay. As the door opened, he reared back in surprise. There, in a seat, waiting for him was Selina and the larger-than-life Captain Carmichael Snow.
“So glad you could make it, Commander. Take a seat. I think we have some things to sort out.”
Confusion and not a little anger filled him. What is Selina doing here? “Selina?”
She shook her head, looking shell-shocked and pale. “Renjiro, if only you hadn’t found out. I never meant to lie to you. I just couldn’t...”
“It’s okay Selina. I...” He cast a glance at Captain Snow who was watching, obviously fascinated by their interaction. “We can discuss this later.”
But he reached out and gripped her hand to let her know he wasn’t angry. It wasn’t nearly enough, but for now it would have to do.
“So, now that we’re all here, I’m confused about what has happened to my good friend Selina. To be honest, she served the Federation faithfully. So why has she been stripped of citizenship?”
He lowered himself into the chair, but Renjiro had the impression of fury which belied his soft words and determined cool demeanor.
“I don’t know. Selina?”
She averted her gaze and anger welled inside him. Something had happened. But what? He needed her to trust him if they were to fix what had happened. If they could, whispered his mind.
“Selina, when you left my compound, you were promised indemnity after you were finished. What the hell happened?”
She hung her head and mumbled.
“Damn it, Selina. I can’t hear you!” Renjiro raised his voice before he dropped himself back into the seat, frustrated at his misdirected anger. What the hell am I thinking, yelling at her?
“Settle down, Commander. Yelling at Selina won’t help anything.”
* * * *
Huddled in the chair, Selina felt a mixture of anger, hurt, and frustration warring deep inside her. It wasn’t her fault that their CO had left them all swinging. Damn it, she was just trying to make the best of the bad lot dealt her.
“He refused our paperwork. Made out we’d forged it. He went up the ladder. We went out the door as liars and thieves.”
Carmichael stopped her. “What? Who?”
Renjiro’s eyes narrowed and his face turned to granite.
“The commander in charge of our division. Winstead. We were warned never to make contact with you or... Otherwise he’d...” She broke off, knowing she was about to commit what to Winstead was the cardinal sin. She was about to tell it all. No doubt, it was also the signing of her own death warrant.
“He’d what?” Renjiro’s voice held a dangerous edge, one that she’d never heard from him before.
She shuddered. How on earth can I tell him? But the implacable look on his face was chilling.
“Selina?”
The words nudged her. She shook her head then realized Winstead would think she told anyway. There was no benefit in not telling now. “He’d find us. Hunt us down like dogs and put us out of our and his misery.” She whispered the words, knowing that would fuel his barely restrained rage. Carmichael was a cold, driven man when his ire was up. But Renjiro? She had the feeling he was capable of more than she’d ever seen.
When they’d met before, he’d been a soldier. Highly decorated and capable. He’d single-handedly taken out five operatives in close hand-to-hand combat after being injured. But that was five years ago. She wasn’t sure what more he was capable of. Only that he’d bulked up more, and his eyes carried a cold distance that frightened her.
“I’ll find him. Crush the bastard,” Renjiro muttered, and she glanced at him, startled by the fury she saw dancing in his eyes.
“But, Renjiro—”
“No, Selina. I...” He stopped, looked at Carmichael. “I need to talk to Selina alone.”
Carmichael quirked an interested brow. “Is that so? Then why was she fleeing the moon base?”
Renjiro blushed scarlet, but remained silent, and she felt anger at Carmichael for his comment. At his challenging attitude.
“Carmichael, it’s hardly your business.” She strained forward, hoping to stress the point. But he ignored it.
“Of course it is. When one of my prize students is treated like this, then feels she has to flee? Let’s just say I take a great interest in what happens to you, when I have the opportunity.”
“It’s personal. Between us.”
Carmichael just grinned at her words though. “It might be, but Traffic Control requested our assistance. That makes it my business.”
She wanted to lunge across the table and beat him for the frustration he was causing. She glanced at Renjiro, who sat beside her. He radiated a level of anger that flowed off him in palpable waves.
“My cousin is Senator Tomi Ito. He shared certain information—classified information—with me. It caused a misunderstanding between us.” Renjiro sat straight and proud in his chair, though the lingering crest of red washed his cheeks.
“So you knew about Selina?” Carmichael leaned forward now, his beefy arms resting on the desktop.
His blue eyes blazing.
Renjiro silently inclined his head to inspect Carmichael.
“Everything?”
Renjiro looked at Carmichael for a long pregnant moment before shaking his head. “No. Tomi didn’t have access to everything. But she ran before I could talk to her, before I could explain my reaction. Tomi wasn’t aware until yesterday that I’d been looking for Selina for five years. We’d met on Seicha Two Seven Seven, when she saved me.”
Carmichael’s mouth dropped open, and he swiveled in her direction. “Frick! What the hell were you doing there?”
She smiled at Carmichael’s demand. “Running pilots mainly. Gathering data. Intelligence. Helping injured comrades.” She smiled at Renjiro, unable to stop herself. He grinned back. It filled her with warmth. Something she’d been sadly lacking since this whole mess erupted.
“Then why did you run?” Her smile melted away at Renjiro’s words.
How to explain? “I’m... I was a spy. I fought on the other side, haphazardly, but enough that they believed me to be what I said. I killed those on our side to make my way in. Knowing that, knowing everything I did... How could you want me?” Saying the words out loud hurt. She didn’t want to look at his face, but the need to know, once and for all, now, burned.
“How could you...” He stopped, his words dripping with hurt. “You think so little of me? You think I’m so shallow that...”
In that instant the truth blasted through her. She was wrong. He knew why and understood.
“Oh gods, Renjiro. It never occurred to me. I didn’t understand because I’ve always been on my own. I never thought anyone would want me.”
He rose with a jerk to take those last few steps, before lowering himself down and wrapping his arms around her. “Never again. Never will you be alone again. You, Selina. You are the family I choose.”
Chapter 4
Renjiro stood. He’d known Carmichael was watching, but didn’t care. Selina needed him. Needed the reassurance only he could give. With his arms wrapped tightly around her, he fancied she drew the strength she needed.
Carmichael coughed and Ren couldn’t help but smile at the captain’s discomfort. The link between he and Selina was firmer than ever. They could build a solid base of love and support now that they both knew where the other was coming from. He knew he’d do anything to protect Selina.
“So. Thankfully, the mushy lovey-dovey stuff is out of the way. What do we do next? Selina can’t just automatically receive citizenship, otherwise that will tip off Winstead.”
The positive emotion fizzled away like a thief in the night, and he drew back from her.
“Renjiro mentioned a proposition,” Selina said.
He stilled at her words. Although he knew there was another possible way, he didn’t want her involved in the furtive world of spying. He didn’t want her anywhere near any kind of possible danger.
Carmichael quirked a brow again and he flushed, feeling the tide of red and the heat on his face. “There’s a problem with some disaffected Indy’s. Word on the ground is they’re planning something to disrupt the current economic situation here. I don’t have anyone with the capabilities she has. The contacts. I was going to use that to trade for citizenship for Selina. But...”
“You have some powerful connections if you could pull that off.” The man opposite frowned for an instant, and Ren got the impression he was thinking over the various options. “You’d use your political capital to get Selina citizenship and round up those disaffected.”
“It’s a trade of skills. We would all win that way.” Ren knew it was more than that. He’d wanted to use it to keep Selina close by. So he could grow a meaningful relationship with her. Maybe even more. “But surely, once you get Winstead...”
“That will take time.”
The words were a blow. Time was something they didn’t have. “No. It needs to be done before she is shipped out.” Ren’s chest tightened with concern.
Carmichael smiled. “I think we can make the other work for us though. Tell me more. What kind of plot?”
Renjiro sat back down, unwilling to involve her. He realized Carmichael wouldn’t give him that option. “Indy pilots who’ve been disaffected. You know how they are. They get angry. They want to fight the system. They don’t want to follow any of our rules. Hell, they rarely follow their own these days.” He looked over to Selina who sat quietly, intently.
“They want to disrupt commerce? Cause what? An explosion? It would have to be a large freighter or something similar. Something that would shut down the port systems.” Her insightful question made him smile with pride.
“That and they want to land a blow on the Federation that took over their worlds. They don’t see that wasn’t what happened. The Federation welcomed the Indy planets only after they asked for entry. They made the overtures, not us.”
She nodded again. “You need someone who understands their language. Who is a true independent. Someone who can get them to talk freely. I know exactly who you need on the moon base.”
He looked at her, startled. “Who?”
“Well, I’ve been an Indy for over four years. Since the end of the war. Who else was I going to talk to? Who else was going to tip me off that cargo needed shipping? Ashford wasn’t. He wouldn’t bestir himself. In fact, the only thing I’m expecting when I get back to Sylvie’s Dream is my marching orders. He’s not exactly an easy man to work with.”
Carmichael stood. “Who is your contact on the moon base?”
“Jensen Orden. He’s a small freighter with links back to the main hierarchy. I kept tabs on all my contacts, because I might have needed them sometime. I didn’t exactly have a lot of friends anymore, you know.” She spoke in a matter-of-fact way, but he heard the loneliness she hadn’t concealed.
Now that he knew it was a simple matter of infiltrating, his mind whirred into action. Surely it wouldn’t be too dangerous? It was a wishful thought, he knew, but he clung to it while his mind ran through options, chances, and ways they could make this plan work. But it would mean being separated. That didn’t meet with his approval, or hers, he would bet.
“I don’t know Orden. When we get back I can look him up.” He looked up at her. “But you won’t be able to stay with me. I’ll need a new pink tag. I’m sorry. If we do this...”
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “No. But that will come. So. What do we do next?”
“We’ll need to transfer you back to the moon base. Make it believable. Maybe lock you in the brig for some time then release you back onto the three levels. Of course, that’s where Orden would be, so chances are...”
“I’ll run into him sooner rather than later. Yes.” She nodded, thoughtful. “Well, I guess that’s the only way forward. Carmichael, can you arrange for my things to be retrieved from Sylvie’s Dream?”
He nodded silently and Renjiro understood why. They were all she had. Every little thing would be meaningful to her. “I’ll look after them. Get them safely to Ito’s. Then I’ll arrange your return to the brig. We can let it slip that I found you interesting...”
Selina’s look told him his part of the plan had holes large enough to ram a freighter ship through. “No, not unless you make a habit of this kind of behavior. Arrange my passage back, then stick me in another brig. Perhaps the one closest to you. Keep me there for say a day, then release me. It’s believable and achievable.”
It didn’t suit him. She’d be so close and yet so very far away. But he couldn’t argue with her logic. As she and Carmichael expanded the plan, he watched them work. She was comfortable and easy in the role. It intrigued and aroused him.
He’d have to ignore that for now.
Once they agreed on the plan, Carmichael lent him restraints, and with a quick apology, he had her cuffed and headed for the small skiff.
They traveled in silence, aware that at any time someone might be listening. It was only when they reached the brig next door to his office that he pulled her aside, into
his office. “Stay safe. Remember, I love you and am looking forward to a long future with you.”
They embraced quickly then he had Jordan direct her to a cell. It was all he could do to watch her leave.
* * * *
Selina waited in the tiny cell. They’d taken her jacket again and the chill seeped into her bones. Renjiro had apologized quietly while taking it, and she knew he worried. Yet, it was a struggle to keep her face impassive when all she wanted to do was grin.
Carmichael would deal with Winstead, but it had to be stealthy, he’d assured them. Until then, they were to continue dealing with Renjiro’s problem. She mulled it over in her mind. How to contact Orden was the biggest sticking point. “Orden, where would you be right now?”
She could contact him by communicator, but that would look odd. In the years following the war, they’d used word of mouth—Indy-to-Indy—to keep track of their peers. Using communicators wasn’t safe for those living on the fringes. No, she needed to casually bump into him. Maybe at one of the bars. He’d always liked to wash off his anger in a tankard or three of ale. Of course, the sooner Sylvie’s Dream returned to dock, the more believable it would keep the tale she needed to tell.
Renjiro had assured her he’d make sure she was back in the original dock. As soon as they sprang her, she would make her way back there. To the ship that had been home for the last several years, since she’d teamed up with Ashford. It was another step. No doubt she’d be locked out, but she needed to try. Needed to say goodbye. Seeing the ship, but likely not being able to board it was sure to be a wrench. She’d enjoyed piloting the old bird, but the time had come to move on, and she had the hope of a bright future now.
A rattle and clank heralded the arrival of the guard. She caught sight of the blond hair and stormy features. Jordan. Damn, Ren had deputized him to deal with her. She’d seen his acid look earlier when he’d taken her from Renjiro’s office. He was clearly upset that she’d duped Renjiro. Or so he thought. She wondered what he’d told Jordan, but refused to ask.
“Get up. You’re free to go.”
