“This man is an apostate. He never gave himself to the cause as you fine men did. For that, he must be penalized.”
The leader roughly released Seb, but only long enough to grab a handful of his short hair and knee him in the face.
Jenna couldn’t hold back a gasp as Seb collapsed sideways to the ground, the other three CS Soldiers falling on him as the leader stepped back, a satisfied smirk on his face. How could they do this to someone they considered one of their own people? Oh God, she’d told Seb not to fight no matter what, and he was silently, furiously, taking every blow. The strength and control to do that, to go against instinct and not retaliate, was far greater than anything he could have done in fighting back.
She wanted to beg them to stop, and thought about playing up her false pregnancy for sympathy, but it likely wouldn’t work on men like this. That angle was followed up by the extremely hard and hot impulse to get out the gun she had stashed in her fake belly and shoot every single one of them, starting and ending with the leader. But she’d told Seb not to fight, so she couldn’t either… Not unless it looked like they were actually going to kill him. Then all bets were off. She would do anything to save him, including risk her own life.
However, after a few long minutes, the leader gave a short, bored sounding order for the men to cease.
Seb—who was on all fours after several unsuccessful attempts at getting to his feet—spat blood on the ground, then shifted to sit, pressing the back of his hand to the blood trickling from his nose.
The leader ordered his men into a march, then paused to glance down at Seb.
“You’re lucky you had your expectant wife here watching on, or the price might have been much higher.”
Not waiting for either of them to respond, the leader clasped his hands behind his back again and fell into step behind the three other CS Soldiers, heading down the road as the sun sank toward the horizon.
“Once we get back to the Knox, remind me to bring my jet down here, find that guy and blow him to hell with my huge-ass mounted guns.” He spat more blood and then used the bottom of his voluminous coat to wipe his face.
“I’m so sorry, Seb.” She dropped down next to him, getting a closer look at the cuts and swelling on his face that were sure to come out in some colorful bruises.
“There’s no point in you apologizing. You weren’t the one who wanted to come down here. We were going to run afoul of a patrol eventually. And you were right—fighting back would’ve caused more trouble.”
“Still, that was one heck of a beating.” She reached up and gently touched his chin.
“Yeah, and I took it like a man.” He grinned, but then winced. “Ow. No smiling for at least a week.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to save all my jokes about the rainbow on your face for another time.” She leaned in, gently pressing a kiss to the less swollen side of his mouth.
He sighed, sinking toward her, letting their foreheads rest together. “Maybe a few more of those and I’ll forget how much it hurts.”
She repeated the gesture, but then leaned back. “We should find somewhere to bunk down for the night.”
He reached up, setting his hand on her collarbone. “Am I crazy for doing this? I am, aren’t I? Actually, don’t answer that, I already know it. I shouldn’t have made you come down here. You should go back while you can. This is my thing, and if I get killed for my own stupidity—”
She cupped his cheeks. “This is our stupid thing, Seb. I’m here because I have my own reasons to see this through. Besides, you’d have to be brain-dead if you think I’m leaving you behind the lines on your own. Especially considering you’re heading deeper into enemy territory, not out.”
He pressed a hand to his temple with a grimace. “After that beating, I might actually be brain-dead.”
She pressed her lips together, forcing away the worry of what a decent blow to the head could do to a person. The beating had been superficial—vicious, but not brutal. Still, the tiny wish they could return to the Knox right away and have Sacha check him over sprouted like a seed in the back of her mind.
“Come on.” Seb climbed stiffly to his feet, obviously working to keep his expression from showing his pain. “Let’s find somewhere to lie low before those guys decide to come back for round two.”
She took his arm again and they started down the road, Seb limping very slightly. As they reached the first of the outer buildings, a man who was maybe a few years older than Seb, stepped out from the shadowed doorway.
This time, Jenna was the one who protectively stepped in front of Seb, despite the fact that she was playing the vulnerable, pregnant wife.
The man had one arm crooked against his side in a way that suggested the limb was injured and possibly not very useful and held up his other hand in a calming gesture. Behind him stood a woman with a toddler on her hip, the little girl staring at them with wary eyes.
“I don’t want to cause you any trouble. We saw what happened with the patrol down the road there.” The man stepped onto the stoop of his modest home.
Jenna relaxed a fraction, sensing Seb do the same.
“If you want to come in and get cleaned up a little, we can offer you a small evening meal,” the woman said over the man’s shoulder.
Jenna glanced back at Seb, who gave a small shrug, obviously leaving the decision up to her.
“I wouldn’t want to put your family in danger,” Jenna replied. Though food and a warm house would be nice, they’d do just as well in a barn or abandoned building.
“The patrol only comes through here once every two weeks,” the man said, stepping aside to push the door open wider. “They won’t be back again tonight.”
Taking her hand, Seb stepped forward. “You have my thanks. We could use some friendly faces after that kind of welcome. I’m Sebastian, and this is Jenna.”
The man sent Seb a respectful nod, and Jenna let him lead her into the cozy house. They found a large open sitting area separated from the kitchen by a long bench. A double doorway half closed over in the opposite wall no doubt led to bedrooms and the bathroom. She’d found in her travels that many houses on Ilari shared the same simple design, no doubt built en masse when the planet was first settled.
The woman walked over to the bench set with several stools on each side, which clearly doubled as a meal preparation area and table.
“My name is Halden,” the man said. “This is my wife, Merrie, and daughter Talia.”
“We’re very appreciative of your hospitality,” Seb replied as Merrie put the little girl down and murmured for her to go play on the mat where a number of simple toys had been spread out.
“Where are you headed, if you don’t mind us asking?” Halden took a seat at the bench, offering them to do the same. Merrie handed Seb a cloth, then returned to setting out the evening meal.
“To Vaticia, for the medical care,” she said, naming the holy city where the Pontifex lived, which was closest to where Lawler’s pod had crashed.
“Not to Lavina?” Halden asked. “It’s closer, and I hear the medical care is just as good.”
She shook her head. “I have relatives in Vaticia.”
“And you have somewhere in town to stay tonight?” Merrie put in, grabbing out two extra plates and dividing up the food.
Jenna glanced at Seb on the seat next to her, who met her gaze with a questioning look while dabbing at the cut on his lip.
“I’m guessing that’s a no,” Merrie concluded. “We can’t offer you any more than a mattress on the floor, but you’re welcome to stay here.”
“That’s very generous, considering we’re strangers.” Seb’s attention moved to where Talia was singing something about the doll she held with a wooden cat figurine.
“I don’t expect an extremely pregnant woman and a man who just had the spit beat out of him to present much of a threat,” Halden returned dryly, making Seb give a short laugh that ended in a wince.
“Then we’ll be in your d
ebt.” Jenna held out her hand, and Halden shook it firmly with a warm smile.
Merrie handed the plates around and called Talia over, the five of them settling into a meal and an easy conversation about the state of Ilari.
Things were only getting worse for the people, and Halden quietly told them of rumors that the Pontifex, who ruled the planet, hadn’t been seen for months, his health apparently failing. This had been fuel to the fire of unrest already smoldering, and now outright calls to oust the Pontifex and rejoin the UEF were gaining momentum. The man who’d held tight religious military control over the Ilari and much of the Brannon System for several decades now faced fighting his own people as well as the UEF military.
Though she’d always known Ilari to have pockets of rebels, and had worked with some in the past, that they were now openly fighting the regime was amazing. Seb seemed surprised at hearing the extent of the dissension on the ground, though he worked well to hide the sentiment. If she hadn’t come to know him so well, she would have missed the fact that he seemed to be carefully cataloging the information, no doubt to report anything he could to Commander Yang if or when he returned to the Knox.
After the meal, Merrie took Talia to wash and then put the young girl to bed, while they moved to sit on the modest couch
“So, do the two of you have transport to Vaticia, or were you planning to walk the rest of the way?” Halden asked once he’d put the basket of toys aside and moved to sit in one of the two armchairs.
“Honestly, we don’t want to take the days to walk,” Seb said from where he was slouched against the couch cushions next to her. “But, no, we don’t have any transport organized.”
Halden nodded. “There’s a supply shuttle flying to Vaticia early in the morning. It takes produce to the markets on the outer reaches of the city. The pilot is CSS, but a friend of mine. I can have a word with him.”
Jenna hesitated. Considering the way the other soldiers had treated Seb, the CSS pilot might be a problem.
As if reading her thoughts, Halden shook his head. “Neiman isn’t like those soldiers you met earlier. I’ve known him since we were kids. We grew up together. Went to war together. Got injured together.” He gestured to the arm he’d kept cradled to his side the entire evening, never using it once. “But while I got discharged, Neiman was deemed fit enough to remain, but given light duties. Now he spends his days flying supply shuttles. You can trust him.”
Seb closed a hand over her knee, giving a gentle squeeze. “Sounds like we’d be foolish to refuse.”
Merrie returned with an armful of blankets and a report that Talia was sleeping, then offered them all a warm drink. With care, Jenna steered the conversation as much as she could through Ilari’s state, and what exactly the rebels were doing and where. After two hours, she’d gotten more information out of Halden than she’d collected in months on the ground using CI contacts. And from the way the couple spoke of several things, she got the feeling their knowledge of the rebels came directly from the source, because one or both of them were involved. She only hoped for the sake of their daughter that neither of them were taking big risks.
Once the couple had bid them good night and disappeared, she and Seb silently arranged the blankets and then settled down on the floor. Rolling onto her side, she worked to get comfortable with her pretend belly. Seb wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him, guiding her head to lie on his shoulder.
She sighed and relaxed against him. No point in pretending she wasn’t enjoying the heck out of this.
“I had no idea what things were really like down here,” he murmured into her ear. “I mean, I’d read reports, seen pictures and videos, but somehow, it wasn’t real. Does that sound stupid?”
“I had a clue, but in a lot of ways, even I was removed from it. It sounds like things are on the verge of complete chaos.”
“But that could be a good thing, right?” He shifted, holding her a little tighter. “If that a-hole Pontifex is dying and hasn’t shored up CSS control for after his death, if there really is a rebel force already starting to rise up—”
“Things will get bloodier,” she said as he stiffened. “Civil wars always hurt the innocent the most. People like Halden, Merrie, and Talia will be the ones to suffer.”
Seb muttered a curse. “This damned war has gone on long enough. It’s time the UEF made a concentrated effort to finish things once and for all.”
“If we make it back with this new information, maybe we can make a difference.”
They now had valuable intel that could see the UEF change tactics, could mean the difference between the battle ending in a few years or another few decades.
By all rights, they should turn back while they still could, return to the Ilari base and report the findings to the first officer they found. But Seb would be detained. And if they didn’t happen to realize who she really was, she’d have to disappear.
Except she’d vowed she would see this through for Seb, that she’d give him the closure she’d never get. Having this information only increased the risk. Made it more important than ever she use every skill she’d honed as a CI agent to keep them safe until they’d seen the crash site and make it back to the Knox in one piece.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Seb awoke to someone gently shaking his shoulder. He cracked open his eyes, the room about him still mostly dark. Halden stood above him, murmuring that it was time to go if they wanted to catch the shuttle to Vaticia.
He nodded and then waited until his host had continued on to the kitchen, setting some water to boiling.
Wincing at his dead arm, where Jenna had been lying all night, he gently pulled himself free, the movement waking her up.
“Is it morning?” she whispered, sounding more alert that he was. Of course, his foggy head could have something to do with the beating he’d taken yesterday. His skull throbbed in time with his pulse, as if every surge of blood through his head made the bruising on his face spread to the rest of his body.
“Halden says it’s time to go.”
She was on her feet in another blink. “I’ll use the bathroom, and we’ll be on our way.”
She hurried off. He got to his feet a little more slowly, swallowing down the urge to groan at all the aches. Hell, maybe it was suicidal, but he was hoping to run across that patrol on the way out so he could pay that bastard leader back in kind for every single place he hurt.
He stooped to grab up the blankets as Halden came over.
“Don’t bother with that, I’ll take care of it later. Besides, Talia will think it’s fun to build a fort with them when she wakes up.” Halden handed over a gently steaming mug. From the smell of it, the brew was a local kind of thick, potent tea that was quite close to coffee, but much cheaper.
“Ah yes, the age-old art of fort building.” He took a gulp of the hot beverage, hoping the caffeine would help his head a little. “I never had enough patience when I was a kid. Used to half-ass it and then get annoyed when the thing fell on top of me.”
Halden gave a short laugh, nursing his own steaming mug. “Mine were mostly outdoors in the trees with whatever branches I could find when I was trying to avoid my chores.”
Jenna returned, and Halden went back to the kitchen to make her a tea as well. They spent a few minutes making small talk, and their host offered them some traditional Ilari breakfast biscuits, as well as some fruit to take on their journey.
Once they were ready, he led them into the lavender mist of predawn, to the town square, coming onto a small bustling scene. The shuttle was perched with the back open while farmers loaded supplies into the cargo hold.
Halden waved to the only person in a CSS uniform, not standing by and watching proceedings, but actually helping people load the produce, despite the pronounced limp from what looked to be an early-tech bio-mechanical leg.
He stood back with Jenna, while Halden went to talk with Neiman and soon, the CS Soldier nodded and waved them over.
“N
eiman will take you as far as the markets.” Halden offered his hand, and Seb shook it gratefully.
“Thank you, I have no way of repaying you right now, but if I’m ever able—”
Halden held up a hand. “No need. If we can’t help each other for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do, then mankind truly is lost.” He gave Neiman an affectionate slap on the back, then headed off through the small crowd of farmers.
Neiman turned to them with a friendly smile. “If you folks don’t mind keeping out of the way for a few minutes, we’ll get the rest of this load secured and wait until the crowd disperses before I take you on board. Not meant to convey passengers, so wouldn’t want my CO to get wind of it.”
“We don’t want to get you into trouble,” Jenna replied quickly.
Seb took her arm and steered her over to sit on a rough-hewn park bench. “You just sit here. I’m going to lend a hand.”
“I could help—” She started to get up again, but he set both hands on her shoulders and gently urged her down again. “No, you can’t, Mrs. Rayne.”
He made a point of looking at her pretend belly, at which she crossed her arms and huffed a sigh. “Fine. Have it your way. I’ll act like your precious feeble wife.”
He cast a glance over her. “I don’t know that anyone could ever accuse you of being feeble, even at twenty-five months pregnant.”
She took a swipe at him with her foot, but he dodged out of the way with a laugh. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Leaving Jenna fuming, he pitched into a line of people loading milk and eggs. They greeted him with ease and friendliness, leaving his guts pinching as he wondered how they’d react if they knew who he really was.
Within less than fifteen minutes, the cargo hold was packed down and people began disappearing. Neiman chatted amiably with them, until the last person had gone on their way, leaving the square empty.
“Right. You two get settled in the back. I’ll have to close you in from the outside. We’ll be at the outer Vaticia markets in around an hour.”
Cover Fire (Valiant Knox) Page 24
