Losing Mars (Saving Mars Series-3)

by Swanson, Cidney

  Jess shook her head. It was an emergency every Marsian child trained for—noticing the signs that the air pressure or oxygen levels were deadly, responding quickly to survive the situation.

  “I have,” said Kipper. “It happened a lot where I grew up. You end up with an incapacitating headache. This,” she said, tapping her skull, “Is a hundred times worse. Every day since they shot me—every waking day, at least—I’ve struggled with whether I should continue or … just give up.”

  “I’m sorry,” murmured Jessamyn.

  “Don’t be,” said Kipper, sounding irritated. Then she inhaled and breathed out slowly. “Forgive me. That was rude.”

  Jessamyn remembered something about Squyres Station residents—how they suffered neither fools nor pity.

  “Enough about my … challenges,” said Kipper, her voice softer. “Tell me about Mars. You said no one was starving. But if you’re here, who delivered the rations? Tell me everything.”

  Jessamyn felt the demand for “everything” settle upon her shoulders like a heavy yoke. “There’s a lot to tell,” she said. “Harpreet and my brother were captured after you were shot. I tried to rescue them, but I failed. In the end, I followed my primary directive and took the food back with Crusty’s help.”

  “Mars Colonial is safe,” murmured Kipper.

  “For now,” agreed Jessamyn.

  “And they sent you back for me and the others?”

  “I … volunteered,” said Jess. That was going to be a very big conversation—one she didn’t feel like having now.

  “I don’t know how you managed it, Jessamyn. Any of it. Escaping those security officers, flying home with only Crusty. Flying back here.”

  “I had help escaping security,” said Jessamyn. “I wouldn’t have stood a chance if it weren’t for a Terran. Pavel Bouchard.” She wasn’t sure why she left off part of his name. No, that wasn’t right. She knew exactly why. He was nothing like his aunt.

  “Friend of Brian Wallace’s?” asked Kipper.

  “Friend of mine,” Jessamyn said.

  The captain shook her head. “I’m taking bullets to the brain and you’re making friends with Terrans.”

  “Oh, come on,” said Jess, her face flaming red.

  “I was trying to make a joke,” Kipper replied quickly. “I’m … not skilled with humor. I apologize.”

  Jess grunted her acceptance.

  “Hold on,” said Kipper. “That name. Did you say Bouchard? Pavel Bouchard? A first-body?” asked Kipper. She pressed fingers to her head, but Jess couldn’t tell if she was in pain or trying to recall something.

  “Yes,” replied Jessamyn. “Actually, his full name is—”

  “Brezhnaya-Bouchard.” The captain spoke his name in a whisper. “The Chancellor’s missing nephew. Why would he help you? Ares, Jess—what did you promise in return?”

  “Nothing,” replied Jessamyn, a scowl forming on her face. “He hates his aunt.”

  “Oh,” said Kipper. “I see. And I apologize. Please continue.”

  Swiftly, Jessamyn relayed the story she’d told to the Secretary General—how Pavel had helped her, how she’d attacked the Terran Chancellor. How she’d fled without Ethan. As she retold the story, it felt to her as if years and not months had passed since her first visit to Earth. Jess recounted her brief stay on Mars and explained that she’d soloed her return flight, but she kept back the essential facts of having stolen and crashed the Galleon. She would explain later, she told herself.

  “And Harpreet and your brother are safe?” asked Kipper.

  “Yes.” Jess explained the addition of Kazuko Zaifa and Brian Wallace to their coterie as they sought to carry out Mei Lo’s directive to give MCC control of the satellites.

  “You mentioned my brother, Cavanaugh. Don’t think I didn’t notice,” said Kip, scowling as they approached the front door of a dwelling. “But that conversation will have to wait. We’re here. Be very careful what you say. In fact, don’t say anything, okay? Let me do the negotiating. I’ll say you’re my fourbodied grandmother who’s not mentally all there. We should be fine. This family trusts me. At least, I hope they do.”

  25

  NOTHING PERSONAL

  Jessamyn followed behind Kipper when they were invited into the small home. Jess looked around and counted four children, all in their first-bodies. Two adults sat at a table barely large enough to hold what Jess took for wet rations. One of the two stood.

  “Nurse Cassondra,” he said, holding his arms wide.

  The two exchanged kisses—two upon either side of the face—and then Kipper turned to introduce Jessamyn.

  “Ferenc, Maria, this is my grandmother.”

  Jessamyn smiled and tried to look old and not-all-there.

  “Her husband has left her, taking everything she had, and she’s come to Dunakeszi to find me.” Kipper scooted closer to the adults and dropped her voice lower. “Grandmother has made a terrible mistake. She left her transport in Direktor Vanya’s quarry, not understanding the nature of that location. ” She dropped her eyes. “I didn’t know who else to turn to.”

  Jess felt genuine admiration: her captain could lie with the best of them.

  “Well,” said Maria. “So your grandmother has lost her transport? Was it valuable?”

  Kipper nodded. “I’ll have to quit my work at the Clinic in order to care for Grandmother. The vehicle would have provided us enough to live upon for the duration of her years.”

  Maria nodded.

  Kipper continued. “I intend to pay the fees and any fines, of course. But I’ll need help negotiating to buy the vehicle back at an … affordable price, so that I can resell it.” Her eyes pleaded, mournfully. “Will you help me?”

  Maria shrugged. “What did you bring?”

  The two negotiated briefly over the small pharmacopoeia in Kipper’s bag, eventually agreeing that Maria would speak to the Direktor’s men in exchange for the meds. Jess hoped the additional pain killers in her pack would be enough for Kipper’s personal needs.

  Maria spoke again. “So you’re abandoning the children, just like that?”

  “My grandmother has no one else to care for her now,” said Kipper.

  “Little Mischka will miss you,” said the man who’d risen to greet her.

  “I know, Ferenc,” said Kipper. “And I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal.”

  “Mischka will take it personally,” Maria muttered darkly. “You’re the only one he likes.”

  “Leave her be, Maria,” said Ferenc. “She’s made it worth our while.” He tapped the table, indicating the stolen medicines.

  “What are these?” asked a small someone from behind where Jessamyn stood waiting.

  Jess turned and saw with horror that the child was playing with pieces of tellurium. “How did you—” Jessamyn felt for her pack. It was still secure on her shoulders.

  Kipper brushed past her, murmuring, “Sancho slit the bottom of your pack. It’s a trick all the children know around here.”

  “I was just practicing,” said Sancho.

  Ferenc and Maria hurried to the side of the small child, Maria congratulating him while Ferenc scolded.

  “What is that?” asked Maria, gazing with curiosity at a finger of tellurium.

  “It’s shiny,” said the child.

  One of his playfellows snatched up a piece and ran it around the room.

  “Well, well, well,” said Maria. “Is this real?”

  Jessamyn scowled and demanded Maria return her property.

  Maria did not acknowledge the demand.

  “Call Uncle Vanya,” she said to Ferenc. “Now. Tell him to bring his special goggles.”

  After directing Sancho to take the other children to a neighbor’s apartment, Maria gestured to Ferenc to allow her to speak with Vanya.

  “Vanya’s very dangerous,” Kipper whispered to Jessamyn.

  Maria finished the call and began arguing with Ferenc about what should be done with the metal. Ferenc w
as for returning it, but Maria shouted that is was too late for that, now that she’d called Uncle Vanya.

  Ferenc scowled and told her she could handle everything herself in that case. He sat back down at the table, muttering under his breath.

  Jess saw movement outside a window facing the front of the dwelling. It was Sancho. The child ducked down to hide from view just as a loud rap sounded upon the door.

  Kipper shot a look to Jessamyn. “Let them have it,” she whispered. “It’s not worth it.”

  Jess’s eyes narrowed. She had no intention of simply walking away from ten fingers of tellurium.

  At the door, Maria welcomed Vanya in tones of great deference.

  “Maria, my dear.” He kissed her, twice on each cheek. “Our dear Sancho has eluded you,” said Vanya. “The boy sits just outside, watching and learning.” Vanya pointed to where little Sancho crouched beside the window outside. “You know, I’m deeply proud of my little namesake.”

  Saying this, Vanya settled at the small table beside Ferenc and withdrew a pair of goggles. Jess thought they looked like something her mother might have used in planetary agriculture.

  “Well, my dear ones,” said Vanya. “Let me see it, then.”

  As Maria lifted a cloth she’d draped over the tellurium, Vanya inhaled as if in surprise.

  “Well, well, well,” whispered Vanya, gazing through the strange spectacles at the metal.

  At her side, Jess saw Kipper’s face turn a shade paler, saw her captain lick her lips as if in pain.

  “Well, well, well,” repeated Vanya. This time he directed the remark to Jessamyn. “So, grandmother, this is quite a tidy sum.” He frowned, tilting his head to one side as he examined her face. “Have we engaged in business transactions before, you and I? Or met socially, perhaps?”

  Jess shook her head.

  “Hmm. You look familiar.” He smiled. It was not a smile to put others at their ease. “Never mind. We’re here to talk business.” He turned to Ferenc, murmuring softly, “Ferenc, my dear, if you would be so good as to make certain my dear namesake outside comes to no harm?”

  Ferenc bowed, walked to the door, and left the dwelling. Uncle Vanya turned his attention to Jessamyn. “How did you come to possess so great a fortune?” he asked, indicating the tellurium.

  “I have powerful allies,” said Jessamyn, crossing her arms over her chest.

  The man gazing at her didn’t look terribly strong. Jess considered taking a swing at him. Perhaps her pack might do a better job. She dropped one shoulder in preparation.

  “I wouldn’t,” Maria said to Jessamyn. “He’s armed. And he’s very fast.”

  Jess felt her face turning color and felt angry at herself for it.

  “And where are these … powerful allies?” asked Vanya. “You appear to be alone. Except for the Nurse, of course.”

  “I’m a friend of Clan Wallace,” Jess said.

  Beside her, Kipper moaned softly, her eyes closed, and rubbed small circles on her left temple.

  “Call them, my dear,” said Vanya to Jessamyn. “We’ll sort it out.”

  She scowled. He was calling her bluff. She had no idea how to contact Clan Wallace. Hades! She hadn’t thought of that.

  “I can’t,” admitted Jess.

  Vanya shrugged. Scratched a day-old beard and rose. Passing a weapon to Maria, he murmured, “Kill them both.”

  “It’s nothing personal,” said Maria to Kipper, a cold smile upon her visage.

  Jessamyn’s blood turned to ice. What could she say? What could she offer?

  Keeping her tone calm and respectful, Jess spoke to Vanya. “The tellurium is yours already. Clearly you value family. Will you not allow my granddaughter and me to go in peace?”

  Maria, leveling the gun at Jessamyn, said, “That one’s pretty. She could fetch a price, perhaps?”

  “Yes,” agreed Vanya. “There is something about her…”

  Maria gasped. “Vanya, it’s that maid—the runner! The one who stole from the Chancellor.”

  “I—what?” asked Jess, trying to make sense of the odd accusation. Then it clicked: this was Lucca’s way of trying to find her.

  “Silence,” commanded Maria, moving the gun back and forth between Jess and Kipper.

  “I’ve seen her image on the most wanted gallery,” continued Maria. “She’s definitely the maid who stole from the Chancellor. There’s quite a price on her head.”

  Had Lucca circulated such a story about her? A story in which she, Jessamyn, was a supposed former employee of Lucca’s?

  Vanya had pulled a pocket wafer from his jacket and nodded as he found the information he was searching for. “Yes, Maria, very good. Very good. It’s definitely her.”

  As Vanya looked from a picture on his wafer to Jessamyn and back again, his teeth bared in an approximation of joy. “What a price the Chancellor’s placed upon your head, my dear. Goodness, she seems most anxious for your return.” Then he frowned. “Ah. I see she will only pay if we deliver you alive. Doesn’t want to risk receiving an empty husk while you’ve jumped bodies, I suppose. Well, that makes tonight’s business less messy.”

  He turned to Maria. “Would you be so kind as to kill the nurse?”

  “No!” called Jessamyn. “Let her go. She’s done nothing to harm you. If you don’t let her go right now, I’ll tell Lucca Brezhnaya to arrest you all as inciters. I have your names. I know about Mischka’s brain injury—I know things only an intimate of your family could know,” she lied. “And Lucca will believe me.”

  “It will be our word against yours,” said Vanya, shrugging.

  “No,” said Maria. “I know how the wealthy think. This runner may have stolen from the Chancellor, but Brezhnaya will believe her maid’s word over ours.”

  “That’s right. She may hate me, but she’ll believe me,” said Jessamyn, attempting to wedge herself between Maria’s gun and Kipper’s body.

  “Stand still,” barked Vanya.

  Jessamyn froze, cursing herself for not having moved far enough to shield her captain.

  “So,” said Vanya, stroking his whiskered chin, “That means we’re back to killing you both, I suppose.”

  “You have my word I will not implicate you so long as Ki—Nurse Cass goes free. Now.”

  “Jess,” hissed Kipper.

  “It has to be you, Kip,” murmured Jess. Pavel would tell Kipper to create a statement discrediting her brother Cavanaugh. It had to be Kipper who survived this encounter.

  Maria and Vanya conversed in quiet tones.

  “Please,” said Jessamyn. “She was good to Mischka. She loved him like a son.” She hoped there was some evidence to support the statement.

  Maria frowned as she spoke to Vanya. “The reward money is a substantial fortune, Vanya.” She lowered her voice, “And Nurse Cass was very good to Mischka. And Sancho.”

  “Very well, my dear,” said Vanya. “For the sake of my little Sancho. Tell Ferenc to take the nurse and fetch a good price for her.”

  Jessamyn shot a quick glance to Kipper as Maria took Kipper outside.

  “Good night, my dear Maria.” Saying this, Vanya placed a call. “Get me Red Squadron Forces. I have something of value.”

  Jessamyn looked around the room for anything that could be used as a weapon. Vanya, observing this, pulled a gun from his jacket and gestured for her to stand still.

  Speaking into a small communication device, he roared, “Fool! How can the entire North Budapest Red Squadron be ‘otherwise occupied’?” He listened for another minute, his finger twitching on the gun directed at Jessamyn. “Dunakeszi’s finest? Oh, I have no doubt.” He paused again. “Just send them. Along with a Recording Agent. Things will go very badly for anyone trying to cross my claim.”

  Vanya strolled to Jessamyn’s side and spoke quietly. “You know, my dear, should you break your word and spread lies about the Family Vanyashin, not only will Nurse Cass be killed, I will make certain the good nurse lingers over her death most unpleasan
tly. Do we have an understanding?”

  Jessamyn nodded.

  “Well, then, all we need do for the time being is await the arrival of the idiots keeping the peace in our fair village,” said Vanya.

  At that moment, the door flew open. Jessamyn’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the intruders. At the door stood Sancho, with a gun held to his small head. And Kipper held the weapon.

  Vanya, standing beside Jessamyn, took in a sharp breath.

  “Drop your weapon,” Kipper ordered Vanya. “Now!” she said, raising her voice so that the small child jumped in fear.

  “You won’t do it” said Vanya. “He’s an innocent child.”

  “Try me,” growled Kip.

  Vanya looked from Sancho to Kipper and back again.

  “Uncle, please!” whimpered Sancho.

  A look of anguish flickered briefly in Vanya’s eyes. Defeated, he exhaled and slowly held the gun out, dropping it to the floor. Jess sprang to retrieve it at once.

  “Let the child go, Kip,” Jessamyn said softly.

  Kipper ignored her. “Tie Vanya’s hands together, Jessamyn. There are cable-fasts in my sling-pack.”

  Jessamyn shot a worried look to the child, who seemed about to cry, but she followed Kipper’s orders.

  “On your knees,” Kipper ordered Vanya. “Face to the ground.”

  “Kip,” Jess whispered in horror, “He’s just a child.” All her distinctions between “real” children and Terran children melted away in the reality of the small boy’s distress.

  “There’s a patch in Sancho’s front pocket,” said Kipper to Jess. “Take it out.”

  Jessamyn approached the pair and found a med-patch in the child’s pocket. Inexplicably, the boy winked at her before resuming his look of terror.

  “Vanya is going to take a nap, Sancho,” said Kipper. “And when he wakes up, you will be here to take care of him. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” said the small child, voice filled with terror.

  Jessamyn placed the med-patch on Vanya’s exposed skin.

  Kipper counted backwards from twenty. Then she lowered her gun and ran a hand playfully through Sancho’s hair. He glared at her, swatting her hand away. Then he ran to his Uncle.