Deserter

by Mike Shepherd

  Kris kept pacing. “I once wanted to go to a Highland Game thing they had every year at this place outside Wardhaven. Father said it had no political value. He always got the votes from that demographic. Mother stopped me because the only sanitation facilities they had were portable toilets. I was young, and she didn’t want to have to wait for me at any such place. Kind of strange, Harvey probably would have been the one to do it, but, anyway. Bathrooms are very important. Any idea how we might put the bathroom facilities out of order for the Top of Turantic?”

  “What can you do to a bathroom?” Penny asked.

  “Spoken like a true mud lover,” Tom said with the kind of grin that one bestows on someone you’d forgive all. “Us space born know sanitation is always a problem. In low gravity you have to be sure everything flows right. And sewage treatment is always dumped near the central hub where gravity is nominal.”

  “Ever have your sewer explode?” Abby asked. “Some of our pipes were ancient where I grew up. One really hot summer day we had this big explosion. Bigger than the ones when the gangs were arguing over the turf, you know. Anyway, it turned out one of the sewers had blown. Methane built up . . . boom.”

  “Nelly, show us the Top of Turantic’s sanitation system.”

  “Those files are no longer on net,” Nelly said to groans. “However, when Kris was first invited to a ball, I downloaded a complete set of maintenance schematics. And I kept them in storage,” said a computer proud enough to bust her buttons.

  “You get another ‘Atta girl’ for that,” Kris said as a schematic of what Nelly knew about their station filled the screen. The lower portion with the Hilton and shipping docks was well filled in. Above that was a vast empty space. Then came another fully documented area: the Top of Turantic with its wide range of restaurants, sports venues, entertainment opportunities, and the children’s theme park.

  “Tom was right,” Nelly said as she highlighted a portion of the Top of Turantic behind the mirrored right wall near the center of spin. “The waste treatment and most other support services are in lower gravity.”

  “Can’t use it for paying customers,” Tom grumbled, “so the poor working stiffs get it. Cleaning filters when the stuff just floats around you or back onto the filter is a bitch.”

  The team gathered around the screen. “Any other treatment plant up there?” Kris asked.

  “Only the one,” Nelly said.

  “Can they send sewage down to the yard?” Jack asked.

  “There’s a solid wall between the yard and both High Turantic and Top of Turantic,” Penny said. “The only break in that wall is the slide stations and ferry down to the ground.”

  “And those tubes?” Kris asked.

  “Are behind solid steel walls. No exits in the yard area.”

  “Get the feeling they don’t trust us good folks?” Abby drawled, nudging Jack.

  “Well, if you were regularly doing unto others,” Jack nudged Abby right back, “you’d make sure folks didn’t do unto you.”

  “And Mr. Sandfire surely has done unto a lot,” Penny said.

  “Explains why I have this really strong need to do a bit unto him,” Kris said. “Nelly, how are the new nano spies coming along?” Jack and Abby raised matching eyebrows. “I told Nelly to start work right after the President finished.”

  “So all your reluctance was just an act!” Tom growled.

  “Hey, can’t a Princess poll her advisers?”

  “Give me that pole. I’ll club you,” Penny said, only half rising from her chair before falling back with a groan.

  Jack just chuckled. “Will they be ready before Klaggath gets back?”

  “Yes,” Nelly assured them.

  “It’s not going to be easy surviving the guards that Sandfire will have out,” Jack pointed out.

  “Don’t I know that, after today dirtside,” Kris moaned with a grin. “Nelly’s using the best Auntie Tru passed along to us. Any suggestions on what we have the recon nits look for?”

  “Power,” Tom said. “Cut power, and everyone gets a day off.”

  “What’s the power source for that yard?” Abby asked, which got raised eyebrows all around. “Hey, where I grew up, we were all the time losing electricity. You don’t have to be some evil genius to know no juice, no joy.”

  “Someday I want to visit where you grew up,” Kris said.

  “Be sure to take two squads of Marines. One maybe two might survive my hood,” Abby said. “So what juices that yard?”

  “It is not drawing from the ground,” Nelly said.

  “Internal then. Fusion reactor like a ship’s?” Kris said.

  “Oh my God,” Penny moaned. “We kill the power to the containment field, the whole thing could blow.”

  “They must have enough backup to scram the reactor before they lose containment,” Jack said.

  “Everything north of this station was a rush job,” Penny said. “Don’t count on anything being according to standards.”

  “Nelly, have the nanos take a look at the station’s power supply and backup system. Also the power distribution network. If we can’t blow the main supply, maybe we can isolate it.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Any other priorities?”

  “Chemicals,” Tom said. “Chemicals that might go boom or make the air unpleasant would be a good way to stop work.”

  “I will add chemical sniffers to more nanos,” Nelly said.

  “Well, if you’re going after the other station’s sewage, what about this one?” Abby asked.

  “Not important,” Jack said, shaking his head. “Moms and kids will flee a portable toilet, but if the boss man tells workers to use one, they use one.”

  “Good point,” Nelly said. “I will lower that on my priority list.” Further discussion added little. Nelly had the nanos ready when the Inspector reported back that Kris had twice the usual guards, starting at the lobby.

  Again Klaggath seemed on the verge of inviting Kris into a conspiracy against his government, but she stepped on his lines before finally offering him her hand. “Inspector, when a lot of angry people get together, they need protection. Protection from themselves and protection from those who fear them. Sometimes, the best service a cop can do is to take that lonely stand between the mob and the just target of their anger.”

  “And let a Longknife be a damn Longknife, huh?”

  “I have no idea what you mean, Inspector,” she said as he left. NELLY, DID ALL THE NANOS GET ON HIM?

  EVERY ONE OF THEM.

  Kris turned from the door. “Now I suggest we all get some rest. Tomorrow looks like another busy day.” Like a mother hen, Kris sent her chicks off to bed and followed quickly herself. Unfortunately, she still had work to do. NELLY, HAVE YOU DONE ANY MORE WORK ON THE CHIP?

  NO, TODAY HAS BEEN VERY BUSY.

  ARE YOU PLANNING ON WORKING ON IT TONIGHT?

  WHEN YOU HAVE NO FURTHER NEED FOR ME.

  NELLY, I DON’T KNOW WHEN I’LL NEED YOU. I CAN’T AFFORD TO HAVE YOU DOWN RIGHT NOW.

  THE BUFFERS WILL PROTECT ME. Ah, the surety of the young.

  I KNOW THAT IS WHAT TRU THOUGHT, BUT SHE MIGHT BE WRONG.

  THE ODDS AGAINST THAT ARE NEARLY INFINITESIMAL, KRIS.

  I KNOW, NELLY, BUT IF YOU WENT DOWN NOW, THE CATASTROPHE WOULD BE ASTRONOMICAL. I CAN’T SAVE TURANTIC WITHOUT YOU.

  I CANNOT SEE HOW ANYTHING BAD COULD HAPPEN IF I JUST LOOK AT WHAT COMES INTO MY FIRST BUFFER. Nelly had the teenage whine down perfect.

  NELLY, ON SANTA MARIA, THE PROFESSOR ALMOST KILLED MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER. ARE YOU SURE THAT CHIP ISN’T FROM THE PROFESSOR? Which was a thought Kris had hoped to ignore. Was her computer being subverted by the worst horror humanity had ever faced?

  For a computer, Nelly needed quite a long time to form an answer. THE PROSPECTS FOR FAILURE TRULY ARE INFINITESIMAL. YET, I AGREE WITH YOU, KRIS, SUCH A FAILURE WOULD HAVE FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES. I AM HALTING ALL POWER TO THE CHIP. I WILL WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE AUNT TRU AT HAND TO DO FURTHER TESTING.<
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  THANK YOU, NELLY. NOW I NEED TO GET SOME REST. GOOD NIGHT, KRIS.

  By falling asleep quickly, Kris hoped to get six hours of sleep before all hell broke loose. She was off by two.

  Hammering at the door woke Kris. FOUR O’CLOCK, Nelly told her. “Damn, I thought it would take longer,” Kris muttered as she found her robe and made her way into the sitting room.

  Jack was at the door in gray sweatpants. Nice pecs and abs on that man. His automatic was out but pointed at the ceiling. Abby stood at the door of her room, robe cinched about her wiry frame, not a hair out of place. Is she enjoying the view? One of the maid’s hands rested casually in the pocket of her robe. Ten to one there’s a small cannon there. Kris smiled to herself.

  Jack glanced at Kris, both eyebrows raised. “Open it,” she said as a loud male voice repeated that demand, rapping loudly on the door. Jack timed the opening just as another rap was due.

  A tall young man in a gray uniform, silver piping declaring him of more consequence than the poor schmucks Kris had watched earlier—no yesterday—almost lost his balance when his hand found nothing to knock against. He half stumbled into the room as others in less showy uniforms started to follow him.

  Jack stepped in front of him, automatic still threatening nothing but the ceiling. He blocked not only the one with silver piping but also his underlings.

  “You’re interfering—” the man with the piping started.

  “State your business,” Jack said, voice cold as a tombstone. “And start with your name and badge number.” That got only huffing and puffing from the man. Behind him, several older men with Sergeant chevrons began exchanging embarrassed glances.

  “I am Princess Kristine of Wardhaven. This is my suite and, under ancient diplomatic custom, territory held sacred to my person and Wardhaven.” Kris was none too sure of that, but she’d read such fancy language once in a novel. She doubted anyone knew what this royalty thing was worth. “What do you mean, storming in here at this hour?”

  That set Gray and Silver back a bit. Jack took advantage of his confusion to take a step forward. “I am Jack Montoya, Wardhaven Secret Service and Chief of Princess Kristine’s security detail.”

  “That’s what I’m here about,” the gray beanstalk of a man finally blurted out. “I’m Samuel Roper, Assistant Deputy Vice President for Security and Special Details, SureFire Security.” He paused for a breath, leaving Kris a moment to wonder whose nephew Sam Roper was and why Sandfire suffered deadweight like this guy. Didn’t fit with the man who sprang this trap on her. “I’m also Colonel-in-Chief of Heidelburg’s Fifteenth Militia Battalion, nationalized tonight to provide security and safety for aliens caught on planet by the recent acts of sabotage.”

  “I already have a security detail,” Kris snapped, doing the math. Heidelburg had twelve battalions of militia at six this evening. Now it had three more, at least one of which was from SureFire. Hum.

  “Yes, we know about Inspector Klaggath,” Roper said, making the words a sly accusation while looking down his oversized nose at Kris . . . not an easy accomplishment, since he was three inches shorter. “He and his men have been avoiding mandatory overtime for too long, lounging around here rather than using their not inextensive skills in finding the perpetrators of these hostile actions against our sovereign planet.” Behind him, the Sergeants began an intense study of the ceiling. “We are here to relieve them and take up the responsibility of securing your cooperation in all things relating to the safety and security of Turantic.”

  And if Kris let him, rattle on until she willingly confessed to any and all crimes just to shut him up. While Sam was still indulging himself in the sound of his voice, Kris nudged Jack. Keeping his hand on the open edge of the door, he began to edge forward. Kris did likewise, turning their movement into a swinging door. As they invaded his space, Sam backed up until he and his gray-clad crew were once more in the hall. Behind this mob were six of Klaggath’s men. Hurrying from the elevator was the Inspector himself, disheveled but fully awake.

  “We are sorry to lose your services,” Kris told him and his associates.

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness, I only got a call on this a bit ago. I didn’t know.”

  “Lots of things are happening,” Kris said, then switched on her royal face. “Please send us the names of all who have been so diligent in protecting our person, so we may send letters of commendation and praise to your superiors.” Kris had also read about such letters in that fantasy book along with Kings and Princesses, unicorns and dragons. Princesses belonged with unicorns and dragons and flowery language like no one with a day job as weapons targeteer had time for.

  “Thank you, Your Highness,” he and his agents said, and also like something out of a storybook they bowed to her . . . full bows from the waist.

  Several of the security men, all with the blank sleeves of buck private or buck guard or whatever, made to bow until their sergeants growled something that made them look like they’d just gotten their daily requirement of prune juice. Still, the Princess drill was in full effect as Kris turned to Sam.

  “We doubt your services will be any less generous to us.”

  “No, ma’am, er, Princess, ah, Your Highness. We’ll keep you just as safe as you have been. All of you.” Kris hoped Penny didn’t hurt herself laughing at that. “Thing is, we need you to stay inside. You know. Out of the way.”

  “We understand how much that would help you.” Kris smiled regally, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the colonel. “Now, if you do not mind, we must see to our beauty rest.” Kris managed not to gag on her words as she stepped back inside.

  Jack closed the door firmly.

  “Wasn’t we supposed to be sitting in there?” a voice said.

  “Shut up and post your guard or whatever it is you sergeants are supposed to do for your pay,” snapped Sam.

  And Kris suppressed the urge to shriek, laugh, giggle, and run around in circles. NELLY, WHAT GOT IN?

  LOTS OF STUFF.

  BURN THEM. FAST!

  Kris slowly paced off the distance to her bedroom, Jack at her side. Around them the air sparkled as nanos popped; some went down trailing tiny wisps of smoke. Jack snapped up two as they fell. Abby, Penny, and Tom stood at their doors, waiting for Nelly to issue the all clear. “Keep us as safe as the last bunch,” Penny grumbled through unmoving lips.

  “All clear,” Nelly announced.

  “How do we get back our little snoops?” Abby asked.

  “Penny, do you have a uniform up here, lady’s stuff?” Kris asked.

  “No, I came up with what the hospital put on me. The clothes I was wearing were kind of torn up.”

  Kris could believe that. “Would you mind if Tom rummaged around your apartment for some things for you?”

  “The place is kind of a mess,” Penny said, eyeing Tom. Kris could imagine how it felt for the man she maybe loved to get his first peek into her life without her having a chance to make things disappear. Kris shrugged mentally; she had no pictures of old boyfriends on her dresser. Penny would just have to handle it. I will not enjoy this. I am not setting them up.

  “I could go,” Abby offered.

  “I’d rather you stay here. Those guards will be bored stiff, maybe hungry. Definitely thirsty. About seven I want you to take a load of donuts and coffee out to them.”

  “Why?” Jack and Abby asked.

  “Because Tom can’t be running down to the planet every shift change at the yard. We need to send new orders to the control nanos to send reports back on our new guards, not Klaggath.”

  Jack chuckled. “Use their own guards on them. Not bad.”

  “You couldn’t go?” Penny asked, not meeting Tom’s eyes.

  “For the moment, I’m coming the Princess, full sails and thunder. Running errands is kind of out of persona for me.”

  “You’re right,” Penny agreed. “It’s just a bit early in a relationship for me to be letting a guy rummage around in my panties, even in m
y panty drawer.”

  “I promise not to look at what I pick up. Right eye not seeing what the left hand is doing, you know.” Tom spoke quickly to avoid any appearance of maybe thinking about what Penny had said. Good man. Why didn’t I do something about him sooner? Kris sighed to herself.

  “Meanwhile, I’ll have to get myself up to Top of Turantic if we expect to rearrange the plumbing.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Jack said.

  Kris put hands on hips and sighed. “As much as I hate to, I may just have to set up a date with Hank.”

  “I don’t like that,” Jack said, almost before Kris finished.

  “You have any better idea how I might get past our friendly security guards’ house arrest?”

  “Let me think on it.”

  “Better, let’s sleep on it. Nelly, give us all wake-up calls at six. That will give Tom enough time to get down the elevator and spread new nanos around the yard station before shift change starts. Abby can do her first Donut Dolly routine.”

  “So nice to see you big people concerned about us little folks.” Abby sniffed.

  “Kris, I have a problem,” Nelly said almost plaintively.

  “What’s up?”

  “I used all the smart metal on the last batch of nanos. I miscalculated that I would get back some returning nanos before I needed to make any more.”

  “What about the ones you have doing security in here?”

  “I am already at the minimum.”

  Kris glanced around the room. Once more her team was looking back at her. “We still have that ten kilos of not so smart metal from Grampa Al. Hatch a few nanos off of it. Make them central control stations, messengers, and defense nanos, stuff we’ll need as long as we’re here. That way we can leave them as is.”

  “I will do that.”

  Kris rubbed at her eyes, suppressing a yawn. “Shall we take another try at getting some sleep?”

  In bed, Kris reviewed her situation as she waited for sleep to come. Sandfire had acted fast. Faster than she expected. Then again, she’d been inside his decision cycle most of the past week. She had to expect him to pick up speed. Hell, this entire dustup on the planet, suspending Congress and declaring war by executive fiat had to be a spur-of-the-moment response to what she did yesterday. She forced his hand. With luck, he’d fumble something sooner or later. Preferably sooner.