by D. D. Chant
“Stepsister,” corrected Leda. “Guess.”
Ben looked at the young woman standing next to him in astonishment. What was she up to?
“Because you don't get along?”
“My opinion of your intelligence just dropped twenty points.”
Ben chuckled.
“It’s not exactly a fair question.”
“That’s because you haven’t been listening, Mr. Burton.”
Ben frowned, and quickly reviewed their conversation.
“Because she’s your stepsister?” he asked slowly.
Leda nodded.
“Do you like mysteries, Mr. Burton?”
“Depends what I get for solving them,” returned Ben lightly.
“In this case it will be what you don’t get.” Leda’s tone was repressive.
The slight pause between them was interrupted by a new voice.
“Leda, your presence is required elsewhere.” Astra’s words were flat, but dismissal was obvious in the shift of her eyes.
“Busted!” remarked Leda with a smile. “It was nice talking to you, Mr. Burton. Should you tire of my sister’s company, feel free to call me.” She held out a slim black stick. “This is a contact strip; Astra will tell you how to use it.”
“Leda, it is highly inappropriate for you to be giving Mr. Burton your contact informtion.”
Astra made to retrieve it from Ben’s slack grasp, but he jerked his hand back out of her way.
“I’ve never given a pretty woman her number back before, and I don’t intend to start now.”
“Such behaviour is inappropriate, Mr. Burton. I must ask you to return the contact strip now.”
“I don’t think I will.”
For a moment he thought Astra was going to fight him for possession of the contact strip right there in the middle of the ball room with the elite of the Tula nation looking on, but in the end she just turned to her sister.
“Go back to your father, Leda.”
Leda nodded.
“Call me, Mr. Burton.”
She placed her hand over her heart and inclined her head before withdrawing.
“She seems like quite a handful,” Ben remarked.
“She shares your delight in rousing the hornet’s nest.”
“Really?” Ben smiled, turning to watch Leda’s willowy frame thread her way slowly through the crowd of people. “I wonder how she feels about skeletons...”
Astra gifted him with a frosty glare, and suggested that they both return to their table. Ben acquiesced with a chuckle. He reflected that the day might not have gone as he had planned, but the developments had nevertheless been interesting.
Just interesting enough to make him want more.
Chapter Nine
“I'm disappointed in you, Astra.”
Councillor Ladron watched the calm, downward turned face for any betraying signs of emotion.
“Your sister is rarely guarded enough in her speech, so I had expected you to avoid a meeting between her and Mr. Burton.”
It was late, the light from a single globe placed on Corbani Va Dic Ladron’s desk illuminated Astra where she stood in front of his desk, but the rest of the room was in shadows.
It would have interested Ben greatly to know that the Councillor’s office was located in a brick part of the building. Unlike all of the other offices in the Council building, it was not made with the glass walls that indicated the ‘transparency of the regime’.
“Forgive the oversight, Reverend Councillor.” Astra bowed, placing a hand over her heart. The movement caused the light from the desk to glimmer on the gold embroidery on the fabric of her dress.
“What did they talk of, Astra?”
Astra straightened. She had known this question was coming but still it struck her with a chill of foreboding. She would have to walk a very fine line; to tell the truth, but only the part that was least damaging to Leda. If Ladron ever found out all that Leda had said...
Astra didn’t even want to think about what would happen to her sister then.
“While out in the city we came across Leda by accident, Reverend Councillor,” she answered. “She did not make herself known to us, but Mr. Burton recognized her when she approached him at this evening’s entertainment.”
“And why would Leda make herself known to him?” asked Councillor Ladron.
Astra knew that beneath his calm exterior a predator waited, eager to pounce.
“He had cut his hand; she didn’t see who he was, only that he had injured himself.”
No tremor gave away that her words were lies.
Councillor Ladron stared at her without blinking for some time.
“You are telling me that Leda's overwhelming instinct to care for the sick impelled her to assist before she realised who Mr. Burton was?”
Astra affected not to notice the sarcasm in his voice and nodded.
“That is correct, Reverend Councillor.”
Again there was silence.
“Are you lying to me, Astra?”
“No, Reverend Councillor.”
“Good, because you know what happens to all who lie to me, do you not?”
Corbani Va Dic Ladron detected a faint shiver pass through Astra’s frame, and smiled with satisfaction.
“Did anything else pass between them?”
“They had no chance to speak further, Reverend Councillor.”
“You showed some presence of mind at least,” remarked Councillor Ladron standing. “Inform Leda that she will receive punishment. I think a few months in one of the military hospitals on the front line will encourage her to be more... prudent... in the future, don’t you, Astra?”
“Your mercy is undeserved, Reverend Councillor,” bowed Astra. “Thank you for your leniency.”
Councillor Ladron turned on the threshold of the port.
“This is the last time, Astra,” he warned softly. “Leda has flouted the laws that govern your situation one too any times. If she should do so again I will have her killed.”
“Yes, Reverend Councillor.” Astra bowed again, keeping in position until she heard the port close behind him.
For some time she stood still in the centre of the office, her breathing gradually accelerating until a slight hitch formed in the rhythm of her gasps.
Then she was crying.
It was the opening of floodgates: an outpouring that, once begun, could not be stemmed.
Eventually reason returned, and with it the ability to make some sort of plan. The situation had to be controlled. Councillor Ladron could never find out that Leda had given Senator Burton’s son her contact strip. Astra had to retrieve it now, tonight. She knew that Ben was reckless enough, and ignorant enough, to get in touch with Leda.
If he did, by tomorrow night they would all be dead.
------
Ben wasn’t sure what woke him up. Maybe the intruder made a noise, maybe they jarred the bed, or maybe some sixth sense alerted him to danger. Whatever the case, one second he was blinking groggily at the figure standing at the bottom of his bed, and the next, instinct had taken over, and he had lunged at the intruder.
The figure dropped, and rolled out of his way, landing in a crouch. One black clad leg remained outstretched, and one hand rested on the ground to stabilize him.
For a second they both stared at one another, weighing up each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Ben saw a slight figure dressed solely in black. The only parts of his attacker that was visible were his eyes, and it was too dark for Ben to see them clearly.
For a second longer they were still, and then they both moved. Ben found that his opponent was very quick, dodging his blows with elegant ease born of much practise. He also found that he could pack a punch. There was no particular style he favoured, but he improvised freely, borrowing from a wide repertoire of moves. His execution was rhythmic and set at a breathless tempo that left Ben gasping.
Ben blocked his attack, and waited for the opening that he knew mu
st come. However, as soon as his assailant had an unobstructed path to the port, he turned and ran. Ben chased after him, but the stranger’s lighter frame suddenly came in to its own. He was just too quick to catch, and Ben was left to watch as his quarry descended out of reach in one of the bubbles.
Ben hit the closed doors of the lift in irritation before remembering the black panic that Astra had shown him the first day.
He raced back up the corridor, but as his finger hovered over the button, he pulled back unsure.
Now he had a moment to think about it, surely the most likely person to set an attacker onto him was Councillor Ladron?
Ben pushed the button.
It didn’t matter who had sent the intruder. He still had to report the incident, and the longer he waited the harder it would be to explain his reticence later.
The security forces entered the suite less than sixty seconds later. Ben found himself staring down the length of an impressive looking weapon, which – as it was in such close proximity to his head – he could tell was made from a toughened plastic. After a brief second the weapon was lowered, and Ben took in the security officers themselves in more detail.
They were dressed in black, the torso area of their suits solid with some sort of armour, and helmets completely covered their faces. The officer standing nearest to him nodded to his comrades, and his visor slid back.
“What is the threat to your safety?”
“I just woke up to find some ninja guy walking around my room.” Ben looked around at the officers gathered in the lounge. “You mind telling me how he managed to get in to my room?”
Ben saw the soldiers eyes widen in shock.
“Exactly. Not conducive to sleep.”
The soldier didn’t seem to be listening.
“Did you say ‘Ninja’?”
“Sure I did. You know…” Ben gestured sketchily. “Black clothes, mask, and capable of kicking a guy in the head from standing position.”
The soldier released the safety catch on his gun, the gesture conveying nervous tension.
“Please return to your room: for your own safety you will be locked in.”
“What? Hang on a minute; what are you…?”
Ben found himself unceremoniously shoved into his bedroom, and heard the officer talking over his radio.
“We have been breached by the Una, we have a confirmed sighting of a Phantom...”
The port shut, cutting off the rest of the soldier’s communication.
Ben sat down on the edge of his bed.
The Una?
He had been attacked by the Una?
He shook his head. Somehow it hadn’t even occurred to him that it could have been them. The obvious question was why?
Why would they try to hurt him?
What could they possibly hope to achieve?
Did they hope to kidnap him, and force negotiations between the Free Nation and the Tula to a halt?
Ben wrinkled his brow. If they had succeeded, surely they must know that his kidnap would only have stalled proceedings. If they thought that his capture would force the Free Nation to end their dealings with the Tula they were completely mistaken.
Ben ran a hand over his face, trying to think clearly. What did he really know about the Una?
Not much since the breakdown. He knew they had been lampooned as hippy eco freaks that firmly stood in the way of progress with their romanticised ideals of harnessing the free power of nature. Yet, as he recalled, they had made some pretty amazing breakthroughs in the years before the split. They were also still keeping the Tula at bay, so they were anything but the backward heathen that the Tula spoke of.
He stood, pacing the length of the room twice. His first instinct had been to suspect Councillor Ladron, and that feeling was still very strong. He knew Corbani Va Dic Ladron was a dangerous man, he knew that he had the power to do whatever he wished, and he knew that he would do whatever it took to keep his plans on track. Ben turned from the viewer, and took several paces across the room before stopping suddenly.
The table that the viewer stood on gleamed unrelenting white, and Ben felt the strongest conviction that he knew exactly who was responsible for breaking into his room.
Leda's contact strip was gone.
-------
“Please allow me to convey my most humble apologies.”
Corbani Va Dic Ladron placed a hand over his heart, and inclined his head slightly.
Ben sat on one of the big white armchairs, wrapped in a bathrobe, and regarding him with what he hoped were aggrieved eyes.
“Did you catch him?”
“I'm afraid not,” returned Corbani. “This is the first time the Una have managed to penetrate the defences of Government Building. They must have hoped to disrupt the forging of the treaty in some way.”
Ben wasn’t sure he liked the way that Councillor Ladron had phrased that statement. It assumed that the treaty would be made, that the Free Nation would meekly fall into line with the Tula High Council’s plans as a silent and submissive partner.
Senator Burton shifted slightly in his seat, a deliberate motion that fixed attention on him.
“Your words are hardly reassuring, Councillor.”
“Your son was in no great danger, Senator.”
Philip Burton raised his eyebrows.
“How do you come to that conclusion?”
For an unnerving moment Councillor Ladron’s eyes remained fixed on Ben’s, and Ben felt as though he saw into his soul.
“My men responded to the alarm in fifty three seconds. The Una would never have managed to leave the building with him.”
“Last time I checked it didn’t take fifty three seconds to get shot,” returned Senator Burton, allowing some of the anger he felt to creep into his voice.
Councillor Ladron remained unimpressed.
“The Una would never have hurt him; it would not have helped their cause.”
Senator Burton’s hands gripped the arms of his chair so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“In the heat of the moment anything could have happened.”
“We would not have allowed anything to happen to your son, Senator.”
Ben watched his father fight to suppress whatever observation he was about to make. Councillor Ladron’s lack of concern was galling in the extreme, and if it hadn’t been for the fact that he already knew he had never been in any danger, Ben would have been ready to deck Corbani Va Dic Ladron and perform a samba on his skull.
“In any case I will have a patrol guard placed outside your suite. You should rest now.”
Councillor Ladron placed a hand over his heart and inclined his head ever so slightly before leaving the room, the soldiers following after him. Ben was left with a strange feeling of unease.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Ben nodded, wondering if he should tell his father what he suspected. It was late, and Ben was very conscious of the guards that hovered just outside their quarters. It was their presence that finally decided him.
“I’m fine, it’s just you’ve always taught me not to fight with girls.”
Senator Burton looked puzzled and Ben laughed.
“Never mind, Dad, let’s get some sleep. I’ve a feeling I’m going to be very busy tomorrow.”
“Really?”
Ben stood and stretched.
“Believe me, Dad; tomorrow will be explosive!”
Chapter Ten
Astra shifted lazily under the covers, sliding her leg deeper into the sheets. Today, she decided, was going to be a good day, a better day than it had threatened to be last night. She turned her head on the pillow and opened her eyes, blinking a few times until they focused on her bedside table. Or to be more precise, the contact strip that lay on her bedside table.
Leda’s contact strip.
She snuggled deeper into the warm cocoon of her duvet. She would doze here a little longer before dressing and going downstairs for breakfast. She sighed again. Th
ank goodness she had managed to retrieve that contact strip, if she hadn’t...
Astra frowned and shook her head trying to get rid of the thought.
It was too late.
The reminder of just how close they had come to disaster robbed her of the comfortable feeling of drowsiness she had been experiencing. She felt Councillor Ladron’s dark shadow engulf her again.
Throwing back the covers, Astra stretched her legs down the side of her bed until she felt the rug. Here at least, in this house, she was safe. More than that, she felt safe.
She was humming to herself as she brushed her teeth, and washed her face. As she came downstairs, she was smiling.
“Good morning, my dear.” Uri Va Dic Toban looked up from his compu-pad, and smiled at his step- daughter as she stood behind his chair.
“Morning, Father.”
She kissed his cheek, sliding her arms over his shoulders and linking them in front of him. Uri’s hand patted her soft skin absently as she addressed the young girl sitting beside him up to the table, typing furiously on her compu-pad.
“Petta, not again? Why do you always leave your homework until it’s too late?”
The girl didn’t look up, but her fingers continued to move furiously over the keypad.
“I'm not sure; I guess I must like living on the edge.”
“I see you’re over it?”
Astra blinked at her youngest stepbrother.
“Over what, Penn?”
Penn exchanged a glance with Petta.
“Over whatever it was that had you so riled last night.”
Astra blushed, embarrassed that her heated argument with Leda had been overheard.
“That’s enough, Penn.”
Penn was obediently silent at his father’s command.
“Where is Leda?”
“In the kitchen,” answered Petta, grinning slyly. “And she’s got some rip company with her.”
Astra was surprised. While it was no secret that Leda had admirers, most refused to enter the house.
She registered the sound of voices as she pushed open the kitchen door.
She knew it was him, even before he turned, but some vague hope remained that she must be mistaken.
