by D. D. Chant
“There was no trace of him, Councillor, the security forces believe that he was taken along as a hostage.”
Councillor Ladron smiled slowly.
“No, not as a hostage. Astra knows only too well that he has no value to me.”
Councillor Zorrenson spluttered incoherently for a moment.
“How can Senator Burton’s son have no value as a hostage? His father has the ability to end peace talks between our governments.”
Councillor Ladron laughed softly, shaking his head.
“You have fire, Beris, but unfortunately the smoke blinds you. Mr. Burton is by now in full possession of the facts that govern Astra’s position. He needs to die before he passes on those facts to his father. Astra is aware of that and knows therefore that he is useless as a pawn in negotiations.”
“Then why take him?” snapped Beris irritably.
“Because, my dear Beris, she knew that if they left him he would have been disposed of. She wished to save him, a grave error in judgment.”
“You mean you would not have killed him?” she asked confused.
“Not at all, he would most definitely be dead. I meant that she made an error in caring what happened to him, because now she has dealt me an ace.”
“How can you possibly use this to your advantage?” demanded Councillor Sendel.
Councillor Ladron smiled chillingly.
“You don't know?” he asked mockingly. “Behold the reason why I control this Council, while you are fit only to be controlled. I will tell Senator Burton the truth.”
There was silence in the room.
“Th-the truth?” stuttered Beris.
Councillor Ladron seemed lost in his own pleasing musings.
“I will tell him that Astra is Una. That in our kindness we allowed her to live as one of us, trusting her to the point where she was invited to take the honoured position of my subsidiary. I will tell him how she has, most unfortunately, remained true to the extremist ways of her people. That she even succeeded in subverting the minds of her adoptive family into joining her in her heinous crime of kidnapping his son, in the hopes that the Free Nation will be pressured into ceasing peace talks.” His eyes glittered. “When he hears that his son has been found dead, killed by his captors – who will themselves die trying to escape justice – the treaty will be agreed upon almost immediately.”
The room was silent and Councillor Ladron pulled himself upright in his chair.
“The only question is how they found out that a death squad had been dispatched to their house, and were therefore able to evade my carefully laid out plans.”
He looked around the assembled Councillors, his eyes lingering a little on Councillor Sendel.
“Narim is a good friend of the Va Dic Tobans is he not, Councillor Sendel?”
Sendel raised a nonchalant eyebrow, seemingly unconcerned at this mention of his only son.
“He works alongside the two eldest boys.”
Councillor Ladron smiled, his eyes never wavering from those of his quarry.
“But how would a mere secruritor like Narim know about such an order?”
Councillor Sendel shrugged.
“I don’t see how he could have.”
Councillor Ladron said no more. He knew better than anyone how to stalk his prey. A few words now, followed by a long period of reflection, would be more effective than a full out attack. Leaving him unsure of his ground was the best way to punish Councillor Sendel.
“Will you tell Senator Burton about his son immediately?” asked Beris.
Councillor Ladron shook his head.
“Not yet. I will wait until the death squad has successfully eliminated them, then I’ll tell him.”
“Do you think it can be kept from him that long?” asked Councillor Sendel.
“I don’t see why not. Unless, of course, one of us tells him beforehand.”
Councillor Ladron allowed his eyes to rest unblinkingly on Councillor Sendel. His words elicited no response, but then he hadn’t really expected one. Councillor Sendel was too old a hand to give himself away. He would not have lasted so long if he had not had a duplicitous nature. Sendel had his uses, it was the only reason he was still alive, the second he forgot his place he would be eliminated.
“This doesn’t change the fact that you ordered a death squad operation without the consent of the Council,” interrupted Councillor Zorrenson.
“So?”
“You have no right to make such decisions without the agreement of all the Council members.”
Councillor Ladron regarded Beris Va Dic Zorrenson frostily for some moments.
“As Councillor over the security forces it is my decision and mine alone,” he responded coldly. “Just as it is my choice as to whether I tell you of my decisions or not.”
Beris Va Dic Zorrenson’s gaze became flustered, and she cleared her throat nervously. Corbani looked around at the rest of the Councillors sitting quietly and fearful behind their desks. He would have no more trouble from them today, and no more trouble at all once Astra and her family were found and captured. He leaned back in his chair, placing the tips of his fingers together. It was going to be a good day, even better than he had planned.
Chapter Twelve
The truck lurched over the bumpy ground, throwing its occupants against their restraints. It had been raining for hours, turning the rough tracks into mud. Every now and then the truck faltered, losing traction for a moment and then jerking as it found a grip on the road again. They were travelling fast, too fast for safety, but with the security forces sure to be chasing them there was no choice.
Astra squeezed her eyes shut and hugged Petta closer to her. Ceadron and Balak had decided that it was too dangerous to take the normal roads. The security forces would have set up roadblocks and Ceadron and Balak had been clear: if they met a road block they were all dead.
Ben had regained a somewhat groggy consciousness some time earlier, and had promptly discharged the contents of his stomach all over the floor of the truck. He was sitting upright, strapped into his seat, but sagging against the belts holding him in place. His head was cradled on Leda’s shoulder, his face white, and perspiration glistened on his brow. Every now and then Leda raised a hand to keep his head steady as they passed over a particularly rough piece of terrain.
Astra wondered how far they would get before they were caught.
There was a loud thud and the car swerved throwing Astra back in her seat. Ceadron shouted and Balak swore, and then they were tilting, sliding along sideways.
Astra looked across at her father, and saw that he had his arm stretched across Penn’s chest pushing him back against his chair. Penn’s eyes were closed, his head pressed back into the headrest. Petta was crying. Astra could feel her hot tears dropping onto her arm, and soaking through her sleeve.
With a shudder the car came to a stop almost on its side, and everything was silent.
“I’m gonna be sick!” moaned Ben hoarsely, fumbling weakly at the restraints that held him in place.
Leda pushed his hands away, and hit the quick release button before handing him a sick bag. Ben eyed it unfavourably, turning an unhealthy shade of green, and shook his head resolutely.
“Outside. In the hedge. Like it should be done.”
He stood, staggering against Petta's chair and resting there for a moment. Leda grabbed his arm trying to steady him as he shook his head.
“What the hell did you give me?” The question was irritable. “I feel like death warmed over.”
Leda looked vaguely revolted.
“The anti-serum we gave you is called Veraton. It’s designed to reverse the effects of anything, from snake bite to food poisoning. However it’s only ever used in emergencies when the patient can’t wait for the correct serum to be obtained. It has some rather unpleasant side effects because of its all encompassing nature.”
Ben ran a weary hand over his face.
“You’re telling me, babe,” he groaned. “Get me out
ta this truck.”
Leda put her arm supportively around his waist, and rested his arm over her shoulder, helping him toward the door. After a moment he halted again rubbing his eyes with his free hand.
“What is it?”
Ben turned to look down at her, blinking owlishly in an effort to bring her into focus.
“Is it me or is this vehicle a bit wonky?”
Leda looked at the forty-five degree tilt of the floor.
“It’s a bit wonky.”
Ben lurched forward again.
“S’alright then.”
Penn opened the door for them, and caught Ben as he almost fell out of the truck.
“Are you going to need my help?”
Leda shook her head.
“We’ll be fine.”
Ceadron rounded the end of the car.
“Optimistic of you.” He lent against the open door and Petta cuddled up to him.
“What happened?” she asked, wiping her wet cheeks.
Ceadron shrugged, looking down to where Balak’s legs protruded from underneath the truck.
“It’s the mud. The ground falls away here so the right hand tires lost traction, making the truck slide sideways, and down into the gully.”
“Is the car alright?” asked Uri.
“Balak’s just checking.” Ceadron indicated the legs sticking out from under the truck.
As he spoke, Balak began to wriggle back out from underneath the Pathmaker. His hands were covered in mud and streaks of oil, as was most of his securitor suit.
“The truck’s fine, but we need to winch it out,” he stated, scratching his chin and leaving a slick of oil behind.
Ceadron looked around at the treeless landscape.
“I guess it would have been too much to ask that we could have done this the easy way.” He pushed Penn toward the open door of the truck. “Get the shovels, Penn.”
The boy disappeared into the vehicle, and they heard the snap of clips as he released the shovels from their places on the roof of the truck.
Ben and Leda staggered into view, and Astra immediately went forward to take some of Ben’s weight.
“How is he?”
Leda shook her head.
“His reaction to the anti-serum is more severe than I expected. It must be something to do with the fact that he is from the Free Nation. His body might not be conditioned to our kind of medicine.” She gestured toward the truck tilted at a crazy angle in the gully. “The truck?”
“Fine, but we need to winch it out.”
Even as she spoke she heard the sound of shovels hitting earth as her brothers started digging. Astra took one look at the heavy, sticky soil, and knew that they were wasting time they didn’t have.
“Dad, what are they doing?” asked Petta, slipping a hand into her father’s and pressing her cheek against his strong arm.
“We’ll have to winch the truck out but there’s no tree to attach the winch to,” he explained reassuringly.
“The only other way is to dig a hole, and bury the spare tire with the winch attached to it, and use it like an anchor. That way we can pull the truck out.”
Petta nodded to show she understood and stood silently frowning at the hole her brothers were excavating for a moment.
“How deep does it have to be?”
Her father put his head to one side.
“About five feet,” he decided.
Time passed with aching slowness. Ben returned to his chair inside the truck, and his semi-comatose state. Astra’s stepbrothers laboured on. They had just succeeded in getting the spare tire into the newly dug hole, and were attaching the winch, when they heard the distant hum of engines.
Ceadron looked up from the cable in his hands, and into the sky, his movement echoed by Balak.
“Get back into the truck,” ordered Ceadron calmly, climbing out of the hole.
“What is it?” asked Uri Va Dic Toban quietly as his son came to stand beside him.
Balak pulled a large duffle bag out of the truck and opened it, revealing security force weapons.
“It’s a Drone,” answered Ceadron shortly, his mouth had thinned and he looked harsh. He took the gun Balak passed up to him wordlessly, his hands checking it over with the speed and thoroughness of an expert.
“The truck’s re-enforced; it will be safe inside. Close the armour plating over the doors and windows, and then lie down on the floor.”
Uri Va Dic Toban slowly broke the tight grip Petta had on his arm, and gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze.
“Inside, Petta, and do as your brother said.”
Petta, eyes wide and terror-filled, gazed with fascinated horror at the approaching drone.
“Petta?”
She nodded, a sob catching in her throat, and turned to climb shakily into the truck.
“I want to help,” stated Penn mutinously.
He was standing stiffly beside the open door of the truck, his hands clenched at his side, his face pale and lips bloodless. He knew his father would order him inside the vehicle, and his defiance was both pleading and stubborn. Uri shook his head.
“Not this time, Penn, you must see to Petta and Senator Burton’s son.”
Penn’s jaw clenched.
“Don’t make me… Please, Dad, let me help,” he begged hoarsely.
His father rested a hand on his shoulder, his grip strong and warm.
“Then help me by keeping Petta safe,” he said gently.
Penn swallowed, and Uri pushed him nearer to the truck.
“Lock the door behind you, Penn, and don’t open it until it’s safe,” he instructed.
Penn nodded, and pulled the door shut, locking it with shaking fingers before activating the armour plating. He sat back, his breathing heavy almost as though he’d been running uphill. Petta’s fingers closed around his arm, seeping cold through the fabric of his jacket. He shifted backward so he could lean against the side of the truck, and pulled Petta into his arms. She was shaking, trembling so badly that her teeth chattered, and Penn wrapped his arms around her even tighter. He wondered if she was thinking about the crash, and then he prayed that she wasn’t reliving the terror again.
“It’ll be fine, Pet, don’t cry.”
Petta didn’t answer, but pressed herself closer to him, and buried her face in his chest.
“What’s happening?” Ben’s voice was groggy and slightly slurred.
“A Drone found us,” answered Penn shortly.
“Drone?” Ben blinked slowly. “Is that bad? I mean, I know it’s bad, but we still have a head start on them.” He looked around the empty truck. “Shouldn’t we vamoose?”
Penn shook his head.
“I don’t know what my sister gave you, but it’s mucked up your head. They’re all outside getting ready to fight.”
“The Drone?”
Penn nodded, looking at Ben slightly askance before understanding flooded his features.
“We call it a Drone because it’s flown by a computer, but it carries ten securitor officers. The Drone drops them off when the target is found.”
“Target? You mean us?” Panic had entered Ben’s voice.
“Yes, but it’s okay, we’re safe in here. Ceadron and Balak are special ops, Astra has both Tula and Una warfare training, Dad’s been on the front line and the boys trained Leda as a sniper. Everything will be fine.”
Ben saw Penn’s eyes travel meaningfully to Petta and then back to him. He read the message loud and clear: Petta needed to be reassured.
“Sure it will, I feel bad for the securitors,” responded Ben quickly.
Penn smiled gratefully.
“Your family,” slurred Ben, “are a bit hardcore.”
Penn rubbed Petta’s back soothingly.
“They didn’t have much of a choice.”
A high pitched whine broke the silence, and Penn braced himself against the opposite seat.
“Get down!”
The explosion rocked the truck, throwin
g Ben from his chair. He fell against one of the metal supports hitting his head, he moaned as his world went black.
------
Uri Va Dic Toban flattened himself against the side of the gully as the securitor forces returned fire. Next to him Leda reloaded her weapon with energy cells. Her suit was covered in mud, and where she’d hitched the skirt up for better movement mud plastered her legs.
Their plan was simple. He and Leda would man the gully and draw fire as Astra, Ceadron, and Balak attacked stealthily from behind. Already the number of securitors had been reduced to five.
Uri looked over the gully to see that Ceadron was taking care of two more with an easy competence that scared him.
Balak was wrestling with a third, and Astra was slowly circling a fourth with the dangerous grace of a snake. The fifth, suddenly noticing that his comrades were in difficulties, raised his weapon and took a careful aim. Uri watched in frozen horror as the red light of the soldier’s sight played across Astra’s back, settling between her shoulder blades. A second later he was face down in the mud. Leda lowered her gun, and calmly flicked the safety catch on as her brothers and stepsister finished with the other four securitors.
As Astra and Ceadron made their way towards the truck, Uri watched Leda throw her weapon over the side of the gully and push herself up out of the mud. He reached out, stilling her movements.
“Are you okay?”
Leda shrugged her arm free, not meeting his eyes.
“I’m fine.”
Ceadron reached down, and helped Leda up the slope before turning to his father, his hand outstretched.
“Balak has had an idea.” He nodded to where Balak knelt next to one of the prone securitors. “He says that he might be able to reprogram the Drone. It will take the best part of a week to get to the borderlands by road. If we fly the Drone, it will only be a few hours.”
As he was speaking, Astra knocked on the truck door.
“Penn it’s me, open up.”
The door slid open, and Penn and Petta's pale faces peered out anxiously. Leda caught sight of Ben's inert form, fallen at an awkward angle.
“What happened?”
She was already in the truck trying to make him more comfortable.
