The Rings of Grissom: Tales of a Former Space Janitor

by Julia Huni

  I yawn. Even though I had a good nap in the med pod, I’m tired. The med techs warn you that’s going to happen, but it’s always a surprise. Plus, I’m betting the TereshTini was a bad idea. I yawn again. “Come on, guys, where are you?” I mutter.

  I jerk awake when O’Neill touches my shoulder. “You should go to bed.” His fingers knead my tense muscles, and I sigh.

  “I’ll just sit here and let you do that for a while,” I say, closing my eyes. “Then I’ll be ready to start looking again.”

  “Can’t you load one of your facial recognition loops and let it follow them?”

  My eyes pop open. Of course I can. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Lemme get it set up.” I toss one of my apps into the mix and set the parameters. Then I tether it to the transport network and set up a relay to send me the results. “Done. I’m going to bed.”

  We shut off the lights in the office. The rest of the complex is quiet—everyone else seems to have gone to bed. “How late is it?” I ask.

  “A little after midnight,” O’Neill says.

  “Where’s Vanti?”

  “She went to bed an hour ago. Didn’t you notice?” He slides an arm around me and guides me toward the stairs. “Right after you started working on the facial tracking thing.”

  “That was an hour ago?” I tip my head and rub the back of my neck. Stars peek through the dark fronds of the trees overhead. The rings are visible tonight, and they glitter in a thick streak across the darkness. “Wow, those are beautiful.”

  We stand at the bottom of the steps, staring up at the sky. I lean against O’Neill, his warm body helping my tense muscles relax. His arms wrap around me, his hands caressing my stomach and the side of my hip. I turn in his arms. As our lips touch, a soft knock echoes through the quiet courtyard.

  “Someone at the front gate.” O’Neill pulls back reluctantly.

  “Maybe hulk and the android are back?”

  He shakes his head as he turns away. “They’d better have a darn good reason for not reporting in.” I follow him through the tunnel. A heavy wooden door hides the gate. He checks the cam pointed at the front steps. “Not our boys—it’s peacekeepers.”

  “Should I hide?” I joke, but I’m not really laughing.

  “They can’t drag you out of our house.” He swipes an icon and connects to the intercom. “Identification, please.”

  The officers flick their credentials to the house system, and it verifies. O’Neill opens the wooden door and peers through the gate. “What can I do for you?”

  “There’s been an incident,” the taller one says. “We need you to come down to the station.”

  Nineteen

  O’Neill’s eyes narrow. “Why don’t you come inside and tell me what this is all about?” He pulls the gate open.

  “Is letting them inside a good idea?” I whisper.

  He nods but keeps his eyes on the officers. “Please come into the office, Peacekeeper Timons.” He steps back, still watching the men, and points to the first door in the dark hallway.

  I pull it open and discover it leads to a small, white room. A utilitarian desk sits in the far corner, with a couple of uncomfortable looking chairs arrayed in front. Ty closes the front gate behind the officers and follows the two men into the office. He sits behind the desk and gestures to the chairs. “Please, tell me what this is all about.”

  The taller man sits, but the other remains standing. He casually backs toward the outer wall where he can watch all three of us and the door we entered through. Vanti would be impressed by this one.

  He stumbles over the edge of the carpet and falls into the wall.

  Maybe she wouldn’t. But that gives me an idea. I round the desk to stand behind O’Neill. The tall back of his chair hides my hand as I ping Vanti on my holo-ring.

  “Ser O’Neill y Mendoza bin Tariq—”

  O’Neill cuts him off. “O’Neill is good enough.”

  The senior guy nods, an efficient single jerk up and down. “Ser O’Neill, we have detained two gentlemen who claim to be in your employ.”

  “Do these gentlemen have names?” O’Neill asks.

  The man consults his holo. “Kairon Andron and Lou Ferrigi.”

  Lou Ferrigi? My lips twitch, but I manage to keep my expression blank.

  “They work for the Station Kelly-Kornienko board of directors, not me.” O’Neill leans forward in his chair. “Are they all right?”

  “They’re fine, Ser O’Neill.” He leans back in his chair, staring at O’Neill. Waiting. For what? Does he think O’Neill is going to crack under the pressure and start spilling... something?

  O’Neill waits him out. After what feels like a couple of hours, he glances at me. “There’s no reason for you to be here, Sera Morgan.” His eyes lock onto mine, but I’m not sure what message he’s trying to convey.

  I cover another yawn. “I’m fine. I couldn’t sleep with strangers in the house, anyway.”

  O’Neill bites his lip as if he’s trying not to laugh. He knows I can sleep just about anywhere. He gives me a mock glare. “As you wish, Sera.” Obviously, he wants me out of the way.

  I yawn again. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve had a long day. I think I’ll grab a cupcake and hit the sack.”

  His lips twitch again, and this time, he lets the smile out for a second. “Enjoy your snack, Sera.” He stands and ushers me to the door. When he opens it, Vanti gives a little finger wave from down the hall where the visitors can’t see her. O’Neill nods again and shuts the door.

  “What do they want?” I hiss as I hurry to the agent.

  She holds a finger to her lips and leads me to the other office—the real, attractive one. She shuts the door behind us and crosses to the tall curtains by the fireplace. I had assumed they hid another window, although now that I take the time to look, I realize the external windows don’t have drapes. And this isn’t an external wall. She twitches the fabric aside to reveal a heavy wooden door.

  A call comes in through my audio implant. Vanti. She has this amazing ability to speak through the comm while making no audible sound and without moving her lips. It’s kind of freaky.

  “Andron and Ferrigi were picked up a few hours ago.” Her voice is loud and clear through my implant. “No charges have been filed, but they’re considered ‘persons of interest’ in the Levaward Station attack.”

  “Of course they are. Why aren’t we?” I whisper.

  She frowns and puts a finger to her lips. “I’m listening on the other channel.” She flicks her ring and swipes something at me.

  A male voice cuts in. “—leaving the scene. No one else was there.”

  “Did you check the cams and passenger manifests?” O’Neill asks. “Because there were at least three other people there.”

  “Would you care to explain how you know that, Ser?” The peacekeeper’s voice sounds threatening.

  “Because I was one of them.” The chair creaks as he shifts. I can almost see him leaning forward across the desk. “Sera Morgan, my cousin Bill Hillis, and I were there. We filed a report from the medical center.”

  Silence. Then the man clears his throat. “Ah, yes, I see.” He sounds embarrassed. “Your report went to headquarters. Our people must have forgotten to sync the data system. Well, then, there’s no reason to detain your, er, friends.”

  “Coworkers.” O’Neill’s voice is pleasant but firm. “I trust you’ll send them back here. Perhaps arrange for transportation?”

  “I—uh—yes, of course,” Timons says.

  “Thank you, Peacekeeper. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  Timons clears his throat again. “Just don’t leave the local area.” He chuckles, but it sounds fake.

  “We wouldn’t dream of it,” O’Neill says. “My sister is getting married in a few days. We’ll be here.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, Ser, why is Sera Morgan here? And why wasn’t my office informed of her visit?”

  “I do mind y
ou asking,” O’Neill says. Doors open, and feet shuffle. “Unless the law has changed very recently, Grissom citizens aren’t required to register guests at the local Peacekeeper office. She’s here on a valid visa. That’s all you need to know.”

  “I beg to differ,” Timons says, his voice indignant. “If she’s going to be the target of terrorist attacks, I most certainly need to know!”

  Silence.

  Then O’Neill speaks again. His voice is low and calm. “Has the Levaward Station attack been labeled a terrorist action directed at our guest? If it has, then the shoe is on the other foot. As her security manager, I need to know whatever you’ve discovered.”

  Timons blusters. “No, no, I misspoke. There have been no determinations. And of course we’re happy to share our information. Just contact my office. Here’s a link. We don’t want a foreign citizen injured on our planet, now, do we? I’ll send your employees home. Maybe they’ll do a better job from here on out.”

  The door shuts, and the audio goes dead. Vanti raises an eyebrow. “Interesting.”

  The wooden door opens, and O’Neill comes in. “Analysis?”

  “That was very strange.” Vanti wanders across the room and throws herself down on the stiff couch. “Almost felt like that guy was in on whatever this is.”

  “Agreed.” O'Neill pulls me up from my chair. "I wish we knew what they were up to."

  “We’ll figure it out.” I yawn again. “I need to sleep. Maybe my subconscious will come up with the answer.”

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you.” O’Neill gives me a sheepish grin. “Mom wants some help with the wedding.”

  “Wedding?” I stare at him. “This is the first I’ve heard of a wedding.”

  “No, it’s not.” Vanti pushes the door open. “Griz told that peacekeeper his sister is getting married.”

  “But we came to Grissom to clear Bill. You didn’t say anything about a wedding.” I give O’Neill the stink eye.

  “Two aliens, one stone,” Vanti mutters.

  O’Neill snickers. “Exactly. Bill gave me the excuse to come now. But, honestly, I was going to—well, originally, I had quit my job and planned on staying on Grissom. Then you and I... I went back to SK2. So, this gave me a convenient way to attend the wedding and help Bill.”

  “If I’d known, I would have packed a hat.” My eyes narrow even more.

  “A hat? You’ve been watching too much Ancient Tēvē.” O’Neill ushers me up the steps. “No one wears hats to weddings anymore. Unless it’s for the Grissom royal family.”

  “Grissom has a royal family? I don't remember that from my history classes.”

  “No, we don’t.” O’Neill says as we reach the second floor. “But I’m sure people would wear hats to their weddings if we did.”

  I roll my eyes and try to hold back another yawn. “I’m sure you’re right. I’d come up with a hilarious response if I weren’t so tired.”

  When we reach the third floor, Vanti says good night and leaves us alone in the corridor. “Which of these rooms is your sister’s?” I whisper.

  O’Neill opens my door, and we step into the cool darkness. “None of them. Hers is on the second floor. But Andron and Ferrigi are two doors that way.” His arm brushes against my shoulder as he points.

  An electric thrill runs down my back.

  His breath is warm against my neck. “And Vanti’s next door, of course.”

  My blood goes cold. “She’s probably got a vid of every room in the building,” I mutter. I kiss him quickly and turn away. “Too many eyes and ears.”

  “Yikes. You sure know how to kill the mood.” He chuckles, pulling me closer. “But, yeah, this place is crowded. Maybe we can sneak away after the wedding.”

  “You never finished telling me about this thing.” I flick on a light and plop down on the bed. “What’s the deal?”

  He shrugs. “Mom just needs help with last minute stuff. No big deal. But it will give you something to do while Vanti and I continue the investigation.”

  “Oh, so it’s a great way to keep me out of trouble? Like a toddler or something. Thanks, you can see yourself out.”

  “That’s not what I meant.” He sits and puts an arm around me. “But don’t forget you were badly injured today. You could have been killed.” He gives me a little shake. “I need to know you’re safe so I can focus on doing my job.”

  “I thought your job was to keep me safe.” I sound like a cranky little girl, but I don’t care. He’s treating me like a child; he should expect me to behave like one. Vicious circle, the little voice in my head whispers, but I ignore it.

  “Andron and Ferrigi’s job is to keep you safe.” He leans in to kiss my cheek. “My job is to help Bill. Then we can enjoy the wedding and get back to SK2.”

  “You’re for sure coming back?” I turn and lock eyes with him.

  His gaze roams over my face, pausing on my lips before returning to my eyes. “You can’t keep me away.”

  No, I’m not going to tell you what happens after that. It’s not really any of your business.

  Twenty

  The next morning, we meet in the lounge for breakfast. Between O’Neill and the twins, the AutoKich’n is getting a workout. I pour myself some coffee, add plenty of cream and sugar, and sit beside Vanti while waiting my turn.

  “Are you going to eat?” I glance at her cup of green tea.

  She shudders. “I’ll have a protein bar later. You?”

  “As soon as the boys get out of the way.” I grin. “Breakfast is the best meal of the day. Well, besides dessert.”

  She snorts. “Dessert isn’t a meal.”

  “That’s why you’re so grumpy all the time, Vanti. You should eat more dessert.”

  “Just don’t eat the pudding,” O’Neill puts his plate of eggs and sausages on the table across from me.

  Vanti’s lips twitch, and she shakes her head.

  “That must have been funnier in person.” I glower at them as I make my way to the AutoKich’n.

  The two grin at each other but don’t say anything. Vanti and O’Neill have known each other since the academy. The pudding joke goes back to that first assignment on SK2, but the nickname, Griz, goes back even further. They won’t explain that one. Usually, their inside jokes don’t bother me, but sometimes…

  “When did you two get home?” O’Neill asks as the twins sit down and start shoveling food into their mouths.

  “Late?” Yuri says with a shrug.

  “Late.” Ro nods. “All business.”

  “Business?” O’Neill raises an eyebrow. The twins do it back at him. I look away, disgusted. Why can everyone but me do that?

  “They work for the same media company,” Serena says as she marches into the room. Her mother, Angie, follows behind, wearing a bright yellow sweater and pink pants. She heads for the sideboard and loads a pile of pastries onto her plate. Serena takes the plate, removes all but one of them, and puts it on the table for the old lady.

  “Don’t forget—you’re on cam duty for Lili’s wedding.” Serena pins a steely eye on the boys as she fixes Angie’s coffee.

  Ro salutes with a strip of bacon and shoves it into his mouth.

  “We’re on it.” Yuri grins and takes a huge bite of pancake.

  I program my request into the AutoKich’n and drink the rest of my coffee while it cooks. When the machine dings, I pull out my plate of French toast with poached eggs. A small puddle of syrup covers the top slice with a pat of butter right in the middle. I take a deep breath. Cinnamon. Maple. Delicious.

  As I sit down, the hulk and the android slink into the room. They both look sheepish and avoid our eyes.

  "Get some breakfast," O'Neill says. "We have a busy day ahead of us."

  "Do they get to go with you?" I glare at O'Neill over my French toast.

  “Nope.” Vanti sips her tea. “They’re on babysitting duty.” She acknowledges my evil eye with a tip of her cup. “Sorry, I mean they’ll be here, holding down the fort. And acc
ompanying you, should you need to go anywhere.”

  “They were so useful on the last trip,” I grumble. “No offense.”

  The hulk’s lips press together. “You’re not wrong.”

  “Sorry.” My face burns. It’s not their fault we got bombed, and there’s no way they could have predicted it. “But if I stay here, you can help O’Neill.”

  “One of you will remain on duty with Sera Morgan at all times.” O’Neill thunks his cup down on the table. The coffee sloshes. “The other will stay nearby for backup.”

  The two men snap to attention and salute then gather their breakfasts.

  “I can help with your investigation.” Angie taps her forehead. “I’ve got a top-notch thinker up here.”

  O’Neill smiles. “I think Vanti and I have this one covered, Grandma, but thanks.”

  “Now we have that settled, let’s get down to business.” Serena sets her toast and tea on the end of the table and flings a file onto the dining room’s window. It glows brightly, expanding into a complicated chart showing projects, locations, and names. “Ty, you and Lindsay need to be back here by two.”

  “Vanti, please, Sera O’Neill.” Vanti says. “Only my mother calls me Lindsay. And the administrators at the Techno-Inst.”

  Serena nods. “Deal, but only if you’ll call me Serena.” She turns to the twins. “You’ve got everything you need for the ceremony?”

  Ro gives her a thumbs up between bites. “We’re good. But we gotta run. Gotta get to the Roosevelt Center before Senator Van Valkenburgh starts her speech.”

  Yuri jumps up, still pushing bacon into his mouth. “Bye, Ma! See ya, guys.” He and Ro hurry out of the room.

  “Senator Van Valkenburgh?” Vanti raises her eyebrow again. She catches my eye and her lips twitch. She knows I hate that I can’t do that.

  “The boys are covering her press release,” Serena says. “Some big announcement about nothing. We have important work. Triana, you’re going to help Mother with flower arrangements. Thank you for offering to help. Akiko and Aretha are both working, and Ty is useless with artistic things.”