"I've been to too many worlds where the local police either can't or won't deal with the gangs."
"Well, rest assured this will be an exception." Sarno settled her hands together, propping her arms against a covered knee. "You saved Tomas Perez's life, at the very least. They have been quite clear on your bravery in this matter. They can be forgiven for overlooking how reckless it sounds."
"I suppose reckless fits."
"That you're still alive may be a miracle in and of itself. Tell me, why did you involve yourself when no others would?"
Henry winced once more at the sting in his side. The pain helped him focus his words. "Because someone has to do the right thing. It's the only way to make the galaxy a better place."
"Oh?" Sarno's smile turned bemused. "This from the man who took triple pay at Monrovia?"
His response was a slight grin. "Yeah, I've been quite the mercenary. How the world seemed to work in my eyes for a long time. Too long."
"Oh?"
"All these years out here in Neutral Space, on all these worlds with pirates and criminals and slavers, I got used to seeing this kind of thing. People being abused, suffering at the hands of someone more powerful than they were." Years of regret filled his own voice. "I always had a part of me that wanted to do something about it. Every time, my response was 'I can't change the galaxy.'" He shook his head. "I heard it from others too. 'It's just how things are.' Well, I can't live like that anymore."
"So it seems."
"If the galaxy's going to be a better place, I've got to step up. We all do, hoping we inspire others to follow." He glanced back to where the Perez family were seated. While Tomas and Luz were comforting one another, little Javier had his attention toward the front of the church. Admiration glittered in the boy's eyes.
"Well put, Captain." Sarno stood and came over to sit beside him. "I know what it's like to see people hurt and to want to act to help them." She sniffed the air. "You must be quite capable to fight so well in your state."
"As in?"
"As in you're at least partially drunk. I can smell the whiskey… bourbon?" The resignation on his face was her answer. "I've heard it said that a little liquor bolsters courage. You overdid it a little. But I'm not one to judge, Captain." Her smile turned wistful. "An old friend of mine made me partial to Scotch."
"Yeah, I had a few shots before this started. Well, more than a few, if I'm being honest."
Her hazel eyes glinted thoughtfully. "I'd almost think it a miracle that you managed to fight your way through the Vegas with that much in you."
The image of Uncle Charlie, hale and hearty, came to his mind. He nodded at her words. "Today's a day for miracles, I guess."
"Oh? Experienced one, have you?"
He nodded. "Maybe. I… yes, I think I did."
"I can get you in touch with a good investigator if you want to be sure. The Church is serious about these things, for obvious reasons."
"I know you are. But this was personal. And, well, I'm not Catholic."
"Protestant, then?"
"Unified Methodist."
"Ah. Well, no one's perfect." The remark was made with a teasing grin. "It's all right. Sometimes miracles are private. It's His way."
"Yeah, it is." Henry spoke those words and felt a conviction he'd thought lost years ago. "I needed it. I've spent the past sixteen years without faith."
"A long time for a soul to be lost. I'm happy for you to have found your way again." There was great warmth in her words.
The front doors to the church opened. They turned to face the new arrivals. Seeing Tia, Oskar, and Vidia stepping in was a welcome sight, if not surprising. "I'm down here," he called out.
They rushed toward the front of the church, drawing a couple of displeased looks from the nuns still in the room at the lack of decorum. Henry noted they were fully armed and that Oskar had a first aid kit from the Majha with him. "We came looking for you," Tia said. "I was a little surprised to hear you got involved in a firefight with an entire criminal gang."
"How'd you find out?"
"It seems that everyone in the city knows, Captain," Vidia said. "They said ya fought off an entire chapter of Vegas."
"I think I did." Henry gestured toward Sarno. "This is Mother Superior Sara Sarno of the Little Sisters; you might remember them from Monrovia." He turned back to face her, jostling the impatient nun-medic tending to one of his other injuries. "Mother Sarno, this is my First Mate Tia Nguyen, our physician Doctor Oskar Kiderlein, and Vidiadhar Andrews, Vidia for short."
He couldn't miss the sudden glint that formed in Tia's eye. Nor did Sarno. She wanted allies, he thought. Now I've led her right to them. His mouth curled into a slight smile. He works in mysterious ways, indeed…
Vidia was the first to openly react, nodding his head respectfully. "Mother Sarno, a pleasure ta meet ya."
"Mister Andrews, the pleasure is also mine," she replied. "As it is to meet the rest of you. Whatever your motives, we owe you greatly for your assistance on Monrovia."
"What was going on there was unconscionable," Oskar said. "I wish we could have stayed and provided further aid."
"What's done is done, Doctor." Sarno directed her attention to Henry. "You mentioned that you lost your ship?"
Henry nodded. A different pain stabbed him through the heart. "And my best friend, Felix. He flew her into a League destroyer so we could escape on another ship."
Sarno nodded and made the sign of the Cross, murmuring a prayer for the departed as she did. The medic working on Henry repeated the action a moment later, once her hand was free. The old Mother's brow furrowed. "How long ago was this? We're over twenty jumps from the nearest League colony."
"It was in my home system," Tia said. "Hestia."
Concern flashed through those strong hazel eyes. "A League destroyer, this far into Neutral Space? What's been happening?"
"You haven't heard?" Henry asked.
"I've been busy with local matters."
"Well, the short version is that we brought a team from CDF Intelligence to Hestia to investigate League ties to Rigault Heavy Industries, and more importantly, because the HBC had Tia kidnapped." Memories of what they found on Hestia rippled through him, filling him with disgust. "They were experimenting on her and other Hestians. We got them out, but a League destroyer jumped in ahead of us. The Shadow Wolf was crippled fighting her, so Felix flew her into the destroyer while we escaped."
Now Sarno was frowning. "The League is working with Rigault and the HBC? Why?"
"Various projects, we're still going through the data. But what they were doing to Tia and the others…"
Tia's eyes still had that particular glint in them. For the moment, she averted them, allowing her to kneel beside them and expose the back of her neck. Oskar's handiwork was as good as always, but there was no ignoring the scarring of the surgeries done there. "Because they put a thing in my neck to control me," Tia hissed.
"It was some kind of remote control device for human bodies." Henry shook his head. "I saw the controller myself. 'Neuro Control' or something. It lets them take remote control of people."
Nearby, Oskar paled as well. "I know the device from personal experience," he said. "I removed it from Tia and many other Hestians. They were the lucky ones, as many more have suffered crippling and sometimes permanent neurological damage from the testing."
Tia turned back to face Sarno, whose face turned white as the implications of Oskar's words and Tia's own hit home. "It's like having your mind cut off from your body. It moves no matter what you want it to do," Tia explained. Her voice trembled with the memory. "Antoine Rigault's going to force every Hestian to accept one or starve. The League wants to go even further; they want to control people's thoughts with it."
"Mother of God," Sarno gasped. "Has the Coalition been informed?"
"We transmitted the data, but Rigault got there first with the League's help. They're claiming this was a Coalition black op to support 'terrorism' and atta
ck business partners of the League."
Sarno nodded slowly. "Clever. They know Rhodes well. It plays in to her suspicions."
"The CDF Intelligence people have been disavowed. We can't even go into Coalition space without risking arrest," Henry said. "That's why we're here."
"That, and another reason." Now Tia's eyes focused intently on Sarno's. "Which is why I have a question to ask you, Mother Superior."
"Yes, Miss Nguyen?"
"Are the Little Sisters available for a contract? Because I want to hire them."
"Hire us?" Sarno's eyes narrowed. "For what?"
"I'd like to hire you to help liberate my people from the HBC."
"You mean a repeat of what we did on Monrovia? A revolution?" Now Sarno's voice hardened as well, not out of harshness, but understanding.
"Exactly. Support my people in a revolution against the megacorps," Tia pleaded. "And together we can stop Rigault and the League from finishing their device."
A change gripped Sarno. She didn't entirely cease being the gentle-looking elderly nun, but now steel shone in her eyes and her back straightened, as if the military commander within was coming to the fore. "Then we had best continue this conversation privately, Miss Nguyen, Captain Henry." She stood. "This way, please."
* * *
The four followed Sarno into one of the church offices. The holos and photos were clearly those of the office's usual occupant, although that didn't keep Sarno from taking a seat at the desk. "St. Francis in San Tomas Correlo contains a chapter house of our order," she explained. "It is one of our recruiting stations in Neutral Space."
"So you're not all ex-CDF?" asked Tia.
"No, Miss Nguyen. While those who were in the Coalition military are certainly a majority of our order, there are many who come from other worlds. Not all fight, however, but serve as support to those who do." Sarno folded her hands on the desk. "As for your request, you are aware of our rules?"
"I know you're willing to fight for good causes."
"We are, but we do not just fight. For one thing, unless circumstances demand otherwise, it is always our goal to preserve life. We employ stun bolts and other non-lethal means of subduing those we fight. Lethal force is used only if absolutely necessary."
Tia nodded. "I understand, and I accept that's how you fight. I heard the reports from Monrovia, the same as everyone. That's why I want your help."
"I have concerns." Sarno's eyes locked on to Tia's. "Miss Nguyen, we're familiar with the kind of revolution you espouse. The history of said revolutions is not a kind one. Often, it ends with a dictatorship hurting and killing their own people. It would be a fundamental violation of our mission to be responsible for such an outcome."
Henry glanced toward Tia. He recalled how often Felix goaded her with a similar argument, that her life's work would result in murderous dictatorship, and she never took it well. He half-expected her to bitterly reject Sarno's words.
Tia gritted her teeth and nodded. "It's true. It's easy for any revolution, any movement, to become as oppressive as those they overthrow. But I don't want power; I want my people to be free."
"Even if they repudiate the ideology you hold true?"
"Yes, even so," she said. "The Hestian Workers' Party can stand for election like any other party and make our case to our people. The important part is to get the megacorps out. Right now, Mother Sarno, they have my people under a dictatorship of wealth. My people had our entire world stolen. They force us to work to loot our own world for their riches, they don't even let us grow enough food so they can more easily control us!" Her voice grew in volume and passion. "We're paid in company scrip that we can only spend in company stores, where everything is priced to keep our families on the edge of starvation. And at the slightest provocation, even just asking for better conditions, we're fired and blacklisted and left to starve. If we try to grow our own food anyway, we're arrested and forced into penal labor. The same thing happens to anyone trying to encourage striking or collective action of any kind. They call us 'saboteurs' and send us into forced labor in mines, where we're worked to death. If the accidents or toxic gas exposure doesn’t kill us first."
Sarno's expression soured. "I've never been to Hestia," she admitted. "I never heard it was that bad."
"The Hestian Business Council spends millions to keep off-world press from learning the extent of it," Henry replied. "But I've visited the world myself, just before I met Tia. They treat her people like scum, like third-class citizens."
"They stole our world from us generations ago through deceit and trickery, then bribery, and now they use it as an excuse to treat us like slaves," Tia insisted. "Now they're going to make us literal slaves. We won't have the slightest hope of rebellion once the implants are in our necks. They'll just use us as drones."
The passion in Tia's voice didn't faze Sarno. She kept a calm expression throughout. When Tia ended her argument, Sarno nodded quietly. "I recognize the injustice your people suffer under. This neural control device sickens me with its existence. Can it be used on such a scale as to enslave a planet?"
Oskar answered first. "It can, Mother Superior," he said.
There was clear interest in her eyes at Oskar's remark, but Sarno was quick to return her attention to Tia. "This leaves the matter of practicality, Miss Nguyen. Even if I were to bring the majority of my order to the fight, seizing a world will be difficult. We need allies, including your own forces. What kind of forces are they? What weapons do your revolutionaries have available?"
"We have hidden caches in several cities and important regions," Tia explained. "Infantry weapons and some crew-served weapons."
"What about heavy weapons? Anti-armor rifles and ammunition?"
"Some, I'm told." Seeing the uncertainty in Sarno's eyes, Tia added, "I've been an exile for over a decade, Mother. I have not seen these caches personally. I am trusting in my comrades' word. They've been rebuilding arms caches for years."
"Very well, what about armor? And how well prepared are they for a sustained campaign, or must this be a single decisive strike?"
"Some combat armor, I'm told, and lightweight tactical suits. We would have to seize armored vehicles and tanks in the opening strike. As for a campaign, we can embark on fighting for several weeks if necessary, although hopefully not longer than one or two weeks."
Sarno sighed deeply. "You may be able to wage a guerrilla war, but against corporate security forces with military hardware, you will not fare so well. The League may even intervene directly. If so, their field forces would easily overwhelm such an army. To guarantee a successful campaign, I will need to call in most of the order, including our fleet. The cost will be great, and more importantly, far beyond whatever means your organization can afford."
"We can pay, we will pay, if you help. I promise." Tia leaned in on the desk. "I'm begging you, for the sake of my people, don't turn us away!"
A weary sigh came from the old woman. Her hand reached for the rosary in her cuff. "I will have to pray on this," she said. "I can't give you anything more at the moment. We'll exchange link codes and I'll contact you once I've made a decision."
Given the way Tia hung over the desk, Henry could see she was aching to push her case. Ultimately, she sighed and nodded. "Okay. We'll be going, then." She glanced at him. "We still have to see about a replacement ship after all."
"Find Ramon Mendoza's shop near the spaceport," Sarno said softly. "Mendoza is the least likely to cheat you, and he has a good selection. As good as one you'll find in San Tomas anyway."
"Thank you, Mother Superior." Henry turned to the office exit and held it, waiting for the others to step out with him. He saw the quiet frustration and worry on Tia's face, but it hadn't yet turned to despair. He clapped her on the shoulder as they arrived at the door. "We'll get this done," he promised her. "Have faith."
She gave him a bewildered look but said nothing as they exited the office.
33
While the others left the
church, Oskar chose to remain behind. His initial intention was to offer his services to the beating victim Captain Henry helped, but one of the nuns informed him that a doctor was already present and tending to him in one of the church's spare bedrooms.
Given the circumstances, leaving by himself seemed dangerous. Oskar took a seat in one of the side pews, near the votive altar. He pulled out his link to call the others, only to hold off before transmitting. Something about the silence of this place felt soothing. He enjoyed that.
While the Society encouraged little in the way of historical education, at least concerning eras before the Society's rule was established on Earth, Oskar knew his ancestors once worshipped in churches similar to St. Francis. Seeing one now made him wonder, for the first time, how many of his predecessors' relatives chose exile to space colonies, even to Sagittarius, over giving up the comforts of their faith.
There was movement beside him. Sarno walked past and knelt before the votive altar. She lit a few candles before she clasped her hands together below her chin. The gentle candlelight illuminating her reflected the metal in her hands. From experience, Oskar imagined it was a crucifix.
While she prayed quietly in a language that he thought sounded Lusitanian, his own mind wandered. The first time he'd seen a crucifix was at the New Hope prison camp. A Coalition prisoner of war managed to smuggle in his necklace by swallowing it. Unfortunately for him, Oskar found the metal in his stomach during his admission scans and, at the orders of the Social Defense Militia officers in charge, he force-fed the man a purgative agent that made him vomit up the cherished item. Oskar remembered the way the little golden statute glittered despite the effluvia coating it. He'd held it for just a few seconds before an angry camp officer tore it from his hand and had it cast into the camp incinerator.
That memory easily led to others like it. Guilt filled him at his minor role in such abuses. More came as he considered how the neuro control interface began as his project to bring healing, to remind himself he was a doctor meant to make people better, not simply to propagate suffering by curing the injuries and wounds of camp prisoners who defied socialization. He recalled deep conversations with Jan about the atrocities they were watching, and whether or not it made a farce of the Society's ideals. Words that might have landed him in a camp himself had they been repeated to a Social Defense officer, or even worse, an Internal Security officer.
Breach of Trust: Breach of Faith Book Four Page 26
