Jagged Edge

by Dennis Young

  Then her mind began to play games.

  She watched every passing stranger.

  Glanced over her shoulder at each crossing signal.

  Cast her eyes into niches, doorways, and windows as she passed them by.

  Get a grip, Wyloh. She’s not going to murder you in public.

  Nearly an hour after leaving the tavern, she spotted Fawkes waiting at an outdoor table on the tea house veranda. She crossed the walkway quickly. He stood, and she almost fell into his arms.

  “You have no idea how glad I am to see you.”

  He nodded wordlessly, then hailed an air-taxi, hustled her in, and entered a destination code. The taxi moved away smoothly, then lifted from the motorway. He held her as the lights below dimmed in the cloud cover.

  The car slowed, and the speaker announced “This taxi is programmed to ascend no higher than one thousand meters. Please enter a destination code.”

  Fawkes typed in Hover. The car slowed to a stop in midair. Winds buffeted it slightly as the computer found equilibrium. It remained deathly quiet as all this transpired.

  “This should be safe.” Fawkes sat up and faced Talice. “Status?”

  His rigid demeanor caught Talice a bit by surprise. “I’m… Hal, Jance is stalking me again.” She dug out the holos and passed them to him. “At the tavern, in the ladies’ room, in every stall. The only way she could know we were going to be there was by checking every night since we returned and slipping in to plant these. I don’t know what to do.”

  He nodded, then pulled up a file on his wristcom and showed it to her.

  “That’s the same fucking picture! She sent this to you? I thought you said we were secure!”

  Fawkes shook his head. “This came through official Marine comm and I downloaded it to my wristcom. It’s now part of the official record.”

  Talice thought. “Meaning it’s Marine business now.” She looked at him carefully. “And you can take whatever action you feel is appropriate, including putting a Trooper team on her trail if you choose. Track her down like the enemy of the state she is.”

  “Yes, I could do that. But I talked to our psychologist about this behavior. Jance is a risk-taker and loves the challenge. I looked up her record. She was always on the edge of insubordination with her superiors. She transferred out of your team when you became an officer because… well, to be honest, she found she couldn’t manipulate you.”

  He sat back, easing into the leather seat, and continued. “Jance served six years; a full term, then a half-term in what you and I know as Black Hole. She’s a killer, Talice, trained in lethal tactics that are two thousand years old. There are literally only a handful of Marines on Theia who know these techniques. But more than the combat abilities, their training includes psyche practices. No matter what we do, Jance will find a way around it, just to keep us off-balance.”

  He handed back the holos. “Like this. She’s playing on your fears and emotions, not just your fighting skills.”

  Talice nodded. “You’re right. She’s in my brain like no one else has ever been. So what do we do?”

  Fawkes shook his head. “We continue with our plans and work up new contingencies as necessary. We’ll go back to the courier service for intel. It’s the safest way I know of.”

  “As long as your carriers are loyal, sure. What if she manages to get to one?”

  “Won’t happen. I’ve vetted them personally.” He chuckled. “And I know where they live.”

  Talice watched clouds drift by, illuminated by the lights of the city far below. “We’re headed back to training tomorrow. I’m going to need Evans again. And I’m recruiting Aya, if she’ll go. She’s a civilian now, but she proved her worth, and we need every advantage. I gave the team a pep-talk tonight, but this changes things. When we have our first briefing, I’ll show them the holos.”

  Fawkes nodded. “Show them the proof. Some of them know Babs, I’m sure.”

  “Yeah, like everyone. She and her medtechs treated us every time we came back from a mission. And not just the wounds. Counselors. Therapy for mind and body. She’s a fucking goddess.”

  He shook his head again. “That mouth of yours…”

  Talice shrugged, then grinned. “You know, Mac said the same thing to me. But… I didn’t hear any complaints from you the other night.”

  He smiled and offered his hand to her. She took it, then slid closer, melding into his embrace. They stayed that way for a long time.

  * * *

  The typical workday breakfast crowd made Ginny Sue’s nearly an obstacle course. Talice sat with Mac, Evans, and Aya in a private niche they’d paid double the going rate for, just to get a bit of quiet. They’d opted for menu ordering, rather than working their way through a buffet line that looked more intimidating than a live-fire exercise. The folding doors had been closed since they arrived, and the breakfast dishes at last were piled high on the tray to one side. Mac took out her privacy screen generator and pressed the red button. The shimmer was barely there, but no one seemed surprised by it.

  “I have an offer,” Talice said to Aya. “Another chance to free sex-slaves and other hostages from Nemesis, as part of our team. I’ve asked for Gorg’s services again.” She nodded to Evans, who showed a small smile. “It will be dangerous, but you’ll only be an advisor. You won’t need to go in with the troops, you’ll be with Mac and me in the ship. I need your decision within twelve hours. If you say yes, you’ll be leaving with Mac later today for our training facility.”

  “You’ll be well-paid,” added Mac. “And under the auspices of the Marines, as will we. You’ve seen our team in action. We’re the best in the business, and that’s why we’re chosen for these missions. The Marines trust us to do the job and not get them involved.”

  “Gorg has been of great assistance to us.” Talice caught another smile from him. “He helps us understand things we’re not trained to do and don’t recognize. You could do the same from a different… from a woman’s perspective, since most of these captives are women.”

  She paused for effect. “It could save more lives, Aya. More women who’ve been ripped from their homes and families. And will likely die horribly at some point if someone doesn’t get them out.”

  Aya poured tea around and drank. “Gorg is going, yes? The Marines are planning an assault I would hope.”

  Talice and Mac nodded. “We’re going in undercover as usual. The Marines will be beating down the front door.”

  Talice sat back and drank tea, waiting. Mac poured coffee into her cup and sipped. Evans looked at Aya. Aya met Talice’s eyes, then Mac’s. Then Evans’s once again. She picked up her tea cup and nodded. “When do we leave?”

  * * *

  The Olde Homestead…

  Talice hopped a commercial turbocopter and flew north of Anchor Prime, headed home to see Mom and Dad for the first time in many days. Damn, I should have done this before, instead of taking an air transport and groundcar. I can land right on the property!

  The ’copter made the trip in just under three hours, dropped her off in the fallow east field, then lifted away smoothly. Mom and Dad appeared from their own groundcar. They all hugged. Dad was limping a bit, and Mom was at his side, his hand on her arm for support.

  “What did you do? Mom got you on PT, or just Basic for fun?” Talice furrowed her brow at Dad’s grimace.

  “Ladder. I don’t do them well these days.”

  “Geez, Dad…”

  They helped him to the car, then sat back for a brief ride to the house. Mom looked good, if worried. Dad looked… not so good. He’d lost weight, gotten a bit frail, and his left hand trembled from time to time.

  My daddy’s getting old, Talice thought. She held back a tear as she watched him relax into the seat, then curled next to him. Mom put a hand on Talice’s arm. The ride was made in silence.

  * * *

  Dad was better by the time they reached the house. “Meds,” he said, then chuckled. “You know a bit about
that, don’t you?”

  Talice took his arm as they entered the doorway. “Let’s have a pizza party tonight. No cooking, just a good old-fashioned holo-movie night with pizza and beer. We can even watch those silly science fiction movies you like so much.”

  Dad smiled. “Oh, I’ve got some new ones you’ll really hate.”

  Pizza was thereby ordered and delivered. And consumed. With beer.

  Dad’s old Two-D movies were watched and laughed about, and dialogue recited as the movies played. Talice felt ten years old again. It was a balm for her soul. She was happy. Whenever she was in this house, she was a little girl, and happy.

  Past midnight Mom excused herself and headed for bed. Talice and Dad retired to the porch swing as they always did, he with his coffee, she with her single malt Scotch. It was a warm feeling Talice could never get enough of.

  “Work coming up. Big stuff again.” She watched Dad as he looked beyond the weather screen and into a gentle rain. “Dad, I have some things I need your advice about. And some things to bring you up to date on.”

  He nodded. “Thought you might. Jance again?”

  Talice sighed. “She’s playing mind games. I talked to Colonel Fawkes about it, and he agrees. She’s in our heads.”

  “I saw her file. She’s dangerous in so many ways, Princess.” He sipped as she nodded.

  “But now… this is different. We’re… if not exactly working together, we’re cooperating. I made a deal with her to get people out. She has a way in, but no support. And the colonel is okay with it. Bad stuff, Dad. Sex-slaves and laborers. Nemesis has crossed a bunch of lines.”

  “And they’ll cross more, if they’re not stopped.”

  Talice drank again. “Speaking of crossing lines…”

  Dad looked up.

  “I’m seeing Colonel Fawkes socially again, but this time it’s different. It’s… serious.”

  “That’s not a bad thing, is it?” Dad chuckled lightly.

  Geez, I hope not. Damn, this is weird… Talice shrugged. “He’s a good man. But we’ve got a few hurdles.” She looked at him with sad eyes. “Dad, I can’t have kids. These bugs are part of me now. Babs told me during my last exam. Anything could be passed along to children I might have. At least a fifty-fifty chance. I… I can’t do that to another life.”

  He nodded. “I figured that out some time ago. And my guess is, a family is what both of you would want, should you decide to be together.”

  Already been together. Glad Babs put me back on the Marine protocol a while back… “Yeah, pretty much. Dad, I’m sorry. I don’t want to disappoint you and Mom, but…”

  He held his arms open to her. She set down her drink and nuzzled close. “What’s important is that you’re here, now, and doing better. And he’ll understand, if he loves you. And you’ll understand as well, sometimes the world isn’t fair.”

  “Is it ever?”

  “No… it’s not. But sometimes it throws you a bone and you can get by with it. So just keep doing what you do, and things will work out. They always do, don’t they?”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “Love you too, Princess. If this is the real thing for you and him, be assured, you have my blessing. Whatever comes.”

  Talice nodded gently into his chest. “Whatever comes.”

  * * *

  Bergan-Okafor Training Facility…

  The team assembled again, arriving one by one and in pairs. Mac had arrived the day before with Aya and Evans, and Talice came in on the last metrolink from Anchor Prime.

  She’d commtexted Fawkes on the way from the city. Back to the grind. Saw Mom and Dad. Hope to see you again real soon. Miss you already. Talice.

  A reply came back as the train was pulling into the training facility station. Miss you, too. Running Foxxe is holding our reservation (grin). Stay busy. Stay safe. Fawkes.

  She thought a lot about his words during the Jeepster ride to the compound. Yeah, his words… right, Wyloh. That’s what you’re really thinking about. Your first relationship in over ten years, and you’re thinking about words. Uh-huh…

  Talice dropped her duffle in her quarters and headed for the ready room. Mac was already there with Evans. She drew tea from the sideboard and sat with them.

  Mac had her SLATE and a notebook on the table. “I’ve got Aya in the room across the hall from Mr. Evans. Everyone else is where they were before.”

  Evans watched Talice for a moment. “Mac said you wanted to talk.”

  Talice drank quietly before answering. “Tell me what you know about Jance Sukano. Everything.”

  He considered. “The redhead, right? Okay, she and Mikal and the other woman were a threesome when I got involved with them.”

  “Konee.”

  “Yes, but that wasn’t her name in Nemesis. Regardless, we became a foursome, things deteriorated… you know the rest.”

  “Which tells me nothing of Jance. I want to know how she stayed so well-placed with the target people in our last mission. She knew everything about them, apparently.”

  Evans shrugged. “Mikal gave her the info. He was pretty much wrapped around her little finger until things unraveled. She was a bit of an enigma to everyone. Tougher than any of the other women, demanding but very charismatic, used whatever she needed to get what she wanted. Even sex. Witness Mikal. And me.”

  “But she and Konee were Mikal’s guards as well, right?”

  Evans nodded. “But what you want to know is more, how does she stay in touch now and not get caught by Nemesis when she’s gone rogue, right? Obviously, she still has contacts there. Nemesis isn’t the Marines, Captain. Everyone is in it for the money, or the sex, or other forms of wealth and entertainment. The council is a unit, sure, but they have to be. Get a couple of steps below that, where Mikal and I were, and it’s pretty cutthroat. Jance liked the challenge, playing one against the other.”

  Talice cast her eyes back in memory. “She was a handful in the Marines, too, but sharp. Very sharp.”

  Evans continued. “One thing to remember… she doesn’t have friends. She has associates. And only as long as they can do something for her. Most spies… like me… have to insinuate themselves into the infrastructure of the organization to be successful. We become a part of that whole, or we can’t do what we need to do. Jance is a loner. She uses people for her own purposes, nothing more. She’s not spying for anyone but herself.”

  Mac looked up. “So… she’s cracked Nemesis’s comm just like she did ours? That’s how she stays ahead of them?”

  “That, or she simply has a contact willing to pass her whatever information she wants.” Evans chuckled. “One person can play havoc within an organization like Nemesis in the lower ranks. And Jance covers her tracks well. Anyone getting wind of what she’s doing, I guarantee she’s set someone else up to take the fall.”

  Talice blew a breath. “We had this talk with the colonel, didn’t we? Even though our wristcoms are secure again, it may not hold. Damn. No matter what we do…”

  “She’ll find a way around it,” replied Evans. “That’s what we’re up against, Captain. Someone who knows us well and enjoys the challenge. To her it’s a game, the game of her life. She won’t quit, and she’ll change the rules as she goes along, just to keep it… interesting.”

  Talice nodded. “Yeah, I thought about that, too. Even if we rescue everyone we’re supposed to, according to Jance, it doesn’t mean she’ll let Babs go.”

  “And that’s her key to getting to you,” said Evans. “Both you and Babs could end up dead. Jance may lure you in, just to watch her murder Babs. She wants to hurt you personally. For what, I have no idea. And to be truthful, her disorder may be so deep, even she doesn’t know.

  He looked Talice in the eye. “But you’re the key. Somehow you have to change the lock, or she’ll win in the end. Babs will be dead, and you’ll be a raging vigilante seeking revenge, subject to making mistakes. Then she’ll take you out at her leisure. That would be a win she’d s
avor, I guarantee you.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Checklist (Part One)

  It’s All Part of the Plan

  “Water shapes its course according to

  the nature of the ground over which it flows;

  the soldier works out his victory in relation to

  the foe whom he is facing.”

  Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”

  Training Day, and Then Some…

  In ten days, Talice wanted them to be ready. Then fifteen. By twenty, she knew they were in trouble.

  The entire team dragged in late. Mac had kept them on the course until dusk. Talice had led them through urban, open-field, rocky terrain, and building interior exercises for three days, nearly ten hours each. Three wounds had been taken under live-fire; Dosu, Briggs, and Martin, who seemed to attract rounds expended. Fortunately, the rounds used were light composite, not real. Still, they stung and caused welts. And bruises. Talice had even seen a broken arm caused by a composite round, back in her Boot Camp training as a Marine.

  She’d found privacy twice to change her patch of Cemlac-12Plus. Downed three bottles of S-H. Or was it four? Stayed on top of the situation. Gotten high-fives from everyone as they trudged back to HQ. Mac had given her a stern, but welcome nod.

  Evans and Aya had monitored with Mac at the TacOps board, fascinated as the team worked as one. But still, regardless how they thought they were doing, it wasn’t good enough for Mac. She was in full Drill Instructor mode, and nearly impossible to please.

  Therefore, Talice pulled rank, called for a day of rest, then organized a review later the next evening at mess.

  Because while it was obviously taking longer for the team to get back in shape, they were, no doubt, a team once more. Mac had seen to that.

  But in the back of Talice’s mind, and as discussed with Mac late one night, they admitted to each other: Father Time was unbeaten. And they knew, however they denied it to themselves, they were all getting older. Slower to heal. Slower to respond. Slower to move.