by Dennis Young
“Captain, she’s not answering. She’s receiving, just not talking.”
Not good, thought Talice. She could be dead, but her equipment still working. Damn…
“Captain, I’m getting a commtext from Jance…” Abie again.
“Send it to Mac, have her put it on my Headup display.”
Talice waited again. Drew from her S-H tube, a long pull. Watched as Junior used his periscope to scan the surrounding buildings. He turned, gave her a thumbs-up, then went back to scanning.
Words appeared across her visor. Hello, Talice. Isn’t this fun? I haven’t been shot at this much since we were in the Marines together. Jance.
Talice fumed. Fuck you, bitch. You have no idea what we’ve just been through. Stop playing tough guy.
She switched to Mac’s private channel and cut in Nikolay. “Any way to track this? Niky, you had her once before. What happened?”
“Captain, she turned off her sending unit then. But if it’s on again, yes, I may find her.”
“Are you going to answer?” Mac, being reasonable. “If you don’t, she’s free to do what she wants.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Okay, I’ll type something out. Niky, can you put a tracer on where it goes?”
“Yes, Captain, but it would have to come through my tracking unit.”
“That’s no good… just follow her message back, then. Mac, let me do this, I’ll get back to you in a few minutes.”
“Hua. Be careful with your words.”
Talice clicked off, thinking of what she wanted to say. No, how she wanted to say it. She knew exactly what her message would be this time. She typed. Yeah, maybe we should have a drink together and talk about the good old days. Talice.
She hit send and waited. Now we’re gonna see if I can draw you out a bit. Sitting in the middle of a war zone is different than what you anticipated, I’m sure. My guess is, you’re scared shitless. Let’s see if I can scare you a bit more.
* * *
The street was quiet. Talice continued to watch and cover Junior, behind the groundcar. The three prone figures hadn’t moved. She assumed they were dead.
“Captain, two more hostage stragglers just showed up. Twenty-three and counting.” Briggs again, keeping her apprised.
She clicked over to All-Channel. “Status on the ATVs? Bělinka, are you in position?”
“At cover and watching, Captain. Ollie is with Nikolay, all clear at the entrance.” Bělinka, in the tunnel.
“ATVs are moving, ETA fifteen minutes.” Mac.
“Junior, report.”
“Movement east. Looks like—”
Auto-fire erupted as an ATV with a minigun rounded the far corner. AP rounds slammed into the groundcar, and Junior scrambled away. Talice popped from her niche and let go a three-second burst. Then another. Slammed a new magazine in and fired again.
By this time, the ATV had crashed against a wall and was in flames. She waited, terrified Junior had been hit. Or killed. “Junior, report!”
Waited and watched for anyone to emerge from the ATV wreckage.
Waited for Junior to confirm he was alright.
Took a peek around the corner again. Junior was nowhere in sight. The ATV continued to burn. Rounds exploded in the fire, and Talice ducked for cover again.
Waited. Where was Junior?
Sounds from behind her. She turned, too late. A raggedy male took her to the ground, raised a heavy knife in hand.
An arm curled around the man’s neck, pulled him back, wrapped armored legs around his torso, snapped the arm with the knife in it.
A scream, then the armored figure’s legs caught the attacker’s throat. Wrenched once, twice. The third try cracked his neck, and he went limp. Spasmed. Blood leaked from his mouth and ears.
“… Junior?”
Junior raised his visor, puffing, sweat covering his face. “Sorry, Captain, I couldn’t answer. This guy hopped out just before the ATV went up in flames and circled around you. My suit comm is out. AP rounds took out my battery pack.” The back of Junior’s helmet smoldered. He sagged to his knees. “Hard to do martial arts in a full suit.” He heaved a breath, exhausted.
Talice raised her visor. “Get behind the building doorway. Take five. Keep a lookout, I’ve got to check in.” She gave him a quick wink. “Thanks.”
She lowered her visor again and clicked Mac’s private channel. “Fended off some bad guys. Junior’s suit comm is damaged. Abie, anything further from Jance?”
“Sending to Mac now, just came in.”
More words scrolled down Talice’s visor. I found your little helper. She’s sure a weird one, isn’t she? Sent her to round up groups tucked away. I assume she’s been competent in her duties. Jance.
Talice typed quickly. In process. More than twenty gathered at this point.
She dithered, then plunged ahead. Time to discuss the real issue here. I need to know if Babs is safe. Talice.
Seconds later, her visor lit again. I wondered when you were going to ask. Thought maybe you didn’t care anymore. She’s safe. Will be as long as you do your job. Get the hostages out and send me pics. Then we’ll talk further. Jance.
Talice breathed a sigh of relief, then typed again. How do we know if we have them all? I need a count? Talice.
Fucking Jance, still playing games. Dammit…
I’ve given the last group a code. You send me the code and pics, I’ll tell you where to find Babs. Jance.
Talice’s mind raced. She said thirty-four women and a dozen men. Let’s see if that’s still valid.
You told us a number before. Is that number current? This is no time to fuck around. Talice.
Thirty-two and eight. Others collateral damage. Now get busy. Babs is running out of time. Jance.
Talice clicked the intercom. “Mac, did you and Evans get that? Briggs, talk to me.”
“Got it. Aya is two blocks away, likely inside a building on the east side of the street. Go north a block, turn east, second building on the right.” Mac, with Evans’s voice low in the background.
“Twenty-eight women, six men.” Briggs. “Four and two to go.”
“ATVs are at the tunnel doorway, Talice.” Mac again. “Briggs, when you feel it’s safe, start them that direction, double-time.”
“Jance wants pics once everyone is safe. We’ll need to make sure they’re all visible, so she can take a count. We can’t mess this up, people. Babs is still out there. Not to mention Aya.”
“I’ve got a group of six headed east. That’s got to be the last of them.” Evans.
“Confirmed, all accounted for.” Mac again. “We’ll get the code and advise you.”
“Briggs, send Martin and Rory with the hostages. Once they’re beyond the doors, move up as cover for Junior and me. Next job is finding Aya.”
“Hua. Twenty minutes, maybe a bit more. Getting them organized now.”
Abie broke in from the cockpit. “Captain, I’ve got official Marine comm coming in, heading addressed to you.”
Fawkes! Damn, I hope it’s not an encrypted love letter! “Send to Mac, put it on my visor.”
Seconds passed, then the message faded in. Final push in two hours. Get clear. Fawkes.
Talice stared. Well, that takes care of that. She raised her visor and turned to Junior. “On your feet, Marine. We just got our marching orders from the man in charge.”
* * *
Hand signs. That’s how Talice and Junior would communicate, unless it was absolutely necessary to raise their visors. That, or they would touch helmets, so conduction and vibration would carry the soundwaves as they talked. But of course, they’d need to be that close to do so. Talice could send a commtext, but that took too long.
They stayed along the building walls, opposite sides of the street, ducking into niches and doorways, or behind parked groundcars, as they moved toward where Evans thought Aya would be. Mac sent a map to their visors with a target ring to guide them.
Talice paused as they passed
the three bodies, wondering if these were some of Jance’s “collateral damage.” Probably. Pretty sure they shouldn’t have been walking down the middle of a street in a warzone, but still. Damn her… Fuck, did she shoot them herself? Surely not…
Junior waved and signaled pause with a closed fist. Pointed past Talice’s building and two fingers north. Then two fingers upward.
Second floor, second building. Okay, I’m out of the line of fire here, thought Talice. What’s he going to do?
Junior bolted out, then back. Gunfire erupted, toward where he had been. Talice stepped out three paces and raked the wall and windows where she saw muzzle flashes.
The firing stopped. Junior waved. Gave her a thumbs-up.
Damn kid… Talice shook her head. Showoff.
She ducked back into a doorway and clicked All-Channel. “Briggs, report.”
“I’m sending eight with Rory, then eight with Martin. Rory will meet Martin halfway, then swap. We can move them faster and save wear on our wounded guys.”
“Good job, big guy. I knew there was a reason I put you in charge.” Talice switched to Mac’s private channel. “You saw Fawkes’s message. Once we secure Aya, Junior and I are going after Babs. And Jance, if we get a chance.”
“Babs yes, Jance no, Talice. We’re running out of time. You’ll only have an hour by the time the hostages are all at the tunnel entrance with Ollie.”
Talice cut in Evans, ignoring Mac’s comments. “What can I do with Aya? She’s armed, yes, but no HCS. How do I get her out safely?”
“The hostages made it, why can’t she?”
Talice considered. But there were snipers, still, as they’d just found out. And the three bodies in the street as well. But with the Marines making their big push, this street and others around it will be filled with Nemesis trying to get out. Damn… what are we gonna do ourselves? Mac’s right. But I can’t just let Jance get away… can I?
Junior was waving, signaling all clear. Talice moved up a building doorway. Then another. Junior kept pace, watching the windows above her. Talice watched on his side, seeing no movement at all. Signaled back, then eased her way from a recessed doorway to the next. And the next.
“Hold.” Mac. Talice signaled a closed fist to Junior. He settled in a niche, watching.
Talice clicked Mac’s channel. “Status.”
“Aya’s on the move. Same building, but Niky says she’s headed upstairs. He’s tracking her pulse rifle transponder.”
“We’re still a block away. We’ll double-time.”
“Talice, be careful.” Evans. “Now that the hostages are accounted for, I don’t know what she’ll do. If she was returning to us, why would she go upstairs?”
“Check if the way is clear. Or see who’s following her. Like us.” Talice peeked around the corner, searching the windows above Junior again. Kid is pretty cool. Can’t hear a thing, still doing his job.
She spoke again. “Look, we need to get there as fast as we can. I’ll call when we’re in the building. I promise, no shooting unless she shoots first.”
Talice could almost hear Evans swallow hard. “Please… remember the conversation we had about this. Give her… give her a chance.”
“I’ll bring her back alive if at all possible. I’ll tell her it was your idea.” She clicked off.
Talice signaled to Junior, open hand, closed, then opened again. Move out. Double-time.
Junior gave her a thumbs-up and eased around the doorway, then jogged to the next.
Talice followed, careful of her hip. Damn… how am I gonna climb the stairs?
* * *
The glass entry doors of the building where Aya was had been shattered by gunfire. Two bodies lay in the lobby, obvious victims of HE rounds, likely from Aya’s pulse rifle. Bloody shoe prints led around a corner to the stairway door.
Talice took a moment, thinking. Shaking. Nearly buzzing. Geez, between the boost, the pain meds, and my bug patch, if I get shot, I’ll probably just explode.
She held a closed fist to Junior. He stopped and backed behind a stanchion. “Mac, report.”
“We’re moving the hostages to the emergency shelters. First load is on the way, second ATV loading.”
“What about Rory and Martin?”
Mac chuckled. “They insist they’re fine. Talice, they don’t want to leave you and Junior without backup.”
Talice considered. “Have them stay with the hostages and finish that task, then stand by as cover in case we have to retreat in a hurry. Get Briggs and Dosu moving up. We’re in the building, two bodies. Looks like Aya’s defended herself pretty well.”
“Captain, this is Evans. Don’t be surprised by anything you see. She’s in full death-seek by now.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Exactly what we talked about. You weren’t listening then, but you’d better listen now. Aya’s task is done. She’s rescued the hostages she swore to rescue. Now she wants to complete her mission. The only thing left is fully regaining her honor… dying by her own hand.”
“I don’t believe this conversation. Mac, you listening?”
“I’m here, Talice.” Mac’s reply was hard as nails.
“And you’d better be careful. She may well kill you to keep you from stopping her from what she needs to do.”
“I… what!?”
“Listen to the man, Talice.” Mac. Full drill instructor voice again.
Evans continued. “Talk to Jian. He probably has a pretty good understanding of what’s going through her mind. If you don’t listen to me, at least listen to him.”
“You expect me to just stand there and let her kill herself?”
“Yes. And that’s another thing. She may ask you to witness. Or assist.”
Talice was aghast. “This is crazy.”
“Doesn’t matter what you or I think. It’s their culture, their way.” Evans, his voice cracking, filled with hurt.
Talice desperately wanted to change the subject. “Look, we still haven’t found her. That’s our first task.” She started to click off, then paused. “Will she talk to you?”
Evans didn’t answer for a long moment. “I wouldn’t know what to say.”
“Tell her you care! That you don’t want her to do this! That she should live!”
“Captain… she may not want to live. If you or me or anyone keeps her from doing this now, it just deepens the dishonor. She’ll find a way, believe me.”
“This is crap! Do you want her to die?”
“I… no, of course not. But I want her to have her honor back. Living without honor is worse than death to her. Dishonor itself, in this case.”
“What happened to her wasn’t her fault.”
“I know. She knows it too, whether she admits it to herself or not. But she’s been dishonored. Look, we’re wasting time. Please find her. And let her do what she must do.”
Talice clicked off, dazed and angry.
Mac was on the line after a moment. “Top floor. Be careful, Princess.”
Talice took a moment to compose herself. Signaled to Junior, waiting across the room. They moved toward the stairway, checked the window, then opened the door. Talice almost expected to find Aya’s body right there. All they saw was bloody shoeprints going up the stairs.
* * *
Junior took point as Talice trailed, watching their backs. She found it easier on her hip to take the steps one at a time, and backward. She knew she was halfway through her booster, and could feel the pain just waiting to return full force and incapacitate her. Whatever came of this had to be quick. Somewhere, Babs was waiting.
And Jance. Can’t forget Jance.
They came to the second floor, entered and did a quick scan, finding nothing.
Talice raised her visor and Junior did the same. She drew closer and spoke in quiet, almost reasonable, tones. “Look… I’ve been speaking with Evans and Mac. Aya is on some sort of death-wish mission you’ve not been privy to. But now that we’re here, w
e’ve got to find a way to save her.”
“I saw it in her eyes, Captain. I understand her situation.”
“Then you know she’s… under a lot of stress and probably not thinking clearly. It’s our duty to see she gets help.”
Junior was quiet for a long moment. “Help is a relative term. Her culture is her life. Isn’t it?”
Talice knew she would lose a protracted argument and didn’t have time or temperament for one anyway. “Orders. Get her safely back.”
Junior looked away, thinking. At last he lowered his visor, motioned to the stairway door, and checked the hallway through the glass. Then opened the door and went through.
Talice followed, watching their backs again. Dammit… now what? Hell, a firefight would almost be a relief…
They came to the third-floor landing. Junior checked the window, gave a thumbs-up, and opened the door. A body lay sprawled several steps away. Not Aya. Talice almost sighed with relief.
Junior led as they entered an open office area, mostly in disarray. Desks had been plundered. Shredders were clogged with papers; obviously, whoever was doing the shredding had been interrupted. Talice glanced back at the body.
Junior showed a closed fist. Talice paused. He pointed to the center of the room, cleared of furniture. There was Aya, sitting placidly on the floor, garbed in a simple white robe with legs tucked beneath her, and a band of… something wrapped around her legs, holding her knees tightly together.
They approached cautiously. Neither Talice nor Junior lowered their weapons. Aya’s eyes were closed. Beside her was the pulse rifle, out of her immediate reach, a folded cloth, and a… stick, or some sort of polished artifact, thick and smooth and glistening black, about the length of Talice’s forearm.
Talice gently moved the pulse rifle away with her foot, then raised her visor. “Aya. I’m glad to see you’re safe. We can untie you and get out of here. Evans… Gorg is waiting. He’s worried about you. I’ll let him know you’re okay.”
Aya opened her eyes and raised her face. “I know he’s worried. But he understands. And if you’ve spoken to him, I hope you understand as well. Otherwise… I hope to convince you myself.” She glanced to Junior. “Hello, Jian. I’m glad you’re with Talice.”
