Virtue of War

by L O Addison

  A long moment of silence passed. Then she quietly said, “I missed you, you idiot.”

  He’d missed her, too. Or at least he’d missed the old Kaylin, the person she’d been before all of… this.

  Beck let her sit quietly for a long minute, watching as the medication kicked in and the lines of pain slowly faded from her face. Her breathing slowed, and he thought she might actually fall asleep right there in the middle of the cell.

  For some reason, that made his chest ache. Kaylin had always been suspicious of damn near everyone, and Beck had always been a little proud of the fact that he was one of the few people she seemed to trust. The fact that she’d retained that trust made him feel a little like a traitor for keeping her in this cell.

  Although, logically, he knew she deserved every bit of punishment she was getting.

  “We’ve got to go meet Nathan,” Beck said.

  She opened her eyes, staring up at him. “Do we really have to?”

  He stood up. “Yes. Unless you want him marching in here and grabbing you himself.”

  She grimaced at the idea and got to her feet. The movement made her wince a little, but she seemed much more alert with the painkillers dulling her headache.

  “I don’t like him,” she said. “I don’t get why you and everyone else in the Resistance are so eager to please him.”

  “He’s a good leader,” Beck said, sharpening his tone. “One of the best we have. He’s a brilliant strategist, a brave soldier, and always fair to his men.”

  Her only acknowledgment of this was a grunt. “I don’t trust him.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t.”

  Beck rolled his eyes at the ceiling. She was the one who had deserted, stolen, sabotaged, and murdered. But somehow, she still felt like she had the right to accuse people of being dishonest.

  “You’ve always had trust issues,” he said, brushing off her criticism.

  She scoffed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “There’s a difference between caution and paranoia, Kay. One’s helpful, one’s ridiculous. Not to mention hypocritical as hell.”

  Kaylin didn’t reply. She just stood there and glared down at the taros bracelet around her wrist, absently picking at it. Beck swatted her hand away.

  “Don’t,” he warned. “You try to break that thing and it’s going to knock you unconscious.”

  She grimaced and pulled her other hand away from it. Then she looked up at Beck, staring him right in the eye.

  “Quit looking at me like that,” she said.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

  “Like you pity me.” She gestured abruptly toward him. “You’re just as much of a prisoner as I am.”

  He crossed his arms, struggling to hide his irritation. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “They’re using you, Beck. The Resistance. They know you’re a good person who wants to be a hero, and they’re abusing that.”

  “How?” he demanded.

  “The same way they abused me. They shoved a gun in my hands, told me I was fighting for good, and demanded I follow orders.”

  He gave a sharp, disbelieving laugh. “That’s called being a soldier, Kaylin.”

  “Not when you’re left in the dark about who you’re fighting and why. That’s called being manipulated.” She crossed her own arms, matching his defensive posture. “Whatever happened to the original Resistance? No military ranks, no political bullshit, no alliances with specific countries or planets. Just humans fighting for humans.”

  “Times change,” Beck said. “Organizations need to change with them. Otherwise, they crumble.”

  “And have you ever thought that maybe it’d be a good thing?” Kaylin demanded. “The war ended almost two years ago. Aside from a few stragglers, the Syndicate is wiped out. So why do you keep fighting?”

  “Because there’s unrest,” Beck said. “Chaotic times bring all types of assholes out of the woodwork. What do you want us to do? Just let every violent dictator and rebellion have their way with the world?” He shook his head. “The world’s governments are in shambles. They need someone to help keep peace.”

  Kaylin’s expression remained impassive. “And what makes you so sure the people leading the Resistance are interested in peace?”

  There was a strange note in her voice, a sort of dark certainty that made his skin crawl. But he shook his head fiercely, forcing himself to ignore the feeling.

  Nathan was right. Kaylin was a trickster, a professional criminal and manipulator.

  Beck pushed at her back, nudging her toward the door. “Quit trying to mess with my head and start walking. We need to go meet Nathan. Now.”

  10

  Beck

  Beck felt better the second they stepped inside the conference room. Marin and Lio sat at one end of the table, but the other side was filled with his friends and fellow soldiers. Nathan sat at the head, while Alex Martinez, Cate Streisand, and Liam Moore sat beside him.

  Beck nodded as he silently evaluated the team Nathan had assembled in the short time it’d taken to fetch Kaylin. Alex, Cate, and Liam were all highly experienced soldiers with a diverse mix of skills. They were all good choices for the team that would accompany Kaylin to Paris, and Beck would feel comfortable with them guarding his back.

  “Hey, Alex,” Kaylin said, curling her fingers in a wave. She gave him a smile that looked more like a snarl.

  Alex’s gaze narrowed into a glare, and Beck bit back a groan. Alex was not the sort of person you wanted as an enemy. He was well over six feet tall, and despite being in his forties, he had the powerful grace of someone well-trained in martial arts. Before the Syndicate War, he’d owned a krav maga training studio, and he was more than willing to give a free lesson in ass-kicking to anyone who dared to butt heads with him.

  “Kaylin,” Alex spat. “Can’t say I was ever expecting to see you alive again. And can’t say I’m happy to.”

  Beck winced. Okay, so maybe the team Nathan had assembled wasn’t exactly perfect. Before his last promotion, Alex had spent years as the leader of a special ops sniper team—the same team Kaylin had ditched when she deserted the Resistance.

  Kaylin smirked. “Good to see you’re just as much of an asshole as always.”

  Alex shook his head in disgust. “Deserting just wasn’t enough for you, was it? You had to steal from us and shoot one of our guards, too.”

  “Alex,” Nathan snapped. “I called you in here to discuss a mission, not to exchange insults.”

  Alex gritted his teeth and stared down at the table, his fist clenched. “My apologies, Commander,” he said, although Beck couldn’t hear an ounce of remorse in his tone.

  Beck ushered Kaylin over to the far side of the table, away from the Resistance soldiers. She sat two chairs away from Lio, and the Ambassador leveled her with a suspicious stare. Beck seated himself between the two of them, praying Kaylin had the common sense not to start anything.

  Beck looked over at Nathan, waiting for the commander to get the meeting started. But Nathan merely nodded toward the door.

  “We’re still waiting on Jamison Eriks,” he announced to the table. “Then we can get started.”

  Beck struggled to conceal his surprise. Jamison was a sniper, one of the many Beck had trained himself, and missions like this generally only needed one sniper.

  “Why do we need two snipers?” Beck asked. The idea didn’t sit well with him. If their goal was to be fast and discreet, killing a large number of guards at the Wardens’ base wasn’t going to help.

  “We don’t,” Nathan said. “Our goal is to fire as few weapons as possible. One sniper is more than enough.”

  It took Beck a long moment to understand what that meant. “Nathan, sir… Are you not sending me on this mission?”

  “No,” Nathan replied flatly.

  Beck struggled to mask his shock. He was the highest-ranking sniper on the base. He rarely went on
missions anymore, since he preferred training students. But when he did request to go on a mission, he was always granted permission.

  Beck sat up straighter and folded his hands in front of him. “It would make sense for me to go,” he said, keeping his tone calm and firm. “I already know all the details of the mission, so it would be one less person to share top-secret info with. Plus, I have the skillset for this sort of mission, and I’ve worked with Kaylin before. I know how to keep her in check.”

  “I did not ask for your opinion on this matter,” Nathan said, his eyes narrowing. “And your skills are useless to me if you don’t obey orders.”

  A mixture of anger and guilt surged through him. So that was what this was about. Nathan was pissed Beck had disobeyed his orders and taken the ambassador to the South Quarters. At the time, it’d made perfect sense to bring Lio there, but…

  He’d screwed up. Beck swallowed back a bitter feeling. He’d disobeyed orders, and it’d caused the ambassador to run smack-dab into Kaylin. If Kaylin hadn’t been using sedative shots, Beck’s disobedience would have gotten the ambassador killed.

  “You will be staying on base,” Nathan continued, his voice firm. “And you will not be changing my mind on this matter.”

  Beck nodded stiffly. Embarrassment burned through him, and the others at the table avoided looking at him. Beck turned toward the door, hoping Jamison would come in soon and take the attention away from him.

  Instead of staring at the door with the others, Alex decided to glare right at Kaylin. Kaylin glared right back, her chin slowly tilting up in a defiant look. Beck nudged her in the side, sending a silent message: don’t start anything. But she ignored it and continued her stare-down.

  Alex leaned back in his chair and crossed his muscular arms. “So what’s your plan to screw us over this time, Kaylin?” he asked. “Lead us into the enemy’s base and then ditch us? Or are you just going to shoot us yourself?”

  Beck rubbed at his temples. So it would be his fellow soldier who started things. Wonderful.

  Then again, it wasn’t like Alex could say much to make the ambassador think less of them. Beck was pretty sure Lio’s respect for the Resistance was already nonexistent.

  “I can assure you that berating the prisoner will not make her any more likely to help us.”

  It was Lio’s voice that cracked through the room. Beck started in surprise and glanced over to find Lio pinning Alex with a scathing look. Alex met the ambassador’s stare, but he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

  Beck couldn’t blame him. There was something about the ambassador’s eyes that was eerie. They were almond-shaped, almost as if some long-lost relative had been Asian, but their stark blue color told the real story: he was alien. And he had absolutely no reason to like humans.

  Alex nodded toward Kaylin. “I’m only giving her what she deserves.”

  “It isn’t for you to decide what she deserves,” Lio said. “You are not a judge. You’re a soldier, and you’d be foolish to make an enemy of those who will be working beside you.”

  Alex jabbed a finger at Lio. “Now listen here—”

  “Alex!” Nathan banged his fist on the table. “Shut your goddamn mouth and quit making trouble.”

  Alex clenched his fists, and for a single moment, Beck thought the soldier might actually be dumb enough to argue. But then he nodded curtly and crossed his arms back over his chest. He kept his glare glued to Kaylin, but she had the common sense not to glare back this time.

  The door opened, and Jamison stepped into the room. Beck let out a small breath of relief. Jamison had always been one of his favorite students, and also one of his quietest and calmest. It was damn near impossible to get a complete sentence out of the man, let alone an argument. Having him on the team would mean at least one person wouldn’t be berating Kaylin the entire mission.

  Jamison nodded a greeting, and Nathan waved at him to sit in the chair next to Alex. As Jamison settled himself in the seat, Nathan surveyed the room, seeming to do a mental tally of the team he had assembled.

  Beck had to admit it wasn’t half bad. Jamison was a damn talented sniper, Liam and Alex were both experts in close combat, Cate was a tech genius, and Kaylin had world-class skills at breaking and entering. Combined, they made an imposing team.

  “This won’t work,” Lio said.

  Nathan turned to the ambassador with his eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”

  Lio gestured to the soldiers gathered at the table, but his eyes were fixed on Alex. “Your team. It won’t work.”

  Nathan gritted his jaw and leaned forward in his chair. “I’ve put together hundreds of tactical teams over the years. I know a good team when I see one. And this here—” He waved at the four soldiers. “This represents the best of the Resistance. You’re lucky to have them.”

  “I don’t doubt they’re good soldiers,” Lio said, his tone perfectly calm. “I just doubt their ability to work together civilly.”

  Nathan offered a strained smile. “And this is why you’re the ambassador, and I’m the commander. I know my men. They’ll do their duty.”

  Lio nodded to Alex. “I’d like him taken off the team. And I would like Beck to replace him.”

  “What?” Alex growled.

  “Calm down,” Nathan said, shooting Alex a warning look. Then he turned back to Lio and said, “Alex is one of the most experienced soldiers we have on this base. I assure you he’d be a valuable asset to the team.”

  Lio raised his chin slightly. “Alex is already verbally abusing the thief, and we haven’t even left the base yet. I’m sure he is skilled, but I don’t believe his skills outweigh the harm his temper could cause.”

  “Verbally abusing her?” Alex repeated. He let out a harsh laugh. “Since when is telling the truth considered abuse? She’s a deserter, a thief, and a murderer. She doesn’t deserve respect.”

  Kaylin stayed silent, her arms crossed over her chest and her glare locked on Alex. But Beck could spot the tiny smirk hiding at the corner of her lips. She wasn’t going to bother defending herself. No, she was just going to sit there and enjoy watching Alex shoot himself in the foot.

  Lio didn’t even bother turning to acknowledge Alex. He just said to Nathan, “I won’t work with him.”

  Nathan crossed his arms. “He’s already been assigned.”

  Lio sat straighter, and frustration leaked into his tone as he said, “Beck is clearly the more level-headed choice, and he has more knowledge of our mission. Why do you not wish for him to join our team?”

  “Beck is needed at the base,” Nathan said.

  Bullshit. Beck bit his lip to keep from blurting out the word. Their next group of trainees didn’t arrive for another two weeks, and Beck was already starting to grow bored and restless. It was the perfect timing for him to go on a mission.

  Lio took a deep breath. “I don’t believe I am making myself clear, Commander Hayes. I will not work with anyone who has a volatile temper, and especially not someone who has a personal grudge against Goodfellow. This mission is already going to be difficult enough as it is. Take Alex off the team and replace him with Beck.”

  Nathan gritted his teeth. “All due respect, Ambassador Lio, but you’re not in charge here.”

  “No,” Lio said stiffly. “Ultimately, any mission regarding the Virtue falls under the jurisdiction of the Rhuramenti Council. So that leaves us with two choices. You can keep Alex on this mission, and I will be forced to send my Council a message informing them that the humans of Earth are too unreasonable for a proper alliance. Or you can remove Alex, and I can hold my tongue.”

  Nathan’s eyes smoldered with anger, and his fist unconsciously clenched. Beck held his breath, having no idea what was about to happen. Nobody challenged Nathan’s authority so blatantly. Not even other Resistance officials.

  Nathan took a deep breath and stared down at his clenched fist for a long moment. Then he cleared his throat and folded his hands together in a business-like pose.

&
nbsp; “Ambassador Lio, if you’re not going to give me any choice in the matter, then I’ll concede. But I must warn you that ignoring my advice about my own soldiers is not going to end well.”

  “I will take the risk,” Lio said simply. “I need a team that is sane and stable.”

  Nathan nodded curtly. “All right. In that case, Beck will take Alex’s place on the team.” The commander turned to Alex and gave a dismissive nod. “Alex, thank you for coming, but you’re excused.”

  Alex breathed in sharply, and Beck braced himself for the soldier’s temper to explode. But then he just let out a quiet curse and got to his feet. He turned toward Lio and jabbed a finger at the ambassador.

  “You think you’re so smart, making your little ‘sane and stable’ team. But we know better. The Wardens are dogs, and Kaylin is no better. You try to approach this mission diplomatically, and you’ll get your throat ripped out.”

  “That’s enough, Alex,” Nathan said, pointing to the door. “Leave. Now. You’re not helping anything.”

  Alex strode toward the door, and Beck gave him an apologetic look. Alex’s temper caused trouble sometimes, but he was still a damn good soldier, and Beck had respect for the man. Alex flicked his hand at Beck, as if to dismiss the apology, and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Not your fault, brother,” Alex said, ducking down to whisper in Beck’s ear. “But keep an eye on the traitor for me. She’ll say anything to get what she wants, and she’ll screw you over the second you start to trust her.”

  Beck simply nodded in reply, and Alex clapped him once more on the back before striding out of the room. Beside him, Kaylin gritted her jaw, and Beck knew she had overhead.

  Nathan took a deep breath as the door closed behind Alex. “All right then,” he said, his gaze roaming over everyone at the table. “It looks like we have our team.”

  “Not yet,” Kaylin said. Her voice was quiet and cold, but her gaze was confident as she settled it on Nathan. “Red’s coming, too.”