Resolution

by Ell Leigh Clarke

  What do you know? Nickie grumped.

  CEREBRO isn’t mad at me, Meredith replied airily.

  Barnabas folded his hands in his lap, drawing Nickie back to the room. “Your sabbatical is over, and you’ve seen the kind of work I’m offering. Are you ready to come home?”

  Nickie reacted despite her resolution of a second ago. “I don’t have to answer that.” Shit, Mere. Have you and he been practicing lines together? Why don’t you two write a book? You can call it “How to talk to Nickie without her blowing her top.” For fuck’s sake. None of you can let me be for a damned minute.

  Meredith wisely remained silent.

  Barnabas nodded. “You don’t want to answer. There is a difference, you know.”

  Nickie glared at Barnabas, done with the subject. “When I start giving a fuck about that, you’ll be the first to know. Do you have an assignment for me or not? I’ve got a crew to pay and a ship to run. Sitting around talking about feelings like a bunch of old women doesn’t pay well enough to waste time on.”

  Barnabas sighed. “There is an assignment if you want to take it. Your cover from the Vietania operation is still viable, which suits my needs right now.”

  “You want me to run cargo?” Nickie affected a yawn, relishing the slight twitch under Barnabas’ right eye as she did so. “Boring. If you think trapping me in a nice little routine is going to make me settle down, you’ve got another think coming. I don’t care what the pay is. I’d rather die fighting on some nameless world than waste away doing nothing.”

  “I am aware of your proclivity for chasing adrenaline,” Barnabas assured her. “However, as I said, it is time to acknowledge your decision to return to your family. We are at war, Meredith Nicole. It’s time to step up or go your own way.”

  Nickie decided nonchalance was the way to go, not wanting Barnabas to know how badly she’d been itching to get involved in the war she’d trained for half her life. She put her feet up and waved a hand to dismiss Barnabas’ stuffiness. “When is Aunt Bethany Anne not at war? She’ll wipe out whatever alien menace there is this time and go back to micromanaging everyone’s lives, and I’ll be chained down again. You honestly think I’m going to agree to that?”

  Barnabas frowned. “Grow up, child. Do you believe Bethany Anne fights because she wants to?”

  Nickie didn’t have a clue what motivated her aunt. It was pretty cathartic, taking out her frustration on the assholes she came across. Maybe when you were an Empress, the stupidity occurred on a universal scale. She could see that for Bethany Anne. “Dunno. Hadn’t thought about it much beyond her always being pissed about something when I was a kid.”

  Barnabas sat back. “There has to come a point in your life where you stop seeing your family as all-powerful beings who deliberately failed you and accept responsibility for your choices.” He smiled gently, diffusing the argument on Nickie’s lips. “Bethany Anne fights because she sees no other way to protect those she loves.”

  “She must love the whole fucking universe, then,” Nickie retorted. Maybe she and her scary-as-shit aunt weren’t so different after all.

  You and Bethany Anne share the same habit of going off the rails when you lose someone you love, Meredith revealed. She’s just had an extra couple of centuries to come to terms with it.

  Nickie didn’t know how to reply to that.

  Barnabas hadn’t finished his speech. “The Ooken invasion is no joke, Nickie. It puts the Kurtherians two steps away from the Federation. The fleet is the only thing holding them back, and without a supply line to support it, well…”

  Nickie held herself in check, mostly. There was no need to give her uncle the satisfaction of knowing how she felt about being welcomed back. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. I guess now you’re going to tell me playing delivery girl is vital to Bethany Anne succeeding. Just skip the pep talk and get to what you want.”

  Barnabas smiled somewhat smugly for someone who wasn’t supposed to be looking at Nickie’s thoughts. “As you wish. The Silver Line Company has been transferred to your name and is now registered here on High Tortuga. The company has been granted permits to transport cargo between the Federation and High Tortuga, and as far as the Federation is aware, this is a simple trade agreement.”

  Nickie narrowed her eyes at the mention of subterfuge. “What’s the real deal?”

  Barnabas shifted in his chair. “You are aware that the Federation treaty exists on the condition Bethany Anne remains in exile. Our brief is to obtain the materials for building without endangering the stability of everything we have all worked toward for almost two centuries.”

  Nickie dropped the attitude for a second, but just one. “Wait…” She jumped to her feet and leaned over the desk, fury washing her vision red as she worked out the reason for Barnabas’ smugness. “You’ve been steering me toward this the whole fucking time, haven’t you?” she demanded.

  Barnabas got to his feet as well, looking as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. “I have no idea where you get these ideas, Nickie.”

  Nickie knew if she had to look at his serene smile for one more second, she was going to try and tear it off his face. “Get out of my office, you manipulative sonofabitch,” she barked, reaching for the paperweight on her desk. “I’ll take the fucking assignment, but you can send my orders to Meredith. I don’t want to see your face for a long fucking time.”

  Barnabas backed out of her office without breaking eye contact. “If that’s what you need. I’m proud of you for doing your duty, Nickie.”

  “Fuck you!” Nickie retorted. She threw the paperweight at Barnabas as he closed the door, giving fewer than zero fucks as it smashed through the glass.

  She dropped into her chair when the adrenaline dump hit her as suddenly as her rage had.

  The tears came before she could stop them. Mere… Meredith.

  I know, Nickie, Meredith soothed. It’s okay, I’m here.

  Chapter 3 Tabitha and Nickie

  Devon, First City, The Hexagon, Network Command, Security Center

  The last time Tabitha had been here, it had been far too early in the morning for her to appreciate the setup. Since she mostly worked out of the APAs in the arenas, she’d had little time or reason to be up here in Mark’s domain.

  Her time wasn’t as flexible these days, and she’d missed the feel of a physical keyboard under her fingertips like she missed Pete’s touch when he was away. Today she had all the reason she needed to indulge herself…and maybe, just maybe, she was feeling a little of the rebel in her bubbling to the surface.

  Tabitha placed the box of equipment she’d brought on the break table at the side of the room and sat down at the console. She glanced at the holoscreen, the temptation too much to resist, and checked the time on High Tortuga before opening the space fleet base directory.

  Her throat constricted when she saw that Nickie’s location marker on the base map had her niece as being in her old office. She exited the directory and got up from the console, her courage gone for the moment.

  Sabine and Mark arrived a little while into Tabitha’s efforts to assemble the device she’d been working on.

  Sabine came straight over to peer at the partially assembled EI cradle next to the device Tabitha was squinting at as she wired it. “How is it we need a separate EI for this?” she asked. “Winstanley couldn’t take care of it?”

  Tabitha jerked her chin toward a spherical container the size of a baseball, not moving her eyes from the device. “There are half a billion camera- and audio-capable drones in there, and I have more being printed. That amount of data needs to be processed through an exchange.”

  Sabine picked up the container, opened it carefully, and glanced at the shimmering, pale blue powder inside. She closed it again quickly “This looks like dust. Sparkly dust, but still.”

  Tabitha grinned as the fiddly connection went into place. “Mmhmm. Fresh from Jean’s imagination. I helped with the programming, but she’s the one who figured out that th
e new nanocyte technology could be used this way.”

  Mark wandered over, drawn by the lure of new tech. “How does the system work?”

  Tabitha waved her hands as she explained. “The ‘dust’ is released over the city, programmed to attach itself to any unnaturally flat surface it finds. Think of it as a security blanket. The individual drones record everything around them in a five-meter radius.”

  Sabine frowned. “Doesn’t that mean lost data from the ones that get destroyed?”

  “Not if there’s enough overlap for the processor to build the holoprojection,” Mark ventured, glancing at Tabitha for confirmation. “Am I right?”

  Tabitha winked, patting the cradle before she picked it up to fit it to the processor. “Gold star for the smart kid. Everything they record is dumped straight into this EI’s processor to be amalgamated and passed along to whatever system I connect it to. That way, we don’t lose a thing.”

  Mark’s face reddened slightly. He dropped his bag on the empty chair and started unloading the contents. “This is pretty heavy for surveillance measures. We’re going to get everything that happens in the city on camera.”

  Tabitha chuckled. “Another reason to run it through the EI first. Do you want to sort through the most private moments of people’s lives?” She gagged as a thought hit her. “I sure as hell don’t want to see Da’Mahin soaping himself in the shower.”

  High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Barnabas’ Office

  Nickie stomped into Barnabas’ office and dumped herself in the antique wingback visitor’s chair. “I didn’t get an assignment.”

  Barnabas looked up from the letter he was hand-writing and raised an eyebrow. “Yes, well. You needed some time to cool down.” His eyes became distant a moment. “We will discuss your assignment in due time.”

  Nickie felt like Barnabas was holding her at arm’s length. Whatever; let him play the intrigue game. She sighed, allowing her head to fall back against the dark, cracked leather. “As long as you’re finally sending us off-world. There’s a war going on, and here we are stuck clearing up petty crime on the planet Bethany Anne made everyone forget.”

  Barnabas smiled that infuriatingly calm smile of his. “You and your crew did a stellar job. I would hardly describe the prevention of all those drugs and weapons from being distributed on High Tortuga as ‘clearing up petty crime.’”

  Nickie pouted, her frustration spilling over. “Yeah, well, I would. I want to go fight! C’mon, I’m doing everything right, right? I’ve been toeing the fucking line like it’s a sobriety test. Not a single stumble.”

  “And you have received your reward.” Barnabas smiled. “You’re getting the opportunity to do more.”

  Nickie had to acknowledge the truth. The logistics gig wasn’t actually that repugnant to her. Still, there was the question of what making that commitment would mean for her freedom. She licked her lips, wondering why her mouth was suddenly drier than the Outback. “I’m… I’m ready.”

  Barnabas smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that. As for the role I have to offer, I believe you have earned it.” He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands lightly on the table in front of him. “I will remind you that accepting the role is entirely optional, and you will be given time to transition into it.”

  Nickie brushed off his assurances. “What if I decide not to take it?”

  Barnabas lifted his hands. “Your choice, Merry. May I remind you that you are free to leave whenever you wish? However, it will be to continue your personal journey toward wholeness alone.”

  Nickie opened her mouth to argue, but what could she say in the face of her uncle’s all-knowing and serene expression? “Wholeness, my enhanced left ass-cheek,” she muttered, scowling. “Sounds like the biggest load of bistok-shit I’ve ever heard. And will you please quit calling me ‘Merry?’ I’m a grown-ass woman, not a four-year-old. Just tell me what you want me to do, for fuck’s sake. You might have practically everlasting life, but I’m aging, here.”

  Barnabas’ mouth twitched as his sometime tactic of reminding Nickie who she was struck the intended nerve. “I cannot see a few minutes as making so much of a difference. Now, your assignment. That is, if you are quite done with this,” he waved a hand to encompass Nickie’s uncooperative slouch in his antique chair, “performance?”

  He has a point, Meredith interjected.

  Nickie narrowed her eyes. I know when it’s time to shut the fuck up. “I’m listening.”

  Barnabas’ eyes flickered for a moment, and Meredith informed Nickie that she had just received the assignment brief.

  His expression was deadly serious. “Listen to me, Nickie. This is how you get to contribute to the war effort. You may not be out there on the front, but this assignment is just as vital to our success as is fighting the Ooken.”

  Nickie’s face dropped as she scanned through the assignment brief. “You’re joking, right? You want me to go into the Federation? Are you fucking crazy? My mother is there!”

  Barnabas gave her a stern look. “Your mother is currently based on the QBBS Helena, where she has had to come to terms with repairing her relationship with Jean. Maybe, if you are ready, this would be a good time to begin repairing your relationship with them both.”

  Nickie jumped to her feet, her lips drawing back in a snarl. “Yeah, not in a million fucking years. If there’s any repairing to do, Mom is the one who needs to do it. Not me.”

  Barnabas winced when the guest chair’s feet left four scrapes on the polished wooden floor. Maybe he should get a rug for that spot. “I’d hoped our conversations over this last year had helped you to move forward in that regard.”

  Nickie began to pace, clenching and unclenching her fists as a way to deal with the unexpected surge of emotion. “It’s…it’s not something that can be talked out.”

  Barnabas nodded in understanding. “Does this mean that you are refusing the assignment? You didn’t get to the end of the brief yet.”

  Nickie stopped and turned to face Barnabas with her hands on her hips. “I’ll finish reading it when I get back to the Granddaughter. I’ll take the assignment. I won’t turn down my duty.” She looked her uncle in the eyes, her jaw set in that unmovable way that marked her as a Grimes. “But I’m not speaking to that woman. If she wanted anything to do with me, maybe she should have paid attention sometime during my childhood.”

  Barnabas shrugged. “Your decision.” He hesitated a moment, unusual for him. “I, um, took the liberty of having your ship refitted for the purpose.”

  Nickie narrowed her eyes. “You did what? Too far! That’s my ship!” She turned on her heel and stormed out of the office, making sure to slam the door extra hard.

  The sound the stenciled glass made as it shattered was music to Nickie’s angry soul. She laughed, calling back as she headed for the elevator, “Hey, Uncle B. Our doors match.”

  Meredith tsked. You know you’ll have to pay for that.

  Nickie’s lip curled upward. Would you look at that? I just ran out of fucks to give.

  High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Aboard the Penitent Granddaughter

  Nickie managed to hold her shit together until she was safely on the ship. Then she let her frustration loose, kicking over a box she passed as she stormed down the corridor. Dammit, Meredith! Why does he always fucking do this to me?

  What is “this?” Meredith inquired carefully. The spikes in certain areas of Nickie’s neurochemistry were more than concerning. Can you explain?

  You know! Nickie exclaimed. This! Just as I start to feel like I’ve got solid ground under my feet, something like this happens, and I’m back to not knowing where the fuck I stand.

  Meredith remained silent, doing what she could to ease the stress on Nickie’s brain while she raged incoherently inside her mind.

  I don’t want to work with the Federation. I sure as hell don’t want to see my mother.

  Meredith tried to soothe Nickie’s anger, but her tantrum continued all the way down
the corridor to the elevator by the mess. Perhaps this is not such a bad thing, Nickie. Maybe it is time to reconnect with your family.

  Nickie growled, startling Bradley and Lefty as the two house bots emerged from the mess. Keep your traitor thoughts to yourself. I’m not speaking to her.

  The house bots just as quickly ducked back into the mess, emitting high-pitched noises that could only be interpreted as alarm.

  Nickie ignored them. She headed for the bridge, seeking the familiar comfort of her captain’s chair. She found the bridge empty and dropped into her chair, putting her feet up on the worn spot on the console with a frustrated sigh. I suppose we’re at least getting to help out in the war. I was getting so sick of running around High Tortuga after greedy assholes who get their kicks by turning a quick profit off those who can afford it least.

  Keen arrived, disrupting Nickie before she had a chance to get any real brooding done. “Hey, boss. I hear we’re heading out again already. What’s the assignment?”

  Nickie turned her chair to face Keen. “I haven’t read it all yet. Looks like logistics.” She frowned. “It probably isn’t that bad. Where are the others? I only want to go through this once.”

  Keen checked the crew off on his fingers as he gave her a rundown. “Adelaide and Durq will be back from requisitions any time now. Grim sent them over with a huge list. You know how he gets about his galley stocks. He’s in Stores now, doing inventory.”

  Nickie swiveled her chair slightly without removing her feet from the spot on the console. “In that case, I may as well tell you the gist of it. We’re going undercover as traders.”

  Keen took the chair beside Nickie so she could stop sitting at that awkward angle to see him. “That doesn’t sound too difficult? We’ve done a few undercover jobs.”

  Nickie grunted. “Yeah, well. None of those assignments took us to the Federation.”

  Keen grimaced. “Oh. I see. I get why you’re unhappy. How do you feel about going back there?”