IGO: Sudden Snow (2 page)

“Yes, sir,” Darryl said with the same practiced response of those who’d said the same thing all the time. “Sending him through.”

“Bastards are always barking at us,” Kovacs remarked from his new position behind Darryl. “How come we’re looking to babysit a scientist? Why can’t Commander Ashe’s team get it done? Aren’t they Alpha team, the investigation branch of
The Discovery
?”

“I don’t know about Alpha team’s mission or workload. We’re closer anyway,” Darryl said breezily. “It’s not up to us to dish out assignments, you know?”

“Alpha means first, right?” Lars asked, sarcasm turning his voice hard.

At this point the ’shoe’s deck turbo lift opened and out stomped Commander Taylor. His eyes were amazingly clear, but weariness hovered around his mouth and shoulders. He reminded Darryl of a pair of well-worn boots. Taylor, older than Darryl by fifteen years, had kind eyes, watery blue, and a weathered smile that projected leadership and strength.

“Get us up and over to the Io Outpost,” he said, with a fast glance at Darryl. “They have one of our scientists in custody. Let’s get her and get back to
The Discovery
before Captain Reyes is done passing out the leave passes.”

“Yes, sir!” Darryl shot up from the commander’s chair, and hurried to the security station.

Rojas stepped over to navigations, sitting down in the chair parallel to Lars.

Kovacs continued to monitor the communications coming in and out of the space shuttle. While Darryl searched for anything nasty out in the waiting expanse of space, he suppressed the anxious itching up his spine. His stomach lunged as Lars took them up from the soup to the clearing brilliant glitter of space.

“We’re going to house her here, sir?” asked Lars in a hushed squeakiness. “I mean, we’re a research vessel, not an investigative extension.”

Commander Taylor’s blank face showed nothing. The barest nod confirmed Lars’ comments.

“Set our course and dock in Bank 542, Section 12,” Commander Taylor said, but nothing in his voice or face gave a hint to his thoughts. The commander didn’t flinch as they transitioned from the atmosphere and out into space. He got up as if unable to remain seated and walked forward between Lars and Rojas. Staring out at the frontal visual screen, he remained stone-faced and silent.

Not his usual self. Something’s up. I’ve been with him for over six years’ worth of missions. Something’s eating at him. He doesn’t like this and neither do I
.

“Aye, Commander,” Lars said, not turning around, but his hands piloted the space shuttle as if on their own accord. “Can I ask you a question?”

Commander Taylor’s blond hair had been harnessed into a tight ponytail and new growth had sprouted like a fungus over his jaw line. “Question? You’ve always got questions, Lars. Go ahead.”

“About the scientist, sir,” Lars said, suddenly unsure of himself. “Isn’t it a lot to send us for just one person’s return? They’ve never done this before when one of the soldiers are in trouble. Couldn’t she take a transport vessel off to Europa and we pick her up there?”

Commander Taylor turned to face him fully. He easily stood a foot taller than Lars, but his boots set the balance. Lars was lean and athletic, a former soccer player for the IGO team. Nevertheless, the commander outweighed him by fifty pounds. “It is, pilot,
different
.”

“Yes, sir.” Lars abandoned his questions for the moment.

Darryl scanned the security computer data, but none of it produced any clear clues as to what was going on with the scientist. He hadn’t even been given a name. In excellent operating condition, the ship sailed on without disruption or threat. Good.

Before long the docking clamps jolted the shuttle, forcing everyone to stumble a bit, but soon they steadied, anchored to the Io outpost. Darryl prepared to assume command as Commander Taylor and the junior commander, Lee, would be going aboard to collect the scientist. They handled all diplomatic missions.

“Snow, come with me. The rest of you stay put,” Commander Taylor said as he headed to the lift. He pressed his earpiece and spoke softly before ending the conversation with a nod. His blue eyes met Darryl’s and he said, “JC Lee, report to the bridge.”

Startled, Darryl paused, his hands frozen over the console.

Commander Taylor nodded so slightly, Darryl grinned in spite of himself. He set the shuttle’s security to high before joining his commander. Rojas returned to his former post at once.

As the lift doors hushed closed behind them, Commander Taylor looked over at him and said, “Shocked, Snow? You shouldn’t be. Listen, I want you to take over this little outing. Go in and get the scientist, bring her back.”

Something in his words snagged Darryl’s attention and he frowned. “Sir?”

“Listen, due to the classified nature of this mission, I can’t tell you the fine details, but…” He paused and checked the lift’s zipping numbers as they sank lower into the belly of the spacecraft. “But, I want you to deal with the scientist. You’ve been through a lot in your rather short lifespan, and your presence may be of comfort to our new guest. You’re a great officer, Darryl. I have every confidence you’ll do fine.”

Darryl snorted and caught himself. “Sorry, sir.”

“You have great leadership abilities, and though I don’t have an official third in command, you’re it,” Commander Taylor said, smiling at him. He clapped Darryl on the back and kept grinning at him.

“Thank you, sir,” Darryl said, throat full of emotion.

Commander Taylor had never spoken to him like this and he pondered the purpose of the commander being so forthcoming. Not that he didn’t trust his senior officer; he did.

Before Darryl could inquire further, the lift’s doors opened upon the cargo area in the belly of
The Inquiry
. Above them the commons area which held the cafeteria and crew entertainment waited for occupation.

Darryl stepped out, but Commander Taylor remained. “Put her in one of the vacant quarters, report to me at once, and then get some shut eye.”

“Yes, sir,” Darryl said, a flood of confidence making him taller.

With Commander Taylor’s words humming in his ears, Darryl marched through the cargo bay and approached the exit doors without hesitation. He’d be in and out in mere minutes. And although Commander Taylor hadn’t said as much, his gut burned with suspicion. Stealth had been one of Darryl’s strong suits on Alpha team and it was no doubt one of the reasons he’d been handpicked to snag the scientist.

The cargo doors opened to reveal an unsmiling and scowling outpost officer. “Commander Taylor,” the outtie said briskly, face tight. “I’m Outpost Officer Higgins. We have your scientist, but we must move her quickly.”

Having a name to put with the rough and barking voice from earlier didn’t make Darryl like him better. He watched as Higgins’ beady black eyes gave him the once over, observing him with thinly veiled trepidation.

“I’m not Commander Taylor,” Darryl said. “I’m an envoy sent to escort her.”

“That isn’t what I agreed to with the IGO,” Higgins snapped. “I was just expecting Taylor. Damn visuals aren’t as good here.”

“I’m not familiar with those terms. You can check with Commander Taylor. I’m Sergeant…”

“I don’t want your name!” Higgins growled, searching frantically behind him. “Shut up.”

Darryl chuckled at the rudeness. Higgins’ venom didn’t bother him, because he knew the outtie was offended that Commander Taylor had sent an underling to do this job.

He pinned his eyes back to Darryl’s. “Follow me.”

What in the name of Zeus is going on here?
Higgins packed enough nerves to set off a stroke. Darryl scanned the docking bay. Empty. Vacant. No civilian transports. No outpost shuttlepods. Nothing.
Where is everyone
?

“You can observe the dock on your next vacation to Io. Let’s go,” Officer Higgins snapped and hurried through the doors and into the outpost’s inner corridors.

Climbing through the catacombs of hallways, Darryl’s mind whirled. They’d come to pick up a stranded scientist, so why the secrecy? Sure, Io housed the IGO’s Research and Development section, but this?

In minutes, they stopped at the metallic doors with the words “Collection” in neon yellow above them. Officer Higgins halted with military precision that would be the envy of any IGO soldier. Higgins turned to Darryl with barely contained disgust.

Yeah, the feeling’s mutual, pal
.

“I can lose my post because of this,” he said so softly, Darryl leaned in to make sure he heard it. “I -- I hope you tell…”

“Of course,” Darryl agreed with professionalism. “Your contribution will be noted and included in my report to Commander Taylor. Proceed. Time is of the essence as you are well aware.”

“Yes.”

Higgins pressed his palm against the scanner, leaning in simultaneously for the retina scan. The doors slid open and they rushed in. Higgins bypassed the offices and continued to the rear, but that area, too, sat vacant and empty -- just like the dock.

“Where is everyone?” Darryl asked. “It’s morning, right?”

Higgins sighed in fervent annoyance. “It’s nearly four a.m. here. They’re asleep, drunk, or knee-deep in their respective research. This isn’t like Europa Outpost or even the Moon’s. We’re a research facility, not an entertainment spot.”

They continued on through two more areas that looked identical to the first one before they reached a bank of cages. A dozen or more force field reinforced cells stretched out in two opposite directions. Dead on center in a square, blank-walled cube, seated on a sliver of azure foam attached to the wall, was a woman.

Darryl stopped in his tracks.
That’s her? She’s the scientist
?

As the noise of their approach reached the woman, she got to her feet and crossed her arms. Almond-shaped honey-brown eyes burned with what must’ve been fury, and her thick lips resembled a block of annoyance as if she were afraid to open them. Dressed in a gray ribbed turtleneck, jeans and black IGO issued combat/space boots, the woman looked nothing like a scientist, but more like a cargo loader.

Darryl couldn’t help but take her in. The jeans skimmed voluptuous curves, and fed into a tapered waist with grace. As if taking cue from the jeans, the turtleneck also slipped over full breasts and long, slender arms. Smooth dark ebony skin peered out and captured the harsh lights’ illumination with flawless skill.

She was stunning.

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, the woman shouted, “What now, Officer Higgins? I demand to be treated according to the Intergalactic Treaty of 2380.”

Higgins huffed, but held his tongue. Sweeping his hand in Darryl’s direction, he gave a mock bow and stepped back from the front of the cube.

It’s all me, huh, Higgins
?

Darryl stepped forward, forcing himself to be a soothing presence. He seemed to even coax Higgins down to a normal level. She’d done exactly as trained by invoking the treaty.

“I’m Sergeant Snow,” he said. “I’m here on orders to take possession of your research and your person at this time. Please calm yourself.”

She hesitated, her lips now a slash of doubt. “What is the current safe code?” she asked.

Darryl smiled. Smart. The safety code had been given to each IGO soldier, but it rotated every six months. They’d been unable to maintain constant contact with
The Discovery
since receiving the orders to get to the Io Outpost. So the code might be stale. Still all security codes in hostage situations were the same -- until the IGO changed them again. He had to try.

“The security code is Hera 2309841.”

“Yes, okay,” she said, visibly relaxing. “ID?”

He showed her his wrist, where beneath the skin rested the IGO brand.

“Great,” Higgins said with sarcasm as heavy as molasses. “Open cell 1209, authorization HFPNT 2400. This is IGO Doctor Cricket Moore.”

Dr. Moore.

The force field vanished, and Dr. Moore marched out with her backpack, searching the place as if committing it to memory before stalking to the exit. Once she crossed through the silver-toned doors and out into the outpost’s hallway, she sighed. With a stern expression, she turned back to Darryl and said, “Please, can we go?”

“This way to the docking bay,” Darryl said almost as a reflex. He’d been taking orders for most of his life, so he’d already taken a step before he realized he’d done it. Commander Taylor had instructed him to bring her to the spacecraft, not the other way around. He was in charge, and he wasn’t going to let her lead the way.

But once his eyes fell on the gentle sway of her round buttocks, his other head took over. Coughing through the lump in his throat, Darryl swore as he made a point of pinning his gaze to the back of her head. Obviously, Dr. Moore knew her way around the outpost. After all, she’d been stationed here for gods knew how long.

With his uniform shrinking below his waist, he adjusted the leg and tried to rid himself of the rather unprofessional thoughts swarming his cranium about the sensual scientist. Did they all look this good? He might consider a transfer to Io. How come none of the scientists on board
The Inquiry
looked as delightful as this one?

It seemed the corridors unraveled in miles upon miles of similar dark, sullen shadows of storefronts, libraries and cafes. But Darryl realized the walk back seemed so long because he couldn’t stop staring at the good doctor’s generous ass, and it troubled him. On
The Inquiry
a handful of women worked alongside him, and none of them stirred his long dormant desires like the surprising
un
-straight-laced woman in front of him.

She came to a halt at the entrance to docking bay 12. With an emerging coolness, she turned to him and said, “Are you going to tell me which ship is yours?”

He’d been so wrapped up in her unrestrained sexuality Darryl had been waiting behind her as if he’d been towed there. Shaking his head, he rubbed his buzzed hair and stepped forward, throwing his shoulders back as he marched ahead. “Of course,” he said more sternly than he’d intended. “We’re on
The Inquiry
.”