Vigilante (20 page)
“Ms. Kedros. Our meeting!”
She barely heard their protests. Suddenly the title for 12.35.15 popped
into her mind:
Hostile Takeover of Command and Control Centers
. She
turned the corner and started running. Slipping the slate into her coverall pocket, she gripped
her ministunner, holding it hidden inside her vest as she ran. She turned another corner and
skidded to a halt, her boots making an obscene sound on the polished surface.
into her mind:
Hostile Takeover of Command and Control Centers
. She
turned the corner and started running. Slipping the slate into her coverall pocket, she gripped
her ministunner, holding it hidden inside her vest as she ran. She turned another corner and
skidded to a halt, her boots making an obscene sound on the polished surface.
Frank stood a few meters away, where the corridor met the pillared hall.
He pointed a stunner at her.
He pointed a stunner at her.
Matt admitted he was squeamish when it came to blood. Raised on
generational hydroponic- or vat-grown food, he didn’t even eat meat. Probing a leg that looked
like hamburger made his stomach churn. Somehow, he pulled out the remaining flechettes. More
importantly, David Ray got through the process and now dozed fitfully.
generational hydroponic- or vat-grown food, he didn’t even eat meat. Probing a leg that looked
like hamburger made his stomach churn. Somehow, he pulled out the remaining flechettes. More
importantly, David Ray got through the process and now dozed fitfully.
Matt now obsessively watched the cam-eye input of the
Pilgrimage III
, interspersed with checking the status of their environmental
systems. He watched the
Father’s Wrath
disconnect and start a burn
with a vector that meant it was heading toward the gas giant Laomedon, Priamos, its moon, and
the Beta Priamos Station.
Pilgrimage III
, interspersed with checking the status of their environmental
systems. He watched the
Father’s Wrath
disconnect and start a burn
with a vector that meant it was heading toward the gas giant Laomedon, Priamos, its moon, and
the Beta Priamos Station.
Did that mean they’d abandoned the
Pilgrimage
? They shouldn’t have enough people on the
Father’s Wrath
to take over the generational ship, plus the Priamos station and
facility. Matt tried a comm check with the
Pilgrimage
, but there
was no answer. In doing so, he woke David Ray.
Pilgrimage
? They shouldn’t have enough people on the
Father’s Wrath
to take over the generational ship, plus the Priamos station and
facility. Matt tried a comm check with the
Pilgrimage
, but there
was no answer. In doing so, he woke David Ray.
“What’s going on?” David Ray sounded a bit groggy.
“I saw their ship leave on a heading for Priamos, so they might have
deserted the
Pilgrimage
.They can’t have brought enough people to
control this entire solar system.”
deserted the
Pilgrimage
.They can’t have brought enough people to
control this entire solar system.”
“Unless they used squirrels.”
Matt looked at him quizzically and David Ray added helpfully,
“Pre-positioned agents hidden in plain sight, waiting to be activated. Like little rodents that
hide underground and undermine structures.”
“Pre-positioned agents hidden in plain sight, waiting to be activated. Like little rodents that
hide underground and undermine structures.”
“I think you mean moles. A squirrel is a small, clever mammal that can
be trained to appraise and steal jewelry.”
be trained to appraise and steal jewelry.”
“Ah. I’m not well versed in pre-Yellowstone Terran fauna.
Moles
, then. If you study tactics used by CAW and the League during the war,
you’ll find the only effective methods for taking a solar system involved moles.”
Moles
, then. If you study tactics used by CAW and the League during the war,
you’ll find the only effective methods for taking a solar system involved moles.”
Matt grimaced. Who, among the people he knew who worked new space, would
support Abram? Were there people he thought of as friends, who were waiting to throw off their
masks and help the isolationists? He felt a creeping feeling of despair and wondered about
Ari’s safety. She was probably all right, since Joyce was with her.
support Abram? Were there people he thought of as friends, who were waiting to throw off their
masks and help the isolationists? He felt a creeping feeling of despair and wondered about
Ari’s safety. She was probably all right, since Joyce was with her.
“What’s happening?” David Ray was looking at the display.
Matt turned around and watched the glints of departing short-range
shuttles from the
Pilgrimage
. There were three coming out of the
upper class C docks. He zoomed in as well as he could with the cam-eyes and tried to track
them.
shuttles from the
Pilgrimage
. There were three coming out of the
upper class C docks. He zoomed in as well as he could with the cam-eyes and tried to track
them.
“They’re heading toward the time buoy. What do they think they’re
doing?” David Ray watched with narrowed eyes. “They can’t destroy or disable it. We powered it
up and it’s anchored, now and forever.”
doing?” David Ray watched with narrowed eyes. “They can’t destroy or disable it. We powered it
up and it’s anchored, now and forever.”
Matt tracked the shuttles by adjusting the module’s cam-eyes, then
turning the module itself with the small stabilization thrusters. They watched in silence for
almost an hour. Matt was the first to answer the riddle.
turning the module itself with the small stabilization thrusters. They watched in silence for
almost an hour. Matt was the first to answer the riddle.
“They’re mining the incoming channels of the buoy,” he said.
Joyce could barely breathe in this Gaia-be-damned
cupboard
. His shoulders pressed against the walls no matter which way he
turned. If the darn thing had been built in a square, he might fit along the diagonal, but
these Builders had problems using ninety-degree angles.
cupboard
. His shoulders pressed against the walls no matter which way he
turned. If the darn thing had been built in a square, he might fit along the diagonal, but
these Builders had problems using ninety-degree angles.
Luckily, there was air exchange around the upper and lower crack of the
door. Joyce shifted his feet and leaned heavily to one side to stretch his back. He watched the
crack of light at the bottom of the door.
door. Joyce shifted his feet and leaned heavily to one side to stretch his back. He watched the
crack of light at the bottom of the door.
Maria had jokingly said to hide in this closet if he thought it
necessary
. When he heard running footfalls outside her office and,
poking his head out, saw men with flechette weapons turning the corner at the end of the hall,
he thought the need for concealment might be
necessary
.
necessary
. When he heard running footfalls outside her office and,
poking his head out, saw men with flechette weapons turning the corner at the end of the hall,
he thought the need for concealment might be
necessary
.
He heard someone step stealthily into Maria’s office and he tensed,
wishing he had any weapon beyond his bare hands. They’d served him before, so he got ready to
launch himself when the closet door opened.
wishing he had any weapon beyond his bare hands. They’d served him before, so he got ready to
launch himself when the closet door opened.
“It’s me.”
The whisper was so soft, he might have imagined it. He saw the light at
the bottom crack soften and fade away. Someone was turning down the lights in the office. The
door in front of him opened slowly and he tightened his fists, only relaxing when he saw
Maria’s shape.
the bottom crack soften and fade away. Someone was turning down the lights in the office. The
door in front of him opened slowly and he tightened his fists, only relaxing when he saw
Maria’s shape.
She brought her lips close to his ear and breathed, “We have a
problem.”
problem.”
No shit
.
.
CHAPTER 11
Physical torture will get any confession you seek, so it’s
ineffective. Torture drug regimens, refined by TEBI during years of warfare, are better. Why
not let the subjects determine their worst fears? When combined with the ability to convince
subjects that they’re speaking with their captor or their savior, TEBI moved torture into the
galactic age. If dosages aren’t tightly monitored, however, brain damage can occur.
Difficulties of Modern-Day Torture
,
Zacharias Milano, 2099.363.11.00 UT, indexed by
Heraclitus 23
under
Conflict Imperative
“F
rank.” Ariane tried to keep her voice low
and calm. “What are you doing?”
rank.” Ariane tried to keep her voice low
and calm. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry, Ms. Kedros, but you can’t be running around until they decide
what to do with you.”
what to do with you.”
“Who are ‘they’? Whom are you mixed up with, Frank?” She stepped closer,
her hand inside her jacket and still gripping her ministunner. The problem with stunners was
estimating effective range; Frank’s stunner had more power and better range. A bigger problem
was that his was already out and pointed. If fired from inside her pocket, the ministunner
would more likely stun
her
than anyone else.
her hand inside her jacket and still gripping her ministunner. The problem with stunners was
estimating effective range; Frank’s stunner had more power and better range. A bigger problem
was that his was already out and pointed. If fired from inside her pocket, the ministunner
would more likely stun
her
than anyone else.
“Don’t make me do this, Ms. Kedros.” His jaw was tight and his mouth
extended in stubborn lines.
extended in stubborn lines.
She’d been stunned before: The feeling was even worse than the
uncontrollable, violent seizure, coupled with the possible loss of bladder and bowel control.
These effects usually kept any but the most desperate—
or
foolish
—from going through it again. She kept moving closer, her steps slow and
small.
uncontrollable, violent seizure, coupled with the possible loss of bladder and bowel control.
These effects usually kept any but the most desperate—
or
foolish
—from going through it again. She kept moving closer, her steps slow and
small.
“What are ‘they’ doing on-station, Frank? You’re not a destructive
person. Or an extortionist or terrorist.” She hadn’t meant the last word seriously, but his
eyes widened.
person. Or an extortionist or terrorist.” She hadn’t meant the last word seriously, but his
eyes widened.
“It’ll be a better life without CAW or the League interfering with our
lives. You’ll see.”
lives. You’ll see.”
Suddenly, a Terran woman emerged from the dark hall behind Frank and
stumbled to her knee right beside him. Frank turned to look and Ariane started to pull her
ministunner—she froze.
stumbled to her knee right beside him. Frank turned to look and Ariane started to pull her
ministunner—she froze.
Behind the Terran woman stood the angry young man from the space
elevator and he held a flechette pistol. There was no mistaking the bulbous shape of the
chamber needed for the flechette cartridges. More importantly, there was now an innocent
bystander between Ariane and the armed men.
elevator and he held a flechette pistol. There was no mistaking the bulbous shape of the
chamber needed for the flechette cartridges. More importantly, there was now an innocent
bystander between Ariane and the armed men.
“Turn around and face me. Put your hands up,” angry-young-man said.
Presumably, this last order was for both women.
Presumably, this last order was for both women.
Ariane and the Terran woman raised their hands.
“Frank, search that one.” The flechette pistol jerked at Ariane. “Stop!
Don’t
step between me and them, you idiot.”
Don’t
step between me and them, you idiot.”
Frank stepped sideways and walked against the wall. He shuffled over to
Ariane and holstered his stunner. She tried to catch his eye, making this as uncomfortable as
possible for him, but he looked down at his feet until he was behind her. His hands, fumbling
and inexpert, found the ministunner. Angry-young-man deemed the knife and flares dangerous, and
Frank took them. On the plus side, they let her keep the light sources and emergency oxygen
mask.
Ariane and holstered his stunner. She tried to catch his eye, making this as uncomfortable as
possible for him, but he looked down at his feet until he was behind her. His hands, fumbling
and inexpert, found the ministunner. Angry-young-man deemed the knife and flares dangerous, and
Frank took them. On the plus side, they let her keep the light sources and emergency oxygen
mask.
As Frank walked back, the young Terran woman beside Ariane whispered in
accusation, “You had a
stunner
?”
accusation, “You had a
stunner
?”
Ariane answered calmly, “But
they
have
flechette weapons.”
they
have
flechette weapons.”
“Yeah, Ms. Fancy Doctorate,
she
was smart.
She probably saved your life.” Angry-young-man grinned with a nasty and meaningful
expression.
she
was smart.
She probably saved your life.” Angry-young-man grinned with a nasty and meaningful
expression.
“You’d kill us?” The Terran woman’s face paled.
Ariane looked again at Frank, who wouldn’t meet her gaze. In contrast to
angry-young-man, Frank acknowledged his duplicity. He supported whoever was behind this action,
but he was obviously ashamed of his deception.
angry-young-man, Frank acknowledged his duplicity. He supported whoever was behind this action,
but he was obviously ashamed of his deception.
The young man, who wasn’t Terran himself, ignored the woman’s question.
“We’ll have to confine them,” he said.
“We’ll have to confine them,” he said.
Ariane and the young woman were marched back down the corridor. They
passed the conference room that would have held her contractor meeting, but now a man with a
stunner stood at the door. They went past this room and around another gentle thirty-degree
turn, where they were directed through another tall door.
passed the conference room that would have held her contractor meeting, but now a man with a
stunner stood at the door. They went past this room and around another gentle thirty-degree
turn, where they were directed through another tall door.
This opened into a strangely disconcerting triangular room. A wide ledge
ran along two walls, and a dividing wall jutted from the remaining wall opposite the door. The
ledge might have been a bench, although it was higher than comfortable human seating. Two women
were sitting on the ledge; one was Colonel Dokos.
ran along two walls, and a dividing wall jutted from the remaining wall opposite the door. The
ledge might have been a bench, although it was higher than comfortable human seating. Two women
were sitting on the ledge; one was Colonel Dokos.
“Welcome to what I think is the women’s holding cell,” Dokos said after
the door was closed.
the door was closed.
“Are we being monitored?” Ariane looked about the room. She walked past
the divider and raised her eyebrows at the sunken square structure hidden from the doorway.
Whatever its function had been for the Builders was irrelevant and, more important, there was
no one else in the room.
the divider and raised her eyebrows at the sunken square structure hidden from the doorway.
Whatever its function had been for the Builders was irrelevant and, more important, there was
no one else in the room.
“Unlikely. We had to mount our operating nodes on our own structures,
because this stuff is so slick and nonporous that our adhesives didn’t work. I don’t think you
could mount a recording pip without it being seen.” Colonel Dokos absently stroked the wall she
leaned against.
because this stuff is so slick and nonporous that our adhesives didn’t work. I don’t think you
could mount a recording pip without it being seen.” Colonel Dokos absently stroked the wall she
leaned against.
Ariane searched all the surfaces anyway, but she found nothing. Once she
was satisfied, it was time to talk. The woman sitting beside Dokos was younger, but still
nearing middle age. Her name was Varra Enid and she was a data analyst for an Autonomist
subcontractor to Taethis Exploration. The only Terran had arrived with Ariane, and she turned
out to be the vaunted Dr. Myrna Fox Lowry, the foremost astrophysicist from Mars. Regrettably,
they didn’t need astrophysicists or data analysts. Ariane and Colonel Dokos exchanged a
glance.
was satisfied, it was time to talk. The woman sitting beside Dokos was younger, but still
nearing middle age. Her name was Varra Enid and she was a data analyst for an Autonomist
subcontractor to Taethis Exploration. The only Terran had arrived with Ariane, and she turned
out to be the vaunted Dr. Myrna Fox Lowry, the foremost astrophysicist from Mars. Regrettably,
they didn’t need astrophysicists or data analysts. Ariane and Colonel Dokos exchanged a
glance.
“Well,” Dokos said, “first we need to know how many hostiles we’re
dealing with.”
dealing with.”
That proved to be difficult. All their captors were workers who had come
from the station above. However, Dokos had heard her captor talking to someone who mentioned an
incoming ship. While Ariane was comforted that no hostiles were planted within the “cleared”
R&D contractors, how many were now on Beta Priamos and the surface of Priamos? She wondered
what had happened to Joyce.
from the station above. However, Dokos had heard her captor talking to someone who mentioned an
incoming ship. While Ariane was comforted that no hostiles were planted within the “cleared”
R&D contractors, how many were now on Beta Priamos and the surface of Priamos? She wondered
what had happened to Joyce.
The door to the room opened, ending their discussion. Two Terran women
entered, the first reluctantly stepping in while their captors pushed in the second.
entered, the first reluctantly stepping in while their captors pushed in the second.
“Where did you take my son?” the second woman asked shrilly, tossing her
burgundy hair. She started back toward her captors and stopped when she was menaced with a
flechette pistol.
burgundy hair. She started back toward her captors and stopped when she was menaced with a
flechette pistol.
Ariane stood up and folded her arms as she watched. The door closed and
the second Terran woman changed, instantly becoming cold efficiency. When she turned around,
she didn’t acknowledge Ariane, even though they’d met, briefly, when she’d beaten Ariane and
left her lying on the station deck.
the second Terran woman changed, instantly becoming cold efficiency. When she turned around,
she didn’t acknowledge Ariane, even though they’d met, briefly, when she’d beaten Ariane and
left her lying on the station deck.
“Laying mines in buoy channels is against the Phaistos Protocols,” David
Ray said.
Ray said.
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