Endgame (10 page)

“Is Vel there?” I ask, leaning over Constance toward the mic.

“He is. I’ll put him on.”

Thank Mary.

“Something wrong, Sirantha?” I’d be asleep at the moment if shit hadn’t gone sideways, so it’s a fair question.

I summarize, then add, “Meet me at the shuttle in five minutes.”

“Less, if I can.” He cuts the comm connection.

“Hold the fort,” I tell Constance. Then I sprint for the hangar.

If Loras and Zeeka wake before I return, she’ll fill them in. This is a mission that doesn’t require numbers. Vel might be able to handle it alone since he’s both a pilot and a badass former bounty hunter, but there’s no way I’m delegating this task. I won’t rest until we’re back at base, human cargo in tow.

I’m out of breath when I arrive. The shuttle door’s ajar, waiting for me to board; Vel’s already in the pilot chair. I clamber in and hit the button to seal the cabin. That much I can do, though I’m useless otherwise…unless he needs a gunner. Mary, I hope we don’t. This needs to be a silent run.

“Do you think they’ve connected me to the bombing yet?”

“Unlikely. With systems crippled, it will take them a couple of days to narrow down possible culprits manually,” he answers, checking the instrument panel.

“Even with a VA’s help?” Though true AIs are prohibited, due to humanity’s fear of machines running amok and enslaving them, virtual assistants are popular, having more limited programming and protocols. They’re often used for tasks too monotonous for people to tolerate, like sorting endless registries of names and looking for matches. “I’m a natural suspect after the way I harassed Legate Flavius—”

“But
my
name was not used in any of your motions,” he reminds me. “And I purchased the house.”

“But you’re a known associate of mine.”

“True enough. But as long as we slide in and out, there should be no complications.”

“Should be,” I mutter, strapping in.

He completes his check, and I take a deep, worried breath. The danger comes when we open the outer door that seals any sign of our facility from the outside world. There’s always risk, and we’ve tried to minimize it by coming and going during the night. Fortunately, it’s still dark, and the Imperial forces should still be working on rescue and recovery, not hunting down those responsible yet. Not scanning for unusual energy emission on the surface in a region where there’s nothing at all.

“Try not to fret, Sirantha. We will get them out safely.”

“The timing could’ve been worse for a rescue,” I mumble.

Vel nods as he maneuvers the shuttle out through the tunnel. At first we hit the wind and drop; despite my anxiety, my pulse leaps. I
love
to fly, even within the atmosphere. The thrusters burn as he throttles up, yielding enough altitude to clear the mountains ahead. I hope the Imperials won’t be watching the sky or monitoring air traffic too closely right now.

For safety’s sake, he should be running lights so we don’t collide with another craft. Instead, Vel relies on the external sensors, and we’ll quietly avoid anything we see up here. The base is remote, so there’s nothing in the sky tonight anyway. I mutter my thanks for that as he closes the distance to the house.

“How mad do you think March is?” I ask quietly.

He angles me a look of amusement, punctuated by the movement of his mandible. Great, Vel thinks this is funny.
“Let me sum up: He is stranded with his young nephew, whom he would do anything to protect, on a world in which a war is brewing, and they have no means of escape, no way of returning to the safe, comfortable life they have built.”

“That’s what I figured.”

“But no matter how furious he is, he would never lay a hand on you, as long as he is in his right mind.”

It goes without saying that Vel won’t let that happen again, not after Ithiss-Tor. He blames himself, I think, for the marks that required his tattoo around my throat, color to hide the bruises from when March tried to kill me. That will never happen again, and I shiver a little at the thought of the two males I love coming to blows. I won’t let them hurt each other in my name.

“He’ll be mad when we find them, but not crazy.” I try a smile, but Vel is somber, a little troubled, I think.

I settle back and wait because there’s nothing else I can do just now.

Imperial Public Service Announcement

It is official. By the time order had been restored in Jineba, the edict came down from the Conglomerate. They have locked down interstellar travel until local affairs stabilize. The Nicuan Empire assures you that our centurions are the best trained soldiers in the civilized world. They will not rest until the culprits responsible for these egregious terrorist acts have been apprehended. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect to have the criminals in custody soon.

In the meantime, you will notice some changes to security procedures in urban areas. This is for your safety and protection. Loyal citizens have nothing to fear from these measures. We will be increasing drone security in outlying areas, and there will be a curfew implemented in all urban zones. We urge caution to anyone traveling outside these safe zones as we cannot guarantee your security in the provinces. At this time, patrols have been assigned to those areas most densely settled by Nicuan citizens.

In conclusion, respect the curfew. Be vigilant and report any violation of new security laws to the legate in charge of your borough. Remember, safety is everyone’s business.

[End PSA]

The shuttle has good vertical maneuvering capability, so
Vel puts us down within a stone’s throw of the house. For obvious reasons, we can’t be here long. Every second increases the chances that someone will notice readings out of place even though this property is isolated. I vault out, check my weapons, and follow Vel.

I’m nervous.

Logically, I know Vel’s right; the Imperials shouldn’t have tracked me to this property purchase yet. Which means this isn’t a trap. March and Sasha truly need our help.

On approach, the windows are dark. They could be asleep; it’s been a while since they bounced the message. That doesn’t seem like March, though. I bet he’s standing guard while Sasha rests. If I know him, he’s looking for me, watching the sky.

Vel checks the perimeter. “It looks clean.”

“Then let’s go in after them.”

“In and out,” he agrees.

The codes haven’t changed; that’s a good thing. With my thumbprint, a retinal scan, and the pass code, I get us into the house. Vel could crack it if March reprogrammed the system
for greater safety, but it might cost time we need to make our escape. Hopefully not. Vel and I split up, and I creep through the dark house toward the bedrooms.

Movement catches my eye, but I can’t nail down where the shadow came from. Then March touches my mind tentatively.
Jax?
His thoughts echo with exhaustion, anger, and fear, though not for himself. I skim his mind, seeing just how long he’s been awake.

But at least they’re here. Safe. Relief surges through me in a tidal flood. Until this moment, I didn’t realize how worried I was that Imperial forces had snatched them up to be used as leverage against us, crippling the resistance before we get off the ground. While they might not connect Vel immediately, I’m high-profile. ONN has kept an eye on my involvement in case things got interesting…as they tend to when I’m around. And everyone knows about March and me. So while he’s here, he’s a target.

Get Sasha and meet me at the back doors,
I tell him.

On my way.
He mutes his emotions, holding explanations for a more appropriate time. I glimpse a number of things in his head, but it’s not clear. I lack March’s aptitude for skimming information quickly and efficiently.

I tap the comm to advise Vel, “I found them. They’re on the way down.” Then I spin, retracing my steps.

“Copy that. I will be waiting in the shuttle.”

“Don’t start it up until we arrive.”

The house seems spooky, with all the electronics shut down; it’s so quiet I hear each whisper of movement. At first just noise, then they become shadows, then shapes. Sasha stumbles, and I reach out for his shoulder. To my surprise, he doesn’t shrug away. Maybe he’s just tired and disoriented.

“Glad you’re safe,” I whisper to them both.

“We’ll talk later,” March says.

Sasha mumbles and follows me to the shuttle. I signal Vel as we approach, and the rumble of the thrusters sets the greenery on fire in the field behind. That’ll leave a huge clue, assuming the Imperials ever find this place. I wonder if we should burn it all.

Sadly, I’m not kidding.

I help Sasha into the back of the shuttle, and March follows. Then I swing into the seat beside Vel.

“Do you think we need to torch the place?” I ask.

Vel checks readings, whether other craft show on the sensors. “That would draw more attention, I think. Most of their attention is well occupied to the south.”

“Is there anything left in the house that could help them find you?” March asks.

“We scrubbed it thoroughly, wiped all the data.”

“If it was my op, I’d blow the place. With luck, they associate it with the other strikes and consider Vel a victim, not a culprit.”

I glance at Vel. “What do you think?”

“A bold plan, not without risks. Do you feel up to a firefight, Sirantha?”

I nod, glancing back at March in inquiry. “Are you sure you want us doing that with Sasha on board?”

“I don’t want to be here at all,” he mutters.

“It’s not Jax’s fault. Don’t take it out on her for what I did.”

I blink, certain I can’t have heard the kid right. “What’d you do?”

“Uhm.” In the dim glow from the instrument panel, Sasha looks chagrined. “Well, maybe I crushed some engine parts so our ship couldn’t take off.”

“Mother Mary. Why?”

“Because he wants to join the resistance,” March snaps. “It looks glamorous when you’re twelve.”

“You wanted to stay, too, Dad. So I made it work out for both of us.”

Yeah, I’m not getting in the middle of this for a billion credits. I listen to them argue while Vel takes us up.

Eventually, March swallows his anger and answers the question I’ve almost forgotten I asked. “Weapons hot, Jax. I trust you.”

With his nephew’s life—that’s what he’s saying. No pressure. I bring the guns online and target the house. I hate living dirtside, but this is the first time I’ve blown up a building over it. That thought is almost enough to make me laugh, despite the sitch.

Once he reaches sufficient altitude for us not to be caught in the shock wave, Vel gives the go-ahead, and I tap the panel. Beams of light arc toward the structure; impact offers both demolition and fire. I shoot several more times to make sure the destruction’s catastrophic. Since it’s not raining, the house should smolder until there’s nothing left but wreckage.

“Sorry,” I murmur to Vel.

“I have indemnity.”

I cut him a look, but he’s amused, not irritated. Which is excellent. I can only deal with one angry male at a time. It’s a good rule of thumb.

“That was
epic
,” Sasha says, watching the destruction down below.

March quiets him, but I’m glad the kid’s not scared. If he was as timid as the turn before, I’d be swimming in guilt right now.

“Incoming.” Vel wheels the shuttle.

“How many?” I ask.

“Six, fifty klicks out.”

I ponder. “Are we fast enough to outrun them?”

“Aw,” Sasha objects. “Blow them out of the sky!”

A few more comments like that, and I’ll start liking this kid. I flash him a smile while Vel checks the intercept course. March’s tension radiates until I feel it like a hot spot on the nape of my neck.

How mad are you?
It’s a test to see if he’s still in my head.

Very. But not at you. I should’ve seen this coming.
He’s there, wrestling with frustration.
This is ten kinds of fragged up.

I know you’re scared for Sasha, but we’ll keep him safe until we figure out a way—

There’s not going to
be
a way, Jax. We’re stuck for the duration.

Well, yeah. March told us how to wreak havoc in those strategy sessions. According to his advice, we chose our targets and bombed them simultaneously. We just didn’t think he’d still be on world when the foolproof plan when into effect.
Oops.

“Projected intercept in four minutes,” Vel replies after he finishes analyzing the drone trajectory. “So no.”

“Then let’s hold here. I don’t want them any closer to the base.”

Moments pass in tense silence, then the six drones appear on my screen. I miss the gun-pit interface. I’m not as adept on the console, but I’ll get better. I have to. I put the pressure from my mind. I can’t think about how much is riding on me right now. But Mother Mary of Anabolic Grace, I’ve never fought with a
kid
on board.

Stop it. You can do this,
I tell myself.
It’s only a couple more than you took before.

Relax,
March says silently.
I trust you.

His faith permits me to shoot the first one clean.
Five to go.

The drones scramble, swinging up and away. I wish the shuttle had automated defenses. Next time, maybe I’ll take Constance and download her into the nav panel. I bet she can shoot faster. More accurately, too. Vel swings us around, but he’s not as experienced as March. We take a hit in the maneuver, glancing across the bow. The impact rattles us.

The shuttle doesn’t have shields. Its armor will take a few more hits before we’re crippled. Time’s ticking while I fumble locking on the target. It’s harder with March and Sasha aboard; the stakes are higher, and I feel like my hands are all thumbs. My head fills with fear that the shuttle will go down here, in the middle of nowhere, and we’ll be stranded.