Vigilante (23 page)
“I—” Garnet’s eyes became both chilly and perplexed. She glanced at
Ariane, then stumbled to the bench and sat down. “I’m sorry, Ms. Kedros.”
Ariane, then stumbled to the bench and sat down. “I’m sorry, Ms. Kedros.”
Sorry? Even Sabina looked puzzled by Garnet’s reaction. Ariane went to
the divider wall and leaned against it. This put her close to the middle of the triangular
room, where she could watch everyone. Garnet composed herself, but remained withdrawn.
She didn’t know who I was until Sabina told her
.
the divider wall and leaned against it. This put her close to the middle of the triangular
room, where she could watch everyone. Garnet composed herself, but remained withdrawn.
She didn’t know who I was until Sabina told her
.
Colonel Dokos watched this exchange, but apparently chose to ignore
everything but the present issue. “You’re wrong in expecting rescue, Sabina. We might have to
assume the worst case: Someone has taken over this solar system, probably while the buoy has
been locked down by the generational ship.”
everything but the present issue. “You’re wrong in expecting rescue, Sabina. We might have to
assume the worst case: Someone has taken over this solar system, probably while the buoy has
been locked down by the generational ship.”
“What about the Minoans? They’re not going to like this rampant
lawlessness.” Dr. Lowry sounded hopeful.
lawlessness.” Dr. Lowry sounded hopeful.
“They’d have to use a locked-down buoy,” Ariane said. “We need to be our
own law and fend off these criminals with our own hands.”
own law and fend off these criminals with our own hands.”
“Don’t the Minoans have override codes?”
Dokos shook her head. “That’s a rumor and we can’t depend upon their
rescue or perhaps, their retribution. Besides, I don’t want to be the target for a Minoan
attack.”
rescue or perhaps, their retribution. Besides, I don’t want to be the target for a Minoan
attack.”
“We supply the Minoan contractors with data,” Varra said. “According to
them, the Minoans are only interested in our research methods.”
them, the Minoans are only interested in our research methods.”
“Let’s get to basics, and figure out how many people are involved.
Perhaps—”
Perhaps—”
Dokos was interrupted as the door opened and two men walked in. They
could have been brothers, but the first man was much younger. They had similar scowls, black
hair cut ragged and sticking out in random spikes. They’d been exposed to planetary sun and
wind, although the second man had lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth and down his
cheeks. They were not happy lines; this man rarely smiled.
could have been brothers, but the first man was much younger. They had similar scowls, black
hair cut ragged and sticking out in random spikes. They’d been exposed to planetary sun and
wind, although the second man had lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth and down his
cheeks. They were not happy lines; this man rarely smiled.
Ariane looked quickly at the five women on the bench, searching for a
spark of recognition. None of the others had seen these men before, and neither had she. The
way they strode into the room made them look like what Matt called “grav-huggers,” those used
to the strong gravity of planets.
spark of recognition. None of the others had seen these men before, and neither had she. The
way they strode into the room made them look like what Matt called “grav-huggers,” those used
to the strong gravity of planets.
“Everyone on the bench.” The younger man gestured at Ariane with his
flechette pistol.
flechette pistol.
She complied quickly, noting his wild eyes. His gaze flitted about the
room and flared alternately with anger and excitement. She settled on the bench between Varra
and Dr. Lowry.
room and flared alternately with anger and excitement. She settled on the bench between Varra
and Dr. Lowry.
The older man took up position beside the door, quietly acting as
servitor, while the young man went to the end of the bench and stood directly in front of
Varra. She flinched at the pistol he held in her face. Ariane laid her hand on Varra’s forearm,
trying to give her courage.
servitor, while the young man went to the end of the bench and stood directly in front of
Varra. She flinched at the pistol he held in her face. Ariane laid her hand on Varra’s forearm,
trying to give her courage.
“What company do you work for?”The pistol was steady, even though the
voice held deep currents of emotion.
voice held deep currents of emotion.
“Telepresence Systems, contracted to Taethis Exploration,” Varra
answered.
answered.
“Do you work with the Minoan contractors?” The pistol trembled a tiny
bit.
bit.
“Well, I”—Ariane dug her fingers into Varra’s arm and drew in her
breath—“don’t think so.”
breath—“don’t think so.”
The wild young man wasn’t particularly observant in subtleties of human
communication. He kept his gaze on Varra’s face and frowned. “You don’t
think
so, woman?”
communication. He kept his gaze on Varra’s face and frowned. “You don’t
think
so, woman?”
“I—I don’t know.” Varra was stuttering and Ariane kept gripping her
arm.
arm.
“Stupid cow. What about you?” He stepped sideways to hold the pistol in
Ariane’s face.
Ariane’s face.
“I work for Aether Exploration. Recently arrived—don’t know anything
about Minoans.” She gave this short answer as example to the others. The tingling on her scalp
ran down her neck; she knew, by the waves of rage she felt roll off the young man, that no one
should work with the Minoans—not if they wanted to live.
about Minoans.” She gave this short answer as example to the others. The tingling on her scalp
ran down her neck; she knew, by the waves of rage she felt roll off the young man, that no one
should work with the Minoans—not if they wanted to live.
The young man accepted her ignorance quite readily, and the pistol moved
to Dr. Lowry’s face.
to Dr. Lowry’s face.
“My employer is the Physics Department of MIT, and I’m contracted to
work a year for Boeing-Zhou-Kunal, which is
Terran
.”
work a year for Boeing-Zhou-Kunal, which is
Terran
.”
Ariane leaned back against the wall so she could watch the other women.
Garnet looked up guilelessly as she explained that she was here on an informational tour and
no, she didn’t know who worked for whom. Ariane initially thought Garnet had no
somaural
projection skills, but now she amended that opinion. The best
projectors gave no hint of their abilities. Garnet was open with a perfect touch of fear as she
faced a weapon that could tear apart her skull. Sabina was good at
somaural
projection, but she liked to show her capabilities. She scowled back
at the young man as she answered the same as Garnet.
Garnet looked up guilelessly as she explained that she was here on an informational tour and
no, she didn’t know who worked for whom. Ariane initially thought Garnet had no
somaural
projection skills, but now she amended that opinion. The best
projectors gave no hint of their abilities. Garnet was open with a perfect touch of fear as she
faced a weapon that could tear apart her skull. Sabina was good at
somaural
projection, but she liked to show her capabilities. She scowled back
at the young man as she answered the same as Garnet.
“Well, you’re all luckier than you know.” The pistol reached Colonel
Dokos, but now the man stepped back out of range.
Dokos, but now the man stepped back out of range.
“Stand up and keep your hands away from your body,” he said.
“I don’t work for Minoan contractors,” Dokos said as she stood.
Following his instructions, she kept her hands palm forward and away from her hips.
Following his instructions, she kept her hands palm forward and away from her hips.
“I know whom you work for.” He glanced up and down her uniform,
finishing at her shoulder rank.
finishing at her shoulder rank.
“Dokos, Colonel, service number—”
“Shut up!”
Dokos stopped.
“You know Abram’s orders, Emery,” said the older man at the door. He
sounded bored, but respectful.
sounded bored, but respectful.
“I know,” Emery shot back, over his shoulder. His eyes were bright and
excited, looking like a young boy daring to do something he’d never done before . . .
like execute a woman in cold blood
.
excited, looking like a young boy daring to do something he’d never done before . . .
like execute a woman in cold blood
.
Ariane looked at the older man, then Emery. “Don’t—”
“Stay still. All of you.” The older man at the door stepped forward and
pulled Varra upright. He gripped her arm tightly and held his flechette pistol pointed at the
soft fleshy area, at Varra’s waist. “Do I have to explain how this round will tear her apart,
in ways that no one can put back together? Or how long it’ll take her to die?”
pulled Varra upright. He gripped her arm tightly and held his flechette pistol pointed at the
soft fleshy area, at Varra’s waist. “Do I have to explain how this round will tear her apart,
in ways that no one can put back together? Or how long it’ll take her to die?”
Varra closed her eyes and pressed her lips together, but a small whimper
came out anyway. The man holding her stared at Ariane. “They’re breeding stock, Emery. It
doesn’t matter how they react—just put down the uniform.”
came out anyway. The man holding her stared at Ariane. “They’re breeding stock, Emery. It
doesn’t matter how they react—just put down the uniform.”
Emery pulled out a stun wand with his other hand and motioned Dokos to
step behind the partition. “Over there.”
step behind the partition. “Over there.”
Ariane exchanged a glance with Colonel Dokos, whose eyes flickered over
the bench of women and Varra, held tightly against a flechette weapon. Ariane raised an
eyebrow. Should she resist? Fight? But Dokos’s dark eyes said,
No, not
without civilian casualties
. She disappeared behind the partition and Ariane looked down
at her hands, lying useless in her lap.
the bench of women and Varra, held tightly against a flechette weapon. Ariane raised an
eyebrow. Should she resist? Fight? But Dokos’s dark eyes said,
No, not
without civilian casualties
. She disappeared behind the partition and Ariane looked down
at her hands, lying useless in her lap.
Dokos tried to struggle. They all heard a scuffle, but it was short and
decisive. They heard the stunner sizzle, followed by a body dropping and flopping, sounding
loud in the small room.
decisive. They heard the stunner sizzle, followed by a body dropping and flopping, sounding
loud in the small room.
Beside Ariane, Dr. Lowry moaned. Ariane put her arm about her shoulders
and Dr. Lowry ducked her head down, as if she could avoid the sound. The stun wand crackled and
buzzed again, higher, causing her teeth to hurt. She clamped her jaw shut. Thumps came from
behind the partition.
and Dr. Lowry ducked her head down, as if she could avoid the sound. The stun wand crackled and
buzzed again, higher, causing her teeth to hurt. She clamped her jaw shut. Thumps came from
behind the partition.
“What’s that?” Dr. Lowry mumbled the question into Ariane’s
shoulder.
shoulder.
“Lethal use of a stun wand,” Ariane replied.
The whine went on and on, unending. Unadulterated rage rose inside her
and spread a hard and calculated calm throughout her body. She looked up and locked gazes with
the older man holding Varra, directing a murderous blast of anger at him. His eyes widened. If
she could get close enough to kill him,
she would
—
and he knew it
.
and spread a hard and calculated calm throughout her body. She looked up and locked gazes with
the older man holding Varra, directing a murderous blast of anger at him. His eyes widened. If
she could get close enough to kill him,
she would
—
and he knew it
.
The room was suddenly silent. No one moved.
“What’re they doing?” whispered Dr. Lowry, her face still buried in
Ariane’s neck and shoulder.
Ariane’s neck and shoulder.
“He’s making sure she can’t be resuscitated.” Ariane’s lips and tongue
were stiff, her voice dull.
were stiff, her voice dull.
Everyone waited—forever. The smell of burned flesh spread through the
room. Dr. Lowry pulled away from Ariane and covered her face in her hands. Varra whimpered, her
knees obviously shaking and her eyes closed. Emery finally reappeared. He holstered the wand,
his pistol still in his right hand. He looked at the bench of women, where three tearless faces
watched him steadily. He seemed puzzled.
room. Dr. Lowry pulled away from Ariane and covered her face in her hands. Varra whimpered, her
knees obviously shaking and her eyes closed. Emery finally reappeared. He holstered the wand,
his pistol still in his right hand. He looked at the bench of women, where three tearless faces
watched him steadily. He seemed puzzled.
“If there’s any other military on-site, it’s in your best interest to
tell us.” He spoke firmly, building up bluster with every word.
tell us.” He spoke firmly, building up bluster with every word.
Silence.
“We’ll leave the body so you can mourn—appropriately—er, whatever rites
women do on your worlds. We’ll get a body bag.” Emery stared at each woman, flinching when he
looked into Ariane’s face.
women do on your worlds. We’ll get a body bag.” Emery stared at each woman, flinching when he
looked into Ariane’s face.
The older man pushed Varra toward the bench. She stumbled and sank to
her knees beside Ariane. Both men backed out of the room, closing the door behind them. Varra
collapsed into a ball and threw up at Ariane’s feet. The sharp, acrid smell of vomit barely
displaced the burned flesh and other odors that followed death.
her knees beside Ariane. Both men backed out of the room, closing the door behind them. Varra
collapsed into a ball and threw up at Ariane’s feet. The sharp, acrid smell of vomit barely
displaced the burned flesh and other odors that followed death.
Her chest felt as if it were going to burst from fury.
You bastards think
mourning
is women’s work? Wait and see
what
justice
can be, when served by a woman.
You bastards think
mourning
is women’s work? Wait and see
what
justice
can be, when served by a woman.
CHAPTER 13
Turning in the tags can get to you. Facing your commander and setting
down tag after tag, one for every service member you lost . . .
Interviews: the Weight of War
, AFCAW
MSgt. Pike, 2092.098.12.02 UT, indexed by
Heraclitus 12
under
Conflict Imperative
N
obody’s coming to help
us
.
They can’t get into the system because the buoy’s
locked.
In retrospect, Matt had made a big mistake—a fatal mistake. Their movement had
used up too much propulsion and energy for a module equipped with short-term life support. Matt
didn’t have accurate consumption rates. Regardless, it didn’t look good.
obody’s coming to help
us
.
They can’t get into the system because the buoy’s
locked.
In retrospect, Matt had made a big mistake—a fatal mistake. Their movement had
used up too much propulsion and energy for a module equipped with short-term life support. Matt
didn’t have accurate consumption rates. Regardless, it didn’t look good.
They tried to keep their oxygen consumption as low as possible. The
module drifted into the targeted position, close enough to the arrival channel to have
real-time communications, yet hopefully, many kilometers away from any mines. After some minor
station-keeping maneuvers, Matt dialed down the oxygen levels even further and they waited. No
one arrived from N-space.
module drifted into the targeted position, close enough to the arrival channel to have
real-time communications, yet hopefully, many kilometers away from any mines. After some minor
station-keeping maneuvers, Matt dialed down the oxygen levels even further and they waited. No
one arrived from N-space.
David Ray’s leg continued to swell, which was bad. When examining it,
they couldn’t decide whether it was infected or poisoned. Matt dosed him again with stringent
antibiotics, thanking St. Darius that they had toilet facilities because of what would happen
to David Ray’s digestive tract.
they couldn’t decide whether it was infected or poisoned. Matt dosed him again with stringent
antibiotics, thanking St. Darius that they had toilet facilities because of what would happen
to David Ray’s digestive tract.
At this point, David Ray suggested they crack open some of the expensive
liquor. “After all, alcohol’s a depressant. It might slow our oxygen consumption.”
liquor. “After all, alcohol’s a depressant. It might slow our oxygen consumption.”
“Combining alcohol with your pain meds could—”
“What? Induce a coma before I run out of oxygen?” David Ray shifted and
winced. “Bring it on.”
winced. “Bring it on.”
Considering their situation and David Ray’s pain, Matt stopped resisting
his suggestion. If we’re going to die out here, we might as well be stinking drunk. He
carefully pushed toward the bar and adeptly caught the customer side, letting his momentum flip
him over to the service side. He selected a fancy-looking liquor bottle for David Ray and a
beer for himself; both were in resealable polycarbonate that he fitted with zero-gee suction
inserts.
his suggestion. If we’re going to die out here, we might as well be stinking drunk. He
carefully pushed toward the bar and adeptly caught the customer side, letting his momentum flip
him over to the service side. He selected a fancy-looking liquor bottle for David Ray and a
beer for himself; both were in resealable polycarbonate that he fitted with zero-gee suction
inserts.
Despite his morbid intention to pass out, Matt found that he couldn’t
let go of his hope. While David Ray sucked down his liquor, Matt sipped cautiously and
continued to monitor the buoy’s arrival channel the only way he could: visually through the
cam-eyes.
let go of his hope. While David Ray sucked down his liquor, Matt sipped cautiously and
continued to monitor the buoy’s arrival channel the only way he could: visually through the
cam-eyes.
“Here’s another crazy but surprisingly plausible theory about the
Minoans.” David Ray took another deep swallow of liquor. His bottle was half empty, yet his
pronunciation was precise and clear.
Minoans.” David Ray took another deep swallow of liquor. His bottle was half empty, yet his
pronunciation was precise and clear.
Matt raised his eyebrows. After that much liquor, he’d be slurring and
singing embarrassing limericks.
Ari’s right; I am a
lightweight
.
singing embarrassing limericks.
Ari’s right; I am a
lightweight
.
“Go on,” Matt said, since David Ray appeared to be waiting.
“Perhaps they’re not the result of evolved intelligence.” David Ray
looked triumphant.
looked triumphant.
“Meaning what? They’re constructed, like AIs?”
“Even stranger. Maybe they’re Boltzmann brains.”
“So who created them?” Matt watched the display. If he kept David Ray
babbling nonsense, perhaps the liquor would eventually take over and give the poor man relief.
Boltzmann brains, indeed! Even though David Ray wasn’t slurring, he was becoming a bit unsealed
around the edges.
babbling nonsense, perhaps the liquor would eventually take over and give the poor man relief.
Boltzmann brains, indeed! Even though David Ray wasn’t slurring, he was becoming a bit unsealed
around the edges.
“That’s the thing. Nobody created them. Didn’t you cover Boltzmann in
your early science classes?”
your early science classes?”
This time, Matt had to give him a withering glance. “I’m crèche-get,
remember? We use his equations to analyze gaseous mixtures.”
All of which
project our imminent death
.
remember? We use his equations to analyze gaseous mixtures.”
All of which
project our imminent death
.
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