Archives of the Frontier Universe: An Assassin's Assignment (19 page)

Acting quickly, Rose located her other sword, sheathed them both, and jumped through a window on the opposite side of the room. Landing on the street and wiping blood from her face (courtesy of the councilor’s knuckles), she spotted a viable escape route via a nearby wall of buildings. She fired her harpoons and evacuated the area. Behind her, she could see flashlights shining through the windows of the office.

“Damn coward!” echoed Rose again, this time from the top of another skyscraper. She had finally escaped the area of Kyte’s installation, and climbed out of sight and earshot. “Because of this, we’ll be taken off the assignment for sure!” She did not even want to think about what awaited Meyer. Immediately, though, her subconscious began blaming herself for his eventual murder. “Captain, you need to leave! You—”

“Hold on!” voiced Meyer calmly. “Let’s start by answering my question: Are you alright?” he repeated from a minute ago. “Are you well enough to travel back on your own?”

Rose took a calming breath and dropped her head to the busy city. She wiped her face again, the blood of her wounds smearing her perfect makeup . . . but slowing finally. “Yes, I’m fine,” she replied grudgingly. “That . . .” She trailed off, unable to think of an insult appropriate enough. “Hiellta blew this entire operation! As I was saying, you need to leave. Just pack up and depart when no one’s looking. I can’t stand the thought that he could kill you because I failed to destroy Hiellta. I surely wouldn’t be able to stand the actual event.”

“Well, I’ve got good news for you, in that case . . .” the man hinted suspiciously.

Rose wiped her face again, altogether removing her glasses and stowing them in frustration. “Unless your team managed to crack the device . . .” A section of her lavish hair fell out of its weakened binding and into her eyes. “Damn it!” she cursed, ripping out the rest of the bindings. She let her hair fall down past her shoulders, a style she did not normally choose for public. She huffed in aggravation, trying again. “Okay, unless your team managed to crack the device, I don’t think you can say anything that’ll improve this situation.” She continued running fingers through her hair at high speed.

“Um . . . well, not my team . . . but you’ll be glad to know that the device’s security
has
been cracked!”

At this, Rose halted her fashion crisis. “What?!”

“Affirmative,” the man happily reported.

Rose shook her head, finding the report unbelievable. “What?!” she repeated. “How? Who cracked it, if not your team?”

“I did.” The man’s confident voice made picturing his complacent face easy. “Did it about two minutes ago, while you were escaping Kyte’s installation . . . again.”

Though his voice sounded genuine, Rose could still not believe it. She stood upon the stone overlook of the skyscraper, feeling the wind pick up a little and lifting her hair. “Impossible! We’ve been working on that spike nonstop for hours and hours! How did you do it? What was being overlooked?”

“Nothing was being overlooked. The issue was and has always been we didn’t have the codes. Well . . . now we do.”

“How did you—” she began, but he cut her off.

“The mission was a success. We may not have killed Hiellta, and she might not have wanted to . . . but she supplied the code.”

Rose shook her head, thinking the man was losing it. “No, she didn’t!” she proclaimed. “Trust me, I was fighting her the entire time; she didn’t have time to do anything else. So how’d you do it?”

“While you were fighting her, I sort of hijacked your device . . . That slate of yours is incredibly capable, just so you know.” Rose paused, trying to figure out what he had done. But he continued. “The councilor must’ve had a device on her herself, because yours picked up an insecure frequency. I zeroed in on it and was able to establish an uplink.” Feeling excitement flood her veins, Rose began curling her lips into a smile. “From there, it was pretty simple. However, not knowing how long I had, I only transferred necessary files. Ha!” He laughed. “Every time one of you would cast some psychic power, it’d interrupt the connection. At least, I think that’s what you were doing. Anyways, I had to reconnect several times.”

Unable to help herself now, Rose was smiling fully. “Now, aren’t you the resourceful one?” she laughed. But then she held a hand up, not wanting to get too excited. “Wait, though. How do we even know the codes you stole will work? You didn’t provide the team with them, did you?” She then began to worry.

“Of course not!” he replied a little defensively. “I had them bring the memory spike to my office for logistical purposes. Said I needed to get information about if for Command. After seeing the death of Lonng earlier, they obeyed without question. And seemed pretty happy to have it out of their hands.”

“I’m sure they were,” mused Rose. “So I assume the code worked then?”

“Affirmative. And there’s an . . . enormous amount of data here! I’ve already began isolating everything pertaining to Dailunavein.”

“Ha!” Rose breathed, overjoyed. “Outstanding work, Captain!” She touched her forehead to relieve the throbbing of one of her wounds. “Well, at least one of us came through . . .” She then began fixing her hair again.

“No. No, there’s no way I can take credit for all that,” he insisted. “Had you not faced Hiellta like planned, and kept her occupied, I’d have never been able to access her device. This is more your victory than mine.”

Rose tied the rest of her hair. “Well, we can agree that it was a successful joint-op as usual.” She pulled out her slate and accessed the recent files. “Oh, I see it now,” she said, looking at a portion of the codes. “That really was brilliant. But I still wish she didn’t get away. Do you have any idea where she fled to?”

“No,” the captain returned at once. “She could’ve gone anywhere. But I’m guessing you were right; she would’ve been tried for treason had she been caught. Or at least if your attempt on her life was linked to the others and
they
were found guilty of secession.”

“Well, I assume that she gets to live for a little while now. I couldn’t possibly catch her off guard after tonight. Even her hotel room was booby-trapped. I just hope Boss R won’t be too pissed.”

“Speaking of which, when do you think we should inform him of the mission’s . . . success? He’ll probably want to know before we provide the spike to Command.”

“Indeed. I suppose . . .” She thought very briefly. “Wait for me to return. We’ll contact him with an update, I’ll transfer the necessary files, and then sabotage the spike. If he doesn’t add any additional orders, I’ll leave and return like planned, giving the codes to your team. All you have to do is lock the device again. From there, Command should send someone to retrieve it.” She walked to the edge of the overlook and bent over the side. Her abdomen surged with pain again, the wound never having been properly dressed. “Ow!” she said. “Yes, and I could use some medical attention, if you don’t mind. I hate to admit it, but Hiellta really tore me up tonight.”

“Yes, of course,” expressed the man quickly. “I’ll . . . well, I’ll have a room prepped as soon as you ‘return.’ Will you be able to make it back on your own?”

Rose held her side. It hurt but would not stop her from returning. “Yes, I should be fine. I’ll hurry back, but it could take another hour or so. I’ve got to get out of the area. The Court’s already sending more military to Kyte’s installation.”

“Take your time,” he said. “As long as you return tonight, Command should be satisfied.”

She nodded, ended the call, and leapt from the building.

***

About an hour later, Captain Meyer had requested Captain Kyte to a meeting room to discuss his installation’s recent failure. The man seemed quite apprehensive, as could be expected, and he kept shying away every time his particular shortcomings were mentioned. Furthermore, he had yet to explain how he managed to lose control of his subordinates. Meyer knew his own people fairly well and though he did not command as large of a military force, he was certain they would not betray him. At Kyte’s defense, however, the disgraced captain had cooperated fully, reiterating his thanks to Byruhme a few times already.

Captain Meyer sighed heavily and held his hands out. “Listen, Kyte, from one officer to another, it simply does not make sense why your entire installation chose to take up arms against the Court. As we’ve already discussed, the worst that would have happened to them was imprisonment. Probably a very temporary one.”

The other man took a breath of his own. “I understand completely,” he agreed. “It was my men that for some reason did not. And I think it has to do with the operation that was ongoing at the time.” He leaned on the table between them, his hands unbound as Meyer had requested. “Those representatives . . . that entire meeting, actually, was irregular. I understand it was an order from Command, but it put everyone on edge—even my officers.” He then sort of motioned with his hands for emphasis. “And then when we got word of the attack party on the way . . .” He shook his head. “That started everything. They panicked. I’m not condoning their actions, but you’ve got to admit, it
did
seem pretty convenient. My installation avoids even the mildest gaze of suspicion even since first establishing that base, and then on the night of this meeting, the Court attacks!” He narrowed his eyes in bewilderment. “
I
don’t even know what to think!”

“Captain . . .” Meyer pressed. “There’s no doubt the Court’s arrival was shocking . . . to us all. But my response to your assumptions is: Why would the representatives compromise your installation’s, and really, their own reputations? I see little for them to gain by doing that. And they’ve made it clear that they had ‘everything’ to gain by cooperating.”

Kyte shook his head declaratively. “I don’t have an answer to that. The timing is just suspicious—and
they
nearly panicked when we told them! Captain Meyer, that was ‘some kind’ of act if they actually sought to bring us down.”

Meyer leaned in his chair, acting as dedicated to his words as possible. “Okay, Kyte,” he accepted calmly. “Well, regardless of their involvement with the authorities, please help me to understand why two of them decided to turn on you . . . and Posteritor Byruhme for that matter.” He gave a nervous laugh. “I mean, she’s the last person in that entire building
I’d
betray.”

Kyte gave a nod of agreement, and his eyes shone fear for a split second. “I’m with you there, no doubt about it. I don’t know what came over them. But I think they thought she wouldn’t make it to us. Like I said, she stayed behind to deal with that gunship.”

“And the fact that they were Vicese is even more interesting. I don’t remember being told that there’d be Vicese there.”

Kyte sort of shrugged.

Meyer waved it off. “Never mind that. Anyways, Command’s going to want a detailed statement—as you know. I’ve decided to keep you here for a while. Posteritor Byruhme was pleased with your loyalty, and so was I. Because of this, I will not have you in detention. You will be given proper quarters for the duration of the investigation.”

Kyte’s eyes lit up brightly. “Thank you, Captain. You’re definitely a man of quality.”

Meyer nodded. “However, I must forbid you to leave this installation for now. I need you only minutes away should Command request an audience.”

The man nodded again. “Of course, sir.”

“But the positive news is if Byruhme retrieves the codes we need, Command may overlook most of your involvement. They want this intel pretty bad; they might even turn you over to my authority—meaning minimal disciplinary action.” Captain Kyte held a hopeful look. “Very well,” concluded Meyer. “I’ve actually got to check in on that op. Command has been . . .” He shook his head, remembering Lonng’s disturbing end earlier. “Well, they’re riding us pretty hard after everything that’s happened. Let’s hope we can secure that code before tomorrow.”

“I understand,” replied the man. He bowed, standing. “Good luck. And thank you for your hospitality.”

Meyer nodded back and stood as well. “Certainly. Now, report to the command center. I’ve already instructed my people to clear a room for you. They’ll show you to it.”

Captain Kyte bowed again and departed. Meyer followed him down the first hall but then turned in an opposite direction towards his office.

Meyer reached his office a moment later, the gruesome death of Colonel Lonng still tormenting his mind. He knew the Eiltheen memory spike could now be handed off, at the very least, which would get Command’s eye off of Forcurrier for a while. However, this fact seemed to provide only minimal consolation. In reality, he did not want anything to do with the mission any further—and he certainly did not want to be the one to meet with the pickup team, though he knew he would be. What really bothered him was the possibility that Warlord Furnocter would retrieve the device personally—though that was unlikely.

Trying to focus on the current task, Meyer reached his office and pushed the door open. He strode in, leaving the door cracked and passing his empty chair behind his desk. He walked quickly over to the computer terminal about to check if the intel transfer for the data spike was complete—He stopped abruptly, dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. The device was gone!

Panicking, the captain ran over to the terminal and began scanning the area at high speed. He could not find it. Moving towards the nearby window, he suddenly heard the thundering sound of his own door slam behind him. An agent of the Court must have found him! He turned slowly to greet the trespasser . . . but oddly his eyes met one of his own.