Gunship (42 page)

He leaned in closer and whispered, “Good steel, that one, has potential to allow for a lot of creativity.” He licked his lips as he watched her, like a wolf licking its chops.

Tiny leaned in towards him as she palmed her other knife and then, quick as a snake, tossed it next to the first. “You have no idea how creative I can get.”

Crazy Ray laughed delightedly and then poured them some more wine. “I’m sure you must be famished, dinner first and then…we can talk about getting creative!”

Tiny smiled dangerously at him and nodded. She had him on the hook, now all she had to do was keep him there and let the rest of the plan catch up.

—————

Marek checked his room and then his handheld. Tiny had left him a brief message: motivator gone bad, check and set as needed for pre-flight. It was one of several possible messages she could have sent. He headed for the Tether ship and the cargo bay.

No one harassed him as he walked through the station, and while the cameras recorded everyone, there seemed to be no real focus on his activities. He had just boarded the ship when he heard a commotion in the bay.

Welch’s security team was in the process of facing off against Crazy Ray’s security. Some of the space station personnel appeared to be preventing them from accessing one of the holds. The lead security trooper was aggressively waving his blaster at Crazy Ray’s people and ordering them to stand down. Suddenly a shot was fired and people began running, shooting, and diving across the deck. Laser rounds bounced off of the ship’s hull as the entire bay erupted into a battlefield. People crouched behind crates and vessels, exchanging fire, some hitting their targets but most missing.

Marek remained still in the cockpit, watching to see what would happen. A moment later, the large glass sliders opened. In walked a class five Enforcer. Marek had never actually seen a class five before. The frame was a sleek, flat, metallic black that made the machine seem to drift rather than walk. Its red laser eyes scanned the room, taking in everything and everyone. Then, without warning, it launched itself towards Crazy Ray’s people. Anyone who didn’t move was dead. The machine was a flaming, whirling ball of death as claws and guns slashed and mowed down the opposition. It was over in minutes.

As the Enforcer stood down, Welch’s men placed breacher charges on the front of the hold door and blew it. Several of them pushed forward into the darkness and returned hauling out crates that the others set upon and began to force open. The first three crates revealed an odd mix of items. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, photos, and other objects were dumped onto the cargo bay floor as Welch’s men sorted through them, confused. Marek, however, recognized them for the horrors they were. These were Crazy Ray’s trophy crates, where he kept the trinkets from each of his kills, gifts from his detainers along with their videos. He shook his head. That was why Tiny had chosen that hold for the backup plan. Marek reminded himself again that he was glad to have the woman on his side.

The next crate out drew a few yells as the lead security trooper came over to examine the contents. He nodded and directed the men to secure the crate as he picked up his handheld. Marek quietly finished what he had come to do and then departed the ship, taking his bag with him. Welch’s men remained focused on the crates as he proceeded along the opposite side of the bay and gained access to the corridor to the detention wing. His work was done here. The crate of discontent had been found and the explosives planted. Now it was up to Tiny.

—————

Crazy Ray had just finished off a very rare steak and opened a second bottle of wine. He was feeling quite good at the moment. The dangerous yet attractive woman across from him was exceeding his every expectation so far, and the evening was going very well. He topped off her glass and then noticed Jamie was still at the door, playing with his knife.

“Jamie. Time for bed, dear boy!”

Jamie looked up and grinned as he pocketed his knife. He giggled once and then disappeared down the lift.

Crazy Ray turned back to his guest. “He’s the only one I can let out. Some of the others, well, they love me, but they also envy me. So I keep them in the wing. Jamie provides me with some companionship in between work…and company.”

Tiny smiled a dark smile as he beckoned her to join him on the sofa again. He was a bit drunk, though not enough that she could take advantage of him…yet. But if all went according to plan, she wouldn’t have to worry about that much longer.

She sat down and leaned back, assuming a relaxed pose on the corner of the large sofa, aware that his eyes were tracing her body, watching every subtle move.

“I haven’t asked it…but tell me your name.” His eyes were dark and intense.

“But that takes away some of the mystery, doesn’t it? And the mystery, once it’s unraveled, once we come to the end, it is no more.” She smiled at him, purring the words, enticing him, daring him.

He smiled grimly. “All mysteries eventually unravel and end. It is the way life is.” He set his glass down on the table, leaning forward.

“Then let’s keep this one going for a bit longer, shall we?” She smiled as he rose and walked towards her slowly.

He leaned over and took her glass, drank the rest of the wine, and tossed it across the room, both of them ignoring it as it shattered. He hovered over her, leaning on the back of the sofa, intense, staring into her eyes.

“I think we shall, my dear. You certainly don’t disappoint.” He pushed her tac-shirt back to reveal another knife nestled by her collar bone that he slowly withdrew and admired before setting it on the sofa next to her.

Crap! The bastard is going to kiss me!
Tiny thought as Crazy Ray leaned in and slid his other hand on her leg. She leaned in towards him and gave a small throaty sigh just as the door to the lift opened.

About damn time!
she thought, then opened her eyes.

Crazy Ray put his head down for a brief instant before looking back at her. His head canted at that odd angle as he grinned one of his worst maniacal grins.

“Well, my dear, it looks like we’ll get to double our pleasure tonight!” Crazy Ray reached over her for his gold-trimmed blaster.

Tiny grabbed her knife and palmed another, staying in perfect character. “Death becomes us, doesn’t it?”

He smiled as they both turned to face the unfortunate visitor. “It does, my dear. Now what were you saying about creativity earlier?”

Razam Welch stood in the doorway, surrounded by a group of his security troopers. His hair was wild and matched his eyes as he leveled a rail gun at them.

“So sorry! I hope I’m not interrupting anything important?” He matched Crazy Ray’s fierce grin with one of his own.

Well, this just got real interesting in a hurry!
Tiny noted as the room went silent.

—————

Seth lay very still. His mind was clear and his breathing even. The team had unhooked him hours ago from the equipment, and all that remained was a basic life support scanner that checked his vitals every hour. They had estimated he would sleep for most of the next twenty-four hours, and so he had been except for a brief run to the latrine.

He could hear voices talking low in the hall outside his room. The treatment had sharpened his hearing enough that he could tell one of the voices belonged to Zain. He focused, trying to hear what was being said.

“…left hours ago and should be well into the mission now. All we can do is wait,” Zain said.

“Sir, I could’ve provided some backup. At least they would’ve had a fighting chance then!” said a male voice Seth didn’t recognize.

“Captain Callum, I appreciate your willingness to dive into the fray, but I am going to need every single ship and crew I can get in the days to come. Reilly Campbell can handle herself, and her crew is made up of some of the best in the business. If anyone can make it through, it would be that bunch.”

“Did she know, sir? Did she know Razam Welch was going to be there too?” Callum demanded.

Zain sighed heavily. “You know the answer to that question.”

“So you let them walk into a trap? One of the best crews in the fleet, and you didn’t tell them?”

“I don’t think I like what you’re implying, Captain. Besides, they had already departed the facility. That kind of intelligence can’t be risked over the span. Campbell knew the risks she was facing with Alton, and even if she had known Welch was there, she still would’ve gone. Sergeant Ty is one of hers, and there’d be no end to trouble if I even hinted at stopping her from going.”

“You didn’t answer my question, sir.” Callum’s voice was cold.

“I gave you all the answer you need. Welch has half the fleet on the other side of that asteroid field hoping we’d show up or hoping to get lucky and follow one of ours back here. We’re not ready for that fight yet. I am not going to jeopardize our mission and the entire galaxy for one gunship crew!” Zain retorted angrily.

“Even if they do make it off the station, there is no way they will outrun the fleet. Welch will be on them in minutes. At least with two Dark Angels, they’d have a fighting chance…”

“And I told you no. So you can either get back to your ship and your duties, or I can throw you in the brig for insubordination. There are bigger things at play here, and I don’t need you interfering with something you don’t understand.”

“You know I never had much use for commanders who keep their troops in the dark while claiming allegiance to the greater good based on some top-secret plan no one else can know about. It usually ends badly for the troops. Thanks for the lecture on expendability, sir. I’m glad to know where we stand.”

Seth could hear Captain Callum’s footsteps receding in the distance as the gravity of the conversation he had just overheard sank in. The sliders clicked open, and Zain’s distinct footsteps approached as he pulled up the latest vitals report. Satisfied, the Commander left, turning down the corridor towards the medic station to ensure the charts had been updated before heading to his office. A few minutes later, as the medic left to perform his rounds in the adjacent corridor, Seth completed the programming loop on his handheld. It would mimic all of his vitals for about thirty minutes, more than enough time for what he needed. He activated the program and snuck out of the room and down the corridor towards the docking bays. To hell with Zain’s mission, he had one of his own to take care of.

—————

Tiny watched Welch carefully as his men spread out behind him, pointing their weapons at her and Crazy Ray.

“It seems that you have been keeping secrets, Raymond, very dangerous secrets, from me.” Welch’s men came forward and dropped the open crate of ledgers in front of Crazy Ray and Tiny.

“What are you talking about?” Crazy Ray’s words were clipped as they came out, sounding similar to the staccato of automatic gunfire.

“I’m talking about your little plot to undermine me and to take over the galaxy yourself. I honestly didn’t think you had it in you, but it seems I was wrong. I actually underestimated you, surprisingly. But unfortunately for you, you couldn’t keep your mouth shut. So tell me, what happened? A relationship gone wrong? She left and you made up this crazy story to get me to help you bring her back so you could get your revenge? Or maybe you were partners in it? How does the story go, Raymond? I’m so curious to hear it, since she will be your undoing!” Welch sneered nastily as he flipped the switch, charging the rail gun to full power.

Crazy Ray stared blankly at Welch, trying to make sense of what he was saying. Perhaps the man had finally gone mad. He looked down at the crate of ledgers and then back up at Welch.

“She? She who? And what the hell is this?” Crazy Ray kicked the crate defiantly, eyeing Welch’s men with an evil grin of his own. Welch looked at him, enraged and disbelieving.

“I can easily take down the nearest four if you’d like,” Tiny offered casually.

Crazy Ray shot her an almost adoring smile over his rage. “How very thoughtful, my dear. I’m quite sure I can handle the rest, it’s the big one in the middle I’m the most intent on.” He refocused on Welch.

“You had an affair with Reilly Campbell. Admit it! You were involved, and you told her my plan from my ledgers and how you were going to undermine me, once I took over the AOC—how you planned to take it for yourself!”

Crazy Ray snorted in disbelief. “Are you mad? Reilly Campbell was on my space station for less than three hours, I have the tapes. And while I wouldn’t mind watching her perform for the cameras in the detention wing, she really isn’t my type. On top of that, she is my Number One Wanted Man, and she is a LIAR!”

Just then the space station gave a violent heave and then shuddered as a thunderous roar echoed from the direction of the cargo bays.

“What the hell was that?” Crazy Ray demanded as Welch and his men looked around.

Welch signaled one of his security detail to go check it out as Tiny’s handheld buzzed, breaking the silence. She glanced at Crazy Ray, who nodded at her while still aiming his blasters back at Welch. She nestled the knife back by her collarbone and clicked open the handheld. A few moments later, she was a ball of fury, cursing, and then without warning she tossed two knives into Welch’s trigger hand and right bicep and another two into the nearest guards. Crazy Ray blasted four others as one man’s weapon discharged into the sofa and another’s travelled into the ceiling. Welch was cursing and bleeding but managed to stand again with the rail gun pointed at Crazy Ray as Tiny continued to fiercely curse him and palmed another knife.

“You bastard! You blew up my ship! You blew up my partner!” she screamed, enraged.

Crazy Ray looked at her, torn between his fury at Welch and his sudden infatuation with this hellacious woman who had just managed to bring him more joy than he had had in months. He licked his lips and grinned again, watching Welch bleeding out onto the floor, onto his men, one of whom continued to twitch a few more times as the last beats of his heart pushed the blood out over the knife lodged in his throat.

“Stop!” Welch screamed. “Everybody stop!”