Her Brother's Keeper - eARC (11 page)

Marcus appreciated the captain’s candor. He appreciated the fact that she wasn’t a trigger-happy nut dead-set on shooting her way in and out of the situation. Marcus had done more than his share of counterinsurgency and irregular warfare work while with Special Operations. Sometimes firepower alone wasn’t the answer.

Mazer Broadbent spoke up for the first time since the discussion began. “This is why we’d like to bring you on, Mr. Winchester. I took the liberty of reviewing the parts of your service record that are public information. For the sake of full disclosure, I did twenty standard years in the Defense Force. I served on Mildenhall as well.”

“Is that how you…” Marcus trailed off, but pointed at the side of his own head.

Mazer grinned. “This?” he said, pointing at his facial/ocular implant. “Oh yes. I was with the Military Police Corps. We were escorting a Provincial Reconstruction Team and their robots to a work site. Despite the fact that we were hundreds of kilometers inside the Green Zone, we were hit with a complex ambush. Heavy weapons, rockets, everything the insurgents could throw at us. It was, no joke, the last month of my deployment. I got to rotate home a little early, with a little less of my natural skull weighing me down.”

Marcus chuckled at the spacer’s dark humor. “I was with Twenty-Second SOG over in Regional Command Southwest.”

“That was right on the border of the Red Zone, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. We ran ops pretty deep into the Red Zone frequently, right up until the end.”

“Saints and prophets,” Mazer cursed. “I heard stories from out that way, but it was all just rumor.”

Marcus nodded slowly. “Yeah, they kept a pretty tight seal on RC Southwest. The press was kept out completely. They’d even shoot down aerial media bots and unauthorized satellites.”

“Right before I left,” Mazer said, “they were blockading the system completely. No media was allowed in at all. I hear the whole system is quarantined now.”

Marcus’ expression darkened. “That’s what they should’ve done in the first place: just evacuated the colonists and pulled out. There was nothing on the planet worth that many lives.” A lot of people said they’d been on Mildenhall when they hadn’t. The bloody conflict there had almost a romantic mystique in popular culture, made all the worse by the fact that most people had no idea what had gone on there. He could tell that Mazer Broadbent was a real Mildenhall vet; he had the look to him, like a black spot on a man’s soul. There’s nothing like watching your government sacrifice thousands of lives on a lost cause to dispel any romantic notions of war that you might have had.

“I bring this up,” the spacer said, “to assure you that this isn’t some fool’s errand. The captain is deadly serious about accomplishing our task in a clean, preferably bloodless manner. That said, the people holding Cecil Blackwood, the followers of this Aristotle Lang, are dangerous. Negotiation may not work. The captain recognizes that her small crew doesn’t have much experience in ground combat, and especially in dealing with situations such as this. You, on the other hand, do. Your Special Operations background makes you an almost ideal candidate.”

“It does, Marcus,” Captain Blackwood added, leaning in intently. “Being very blunt, I want you to lead my ground team. We don’t have much time to assemble that team, but with your knowledge of New Austin and connections here, the whole process will go more smoothly. I have a substantial operating budget for this. You’ll get your pick of personnel and equipment, within reason.”

“A year or longer is a long time to be gone from my family,” Marcus admitted. “That’s the real sticking point for me.”

“I don’t intend to be on Zanzibar that long if I can help it,” the captain assured him. “It doesn’t take that long to make the trip from here to there and back. That’s just a contingency.”

“I assumed as much. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested. My wife is pregnant. We just found out not that long ago.”

“Congratulations. It must be hard missing the birth of your child,” Catherine said.

“It was. I was deployed when Annie was born. I had just left for Mildenhall when she took her first steps. One of the reasons I got out and emigrated all the way out to New Austin was so I could live a quiet life, and be there for my family.”

“But you still responded to our query.”

“I did. I have another mouth to feed on the way. Emigrating out here wasn’t cheap. Getting my dream home out in the country wasn’t either. Providing for the education and welfare of my children costs money too. The money you’re offering could be a godsend for us.”

Catherine spoke softly. “I understand your hesitation. I don’t have children, but I know how important family can be. To tell you the truth, I had been, well, estranged from my own family on Avalon for many years. Despite the falling out I had with my father, my brother needs my help now. The past doesn’t matter so much in the face of that. I will have a contract sent to you before we leave. If you decide to sign, we’ll arrange to bring you to the Starport. I don’t mean to rush such a big decision, but sooner the better. The sooner my team is assembled, the more time you will have to train together before we leave. Either way, if you know of anyone else who might be interested, I’d appreciate it if you’d have them contact us.”

“I understand. My partner is interested. He’ll probably go if I do.”

“What’s his background?” Mazer asked.

“CDF, same as you. He was in Nuclear/Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Spacewalk and EVA rated and everything, even if it’s been a few years. He’s solid. His area of expertise might come in handy.”

“Very well. Marcus, I’m afraid I need to get back to the Starport now. I’d like to thank you for your gracious hospitality. Please tell your wife her cooking is fantastic.”

“Why, thank you,” Eleanor said, reappearing from the other room with Annabelle in tow. “It was just a few things I threw together.”

Marcus smiled. His wife had spent all day making that meal.

“Thank you for your time,” Captain Blackwood said politely, “and for having us in your home. I’ll be waiting for your response.”

Handshakes were exchanged, and the spacers excused themselves. Ellie made her way back to the kitchen, and Marcus followed.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“I wasn’t snooping,” Ellie said defensively. Her expression softened. “I may have been monitoring the security camera feed, though.”

Marcus smiled. “I figured as much. Look, I know you’re not sure about this. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay. We’ll figure something else out.”

“I don’t want to stand in your way.”

Marcus stepped forward and took his wife’s hands into his own. “Baby, we’re a team, remember?
I
don’t make decisions,
we
make decisions, especially if it affects the family like this.”

“I feel like I’m being selfish if I ask you
not
to go. I know you’re doing this for our family.” She placed Marcus’ hand on her belly. “Our growing family.”

“I’d get half the money up front. That would be a huge help right now.”

“I know you, Marcus Winchester,” Eleanor said. “I know you’ve been restless. I didn’t marry you without realizing what kind of man you are. I know you miss the travel and excitement you used to have. You gave that up for us. That was a big deal for you.”

“After Mildenhall, I was ready to get out anyway.”

“Oh, that’s a load of horseshit, Marcus,” Ellie said with a tear in her eye. “You were a lifer. I knew that when I married you. And I know you want to take this job. I can hold down the homestead while you’re gone. I’ll still be here when you get back.” The tear trickled down her cheek. “I’m just scared. I used to be scared all the time, scared that I’d get
that
call.”

Marcus embraced his wife and held her tightly. “You know how careful I am,” he said, trying to sound reassuring.

“You’d damned well better be careful,” Ellie said. “Don’t you dare make me tell your daughter that her father isn’t coming home. Don’t you dare.”

“Speaking of…where did Annie go?”

* * *

“I think that went well,” Catherine said. She and her shipmates made their way back to their rented air car.

Wolfram agreed. “I expect that he will sign on.”

“I hope so,” Mazer said. “He’s got the experience we’re looking for.”

“Do we have any other candidates to meet this evening?”

“Not tonight,
Kapitänin.
”

“Good. Let’s head back to the Starport then.”

Catherine was surprised to hear a girl’s voice call to her. “Captain Blackwood?” It was Annabelle, Marcus Winchester’s daughter. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

The captain told her shipmates to wait for her in the air car, and went to speak with the young woman. “Hello, Annie,” she said with a smile.

“I’m sorry to bother you. I just…”

“It’s okay. Go ahead.”

“How did you get where you are? How did you come to be the captain of your own ship?”

“Honestly? Fifteen years of hard work. There weren’t any shortcuts for me. I’m a graduate of the Avalonian Space Forces Academy, but…well, things didn’t work out. I signed on with the
Andromeda
as a junior officer and never looked back.”

“I want to do that,” Annie said. “I want to be a spacer.”

Catherine smiled, and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “There’s no reason why you can’t. Concordiat worlds don’t have the, ah, biases against female spacers that I had to contend with.”

“I’m sorry. I know I’m being dumb. I’m acting like a little kid. But you’re where I want to be. I want to go with you. You know, to look out for my dad.”

“I rather doubt your mother would approve,” Catherine said. “I was just like you at your age,” Catherine said. She was being sincere; the Winchester girl very much reminded her of herself as a teenager. “Ready to leave my dull life behind and chase adventure amongst the stars. I have no doubt you can do the same if you set your mind to it. Just remember, a career in space isn’t as glamorous as the media likes to portray it. The vast majority of it is routine boredom while you’re in transit. You can’t have much of a life outside of your ship, either.”

“Where do you live? If you don’t mind me asking. The information I have says the
Andromeda
is registered out of Heinlein.”

“It is. I live there few months out of the year, and have a few friends there that I never see. I pay people to manage my estate and affairs while I’m away. It’s not much of a life.”

Annie seemed conflicted. “Then why do you do it?”

Catherine smiled. “Because I
love
it. The sense of freedom you get out there is indescribable. The pride of watching a well-trained crew run your ship so flawlessly that you have almost nothing to do, the wonder at visiting strange new worlds…it’s exhilarating. The love of my life. Someday I will settle down, stay planetside for a while, maybe even have a family of my own. Someday, but not today.” There was an undeniable twinkle in the captain’s eye.

The teenager smiled back at her. “Thank you. I’m…I’m sorry to have held you up.”

“Not at all. And listen, I want you to know that if your father decides to come with me, I will do everything in my power to bring him home safely. I take care of my crew. I’m also very, very good at what I do. He’ll be in good hands.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“And when I do bring him home, you’ll get a tour of the ship. Deal?”

“How about before he leaves?”

Catherine raised an eyebrow. “Planning on coming to the city, are you?”

“I am!” Annie said excitedly. She raised her handheld for Catherine to see.

“The New Austin Colonial Chambers of Commerce proudly present the ninety-second annual Aterrizaje Stampede,” she said, reading the text on the screen. “What is it?”

“It’s a rodeo,” Annie said.

Catherine felt slightly embarrassed. “A what?”

“A rodeo! People bring their horses in from all over the terraformed zone for the event. There are barrel races, bull riding, calf roping, mounted shooting, tons of different events. It’s a big thing here.”

“I see! Your father told me you had an interest in horseback riding. He said you were quite the, um, cowgirl.”

“Did you grow up with horses?”

“As a matter of fact I did,” Catherine said with a smile. “Avalon has an equestrian culture dating back centuries, to the founding of the colony. Here, look for yourself.” The captain tapped the screen of her handheld a few times, pulling up her extensive photo library, and showed a particular picture to Annie.

“Is that you?” she asked, studying the picture. In it, a dark-haired young woman sat proudly atop a silvery Avalonian steed. She was dressed in traditional equestrian garb: red coat, white trousers, knee-high riding boots, and a riding crop tucked neatly under her arm.

“It is, my dear. I was about your age.”

“What are you wearing?” Annie asked, incredulously.

Catherine chuckled. “Ah. The riding traditions on Avalon descend from the English back on Earth. Different than your North American style.”

“What is that on your head?”

“It’s a helmet, child. Don’t you wear a helmet when you ride?”

“No, ma’am,” Annie said with a toothy grin. She showed the captain a picture of herself, hair done up in braids, with a wide-brimmed white hat on her head. “This is how a real cowgirl does it. Hey! You want to see Sparkles?”

“
Kapitänin
,” Wolfram grunted. “We should be getting back to the ship.”

“There’s plenty of time, my friend,” she said, patting her exec on the shoulder. “I’ll only be a few more minutes. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been around horses?” She turned her attention back to Annie. “Lead the way.”

Chapter 10

New Austin

Lone Star System

Aterrizaje, Capital District

Southern Hemisphere

The Capital District Fairgrounds were a bustle of activity. The Aterrizaje Stampede was a huge annual event, with dozens of high profile corporate sponsors and local media coverage. The rodeo featured numerous events and was a major tourist attraction for off-worlders.

Annie and Sparkles were enrolled in the junior division barrel racing competition. Sparkles wasn’t a great jumper, and Annie was never able to rope worth a damn, but the two together were hell on hooves when going around the barrels. Annie hadn’t participated in the rodeo in several years, and this was the first time she was old enough for the junior division. As she coaxed Sparkles out of the back of her travel trailer, lead rope in hand, she watched hundreds of other rodeo participants doing the same thing. The huge, temporary stables set up around the fairgrounds were big enough to house hundreds of horses, and the animals called and whinnied to each other. Some of the other entrants were ranchers from the Outback, like Annie. Many were obvious hobbyists, for whom horses were a passing fad, not a passion. She had been practicing all year and was eager to show these strutting city slickers what a real cowgirl could do.

Annie paused when a clunky looking utility robot rolled to a stop in front of her. Sparkles balked a little as it spoke. “Good afternoon, sir or madam. What is your name? I can help you find your…stall.” Dozens such bots were moving about at the fairgrounds, trying to make sure everything got to where it was supposed to go.

“Um, Annabelle Winchester,” Annie said, looking the robot up and down. It had a mostly conical body topped with a trapezoidal head on a skinny neck. A pair of thin, articulated arms, terminating in wide, padded claws, hung from its sides. It rolled across the dirt floor of the stables gyroscopically balanced on a single large wheel.

“I’m sorry,” the robot said in a tinny, gender-neutral voice. “I cannot find any registration for Umanna Bell Finch-Esther. Are you in the right place?”

“Hellfire, yes, I’m in the right place!” Annie snapped. “My name is Ann-a-belle Win-ches-ter,” she said, pronouncing each syllable angrily.

Sparkles stamped uneasily. The robot swiveled its head toward Sparkles. A green light mounted above its binocular lenses blinked. It then raised an arm, causing the horse to balk, and sprayed a puff of vapor at her.

“What the…what the Sam Hell did you just spray my horse with, you stupid garbage can?” Annie demanded. Sparkles sniffed and shook her head.

“Equi-Calm
,” the robot said. “Equi-Calm is an all-natural combination of pheromones and soothing aromas specially formulated to calm anxious horses.”

“Oh my God, I don’t care, I just…”

The robot ignored her interruption. “Equi-Calm is safe and has been shown to be over ninety-six percent effective in clinical trials,” it said. “Equi-Calm is generously provided by one of our sponsors…”

“I don’t care!” Annie yelled, throwing her hands up at the robot.

The machine was undeterred, and continued its advertising spiel. “…quitoral Veterinary Pharmaceutical. Free samples of Equi-Calm are available to all Aterrizaje Stampede participants and staff members.”

“Say Equi-Calm one more time, you stupid scratching machine!” Annie snarled, pointing a finger at the robot. “Say it! I dare you!”

“Ann-a-belle Win-ches-ter,” it said phonetically, “welcome to the Aterrizaje Stampede. Your horse…Sparkles…is berthed in stall zero-six-seven.” A skeletal, claw-tipped arm extended and pointed to where Annie needed to go. “That way. Thank you, and have a lovely day.” The robot indifferently rolled away, no doubt to harangue the next person about Equi-Calm.

Annie shook her head angrily and led her horse off to her assigned stall. “Sparkles, this is how the robot war starts.” She found Stall 067 clean, stocked with hay and water, and ready to go. She led Sparkles inside and unhooked her lead rope. “There you go,” she said, resting her head against the horse’s. “This is pretty nice, hey?” Sparkles grunted and pulled away before lowering her head into the hay trough.

Annie was startled when a trio of girls appeared at her stall door. One of them, taller than the other two, and pretty in that wears-too-much-makeup way, leaned in. “Hey, kid. This your first time at the Stampede?”

Annie wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t like this girl. She gave off a bad vibe. “It is,” she said. “Who the hell are you?”

The two girls to the rear glared at her, but didn’t say anything. The taller one, with curly blonde hair hanging from under her hat, chuckled. “Relax, newbie, no need to get bitchy, yeah? You’re a barrel racer, aren’t you? So am I. I’m Victoria Alexander. Before you ask, yes, I’m one of
those
Alexanders. It’s not a big deal, so don’t get all sloppy over it.”

Annie looked at the girl quizzically. “
What
Alexanders? I don’t know any Alexanders.”

“Wow,” she said, turning to her friends. Victoria’s pair of flunkies giggled and shook their heads. “You from off-world or something? The only Alexanders on New Austin that matter. My family owns this stupid fairground.”

“That’s great,” Annie said, turning her attention back to her horse. “Now go away.”

Victoria was obviously unaccustomed to being dismissed. “What did you say to me?”

“What, are you deaf
and
bitchy? I said go away. You’re bothering Sparkles.”

Victoria and her friends erupted into a cackle of forced laughter. “Sparkles? You’re definitely not from around here. You’re one of those off-worlders that comes to New Austin and lowers our property values, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“That’s what I thought. You’re one of those desert rats what lives in a shack in the outback. Don’t deny it, I can tell from your shabby clothes. Every year you people come into the city with your skaggy mutant farm animals, thinking you’re going to win a pretty blue ribbon to show everyone back home around the watering trough.” Victoria cocked her head to one side and leaned in closer. “And every year, I hand you cockies your asses and you go home with nothing.”

“No she didn’t!” one of other girls said.

“She did! She burned that little bird, didn’t she?”

Someone else spoke up, a young man. “And every year, Victoria, you end up sneaking to the free clinic so your papa doesn’t find out you got pregnant, a sexual disease, or both. I heard last year it was both.” He was tall, handsome, possessed of dark hair and strong Latin features. He was young, about Annie’s age, and he looked familiar.

“Fuck you, you jumped-up, rock-hopping dirt farmer!” Victoria sneered. “You think being the white knight is going to get you a piece of that?” she said, pointing at Annie. “You get used to that, because you ain’t gonna get any of
this.
” She pointed at herself.

“I’m also not going to get any chlamydia, I think,” he said. “You should go, or I’ll tell my father to tell
your
father about that baby you almost had last year.”

Victoria’s eyes went wide, but she didn’t say anything. She turned on her heel and stomped off in a huff. The young man then turned his attention to Annie. “Hello, Annie,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”

It hit her then. “Carlos? Carlos Martinez?” she asked, and immediately felt her face flush. “Is that you? Holy hell, it’s been a long time.”

Giving Annie a perfect smile, Carlos stepped forward and leaned on the stall door. “Four years,
chica.
How have you been?”

Annie knew Carlos from their distance learning program, and had met him in person a couple of times. He’d started going to a private school a few years back, after his parents moved to the city. She’d stayed in touch with him online, if only barely. “Yeah!” she said, heart racing. “Um, wow! Look at you! You’re, uh, taller.”
And gorgeous.
He certainly wasn’t the awkward, lanky preteen she remembered. “I didn’t know you, you know, did horses. I mean rode horses. I didn’t know you rode. Horses.”

Carlos nodded. “My papa let me try it once he thought I was old enough. What events are you here for?”

“Barrel racing,” Annie said proudly. “I don’t mean to brag, but Sparkles and me are gonna mop the deck with that skaggy whore.”

“I’m sorry about Victoria. I wish I could tell you she’s not always like that, but she is.”

“How do you know her? She your ex-girlfriend or something?”
Please say no.

Carlos laughed. “Good God, no. The Alexanders are old money. They go back to the founding of the colony. They don’t like to mingle with people like us.”

“I could tell. So how do you know her?”

“I go to school with her.”

“Wow, your parents must be doing alright for themselves. You used to live in…where was it?”

“North Sierra Territory,” Carlos answered. “Up in the mountains. We do okay, but I got a scholarship to go to her school. I don’t think my parents could afford it otherwise. Victoria goes because that’s where her parents both went. It’s where all the rich kids go. I kind of hate it.”

“So what’s her deal? It’s my first day here, I’ve never met her before, and she comes up out of the blue acting like the queen of the shrews. What the hell did I ever do to her?”

“She does this. She likes to go around, name-dropping, trying to intimidate her competition. I’m surprised you haven’t heard of her family, though. Her older sister hosts that entertainment gossip netcast.”

Annie shrugged. “I guess. Is she good?”

“She is. She did come in first place last year, even with chlamydia. Don’t let her get to you, and never mind her anyway. How have you been? I don’t hear from you much these days. Do you still live in Laredo Territory?”

He remembered?
Annie nodded. “Yeah, we do. It’s so boring. There’s nobody around for kilometers. Our nearest neighbors are seriously ten klicks down the road. My dad says that’s why he picked the place, but I think it’s because he doesn’t want me to have a life. Just getting here was like a thirteen-hour truck ride. What event are you here for?”

“Calf roping!” Carlos said. “It’s my second year. Last year I did not do so good, I think. But this year? I’ve been practicing. In the simulator, on the maintenance bots, and on a real calf!”

“I’m glad somebody I know knows his way around,” Annie said, looking across the huge stable building. “I haven’t been to the city in like two years, and apparently I’ve already made an enemy of the local rich-bitch socialite.”

“No worries,
chica
,” Carlos said, flashing her a smile so perfect she wanted to punch him in his stupid, beautiful face. “Forget her. I’ll show you around. She’s probably off doing drugs and getting pregnant again.”

Annie laughed out loud, awkwardly, before realizing how loud she was being and wanting to die of embarrassment. “Okay,” she squeaked.

* * *

The western sky was on fire, a tapestry of red, orange, and gold as Lone Star crept above the mountains. It was as glorious a sunrise as Marcus had seen in a long time, fitting for his last morning at home.

It had taken a couple of days to arrange a leave of absence from the Marshals Service, but everything had fallen into place. His contract with Captain Blackwood was electronically signed and notarized, and the half of his pay to be delivered up front was deposited into his account the very next morning. Marcus packed light, out of habit and because of the cramped conditions of space travel. He had only one bag with him as he stood in the dry morning air.

Ellie was still asleep. He’d crept out of bed, gotten dressed, and stepped outside without waking her. He’d already said his goodbyes and made passionate love to his wife. There was nothing left to say, and nothing to be gained from dragging it out. He’d shipped Annie off to Aterrizaje two days prior, renting her passage on an automated truck that could pull his single-horse trailer. In any case he was going to be on New Austin for another twelve days, and he could message his family whenever he wanted. He intended to visit his daughter in the city before he left, and the captain had agreed to let her tour the ship if there was time.

His handheld would no longer be able to connect to New Austin’s colonial network once the
Andromeda
lifted off, but with the ship’s communications systems, he’d be able to send messages until they translated out of the system. After that, though, he’d have no way of calling home. That bothered Marcus. There was a chance something could happen to the ship, that he could just disappear in the unforgiving darkness of space, and his family may never know what happened to him. It was, in a lot of ways, like being a sailor on ancient Earth, before the invention of the radio or telegraph. For centuries, mankind had been spoiled by ubiquitous, instant communication capability. With the right equipment, it was possible to never be out of touch.

After the development of interstellar travel, that changed. A ship in an empty system was truly on its own. Spacers learned the sense of loneliness that terrestrial mariners once knew. Even some fifteen hundred standard years into the era commonly known as the Space Age, this aspect of it was unchanging and inevitable. Marcus never cared much for the feeling; he’d opted for the Espatiers over the Fleet, many years before, for that very reason. At least on a planet, there was ground beneath your feet, (usually) air to breathe, and a sun shining overhead. Even if people were shooting at you, it was preferable to spending your life sealed in a metal can sitting on top of a fusion-powered rocket.

Marcus had not been idle since signing his contract. He’d been in constant contact with his new skipper, and had taken the lead on recruiting, vetting, and interviewing potential candidates for his ground team. As he said he would, Wade had jumped on board. It would be good to have someone he knew and trusted with him, and Wade did have a potentially useful skill set.

Mazer Broadbent’s assumption about New Austin had proven correct; there were many qualified candidates to choose from, all with relevant experience. With input from the
Andromeda
’s
crew and after a few teleconference interviews, Marcus was able to select five more team members. With Wade and him, that made seven. The candidates chosen, like Wade, had experience and skills that Marcus thought might come in handy, given the mission at hand. More importantly, they were crazy enough to want to go, but not so crazy as to put the operation at risk.