OMEGA Exile (12 page)

The sergeant laughed. "No problem, Mr. Beutcher. And if I could trouble you in return, I wouldn’t mind a little tour of your ship when you get back. She looks pretty new, and we mostly just get old research clunkers out here."

I pulled the bay door open. "I think that’s a fair trade, Sergeant. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to give you a show."

As I came up to the checkpoint, I pulled out my security badge. The guard gestured for me to remove my weapon for safekeeping while I was on the station. I complied.

The lone guard then waved me through. "If you are looking for your partner, she headed to the store just down the hall."

I nodded thanks as I proceeded forward and turned the corner. Joni stepped out of the store, heading in the other direction as I approached. I quickly stepped into an alcove as she gave a glance back up the hallway in my direction. She soon disappeared around a corner to the left.

I made my way into the store and spoke to the clerk. "The young Human that was just in here—did she ask you for any directions?"

The man behind the counter pointed back behind himself. "She was due at some conference in the main room. I told her it started about a half hour ago; I’m guessing that you are late as well. Take the first left down the hall here and then the second right. The room you are looking for will be on the left."

I thanked the clerk and headed down the hall. After peering around the first corner, I moved down the hallway to the second turn. I slowly looked around the corner to the right in time to see Joni peeking through a crack between the two conference room doors.

As Joni looked through the crack and then pressed her left ear to the door, I placed my hand on her shoulder.

She shuddered from the surprise and then swatted at the air in front of me as she scowled. "Shh. Something is happening."

I shook my head as I pushed past her through the conference room door. I expected to be told to kindly leave. Instead I was met with a moment’s hesitation. The passenger we had just brought to the station was standing behind a newly dead gentleman with a short sword through his head.

Evette quickly withdrew the sword and flashed it in my direction. "I've got no fight with you, Detective. You and your partner back away over to that corner, and I won’t have to hurt you."

I pursed my lips. "I’m afraid I cannot do that, Miss Wallings."

I reached down and picked up a metal chair as the assassin lunged toward me with her sword. Swinging the chair in time with her lunge, I was easily able to deflect her attack, but I was unprepared for her counter.

As the short sword, which had been pulled from her prosthetic arm, passed my torso, she followed behind it with the remainder of her arm, which had an exposed ion conduit powered up and sparking. The jolt from the conduit knocked me from my feet.

In a seamless move, the assassin spun to the left, performing a second lunge at Joni. As I hit the ground in a cringe of pain, I saw Joni rolling backwards, diving crossways over the table as she avoided the strike. In two long steps, the passenger we had known as Dr. Evette Wallings was quickly out the door and around the corner.

Before pushing myself back to my feet, I called the sergeant on the comm. "Sergeant! You have an assassin on the loose on your station! She just killed two of your people and is now out in your hallways. We caught her in the act in your main conference room!"

The sergeant hesitated for only a moment before the station lockdown alarm sounded.

As I got to my feet, Joni was at my side yelling, "You OK? I told you there was something wrong with her!"

I nodded. "I’ll be fine. Just a little stunned, that’s all."

Joni pulled at my arm. "Let’s get our blasters and get after her!"

As we turned the corner toward the main hall, I caught a glimpse of the assassin as she rounded the far corner. She was headed toward the
Daunte
. The store clerk was just poking his head out into the hallway as we sprinted past. The lone guard at the checkpoint wasn’t so lucky. A deep cleave to his left shoulder had him sprawled on the ground and bleeding profusely. We grabbed our blasters from the storage container where they had been kept.

I pushed through the door to the bay, surprised that it was open. A lockdown should have had it sealed tight. As I sprinted for the ramp-way of the
Daunte
, I heard a scream and saw the assassin tumbling down the ramp-way with Raptor’s jaws clenched down on her right shoulder. I dove, knocking the blade from her hand as she attempted to free herself from the seemingly crazed animal.

I slid to a stop beside her, and with a single head butt she was knocked cold. Raptor held firm until I coaxed him to release. The assassin we had delivered to the research station was now in our custody. Joni had her restrained as the remaining security staff of the station piled through the door into the docking bay. The wailing sirens of the lockdown were switched off.

When the assassin came to, I was sitting in a chair in front of her. "That was quite the show you put on back there."

Evette Wallings replied, "I wasn’t expecting that dog to react like that after I had been on that ship for two days."

The security commander for the station, sitting just behind me, said, "Why did you kill Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Orongo? They have harmed no one."

Evette looked up with an angry glare in her eye. "You people are all pawns of the families. Those doctors were working on a biological weapon to use against the Free Alliance. It will kill millions of innocents if it gets released. How can you be supportive of those monsters!"

I spoke. "Commander, please collect all video and audio from your recorders. I would like everything you have for the past twenty-four hours. Someone on this station was helping Miss Wallings, which is why the door to the bay remained open when the alarm was going off. Miss Salton and I will be taking the prisoner back to SS5 with us for interrogation."

The commander protested, "She just killed two of our people! She isn’t going anywhere until she answers some questions!"

I turned to the commander. "Commander, I am sure that you have a full understanding that as agents of SS5, we have the full authority to take her with us. I understand your desire to get the truth out of her, but that is better left to those on SS5 who are trained for this type of thing. Now, Miss Salton and I will be expecting that data by the time we reach our ship. If you value your position as security commander, I am sure you can make that happen."

Evette Wallings scowled at Joni. "Salton, what a foul name for someone to have. Somewhere in your past you are probably related to those murderous thugs."

Joni smirked. "I am. Harden Salton is my uncle."

The assassin’s eyes grew wide and then squinted again in anger. She tried to spit across the room, falling well short of Joni.

I took the prisoner by the arm and pulled her to her feet. "Time to go, Miss Wallings. I’m sure you have a lot to tell to our fellows on SS5."

I turned and looked at the commander, who was still seated in his chair. "Commander, I believe you have some data to retrieve for us?"

I glanced over at Joni with a smile. "Miss Salton may want to look that data over as we travel. Oh, and you and your other two officers here—it would be best for the three of you if there was absolutely no mention of a Salton being here. They are extremely touchy about such things, and you would be wise to prepare your reports so that the Salton name is not used. You may use ‘Mr. Beutcher and his trainee,’ if you like.

"Oh, and there should also be no idle chatter that makes use of the name. I will have an investigator, one who is unknown to you, come out to check for rumors about a Salton being here. If any such rumors are found to exist... well, I’m sure you can use your imagination on what might happen to the three of you."

The commander looked back over his shoulder at his men. "There won’t be any mention of it, Mr. Beutcher. My report will be as you stated."

As we walked down the hall, Evette Wallings was seething at the thought of having a Salton standing just behind her. "Your uncle, the butcher—I would slit his throat with a slow and steady hand if given the chance. It would be the best gift I could give to all humanity."

Joni said, "My uncle is responsible for this sector’s economy still thriving while so many others have faltered. In fact, all of those living under the Salton family are in a better position now than only a few years ago. When the AMP collapsed, he made sure that justice prevailed on the worlds and colonies that are in our share of the New Alliance. There would have been chaos otherwise."

Evette laughed. "So, you have bought into the family line of drivel! Your family, along with the other eleven families who now laud themselves over billions of others, are the very murderers who corrupted the AMP and brought about its end! You were born into this corruption, and in its wake of destruction is where you will die!"

Evette remained silent for the remainder of our walk to the
Daunte
. As we entered the docking bay, she pulled back a bit, coming to a stop.

I pulled at her arm. "Come on."

"You will have no further trouble out of me if you allow me one private moment of prayer."

Joni replied, "Prayer? For someone who just murdered two men, that seems like an odd request."

Evette dropped down to one knee. "Please, only one moment."

She looked around the bay. "Where am I going to go? I promise I will be no further trouble on your ride back to SS5."

I released her arm. Evette bowed her head in silence for several seconds.

Joni reached over. "Come on, you. Time is wasting."

Evette looked up with an evil smile as Joni pulled her to her feet. "The rebellion lives and grows every day. When the Saltons are finally pulled down from their pedestal of power, the masses will walk all over them, grinding their bones into dust. I won’t be there to see it in person, but I will be there in spirit."

Evette Wallings jerked her arm loose from Joni’s grip and ran screaming at the gravity wall. In an instant she had passed through to the other side. Death came quickly.

Joni stood with her mouth dropped. "I can’t believe she did that."

The station security commander was standing behind me. "Nice work, Mr. Beutcher. Let’s see how much information you get out of her now."

I replied, "Retrieve that body for me, if you would, Commander. The information still contained in and on her person will be valuable to the investigation. Place it in a body pod and have your men bring it aboard the
Daunte
. And, Commander, the things I said before... you would be a wise man to follow them."

The commander again scowled as he turned and started barking orders at his staff. When the body pod containing Evette Wallings’s frozen remains was aboard, we lifted out of the docking bay for our long ride home to SS5.

Joni was angry with herself. "I can’t believe I let her jerk away from me like that. She should be sitting right there, answering our questions. Who is behind this rebellion? First they tried to grab a load of cesium ore, and now they are assassinating our scientists! All the while, we are trying to fight a war
for
them.
Grrr
. It just makes me so mad!"

I replied, "When we get her body back to SS5, they will trace her prior whereabouts and get some answers. What I don’t get is why they had us pick her up in the first place. And from now on, if you say something doesn’t seem right, I will give it credence."

After our arrival at the nearest portal station, we were swept back to SS5. The body of Evette Wallings was taken away for a complete forensics workup on her real identity. Her bio-signatures would be traced through every portal log possible. If she moved about in that manner, our investigators would have a good place to start.

A comm call came in from Gretchin. "Wow, gang, sorry to hear about your experience."

I replied, "Why were we sent to pick her up?"

Gretchin hesitated and then spoke. "The real Dr. Wallings was found stuffed in a storage bin on the freighter where you picked her up. It appears we have a mole somewhere in our ranks. Aside from the three of us, there were only a handful of others who knew of the doctor’s transfer to the station."

Joni said, "The assassin said she did it because the facility, and the scientists she killed, were working on a bio-weapon to be used against the Free Alliance. What exactly are they, or were they, making at that station?"

Gretchin sighed. "I hope you are not buying into her propaganda, Miss Salton. That facility was indeed working on a bio-weapon. Only, they were working on the cure for it. The Free Alliance has used a deadly virus in a number of attacks against New Alliance citizens. It has been primarily used for killing small groups of researchers working on important projects for us. Many of those killed were innocent workers at those facilities."

"If there have been attacks like this," said Joni. "why haven’t we heard anything about them?"

Gretchin replied, "Small, targeted assassinations are not something that you want to advertise, Miss Salton. Not only would it weaken the government in the eyes of the people, but there could easily be panic and unnecessary anger and fear among the populace. We are attempting to focus our efforts on the war that is under way in the Andromeda galaxy. Distractions such as that would only work to undermine our focus."

Joni looked over at me. "I don’t think we give the people enough credit, Gretchin. If they knew about the war, they would not tolerate this Free Alliance uprising nonsense. The stakes at risk here are huge for everyone."

Gretchin nodded over the video of the comm channel. "The stakes are indeed high. Our intelligence and research tell us that the way we have chosen is the best avenue for us. It causes the least disruption in the daily lives of most of our people. That productive, happy population is what makes the wheels of the New Alliance turn, and it’s that which will feed our efforts to stop the invasion taking place in Andromeda."

Gretchin continued, "The fact that you captured her at all is another feather in your caps. These assassins usually go out with a bang, if you know what I mean. They don’t like to be questioned."

Joni replied, "I don’t know; this one didn’t seem to have an issue with telling us what she thought. I think she would have spilled her guts when we got her back here. Doesn’t matter much now, though. How long has this Free Alliance scourge been around?"

Gretchin’s image fidgeted on the screen. "They have been around since just after the collapse of the AMP. They have only gotten bold with their methods in the past year. When the AMP fell apart, there were winners and losers. These people were no doubt some of the losers and are bitter about it."

I replied, "They seem a little more than bitter. Two attacks on SS5 have shown they are quite serious about what they want."

Gretchin offered a rare scowl. "They want to disrupt our war efforts. Some say they are allied with the externals we are fighting in Andromeda. Our research says they are just taking advantage of our focus being elsewhere."

Joni spoke. "One thing I don’t get. There is no reporting on these incidents. That bombing at the portal station—I saw how it is being written off as a methane explosion due to some garbage that was being improperly stowed on the floor below. Eighteen people died in that. I would think the people have the right to know."

Gretchin laughed. "Oh, Miss Salton. You have yet to gain a full understanding of the world around you. Order is not kept by throwing the people into a panic. You may want to know all, but that does not mean that it is
best
that you know all. What would happen if we released this as a bomb attack? People would stop traveling at other portals as well, the economies would falter further, jobs would be lost, and more people would fall into poverty.

"That is precisely the environment that the Free Alliance wants to work from. If you take a people, take their livelihoods, take their dreams, and leave them with no hope for a better future, therein you will find the seeds of revolution. Your family is trying to keep the New Alliance together, where everyone can prosper. And that, honey, is no easy task."

I raised my hand. "I realize we just got back. Do we have more tasks scheduled? If things are in as bad a shape as they appear to be, I would think it most useful to keep us in the field and working."

Gretchin smiled. "I am glad you asked. You will be taking the
Daunte
out to the new shipyards in the Theta sector for a few upgrades. Your little ship is to get all-new shielding and, for the first time, a complete set of offensive weapons."

I replied, "Offensive weapons. Is there a purpose for those?"

Gretchin nodded. "You yourself were witness to a successful raid against an antiquated destroyer. When a dozen small ships can overpower a ship of that size, it should tell you that there are hostiles out there with the ability to do the same to the
Daunte
, only it would not take ten such vessels for such a venture. Miss Salton’s father has decided that it is in the family’s best interest to protect and arm the ship that carries one of their family members. You will not be getting sent into a fight, but you will be able to offer one should you have no other choice."

I shook my head. "While I see the merits, I don’t know that I will be comfortable piloting a military vessel."

Gretchin laughed. "Mr. Beutcher, I have no doubt that you will find yourself very comfortable should the need to make use of your new shields and weapons arise. Once they are installed, you will be properly trained in their use before being sent back out. While the ship is being outfitted, you will begin your training in a simulation environment."

Joni winced. "Ugh, simulators again. I spent too many months in those things already."

Gretchin smiled. "I can assure you, Miss Salton, this experience will be much different than the last. Flying a simulated run while you are being fired upon by a hostile ship will be much different than chasing an unarmed inspection runner. Mr. Beutcher, should you fail the qualifications at the end of the training regimen, you will be returned to your prior post and asked to retire on a partial pension. A pension that would be subject to your continued silence about the organization.

"Miss Salton, should you fail to qualify, your father has stated that you will be pulled from the inspection service and forced to return home. You see, your new assignment comes with every incentive for you to succeed. I am sure you will both do well regardless; you are on my team, after all."

Gretchin forwarded instructions for our assignment as she closed the comm. Joni sat back in her chair with an uneasy expression on her face.

I was the first to speak. "While I am not fond of the initial thought of an armed ship for a detective, I do have to say I agree with their reasoning. We will just have to do our best to not rocket into every assignment with our guns blazing."