Allison woke up and tried to move but found she had binders on her wrists. She blinked slowly. Her head was throbbing. She looked down at herself and her once pristine bikini was covered in blood splatter. She felt a bullet hole in one of the cups. Once her vision cleared, she realized she was in a cell. Her hands were bound in front of her. She felt something dry around her lips, she licked it and realized it was human blood. She sighed. She heard bootsteps. Soon the woman who had been in charge of the security patrol hit the bars with a baton.
“Well, well, well, you’re awake. ‘Allie MacDonald’. Don’t worry, we’ll figure out who you are soon enough. Being an attempted murderer tends to move the bureaucracy along a little faster.”
Allison tried to remember how she ended up here. It was all a haze. A room, one of the Syndicate thugs trying to… Her eyes went wide when she realized her mother, Aryna and Vaedrick were still in danger. How long had it been? Her contacts, translator and holo-tablet were gone. She had no idea what time it was, or even what day it was. Was she supposed to maintain her cover? What was the status of the mission? She couldn’t answer any of those questions, but she knew she had to get out of here, and she had to do it quickly.
“You need to let me out of here and give me my holo-tablet back. It is a matter of life and death.”
The woman laughed.
“Oh, no, no, no. You are not touching that. Life and death. Next, you’re going to tell me if I don’t let you out of there, I’ll regret it… or, oh, I’ll be fired and never work again. Con’s up kid.”
Allison sighed. It was useless. Once a DNA test was done, they’d identify her immediately but that could take hours, maybe days, her mother did not have that much time. She decided to try a different approach.
“Morgan, that VP of Client Relations. Get her down here.”
The woman laughed again.
“Oh, yea, I’m going to pester her after she wrote me up for that stunt you pulled. Hell no, and even if I could, I wouldn’t. You can rot in there until SA Internal Security shows up.”
Allison was starting to get frustrated and she wished she’d had enough patience to learn the vampire suggestion power Eyre had described. She looked down at the binders.
“Come on, are these necessary? I need to pee.”
The woman nodded.
“Oh yea, they’re necessary. I’ve been doing this job for almost thirty years; I’ve never seen someone do anything close to what you did to those three men. You are one sick individual. Its like you ripped their necks out with your teeth. And my answer to you is, pull the bottom aside and squat like the animal you are.”
Allison closed her fists. She realized she could dislocate her thumbs if she hit something hard enough and slip the binders off. Her body would heal and given the state of her bathing suit and face she was pretty sure she was full of blood. She felt a pang of guilt for what she might have done but at least the guard had said, attempted murder and not murder. She stood up and looked around the cell. There was a metal shelf for bedding. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Lowered her hands and was about to smash them into the shelf when she heard Demi saying.
“Be a nice lady and unlock the cell. We’re in a hurry.”
Allison turned around to see the large mercenary threatening the guard with one of Allison’s own Qual’sa pistols. The guard looked as shocked as Allison felt. The guard held up her hands.
“Do you know where you’re breaking into? You think you’re going to get away with it? She’s a vicious monster, you don’t want her out of that cell.”
Demi motioned the second pistol towards Allison.
“That right there is a legend.”
He fired both pistols at the guard who collapsed onto the ground unconscious. He looked down at the pistols.
“Hey, kid, how do I melt the lock?”
Allison smiled.
“Red is dead, green is stunned.”
He nodded and pushed the power slider to the other end, then fired at the lock it evaporated into a puff of turquoise mist. He grabbed the bar between Allison’s wrist bindings and yanked them apart. The bar holding them together fell to the ground. He offered one of the pistols to Allison. Allison took it and shook her head.
“How did you even get in here?”
He shrugged.
“Your friend brought us. She’s waiting on the beach. Pinto’s with her.”
Allison blinked a few times.
“Wait, Bit is inside the dome.”
Demi laughed.
“Hell, yea she is. That chica is something else. She called us up, tells us you’re in trouble. She had permission to land and got us here in less than fifteen minutes. They were supposed to let you go but well, the head of security disagreed. He says on whose authority, I totally one lined him and said, my friend here and shot him.”
He shook the Qual’sa pistol he was holding. He groaned.
“Zebra’s telling me to stick to the important bits. Your mom’s tour ship was hijacked. There are some alien VIP’s on board so the military is trying to negotiate. They have an armed transport and a couple of starfighters. Bit has the specs.”
Allison was confused.
“What the hell was that credit chit linked to? High profile piracy? What is it a treasure map?”
Demi shrugged.
“I donno chica, err… wait Zebra says, someone stole the Syndicate’s savings ten years ago. That is what the guys working for them were trying to find.”
Allison frowned.
“Military Intelligence would have known that, and they’d know the Syndicate would do anything to get that money back. They put my mom right in the middle of it. Protection detail? Where the hell were they?”
She shook her head and winced as she let her hair regrow. Her eyes and hair retook their natural color. She doubted it mattered but she wasn’t about to waste a backstopped figment. They were almost out of the security sector of the dome office complex when they ran into a pair of security guards returning from patrol. Allison didn’t hesitate, she stunned the one on the left without warning. Demi stunned the one on the right.
“You don’t mess around do you kid?”
Allison glanced up at him.
“My mom is on that ship with a bunch of goons, one of which threatened to beat my friend to death in front of me slowly. They think she knows where their money is, they’re probably already torturing her. I don’t have time to play nice.”
Demi quietly corrected her.
“We don’t have time, kid. We told you, you’re one of us.”
They hurried along. It would not be long until someone found that their entire security office was unconscious. She put her hand on Demi’s forearm. She handed Demi her pistol as they exited the office complex. He had a Hawaiian shirt on so he could conceal the weapons in the back of his waist band. Allison’s bikini pretty much precluded any manner of concealed weapon. The beach they were heading towards was on the public side of the resort dome. She saw Pinto holding a backpack. Behind him were an Athena class fighter, and Bit. Arrayed nearby were several uniformed military members and the beginnings of a recruitment display. Pinto threw the backpack to Allison who barely paused after catching it. She was heading towards one of the public washroom, shower, change room combos that were commonplace near the beach.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
She came out wearing her personal armor. She strapped her old military holo-phone around her wrist. She would put the contacts in while Bit was lifting off. She slipped her old translator just behind her ear and finally slid her combat knife into a sheath that formed by her left boot. It felt good to be back in her armor. The recruitment team that were milling about getting their display put together had barely taken notice of the goings on between Pinto, Demi and Allison until Demi handed Allison her pistols. One of the enlisted members called out to a pair of security guards.
“Weapons!”
Allison rolled her eyes and drew her pistols and pointed them at the guards. She was pretty sure by this point she’d already earned a lifetime ban from the Pleasure Dome complex so what was a couple of more stun victims. The guards reached for their own weapons. Allison shot them both. People were staring at her, including all of the military members, none of which were armed. She looked around.
“Anyone else want a nap?”
No one else seemed eager to try the energy pistol wielding teenager. Allison slid the pistols into the holsters her armor formed. She could hear Bit already powering up the antigravs there was a noticeable hum they made when they were nearby. The liquid metal covering the cockpit oozed away and a ladder formed for her. The reserve Airman that had called out stepped between her and the ladder. He was older than her, probably university aged. She was six inches taller than him.
“This is military property; You cannot take it.”
She looked down at him.
“She’s no one’s property. Leading Airman. I do not have time for this. Move or I will knock you out.”
He lifted his fists. Allison sighed. As much as she wanted to punch something, the airman was doing exactly what she would have done. She tried a better way. She called out.
“Bit, who am I?”
Bit helpfully answered.
“Lieutenant Allison Wanjala. Active Duty, System’s Alliance Military. You are assigned to Andromeda Sector, Special Operations Command. Your current mission is classified, eye’s only and has been sanctioned by the President and the Board. You are enroute to an emergency situation where civilians are in imminent danger. You are my only authorized pilot.”
The airman stepped aside looking extremely embarrassed. Once he realized Allison meant to launch the fighter he pulled in his team and started directing people away from the display. Allison climbed into Bit. Bit was lifting off even before the canopy closed. Allison sunk the armor’s gloves into its arms and spoke while putting her AR contacts in.
“Bit, please tell Pleasure Dome control we’re launching immediately where we’re exiting and cloak. Link up your cyber-warfare systems with Zebra. If control gives us any trouble, do what you need to get us out of the dome. I’m just going to sync my phone up with everything.”
Bit was already heading towards one of the massive airlocks at the edge of the dome that would be used to deliver fish for the simulated ocean.
“We have clearance. I imparted that a planetary governor and two members of alien royalty that had been staying at the dome were in danger and it was their fault. They gave no resistance. The tour ship is sticking to the rings. We may not have the advantage of cloak for long. We are flying into a debris field and my armor is only so effective.”
Allison blinked a few times to let the contacts settle in her eyes.
“You and Zebra will blind their sensors, along with the transport and fighters. I’m not planning on flying you into the debris field. I’m going to deploy above it. Show me a schematic of the ship please.”
Allison spun the tour ship around looking for air locks. She identified several. She tapped one that would be on the ‘top’ of the ship.
“That one. Once you infiltrate the ship’s systems with the control codes I know Zebra got from Pleasure Dome disable that, then jam all communications in the area. Give me five minutes and attack the armed transport and fighters.”
Allison swept the transport away and brought up System’s Alliance Requisitions. She input her command code and swept her hand down to see what was available in the immediate area. System’s Alliance was here in force. A carrier with her escorts. As part of her role as a Special Forces Operative she had authorization to call in pretty much any support she thought she might need and then explain it later. She selected a pair of drone wings on the carrier and swept them to Bit. Communications opened and she confirmed they linked with Bit.
“I’m calling in a drone wing. You should be linked now. They’ll be here in five minutes. Carrier is close.”
Allison swept the tour ship schematic back front and center. She started tracing different routes through the ship. Bit spoke up.
“We have an incoming message from Ark Royal. It’s the Captain, she is demanding to know why you launched the drone wing.”
Allison nodded.
“On screen please.”
Allison was scanning the display. The latest scanning data showed everyone in good health, the crew and the hostages were all in one spot. Two of the hijackers were in the cockpit the other six were around the hostages. All hostages accounted for. She tapped the dot that represented her mother. Last report which was ten minutes ago said she was in good health. Allison’s forehead wrinkled. The captain of the Ark Royal appeared on the screen. She was a full four bar captain who had her brown hair pulled back in a bun. Allison wasn’t familiar with her.
“Shadow One, stand down. I don’t know what you’re planning on doing, but we’re negotiating for the safe release of the hostages.”
Allison’s eyes darted around her holo-display as she formulated a plan. She didn’t look at the captain when she spoke.
“Sorry ma’am, I can’t do that. There is intel you are not aware of and that I cannot share because it is classified. The situation is not what it seems. Please continue negotiations but understand, the negotiations are not in good faith on their side.”
The captain looked rather vexed at this point.
“I would have never authorized the launch of a drone wing. It is an escalation! You’re risking lives for personal glory.”
Allison let that go. She frowned when she saw how deep in the ring the tour ship was. She was going to get banged up on the way in, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Well?”
Allison glanced at her then back to the route through the ring debris she was plotting for herself.
“Ma’am, that is why it is a Special Operations override, and not a request. By using it I have taken all responsibility for the end results. My decision will be reviewed by flag staff and they will determine if I was justified in using the override.”
The captain leaned on her ready room desk.
“I am not sending my people into a dangerous situation of your own making, Shadow One.”
Allison nodded and slid her finger on the holo to readjust her course to avoid a clump of micro debris.
“I agree. This is very dangerous. That is why I am using drones instead of asking for fighter support. This is a one-person mission. This is what Special Operations does.”
The captain wagged her finger.
“You’ll be court martialed for this even if it goes well. I’ll see to it.”
Allison sighed softly.
“Whatever you feel is best ma’am. I am sorry. We’re approaching the target and I’ll need to go dark. Please have search and rescue ready for any of the surviving pirates after I disable their craft. I will send a message when you can secure the pirates. Shadow One out.”
Allison cut the comm signal and shut down the comm system. Then she swept the route she’d chosen towards the wrist with her holo-phone on it. Bit spoke.
“Allison, are you planning on freefalling to that ship?”
Allison unstrapped herself and formed the helmet.
“No, I plan on using the emergency air supply canisters for thrust.”
Bit sounded displeased when she spoke next.
“I question the logic of this choice.”
Allison shrugged.
“Chaos.”
Bit sounded annoyed that her own words were being used against her.
“Chaos? Of course. I see. Chaos is what got us stuck dead in space for almost a standard month. My point stands. This is rash even by your standards.”
Allison pulled her two emergency air supplies out of their compartments.
“Do you have a better plan Bit? Anything? If I land on that carrier we’re not taking off again for at least an hour while the captain pounds her chest and asserts dominance then gets told by my Aunt to shut up. I don’t have any actual maneuvering thrusters. If we approach it cloaked, we risk catastrophic damage. If we approach it with shields up they kill the hostages. One person in black armor with two black canisters shooting colorless gas out of them, while their sensors are jammed will be invisible even ignoring the fact I have a holo-web. This is the only viable plan without an actual breaching shuttle. Sure, I wish I had the proper tools for this, but I don’t. So, I’m doing what I was trained to do, adapt and overcome. My mom is on that ship, and they are probably torturing her, because if I was torturing someone and trying to delay, I would also dupe her life signs to make it look like she’s fine. Those readings are from their mobile devices. You can easily override those signals. Now get me to the coordinates I indicated, please, Bit.”
Bit flew to the point above the ring plane, she had the cockpit facing the ring. Allison rubbed her face and formed her armor’s gloves. She took a deep breath before forming her helmet. The liquid metal that covered her cockpit oozed away. Immediately her helmet tinted. They were on the sunward side of Saturn and there was a lot of glare at this angle. She looked at the display. The drone wing was approaching rapidly. They formed up in the wingman slot behind Bit.
“Well, wish me luck Bit. This is near the top of my list of top dumbest ideas.”
Allison activated her holo-web’s cloak setting and reached out to retract the canopy. Bit sounded worried when she spoke.
“You do not need luck, Allison. You are going to get through this with pure skill. I am jamming their sensors.”
Allison dumped the air from the cockpit into auxiliary life support and slid her fingers along the edge of the canopy so it would retract into Bit’s airframe. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Silence reigned after the canopy slid back. She kicked off her seat and held the emergency air canisters behind her.