Mercenary Read online

  “What now?” Mac tossed the bulb into the recycler.

  “Lemme rest a few more minutes, then I’d appreciate a ride home. If you have time, we could talk there instead of a bar. I’m really not in the mood.”

  Mac nodded. “I’ll call an aircar, we can get to your place without the hassle of the metro. Safer, too.”

  Talice nodded. “Yeah, in my condition, I’m likely to hurt people… when I fall on them.”

  Mac’s eyes met Talice’s. “You need to see your doctor.”

  “I did, just before the mission. Like I said, I forgot my patch this morning. I’m better. Thanks.”

  Mac nodded after a moment, still unconvinced. “Let’s get you home and settled. Then rest, and we’ll talk later. I’ll stay with you until you’ve recuperated a little.”

  “Mac, you really don’t —”

  “No argument. You need a keeper, and today it’s my turn.” She hefted Talice’s duffle. “Now can you walk, should I put you on my lap, or just drag you behind my chair?”

  Talice nodded weakly. “Hua, Sergeant. Whatever you say.”

  * * *

  The lift wasn’t big enough for both of them, their gear, and Mac’s chair. Talice went up first with the gear, dragged it into the corridor, then Mac followed. By the time they entered Talice’s apartment, she was exhausted again. They dropped everything by the door and left it there.

  “Low lights, darken the windows.” Talice sat on the couch and laid back her head, nearly panting.

  Mac watched, worry on her face. “You didn’t sleep a lot on the way back from Eos.”

  “Couldn’t. I had nightmares about Evans slitting our throats and commandeering the ship.”

  “Well, no doubt about it, this bug is affecting your brain.” Mac showed a fleeting smile. Talice didn’t answer.

  “I need rest, Mac. I want to sleep all day and all night. I want this stuff to go away.”

  Mac slid her chair forward and took Talice’s hand. “I know. Do you need another patch today? Later maybe? Are you strong enough for a shower? Maybe that would help.”

  Talice rocked her head back and forth. “Not now. Just sleep.” She stretched her length out onto the couch, then rolled over and looked at Mac. “I’ve never thought to ask, how do you get into bed at night?”

  Mac flexed her arms. “I drag myself across the floor, an extra six inches every time. I guess I need a bigger place now, because I’m out of room.”

  Talice grinned with her eyes closed. “Yeah, I can see you doing that.” She sat halfway up. “Look, I’ll stagger to my bed and you can have the couch, okay?”

  Mac touched buttons on her chair arm. “No need.” The chair reclined, and a footrest raised. “Pretty neat, huh?”

  “You are the wizard lady.” Talice rose slowly. “Okay, I’m going to bed. You rest, too, and the vid is in that wall.” She pointed to a control console on the table. “Remote. Food and drink in the kitchen. Make yourself at home.”

  She shuffled to the bedroom door, then turned. “Thanks. We’ll talk later. I owe you one.”

  The door closed. Mac watched it for a long time with deep concern.

  * * *

  By the time Talice had slept all she could, showered, dressed, and finally emerged, dinner was on the table. Mac had ordered in; a big salad with local greens, spring rolls, and a spicy soup she swore was the best semi-authentic Thai she’d ever had.

  Rain had come to Anchor Prime again, and they sat on the apartment sundeck with a weather shield around it, watching and listening to the soothing sounds of thunder in the distance and the white noise of the city below.

  “Every time I come back home from a mission, it’s raining.” Talice picked at the remains of her salad and dipped another spring roll into sweet peanut sauce.

  “Must be your sunny disposition.” Mac grinned.

  Talice debated whether to throw the rest of her spring roll at her or just ignore the good-natured barb.

  “Am I supposed to eat all this green stuff?”

  “Good for you, girl. Put hair on your chest. What there is of it.”

  Now Talice did throw the spring roll. Mac dodged and laughed.

  Talice sighed and sat back. “I lost another kilo this mission. I can’t drink the S-H fast enough to keep up.”

  “Like I said, you need to talk to your doctor. I don’t want to lose you. Who else will I go to The Olde Place with? Who else would put up with those sticky floors?”

  They laughed together as the thunder rumbled again.

  “So… what’s next?” Mac sipped soup and waited.

  Talice shrugged. “No idea. I’ve got to meet with Major Fawkes and go through a debriefing with him and whoever else he thinks is necessary to talk to. Abie for sure. Maybe you.”

  Mac nodded. “That’s fine, I can do that.”

  “You gonna give me a passing grade, Sergeant?”

  Mac took a moment to study Talice. “For your leadership and decisions, absolutely. You’re a born leader, Talice, and you care deeply about your team and the mission. But you’re hell on yourself.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  Mac set down her spoon and crossed her arms on the table. “Alright. You still have this thought in your mind to go out in a blaze of glory.” She held a hand before Talice could draw a breath to reply. “We’ve had this conversation, as you said before, but nothing’s changed, not really. I saw that in this last little clusterfuck.”

  “How so? No, this is an honest question, Mac. I need to know, and you’re the only person who will tell me straight. I trust you. You’re my old DI.”

  Mac nodded and relaxed. “I’ve been hoping for a chance to show you can lead from someplace besides the point. You did it well when you stayed onboard the ship and directed the team from there. It’s a way you can extend your time in the field, and certainly your life. You’re not getting shot at all the time this way.”

  Talice didn’t answer for a long moment. “I understand what you’re saying, but it’s my job to lead from the point. I’m a Marine —”

  “So am I.”

  Talice blew a breath. “I know that, but dammit, I’m just a Grunt at heart. It’s what I do. It’s what I love. It gives me purpose and satisfaction.”

  “It’s your fucking drug.”

  Talice rolled her eyes. “And now you want to break my habit? Damn, thanks a lot. Hell, you’ve been my supplier for as long as I’ve known you.”

  Mac nodded. “Yeah, pretty horrible, that I want you to live as long as you can. Look, things are changing. I’ve got new legs coming, and by the time I’m walking again, I’ll be forty-five.”

  Talice looked aghast. “Oh no! It’s as I’ve always suspected!”

  Mac blinked twice. “What???”

  “You’re getting older!”

  They laughed again, this time longer and deeper. They gave each other a high-five.

  “It’s not just that,” said Mac, wiping her eyes. “I’m still, well…”

  “Well, what?”

  Mac shrugged. “I’m thinking about a family again.”

  “A… family. As in, having children? Of your own?”

  Mac nodded. “I’m still young enough. Just need to find the right man.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. You could just walk on Base and order one to marry you.” Talice chuckled. “And they’d do it, too.”

  “Yeah, if I married a civie, he wouldn’t last long. Maybe I should marry one of the mountain-men.”

  “Oh, hell, Mac, they’d worship you for the rest of their lives.”

  Mac shrugged again. “Let’s table this for now. The question is, what about you? You could do the TacOps thing, bring in one more good former Marine, and have the time of your life ordering them around.”

  Talice shook her head. “After this operation, Fawkes may decide we’re not worth the trouble.”

  “Oh, really? Who is he gonna get that’s better? I know a bit about this business, and there a
ren’t any like ours. We’re a team. We do this for fun, right? Sure as hell can’t be for the pay.”

  Talice shook her head. “We get compensated, you know that. But… there are other things, too.”

  “Such as?”

  “Just… look, things I need to think about before discussing with anyone. But trust me, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Mac nodded after a moment. “I can respect that.” She shifted her chair and cleaned away the remains of their meal, drifting into the kitchen area, then returned. “I’m gonna go home and get some sleep in my own bed. You promise, you’ll call if you need me, right?”

  Talice rose and gave her a hug. “I will, promise. Thanks, Mac. For everything.”

  “Rest. Listen to music, or read, or just listen to the rain some more. Relax. We did a good job.”

  “Yeah, I suppose so. I’m not looking forward to my next encounter with the major, however.”

  Mac slid her chair toward the door and retrieved her duffle. “I’ll call you tomorrow. We’ll do lunch.”

  Talice nodded, followed her to the door, kissed her on the cheek, and saw her into the lift. The door closed, and she made her way back into her apartment.

  “Lights off.” She sat again on the sundeck, inside the weather shield, listening to the rain. She breathed deeply, finding a bit of peace.

  Gotta go see Mom and Dad… while I’m still alive. Damn, I don’t want to die. I’d miss everyone. I’d… She chuckled to herself. Hell, I’d be dead, I wouldn’t care. But maybe the team, my friends, would miss me. And I wouldn’t want my friends to be sad. I’d hate that.

  She sighed, forcing away the melancholy. For now, she was home, and safe. She smiled.

  Her wristcom chimed. Glad you’re back in town. How about brunch tomorrow? Fawkes.

  Fawkes. Damn. What am I gonna do about this man? She punched out a reply. Sure. Ginny Sue’s 1100 Hours. Talice.

  Damn. So much for peace and quiet.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Diplomacy with a Big Stick

  (Part Two)

  Dirty Little Secrets

  “Be stern in the council-chamber,

  so that you may control the situation.”

  Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”

  Ginny Sue’s, and Brunch with Fawkes…

  Talice rose early, having slept out most of the day before, as Mac kept vigil on her health. She smiled as she dressed, hoping she could find a way to give back some of that support, and decided, at the last, as her old captain said, to pay it forward. Good advice. For anyone.

  It had not occurred to her how time had passed until she ventured out the next morning to meet with Fawkes. Though seasonal changes on Theia were milder than on Olde Earth, chill winds still blew on occasion, and this was one of those mornings that would turn your head around. She wrapped her jacket tighter and pulled the scarf around her face.

  She stepped into Ginny Sue’s and saw Fawkes at a table, a pot of tea waiting for her. He stood. She gave him a light hug, then sat and poured, waiting for his words.

  “Welcome back. Glad you’re okay.”

  Talice nodded, then set her cup down. “This is just a cordial visit, I hope. I’m not ready for interrogation.”

  Fawkes nodded. “We’ll talk about that privately. I just wanted to see you again and offer thanks for a job well done.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll pass that along to the team. They did all the dirty work this time.” Talice glanced to the buffet. “I’m hungry.” Without waiting, she rose and headed for the line.

  Fawkes followed. “You seem to be a bit…”

  She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Edgy? Yeah, you could say so. I need some time off and away from the city. I’m headed out to see my parents in a couple of days.”

  Fawkes began to fill his plate slowly. “How long will you be gone?”

  “Three, four days, maybe more. Depends.”

  They filed through the line in silence. Talice knew he wasn’t happy with her manner or words. She searched within herself and decided it didn’t matter. Something had changed. Something important.

  They sat again and ate, saying little. She caught Fawkes’s surreptitious glances, but ignored them. Finally, plates were cleared, and they sat with tea and coffee.

  Fawkes watched her like the proverbial hawk. “You okay?”

  Talice drew a breath, then let it go. “I’m alive. Better than I was yesterday. I’ve got a lot on my mind. I’m not good company today. Sorry.”

  “Let’s go somewhere we can talk.”

  Talice shook her head. “As I said, I’m in no mood for interrogation. I’m fine here.”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  Talice chuckled. “Get in line.” And have the intelligence to shut up. Don’t patronize me, please.

  He toyed with his cup. “How can I help?”

  “Right now, just give me a bit of space. As I said —”

  “You have a lot on your mind. Yes, I heard you.”

  “Then don’t press. Don’t.”

  Fawkes refilled his cup, drank, then set it away. “I’d like to see you for a debriefing before you leave for your visit.”

  Talice nodded. “That’s fine. How about tomorrow afternoon, your office, say about 1400 Hours?”

  Fawkes’s face fell. He looked at his wristcom, pressed a few buttons. “That would work. Shouldn’t take more than an hour. Have you spoken to Mac today?”

  “Not today, no. We just returned yesterday, and she was with me most of the day. What’s up?”

  “Just wondered.” He paused. “You sure you want to do it this way?”

  Talice gave him a look.

  “Okay, then tomorrow at 1400 Hours?”

  She nodded and rose. “Thank you for the brunch. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She walked out, leaving Fawkes alone at the table.

  By the time she hit the street, she was nearly running.

  * * *

  Talice wandered. She didn’t recall the last time she’d simply walked through the city doing nothing. She wasn’t a shopper, so she really didn’t pay attention to what was in the store windows. She was more a people-watcher, and took a seat at an outdoor tea shop to relax as the day warmed.

  She checked her wristcom for the time; she’d put on a new patch before her date with Fawkes, and drunk a bottle of S-H, so she should be good for a few hours. She felt better after her… whatever that was with the major. But whatever it was, love or lust or just wishful thinking… it wasn’t there today. And that’s part of the change, I know.

  She glanced at the store window, watching reflections of people moving about. She paused… Someone waving? At her? What the hell?

  “Talice!”

  She turned. “Jance? Konee? Holy fuck!”

  She jumped up and ran to embrace them as they crossed the street. Groundcars screeched to a halt and horns blared. They hugged and hugged and hugged some more. Both Jance and Konee planted kiss after kiss on Talice’s cheeks. Finally, they simply stood, hands entwined, looking at each other. In the middle of the groundcar way.

  “Oh, hell, c’mon, I’ve got a table over here!” Talice nearly dragged them back to the patio where a very anxious server had been waiting. “Sorry, I wasn’t running out, just…”

  He motioned with his hands. “No trouble, Miss. Ladies, may I get you something? And you, sir?”

  Talice turned. And stared. Jance and Konee went silent, then whispered in each other’s ears.

  “…Mikal?”

  “Hello, Talice. Good to see you again.” Mikal gave her his million-creditmark smile.

  Talice only nodded. Jance and Konee giggled like little girls. They scooted their chairs to either side, and Mikal gestured to the table. “May I join you?”

  Again, Talice nodded. Mikal sat between the other women, and they each wrapped an arm around his. Talice still couldn’t find her voice. Or control her staring. Finally, she remembered to breathe. “It’s apparently a small planet…”

&n
bsp; “A small city compared to some,” replied Mikal. “But not on this world.”

  No one said anything for a while. Talice resumed her staring. “I don’t understand,” she said at the last.

  “Mikal is arranging a trip to Olde Earth for us.” Jance beamed as did Konee.

  “That’s great, but… why?”

  Mikal shrugged. “History, nostalgia, call it what you want.” The server arrived with drinks and they toasted round the table. Talice sipped fruit juice while the others shared a bottle of champagne. “You’re not drinking with us, Talice?”

  “Doctor’s orders. No alcohol in daylight.” She grinned at their confusion, then they all laughed.

  Talice set down her glass. “So what’s the word, ladies? You’re in civies, so on leave?”

  Jance shook her head emphatically. “Nope. We’re done. Out what, a year or more ago?” She looked to Konee, who nodded.

  “No more screaming DIs, no more insufferable officers…” Konee looked to Talice. “Present company excepted, of course.”

  “So what are you doing? I mean, for a living? None of us retired from the Corps wealthy.”

  “Cyber-security, all hush-hush and secret,” said Jance as she motioned to Mikal, listening. “We work for this slave-driver now. This is our first time out of the compound in ten days.”

  “That’s… interesting. Here in the city?”

  “And other places,” replied Mikal, before either of the women could answer. “What about you? Retired and living the good life?”

  “Actually, I’m between jobs right now, just taking a bit of time off. I’m headed north to visit my parents in a day or two.”

  “Skiing?” Konee smiled. “We’ve done a bit of that, haven’t we Mikal?” Her comment was filled with suggestiveness.

  “My company owns a resort in the North Mountains. I’d be pleased if you’d visit as my guest.” Mikal tipped his glass to Talice.

  “Thanks, but I like my legs unbroken. Sitting around a fireplace with a drink in hand is more my idea of a resort.”

  He laughed. “If you’re looking for a job, we have openings.”