Mercurial: Ace Evans Book 5 (Ace Evans Series), page 12
“We are on station, Command,” Sly said.
“Alpha Company takes the lead,” Nyx said. “I want Cronus Team securing that exit.”
“Copy that,” Sand replied. “Alpha Team, advance.”
On Nyx’s computer screens, she had small video feeds from each of the battle suits, including Ash and Sly. She could see the Operators moving into the air lock. Half of them fit into the inner chamber, which cycled quickly. Sands was the first Operator through the air lock and into the super yacht. She moved quickly from the air lock to a restaurant where she took cover.
“I’m seeing five combatants,” Sand announced. “Four aggressors in black uniforms. They’ve got someone pinned down.”
“Just four?” Nyx said. “You sure?”
“Positive, Chief. There are five combatants and several casualties.”
“Announce yourself, but put down anyone who seems aggressive,” Nyx ordered. “They could be firing lethal weapons. Do not take any chances, Alpha Company.”
“Roger,” Sand said.
Nyx waited. It was the worst part of her job. Being a Controller was great. She had a console and everything was at her fingertips. But the one thing that she didn’t like was being unable to do the things her Operators were doing. Not that she wanted to be in a gunfight or a battle, but there was part of her that felt as if she were hiding and letting others do the dangerous parts. It was part of the agreement. As a Controller, she helped her Operator do the job. There were times when all she did was watch the radar or monitor a situation from a distance, and there were other times when she remotely piloted Alex’s Titan battle suit. It was one of the reasons her transmissions didn’t go through the suit’s audio system, but straight into the Operator’s INC. She became the second voice in his mind, the second set of senses, giving him the ability to do two things at once. It was what made Ahzco’s Operators so unique, and she loved her job, but she hated waiting.
Sand had activated her battle suit’s public address system. It amplified her voice when she spoke so that she could be heard over the battle.
“Drop your weapons and stand down!” she ordered. “You are surroun—”
One of the combatants dressed in a dark uniform turned and fired his pistol at her. It was a wild shot and would have missed anyway, but Sands pulled back behind the wall of the restaurant she was in. The other members of Alpha Company responded in kind. There was a second of heavy fire from various places in the super yacht’s wide concourse, then everything was silent. Corporal Sansabar looked out from her hiding place to see that all four combatants in black uniforms were down on the ground.
“Secure their weapons,” Sand ordered.
“Don’t forget there’s another person behind that furni—” Before Nyx finished her sentence, two hands went up in the air from the far side of the blackened and smoking furniture.
“Don’t shoot,” a familiar voice said. “I surrender.”
Nyx’s heart jumped into her throat. Her entire body quivered with excitement as Alex stood up. He was alive. No matter what else happened or what the future held, Alex was alive, and that was all Nyx cared about.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Alex felt some relief, but his grief over Candice was still raw. They were friends and nothing more. He didn’t have romantic feelings for her, in fact he barely knew her, but seeing her killed by Ernesto had left him shaken.
“I guess you’re alive after all,” Sansabar said.
“Thanks to you,” Alex replied. “The pistol I was using had just run out of power before you saved the day.”
“I don’t know,” Sand said. “Looks like you were holding your own.”
Alex nodded. He had taken out six of the security team members before they could get to cover. It was another indication that they had no training. They had run toward him in a group, which made them an easy target. Once they split apart and took cover, he had only fired back to keep them at bay. With shots coming at his location from different directions, he couldn’t take the time to aim carefully.
“Here,” she continued, holding out a com-link to him, “someone wants to talk to you.”
Alex took the small communicator and slipped it into his ear canal. Almost immediately, he heard Nyx’s voice and felt a wave of excitement. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed the sound of her voice. Having her in his ear made him feel almost whole again.
“Alex, you’re alive!” she said with unconcealed excitement. “You had me worried.”
“Sorry,” Alex said. “It’s been hectic over here.”
“I’m sure it has, and I’m so glad you’re okay, but I need to give a report to Commander Haley.”
“Right,” Alex said. “I’ve been pretty much on the run since the news of Lynn Faulk’s conspiracy hit the networks. One of the crew was helping me but she…she was…killed by Ernesto Sallizar.”
“Isn’t he the med tech—”
“That kidnapped me from the Currency, yes,” Alex said. “And the security team is all down, thanks to your people.”
“Who else is on board?” Nyx asked.
“Just the crew,” Alex said. “No other passengers.”
The next six hours were exhausting. Alex made sure that Candice was seen to, but once the Silent Partner was secured, VP Haley turned it over to the Arcadian authorities, along with Francis Parleon. A shuttle took Alex across to the Drachma where he was met by Ash and Sly.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Sly said.
“You look well enough,” Ash said as she hugged Alex.
“What about you?” he replied. “You’re all better?”
“In fighting shape,” Ash said with her usual bravado.
“And a few scars,” Sly said. “But they look good on her.”
“Shut it!” Ash warned him. “I’m fine.”
“Where’s Nyx?” Alex asked.
“You mean Chief West?” Sly asked as he began leading the way out of the hangar and through the Drachma’s maze of corridors. “She’s waiting on the bridge with Commander Haley.”
“The VP is on this ship?” Alex asked.
“He dropped everything and recommissioned this ship just to search for you,” Ash said. “He’s under the misguided perception that you’re important or something.”
Alex couldn’t help but notice the Spartan nature of the vessel. He hadn’t recognized on the shuttle ride over. And once he was on board he was hit by the strictly martial nature of her layout. There were places where the paint was peeling, and others were newly covered with fresh paint. But there were no glow panels and no difference between decks. The ship was built for war, with no thought given to aesthetics or comfort. She felt older but was exactly what Alex thought a battleship should be.
“We got Parleon, right where you said he would be,” Ash explained as they moved up a set of stairs.
“His crew was starving him,” Sly said with a chuckle. “I guess he wasn’t very popular on his yacht.”
“What happened to you?” Ash asked.
“About what you’d expect,” Alex said. “Although I was promoted to lieutenant. You two should be saluting me right now.”
They reached the bridge and stood in the doorway waiting. Nyx saw him first. She rushed over and threw her arms around him. When she spoke, it was barely a whisper with her lips right beside his ear.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
He nodded, but didn’t reply. There was no time. Nyx immediately stepped aside and Loman Haley, vice president of Ahzco’s security division, waved him toward the command chair. Nyx, Ash, and Sly walked slightly behind.
“It’s good to see you again, Sergeant Evans,” Loman said.
“Thank you, sir,” Alex replied.
“We’re on our way out of the system,” Loman said. “Let me get us through this tunnel, then I want to hear everything.”
The passage through the space tunnel took only a few minutes, and once they were through, Loman turned control over to Lieutenant Rory Jones. The executive led Cronus Team to a small debriefing room. They all sat and listened as Alex explained what Lynn Faulk had him do. Loman was most interested in General Cordair and Sigma Services.
“So she’s stolen our designs,” Loman said. “No surprise there. She’s got spies everywhere in the company.”
“It’s one thing to modify the MBS, sir,” Nyx said. “But is she able to replicate the surgical procedures to implant neural controllers?”
“She must be,” Haley said. “We have to anticipate that she’s able to do it.”
“What good would it do to build Titans if she didn’t have Operators?” Ash said.
“Modified Titans,” Alex added. “The one I flew had arms with hands. It wasn’t armed, but it had built-in weapons in the arms.”
“The question is, how far along is she in building this army of hers and getting Operators ready to pilot them?” Loman pointed out. “We lost her trail, thanks to Arcadian Orbital Control.”
“Where can she go that she’ll be safe?” Nyx pointed out. “There’s news about the conspiracy on every network, in every system.”
“But she has access to Ahzco’s private systems,” Haley pointed out. “She could be hiding in any of them.”
“If she’s just hiding,” Alex said, “then she’s not a threat.”
“Lynn Faulk is always a threat,” Haley said ruefully. “Even if she’s a wanted woman on every civilized system in the FTA, you can’t count her out. She has connections and more money than the GPD of most level-two planets. With those resources, she can buy her way out of trouble.”
“If we’ve lost her trail,” Nyx asked. “Where are we going?”
“To the Askerria Sector,” Haley said. “We’re a few days out, and I want you all rested up. The conspiracy may have been revealed, but there are still threats out there. Our forces in the Askerria Sector could be under attack by rival corporations.”
“Surely, the other military groups see that they were being manipulated,” Ash said. “Faulk and Parleon wanted every CDF decimated before they launched their own war.”
“Which is what makes me worry that Faulk has more resources than we imagine,” Haley said. “Even if those military groups had blown each other to bits, the survivors, banding together, would make a formidable force.”
“And if those corporate militaries believe that Faulk’s conspiracy is no longer a threat,” Alex said, “they might resume fighting with each other for the mineral rights in the Askerria Sector.”
“Exactly,” Loman said. “Alpha Company has been useful in the rescue operations, but if there’s going to be a fight, only Cronus Team will be of much use. I won’t send Operators into a battle zone in modified Patroller MBS.”
“We’ll be ready,” Ash said.
“No doubt,” Sly added.
“Good, then you’re all dismissed,” Haley said. “I just need a few more moments with Alex.”
Nyx gave him a wink, while Sly slapped Alex on the shoulder. They shuffled out, leaving Loman Haley and Alex alone.
“You okay?” Haley asked.
“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?” Alex asked.
“Because you had a medical incident the last time I saw you,” Haley said.
“That was just sheer exhaustion,” Alex lied, thinking of the debilitating headache he’d suffered on the Silent Partner.
“I appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile, Alex,” Haley said. “You’ve saved my life more than once, and that’s something I won’t forget. But you don’t have to impress me or anyone else. You can do things no one else can do, but it isn’t worth risking your health for.”
“I’m not,” Alex said. “I feel fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive,” Alex said. “I could use some rest, but otherwise I’m tip-top.”
“Alright, but if that changes, I want to know immediately,” Haley said. “Your health and well-being come first.”
“Yes, sir,” Alex replied.
Haley stood up and extended a hand. “It’s good to have you back, Sergeant.”
“It’s good to be home, sir.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Nyx was waiting just outside. She had considered finding some work to do and giving Alex time to rest, but she couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing him. He walked out of the briefing room with a smile on his face.
“Hello,” Alex said playfully.
“Hungry?” Nyx asked.
“Famished,” he replied.
“Good. Ash and Sly are in the chow hall. I’ll show you the way.”
They walked to a stairway and went up half a flight before Alex stopped Nyx with a hand on her arm. She turned to face him just as he stepped up onto the same stair as her. They were close, their bodies almost touching.
“What?” she asked.
In response, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck. The embrace felt good. There were times when all Nyx wanted was to be alone with Alex, to let her feelings out so that he knew how completely in love with him she was. But she wasn’t sure the hug was about that, and a few seconds later, she felt his body shaking with silent sobs.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
For a few moments, he couldn’t answer, and she just held him. Finally, when he pulled back, his eyes red from the tears, he spoke his mind.
“I lost a friend,” Alex said.
“The girl on the yacht,” Nyx said, her heart suddenly filled with anguish.
“We weren’t close, you know,” Alex said. “But being chased through the ship created a bond. She died trying to help me and I’m struggling with that. I can’t get it out of my mind.”
“That’s understandable,” Nyx replied. “Losing someone is frightening and it takes a toll. The best thing for you is to be with friends and rest. It will get better.”
“I just don’t want to lose anyone else,” Alex said. “If anything ever happened to you…”
“It won’t,” Nyx said, raising her hand and stroking his face. “I’m here. I’m okay. You’re not alone.”
“Do you think that’s why I care, Nyx? You think I just need you in my head?”
She didn’t reply. He pulled her close again.
“It’s not that,” he said.
Their lips came together, soft at first, then with growing urgency. Nyx felt as if there were fireworks in her brain. She felt light all over, as if the artificial gravity had suddenly failed. When he pulled back a moment, she knew without a single doubt that he loved her.
“I’m so glad I have you in my life,” he said.
“I’m glad too,” she managed to say.
They walked up the stairs together, but Alex gave her space as they left the enclosed stairwell and headed for the chow hall. Fraternizing on a military vessel was common enough. The unwritten rules were simply no public displays of affection and don’t let the romance interfere with your job. Nyx felt like everyone could see what had just happened as she walked into the chow hall, but the truth was no one even noticed her. Alex was a different story. Everyone looked at him. He was becoming just a little bit famous. Most people had no idea what made him special. His abilities were still a secret to most of the crew, but people knew there had to be something about him that made Lynn Faulk abduct him from the Currency. And it was no secret that he had saved VP Haley’s life on TROY in the Helena system and led the escape from the prison transport ship in the Skandia system.
“Sit down. I’ll get your food,” Nyx told Alex.
He nodded and did as she told him. It was obvious that he had been crying, but to their credit, his friends didn’t push him to explain or tease him for it. He sat at a table with Sly and Ash across from him and Corporal Sansabar beside him, while Nyx got trays of food for them both. When Nyx got to the table, Sly was complaining about the food.
“I’m betting what you had on that yacht was way better than this slop,” Sly said. “A ship that big has got to have an incredible chef.”
“Several,” Alex said. “The Silent Partner has several restaurants and serving bots that will bring whatever you want right to your room.”
“Sounds like my kind of place,” Sly said.
“A ship like that must cost over a billion credits just to keep it running,” Ash said. “I can’t even imagine.”
“Why would anyone want a yacht that big?” Sansabar said. “That’s like a cruise liner.”
“It’s all about perception,” Nyx said, settling in and moving the food on her tray around with a fork. “The bigger the ship, the more important she must be.”
“True,” Alex said. “And a ship that size can hide a lot of things.”
“Like those drones,” Ash said. “They were easy targets, but if just one of them had gotten through…”
“And most ships don’t have a point defense like ours,” Sly said.
“Not to mention two incredibly talented Titan Operators,” Ash said with a grin.
“I think she needed something that big,” Alex said. “Something that could impress guests she invited on board, but also something that could be equipped with weapons and carry troops.”
“What was she planning?” Sly asked.
“To take over the galaxy,” Nyx said.
“Man, I don’t get it,” Sly said.
“Some people can never have enough,” Sansabar said.
“You think she’ll try again, Ace?” Ash asked.
Alex nodded. “She won’t give up. Her plans might change, though. No one is going to make her empress of the galaxy now.”
“They won’t be able to stop her if she has an army big enough,” Nyx said.
They let the conversation turn to more jovial matters. Nyx didn’t like thinking about someone with seemingly unlimited resources building a massive military to enslave worlds. Some people had said that corporations like Ahzco were already doing that. It was a fine balance between producing goods that made people’s lives better and becoming so large that every decision a corporation makes comes under scrutiny by the very people utilizing the goods made by that company. Nothing was perfect—not Ahzco, and not the Free Trade Association. Life, she had come to understand, was what a person made it. And Nyx wanted to carve out the best life she could.
