Archives of the Frontier Universe: An Assassin's Assignment (4 page)

“Of course. First things first: The memory spike. Did you bring it?”

Rose concentrated on the Court leader, and he put his arms on the table, leaning forward slightly. “We’ll keep our end of the agreement and hand the device over,
after
you provide the Pirate battle plans for our worlds. It would be very foolish of us to simply give you this precious intel entirely on your word.”

Captain Kyte sort of winced and sat back in his chair. Rose stared at the Eiltheen for a moment and then took to examining the rest of his group. Predictably, their faces all connoted their utmost support in his words. She then glanced around her own side of the table. Besides Captain Kyte, the four other officers sat by, their expressions sinking a tad. Rose was the only woman representing the Pirate faction at the table.

“
Oh, again you amaze me with your resourcefulness
,” echoed Captain Meyer. “
I got your message. So they brought some representatives from the Vycavykk Empire? They might not be official Court reps. but they’re certainly here in the interest of their domain. Interesting. Our forces have only a few garrisons
across the Empire, and the Vicese have actually proven cooperative. Well . . . a good portion of them have. I’m not aware of why they’d need to attend this meeting—
”

“Yes, we understand your caution,” began Kyte. “But though we are known as Pirates, honor is valued among our ranks.” He put his hands up declaratively. “Otherwise, we couldn’t convince other factions to work with us in the first place. And our activities would be as medieval as simple pillaging.” He waved his hand to one of the men next to him. “Go ahead and give them the intel.”

The man hesitated, obviously fearful of the risk. “Sir, I don’t think Command would allow us to give them the intel without first getting something in return.”

Captain Kyte held a confident posture. “I consider the fact that they showed up on time something in itself. Now, give them the intel.”

The subordinate acquiesced with a conflicted expression and pulled out a common memory chip. He promptly inserted it into a slot on the table and began downloading the intel. With the opportunity at hand, Rose sent another message to Meyer. After a few seconds, he replied.

“
Yes, part of our agreement apparently. They were supposed to provide the archives
,
which is what Fontaine ultimately wants. In exchange, we were to provide a portion of our battle plans across their worlds. Also, we’ve had to greatly reduce our efforts across Florenial . . . but not terminate them entirely. They know as well as we do that if we were to abandon Florenial altogether, it would promote suspicion in the Court.
”

she entered with her mind.

“
Like I said, I’m not sure. I wasn’t aware that they were involved with this particular deal.
”

The Pirate subordinate finally pulled the chip from the table. After a slight pause, he handed it to the man next to him, who passed it around to the center Eiltheen.

“And this is everything?” the representative asked, looking the chip over.

“It’s as much as Command will provide before they ensure the validity of the memory spike,” returned Kyte. “You’ll receive the rest once we examine the devise.”

Rose could see this news had unsettled the representatives. They began whispering amongst themselves, clearly arguing about the deal. Finally, though, the native of Forcurrier spoke. “This is a dangerous arrangement for us. We’ve got much to lose. I think it would be better for you to provide the entire collection of intel.” Rose sort of turned her eyes away in disgust.
Here we go
, she thought.
They’re not going to give us the spike unless we meet them all the way right now.
She concentrated on her slate again.

“Representative,” began Kyte. “If we provide everything without confirming the spike’s authenticity, then
we’ve
risked, and lost, everything.”

“No,” proclaimed the leader Eiltheen, after a second of thought. “We cannot accept a portion of your word. You need to provide more. Our leader’s orders were very clear, and we’re already violating them by considering a portion.”

“
Damn
!” answered Meyer finally. “
We can’t let that spike get away. Do you at least have a visual on it?
”

“Which is actually something I meant to ask,” continued Kyte. “Why did your leader not accompany you?”

“Business,” replied the Eiltheen, in a very forward tone. “Which is really none of your concern. We’ve brought what you asked for, and it was not our leader.”

“Really?” spoke Rose finally, leaning into a commanding position. “Then let’s see it. I should be able to determine its authenticity right now.” Everyone quieted down and looked to her. She gestured for the devise. “Out with it! I don’t have time to bandy unnecessary words; Command wants that intel. If it’s genuine, you can have your entire share of our intel right now.”

“
Wait, what’re you doing?
” asked Meyer.
“
You could scare them off!
”

“We do not mean to cheat you, Representative,” she continued. “Show me the spike.”

The Eiltheen leader hesitated. He looked to Captain Kyte for a moment and then finally spoke. “Fine.” He pointed to the Vicese man. “Show them.” The Vicese man paused for a moment, shaking his head in conflict. “Do it!” commanded the Eiltheen.

The muscular man then reached for his waist and withdrew a beautifully crafted memory shard. At least from what Rose could tell from afar, the device was real. Aside from that, however, she found it odd that ‘he’ had it instead of the Eiltheen . . . or the Forcurrian, who allegedly stole it in the first place. The broad man then stowed it away.

“I need to examine it,” pressed Rose. “Why did you put it up?”

“Hold on,” said the Eiltheen. “Because the agreement is being changed, we will need to confirm it with our leader.” He stood. “Please excuse me and my associates. We’d appreciate a private conversation amongst ourselves and time to contact our leader.”

“
Great!
” said Meyer. “
They’re not going to go through with it! You’ll have to improvise. I’m sending the transmission to the Court. By the time those reps. are finished with their ‘private talk,’ that place will be swarming with Court military.
”

Rose paused for a moment, thinking it over as fast as possible. Then she turned to Captain Kyte and nodded. “I say we let them have their moment.” She then turned to the head Eiltheen. “Very well. We’ll grant you ten minutes. But then, we must come to a decision.”

The Eiltheen bowed, though Rose detected no respect in the motion. He then whispered to his associates, and they walked out.

“
Okay, very good work
,” praised Meyer. “
Be advised, the Court’s on their way, about five minutes out.
The conspicuous message I sent was tagged immediately. You’ll need to act quickly and grab the spike in the confusion. Good luck
.”

Rose took a deep, revitalizing breath. “Well, Captain,” she said. “I’m not sure if they’re going to cooperate. I sense a strong degree of fear within them.”

“Perhaps you spooked them, ma’am,” insisted the man.

She shook her head and smiled. “I wouldn’t be concerned. As I said before, they
will
cooperate. Command has defined the spike as our top priority, whether or not our alliance survives.”

Still waiting on the Court representatives to return, the rest of the Pirate officers remained in their seats. Some had taken to conversing over the meeting, while others had turned to various sorts of paperwork. Roszephnye tuned them out and sat back for a moment, knowing Captain Kyte was growing more anxious by the minute himself. He was whispering to one of his associates, sort of reviewing the past few minutes. Unbeknownst to him and the rest, Rose could hear everything they were saying . . . and most of it pertained to her. Specifically, how she had managed to spook the representatives. The plan was already unfolding though, and nothing any of them thought would be relevant for long.

“
What’s Kyte up to
?” asked Meyer after a moment. “
Is he still with you
?”

Meyer paused. “
Okay, it looks like the Court is only minutes away. Perhaps even closer. Stay on your guard. They’re not going to let anyone escape that place.
”

Rose took a deceptive breath of fatigue. Captain Kyte turned away from his subordinate and looked to her. Looking at him, she presented a loose expression. “Captain, it seems like they’re intending to take longer than we thought. Where’s the nearest restroom?”

“Oh, just down the hall,” he pointed. “Left, out of the door.”

“Thank you. I’ll be just a moment.” She pointed a stern finger at them all. “Do not let them leave without giving us that spike!”

The man nodded. “Of course.”

Rose nodded back and then left the room, turning left. She proceeded down the hall, looking for the restroom.

“I’m guessing that was so you could speak privately?” assumed Meyer.

“Yes,” she mumbled, sensing her surroundings. She could already hear the Pirate officers speaking more freely. Further from them, she could sense (though not hear exactly) a more lively discussion taking place between the Court representatives. She ignored them all, though. “I still can’t speak too loudly,” she said. “Anyways, the Vicese, Meyer, they have the device.”

“What?” he asked, sounding astonished. “Why them?”

“Indeed. That is exactly what I thought. You told me the Forcurrian would have it. Or rather, he traveled to the Eiltheen world to acquire it.”

“Yes, that’s what was reported. It was believed that he was in possession of the spike.”

Rose reached the restroom and walked in quickly. There was no one else inside. “What is even odder is the fact that this Vicese man had possession of it. If not the Forcurrian, I would have thought the Eitheen reps. would’ve had it. Has Command or any of the Union reported an issue concerning the Vycavykk Empire?”

“No,” replied the captain. “At least not on such a scale that would encourage these two to seek
this
sort of agreement. But I don’t have all the details. The Union’s efforts there are still in the developmental stage.”

Rose thought for a second. “Perhaps word of Atlantis has inspired them to behave proactively,” she speculated. She shook her head, dispelling the trifling possibilities. “That’s irrelevant at this time, however. Meyer, I’m going after the reps. Like you advised earlier, I’ll secure the device in the confusion.”

“Good,” said Meyer. “I’d get back to them now. The Court’s got to be less than a minute away. When they find out, they’ll probably panic. You need to keep them in sight.”

“Very well. I’m on my way back. I’ll think of something. Boss R wants casualties to a minimum, if at all possible.” She opened the bathroom door and put one foot out.

“Ms. Byruhme!” shouted Captain Kyte. She looked down the hall and noticed the man hurrying towards her. “The Court must’ve intercepted one of our communication feeds! They’re on their way here!”

“What?!” Rose hissed in feigned shock. She then tuned her voice for cruelty. “Who’s responsible for this?!” She then paused as if thinking.

Captain Kyte met her halfway down the hall, and they turned for the representatives. “I don’t know. Our outposts spotted fully armed military squads headed this way. We’ve got to evacuate.”

“Those traitors!” she proclaimed. “Those Court rats! They must’ve done this!”

“No, ma’am. Impossible. They—”

At that time, the Court representatives flew out of their private room. “How did the Court find us?!” demanded the Eiltheen man of Kyte. “Who made an unsecure—”

Rose grabbed for Captain Kyte’s belt and snatched a pistol from it. She pointed it straight into the Eiltheen’s face, and he backed against the wall behind him. “You cheat!” she spat. “You sold us out, didn’t you?!”

The man held his hands in a forfeiting gesture as Rose pointed the gun scornfully. The others watched on in horror. “No!” pleaded her prey. “We’re on your side! And we have access to the most secure communication lines on this planet! They couldn’t have tracked us!”

“Byruhme, please!” begged Kyte. “I believe them. And we don’t have time to discuss this. They’re on the way!”

“Yes,” agreed the Eiltheen. “If they catch us here, they’ll throw me and my associates in prison for life! I would never have risked that.”

Rose kept pointing the pistol, impressing her phony intentions on them the best she could. Kyte walked as close as possible to the Eiltheen without touching him or the gun. “Byruhme, we need to evac!” As if to prove the scarcity of time, Rose began to detect the faint sounds of rushing vehicles in the streets outside. Captain Kyte turned to one of his subordinates, who followed him. “Evacuate the facility. Bring a transport for us and alert the military to cover our escape!” The woman froze for a moment. “Now!”

“Yes, sir.” She ran back into the conference room.

“Wait!” demanded Rose of the Eiltheen. “Your superior, what did he decide?”

The Eiltheen’s face of fright seemed to degrade even further into outright terror. “That . . . we needed more time to make a decision.” Rose tightened her face in a threatening manner. Her prey threw his hands up. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do about—”

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion went off several levels below them. The reverberations of its energy rocked the entire building, forcing them all to mind their footing. The lights in the hall flickered and were extinguished, as the yelling from other floors began. With no way of securing the device without slaying them all, Rose withdrew the pistol.

“Representative, you’re lucky the Court’s breathing down our necks!” she hissed. “I would think very hard about our agreement. Your freedom is now in our hands!” She handed the pistol back to Kyte and withdrew one of her swords. Its radiant ruby light lit up their faces, striking fear into everyone in sight. Pointing the weapon down the hall, she spoke. “Move, now! If we’re quick enough, we can get to the hangar.”

“Two floors up,” advised Captain Kyte quickly. The Forcurrian representative nodded and led the way. The rest followed, with Rose and the captain right behind.

“
I hope you’re planning on separating them
,” entered Meyer from the comm. “
The more who witness you take the device, the greater the chance of being compromised will be.
”

At the end of the hall, a group of Pirate soldiers appeared and approached. “Captain!” one called. “The Court’s right outside!”

“I know!” yelled Kyte. “Turn around and lead the way!”

“Yes, sir!” They ran ahead and began rounding a corner.

Now in the hall with the windows again, Rose could see smoke already rising from below. She looked to Captain Kyte, acting on Meyer’s advice. “Captain, perhaps
you
should lead the way? We need to get to the transport as soon as possible.”

“They know where we’re going!” he replied. “We’re—”

Out of nowhere, a military vessel dropped from the sky and cast a floodlight into the hall. “FREEZE!” yelled the pilot. The back half of their group stopped in place. However, the soldiers and first three representatives continued out of sight. “DON’T MOVE OR WE’LL OPEN FIRE!”

Rose took a step to the side, moving closer to Kyte. The two Vicese representatives stayed planted to the ground, holding their hands up to see through the blinding light.

“Damn!” cursed Kyte. “They’ve got us!”

“
What’s going on?!
” demanded Meyer. “
You can’t let them capture you. Get the device
!”

“What do we do?” asked Kyte.

Rose made to speak, but the military ship cut her off. “POSTERITOR! DROP YOUR WEAPON!” Rose gripped her arkanverre even harder, having no intention of dropping it.

“What do we do?!” repeated Kyte, growing hysterical.

“We can’t let them capture us!” hissed Rose. “We’ve got to—”

ZEEEEWW! shrieked a crystal projectile, as it ripped by and impaled the wall. “WE’RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN!” affirmed the ship. “DROP THE WEAPON AND GET ON THE GROUND!”

With what little time she had, Rose looked to the captain again. “We’ve got to take that ship out! Go! I’ll catch up!” Kyte gave a look of bewilderment and appeared as if he meant to speak. However, abandoning them, Rose conjured a bright energy with her hand and cast it at the aircraft. The power shattered the window, soared right for the ship, and impacted with trembling results. Already sprinting the other way down the hall, Rose noticed the floodlight jerk erratically until turning out of sight.

“
Byruhme!
” sounded Meyer. “
What’re you doing
?
They could escape!
”

“Improvising!” she huffed, running for a further section of the window. “This won’t take long. I got to neutralize that ship or I won’t escape myself.”

“
But, how’re you
—”

The ship’s floodlight was back on her in a flash. The ship turned to give chase, firing wildly into the hall. Staying perhaps inches ahead of the zipping crystals, Rose ran as fast as her heals would allow. The hall was getting shredded behind her. Glass shattered, sparks flew, stone supports spat, and fires grew on her trail. The pandemonium was deafening. Preparing her suicidal assault on the ship, the woman darted right, straight for an intact pane.

“I got one shot at this; wish me luck!” she yelled unceremoniously to Meyer.

Before the captain could respond, Rose swung her arkanverre behind her body and then launched it for the window like a spear. The ruby weapon impaled the window in the direct center, punching through and continuing for the adjacent building. Glistening in blue cannon fire, the shattered glass plunged for the street below. Now only mere steps from the edge, Rose primed her left-handed harpoon blade for firing. The ship’s volley intensified, following her to the very sill, but she leapt for the street just in time.

A swarm of searing shards ripped by in near slow motion. Twisting like a falling cat to avoid them, the woman fired her harpoon skyward and hooked an overlooking structure. She retraced the harpoon to slow her fall, while simultaneously reaching out with telekinesis to grab her falling sword. The ship pursued her viciously, repositioning to obtain an adequate visual. Still calling the sword back, Rose twisted again in air, released the hooked overlook, and fired her right harpoon right back at it. The vitreous blade speared the overlook, locked, and pulled her to the right at high speed. Commanding the harpoon with great skill, she swung parallel to the buildings, seized her arkanverre, and continued straight for the firing ship.

Plummeting under it from the rapid swing, Rose effectively outpaced the rate the ship’s guns could follow her. Once she neared the line of sight endangering civilized areas, the ship ceased fire and began ascending.

“No, you’re not getting away from me now!” she insisted with pride.

Reaching the apex of the swing, she released the overlook, recalled the harpoon, and fired the other again. The bright red arrow punctured the ship’s bow (forgoing the ability to phase out of existence) and tore a nasty gash into the metal. The weapon found some suitable hold within and locked once more. Still flying through the air on sheer momentum, Rose retracted the device rapidly. Rocketing for the stars even faster than the ship itself, she landed gracefully atop it.

“Let’s see how you like this!” she growled.

As the ship turned to evacuate the area, Rose drew her second sword, lifted them both high, and jabbed them straight down. The ship bucked severely as her blades drove into countless critical systems. Golden sparks crackled from the wounds, but she ignored the ship’s agony, yanked her swords out, and jabbed them in again. In the wake of another spout of sparks, red flames coughed from the terrible gashes. Rose leaned into a tug-of-war stance and jerked the blades rearward, inflicting irreparable damage. At once, warning sirens sounded from inside the cockpit and the vessel began to fall.

“There we go!” she praised happily, pulling her dual arkanverres out and sheathing them. “Problem solved.”

“
You destroyed it
?!” asked Meyer excitedly.

“Affirmative,” she replied. The ship shuddered as it went down, forcing her to mind her footing atop it. “Hold on,” she advised. Locating a viable attach point on the Pirate’s building, she fired her harpoon away and abandoned the burning ship. Crashing through another window, she stood and examined the area. It was clear. “Okay. Air support is out of commission.”