Starhold (23 page)

23: Truth

On the hillside of the Government Compound, the trio could see the river. To go back in the direction from which the Sarissans had come, they knew they had to move south, which would be away from the river. By the time the first rays of daylight arrived, the fugitives were somewhere in the city between the Compound and the edge of the settlement.

Carr had hoped to be out of town by daybreak, but Sanchez was still feeling the effects of her beating. Even she moved faster than Paul however, who seemed very frail and had to rest frequently. Maybe it was the result of months of horrid treatment at the hands of the Rhuzari, or maybe he was deliberately trying to slow them down. Moving cautiously and staying out of sight also hindered their progress. Carr wished they could just hail a taxi.
Take us to our spaceship and step on it!

As they moved along, life was stirring on the streets of Bakkoa. People were starting to move about, with folks going to work, shopkeepers sweeping their sidewalks, and motorized vehicles appearing on the streets. Carr felt it might be along the lines of 06:00 hours, maybe even closer to seven. Right now, they just needed to get out of the city.

“I think this street looks familiar,” said Sanchez, in a less than confident voice.

“Please don’t leave me behind,” pleaded Paul for what seemed like the hundredth time as he tried to keep up.

Carr snorted, which earned a rebuke from Sanchez. “Carr, he’s struggling, and for that matter, I could use another rest.”

The three stopped and Carr motioned toward a small park. “We can take a breather over there for a few minutes.”

As they walked into the park, Sanchez dropped back to assist the fragile Paul Schwall. Carr located a bench in the center of the grounds, near some sort of small stone building. They could still see the street, but passersby wouldn’t take notice of them as easily, being partially obscured by bushes and trees.

Paul sat down on the bench, but Carr continued to stand. He was anxious to move on as soon as possible. TF 19 was going to be in-system soon, if they weren’t already. The data onboard
Kite
would be valuable for them to have, especially if they had to face Haldryn’s titan-class warship.
Kite’s
sensors were the most sophisticated tech in the Renaissance Sector and if there was a weakness to the Rhuzari warships, it may be in the data contained on the scout ship’s computers.

“Sorry that I’m slowing us down,” said Paul from the bench.

“Yeah, me too.”

Paul froze as the pistol pressed against the back of his head. Before they left the unconscious Attus, Sanchez had grabbed his gun and tucked it away.

“I don’t understand. What are you doing?” Paul said as he started to turn around slowly to face Sanchez.

“No, no, no. Stay put, Paul, or whatever the hell your name is. Here’s the thing, I’m not sure if this is a stun gun or a regular pistol. You wouldn’t want me to find out on the back of your head, would you? Even a stun gun at this range is going to cause some messy damage. You just be a good boy and sit still.”

“Finally,” said an exasperated Carr. “When did you know?”

“From the beginning. I realize you’re not much for actually reading the mission briefings, but there were pictures of all of the
Theodora
crew, and this isn’t Paul Schwall. One thing though—if he’s one of the bad guys, why did we bring him along?”

“If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have gotten two steps from the Government Compound. He was our pass out, but now that we’re out—”

At that moment, Pretend Paul shot up off the bench, attempting to make a run for it. He got about a meter before Sanchez pulled the trigger and he fell to the ground.

“How ‘bout that? It
was
a stun gun,” said Sanchez. “Well, what do we do now?”

Carr glanced down at Pretend Paul, who was out cold. “Let’s just leave him and make a break for the ship.”

“That won’t do at all,” said a voice from behind a cluster of bushes. The man revealed himself, as well as his colleague, who had been hiding around the corner of the small building. “You’d never make it.” It was the pretend waiter from the café, the one who warned Mumphrey of the police trap.

“Thanks for helping us out earlier,” Carr said. “We both got captured, and this man…”

“We’ve been following your exploits with great interest, but right now, I think we should move this guy behind the building before a greenshirt patrol happens by. Lornec, bring him,” said the man to his friend, who grabbed Paul’s arms and dragged him along as he followed the others behind the stone building.

“I’m Sandu and this is Lornec. We’re acquaintances of your friend, Mumphrey. You’ll never make it to your ship. The entire police force and the militia are out looking for you. Luckily, we found you first.”

Sanchez motioned to the stone building behind which they were hiding. “What’s this building? Maybe we could hide in here for a while.”

“This? Oh, that’s a mausoleum holding the remains of our dear departed colonial governor, Lord Cheprin. Giving us privacy behind his tomb is probably the greatest single thing Cheprin ever did for anyone in this colony,” replied Sandu, to the amusement of his associate.

“We appreciate you taking care of us,” said Sanchez.

Sandu smiled. “I think right now—”

He was interrupted by two burly men who came around the corner of the mausoleum. “Good work little brother. Found them in good shape, did you?”

“Carr, Sanchez, this great lummox of a man here is my brother, and our leader, Korab,” said Sandu. “And this even greater lummox is Voss.”

Korab shook hands with the Sarissans, but Voss just glowered in their direction.

“And how ‘bout that fellow on the ground?” asked Korab.

“Yeah, about him,” answered Sanchez, “he’s a spy sent along with us to find out where our ship is. I sort of zapped him with this gun.”

Voss stepped forward. “Give me that thing.”

Carr moved between Sanchez and Voss. “Look, if it’s all the same to you folks, it’s getting a little crowded here. If any more of your people show up, we’re going to need a bigger building to hide behind. Could you take us to Mumphrey?”

The six of them piled into Korab’s nearby truck, taking along the still unconscious Pretend Paul. Traveling back streets and avoiding police checkpoints, they arrived at Korab’s home after a slow and tedious trip through town. It was around eleven in the morning by the time Carr and Sanchez were reunited with Mumphrey. Along with Korab, Sandu, and Voss, the Sarissans ate a delicious lunch prepared by Korab’s wife. She introduced the shy Dezrin, but the black-haired girl said nothing as she rushed around the large kitchen helping Vesna with the cooking and serving.

After lunch, as Vesna and Dezrin cleared the table and washed the dishes in the background, Pretend Paul was marched into the huge kitchen by Voss and tied to a chair.

“I don’t like government spies in my home,” Korab grumbled to the man. “And this matter is gonna be resolved one way or the other before my kiddies get home from school, so tell us your real name and tell us now!”

“Paul. Paul Schwall. Ask them,” he replied, nodding toward Carr and Sanchez, who both just rolled their eyes.

Voss made an animal-like grunt and stood, placing both hands on the tabletop. “This is useless. Let’s kill him and get it over with. In fact, let’s get rid of these three foreigners too, while we’re at it. I still say they’re government spies, the whole lot of them.”

Both Carr and Sanchez shifted uncomfortably on their wooden chairs, but remained silent. Mumphrey didn’t react at all. She had apparently developed an immunity to the big man’s bluster.

“Be quiet and sit down, Voss,” Korab ordered as he picked up a meat cleaver from the countertop. The boss walked back over to Pretend Paul, cleaver in hand. “I’m a butcher ya see, so I know how to use the tools of the trade. Now, killin’ folks ain’t our way, but that don’t mean you’re necessarily gonna get outta here with ten fingers, unless I start gettin’ some answers. Now, let’s try this again. What’s your name?”

“You—you wouldn’t,” the scared boy muttered, “not in front of these women.”

Korab chuckled. “Boy, you’re in a meat packin’ plant. These women have all seen lots worse. Slaughterin’ animals is commonplace ‘round here, so I’ll ask you again—what’s your real name? Answer me!”

“Kees. Police Corporal Kees.” Pretend Paul didn’t answer—it was a woman’s voice. Emerging from the hallway that connected the kitchen to the rest of the house was a middle-aged woman. It was Dr. Devi.

* * * *

Korab hadn’t look very pleased before Devi arrived, but now he was downright upset.

“What in hell’s name you doin’ here, Doc?” he demanded.

Carr raised his hand. “Whoa, whoa! She’s the one who sent him with us,” Frank said, pointing toward Pretend Paul, or Corporal Kees, or whatever his name really was. “I respect that this is your home, Korab, but help me understand something—you know her?”

Devi moved to the side of the prisoner. “Carr, your questions will be answered in due course, but I’m afraid we’re in the middle of an emergency at the moment. Voss, Sandu—come over here and untie him.”

Both men looked at Korab, who signaled his approval.

“What’s it about, Doc?” asked Korab as his men complied with Devi’s instructions.

Devi ignored Korab and turned to Carr.

“First off, sorry about the sedative I gave you the other day, Carr. It was either that or the real truth serum. No unpleasant aftereffects, I trust. I also apologize for my little performance in the detention room earlier this morning, but I was coerced into that by Naar.”

Carr’s stern face transformed into a grin. “Not a problem, Doc. All things considered, I’d say we owed you.”

“Well, don’t thank me just yet—there’s a catch, and that’s why I’m here,” Devi said, turning to her host. “And I’m very sorry I’ve come to your home in the middle of the day, Korab, but if I hadn’t, you and everyone else would shortly be under arrest. Voss, hold this man in his chair. Sandu, place his right hand on the table and hold it palm down.”

Corporal Kees struggled, but there was no way he could overcome Voss and Sandu.

“This is one of Sheel’s men,” Devi said to the Sarissans. “Before he was planted in the cells with you two, I was ordered to implant a subcutaneous transmitter in the back of his right hand. Before I did though, I managed to coat the chip with a resin that limits the distance of the transmission. Their test worked because he was in the same building, but as you three fled, they stopped receiving the signal.”

Dr. Devi produced several instruments from her coat pocket. “They have signal cars working the neighborhoods. It’s only a matter of time until the greenshirts get close enough to locate this transmitter. I have to get that chip out of his hand before they lock on to it.”

The young man continued to struggle as Devi worked on him. Korab brandished the meat cleaver he was still holding. “If you don’t simmer down and let her get that thing out, I’ll make quick work of it by takin’ off yer whole hand.” Kees suddenly became more cooperative.

The doctor pried and poked for a few seconds, then produced a tiny chip, which she threw on the floor. Nodding to Voss, the big man stomped on it several times, reducing it to dust.

“I hope I made it in time,” said Devi.

Korab nodded. “Voss, pass the word and double the usual lookout.”

Vesna, who stood near the head of the large kitchen table with Dezrin by her side, spoke up. “Korab, I do wish you’d pick another place to conduct your interrogations. Now, get that man out of my kitchen,” the mistress of the house demanded. “And when he’s gone, we’ll all sit down to some apple pie.”

“Vesna’s desserts are even better than her meals,” remarked Inspector Mumphrey to her compatriots.

Korab moved to his wife’s side and gave her a hug. “We deal with stress in this family by eatin’. Sounds good to me, hun.” Giving his wife a quick kiss on the cheek, he turned to Carr and Sanchez. “Doc Devi here is my person on the inside at the Government Compound. She’d be the main reason our group’s been able to stay in business all this time. Her info keeps us one step ahead of the greenshirts.

“Doc, a piece of pie ain’t enough thanks for what ya just did, but will ya join us just the same?”

Devi sat down at the table. “I can’t stay much longer, but I do have some important information to share. And Vesna’s apple pie—how can I resist?”

* * * *

As predicted, the pie was delicious. Dr. Devi’s news, however, was disturbing.

“That’s just incredible,” murmured Korab after hearing her out. “Understand that I’m glad the Threshold’s gone. I never wanted to be a part of the Empire again, but to make that decision for the whole colony…”

“Not to mention all the people that died in the explosion,” put in Sandu. “Doctor Devi, you’re sure about this, that Sheel ordered the Threshold’s destruction?”

“Very sure, and unless I miss my guess, Naar was involved in it right up to her neck as well.”

Mumphrey swallowed her last bite of pie. “Korab, it looks to me like you’re just trading one empire for another.”

“She’s right,” said Carr. “Sheel admitted as much to me when we spoke in his office. He intends on using your people’s tech advantages to start a new empire, one that he controls. And he’s going to start by destroying my government’s fleet when it arrives.”

Korab made a fist and started to pound it down on the table, but a quick look from his wife slowed his arm, so that his fist just tapped the table. “Dammit! I thought when Cheprin died that maybe Sheel would be different.”

“And that’s another thing,” said Dr. Devi. “I did an autopsy on Cheprin. It was supposed to look like he died of a stroke, but I’m pretty sure he was poisoned.”

“Sheel needed to move himself up,” guessed Sandu. “It appears the Underground still has a job to do.”

“And so do I,” said Devi. “I should be getting back now. If I’m gone too long, it could look suspicious.”

Carr gestured for her to hold on for a moment. “Before you go, Doctor, I want to ask you something. Right before that phony interrogation you did on me, you said there was one surviving crewmember of the
Theodora
. Was that just to set up this pretend Paul Schwall business, or was that the truth?”