The Girls From Alcyone (21 page)

"What they represent, is a liability," Markus cut in. "The resources we've used—that you've personally reallocated—the staggering debt we've incurred… We are in no position to refuse the will of the Council, let alone fight a war against the entire Federation."

Murmurs of opinion echoed around the room, mostly in agreement with his statement.

Hitomi raised her hands for silence. "I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. We still don't know the Council's intentions."

"Then what do you propose?" Shinji asked.

"I see only one course of action. I will go to Earth and address the Council. I've already logged the petition with the local Federation Envoy."

"You?" Markus asked, staring at the braces on her legs. "In your condition?"

"I still have
some
pull with the Council."

"There was a time when Kimura had a
seat
on the Council," Markus said, unable to resist pointing out that which they all knew so well.

Hitomi conceded the point. Her father and grandfather had held a seat on the Council for Trade and Finance, but that was before Daedalus, before humankind had reached out into the cosmos. It was no secret that the Board blamed her for the loss of the position and the influence that it had once given their company.

"I also have twenty-one contract requests for the girls and more coming in." She tapped the data-pad in front of her, activating the wall monitor at the end of the room. "I propose that we accept these contracts now. On Alcyone, the girls will remain an easy target. Under contract, they will at least be dispersed, as well as come under the protection of the companies they serve."

Markus sat back down; she could see him trying to concoct some other argument, but Hitomi had planned her maneuvers carefully. There was little he could say against her at this point.

Hitomi flashed up the fee details on the screen. "Plus, the contracts are for extremely generous amounts. That should keep the shareholders off your backs, at least through the next quarter."

Hitomi scanned the board members; they were all busy perusing the contract offers. She could see the gleam in their eyes at the generous service fees being offered. Money always smoothed everything over.

"Shall we put it to a vote?" she proposed.

* * *

March 23, 2348

Sigrid emerged from her bathroom, fresh from a shower. She took a moment to wrap her hair in a towel before slipping into a soft, white robe. The last two weeks had been the strangest of her life. Ever since the meeting with the Board, Sigrid had found herself being paraded around for the Kimura officers and section-heads, the Admiralty, even the Corps of Engineers, all of whom were eager to meet her and put her combat training to a test. Sigrid was beginning to feel like a prized calf at auction—and not in a good way.

But there was no time to worry about that. Sigrid had a much more urgent matter to attend to. She flopped down on her bed. Lying on her stomach, she unfolded her pad and scanned through the letters she'd composed to Suko. She'd written at least one letter a day since she'd left the Academy. Writing them was about the only thing that made her time alone bearable. Ever since her arrival on Aquarii she'd been waiting for the opportunity to send them out. Tomorrow, two transports were leaving, on their way to Alcyone to pick up the new girls. The transports would take her letters, and Sigrid could finally tell Suko what she was so desperate to say.

At first Sigrid had been excited at the prospect, but as she flipped through the letters they suddenly felt horribly inadequate.

Sigrid pressed
delete
on her pad, throwing everything out, and hastily composed a brand new one.

Dearest Suko,

By now you know that more transports are coming to take more of you away. I don't know who they will take or where any of you might be headed. I can only hope that somehow your path will take you here, back to me, even if it's only for a short time.

When they came for me that day, I felt as if I had died. I am so sorry, Suko. You were right. I should never have left you—regardless of the consequences. I don't even care if anyone reads this or if saying this gets me in more trouble.

You said I didn't know how you felt about me. You were right—at least in that I hadn't stopped to consider your feelings. I love you, Suko. I can only hope that you love me too.

When they brought me here I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I convinced myself I was leaving for the right reasons. I now know that this was wrong.

And I promise—I will find my way back to you.

Somehow.

Yours always,

Sigrid

Sigrid paused briefly to consider what her superiors might think of the letter. They'd read it of course, screening it for security reasons. It was potentially treasonous, but she didn't care. As long as the letter got to Suko.

She was actually more nervous about what they might think of the two pictures she'd attached. One was of Sigrid standing before the
Morrigan
, dressed in her new formal uniform and boots,
trophy
pistols slung at her side. The other was of a more intimate nature. With Karen's help, not to mention her prodding and urging, Sigrid had composed a rather daring picture of herself, lying on her bed, dressed in a set of particularly delicate and lacy underwear she'd found in one of her drawers. Sigrid had been thoroughly embarrassed to consider taking the shot, let alone propose it, but Karen had immediately embraced the idea, convinced that Suko would
love
it.

Sigrid hoped so. She blushed just thinking about it. But as she lay back on her bed she was also delighted at the realization that Suko would see it.
As long as she doesn't laugh!
she thought. No, Suko wouldn't laugh.

Sigrid hit the transmit tab on her pad. There…it was done, sent; no going back now.

She imagined Suko reading it, lying in her own bed, looking at the picture. Would Suko forgive her? Did she still love her? She had to. Sigrid couldn't bear to consider anything else.

In all of her daydreams she and Suko were together again, reunited. So why not live out the dream? She already had a ship. Might she really take it and steal her way back to Suko? Could they get away?

Unfortunately, the romantic notion was riddled with flaws. Were she to attempt such a scheme, her tiny ship would be tracked and followed. And she had no means of paying the exorbitant fees charged by Daedalus for travel through the Relay System. Still, the fantasy brought with it the flicker of a smile to her lips.

As long as Suko didn't laugh or think her foolish for sending the risqué picture. As long as Suko still loved her.

Her door chimed. Sigrid sat up with a start and quickly gathered her robe back around her. It was late in the evening and she hadn't been expecting anyone.

"Come," she said as she moved into the living area of her suite. The door slid open. Sitting in her wheelchair at the door was none other than the Lady Hitomi. Sigrid poked her head out into the hall, expecting to see the Lady's security entourage, but the hallway was empty.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Hitomi asked.

"Yes—yes. Please!" Sigrid moved out of the way, painfully aware of the state of her suite. The place was littered with clothes, beverage containers and food wrappers. Sigrid scurried about, doing her best to tidy quickly, hoping to hide how she'd somehow become a slob in a matter of days.

She glanced up to find the Lady Hitomi giving her an amused look. "Sit, sit," she said, waving Sigrid to the seat next to her. "You can clean later—you
will
clean later, I hope."

"Yes, Mistress," Sigrid said, her cheeks burning with shame.

"
Hitomi-san,
when we're alone."

"Yes, Mis—Hitomi-san."

Without preamble, Hitomi held a pad out to her. Sigrid scanned the information, curious, though a bit confused. Lady Hitomi was tendering her first contract offer, a highly lucrative, if not unusual contract offer. And it was from Lady Hitomi herself.

"Sign here," Hitomi said, indicating where Sigrid needed to place her thumb. Sigrid did as she was told. Hitomi tabbed a new contract on the screen. "And here…"

"But, Hitomi-san…" Sigrid found the second contract more confusing than the first.

"I want to hire you and your ship. I want you to take me to Earth. There's a personal services clause in there as well; you'll be responsible for my security and well being."

"Me?"

Hitomi waved her hand. "It's nothing—a standard clause. Think nothing of it."

Sigrid might be just-off-the-ship, but she knew how unusual this was. A woman of Hitomi's importance should only travel on a well-protected and armed vessel, a Destroyer, if not a frigate or Cruiser; she was too important to the organization and to Aquarii. It made even less sense to give Sigrid a private contract; she was already bound to the Corporation. The Lady Hitomi could simply pack her up and order her along for a fraction of the cost.

Sigrid continued to stare at the contract in disbelief. This was not at all what she'd expected.

"The first contract grants you special dispensation to operate as an
Independent
. The second is for your ship," Hitomi added as explanation.

"Hitomi-san…why me?"

"Whether you like it or not, you, my dear, are in the
eye of the storm
. This business with Tarsus and now Dalair, possibly even the Federation Council itself…if they really are in league with each other, then we must know. If not, then the Council, as well as the Mercenary Guild, must be informed. And…I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend time with, or feel safer with on this voyage."

Sigrid didn't know what to say.

"Now, I suggest you get some rest. You have a busy day ahead. You'll need your ship and crew prepared for departure tomorrow."

* * *

March 28, 2348

Sigrid stood on the tarmac next to her ship with Ensign McTeer at her side. The night sky brooded thick with inky-black clouds. The scheduled rain was beginning to fall, controlled by the slew of weather satellites orbiting the blue-green planet. The weather system wouldn't interfere with the launch of her ship but it made the ground crews less enthusiastic about their preparations for departure. They were busy fueling the fifty meter-long vessel, loading food-stores, checking weapon-systems and loading ordnance.

Her crew was already on board; she'd hired a number of specialists from a list of available officers and crew. She'd also requested, and was granted, further use of both Lieutenant Lopez and Ensign Melissa Greenway.

Sigrid heard a signal over her comlink; Christian's voice sounded, tinny, in her head.
"Your passengers have arrived."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

Sigrid watched as a long string of black Kimura ground-cars approached at speed. The sleek-looking vehicles hovered inches off the tarmac, pulling smartly up in a neat row before the
Morrigan
. Fifteen security personnel swarmed out of the vehicles, formed a perimeter and scanned the vicinity. Only when they were sure the area was secure did they open the door to the last car. Resplendent in a long gown of red silk, Lady Hitomi Kimura allowed her staff to help her from the car and into the waiting wheelchair before escorting her toward the base of the waiting ship.

"Permission to come aboard?"

Sigrid bowed deeply. "Of course, Mistress." She gestured behind her to the elevator that she had commissioned the engineers to construct for Hitomi's ease of access.

Hitomi smiled at Sigrid's thoughtfulness and bowed graciously in return. "I think it's time we get underway, don't you?"

Sigrid nodded excitedly. She was returning to deep space, but this time as Mercenary, a freelance Mercenary, and with her own ship and crew. "Right away, Mistress."

Hitomi joined her on the bridge to observe the liftoff. She seemed eager to have as good a view as Sigrid—who still didn't feel comfortable in the command chair. She offered it to Hitomi who declined with a small wave of her hand.

"I'm quite fine right here, my dear," she said, patting the arm of her wheelchair.

The traffic controller signaled their departure clearance.

Sigrid took a deep breath. "Take us up, Mr. Lopez."

"Yes, Captain—I mean, ma'am." He turned and gave her a meek smile. "Sorry…habit."

Sigrid felt the floor move slightly before the dampening system kicked in as the
Morrigan
lifted off its landing struts. The ground swung away abruptly as the ship sat back on its rear thrusters. The sky loomed dark above them as rain peppered the glass of the forward viewport. The roaring surge of the thrusters fired and the ship leapt upwards, passing quickly through the low, overhanging clouds. Even through the insulated bulkheads the sound was close to deafening, a testament to the raw power coursing beneath them.

In a moment, they were through the thunderheads. The sky above was crisp and bright; Sigrid could see two of Aquarii's five moons glowing richly above them, casting a silvery sheen over the clouds beneath. The vibrations eased as they cleared the atmosphere and quickly left Aquarii behind them.

"Take us to the Relay, Lieutenant," Sigrid said. "Maximum thrust."

"Aye, ma'am."

"Send a request to the Relay Monitor. Course: Earth, Sol System."

Hitomi leaned forward with her hand raised. "Um…Not just yet."

"Mistress?" Sigrid asked.

"I'd like us to make a little side-trip," she said, with a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Take us to Crucis Prime."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Letters

April 7, 2348

Suko didn't hear the door chime. She had her head tilted back, submerged under the warm stream of water that splashed over her head and shoulders. She'd had a particularly long day; those little girls were running her ragged, especially now that they were receiving regular treatments of the genetic recombinant from Dr. Garrett. They were already growing in strength and speed. Suko couldn't believe how much energy they had—and how hard she had to work them to tire them out.