Twin Stars 1: Ascension (17 page)

“Yes?” Tysen answered. “And you are?”

The man grinned and offered a thick muscular hand. “Jerrod Kyle- Fleet Security. My friends and I were sent to get you.”

“Oh,” said Tysen, surprised. “Excellent, I’m surprised you were able to get through.” He glanced past Mr. Kyle as they shook hands, and saw the three plainclothes agents with him. Each was large and fit looking, typical security types with tinted sun visors and wearing jackets to conceal things underneath.

“If you don’t mind, Lieutenant. We have a transport waiting, and you’re expected.”

Even as their eyes met, Tysen could see no hint of anything but friendliness in the man’s pale blue eyes. It quite impressed him- few people could lie this well.

“Of course, Mister Kyle.” He smiled, and looked at Esther. “Come along, Esther. We’ll finally get out of here.” The Squire nodded and followed, the group heading out in a new direction with the security agent’s men clearing the way in front of them. “Quite a few people here, aren’t there?” He said to the security man.

“Oh yeah,” said Mr. Kyle, falling into step beside Tysen. “You could say that.”

“What’s the reason for it, if I may ask?”

But, even as Tysen started to engage the man in general polite talk, he reactivated the direct link with Esther. “Esther,” he said through the link. “I need you to listen carefully.”

“Is there a problem?” She sent back.

“These men are impostors- he didn’t give me the pass code when we met.”

“I understand. What do you want me to do?”

“Break in to the port security grid and plot an escape route. Also locate their backup- they’ll have people watching the doors in case we bolt.”

“As you ask, master.”

Tysen held off closing the link, not liking the sound of that.

“Esther?” He finally said.

“Yes?”

“Call me Tysen.”

“Very well, Tysen.”

Then Tysen refocused on the security man.

“No, I’m afraid not, Mister Kyle.” He answered, having just been asked if he had been to Fedrin before. “I haven’t had the opportunity until now. Is it true what I’ve heard about the local women? How beautiful they are?”

Mr. Kyle gave a large jovial laugh. “Whoever told you that must’ve had a few too many, sir.” He seemed to be about to slap Tysen on the shoulder, but then thought the better of it. He lowered his voice and leaned in slightly- “Naw, they’re okay, if you like the farmgirl type. Me, I like a woman who knows how to dress, you know what I mean?”

“Oh, I do indeed,” Tysen agreed readily. Then he paused, and gave a slightly embarrassed look. “Ah, before we go, could I use the washroom? I’m sorry, but I had a few too many on the transport.”

Tysen caught just a flicker of concern in Kyle’s eyes, and then the man gave a quick look around and motioned toward a nearby bathroom. “Yeah, no problem.” He said, then asked- “Actually, mind if I join you? It’ll be a long trip to where we’re going.”

“Not at all,” Tysen paused to look back at his Squire. “Esther, please wait with these men while I’m gone. Try to surprise them with your charms, won’t you?”

* * *

“…has the best dumplings in town- definitely check it out when you have time.”

Kyle leaned against the counter-top watching the Noble kid wash his hands a sink over. The kid sure was taking his time, but he hadn’t done anything suspicious so far.

“Thank you, I will. I haven’t had the chance to try much Fedrin cuisine, so I’m very curious.” Tysen said politely, then motioned just past Kyle toward the towel dispenser. “Could you hand me a towel?”

Not taking his eyes off the kid, Kyle leaned back and grabbed a pair of absorbent towels, offering them to the Lieutenant. “Sure, here ya go.”

“Thanks,” said Tysen, starting to dry his hands. “Oh, by the way- is the Admiral’s Yacht far out to sea?”

Yacht? Kyle thought, nobody had said anything about a yacht. “Oh yeah,” he answered reflexively. “They should be…” Then he stopped once he saw the kid’s expression- it was the one his wife gave him when he finally confessed something she’d known all along.

Kyle sighed, so much for an easy pickup.

“No yacht, right?”

“No yacht.” The young man shook his head. “You also forgot the pass code. Oh, and I wasn’t expecting a pickup to begin with.”

Kyle shrugged. He’d figured something like that, but had wanted to make this happen as smoothly as possible. Fat chance of that now. “Well, it was worth a try, right?” He said, admitting defeat.

“Of course,” the kid nodded, but kept his eyes locked with Kyle’s.

Well, peace was a bust, time to go another route. Kyle shifted to the posture he used when he didn’t want any crap from the people he was dealing with. Shoulders hunched, arms crossed, he stared down at the young Noble. This was what he was good at.

“So, here’s how it is, kid.” He said. “This whole place is surrounded, and we’ve got your lady friend- so just come quietly, okay? I know you’re a Noble, but you wouldn’t be the first Noble I’ve taken down, and to be honest you don’t look like much of a fighter.”

The kid casually balled up the towel and tossed it into the recycle bin, then looked back at Kyle. “Looks can be deceiving,” he answered coldly. “For example, my lady friend has already neutralized the three people you left with her, and the two who were following behind at a distance.”

What? Kyle did his best not to let his surprise show on his face, immediately sending out link requests to his men. He got no replies.

“She a Noble too?” He asked, fishing for time and answers.

The Lieutenant just smiled a knowing smile. “That would be telling,” Tysen answered. “And, I can see on your face you’re having trouble contacting them. Don’t worry, you’ll see them soon enough when port security arrives. That must have caused quite a mess.”

So much for hiding it. Kyle had filed this kid as careful the moment he’d met him, now he knew this one was smart- dangerous smart.

“I’ve still got you.”

“No,” Tysen shook his head. “Actually, I’ve got you. I’ll be turning you over to the port authorities once we walk out that door. The rest of your men will disappear, as your kind always does, and while they’re checking for new orders my friend and I will be on our way.”

“Could be,” Kyle agreed. “Could be. You have things pretty well worked out, don’t you Lieutenant?”

The kid’s reaction made it clear he did. He was good at this, but luckily Kyle was better.

“Well,” explained Kyle. “Here’s the thing- I really do work for security- Fedrin Planetary Security. And, my ID will trump yours with the port people.” He motioned past Tysen toward the entrance with his head. “When we walk out of here, they’ll be arresting you under my authority, and both of you will be charged with assault. We’ll have you bundled up in no time.”

Kyle let his mouth curve into a confident grin, and he and Tysen stared at each other.

“Then,” said Tysen, his voice lowering. “I will need to get out of here before security arrives.”

“You can try.” Kyle said, making one last attempt to avoid the oncoming confrontation they both knew was coming.

It happened so fast that even someone watching it would have trouble saying which of the men had moved first. Kyle’s gun went from his holster to his hand in a fraction of a second, but before he could aim it Tysen had closed the short gap between them and was pushing aside Kyle’s gun arm. The gun went off, a slug hitting the polished metal mirror beside them, but even as it was, Kyle was already being lifted off his feet and slammed into the wall behind him like he’d been hit by a truck.

Tile shattered, and Kyle fought for consciousness as the world seemed to explode into color and then blackness. When he regained his wits, he was lying in a pile of broken tiles on the bathroom floor- alone.

Kyle began to pull himself up, but when his head swam he thought the better of it. There was pain in his chest- broken ribs maybe? He opened a link to his operations man on the outside.

“Vong! You there? I need the port locked down.” He sent.

A worried young man with reddish-brown tanned skin popped up in an AR window in front of him, looking concerned. “You want me to put out a port-wide announcement?”

“Hell no!” Kyle cursed. The last thing he needed was for this quiet little rendition to become a full blown incident that he’d have to explain to people outside of the loop. “Just get security on them- quietly!”

“You got it, Chief!”

“I’ll be there,” Kyle tried to move again and winced as the pain shot through his chest again. “…As soon as I can. Kyle out.”

He let himself settle back again, giving his body another moment for the shock to subside. Once they caught those two, he was going to enjoy this interrogation, he really was.

* * *

Tysen walked at a brisk pace down the concourse, Esther at his side.

He’d found her standing over the bodies of the security men in the middle of a circle of onlookers and gotten her out of there as quickly as he could. Now, he was trying desperately to come up with a way to get both of them out of the port.

“Did they lock you out of the network, yet?”

“Not yet,” Esther replied. “They may not be aware I can penetrate it.”

It was an advantage, a small one, but Tysen would take it.

“Keep your connection light, and break it at the first sign of trouble.”

Esther nodded, then asked, “Why is Fedrin Planetary Security pursuing us?”

“I don’t know. Someone’s paid them, probably. They will want the files I’m carrying for the Admiral.” Then he paused. “Ahhh…I’m sorry I got you involved in something this dangerous.”

“No,” she shook her head. “It is my duty to be here to help you.”

“Yes,” Tysen answered, not wanting to discuss her status again at the moment. “You did great back there, by the way.”

“I was made to help Sir Fawn in any circumstance.” She answered, then Esther suddenly reached out and roughly grabbed his arm, pulling him next to a line of people waiting at a coffee stand. She had quite a grip for something so willowy. “Stop here. Two security guards are about to pass.”

Tysen nodded, glancing casually through the line of people to see two women in blue walking in their direction. He looked away, waiting to see if they passed and preparing in case they didn’t.

He waited a minute, and then when he looked again he saw their backs. “They’re gone, is it safe to move?”

“Yes,” she said, taking him by the hand. “I will guide us.”

“I’ll have to remember to thank Sir Fawn next time we meet. Speaking of whom, do you think we could get help from his company- The Halloway Concern? I can’t seem to reach the Admiralty, and I don’t know who can be trusted on this world.”

The old knight had shown a great deal of goodwill toward Tysen until now, no harm in seeing how far it went.

“I could try, but I believe they can offer us little help while we are still inside the port.”

Tysen couldn’t argue with that, “We’ll have to get out of here if we want to have a chance.”

“The strikers have made that rather difficult.”

“Yes,” Tysen said, thoughtfully. Port security was tightening on them, and they weren’t likely to last long as neither of them were armed. “Too many people want to get out of here…”

Then an idea struck him- he knew how they were going to escape.

* * *

Kyle found his lead operations man, Vong, waiting at the Southeast exit with a team of men.

“Chief Kyle, you okay?”

When Kyle looked at Vong, the man blanched and almost took a step back. Sighing, Kyle tried to tone it down a notch. It wasn’t the younger agent’s fault Kyle’d botched the mission, and making the man afraid wasn’t going to help the situation any.

“Yeah Vong, I didn’t need those ribs anyways.” He croaked, hoping the pain killers he’d just loaded up on kicked in sooner than later. “Any news?”

Vong shook his head. “We’ve got the port security looking for them; it’s just a matter of time.”

“Better be, we can’t afford to fumble this one. Any links from HQ?”

“None. Should I call in?”

“Hell no!” Kyle barked. “Just keep them as in the dark as we are. The last thing I need is someone from the bureau micromanaging one of my operations because it looks like we screwed up.”

Vong looked chagrined, which suited Kyle since he was still trying to train him to be more independent. Suddenly, Vong paused, his unfocused eyes telling Kyle that he was receiving a link.

“Sir,” Vong reported. “We’ve got a hit from the port security station- they’re approaching Exit 4. Should I have security forces move in?”

Kyle made a quick decision. “No,” he said. “Tell security to shadow them, but don’t move in yet unless they’re going to get out. Also, get a sniper up on the dais in just in case. I’m going to handle this myself.”

Then he checked his gun and ran for the other exit.

There wasn’t going to be a second time.

* * *

“There are twelve security people behind us moving in, and three plainclothes agents guarding the exit ahead of us. A sniper has also taken position to our upper left.”