Wings of Steele- The Series, page 118
part #1 of Wings of Steele Series
His earpiece chirped, “Jax, if you're thinking of a recovery action, you should know the girls are wearing some type of control collar...”
“What does it do, TESS?” he whispered.
“I've searched my database and I don't find a match. Most commonly they issue a debilitating shock if the subject moves beyond the set boundary of the control unit.
“What are the other possibilities?” he whispered.
“Death. By lethal injection, by explosion, by electrocution... Considering that the women are valuable commodity, I would estimate the units are meant to temporarily incapacitate, nothing more. If I was to speculate, I would say the rather large man has the control unit.”
Steele rubbed his eyes and exhaled heavily. “Yeah, that would have been my guess...”
CHAPTER TEN
RIKOVIK'S REEF: WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Steele had to be realistic; he wasn't going to get all three. One, maybe two, but not all three. And either the girls would take hits or he'd go down. He'd have to follow at a safe distance and see if an opportunity presented itself. He feigned inebriation, allowing the group a lead getting off the platform, following slowly behind. The Syndicate thugs were either tired, or lazy, or both. Not once had they looked behind them, plodding along, the girls shuffling between them. The girls were obviously worn out but he couldn't help but think they were either drunk or drugged. There was no animation or chatter from any one of them; girls or guards.
He sunk himself into the shadows as the group paused at a corner to let a vehicle pass through the intersection, the tail-end guard looking back for the very first time. Steele ran his thumb across the top of the holster release... the 1911 charged particle blaster would sound like a cannon on this narrow street. A suppressor would be really nice to have right about now... then he wondered if you could actually silence a charged particle blaster. He thought about the knife in his boot; he could fight with a knife but he had never managed to pass knife-throwing 101.
When the group turned the next corner, Steele hustled up to close the gap, peeking around the corner. They were gone. The street and sidewalk deserted except for a few parked vehicles. A spike of adrenalin hit him and he rushed, albeit cautiously, forward, drawing the 1911, keeping it close to his body. What the hell, where did they... His comm chirped, “Stop! Stop!” He stopped, flattening himself into an irregularity in the wall doing his best to be invisible as a set of doors less than ten feet ahead opened with force, banging against the rock wall. Two of the Syndicate goons strolled out into the darkness, their backs illuminated by the light inside the doorway until the doors automatically swung closed. It was the neckless walking wall and the tail guard, getting into the vehicle parked out front. Jack wasn't sure the wall was going to fit but he managed, the vehicle dipping on his side under his mass. The lights came on and they drove slowly away. Steele exhaled, looking up, listening to his heart pound. The neon blue, crescent moon hung above the doorway with no words. The Blue Moon... how did I not see that?
He stuck the 1911 into the back of his waistband and untied the holster from his thigh, folding it up against his body, covering it all with his jacket.
Steele walked through the door like he'd done it a hundred times, taking it all in as quickly as he could, angling for the front desk, surrounded with what appeared to be bulletproof glass, a teller's speaker above the payment tray.
The guy behind the glass looked like a permanent part of the chair he was sitting on. “What do you want?” he demanded gruffly, rubbing the scruff on his double chin.
“That beautiful girl in the red dress that just came in here...”
The desk man leaned toward the speaker, “Mister, do you have any fucking idea what time it is? We're closed. Those girls are going to bed; your dick can wait until later.”
“But I'd like...”
“Beat it! Literally. Go home and take care of it yourself...”
“I'll pay you double,” interrupted Steele.
That stopped the rant for a moment, his mind working. “Y'know,” said the desk clerk, his attitude changing. “You look like a decent guy, all clean cut and whatnot... I'm going to do you a huge favor. I'm going to charge you triple. But to be nice, I'm going to throw in her little girlfriend. You'll like that. A little two-on-one? Yeah you look like the type, I can tell...” He tapped on the payment tray, “How you gonna pay for that?”
Steele dropped his ITC card in the tray.
“Real nice, not worried about the old lady finding out, eh?”
“Not married,” lied Jack, accepting it back.
The desk clerk dropped a key card into the tray. “Room 410.” He waved at Jack's ITC card, “I took a little something extra for myself. After they're done with you, you'll think I deserve it anyway. It'll save you the trip of coming down to tip me.”
Jack smirked wryly, “I appreciate your thoughtfulness...”
The same type of threadbare carpet as in the lobby greeted Steele when he stepped off the elevator on the fourth floor, the musty, dimly lit corridor stretching out on either side, the directional placards missing from the wall. So I guess they're not putting their profits into the décor...
Finding room 410, he waved the key card in front of the reader, the door unlatching, sliding into the wall. The heady scent of incense rolled past him out into the corridor, stars twinkling outside the bay window on the other side of the room. OK, now that's pretty cool...
“I'm sorry mister,” said the naked girl wearily, her back to him, “I didn't expect any more visitors tonight. I'll be right with you...”
Jack stepped into the muted light, letting the door close behind him, scanning the room for anything that might resemble a video camera. “Nina Redwolf,” he said softly.
Standing in front of her wardrobe, pulling something sheer to put on, the woman froze. “How do you know my name...?” she whispered.
“Are there video cameras in this room?”
“Yes.”
“Then don't overreact...” he breathed, “It's me, Jack.”
She finished pulling what she was looking for, wrapping it around her and fluffing her hair before turning to him. She paused a moment, studying his shadowed features before moving to him with as much restraint she could muster, encircling him with her arms, burying her face in his chest, shaking. “Oh my God,” she sobbed, “Oh my God. Oh my God... How did you find me?”
“By accident,” he whispered in her ear. “We saw you in the CherriPit before the raid. I've been searching for you ever since.” He squeezed her tight. “Hold it together, sweetie. Now I need you to remember something rather important; in this world I am Jax Mercury... can you remember that?” She nodded without pulling her face away from his chest. “Are there cameras in the bathroom?” She shook her head no. “The shower is running, who's in there?”
“My girl, Ruby.”
“The second girl the clerk promised?”
“Yes.”
“Can you trust her?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He turned her toward the bathroom, its rectangle of light spilling out across the bedroom floor. “We're all going to take a shower together where we can talk and not be heard or recorded.”
■ ■ ■
Jack leaned against the sink. “Any chance we'll get interrupted?” he asked, pulling off his boots.
“No,” replied Nina, slipping into the shower, “unless we don't come out of here in an hour. All it takes is one of us walking around once in a while so they can see us.”
“How long do we have?”
“I don't know what you paid him,” replied Nina, “but he gave you all day.”
When Steele slipped into the shower the girls were huddled under the dual shower heads, washing their hair, the steam filling the shower. Ruby was olive complected, all of five feet tall with waist length jet black hair, slanted oriental eyes and pointed ears that reminded him of every drawing of an elf he'd ever seen. Nina had shortened her auburn tresses to shoulder length and her skin had lost some of her natural golden color. But neither one could be ashamed in a bikini... or naked. Wow! panted the little voice in his head.
“Ruby, this is Jack, er, Jax. Jax this is Ruby,” announced Nina.
Jack stuck out his hand, “Hi...”
Ruby put out her hand, “Hello... Oh, look someone else wants to say hello... very nice,” she smiled, crouching, reaching out.
Steele scooted back bumping into the shower glass, gently grabbing her by the shoulders, pulling her back to a standing position. “Eyes up here, sweetie” he motioned casually with a flick of his fingers, her eyes to his.
“But he wants to say hello,” she motioned.
“Yeah well, he's got a mind of his own sometimes. OK, all the time,” he waved. “But I'm a married man and we're not here for that...”
“It's cute,” said Nina, “I've never seen you nervous before... and I've never seen you naked before. I like. And as much as I love women, I've got to say, I'd do you... And probably not hate it...”
Steele blinked hard, frowning, “Thanks... I think.”
“I think we should do him,” volunteered Ruby.
Steele held his hands out, “I can't, please don't...”
“She'll never know,” coaxed Ruby, reaching out.
“But I'll know,” said Jack, pained. “At another point in my life I would've jumped at the chance to be with two women as beautiful as you. In fact, you probably wouldn't have had to ask. After hello, discussion would have been rather unlikely. But now, well...”
“I think it's sweet,” interrupted Ruby. “And I respect that. You're probably the first man I've ever met that isn't a total pig... She stretched her arms wide, “Group hug?”
Steele shook his head, “Lady, you're killing me...”
■ ■ ■
Brian took the mug of coffee handed him by the porter, scanning his screens. Blowing the steam away, he glanced up at the inset video on the big screen. The Deep Black shuttle rotated and pulled away, leaning over, lighting its engines and streaked away, arcing towards Rikovik's Reef.
“DB-One to the Raven, we thank you for your business! Come back and see us again...”
Brian rubbed his eyes. “Are we all buttoned up?”
“Aye, Skipper.”
“Shields up, let the gun crews stand down...” Brian's TESS chimed, diverting his attention. “Carter, go...” he touched the glass face – prompting the holographic screen, Maria's face appearing. “Maria...” he acknowledged.
“Skipper, it looks like the parts delivery is complete. Jack got everything we were here for...”
“Do I detect a but coming?” he prompted.
“Yes. Several. Can you come down?”
“On my way. How did Lisa's recovery go?”
“Flawless,” smiled Maria. “Flew it like she owned it.”
“Excellent. Down in five.” The screen disappeared as he rose to his feet. “Mr. Ragnaar, you have the bridge. Take us into the rubble field and let's minimize our signature.”
“Will do, Skipper,” replied the big man, moving to the command seat.
Passing gun crews in the corridor returning to normal duties, Brian's TESS chimed again. Well, ain't I the popular one today...” he touched the glass face – prompting the holographic screen, “Carter g... Jack?” Steele's face looked back at him on the screen. Brian kept walking. “Are... are you in the shower?”
“Yeah. Long story and not enough time to tell it. Tell Lisa I found her. We just need to find a way off this rock.”
“Found who? Wait, we'll come get you...”
“No! We'll come to you. What are your coordinates?”
“TESS,” said Brian. Her face instantly appeared on the holo-screen as a small inset, “Send Jax Mercury our coordinates.”
“Stand by, Commander,” she cooed. “Request complete, coordinates sent.” Her head tilted to one side, “Will there be anything else?”
“That's all, thank you,” replied Brian, her video square winking out.
“Got it,” said Jack, “thanks, gotta go...”
“Wait,” said Brian, “who did you find?”
“Nina Redwolf.”
Brian's screen winked out, the connection gone. “Nina?”
■ ■ ■
Clean and dry, with the machinations of a plan, Jack, Nina and Ruby climbed into bed together for much-needed sleep. Aware that the video camera would be watching, they remained mostly undressed, cuddling, arms and legs intertwined. TESS was scheduled to wake them so they could execute their plan during Rikovik's peak business hours when the streets would be the most crowded with people.
“No wandering hands, OK?” mumbled Jack, getting comfortable.
Ruby draped her arm over his waist from behind, “I'm not making any promises. You point that thing at me and I might put it to good use...”
“Leave him alone,” whispered Nina, “I've met his wife. If he doesn't split you in half with that thing, she's liable to do it with something else... And not in a good way.”
It was quiet but there was something that had been plaguing Jack's mind since they spotted Nina in the CherriPit. “So what happened, Nina?” he asked softly, “In Velora Prime... how did we lose you?”
“When I came to, I was trapped in a damaged section of the Freedom, on level two. The comms were down, the section was filling with smoke and the pods were offline. I found an access hatch and was able to make my way down to level three where I finally found a live pod. I launched but I couldn't get the damn rescue beacon to broadcast. It looked like the ship was headed for the Velorian sun... was it?”
“Yes. We didn't want the Pirates to know what happened...”
“FreeRangers,” she corrected him. “They call themselves FreeRangers.”
“They can call themselves whatever the hell they want, they're still pirates. Was there anyone else? Alive I mean...”
“No, everyone I came across was dead. I checked. Anyway, I think I drifted for about three days before a freighter nearly ran over my pod. I was out of rations and nearly out of water. They picked me up and dropped me off here, sold me to the Syndicate.”
Jack yawned, “Lisa will be so glad to see you, I'm glad we were able to find you.”
“Me too,” said Nina, yawning in response.
Seven hours went by quickly and Steele was enjoying a thorough examination of the inside of his eyelids when TESS' voice invaded his cloud of warmth and comfort. He opened his eyes, looking around without moving, getting his bearings. “Thanks TESS, I'm awake.” When he rolled on his back and looked over at the girls, they were entwined, sleeping like curled kittens. Except they had switched sides, Nina sleeping between him and Ruby. Thank you Nina... protecting me from Ruby the Rabbit.
He rolled close to Nina putting his face in her ear. “Time to get up, Kiddo...”
“Stop poking me with that thing,” she mumbled.
“Sorry,” he replied sheepishly, “it's a morning thing...”
“If by morning you mean twenty-four hours a day, I totally understand...” She slid her arm out from under Ruby. “Doesn't that thing ever go down?”
“You're hot, so sue me...”
Nina brushed unruly bed-hair out of her face, “You really think so? I never thought you noticed...”
He chuckled, looking at her wild mop, “Well, maybe not right now so much...”
“Ass,” she laughed, slapping him on the chest.
■ ■ ■
The girls surprised Steele, being dressed and ready to go in under ten minutes. Standing huddled at the door, the question would be, was the clerk paying attention to the videos or not? Strapped back to his leg where it belonged, Jack drew his sidearm and let it hang at his side, ready to pass his key card over the reader.
“Let me have your knife,” whispered Nina.
“My knife?” He pulled his flat-gripped Ka-Bar from its sheath on his boot and handed it to her.
“I throw a ball like a girl,” she admitted, “but I throw a knife like the Seminole Indian
that I am.” She hefted the knife, feeling the heavy blade's balance in her hand. “This'll do. Go ahead, open the door...”
The corridor was empty except for the guard sitting in a chair down at the end, dozing with an e-Pad in his lap. “He'll have the controller and the collar key... I've got this...” whispered Nina. Checking the corridor toward the elevators, she pushed past, staying Jack and Ruby with her hand, walking quietly, holding the knife behind her back.
“What's she gonna do?” whispered Steele.
Ruby pressed forward to peek around Jack. “She's going to slit the bastard's throat.”
The sound of the elevator starting, coming up from the lobby, made Nina cringe, hesitating as she saw the man in the chair, stir. She was still twenty-feet away when his eyes fluttered open, focusing on her.
His face immediately shifted to a grimace. “What are you doing out of your room, bitch?”
The knife felt natural in Nina's hand, like an old friend. She adjusted her grip, wound up and launched it like she was pitching a fastball, producing a wet thwuck as it buried itself up to the hilt in his neck, sticking into the back of the chair. He flailed uselessly as his life's blood spurted out in crimson streaks, his eyes wide, gurgling, unable to scream for help, clutching at the handle. Nina whipped around, “Check the elevators!” Watching the life pass from his eyes, she dug through the bodyguard's pockets, looking for the collar key and the floor's key pass. She had never killed before and was surprised at the lack of regret or remorse. In fact she really didn't feel much of anything. Except maybe contempt. Maybe that was the key, the contempt and hatred was shielding her from her other emotions. No time to think about that now...
Ruby darted out, retrieving the key pass from Nina, her stomach roiling as she gagged at the sight of the blood pool in the guard's lap. “Wait,” called Nina, “hold still.” She fitted the electronic key into Ruby's control collar and unlocked it, letting it fall to the floor. “Now do mine, do mine...” Ruby had some difficulty, fumbling to unlock the collar with her eyes closed in an attempt to avoid the bloody spectacle behind Nina.
