Royce Read online

  I got up and walked over to the kitchen. I made two cups of tea, placing one on the table next to the piece of cake, while sitting down with the other with less than a minute to go.

  The door clicked and slid open to reveal the occupant of the apartment flanked by two guards. "Thanks for the escort, but I'm okay. Have a good night," Gloria said as she stepped through and closed the door behind her. She threw her pack on the floor and headed to the bathroom when she stopped and looked at the table. She looked at the bouquet, then the cake before stopping at the hot tea.

  I quietly stood up while going elf and announced myself. "Well, I leave you alone while I step out for a quart of milk and look what happens," I said.

  Her head snapped up and her eyes got huge as she leapt over the table and gave me a hug to beat all hugs. "Royce!" she said as she started to cry. "You're alive. You're okay!"

  Well, the lecture went right out the window as I stood there and comforted her. What else could I do?

  "Awwww," Parker said on the SAC.

  I sat Gloria on the couch and fetched her tea. Eventually she calmed enough to talk.

  "You were the one in the hallway? The one who the pilot said pushed him out of the way and stopped those... Those... "

  "Those perps? Yes, I plead guilty. I didn't mean to hurt them. I meant to kill them," I said. I think it was impossible for us to lie to each other.

  "I think you scared the pilot. They told me he was pretty shook up and that was before he had to talk to Ciara."

  "I assume the little ménage a trois wasn't your idea...was it?"

  She slapped my arm, embarrassed more than anything else. "No! I got drunk, and they took advantage of the situation."

  A segue which I had no trouble using. "Why were you drunk?" I asked, all serious like.

  She put her head on my shoulder, closed her eyes, and whispered, "Because of a guy."

  Oh, lords of the universe, spare us mortals from the ravages of love. "Tell me," I said, steeling myself.

  "It's John,"

  "John? Oh, John Taggart, the guy you work with?"

  "Yes. I seem to have fallen in love with him."

  "Took you long enough. You've known him for what, twenty years?"

  "Something like that. It was during the Martok thing. When we finished, I realized I had feelings for him.

  "Is that when you decided to break your body out of the medbed and visit in your real one?" Most elf females can leave their bodies in a form of astral projection, God only knows why. For most, it was only for a few seconds, but not my sister. She could go for years.

  "Yeah. Loved the suits John made me, but I found myself needing to be real. I haven't projected in a while."

  "Damn, girl, you've fallen hard. Why not tell him? Didn't he have a thing for you from the start?"

  She pulled her knees up to her chin and sat there playing with her finger nails by repeatedly steepling her fingertips, first left side under right side, then right under left. "There is a complication."

  Complication could mean anything from she broke a nail to global nuclear holocaust. "What kind of complication?" I asked. Thank God, I took the day off. This could take time.

  "He's engaged."

  Oops. Love triangles never end well in the novels I've read. "Engaged to whom?"

  "The director,"

  Again, oops. What sis doesn't know is I know she and the director are tight. This John Taggart must be the second BFF she had mentioned in the hallway. I've watched less complicated telenovelas on the vid. I put an arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. "So, you went out and drowned your sorrows in a bottle of Gin?" I asked. Personally, I don't drink. Just imagine a drunk, six-plus foot tall elf running rampant. Not pretty.

  "Actually, it was white wine, but the effect was the same," she informed me. "What the hell am I going to do?"

  Ah, the sound of old wounds opening. "Tell him. He needs to know. The universe does not tolerate procrastination."

  She uncurled and looked at me. "You never told Anna you loved her?"

  The sound of Velcro filled my ears as the pain filled my being.

  "Sir, careful," Parker said out loud through her seldom used speaker, causing Gloria to look around.

  "I'm okay, Parker. Gloria, to answer your question. Anna and I had a great time on a physical level. I never had the chance to tell her about my feelings toward her. I was going to tell her after our last mission, but fate had other ideas."

  "Oh my God, I never knew. No one knew. We all thought..."

  "It's okay, really."

  "Who's Parker?"

  I pulled Parker's stylus out of my pocket and handed it to her. "This stylus contains Parker, a daemon spun off by the healer."

  "Hello, Mistress Gloria. It is good to see you again."

  The look on Gloria's face was priceless. “Parker, give her a quick explanation." I said.

  “I have all of Mistress Parker's memories, but only a fraction of her processing power. This is counterbalanced by the increased number of data collection and control capabilities. Like you, I am a twin."

  "Oh," Gloria said as she turned the stylus over in her hands. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she forgot her troubles while examining something new and unique.

  "The stylus contains a quantum computer powered by a small fusion generator. Like you, Parker can also transfer to other compatible devices such as a ship's computer. Unlike you, Parker is pure non-corporeal," I said as I placed her back in my vest.

  "So, you think I should tell him?"

  "Yes, or you can bottle it up, which isn't really working for you at the moment. I have to warn you, you have to be prepared for fallout. I have no idea how this will play out. John is your boss and Ciara is your boss and his boss, and I don't know either of them so I can't tell you what to expect."

  She chewed a nail. "You're right. It's the only honorable thing to do. This shit's getting in the way of a lot things, and it can't. How'd you get so smart, little brother?"

  There is an ongoing debate as to whose head saw the light of day first, so we both call each other little brother or little sister. It drives people crazy. "Actually, I got it from you."

  She smiled. She looked better, like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "Come on, let's have cake," she said as she got up and headed to the kitchen. We ended up talking long into the night. Eventually she got to the big question, the one I had hoped to avoid. "Why did you leave without saying a word?

  I explained what happened at the healer facility and about the assassin. "Someone wants me dead, Sis, and I'm afraid they'll have no compunction against using you, Mom, or Dad to accomplish that mission.”

  She put her hand on mine. "I didn't know. No one does. I remember after you left, the healer came carrying a large, sealed bucket. She took it into a meeting with Father and several high-ranking elves. They came out of the meeting ashen-faced and really shook up. I heard rumors the bucket contained what was left of the assassin."

  "Most likely, mistress," Parker said. "The prime mistress has a terrible temper and she is very fond of Master Royce."

  I remember what Parker turned into as I left. I hope for the assassin's sake her death was swift. "So, I've moved around, worked here and there. It was after Tennosh I came here." I deliberately kept things vague.

  Gloria had other ideas. "I take it you've been running around as what, a human?"

  I smiled. I was doomed, and I knew it.

  "You escape from the Realm because an assassin wants to kill you and you come here to fly ships on missions, missions that could get you killed?"

  I hadn't thought of it that way, but she was right. "Well if you put it that way..."

  "Uhn!" she said in frustration as she thrust her fists straight down while stamping her foot. "I'm going to talk to the director and get you transferred..."

  "And blow my cover in the process?" I said calmly. "I risked being seen coming here. Now you want to tell the director I've been running around the stat
ion under false pretenses. The first person who's going to catch flack is my boss who was also the one who hired me."

  Gloria plopped down in her seat wide eyed as the ramifications of her proposed actions became apparent.

  "Then there are the people watching you to see if I show up."

  "Who?"

  "Probably Father's people. He knows you and I are close. He knows I would eventually show up if I knew you were here."

  "What are we going to do?"

  "Go back to work. Live our lives. Chance meeting in the halls, and we become besties. I keep an eye out for you and rip the heart out of anyone who threatens you..." She slapped me for the last one. "This all goes away when we figure out who wants me dead."

  "How will you know?"

  "Through me, Mistress," Parker explained. "I'm linked to Parker Prime. She will let me know of any change."

  "No matter what, I'm glad you're back in my life, bro. I missed you something fierce."

  "Sir, your patrol starts in an hour," Parker reminded me.

  "I've got to go," I said which led to another hug. My sister loves hugs.

  "How are you going to leave here without raising questions?"

  "The same way I came in," I replied as I morphed into a leggy blond woman of indeterminate age. "Parker picked your lock, but we made it look like you were expecting me and had left a guest code for me to use."

  "Wow!" was all she could say. I opened the door and left while waving goodbye.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The chatter in the Pilot's Room ended when Lyscka arrived and dropped her briefcase on the table.

  "Listen up! We have a special one today. The boffins are testing a new drive system, something 'revolutionary' they call it. It’s being set up over at TR115, and you all are going to be a part of it."

  "Damn, Chief Pilot, what's so special about a drive?" Pilot Jonesy asked.

  "I'll tell you, Jonesy. It isn't based on FTL, Orb, or any other existing system, but it’s similar to them all. It allows the pilot to choose which hyperspace realm to use, which gives us greater speed, fuel economy, and safety."

  "Assuming it works, right Chief Pilot?" Pilot Nort asked while lowering her tentacle.

  "Aye, if it works and that's why you’re out there, to see nothing interferes with this test. This is a no-drive test, which means no non-conventional space drives are allowed in the range during the test. When you arrive on site, you go conventional-only. This is a weapons hot mission, understand? We got word some fanatics don't like the idea of this drive and plan to perhaps visit us to express their displeasure. You are authorized to use all means to prevent an incursion. Questions?"

  No one said a word. "Good. Mission parameters will be loaded into your ship's memory banks. Lift off is in an hour. Good luck. Dismissed. Aymar, stay for a moment."

  I watched the other pilots file out. When we were alone, Lyscka pulled me aside. I noticed her scent had changed. It now contained citrus notes. Even someone as clueless as me knows what that meant.

  "Royce. I heard what happened the other day. Good job. I can't stomach shit like that."

  "Ma'am, I did nothing except be there in case those thugs got up off the ground."

  "Royce, the human came out of shock and described what he saw. It sounded strangely like what a little girl saw on Tennosh. Thank you," she said before kissing my cheek. "I need a favor from you."

  "Name it," I said.

  "I'm going on leave in a few weeks and need someone to run the store. You up for it?"

  "Sure. You got names picked out yet?"

  The look of shock on her face was priceless. "How did you know?"

  "Citrus notes," I said.

  "Damn, busted, and yes, we've already got names picked out."

  "Well congratulations to you and your mate." I said. Her current batch of kids is adorable. I have no idea how her mate manages them, but he seems to love it.

  "Thanks, but try to keep this on the QT, or else the others will throw a shower or some such nonsense."

  I figured they already knew and invites were already wending their way through CubeMail. I wasn't the only one with a sensitive sniffer.

  ###

  I reached the hatch to the launch bay where I kept my ship—the League Patrol Ship Alanis—and pressed my palm against the reader. The door to the bay opened as the lights came on revealing the Alanis in all her glory. Sleek, with an opalescent red diagonal stripe on a white background and jet black "Cube Patrol" proudly emblazoned on the side. Damn, my heart skips a beat every time I see her.

  "Parker, establish interface and start preflight," I said. I walked over to the nearby locker room and changed into my flight suit. When I finished, I grabbed my helmet and gloves, and headed out into the bay.

  I walked around the ship doing my part of the preflight inspection. I was looking for things amiss like covers on sensors or damage not caught the last go around. Finding nothing, I walked over to the nose and pressed a button on the side of the fuselage, just below the cockpit.

  The canopy retracted while a ladder extended downward. I climbed up and into my seat, while systems and lights came on. I placed my helmet and gloves on the ledge in front of the dash, while I ran system checks and weapons load statuses. I don't like using weapons, but I want to make sure they work if the need arises.

  I pulled-up the mission parameters and saw I was to take up position at an asteroid designated Nessy Six just outside the range, shut down the FTL drive, and watch for any incursion attempts. "Parker, the mission looks easy-peasy." I looked at the status display and saw preflight was finished. "Parker, please start engines and prepare for launch."

  "Aye, Lead Pilot, sir," she said as the engines went through their start sequence.

  I strapped in and put on my helmet and gloves. Once set, I thumbed the mic switch on the joystick. "Dock Control, this is Alanis requesting departure clearance to Test Range 115, over."

  "Alanis, this is Dock Control. You are go for launch. Clear skies and fair winds."

  I looked out the forward window and watched the bay door open to reveal the white dwarf star the Cube orbited. The lights around the door went green signaling it was clear to proceed. "Thank you, Dock Control. Alanis heading out. Have a good day."

  I brought the thrusters up, raising the ship off the deck and allowing the gear to be retracted. I pulsed the jets, pushing the ship out of the hangar. Once clear, I set course for the range. I activated the FTL drive and changed realities. Moments later, I was back in real-space and entering the staging area.

  "Range Control, this is Alanis, over." While I waited for a reply, I shut down the FTL drive and put it into sleep mode.

  "Alanis, RC. Welcome to the party. Did you remember to put your drive to sleep? Over."

  "Roger that, RC. FTL is night-night, over."

  "Excellent. Proceed to Nessie Six and standby."

  "Roger that, Nessie Six and stand by." I fired up the conventional engines and proceeded to my assigned station where I would wait and watch. If all went well, I would be home in twelve hours.

  ###

  Sector six was empty except for a mile-wide rock festooned with sensors and communications equipment. My job was to sidle-up next to the rock—affectionately known as Nessy Six—and watch for anything coming into the range. Nessy Six was equipped with a number of beacons which broadcast 'keep out' messages in every known League language during tests. At last count there were a hundred Nessies scattered around the range, each manned by someone like me whenever a test was in progress. We wouldn't want anyone to stray into the area while we opened a door to hell, now would we?

  "Parker, set the clock, please."

  "Aye, sir. Setting the clock...mark!"

  A holographic countdown timer appeared over the dash, ticking away the seconds until the start of the test. No one, but no one, could be inside the range when the timer reached one minute. "Thank you, Parker." As I sat there watching the time tick away, I thought about Gloria. Like all members
of my species, she and I are identical twins. Some say we're psychically linked, though I never believed it. I’m worried about her, and when I get back, I’m going to do everything I can to help her through this mess, and what a mess. Falling in love with the director’s fiancé, who’s also your boss. Now that's one for a romance novel.

  Alarms went off. I looked at the timer. Two minutes until start of test. "What is it, Parker?"

  "Lone ship heading directly to the range. FTL drive is spinning up."

  "Shit. Warn them off. RC, Alanis, we have incoming ship, FTL going hot. Recommend test abort. I repeat, recommend test abort."

  "RC to Alanis, we read you. Unable to abort test. We are showing a major malfunction on the test stand. Your intruder has bollixed things something good. Get out of there, Royce."

  I looked at the scanner and saw the intruder pass close by. "Unknown ship entering Test Range. This is Cube Patrol Ship Alanis. Abort. Abort. Abort. You are entering an Interstellar Drive prohibited area. Do you copy?"

  "Alanis, help me. He hijacked my ship..." a woman said, sounding almost hysterical.

  I engaged the engines and plotted a pursuit vector. "RC, we have a hostage situation. I am in pursuit."

  "We are not worthy of this technology stolen from the gods," a male voice said before the radio went dead.

  I checked the readouts and the ship was heading straight toward the test stand. Outside, space was looking very odd. I hate fanatics. "Parker, can you ID the ship?"

  "Sir, it's a private yacht, the Sea Banshee, registered to one Milona Rosta out of Tralaska. Sir, she's got connections."

  I looked at the MC and saw we had less than a minute left. Damn. "Can you tell me whose right-seat?"

  "The perp sir."

  I had a crazy idea which might work, or it might not. "Parker, is that model yacht equipped with self-sealing cockpit windows and is there any way to get a message to Ms. Rosta without the perp seeing it?"

  "Working... Yes, to both, sir. Ms. Rosta has a hearing aid due to hearing loss at a young age. I can transmit through that."