Day 46 (Comms Series #5)
12 Mar 2018Viridian
Larkspur's pulse lasers were upgraded. The missiles were restocked. She programmed the coordinates and all that there was left to do is get on the Cobra and take off. Her meeting with her supervising officer went smoothly enough that she could take the couple days of leave to do what she had to do.She was going to get her back.
Her boots thudded deeply as she walked out to the landing pad. Larkspur's gate was down, just as she left it. Her mind was empty about concerns of hows and whys. Whether she would return hadn't flickered across her thoughts.
Isaac Bryant was a slaver and he was going to die.
When she half-trotted up the ramp into her ship, she sped around various corners until she reached the cockpit. The ship lights flickered awake and she moved to her seat.
Except Commander Acroci was sitting in it. "Hey, Vi."
She paused. Acroci was usually formal and only used the moniker when it wasn't about business. He certainly had never set foot on her own ship. "Commander. Is there something I can help you with?"
"You can help me by sitting," he said and nodded to the second seat. "I understand you're off to the Lahun system."
Her stomach jolted. Pace, you bitch. She pressed her lips together a moment and modified her tone. "I didn't realize you were connected with Violetta Pace."
"She contacted me," he said, his enhanced blue eyes calmly finding hers. "And for good reason. I'd like to know what your plan is."
Viridian's skin prickled with sudden rage. Her temper flared in her green-blue eyes and her tone tightened beyond what she could control. "This is a personal matter, Crow. It doesn't concern you."
"I'm afraid it does," Acroci said. "It is my understanding that you intend to visit Goodman Relay. It is also my understanding you intend to rescue a slave and then destroy the station."
"Ex-slave," Viridian said.
"And yet in custody of Isaac Bryant, an established slaver for the Empire."
"I did not realize that freeing slaves was something that needed approval from the patrol wing," Viridian said.
A second set of boots announced another presence and a female voice that made Viridian's bones freeze over spoke calmly, "I do believe you would need it from tac wing, however."
Admiral Hyde, her commanding officer, was a lot of violence in a little body. She wore glasses, something that always made Viridian wonder why she bothered, and kept blonde hair tucked in bun. She was also ruthless, calculating, and on a good day, sociopathic.
Great. Was there anyone in the damn station who didn't know? Maybe the bitch from traffic control might need to know, too. "Commander," Viridian said and began to stand.
"Sit," Hyde said, her tone flattened. She nodded to Acroci.
"Freeing slaves, especially from hands of abusive owners, is absolutely something that a pilot of our navy should be involved in. My concern with this is that you're not thinking this through. Our pilots do not show blatant disregard for human life and I'm afraid that's your plan," Acroci said.
"For the record," Hyde said. "Eliminating a slaver base isn't something I have any problem with."
Acroci shot a glance at Hyde that could have cut glass. "The point is, it is important that you're sure that this individual is a slaver and is responsible for the kidnapping of this commander."
Viridian paused, her eyes icing over. How dare you. "Acroci, look at my face. Do you think I got this scar," she asked, her thumb tracing over a thin line that went from lip to cheek bone, "because I thought playing with knives would be fun?"
She stood suddenly, her hands rapidly moving to her jacket to unzip it. She lifted the tank underneath, exposing a dented rib. "Do you think I got this because I liked to rough house? I was his slave. He abused me since I was nine years old and he did it at that base. He's there and he deserves to die."
"He does," Hyde said, her tone taking a sudden softness, "but maybe not everyone else."
Viridian shot a glance at Hyde. "You just said you don't care--"
"Don't put words in my mouth," Hyde said. "I said I don't care about eliminating a slaver base, but trying blow it up from a Cobra is going to get you killed. We're not interested in that."
"You need to be sure, Vi," Acroci said, "and you need to do it with as little casualty as possible. This revenge, this isn't you."
Viridian's eyes narrowed. "Don't pretend you know me, Crow."
Acroci's eyes leveled with hers and she couldn't quite tell if the words stung. "I did not recruit you from Section 31 because of your expert flying skills. I certainly didn't recruit you because of your wealth or history. I recruited you for who you are."
The wash of anger slowly dissipated, like a moonlit tide. "What do you mean?"
"You're not a terrorist," Hyde said. "You don't kill without good reason. This is no different."
"You were a smuggler in Section 31. A damn good one," Acroci said. "So smuggle."
Hyde stepped forward and reached behind her. From her belt, she produced a pistol. "And use this to put a bullet in between his eyes."
Acroci's glance shot over to Hyde again, but it was followed by silence. Viridian reached out for the pistol, narrowing her eyes. "I.. I have my own gun, in my locker."
Hyde smiled. "Mine's better."
"Think about what we said," Acroci said and stood from the seat.
"You're not going to stop me?" Viridian asked.
"As you said," Acroci replied, "this is not our business. I expect you to return and when you do, I'd like to discuss these associations you've been maintaining."
Viridian nodded, looking down at the gun. "Yes, commander."
"Fly safe," Hyde said, "and don't come back in a box."