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  "Yes, sir," he finally said. He opened his tool kit, and he and the petty officer began taking the missile apart with all of us watching, including Red. Thirty minutes later, he removed the shell covering the warhead. "It won't explode, Lieutenant," he said with a snort. Inside were some twenty packages. Adrian collected the packages and had the chief replace the cover.

  "Chief?"

  "Hartley, sir."

  "Chief Hartley, what happened here is classified. If you or your mate leak what you saw, it will mean not only your careers, but prison time. You can make up whatever story you want. Something to the effect of those idiot lieutenants wanted to know if those missiles were real and of course they were or ... anything but the truth. Understand?"

  "Yes, sir. The petty officer and I will come up with something."

  "Thank you, Chief." He waited for the two to leave, and then turned to Weiss. "We need to have cameras installed here and elsewhere just in case someone tries to retrieve what's here, and we need to connect the cameras to our CPCs."

  "I'll take care of it," Wilber said, smiling. "I could get the equipment today and do it tomorrow under the pretext of continuing our inspection."

  "Good. It wouldn't hurt to look around some more." Adrian scanned us and received a nod from Kris. We spent another four hours. I spent the time on the Bridge, not that I expected to find anything more, but I liked examining the panels and imagining the ship in space. Red also seemed to enjoy it.

  "That was a good discovery, Anna. And it's given us a good lead to follow," Wilber said back in the skimmer on our way back to the office.

  "Lucky," I said, not knowing what else to say. I wasn't sure why I was operating the control panels. Was I playing or working?

  "Maybe, but knowing something wasn't right wasn't luck," Kris said.

  "You're right, Kris. I found her sitting there staring at that missile. She knew something wasn't right." Adrian said.

  "You trusted me," I said almost to myself, after I had shut off the engine's power. I had been surprised at the time—I was young and inexperienced compared to them.

  "We're a team, Anna. We have to trust each other's instincts. Kris wanted to see the Wheeler, so we went. It paid off, but it wouldn't have mattered if we found nothing or if your missile was really an active missile. The powers-that-be selected each one of us for a reason. This is an important project, so we have to assume they got it right," Adrian said as we exited the skimmer. "Anna, you can keep going if you want. I'll take our find to Stauffer so he can have it analyzed, unless anyone wants to come along."

  "Sounds boring," Wilber said. "I'd prefer a good meal and a cold lager."

  Kris nodded. "I agree, I'm for a shower and a look for that husband who's going to give me those kids Adrian predicted," Kris said with a grin.

  "He didn't say nothing about a husband," Wilber quipped, which produced smiles from Adrian and Kris. I felt some apprehension, which I attributed to my age.

  "I don't think my chaperone would approve," I quipped. For a moment all I got was blank stares, then snorts.

  "See you tomorrow, Anna. You did well today," Adrian said as they walked away waving goodbye.

  Yes, it had been a very good day, and they made me feel like one of them. At home, I showered while waiting for Alexa.

  "From the glow on your face, I can see it was a good day," Alexa said as she took off her robe.

  "We searched the Wheeler, and I discovered their secret stash," I said, jumping up and hugging her. "They've made me feel like I'm one of them."

  "Maybe sometime in the future, you could have them to the house for dinner. I'd like to meet your team, since it's likely you will together for a long time," she said. I grinned.

  "Adrian says we’ll be lucky to destroy their organization by the time Kristyn's children are five or six, and she isn't married or even engaged."

  "He's right. You will be lucky to ever completely stop them. They are most likely out of the PRS or FPU empires, which we have no control over. The best you can hope for is to contain their activities within the UAS."

  * * *

  When I arrived at work the next day, Adrian was already at his desk reading. He waved but didn't say anything. I was surprised to see Kris and Wilber arrive not long afterward. They had barely gotten their coffee when my new CPC buzzed with a message from Stauffer to join him in his office. I noticed everyone on the team rose as I did. In the office, Stauffer smiled as we entered.

  "Close the door and take a seat." He waited as everyone got settled. "Congratulations. Nobody expected you to produce results so soon. Because of your diverse backgrounds, I thought it would take you a couple of months to find your legs as a team." He seemed to scrutinize each one of us as he sipped his coffee.

  "It's strange," Kris said. "My first impression wasn't good, but we seem to be a perfect fit."

  "Good. Judging by the contraband you discovered on the Wheeler, the ship and the crew were an integral part of the smuggler's organization. We can assume they operated in all three empires, because the drugs were unique to the other two empires and one package contained restricted chips from the UAS. Your discovery will put pressure on the crew to talk, since running illegal drugs and restricted chips could get them multiple life sentences." He handed Adrian a sheet of paper. "That's a list of what you found and the places they most likely originated. Anything you need while you're in my good graces?" He smiled, clearly amused. Adrian looked around the group. Kris was right: he was our leader, and I thought a good one based on our Wheeler experience.

  "Nothing right now. We’ve gotten everything we've asked for to date," Adrian said.

  "Your team has priority, so don't hesitate if you need anything."

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Night visitors

  Nothing much happened over the next couple of days. No one was caught on our hidden cameras on the Wheeler. We spent our time looking for patterns based on the contraband we discovered, the merchant's previous schedule, and the material in our homework files. The team came and went at odd hours, which I studied for patterns. What emerged was that we met around ten hundred hours in the conference room for an update and to resolve or pose questions. Some stayed and some left. Adrian could usually be found in the office. I varied my morning based on Alexa's schedule. If she left later than usual, I stayed to spend extra time with her.

  Feeling frustrated late that night, I finally put my work aside and crawled into bed. I had barely turned out the light when I heard gunfire. I threw off my blankets, grabbed my laser from my bedside table drawer, and headed for my bedroom door, wondering if I could shoot someone if I had to. I opened the door to find Alexa creeping down the stairs with a multifunctional handgun: projectiles and shards. When she saw me, she waved me back. I slowed but followed. If there was trouble, it was because of me; therefore, I was responsible and wasn't about to allow Alexa to meet it alone. She began firing as she proceeded down the stairs with plaster from the walls and wood chips from the banister filling the air around her. Two men in the hallway went down. One slammed into the wall. The other was thrown backward as multiple projectiles from Alexa's weapon scored direct hits. When she reached the bottom step, she stumbled and collapsed face-first on the landing. I screamed and blood pounded in my head as I raced down the stairs to her.

  "She's down," someone shouted as he came running up the hallway. Rage filled me as I took aim and fired. A scream stuck in his throat as my laser burned a steady line from his chest up his neck and into his head.

  "That bitch girl has a gun, and she killed Bryce," a man's voice shouted as I slid next to Alexa. Blood was everywhere. I stayed close to her with my gun pointing into the hallway, determined to defend her at all cost. As I waited, a laser light crept up the hallway and stopped at Alexa's head.

  "Give us that krait and we won't kill her," a man shouted from somewhere out of sight. I reached into my shirt, pulled Red out, and stepped into the hallway, blocking the laser light targeting Alexa. I let Red dangle i
n front of me, hoping they wouldn't shoot for fear of killing him.

  "You can have the krait," I said, walking up the hallway waving Red in front of me until I could see two men. One had a rifle with a laser sight, the other a multifunctional weapon. They smiled. I could feel their amusement and somehow knew they would kill me and Alexa after they got Red. "Here!" I shouted as I threw Red high into the air, arching toward them. The first man's head and eyes followed Red, ducking as the krait flew over him. I shot him several times in the back of his head. He pitched forward, blocking me from the second shooter.

  "Bitch," he shouted. As the first man hit the floor, I could see Red had the second man by the throat. He grabbed Red by the tail and flung him away as he staggered backward gagging and holding his neck. I shot at him but missed as he exited the door. Shuffling backward so I could watch the hallway, I made it back to Alexa and knelt next to her, reaching for her throat. Relief washed over me when I felt a weak pulse. I tore strips from my nightshirt and tied off her arm to stop the bleeding from a nasty gash to her forearm and tied another to stop the bleeding from a wound to her thigh. Then I wadded a large strip and held it to her side to plug the wound there and prayed, hoping the gods were listening.

  Sometime later I felt Red twist around my leg.

  "I hate you," I said, looking down at his red tail, which was all that was currently visible. He was the cause of Alexa lying there dying. Tears poured down my cheeks and a black cloud descended on me—I wanted to die. If I killed Red, raced through my mind. My laser jerked up as I heard a noise in the hallway. I slid in front of Alexa, my finger beginning to tighten on the trigger.

  "Don't shoot! I'm Sergeant Koontz, Eteos police." A man stepped cautiously into view with his hands raised. He was in a police uniform, so I lowered my gun.

  "My mother needs a doctor!" I shouted. He nodded and continued forward, stepping over the two bodies.

  "You've been shot," he said, pointing to my shoulder. When I looked, blood was running down my arm.

  "Be careful of the snake, he's poisonous. Call Doctor Renata at the Mercy Hospital in Vaobel. She’ll explain and know what to do," I said as I descended into darkness.

  * * *

  I woke to voices far in the distance. My foggy mind tried to reason who and where. Heaven? I wondered, trying to make out what they were saying. My mother? I doubted I could recognize my birth mother after so many years. Alexa? Was she dead too? Bone tired, I returned to the darkness without a fight.

  The beep of a monitor and the hum of equipment woke me, but I kept my eyes closed as I continued to listen, not sure what I would find. Then Red wound himself into my hair and hung his head on my forehead, and his tongue brushed my eyelid.

  "I'm sorry, Red. It wasn't your fault. I blamed you for their evil, their greed," I mumbled, reaching up to touch him.

  "She's awake," a woman's voice. Kristyn! My eyes snapped open.

  Adrian rose from the chair he had been sitting in and Wilber came through the door with a sandwich in his hand.

  "How's my mother?" I asked as the nightmare returned. I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my body and restraints held me in place.

  "Relax, Anna," Kris said, patting my leg. Smart woman. "Your mother will live, thanks to your first aid. She's at the naval hospital in Eteos City. They brought you here to Mercy Hospital because Doctor Renata insisted you and the krait required special handling. I doubt anyone else wants to treat you with Red watching."

  "But you forgot to take care of yourself," Adrian added. "You almost bled to death from that wound to your shoulder."

  "You, your mother ... and Red killed five men. If they were part of the smuggling organization on Oxax, you may have eliminated their entire operation." Wilber gave a grim laugh. "I imagine they thought it easy: snatch the snake and leave rich."

  "Why are you here?" I asked, confused. They should be back at NIA working.

  "Because one of our team members is here. So we're working here," Adrian held up his homework folder and a small smile creased his lips. I felt genuine concern from each.

  "Thanks," I said, not knowing what else to say. Just then Doctor Renata walked in.

  "You look better. How do you feel?" she asked as she untied the restraints and scanned the monitors. "You had me scared. You lost a lot of blood, which by the way Red requires on a regular basis. If he stops ..." She left the sentence hanging—the Coaca Virus returns and you die.

  "Tired," I said.

  "Rest and regular meals and you should be out of here in four or five days."

  "I can't ... What about work? And I want to see my mother." I felt overwhelmed with conflicting emotions: I was holding up the team; I wanted desperately to see Alexa and hold her hand for her sake and mine; and what would happen to me now? I couldn't live with Alexa anymore. I would not put her in danger any longer. Adrian appeared on the other side of the bed. "Now that we know you're all right, we’ll return to the office. Commander Stauffer is providing you with round-the-clock NIA security from now on. Take as much time as you need to recover. In the meantime, I'll send you daily updates on your CPC and you can share your thoughts with me." He patted my leg before leaving with Wilber.

  "If you need anything or want company, let me know. It's only an hour by shuttle," Kris said as she squeezed my leg. "Anna, you scared us to death. Get well quickly. The team won't be complete without you."

  * * *

  The days dragged by with little to do. True to his word, Adrian sent me daily updates. They were tracing the identities of the men Alexa, Red, and I killed. Surprisingly, the four they had identified didn't have criminal records that they could find. The other man was still unknown. To my delight, Alexa contacted me on my CPC on the third day, and we had frequent discussions during each day. She was weak but feeling better each day and looking forward to seeing me. We avoided a discussion of the incident. For my part, I dreaded having to tell Alexa I couldn't live with her anymore. Maybe that was her reason too. At night when the hospital quieted, I wrestled with my feelings on having killed three men, directly or indirectly. Red didn't seem concerned, I mused. I didn't seem to be either, but I thought I should be. It had been up close and personal, not impersonal like sending a missile at an opposing cruiser. Right or wrong, I knew in my heart that I would do it a hundred times again to save Alexa—and Red. I giggled mentally. I would gladly give up Red to save Alexa's life but not to some evil men who would kill others for their greed.

  * * *

  Doctor Renata released me four days later, and Kris came to pick me up in my skimmer. "I sure do like your skimmer, Anna. I'm jealous." She laughed. "Where to?"

  "I'd like to go to the Eteos City hospital and visit my mother. I can drop you off anywhere you want."

  "If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you and meet your mother. I understand she was a captain in the navy."

  "Yes, she commanded a cruiser in the border wars with the PRS. No, I don't mind. I know she wants to meet the team sometime. She was planning a dinner before ..."

  "No rush. We’re going to be together for a long time." On the flight to the Eteos, Kris brought me up to date on the team’s latest inquires. The hidden cameras still hadn't caught anyone fooling with the missiles. The remaining unidentified man had been identified. He was from the planet New Zheng but didn't have a record.

  When we entered Alexa's room, she was sitting up eating. Her face lit when she saw me, and her arm flew open to envelop me in a tight hug, which I knew caused her considerable pain, as the wounds were still swollen and painful. I was overcome with the feeling of love that radiated from her.

  "You scared me," I said when I could breathe again. She laughed then winced with pain and sobered.

  "Then we're even. You scared me. When I'm recovered, you'll have to give me all the details. I don't remember much after I shot the two in the hallway. I'm told there were five men and you killed the other three." She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she gestured toward Kris. "I
guess the pretty lieutenant is your team member, Kris."

  "Sorry. Mother this is Lieutenant Kristyn Sinclair. Kris, this is my mother, Alexa Bellona," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

  "Alexa, please. It's nice to finally meet you, Lieutenant Sinclair. When I'm better, I'd like to have the team over for dinner. Anna is fortunate to work with people she likes and admires."

  "Kris, please. It's a pleasure to meet you ... Alexa. Your daughter has been a very pleasant surprise. I admit I had my concerns when I heard she was only seventeen, but she not only fits right in, she adds a unique perspective to the team. She's a keeper," Kris said, giving my arm a squeeze. "I'll go get something to eat and give you two a chance to talk."

  "Mother, I think I should get an apartment on my own," I said, hating each word.

  "Why? Tired of living with me?"

  "No. I almost got you killed!" I blurted. "More will come after Red. They won't stop until they get him."

  "My poor daughter," Alexa reached out and pulled me to her. "Yes, there will undoubtedly be more attempts over the years. And if they do succeed, you will die. So we need to take all necessary precautions to prevent that. Not by being separated, but by being together. The NIA will provide you with security now that you have been attacked and almost killed, if for no other reason than that you are part of a team on a critical project. And the police will provide me with additional security because I'm a magistrate and my home has been attacked. So we will both have additional security, which will be doubled if we are together. And if that isn't enough, I'll purchase extra security. In addition, we will make modifications to the house to make it more secure." She paused, giving me a hug. "If you want to move to be on your own, I'll help. But if you want to move to protect me, I'd prefer you stay."

  "I love living with you, mother, but I'd never forgive myself if you got killed because of me."

  "Good. Then let's take reasonable precautions and not let evil men drive us apart. Life is too short to begin with."