Chapter 33
from the public areas. The circle of bodies each held a steady plasma gun and bore the plain uniform of the Information Security Corps. Neith’s personal, specially trained Information Security Corps.
Where do I hit first? Sarah asked. Vinnet’s host took a step back and pressed her shoulders against Maggie’s, releasing the girl’s hand.
It doesn’t matter.
The corpsmen fired.
Rockefeller found a paper towel in the kitchenette while Major Patrick and the whole contingent of MPs led the Gertewet away.
Stokely’s hand rested on his shoulder. “How are you holding up?”
“Let’s talk about something we can act on.”
“Another rescue mission?”
And that was why they were friends. Once a way had been made, it was always an option. “I don’t know. I didn’t get it at the time, but it’s starting to sink in that they took her to the capital. And those two, the General and the woman, they can sit here and be mild and patient, but at the capital, they were all business. Before then, I watched him fight through four men at once. They’re very capable. And they’re afraid of operating there.”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t think we can get her back.” The admission hit like a punch to the gut. “They know so much more than we do, and they’re worried. Charlie, I had her in my arms, and we got separated. I don’t think I’m ever getting her back.”
Wiping his eyes dry, he caught a whiff of the symbiont water on his hands and thought of the ugly brown lump. Would another one get implanted in Maggie? Would it take over, completely overwriting her, or would some remnant shine through, like it did with Sarah? Could he live with that?
Colonel Marshall approached, arms crossed. “If we can get enough intelligence from our prisoners, we could build a case to send Special Forces. Getting her back from their capital would announce that we are not a planet to cross.”
“And if they fail?” Stokely shook his head. “It may start a war we can’t fight yet.”
Rockefeller pointed to where the bucket had sat. “Today, we learned five ways to kill them.”
“When they’re outside a host.”
“And inside a host, they’re human.” Rockefeller mirrored Colonel Marshall’s stance. “Special Forces can handle humans.”
The Colonel shook her head. “Senator Stokely is right. We can’t start this unless we get the intelligence to ensure we can win, but we can make that our highest priority.”
Major Patrick strolled back into the conference room with Katorin. They’d only been gone fifteen minutes, and Katorin wasn’t supposed to return. Major Patrick tossed a badge on the table. “Who are we supposed to call? Edwards, Spokane, or the county morgue?”
“What?”
Katorin slipped onto the stool beside the Major and leaned heavily on the table. “The Kem swapped vassals. Donn is watching him now.”
“Not only is the old host dead,” the Major added, “but he took over one of the imported SFs. So one John Doe with an actual dead—and funny-looking—body., Do we report the SF as dead, too?”
“We’ll have to,” the Colonel answered. “He’s secure now?”
Katorin answered quickly. “Yes.”
Major Patrick was slower. “I believe so. Besides having the General in the room with him, our usual SFs are on guard. They know better than to take the Kemtewet lightly. The Spokane guys didn’t.”
“And why is she here?” Colonel Marshall demanded, gesturing to Katorin.
Rockefeller and Stokely drifted to the short end of the table to listen closely.
“Colonel.” Katorin sat straighter and folded her hands. “Major Patrick agreed to bring me back here because of my role in apprehending the Kemtewet.”
“Our men could have done that.”
“At greater risk to themselves. He grew up on ghost stories of atrocities the Ger commit against Kem and on news sprinkled with violence against Kem on the lords’ planets and the Grand Empire. He’s concerned, and rightfully so, that you’ll kill him, but he doesn’t understand why.”
“So he killed one of my men?”
“In his limited experience, he thought that would make him safer. Remember: he sees no problem with his parasitic existence. That’s the way they are, and that’s why we’re trying to kill them.”
“Then why is he still alive?” Rockefeller asked.
Katorin blinked at him. “You don’t take them out one by one. You bring down their society and cease their reproduction. That’s what they did to us.”
Cease reproduction? “Your entire race is sterile?”
“Can we not get into that? It comes down to this: we’re dying out, and we haven’t won. You’re still alive, and the Empress is planning to take over your planet. Can we please work together?”
Stokely circled the table and sat opposite Katorin. “What Empress, and why does she want to take us over?”
Her jaw dropped. Then she explained the political structure of the Kemtewet Empire and sighed. “I can’t tell you everything you need to know. It would take years. What if we could visit, if our leadership allows, and teach you what you need to defend yourselves?”
Rockefeller and Colonel Marshall traded glances. That kind of arrangement would only get them the information the Gertewet wanted them to have. “If that’s how you feel about it, what about a permanent liaison?”
She lit up, beaming from ear to ear. “That sounds ideal!” Then she deflated. “We have a long-standing no-contact policy for Earth, but in light of the imminent threat, perhaps the Council could consider a more enlightened philosophy.”
This was all well, but what he really wanted was the girls home on Earth.
“Vinnet.”
All four people in the room stared at him.
“We want Vinnet as the liaison. If she survives, she’ll be in Sarah or—” No, anything but that. “—or Maggie. They should be home with their families.”
Katorin’s eyes said it all.
They weren’t likely to come home.