Sam didn’t know what to expect when Feldman’s office appeared around him. He tried to be ready for anything, but he was not prepared for the bloody body on the floor in front of Feldman’s desk.
Fortunately, Ned kept his wits about him. He aimed his taser squarely at Feldman’s heart.
Feldman did not seem concerned about it, but he did sit back in his chair and scowl at them. “I can see this invention will require new standards of etiquette,” he said. “You might have called first.”
Sam shifted his gaze from Dinnie Warner’s body to Feldman’s cold eyes. “What did you do?”
“Don’t be naïve, Sam. It’s obvious what I did.” He waved an indifferent hand. “Dinnie Warner was a traitor. The penalty for that is death.”
“In cold blood? Without judge or jury?”
“Expensive time-wasters. Is there a reason for this visit?”
Sam gave himself a moment. When he thought he could trust his voice, he said, “First, you should know this meeting is being broadcast in real-time. We’ve hijacked the public channels.”
“Impressive. But the company you’ve been keeping are known for their lawbreaking tactics.”
“If the people of your world know their history, they’ll remember there are sometimes lawless regimes, which require lawbreakers to change.” Sam sensed Ned shift behind him, reminding him to stay on topic. “But we aren’t here to discuss morality with the amoral. You have items which belong to Sarah and me. I’ve come to collect them.”
Feldman rolled his chair back and Ned moved the taser with him, stepping forward as he did so. Feldman stopped, and raised both hands. “I need to open my safe.”
“Where’s the gun you used to kill Dr. Warner?” Ned asked.
“In my inside jacket pocket.”
“Take it out. Slowly. Put it on the desk.”
Feldman did this, his expression somewhat amused.
“Sam, go pick it up.”
Sam walked forward, glad that Ned came with him, the taser still on Feldman. Sam shuddered when he stepped around Dinnie, careful to avoid her blood.
Ned kept control. “Please stand up, Mr. Feldman.” When Feldman did, Ned moved around the desk, and frisked him. “I’m sorry about that,” he said. “But you understand, we have to be safe.”
“Of course I do, Mr. O’Malley. Do you understand that there are weapons in this room, as well as surveillance, which I do not control?”
“We can be pulled instantly,” Sam said.
“Yes, I see that you don’t have your CERBO with you. I assume Mr. Green is operating it? How is his young girlfriend, by the way?”
Sam looked upward and shrugged. “The chip, please. And the journals.”
After first obtaining Ned’s permission to move, Feldman led them to a small statue near the wall. He twisted its head in a complex pattern, and a shelf on the wall moved aside to reveal a small door with a keypad. Feldman entered a code and the door opened. He reached inside the small space and pulled out three journals. He handed these to Sam.
“Where’s the chip?” Sam asked.
“I don’t have it.”
“You’re lying.”
“Oh, come now, Sam. Surely, with the events of today, you don’t think my superiors would let me keep such a valuable item? The fact that the two of you have remained alive in my office for this long is a sign of how far I’ve fallen. Regardless, I wouldn’t have the chip anyway. One of our science teams has it. Before you ask, I don’t know which lab it’s in. If I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.” He stood straight, as if proud. “I’ve made unpardonable mistakes, but my loyalty is not in question.”
Sam heard Arkady’s voice in his ear. “Guards are coming. I’m pulling you out.” He didn’t have time to argue, or even take a breath, before the walls of NISS formed around him. Behind him, Ned sighed.
“Sam,” Arkady waved a hand from his seat in front of the comm unit. “We still have the broadcast channels. Will you make a statement?”
They had talked about this before leaving. It would be important to tell people what was going on. Sam supposed that, if Sun still had the chip, it was even more important to warn the world.
He met Sarah near Arkady’s station and handed her the journals. She rubbed a hand across her grandmother’s book, then brushed a tear from her cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered, and kissed his cheek. Then they each took a chair, and began to explain.
~~~
The next morning, Andy found Moira gazing in quiet rapture at the view outside the outer rim. The view was virtual, as the need for radiation protection prevented the luxury of windows. The station was wrapped in a sphere of water, which was encased between thick walls of RXF2 shielding material. The interior side of the outer rim was lined with floor-to-ceiling vid screens, for the enjoyment of the colonists.
Andy knew the view was virtual, but when he finally found Moira at the wall the next morning, it mattered not at all. He joined her, lost in the wonder of the planet below them. Above and beyond the planet, stars filled the view.
She smiled up at him. “All the time I was here yesterday, I never saw any windows. It wasn’t until this morning at breakfast that I got to see the view.”
Andy nodded. “I kept thinking of that, too. Some of the bombs were planted on the outer rim, so I did see it. Couldn’t stop to admire it, though.”
“I imagine not.” Her gaze turned back to the window. “I looked for you this morning, but you were in a meeting.”
“Yes, and when I got out of that, you were in a meeting. Arkady tells me he offered you a place on NISS. But the Swiss offered you asylum, too, didn’t they?”
She nodded. “They did.” She paused to take a deep breath before saying in a rush, “But I’ve decided to stay here.” Her eyes flashed back to his face, revealing her worry that he would be upset with her decision. “I talked with Hans Greigan, who heads the physics department. He said they could offer me a research position while I read for a degree. Arkady said I could attend school here, to finish any courses I need for the sixth form, and start my college courses. There are several students here.”
He turned to face her, crossing his arms and leaning against the railing. “That’s wonderful. It’s everything we hoped you’d be able to do with the rebels.”
“Yes. I’m very excited about it.” She stood close to him, her eyes on his face. “You’re going to Switzerland, aren’t you?”
“Yes. It seems our best bet for neutrality, and for the facilities we need to build another CERBO. The fail-safe in their CERBO will take Sam and Sarah home sometime tomorrow, but I’ll continue to work on the project. The Swiss government has offered to assist us as we try to get the charges against us dropped. There’s also the mess at Strickert to clear up. Evidently, Feldman teamed up with your stepfather to create that news report. The Lioness doesn’t deserve what’s happened to her reputation.”
“And Grace,” Moira said. “Please check on Grace.”
“That is one of my first priorities, I assure you.”
They were both silent, their shared burden felt without words.
Then Andy smiled, and reached a finger to touch her hair. “I will miss you. But I know you’ll be in good hands here. It really is for the best.”
“Yes,” she said, animated again. “Everyone says that. They have all told me how much better off I’ll be when I’m away from you. That I need time. Fortunately,” and she gave a short, bitter laugh, “they don’t quite say that I need time to grow up. Rather, they say I need time to learn who I am, so that I can know what I feel for you.”
“It’s true,” he whispered. “I’ve said it myself.”
“I am tempted to stamp my foot, and declare that I am old enough to know my own feelings.” She struck a pose, hands on her hips, and a foot pounded the floor. He smiled, enjoying the picture she made. After a moment, she smiled back and relaxed. “I can’t argue with the logic. But mostly, it occurs to me that you deserve someone who knows herself. Someone who is a whole person, who brings as much to the relationship that you do.” Her voice cracked, and she looked away, swallowing hard. When she spoke again, she sounded normal, although she did not look at him.
“That isn’t me, not yet. I have so much life to live, first.” Her brows twitched upwards. “Arkady says I’ll be on my own, here. Essentially an adult, although I’ll have a counselor to assist me.”
“This will be good for you,” Andy said. “You’re a very sensible young woman, you know. You’ll make good decisions, and find good friends, and you will have the time of your life.” He smiled because at last, she looked up at him again. “Do that, Moira. Have fun. Be at peace. When you’re ready, date a few fellows. Find out who you are, and while you’re doing that,” he held up a finger, admonishing, “be sure you stay in touch. I expect daily reports, at least.”
She laughed, but there were tears in her eyes. “At least. I would go insane if I thought I couldn’t talk to you.”
“We are friends, more than anything else, Moira.” His Pad buzzed and he silenced it, his expression remorseful. “It’s time for me to go. We’re meeting the Swiss consulate in Bern at half past.”
Her hand shot out and gripped his. “I’m suddenly terrified. How do I live without you?”
“We’ll talk again in just a few hours,” he said. “You’ll settle in here, and soon, you’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Okay.”
He pulled her hand toward him and held it against his chest. She had to lean toward him to keep her balance. “You have my heart, Moira. Take care with it.”
“Always.” A whisper.
He turned away, and left her there, knowing she watched him until he was gone. And he smiled, knowing that once he was gone, her gaze would return to the stars.