Outsystem (Aeon 14) (27 page)

No one was
ever really alone anymore in the 42
nd
century. There was always a camera, a sensor, or someone conversing over the Link. The concept of truly being alone was very foreign to most people, even frightening to some. It most certainly was to Trent at that moment.

“No one knows what’s going on in here; key people will cover any injuries and no recordings will be made—unless you want them to be made
while you give your confession.”

“You bitch…” Trent’s voice was weak.

“Lacking in conviction,” Tanis said. “I will have the truth out of you. If I need to cut her and then you down to just a brain and a pair of lungs to wheeze words out of, it will happen.”

Trent resisted at first, calling her bluff
; unfortunately for him, and more so for Kris, Tanis followed through. She didn’t revel in it, didn’t take any joy in the things that she did to Kris’s body, but neither did she shy away from it. Her devotion to the colony effort, to leaving the Sol system, was foremost in her thoughts. She would know who was behind these attacks. All the while she wondered what Joe would think of her if he knew the sorts of things she did—had done?

After three hours Kris finally passed out. Tanis had stretched the woman’s endurance as far as it would go. Nothing Tanis did was permanent, but new skin would definitely be necessary. Not yet though. Kris would live like this as long as she was in Tanis’s custody.

Trent was having trouble breathing as he watched the ruins of Kris’s body collapse to the floor. Tanis had pre-deployed med-nano into the woman and they stabilized her and effected a semi-stasis.

“Now that we’re done with the warm-up”—Tanis wiped her hands and turned to Trent—“I’ll have my answers from you.
The dead from the
Dawn
demanded it.”

It took him several minutes to calm down enough to be able to keep his trembling at bay. Tanis watched him, seeing his fear turn into resolve, followed by anger. He was going to resist.

Tanis cupped his chin in her hand and worked up her most evil smile.

“Careful. Just because I’m done with her doesn’t mean I’m going to slow down. Let’s start with your eyes. I’ve always believed that we have two so that we can afford to have one ruined.”

She picked up a laser scalpel and proceeded to slice Trent’s right eye to ribbons. The tool self-cauterized, keeping bleeding to a minimum. Once the screaming stopped, Tanis looked him in the remaining eye.

“
You know, I don’t think you really need this one either. I think you’ll be a lot easier to manage once you’re blind.”

Trent broke.

“No! Stop, stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop pleeeeaaaaase!”

He was crying, tears coming out of both eyes and seeping into the ruined orb. His body was shaking, the fear a physical force assaulting him.

It was hard to watch. Tanis felt herself faltering at that moment. She hated torture. Hated doing it more than any human rights group hated that she did it. They found the actions despicable. She found
herself
despicable. She felt her stomach flutter like it did before battle.

Joe would find her despicable.

Angela said.


Tanis said.

Tanis looked down on the man, the thing in front of her.

“Then what? What do you have to say? Who is calling the shots? Who is trying to shut us down?”

Trent looked like he had built up a bit of resolve again, and Tanis held up the laser scalpel. He cringed and shook his head.

“OK OK OK…It’s the STR, it’s Strang.”

“Strang? The CEO of STR?” Tanis asked.

“Yeah, him. He’s put a lot of personal stock in the
Dakota
and when New Eden came up he had to have it. He’ll do anything to stop the
Intrepid
.”

Tanis considered his words. If Strang was pulling the strings, this was far from over. The
Intrepid
had to go to Callisto to get its final cargo and colonists. STR was headquartered there. Strang was there.

Tanis spent the next thirty minutes getting particulars from Trent and making sure his story rang true. She hated every minute of it, but not
nearly as much as he did.

“So we have our name.” Captain Andrews folded his hands and raised them to his lips. His eyes dropped to the table and he paused for a moment. “I assume that we proceed with legal indictments.”

“The brass are reviewing it,” Sanderson said.

“I thought
you
were the brass.” Terrance scowled. “Can’t you push this through?”

“Strang is the CEO of STR. We never thought it went this high. Pulling him down is no small thing. SolGov’s influence in Jovian space is not what it once was. They are more powerful than all the other members of the federal government combined. STR is one of their largest consortiums and wields a lot of influence. The feds will have to tread lightly.”

“So they’ll get away with this?” Terrance asked. “I swear, if they do nothing I’ll sue them, sue their pants off.”

“I’ve always wondered exactly what that means.” Captain Andrews ran a hand through his hair. “However, will suing them make us safer? I mean we’re going to Callisto, into the lion’s den so to speak.”

“Too bad we can’t just have the three cargo containers they’ve packed up there sent to us and just leave from here.” Terrance sighed.

“Not feasible,” Captain Andrews
agreed. “It’s a complicated slingshot maneuver we’re doing. Without using Jupiter as our launching point we won’t have achieved enough velocity when we reach Sol. The decreased breakaway velocity will cause significant increase in travel time.”

“That and we need to be moving towa
rd the sun at the correct speed and correct time to gather the isotopes we need for our fuel. If we don’t do that it will take thirteen percent longer to reach our max speed.” Earnest Redding seemed very anxious about the notion. “Also, if we have them ship those containers here, we’ll miss both the Jovian and Marsian windows and have to wait another nine months for the next one.”

“That’s all the time the
Dakota
will need to be able to contest our claim to New Eden and tie this colonization up in committee and courts for a decade. Which is exactly what Strang wants.” Tanis spoke for the first time since the meeting had started.

“I guess that rules that out,” Terrance said.

“I propose that I take Grenwald’s Marines in advance to Callisto and ensure that everything is secure. We need to make sure that the cargo and the rendezvous point are safe. We can also have a wing on patrol in Jovian space ready to escort the
Intrepid
in,” Tanis said. No point in wallowing forever. Plenty of work was still waiting to be done.

“Do you think we’ll be safe here?” Terrance asked. “Your work has proven instrumental in keeping us on track. In fact, Abby tells me that your alterations have actually accelerated the schedule.”

Tanis forced a smile. “You hired me to do a job, sir. I am glad I have been able to perform it to your satisfaction.” She brought up a holo showing various levels of activity on the station; 3D graphs and charts displayed periods of higher and lower threat to the
Intrepid.
The data showed that after the capture of Trent the threat levels were significantly lower.

“You’ll see, sirs, that
all of the models show that no significant threats are impending. The bounty on me has actually been withdrawn and the four merc organizations that had been active locally have all left the Mars Protectorate. I’m guessing that they’re feeling the heat and their last payments probably didn’t show up. I’m not saying that everything is sunshine and daisies, but I do believe that the next big threat lies at Callisto and not here at Mars. I have every confidence that Commander Ouri can keep things under control here while I’m gone. Lieutenant Forsythe will be keeping his platoon here while I take Grenwald’s with me to Callisto.”

“And
Commander Evans?” Captain Andrews’ eye had a twinkle to it.

The fewer complications, the better. “He’ll be staying on the
Intrepid
, sir. I believe his assistance will be key in organizing patrols and guarding the ship during transit.”

“I see no reason to not follow your plan.” Sanderson looked at Tanis sternly and at the others around the table who nodded. “
You have my permission to proceed. I expect a full work-up of your plan within the day.”

“Aye, sir.” Tanis stood. “Sirs.” She nodded and left. They hadn’t asked her exactly how she got the information from Trent. She hadn’t volunteered it either.

Angela said.