Talosian Chronicles 5: Raptor Squadron (36 page)

"Yeah? And you would have made me wait for hours before you did, too! It's bad for my heart to stress like this!" Montgomery replied.

The Sheriff just shook her head. "Jason Montgomery, I'd like to introduce you to Admiral Ian Williams of the Terran Defense Force. Admiral Williams, Jason Montgomery, owner and president of this resort, hotel and casino, and most of the mountains behind us."

"It's an honor to meet you, Sir," Ian replied and after removing his glove, offered his hand.

The old man did the same and looked impressed. "Youngest damn Admiral I've ever met! I'd wager the duty will make you an old man well before your time though, son. Welcome to Breckenridge, Admiral." He looked at the Sheriff. "So, what happened here Jean? Feds try to capture the Admiral and his party again?"

The Sheriff nodded. "That's pretty much the whole thing in a nutshell, Jason. One SEAL stopped his own bullet when he didn't believe the warnings from the Admiral. He would have died but one of the people with the Admiral was a doctor and performed emergency surgery on the man, saving his life, at least from this incident. We just sent him to Denver in the medical bird." A she spoke, another snowmobile could be heard approaching.

"Ah, that would be my nursemaid catching up to me. Admiral, Sheriff, perhaps we can continue this discussion in my office?" Jason asked.

"There you are, you old deviant! What the hell do you think you're doing running off like that!" the young woman that literally jumped off the snowmobile said, laying into the old man. "Do you have any idea what this cold air is doing to you?"

Jason looked up at Ian and the Sheriff. "Please excuse her, she's a mean little shit, but she means well."

"Yeah? You're not going back to your office either! I'm taking you back to your room right now! Maybe we can head this off before your idiocy kills you!" the girl replied, pushed him back from the control of the snowmobile, and climbed in front of him.

"Prudence, don't be rude. There is something very important I need to speak to the Admiral about. Besides, I was only trying to find out what was going on out here," Jason replied.

"Don't give me that crap! The doctors said bed-rest and you've managed to push even those orders! We're going back, now." She looked up at the Sheriff, with a pissed off look on her face. "I'm sorry Jean, but he really can't be outside, stunts like this could kill him right now." She looked over at the big Ski Patrol Trevor. "Trev, can you get the other sled back for me?"

"Sure Prude, I'll handle it." Trevor replied. "Thanks."

She smiled at him, started the snowmobile and drove away.

"Is he going to be Okay?" Ian asked looking at the big man. The Sheriff had a concerned look on her face as she looked to him as well.

"Grandpa just got out of the hospital with pneumonia. He's got cancer and the chemo has really weakened his immune system. But he refuses to rest like the doctors are telling him. It's almost like he doesn't care or doesn't believe them," Trevor replied.

"Knowing him, he's probably fighting it the only way he knows how," the Sheriff replied. "He's been bull-headed all his life and has always met every challenge head on. He's a fighter, and the doctor's orders are like torture to him."

Trevor nodded. "Yeah, they are. But if he doesn't listen to them, he's going to die." The big man looked like he was on the verge of tears.

"He said he wanted to speak to us, should we ignore it, or do we go see him?" Ian asked. "Trevor, if you would like, I can ask Beth to come with us to check him over?"

"That would be great, Admiral. I just wish he'd agree to join you all so you could help him," Trevor replied. "I know he's getting old, and he'll leave us eventually, but I just can't… we can't lose him yet." He slowly shook his head. "Ignoring it is not a good idea when it comes to grandfather. He's very persistent."

The Deputies and Ski Patrol were getting the ski lift line running again. People had begun to wander off and get back to enjoying their vacations. Ian excused himself from the Sheriff and Trevor for a moment to call Cindy. "What's happening over there Cindy?"

"Calm. I talked them down and bought them lunch from the pizza joint in town. We're still waiting for the word to get passed back down the line here," Cindy replied.

Ian grinned. "Careful or you'll end up with a dozen or so new boyfriends!"

"Uh huh, Ian one of these folks over here is not a SEAL or Delta. He's a 'civilian' agent. I think he might be the contact on site for this fuck-up. What do you want me to do with him?" Cindy asked.

"That depends, is he an ass or is he playing nice?" Ian asked.

"Well, he shot at me without warning when I took my helmet off. He's been a belligerent ass-hole ever since. He still thinks he'll find a way to force us 'under control'," she replied.

"Sheriff, can I ask you a favor that will probably generate a lot more paperwork?" Ian asked. He left the line to Cindy open so she could listen to him.

"That depends, how much paperwork are we talking about?" Jean replied.

Ian grinned. "I'm told one of the gentlemen trying to capture our ship is not a SEAL or a member of the armed forces in any capacity. He's technically a civilian."

"A spook. You want me to go arrest the spook in charge of this mess don't you?" the woman asked raising an eyebrow at him.

Ian shrugged. "Well, he is one of the assholes responsible for this fiasco, and since he is a 'civilian', he's not protected like the military guys are. At least you can arrest someone over this mess."

"I don't know whether to thank you or curse you, Admiral. Stiles! Grab two of the others and put that idiot in cuffs. Be sure to search him very well before you do," the Sheriff ordered. "Keep him under guard at all times. Literally do not take your eyes off him; he's liable to cut your throats just for fun while he escapes."

"What are the charges, Sheriff?" Deputy Stiles asked.

"He did try to shoot my person over there in the head. So attempted murder would work," Ian suggested. "I'll get you the video of the incident."

"Just how did you manage to get video of it? Never mind; I don't think I want to know," Jean replied.

Ian laughed. "They're beside our ship. I'm certain it recorded everything." He waved the women he had arrived with over. "Shannon, Talena, Beth and I have been asked to visit the owner of this resort. I'm sorry to bail out on you two, but I'd be happy to join you after we're finished if you want to meet us back at our lodge."

"Sure Ian, I don't know about Shannon, but I'm getting kinda hungry anyway," Talena replied.

"Okay Ian, you have fun with the rich folks, I'll eat pizza with the grunts," Cindy replied, reminding him she was still on the comm.

"Yeah and I'm sure you’re actually enjoying it. You like those folks!" Ian replied.

"I do, I'm sure we could be friends if the situation were different. We understand each other," she replied.

"Well, keep me in the loop. Beth and I will accompany the Sheriff to see Mr. Montgomery," Ian replied.

"Yeah, not without a guard. Sasha, you escort Talena back to the lodge but stay hidden. Shannon, stay with Ian and Beth," Cindy ordered.

"Understood, will do," Shannon replied as Sasha also acknowledged the order.

Ian sighed and turned back to the Sheriff. "I guess that's handled. I'm ready when you are, Sheriff."

Jean led the small group back to the biggest of the resort's lodges, which wasn't really all that far way. Jean led them through a couple of 'staff only' doors, and up a set of stairs to a nice, comfy loft area over-looking the lift area where the SEALs made their attempt.

"Well, now we know how he knew something was up!" Ian grinned.

"Damn straight, Admiral!" Jason said from a door in the back of the room. "If I can't be out there, at least I can see them."

"Mr. Montgomery it's good to see you again. Sir, if you wanted to speak with me, you could simply have called," Ian replied.

He chuckled. "Well, I didn't actually know you were staying with us, and you're not the easiest person to get hold of otherwise."

"No, I suppose not," Ian said smiling at the man. "Sir, before we continue, this is Doctor Elizabeth Williams, the Chief Medical Officer on my ship. Trevor asked if she could give you a quick check to make sure you’re doing okay."

He grinned. "Trevor's a good lad. To put it simply, I'm dying. I know that. He and my nurse here are trying to deny that fact as long as possible." He shrugged. "I'm old; no one lives forever."

"That's very true, Sir, but one person's reality might be different than that of others. I promise I won't hurt you or make you do anything embarrassing," Beth replied. "Unless you piss me off that is!"

"Doc, I tend to piss people off without even knowing I do it!" Jason replied. "Williams? I thought you were married to a blond woman?" he said the last to Ian.

"We have a unique situation aboard ship, Sir. I'm not actually married to anyone but Jenny, officially," Ian explained. "By our laws, we can join together, but since I am such I high profile person, we are trying to keep that aspect of our lives as private as we can, things are difficult enough when dealing with the governments down here without that type of complication."

"Makes sense. Admiral, the reason I wanted to speak to you was for Trevor; he's in a very poor position here," Jason replied.

"How so?" Ian asked.

"Trevor is my heir. When I pass, all of this will fall to him," he held up a hand. "He can handle the resort I have no doubt of that. Unfortunately, he isn't the only member of my family, and the vultures have already begun to circle. He doesn't stand a chance against all of them. They'll take all of this away from him and sell it off. He grew up here. When I go, the corporation will sell it off in pieces and I think that will be more than he could deal with." Jason replied.

"Mother is such a bitch!" Prudence said softly.

"She is still your mother, Prudence. I'll ask you again to not speak of her like that," Jason said in mild rebuke.

She blushed. "Sorry Pampa."

"I'm sorry, Sir, but I don't see why you needed to tell me this?" Ian asked.

"When I pass, Trevor will be forced out. I've done all I can, but it's going to happen. I trusted Prudence's mother as the executor of my will and that was a mistake. She has the board eating out of her hand. She's convinced them of all the money they will make by selling out. They are already poised to take Trevor down by a vote of no confidence. She'll take over as the president and sell off the resorts. It'll crush Trevor. When it does, I would ask you to take him and Prudence as new citizens. If time remained to me, I'd see about starting up a new ski resort out there on your world for them," Jason replied.

Beth leaned back and put her tool away. "So how much time do you think you would need?"

Jason smiled at her. "I've heard you have some pretty amazing technology doctor, but I don't think even you can cure stage four cancer."

"Actually, we can. I can take care of the pneumonia too and possibly even give your legs back to you; but once all that is done, I doubt you would want to come back here," Beth replied.

"As promising as that sounds, I can't run away right now. Besides, how much time would it give me really? Five years?" he shook his head. "No, I've been dealt this hand, I'll stand pat."

"Actually, we're looking at more like thirty years, barring any accidents," Beth replied. "Think that'll be enough time for you?"

"Prue? Be a dear and send for Trevor please?" Jason asked the girl and looked back at Beth. "Doctor, are you certain of this?"

"Under our laws, I could lose my license to practice medicine if I lied to a patient, Mr. Montgomery. I could even go to prison for it," Beth replied as the girl left. "Now that you know, I need to tell you that the pneumonia has caused an issue with your heart. If you remain here, I'd give you six months if you follow your doctor’s orders. Less if you continue to ignore them; just your stunt today took a month off that."

"Dead now or dead in six months. What does it matter if I'm miserable?" Jason asked. "I'm still on borrowed time, Doc. But if you're sure you can keep me going another thirty years, I might be able to do something to help Trevor and Prue."

"What do you have planned, Jason?" the Sheriff asked.

"If the Admiral will accept me as a citizen, I'll retire and hand everything off to Trevor now and go for treatment. If I'm still alive, my will cannot be enacted and the board won't have the power to act. Trevor gets to keep his home, the business stays in the family, and I might live long enough to see those two get married," Jason replied.

Ian activated his communit. "Operations, this is Guardian."

"Operations is online. Aren't you supposed to be on vacation Guardian?" Chloe replied.

"I am, and this call is a personal one. I'd like a shuttle sent to retrieve a medical patient who will be asking for citizenship. He's a personal friend," Ian replied.

"Understood, Sir, when and where would you like the shuttle?" Chloe asked.

"Well, there really aren't any airports close by, so your gonna have to have them land close to the resort, I guess. Get with Lissa and find a place as close to the main lodge as you can. The man is currently in a wheelchair," Ian said.

"Stealth landing?" Chloe asked.

"Maybe for the trip down and back, but the landing itself shouldn't be too bad. They'll just be picking him up and leaving again; should be no big deal," Ian replied.

"Gotcha, I'll make it happen," Chloe replied.

Jason also called his attorney and hung up the phone just as Prudence returned with Trevor. Jason waved him to a seat near Ian.

"Trevor, I will be leaving tonight for medical treatment. Doc Williams tells me I'll be able to stick around for another thirty years if I agree to treatment at one of their facilities. So, I'm going to retire and hand over the control of all of this to you now. You know what would happen if we wait until I pass away," Jason replied.

"Why do you need to retire? You can just resume your place after they treat you," Trevor replied.