to relay details.”
He nodded politely, letting it be an abbreviated bow by way of diplomacy, then turned and left the room himself.
Behind him, Highland kept talking, to the air. That was just a little bit creepy.
She tried to follow him, but he’d latched the security bar and it beeped and tingled as she approached. She apparently then turned her attention on Bart. He deserved some kind of bonus for that. It took five minutes before she ran out of steam and left.
CHAPTER 14
Aramis left the room faking a headache. Shaman followed him.
“Are you allright, Aramis?”
“Yes. Faking. It didn’t seem healthy to stick around.”
“Indeed. She is hard on my blood pressure. As long as you’re okay.”
“I am,” he lied. His head wasn’t going to explode, but it was aching at every impact site. That meant ongoing healing, he hoped.
Shaman nodded and checked out the door. Highland was facing Bart and berating him, and with a shift of feet, the surgeon danced between doorways. Aramis barely heard that door close.
Aramis didn’t sleep well, from a combination of pain, nightmares, worry and anxiety. That, and not taking his prescribed medication, but dammit, it made him groggy and hungover, and he had work to do. He wasn’t going to admit it to anyone, though Shaman probably could read him, and it wasn’t as if they didn’t all know each other very well by now.
The escort mission started badly and decayed rapidly. Alex didn’t seem to have slept much, either. Elke seemed a bit more relaxed. She had explosives, because nothing else would make her jacket that lumpy. She had pockets sewn to her armor, full of a variety of nasties. He was glad to see that.
Bart seemed fit enough, and Shaman. Aramis was worried because Alex was ragged, and would probably take lead for most of the mission.
Sure enough, he did.
“Aramis, how’s your range of motion?”
“Good.”
“Pain?”
“Some, but it won’t slow me.”
“Good. The military finally relented, so we can test weapons as we leave.”
“Oh. Excellent.” Wow. What had accomplished that? Had enough shooting changed their moods?
He felt as if he was the new guy all over again. What had gone on in those two weeks? He’d seen the after action reviews, but they didn’t suggest any real problems. He’d have to read between the lines, or ask once they were back. But no one had said anything to him.
This was an indoor appearance in a “Safe” area, so they wore light armor under suits. Elke always looked a few kilos bulkier from her vest full of toys. He wished he could do that, only it would all be armor.
They carried carbines and Elke’s shotgun, which would stay stowed in the limo. They wore easy to access holsters for their pistols, which looked intact, even though Jason had very carefully disabled every safety circuit in them. Lionel, from Cady’s team, was designated driver. Aramis gladly took right wing position as they formed up, fired one test round into the clearing drum, then waited for Highland and Jessie.
They were prompt, dressed in long skirts and high collars, and made a point of not looking at Elke’s suit. Yes, it might piss off certain factions to be aware that she had legs. That wasn’t his concern, or hers. Doing their job right was their concern. He was also surprised that such a vocal proponent of female superiority would deign to dress to suit the locals, whose culture was diametrical to one another.
It might be one of those diplomacy things. Or it might just be true that politicians were whores.
It wasn’t his problem. All he had to do was keep her safe.
They boxed around her, Alex and Shaman first, Elke and he on the flanks, and Bart and Jason bringing up the rear. Alex got the door, and they climbed in. Jason closed it behind them and took shotgun seat.
They only had the one limo, which was disturbing, though they were supposed to have a military escort. That gray area Highland lived in was very annoying.
It wasn’t nearly as annoying as what happened next.
They rolled forward, around the compound, while they stowed their carbines. Aramis propped his behind him and left, in a thoughtfully provided clip added by the manufacturer. In moments they all looked like suited assistants, though that would only fool the lower half of society. Anyone with a brain knew they were muscle.
They made a final turn onto the exit road out the BuState gate, and grated to a stop.
Aramis clutched at his pistol, then realized they were still inside, and that it was a blockage. He looked at Alex, wondering if they were safer where they were, or needed to unass with the principal and sprint back to cover.
Lionel said, “We’re caught on the goddam speed bump. They built it up to meet the new standards, and it’s taller than ground clearance on this beast.”
“Didn’t we do this once already?”
“Yes. New standards, poor communication.”
“I’ll clear it,” Elke said.
Bart made a point of looking through the window before opening the door. Elke slipped through, bent down and did something. She walked around to the other side and repeated the motion. She stood up with a detonator.
Highland said, “Are you sure that’s saf-” and was drowned out as Elke hit the button and whatever charge she planted made a rumbling pop. She motioned for the door, and Bart reopened it.
Alex muttered. “I don’t care what the standards are, they will be made to fit Ms. Highland’s transport, at once, and they can install an extra triggered barrier instead. These things are outdated and simplistic.”
Aramis agreed. Simple was often better, but a barricade that defaulted to positive would work as well. If it failed to retract, they’d just detour, rather than being turtled.
Whatever Elke had done had crumbled the rise. Lionel eased forward, and after a scrape and rattle, they proceeded normally. She’d also apparently cut wipes for the tires.
Alex spoke into his phone. “I want that gone when we get back. That’s per me, Ms. Highland,” he glanced at her for assent, and she nodded, tight-lipped and flushed, “and Agent in Charge Cady… Well, right now, I’m speaking as District Agent in Charge. That’s the contract equivalent of Chief of Mission, Security.” There was a pause, then he said, “I appreciate it.”
To Alex, Highland said, “Thank you.” She said it smoothly and without rancor, and Aramis knew she was pissed.
As this was an official function, at least officially, the military escort pulled in front and behind. Two Grumblies, ten troops, two machine guns, except they were crowd control machine guns shooting rubber pellets and mild incapacitance agents. It was Aramis’s experience, on five planets so far, that nonlethal weapons didn’t deter threats, didn’t end threats, and often just irritated the threats or let them claim martyr status without the actual risk of being a real martyr. Still, it was better than nothing.
Lionel took a slightly convoluted route, but Aramis was easily able to follow it. He noted that.
“Alex, this route is too direct to suit me.”
“Understood. Got a suggestion?”
“Pull two blocks north and resume.”
“Sounds good. Lionel, did you get that?”
“Yes, sir, will do.” The man was strictly professional. He might not agree, but he’d accept the guidance without debate.
Of course, their terminus was known. There was only one gate in big enough to handle the limo. Alex said nothing, but Aramis noticed everyone shift slightly to make weapon access easier, so he stretched and did the
