One Good Soldier

three different AIC-negotiated security doors. That would prove difficult to overcome, but she'd figure it out. Hopefully, if she got back to the teleport pad she could use it to teleport herself to safety. Dee had no idea where safety inside the Tau Ceti system might be. She also had no idea how to operate a teleport pad. She'd blow that bridge up when she came to it.

The white elevator light dinged and lit up, indicating that the elevator car had arrived at their floor. The Seppy soldiers moved to an attention pose, but Fink didn't seem to change that much. Dee could tell that he subtly shifted his balance on his feet to a slightly more alert stance. She wasn't sure what that meant, but it left her feeling a bit uneasy.

The elevator doors slid open. There was a lone figure inside. The figure was a tall, slim woman wearing black military UCUs, boots, leather gloves, and a red, white, and blue ski mask. She had long, straight black hair pulled up in a ponytail and out the back of the mask. Every human alive knew who she was. Dee swallowed a lump in her throat and then felt the barrel of a railpistol press against the back of her head. The four soldiers immediately shifted and pointed their weapons at Fink.

'That is close enough, Madam President,' Fink said.

'What are you doing, Fink?' Elle Ahmi asked calmly.

'Just wanting to insure my investment makes a profit. Transfer the money, or I'll simply kill her.' She had to kill this SOB. Jay and Clay deserved at least that much. Fink would pay.

'Your money has been transferred, Colonel. Now step aside and walk away. That is the only opportunity you will get to leave here alive.' Elle Ahmi didn't mess around, and Dee felt certain that she could come through with her threat if she so desired.

'Begging your pardon, Madam President. My AIC tells me the money has been transferred as promised. It was a pleasure doing business with you. But there is one more thing.' Fink kept the barrel of his pistol against the base of Dee's skull.

'Don't try my patience, Colonel.' Ahmi stood calmly in thought. 'Very well, what is it?'

'I want in on this revolution of yours. I've played my part bringing her here. Now I want to be one of your generals.' Fink lowered his weapon and backed up slowly between the Seppy soldiers. The four of them kept their weapons trained on him.

'You're a funny man, Fink.' Ahmi grinned. 'And either really brave or really stupid.'

'I would be of use to you, ma'am.'

'Let him go,' Ahmi said and waved the soldiers off Fink. 'Escort him out of the building and let him go for now. Become accustomed to our way of life here, General Fink. I'll call you soon, when I need you.'

'You're welcome, ma'am. Good day.' General Fink of the United Separatist Republic turned and walked away, with the soldiers shadowing him. As soon as the soldiers were out of sight, Dee caught some motion from her peripheral vision, and then a holowall turned off across the room. What had looked like a normal wall with a bust of some old bald guy in front of it wasn't. The wall and bust vanished. Five men in black armored uniforms stood with their weapons drawn. Clearly, they had been there all along. Dee realized that Ahmi kept her bases covered and for some reason wanted her to know that.

'At ease, gentlemen,' Ahmi told them.

'I'll get you, Fink,' Dee muttered to herself. Ahmi didn't pay any attention to her mutterings.

'Come with me, Ms. Moore.' Ahmi held out a hand, leading her to the elevator. 'I can remove those cuffs if you promise to behave yourself.'

'I'll behave for now. But I'll make you no promises about when I'll decide to change my mind,' Dee tried to say calmly, but her clenched teeth gave her anger and stress level away.

Ahmi laughed. 'Indeed, you are your father's daughter.'

'You're goddamned right I am.' Dee almost spat the words.

'No need to be so crude, dear. I wouldn't have wanted you to be anything less.' The terrorist mass murderer smiled through the ski mask at Dee. The smile unsettled her horribly. There was something both vicious and familiar about it.

The cuffs unlocked themselves, and Dee pushed them off and rubbed at her wrists. She had been either zip-tied or cuffed for more than a couple hours, and it was getting old. Her wrists had red marks. Dee wasn't sure what if anything to say, so she quietly stood there for the time being. What do you say to the most wanted mass murderer in history once they have kidnapped you for uncertain, but most likely sinister, purposes?

'It is an honor to meet you, Deanna. I would love to know more about you. Please tell me more about yourself.' The elevator reached the top floor, and the doors slid open. Ahmi led her across a foyer and to another security door. The door slid open, and they stepped