Harriet studied the older woman, trying to get her measure. Darting was dressed in slacks and a white blouse, and the string of pearls and high heels were at odds with the silver blaster she was grinding into Ben's neck. "Relax," said Harriet calmly, although she felt anything but. "Nobody's going to do anything. Just tell us what you want."
"That's easy, trainee. I want your people off this planet for good. I want my city back."
"She wants a good kicking," muttered Alice.
Harriet motioned her sister to silence. "You know I can't do that. It's my duty to protect these people." She decided to try another tack. "Look, why don't we sit down and talk about this?"
"Don't waste your time." Darting held up her commset. "I called my people. They're already are on the way."
"We're not going to surrender," said Harriet firmly.
"Then I'll shoot the kid."
"And then we'll kill you, and I don't care how many of your people limp back here, fresh from another defeat. I mean, it's not like they've covered themselves with glory, is it? We're going to crush them, and you know it."
Darting's eyes flashed, but she looked thoughtful.
"Here's what we're going to do," said Harriet. "Put the gun down, and I give you my word we'll drop you off on any planet you choose. No repercussions, no arrests. Just stay away from Dismolle."
"You can't let her go," hissed Birch, who was standing behind her. "Whatever deal you make, she'll break it."
"Worry about that once Ben is safe," Harriet murmured.
"She'll just come back with a bigger force," protested Birch. "You can't let her go!"
Harriet ignored him and raised her voice. "What do you say? Freedom, or fight to the death?"
"Say I choose freedom … who's going to fly the ship?"
"That'd be me," said Alice, stepping forward.
"You!" said Darting in surprise. "You're just a child!"
"No, I'm Peace Force," said Alice, tapping the badge at her shoulder. "Like Harriet said, let Ben go and I'll drop you off at the nearest planet."
Darting thought about it, then nodded. "All right, come over here. No weapons, no tricks … or I'll shoot."
Alice held her hands out and walked slowly towards Darting. Harriet went to follow, but Darting shook her head. "Not you. Just the girl."
Harriet heard a growl behind her, and she realised it was Bernie. The robot had been silent so far, and Harriet hoped Bernie didn't try and resolve the situation herself. The big robot was about as subtle as a meteor strike, and any sudden move could lead to a lot of casualties. She held her hand to her side, making a soothing gesture, and the growling stopped.
"All right," said Alice, as she reached Darting. "I'm here. Let Ben go."
"I've got a better idea," said Darting. "You fly the ship, and Ben here can sit with me in the back." She prodded him with the gun, and Alice could see beads of sweat on his forehead. "He'll be my insurance."
"That wasn't the deal!"
"Yeah, but what choice do you have?" Darting gestured at the fighter with her gun. "Up you go."
Alice was going to argue, but there was no point. She clambered up the ladder and disappeared into the belly of the fighter, reappearing moments later in the cockpit. Then Darting realised she had a problem. To board the ship, she had to climb the ladder, and she couldn't hide behind Ben whilst doing so. She looked up at the ship, then frowned at Harriet and the others. "All of you, drop your weapons."
Harriet put her crossbow down, and the others followed suit, laying their weapons on the ground.
"I can't believe you held my people off with that junk," muttered Darting. "Don't the Peace Force give you real weapons?"
Very slowly, Harriet reached behind her back, until her fingers closed on the grip of the blaster tucked into her uniform. The minute Darting let go of Ben to climb the ladder, Harriet would put her down.
But Darting was too wise for that. "Now move back inside the building. All of you. Quick!"
"Last chance," muttered Birch. "We've got to take her now."
Harriet shook her head and backed into the old building. Once everyone was inside, she pulled the door to.
"You're mad," snapped Flint. "She's going to kill them both!"
"She can't touch Alice, she needs her to fly the ship. And she just needs Ben as a hostage. She has no reason to hurt him."
There was a roar outside as the jet fired up, and then with a swirl of dust, it was gone. Harriet pulled the door open and ran outside, shielding her eyes as she watched the ship rising gracefully into the sky. She'd put on the front for the others, but inside she was sick with worry. Sure, Alice was resourceful, but Darting was cunning and desperate.
"You realise you might never see them again?" demanded Birch. "I can't believe—"
"Dave, I had no choice. Ben would have been killed for sure, and at least this way they've both got a chance."
"You don't know that woman," said Birch quietly.
"Yeah, but I know Alice." Harriet turned the others. "We've got to head back to the station. It's the only place we can hold Darting's people off."
"Too late," said Birch, and he nodded towards the road. "They just found us."
Three or four vans were pulling up, and as they came to a halt the doors opened and about a dozen of the enemy poured out.
— ♦ —
Alice watched the planetary surface dropping away beneath them, her mind in turmoil. She considered one plan after another, discarding each as impractical, impossible or just plain crazy. For example, there was a transparent canopy enclosing the cockpit, and she wondered if she could open it in flight, without warning. But what would that achieve? She could throw the ship all over the sky until Darting begged her to stop, but unless she got hold of the woman's gun there was no point.
She'd already asked Darting where they
