“Aw.”
“Hey, son, I’ve known those two a long time, and for Lee to take a shine to somebody like he did to you? That tells me a helluva lot about you. So stick close, because I gave ‘em my word to keep you safe, and damned if I won’t do exactly that.” Walder looked at him sharply. “You’re somewhere between a new detective for my sector, and a protected witness of sorts.”
“Oh…”
Given the sector headquarters aspect of the precinct from which Walder operated, and the fact that some of the Imperial Police on Catalonia were transferred in from elsewhere, there was a kind of barracks annex to the building, allowing for single police officers to live within easy reach of their workplace. It was to this barracks annex that Walder assigned Ashton as living quarters; he sent several officers along with Ashton to carry his household goods – which Gorski & Co. had shipped with him – and deposit it in the studio apartment.
“It’s not big, but you’ll be safe here,” Walder noted, as Ashton dropped his duffle on the bed. “As the sector governor has upped the ante on her political rhetoric lately, I’ve been upping my ante on security, as well. I have a bad feeling about that one, and I hope to hell the new Emperor knows about it. I’ve sent a few reports through, but given everything else…”
“Mm,” Ashton hummed, thoughtful, as he recalled his few interactions with the former Imperial Guard Major Dunham, as well as what Stefan Gorski had told him of the man. “Somehow, I expect that, if he hasn’t already, he will soon.”
“Yes, I expect you’re right, son,” Walder said. “Now, if you don’t mind unpacking later, I’d like to get you settled in the department, and see what we can do about getting you working. I’d also like to debrief you about the shit you saw on Sintar.”
“Yes, sir. I don’t have a problem with that, sir.”
When repeated attempts to raise Bill Kershaw failed, Martin started trying to hit up some of his other friends in the Imperial Police. When that failed as well, he began to worry that he’d been cut loose. Which would mean, he thought, I’m stuck here, since I spent all my credits on changing my ticket to get here.
Discouraged, he headed to the nearest bar. Maybe I can at least find out what the local news channels are, he decided, while I get drunk. Thank God I have the credits in my pocket for that, at least. And I can see what’s going on back home, I guess. Maybe.
He did indeed find out what the local news channels were in VR, and he ordered a double shot of whisky to begin the process of getting drunk.
What he didn’t expect was finding out exactly what was going on “back home” on Sintar.
Martin’s jaw dropped as he watched video of the destruction of the Imperial Council building, and the subsequent imagery of the burning pile of rubble, taken by drones overflying the site. But it was the video of the missiles hurtling down on Imperial Police Headquarters, followed by the Imperial Marines slaughtering most of those who escaped the rubble, that shocked him the most. General William Kershaw, who fought back fiercely, was killed point-blank on camera by one unit of Marines.
They’re gone, he realized in horror. No wonder I couldn’t raise anybody! They’re all dead! Son of a bitch!
And then it hit him.
I really am stuck here! Damn that Dominick Ashton to twelve levels of hell!
That night, Ashton unpacked his things in the little studio apartment. It was small, but was reasonably well furnished, with a bed, small sofa, armchair, desk, a separate bath, and a separate kitchenette. There was also a video screen built into the wall across from the bed, so he could lie in bed and watch VR entertainment if he wished. It wasn’t his apartment in Imperial City – which wasn’t fancy, anyway – but it would do, for now. And unlike the approach to that apartment, these quarters were apparently as safe as the Imperial Police sector headquarters, because they were part of the sector headquarters.
So he checked in with Carter and Peterson to let them know he was safe, properly set in the sector headquarters, and settling in.
“And you’re sure everything’s okay there?” Peterson asked.
“Seems to be fine, as far as that goes,” Ashton said. “General Walder said that you two wanted me to hang out here for a while, though, just in case, to let things quiet down back there.”
“Right, son,” Carter confirmed. “There’s a few Impies that seem to have gone underground, and we’re trying to sniff those out. Once that’s taken care of, we’ll work out with Kurt how and when to bring you back here, if that’s what you want to do by that time.”
