Living in Freefall (Living on the Run Book 1) (28 page)

Six months later.

Laughing with childlike giddiness, Ericca hurried from the
dancehall and down the steps to the sidewalk with Tyson in hot pursuit. She
turned and stopped him with a stiff finger pressed to his chest, and raised a
coy grin. “You never could take a joke.”

“Have to admit it’s been a good party,
so far
. You
though, you had everyone laughing so hard . . .” He took her
hand in his. “I was an idiot, okay? I should never have walked away from you.”

She pulled her hand from his and turned away. “We have
history, you and I.” She turned to face him. “I thought of all people, I could
count on you. But when I needed you most . . .”

“I walked away. I’m sorry, Ericca. I wasn’t that strong.” He
retrieved her left hand and kissed her chrome knuckles. The shiny metal robotic
arm gleamed in the light of the sconces. “You really like this, huh?” he said,
then kissed her chromed knuckles again.

“I do. It’s that one bit of bling no one else has. And look
here.” She lifted her frilly sheave up her shoulder so he could see what she
had engraved there.

It read, “For one pretty Penny, I
earned
this.”

“That you did, my love.” Gathering her hands in his, he
kissed the knuckles of each. First the smooth, polished chrome of the one, then
the warm, tanned flesh of the other. “Coredei’s been good, but I’ve missed you.
I’m looking forward to returning to Rhone now that things have settled down.”

Ericca pulled her hands from his. “Rhone is off limits to
you. Period. Now, no more questions about it.”

“Fine.”

She peered up into the night sky. Most considered Coredei one
of the more beautiful planets in the galaxy. Ericca believed it was unequalled.
She sighed. “I came here to negotiate a war pact treaty between our two
governments, Ty. If you tried to deceive me, why should Saigus believe you’ll
honor his pact?”

“Oh, Ericca, I said I was sorry. Can’t you find it in your
heart to forgive me?”

“I’ve already forgiven you. You got Archer and me through
the most devastating time of our lives, and I’m glad I met you. But . . .

“I’d be a fool to trust you.”

He sighed. “So . . . no marriage?”

“No marriage.”

“So I’m being relegated to ‘friend’ status, huh?”

“‘Fraid so.”

Now
he
sighed. “Fine. I screwed up, but that doesn’t
mean I’m giving up. I’m not out of the running yet.”

She glanced back over her shoulder and laughed; not to be
mean, but she was amused by his pleading expression. She turned back to the
starry heavens. “You’ve been a good friend, Ty. I don’t dispute that, but you
haven’t proven yourself trustworthy, let alone the marrying type. Now, what
assurances can you give me? If Saigus is ever attacked, where will you be?”

He didn’t answer for a moment. “I suppose you’ll find out
when you call on me for help. I have nothing to offer you but my word.”

Ericca turned to him. “So, we won’t be able to count on you.
We’ll call for help, and just see what you do when the time comes.”

“And then you’ll know,” he said. “My flying to your aid
then
will
hopefully
settle the matter.”

“And if ever you’re attacked, King Blackhart, we’ll come
running.”

“I believe you. And therein lies the difference, huh? Your
word is gold. Mine is mud.”

“Not my fault, boss. You should have considered that when
you first tried to deceive me.”

At the sounds of nearby conversation, Ericca turned. The
voices sounded familiar. “Come,” she whispered, tugging Tyson’s hand. They
sneaked up an embankment to peer through bushes near the mansion’s grand hall.

Buck and Katherine had slipped away from the party just as Ericca
and Ty had. Like Ericca, Buck and Kathy appeared to have stepped outside for a
breath of fresh air and to enjoy Coredei’s landscape. Down the hill, the lights
of the distant village nestled bright and beautiful in the dell. Kathy, now
seven months pregnant, was round under her dress. Even so, she looked like a
real princess.

On the steps that led to the dirt lane, a man leaned against
a lamppost. Dressed as a ships’ captain—large overcoat, thigh-high boots, and
gun slung low—he seemed more a costumed caricature than the real deal. He
pulled a long-stemmed pipe from a pocket, flipped open its bowl cover, pressed
a small ignition button on the pipe’s side, and took a long draw.

“Lovely evening isn’t it, captain,” Kathy said as she and
her husband passed.

Blowing a stream of smoke skyward, the man dropped his eyes
to her husband. “Captain French, might I have a word with you?” Pushing off the
pole, he straightened and turned to them.

Buck glanced back. “Sorry, Captain O’Dare. My wife and I
have had a full day as it is. Another time perhaps.” The couple kept walking.

“It’s regarding General Richardson, sir.” He drew again and
puffed a smoke ring.

“Richardson!?” Ericca whispered.

Buck stopped and looked back. The shadows made it difficult
to see, but Ericca saw well enough to recognize Buck’s expression; one of
surprise.

“Sir, I think a proper introduction is due you. I’m Theodore
Richardson. The general was my brother, Edward.” He extended a friendly hand.

“Oh?” Buck said ignoring the offered hand. “How is the
general these days? Still speaking before churches is he?”

Ericca grinned. Buck just went for the man’s throat with
that one.

Hesitant, O’Dare dropped his hand, then simultaneously
shrugged and shook his head. “I’m afraid not, sir. Nor has he ever. Aboard Jordon
Kori’s ship, I was trying to let you two know in no uncertain terms that
Freefall
had been exposed.”

Buck hesitated and glanced at Katherine. “No matter.
Freefall
is no longer an issue.”

Captain O’Dare continued. “As I was saying, my brother,
Eddie, was captured by the Confed’s Intel Agency and tortured to death. But
before he died, he told them everything he knew. I’m sorry, sir.”

Ericca’s glee instantly drained from her, and her knees went
wobbly. Tyson steadied her.

“How do you know this, Captain?” Kathy said. “How do you
come to have this information?”

“I was a part of the rescue team, ma’am. We arrived too late
to save him, but in his dying breath he told me what he’d done.”

Ericca saw his behavior as practiced but stilted. His
actions didn’t lend themselves to his words in the slightest.

“Well, that explains much, Captain,” said Buck. “If that’s
what you are.”

O’Dare scoffed. “What? Of course I’m a captain. What is
this? What are you saying? My brother is tortured to death, and this is the
response I get?”

Buck looked up the steps past O’Dare. “Josh?”

O’Dare glanced back. Behind him, a few feet up the steps,
Joshua waited in the shadows. Uniformed Royal Guardsmen stepped from the
darkness to encircle everyone there.

Josh spoke. His tone was blunt. “Did you think we weren’t
going to do a security check on everyone who came aboard
Freefall?
Did
you see us as bumpkins who would not think to do so? Your arrogance is
surpassed only by your ignorance of us.”

O’Dare glanced around. “What? You think I’m a spy? Is that
what you think? Did you find something in my past that would say as much? I
don’t think so.”

“Actually,” said Josh, “we found you to have no past at all,
Mr
. O’Dare. Strange that.”

“No past?” Dismayed, O’Dare grunted dismissively. “You
didn’t look me up under the name Richardson, did you? No, you didn’t! Besides,
none of us has a past, being on the run and all. Don’t you think I,
like you
,
would cover my trail? Who are you,
boy
, to accuse me?” He turned to Buck
and Kathy. “Who is this kid? What’s going on here?”

Buck met his gaze with cold, uncaring eyes. “Who is this
kid? Why, he’s the future, fool. Before you stands one of the Confederation’s
greatest foes. Wrap your brain around that, if you can.”

“So that’s it?” O’Dare said. “I have no past. That’s your
evidence against me? That makes me a spy, does it?”

“That,” said Josh, “and the fact that you are the only one
here who has suggested you are a spy. None of us has said as much.”

“Well, you implied as much.”

“No, sir. We did not. That isn’t even the reason we’re
questioning you.”

“Yeah? Then what do you want?”

“Why,
sir
, did you and your ship make such a poor
showing during this last conflict? Not one meaningful hit against the enemy.
Not one! Nor did you lead any assault. What did you think, that your hanging
back behind everyone else would go unnoticed?”

Ericca stepped from the bushes dragging Tyson with her. “We
also knew the general, Riley and I. We had a nice long chat with the man some
years back. He said he was an only child, O’Dare. So who are you really? Is
O’Dare even your real name? I know Richardson isn’t.”

“Look. Chonri knows me. He’ll vouch for me. I saved his butt
at Hermes. Just ask him.”

Several men chuckled. Ericca stepped closer. “You saved Capt.
Chonri? You? Hah! You really expect us to believe your meager little corsair
rescued a xebec commanded by a man with three silvers and a bronze pinned to
his chest.
Please!
”

Josh shook his head. “Convenient that the man’s now dead,
isn’t it? How in blue blazes can he vouch for, or for that matter, even disavow
you now?”

O’Dare glared at the boy. “Okay, okay. So I’m a man without
a past, and I exaggerated to gain your confidence, but that doesn’t make me a
spy. You got nothing on me. Enough said. I’ll just take my ship and go.” He
turned, but a few Royal guards blocked his way. He then glanced at Buck before
turning to Joshua. “What is this? You got nothing on me. I’m no spy, I tell
you.”

Ericca scowled. “Again with this spy business. No one here
has accused you of being a spy, but your protests to the contrary lead me to
believe that you are, indeed, what you say you’re not. What is it you hoped to
gain from us? What are you really here for?”

O’Dare turned back to Buck. “Look. My name is really Ted
Richardson. I am Eddie’s brother. And I just tried to warn you that your cover
was blown. That’s all. Now let me pass and I’ll be on my way.” He tried to take
a step, but the soldiers again blocked him.

Buck’s face was sober and determined. “You’re not going
anywhere, O’Dare. Take another step and we’ll drop you where you stand.”

“You can’t do that. I haven’t been found guilty of anything.
Now let me pass.”

“Found guilty?” Josh was astounded. “You forget where you
are. This isn’t Providence. You’ll get no Due-process here. This is Coredei, a
pirate’s lair. Unlike the people in the Confederate territory who get no trial,
we at least will hear you out.” Josh scoffed. “In the Confederacy, they needn’t
even level a charge against you. To justify ending you, they merely need to
suspect you. Isn’t that right, Buck? Isn’t that how your people are treated by
his pals.”

O’Dare started to sweat and fidget nervously. “This is a
Providence protectorate. I have rights. Adm. Hammond is . . .”

“Sorry, O’Dare,” Tyson said. “I’m afraid one consulate does
not a protectorate make. Coredei is a sovereign state;
my
sovereign kingdom.
The territory between here and Saigus is self-protected. You’re rights are what
I, King Blackhart, say they are.”

“You can’t do this,” he said turning to Buck. “You’re a
civilized people for god’s sake. Now order your men to let me pass.”

One of the guardsmen, a lieutenant, stepped forward and
shoved O’Dare to the ground. “The captain has no jurisdiction over us. We’re
not governed by rebels, spy boy. We’re Royal Marines, and I’ve heard enough to
put a bullet in your head.” The officer pressed his pistol into the base of
O’Dare’s scull. “Say, bye bye.”

“Hey! Hey! Hey!” Buck said. “Splatter. Give us a moment to
step back, will you?”

“Oh, right.” He pressed his pistol into O’Dare’s forehead.
“Clear!”

“No! Wait!” yelled O’Dare.

“Too late,” said the marine.

“No! I was looking for the others, that’s all. I was just
looking for the others.”

“Others?” Buck said. “What others?”

O’Dare, with the pistol pressed hard into forehead, breathed
hard. “The other ships. You know! The others like your
Freefall
. The
Prime Minister wants them—that’s all.”

“
Freefall?
” Buck repeated. “You think there are other
ships like
Freefall?
Idiot! Before we sent her into the Saigus sun, she
was one of a kind. The tech to build her was beyond us—beyond anyone living. We
would have reverse-engineered it if we even remotely understood Jordon’s
processes, but we don’t and Jordon is dead. You can look all you want. It’ll be
a damn waste of time, if you ask me.”

O’Dare panted heavily and tried to look up at Buck. “You
mean you don’t know? I thought if anyone knew of the others it would be you.”

Josh stepped forward. “What others,
Teddy
? Talk and
we’ll let you live. You have my word.”

“Ha. What good is the word of a boy?”

Buck grabbed his shirt angrily and yanked him to his feet. O’Dare’s
face glisten with sweat.

“The word of Jordon Kori’s crewman is as good as gold. You
think otherwise?”

“Okay, okay. There was
Reliant
. And there was
Freefall
.
There has to be others. Six or seven at least—
right
?”

“
Reliant
was the prototype,” Ericca said flatly. “
Freefall
was the final product. There was nothing in-between,
nothing
. Jordon Kori
left Providence to keep his tech from falling into even their hands.”

O’Dare dusted himself off, and raised his eyes to her. “And
who are you?”

“I’m Ericca Archer; daughter of
Reliant’s
pilot and
owner. After it was destroyed, I was hired by Jordon Kori as
Freefall
’s
security chief. There were no other ships created. I would know.”