Retribution (10 page)

“More please” she demanded.

He gave her a stronger kiss on the lips only this time she ambushed him with her tongue. He pushed back with his and began regretting his commitment to go and see Art now. She raised her knee gently into his groin. He was getting excited but then he withdrew holding her shoulders now at arms’ length. “We have to go, now!” he said seriously.

“Oh” she moaned “you and your duty.”

“He’s our friend Rihan.”

Rihan shrugged her shoulders. “I know. Come on.”

The taxi dropped them off forty minutes later. They made their way up to the fourteenth floor and found Art sitting up in bed talking to Sue, who was sitting in a chair. “Hi Dave, Rihan” said Art joyfully. “Pull up a pew.”

Dave raised his shopping bag and pulled out a brand new portable console. “I heard you could use one of these. I’ve got your account details somewhere here too.” He fumbled in the bag and came up with a memory stick. “Here it is.”

Sue took the gift from him and placed it beside her on the floor.

“Oh thanks Dave. I really appreciate that.”

“I did it for the nurses. I know what a terrible patient you are. They need you distracted” said Dave with a grin.

“I think you are mistaken. If I recall correctly it was you who was the terrible patient. Remember Sonia!”

“Sonia who?” asked Dave.

“Yes Sonia who?” asked Rihan.

“Go on darling” encouraged Sue “you can’t leave it there.”

Ten minutes later a nurse poked her head into the room to see what all the laughter was about. She nodded her approval and left.

“Was she really fifty and fat?” asked Rihan. “I reckon you guys change the details to protect each other. Am I right?”

Art looked incredulous and turning to Dave and said “We would never do that, would we?”

“Certainly not” said Dave but undermined his statement with a belly laugh.

“So how’s the arm coming along” asked Rihan.

“I get out of this hard cast in a few days” said Art. “Then they put me in a robo cast for a week. And after that, it’s physio and therapy for four weeks.” He shrugged his shoulders in a resigned manner. “Sorry Dave.”

“Don’t be sorry Art. It’s me who’s sorry for putting you through this.”

“Occupational hazard. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yeah that may be but it’s hard looking at my friends and colleagues and knowing that it was my orders that brought on their suffering.”

“It’s the war Dave” said Art a little more forcefully. “And that bloody Bane character. I am so glad Akos plugged him.”

The others all nodded as they reflected on what they had all gone through. It brought the mood down. Rihan was the first to react.

“So can you get a leave pass from here and join us for dinner?” she asked.

“Not sure. I doubt it.”

“We’re booked into Renata’s” added Dave.

“Tempting isn’t it” said Art.

“I’ll ask” said Sue and she stood and left to see the nurse. She came back five minutes later. “We’re on!” she proclaimed with a big smile “but only for a few hours and you have to wear a sling and be extremely careful.”

“I’m always careful” protested Art. But he got a light clip on his skull from Sue.

“Not careful enough” she added scolding him. “Look we can meet you there. What time?”

“We’re booked for 1800.”

Chapter 19. Nova Vista 1700, 3 June

The taxi turned into Plough St in the upmarket suburb of Picton. It pulled up outside the two storey house that Chase always called the mansion. He was nervous but not as nervous as Kat. He held her hand as they walked up the path to the double front door, trailing their suitcases behind them.

Mary Anne Hanlon heard the cases rumble towards the house. She had been waiting for that sound this past hour. She rushed to the door and opened it - her fair complexion in stark contrast with the deep burgundy of the door. She had a warm smile on her round face and her hazel eyes held back a touch of moisture as her heart pounded with joy.

“Chase” she called out.

“Mum!” said Chase . He let go of Kat’s hand and his bag and bounded up the two stone steps to the front porch and took his mother in his arms. The scent of roses from the garden mixed with a scent he would never forget – his mother’s. He pulled his head back to get a look at her. She had aged these last two years. He regretted not seeing her on his last leave.

“Mum this is Kat Holbrook” said Chase.

Mary Anne held out her hand and shook Kat’s. “You are most welcome Kat. Please come in out of this sun.” As she led them inside she mentioned “Your father will be home soon.”

Kat took in the new surroundings. She had never been in such a well to do home. The classic style furniture, the rich fabrics and everything was ‘just so’. She noticed that Chase took it all for granted. He entered back into a time and place totally familiar while she entered something foreign. She admired the lovely painting of the tropical fish on the hallway wall. The reddish light penetrating through the tinted glass window played with its green and blue hues. The big coral coloured fish seemed to stare at her.

“Oh leave your bags there” said Mary Anne. “We can move them later. Come, let’s have some iced tea. I want to hear everything.” She led them out onto the back veranda. ‘It’s huge’ thought Kat. The whole veranda was five metres deep and stretched the width of the house. It was under the main roofline and well protected from the sun. It looked out onto green lawn shaded by several large trees. A central garden bed still had plenty of shrubs flowering.

Kat and Chase sat together in the two seater and Mary Anne sat in one of the cane lounge chairs. Kat crossed her legs and endeavoured to strike a ‘classic’ pose. Mary Anne smiled warmly at her. “So Kat how did you meet Chase?”

“The first time we really got to know each other was in the mess.”

“Mess?”

“Yes the officers mess on board ship.”

“Oh I see you are a Fleet officer too.”

“Mum she’s not just an officer” said Chase with his hand on Kat’s knee - a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Mary Anne – “She’s a pilot.”

“Oh really” said Mary Anne “and so you fly those shuttles do you?”

“Actually I’m a fighter pilot Maam.”

“Mary Anne please. I’m certainly not an officer.”

Kat laughed. “Sorry …Mary Anne.”

“And so Kat do you…fight?”

“Yes I have.”

Mary Anne pondered that for a moment, taking a sip of her iced tea from the tall high ball glass. The sounds of a car could be heard pulling into the driveway behind them. “Oh that will be Glen” said Mary Anne and with a smile to Kat she added “Chase’s dad. I’ll let him in. You two just stay here.”

As soon as Mary Anne had left Kat turned to Chase looking worried.

“You’re doing just fine” said Chase.

Glen Hanlon came straight through after entering and hearing that they were already here. He was a well-built man who had started to put on a bit of weight. His hair was all grey now, even a little white near the temples. His dark eyes searched out for his son.

“Chase my boy. How good it is to see you.”

Chase stood up with Kat and Chase stepped forward to offer out his hand but Glen simply ignored it and gave Chase a very much unexpected hug. “It’s so good to see you son” he repeated himself.

They parted and Chase said “It’s great to see you too dad. This is Kat Holbrook. She’s stolen my heart.”

Kat was not ready for that declaration and her bottom jaw just dropped.

Glen stared at her and said “I can see how that could happen” and he smiled at Kat. That just added to her embarrassment.

“She’s a fighter pilot Glen” informed Mary Anne.

“Oh really” said Glen. “Well that’s interesting.”

Chapter 20. Nova Vista 1800, 3 June

Mary Chernside opened the door in her sister’s apartment and could not believe her eyes. She had not seen that face in over seven years. She just stood there amazed.

“Hello Mary” said the man with the deep voice. It echoed off the solid walls in the hallway. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” asked Frank Mosely.

“Oh of course Frank” said Mary recovering from the shock. “What are you doing here?”

“Your sister invited me – for dinner, right?” He held out his hand holding the bottle of wine. “I come bearing gifts” he said and smiled.

“Did she indeed?” asked Mary loud enough for her sister, Julie, to hear in the living room.

“It’s all right isn’t it?” asked Frank a little nervously.

“Of course it’s all right” said Julie as she came to meet him. She gave him a peck on the cheek, took the bottle and ushered him forth into the living room. She gave Mary a ‘don’t you start’ look as she passed her.

“Tim’s still away?” asked Frank.

“Yes, the last I heard was somewhere in the Alliance systems” replied Julie. But you know how it is, he could be anywhere. Isn’t that right Mary?” Mary nodded. “I might as well be a war widow?” continued Julie. “Hmm this should be good” she said eyeing the label of the wine bottle.

“Here, I’ll do the honours” said Frank and he opened the bottle.

“You know Frank, Mary’s just back herself. One week is all they have given her. Bloody Fleet.”

“Stop that Julie” said Mary.

“Oh it’s all right for you and Tim” said Julie to her sister. “You’re part of the machine. But it’s us hangers-on who suffer.”

“I don’t think Frank wants to hear you whinge.”

“Oh I understand. It must be hard” said Frank. “So how have you been keeping Mary? You’ve seen a lot of action by all accounts.”

“Yes a little too much of late. Still I don’t want to complain.”

“That’s your problem Mary. You don’t complain enough” said her sister.

“Do you want me to help with the dinner Julie?” asked Mary.

“No, no! I’ve got everything in hand. I’ll just go and check on the oven. You entertain Frank.”

Mary was grateful for the reprieve. “So Frank what are you up to these days? Still the drug runner?”

“Yes I’m still selling drugs” said Frank. He was long past caring whether people referred to him as a drug runner. As a salesman for a pharmaceutical company, it came with the territory. “And still doing too much travelling. A bit like you in that regard.”

Mary nodded. “Do you ever ask yourself if you should stop?”

“Often, nowadays. I miss having someone to share my life with.”

Mary nodded. “It can get like that Frank.”

“Which is why I like to get together with old friends. We’re still friends, aren’t we Mary?”

Mary smiled. “Sure Frank.”

“Good” he said and took another sip of his wine. “Do you still dance?”

Mary looked a little surprised. “When I get the opportunity.”

“Well” said Frank with a smile on his face “would you like to come dancing with me tomorrow evening?”

“Oh I’m not sure what Julie’s up to.”

“I have other plans” came the voice from the kitchen.

Mary laughed and Frank joined in. “Then it’s settled then. I can pick you up at seven… that’s 1900 for you military types.”

“You always were a smooth operator Frank.”

“I try” said Frank with smile on his face.

Chapter 21. Nova Vista 2100, 3 June

Dave and Rihan arrived back at their apartment after a lovely time at Renata’s. He sank back into his lounge chair and reflected on the lovely meal they had just had.

The patron, Tony Sparetti, had been at his charming best. He had given them the table in the far corner where they would not attract too much attention. Tony had understood all too well how Dave wanted to avoid any media and their exploits had been all over the media since the victory on Beta Phi had been reported. Dave was thankful for Tony’s efforts and those of Phil for not publicly announcing the return of the Resolute.

Eighteen floors above, in his own apartment Phil was also in his lounge chair and he too was in a reflective mood. He recalled how he had to come the heavy with Public Relations over the news blackout on the return of the Resolute. For them he wielded the security stick but he knew that it was just as valid to ensure the crew got a chance to unwind on their leave without any media intervention.

Then he thought about his meeting with Vice Admiral Rudi Holland, who was responsible for operations in the Polaris sector. They were both so concerned at the rogan knowledge and intelligence of their operations that Rudi had recently begun a series of counter surveillance measures. Right now a sweep was being conducted of all planetary and orbiting bodies within the Polaris system.

Despite the fact that Special Operations Command ran independently of Polaris HQ, Phil had made a point of developing cordial relations with Rudi. They were separate but co-located organisations. Special Operations Command had originally been based on Earth but Phil had convinced the Combined Chiefs to move his HQ to Polaris where he would be closer to the action.

Alas Phil was still trying to relocate staff from Earth to Polaris but the war had placed a heavy demand on good staff officers. He was currently piggy backing off Rudi’s staff. Now that the operational workload had picked up in the Polaris system Rudi had recently asked Phil when his own staff resources would be arriving.

Captain Alex Peebody had been his only dedicated staff officer in Polaris for the last twelve months. Of the other six he had had back on Earth, two were now commanding ships, one was tied up on a judicial enquiry, one was in hospital and the other two had been seconded to the Fleet Admiral’s staff and he knew they would not be coming back any day soon.

Alex used to be his S1 responsible for Personnel and Manpower but he had been jack of all trades since he got here. Phil recognised that poor Alex was overloaded in the extreme. He could certainly employ Rihan Kabel as his operations officer but he needed to confirm that his current S3, who was recovering from some tropical disease that he could not remember the name of, would not be fit for duty anytime soon.

So for the second time today Phil crafted a message as tactfully as he could and sent it off to his current S3. He had asked for a reply within the week. He knew it meant asking a loyal subordinate to step aside, but for what he was planning, he needed an ops officer on deck here in Polaris.