Space Wrangler (34 page)

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Trent?” Alexia's voice caught in her throat. “Oh my God…” She stepped closer to the monitor, laid her palm on the console, then asked in wonder, “Is it really you? How much do you know? Why didn't you tell me sooner? You were such a
bully
last time—”

“For your own good. You need to stop looking for him, Lexie. He's dead.”

Wasn't that exactly what the real Trent would have said? Just like that. Her no-nonsense big brother.

“We'll argue about that later,” she told him, wiping a tear from her cheek. “For now, we need your help. This is Captain Rick Gage of the
Drifter
. He saved my life with the help of Captain Zeke Angelus.”

“I am grateful to you, Captain Gage,” the computer said, his tone warm. “The official report said my sister died in the sinkhole after marrying TJ Seaton. I could not accept that, so I scanned the timelines and security feeds and they didn't mesh. She could not possibly have travelled from the platform to the sinkhole before it was closed by order of David Seaton, not even in a ship as fast as the
Drifter
or the
Ace of Hearts
. But the
Ace of Hearts
departed during the confusion, on a course heading toward Destry. And a quick scan of video surveillance showed that a blonde bio-girl was on board. I surmised it was my sister.”

Rick nodded. “We were told arrests have been made. Is it Angelus? Anyone else?”

“Captain Angelus is in a holding cell. The bio-girl Lana is also under suspicion but was being held in the infirmary because of injuries. TJ Seaton had her moved to his penthouse this morning.”

“Oh no, Lana didn't have anything to do with it!” Alexia protested. “Are her injuries bad?”

“Medical records indicate she will recover.”

“What about Gabrielle Rousseau? Did they arrest her too?”

“Why would they? She made a suicide attempt when she heard you were marrying TJ. Or at least, that's what appears in the official record.”

“Is she okay?”

“She is fully recovered and back at her desk,” the computer assured her. “Did she assist you?”

“Yes, but it's a secret. We'll tell you the whole story later. For now, can you open the sinkhole for us?”

“Yes. If you leave now, I can time it with your arrival at the entry point.”

“Great,” Rick said briskly. “We'll grab Angelus and Lana, then take off. Can you unlock his cell door?”

“Yes. There will be obstacles, Captain, but I will do my best to facilitate your escape. All I ask in return is that you prioritize my sister's safety.”

“Always.” Rick cleared his throat. “Can you coordinate with my ship's computer? She can fill you in quickly.”

“She is a talented clone, Captain. Several of her attempts to hack my systems have almost succeeded.”

Alexia smiled proudly. “She's Prototype Number Two, Trent. Rick salvaged her parts and rebuilt her.”

“I am impressed, Captain.”

“She's the best.” Rick gave Alexia a warning glance. “We need to move. Now.”

She was about to reluctantly agree when the computer said softly, “We have company, Captain,” and the door to the compartment slid open. Three enforcers stepped into view with weapons drawn, followed by TJ.

Rick stepped between Alexia and the guards, but didn't draw his own weapons, apparently calculating the odds of her being shot if he did so.

“Hands up,” one of the enforcers commanded them.

Alexia glanced at Rick, who told her, “Do what they say, Ms. Montoya.” To the enforcers, he added dryly, “Aren't you surprised to see her alive? Didn't the Seatons tell you she died in the sinkhole? The truth is, they threatened to rape and murder her. Were you party to that?”

“Just unbuckle that holster—slowly—and lay it on the floor. Then put your hands up,” the tallest of the enforcers said. He spoke tersely but Alexia sensed he was in fact shaken by the sight of the last remaining Montoya—still remaining.

Rick complied with the order, setting his holster and blasters on the floor of the compartment.

For the first time since the intrusion, the computer spoke. “I apologize for this lapse in security, Mr. Seaton. Ms. Montoya activated a residual handprint and corresponding retinal image in my memory bank. I was not aware of it until now, and I can purge it immediately.”

“Don't do that,” TJ said, his gaze fixed on Alexia. “I should have given her access weeks ago.” He held out his hand to the nearest enforcer. “Give me your weapon.”

“But, sir—”

“Just give it to me.”

The guard handed over his blast gun.

TJ pointed it at Rick and Alexia, then said with authority, “You men have done well. I'll take it from here. Return to your duty posts.”

“Captain Gage is dangerous, sir,” the enforcer reminded him.

“Captain Gage is my friend. And he's unarmed, thanks to your good work. So just report back to your posts.”

“We'll be right outside,” the tall guard said stubbornly.

“Do as you're told,” TJ snapped.

“Yes, sir,” they all replied, backing toward the door. The movement triggered a sensor and the door slid open.

TJ and Rick locked steely gazes until the door closed again. Then Rick muttered, “Asshole.”

“I agree.” TJ squared his shoulders, then turned the blaster so that the handle was toward Rick and gave it to him. As soon as Rick had possession, TJ turned his attention to Alexia. “Thank God you're alive. I didn't know what to think.” A sob choked his words. “Can you ever forgive me?”

Rick answered for her, insisting, “No, she can't. Give me a reason
not
to shoot you.”

“I can help you get out of here. Off this platform. I can override my father's instructions and make the sentient open the sinkhole. You might have to fight your way through, but I'm sure you can do it.” His gaze shifted to Alexia again. “I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I don't know what I was thinking.”

“It's okay,” she said with a sigh. “Your father's worse than I ever realized. This is
his
fault, not yours.” She took a step toward him, wanting to hug him. To welcome him back into her life.

But Rick stopped her with his free hand. “He's not your friend, Alexia.”

“You're wrong,” she murmured, but she stayed back as directed.

The sentient's voice broke the awkward silence. “Mr. Seaton? Ms. Montoya has been asking questions about Captain Zeke Angelus. I of course gave her no information. It is good to see that she didn't die in the sinkhole as reported, but I do not take orders from her. Only from you and your father.”

“Fucking ingrate,” Rick growled. “Her brother designed you. And this is how you treat his sister?”

Alexia winced. They were putting on a show for TJ, but also for her. Warning her not to share the truth about the computer's brain patterns. It broke her heart, since TJ of all people would love knowing that a part of Trent was alive and well.

TJ proved his worth again, at least to her, by saying, “Listen to me, computer. From now on, you
do
take orders from Ms. Montoya. And from Captain Gage. Rick? Just tell the computer what you need.”

“I need access to the holding cells. I need Angelus's cell door unlocked. I need a clear path back to my ship. And I need the sinkhole opened.”

“And Lana,” Alexia reminded him.

“Lana's safe,” TJ said, his expression wistful. “I give you my word.”

“Your word isn't worth shit,” Rick told him. “Can she walk?”

“Yes. I'll personally escort her to your ship if that's what you want.”

“Do that, or I'll come back and skin you alive.”

“Understood. You'd better get moving.” To Alexia, he added quietly, “One hug?”

“Of course.” She flew into his arms, ignoring Rick's scowl, and said softly, “Thanks for helping us.”

“I'm just so grateful you're alive.” He stroked her cheekbone. “This healed fast.”

“Turns out it wasn't broken after all.”

“I just kept picturing it. Picturing
you.
” His voice broke. “I never would have forced you, you know. Not in bed, I mean. You believe that, don't you?”

Her eyes swam with tears. “Thank you for saying that. You just weren't yourself. So please don't worry. I'll do my best to keep you out of the scandal on Earth. It's David I want, not you.”

“Destroy us both,” he said flatly. “It's the only way. And it's what Trent would want.”

“Alexia,” Rick said in a gruff voice. When she turned to him, he shoved the blaster into her hand. “Take this. Point it at TJ.”

When she did as he asked, he picked up his holster and weapons and fastened them in place. Then he pulled his own weapon and placed the barrel against TJ's head, effectively taking him hostage. “Let's go.”

“Goodbye, computer,” Alexia murmured, waving at the monitor as the door to the hallway slid open. She didn't want to leave this place. There was so much to say. So many questions to ask.

But no time. And as strange as it seemed, there might be another Trent-based computer on Earth. At NASA. She could march right up to its door and feel confident it would admit her. Talk to her. And so she followed Rick and TJ into the hall, half-expecting to see TJ's enforcers lurking there, defying his orders for his own good. But the corridor was deserted.

As the door to the computer room closed behind them with a whoosh, Rick gave her a wink. “The hard part's done. Let's grab Angelus and get out of here.”

“Just tell me what to do,” she said, her pulse quickening at the thought of a wild escape.

Then it really did get wild as four enforcers equipped with riot gear stepped into view at the end of the hallway, brandishing their weapons, effectively blocking access to the elevator. Belker was in the lead, his eyes glittering with malevolence when he called out “Halt!”

“I'll deal with this,” TJ whispered, but the words dissolved into nothingness as David Seaton joined his enforcers.

“We have your son!” Rick called out in a menacing tone. “Give me an excuse to kill him.”

David sneered. “He's a traitor. If
you
don't do it, I'll do it myself.”

“I have a clear shot, sir,” Belker announced, focusing his weapon on Alexia and firing in one smooth, hateful move.

Rick and TJ dove in front of her. But TJ was closest and so it was TJ who took the full force of the blast directly in his chest and left shoulder.

“No!” David roared.

“TJ!” Alexia grabbed his body as it slumped, while Rick fired back at their assailants from a crouched position.

He should have hit Belker at the very least. But instead, his blast ricocheted off an invisible barrier and turned back on them, whirring harmlessly past Alexia's ear.

“What the hell?” Rick strode to the spot—halfway between their party and David's—where the blaster shot had bounced. Testing it with his hand, he told Alexia, “Some kind of partition.”

She was barely listening. All she could see—all she could perceive—was the gaping, bloody hole in TJ's body. Cradling his head, she murmured, “Oh my God, TJ. Not now. Not now.”

Rick's voice rang out. “You fucking loser! You shot your own fucking son!” Firing again, and having it blast off the shield again, only punctuated the invective. “He needs medical attention. Now!”

Returning to Alexia, he knelt beside her, his expression stoic as he examined the wound, then stripped off his holster and used the leather strap to bind TJ's shoulder.

His gaze never fully left David and his gang of thugs, and she understood why. The barrier had descended without warning. Which meant it could lift the same way.

Stunned, she called out, “He's
dying
, David. Help him. Call Dr. Bodin.
Now!
”

“No,” TJ gasped. “Hostage.
Use
that.”

Rick's jaw tightened. Then he told David bitterly, “Your son is bleeding to death, Seaton. We never wanted that. Alexia loves him. So let's make a deal.” He glared at the tyrant. “Do one decent thing in your miserable life. Help your son. You owe him that.”

A flash of uncertainty crossed David's face but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the familiar sneer. “You want me to raise the partition? Will you put down your arms?”

Rick stared, visibly astounded. “You're bargaining? With your son's life? Fuck you, you fucking asshole.”

“David!” Alexia cried out, aghast at the amount of blood still oozing from TJ's shoulder despite the harness and the cauterizing effect of the blast. “
Please
get a doctor. I
know
you love him. But even if you don't, do it for your legacy.” Pausing to choke back a sob, she then insisted, “It can't end like this. Think about Dad. You loved
him
at least, didn't you? You were a perfect team. Perfectly in synch. And we can be that again. Save TJ for me now and I'll do whatever you want. Give you grandsons. Anything.”

“No, Lexie,” TJ corrected her in a pitiful voice. “Just kill him. When the shield goes up, just kill him. I'm begging you. It's all we can do. And it's enough.”

She turned her tearful gaze to Rick. “We're losing him.”

“Yeah.” He placed his weapon on the floor then stood up, proud and straight. “What are your terms?”

“Kick all three blasters over to the partition. Then put your hands up.” The elder Seaton grinned. “Everyone thinks Trent is the great inventor, but I get the last laugh. Because I designed this panel myself. Had it installed without letting TJ or the regular security forces know about it. We even bypassed the sentient so NASA wouldn't know.” His hate-filled eyes fixed on Alexia. “I knew you'd try to get in one day. This was my ace in the hole.”