The Black Guard: Book II: Evolution (Black Guard Series 2) (4 page)

Now the guard who had shouted and the two guards on either
side of me were reaching for their weapons as well as the Outpost security and
the Valhall guards next to him. I shot the Valhall guard as his gun cleared his
holster, then the other outpost guard. I then dropped into a split, firing at
the Lariw guard on the way down to the floor.

Two bursts from multifunctional weapons exploded near me as I
hit the floor. I looked left to shoot the guard there, only to see him being
thrown backward, his uniform torn to shreds as well as half his face. Looking
back to the right, I saw the other guard, his body riddled with pellets,
staggering backward. It appeared the two had fired a burst of pellets at me a split
second after I had begun dropping to the floor but shot each other instead.

I sprang up, surveying the room. The seats were empty with the
delegates on the floor, behind chairs, or crouched against the wall near their
security.

"Weapons on the ground, now!" I said into the
silence. "Or I'll shoot to kill." A quick look around the room
convinced the delegations' guards to put down their weapons.

"Lerman, your guard murdered seven guards without
justification. She will be held accountable—"

"Joshsa, I would say your guards need to be held
accountable, but I guess they have been. I'm sure you have cameras recording
this meeting. Play them and let the delegates decide who incited the action and
who drew first."

"Outpost will have justice for the murders. I've
summoned more guards with shields."

Lerman opened his Mfi. "Captain Wolf. Call battle
stations. If I don't call back every fifteen minutes, you will destroy this building.
Also, notify Jax that if they don't hear from you within twenty-four hours, we
are at war with Outpost, Valhall, and Lariw."

Joshsa stood staring at Lerman with his face a mask of
shifting emotions: hate, rage, fear, and finally resignation. Just then, ten Outpost
troops burst into the room. Joshsa said something in his Comm devise that
caused them to relax, although they stayed back against the wall. He then spent
several minutes on his Comm devise. Not too long afterward the monitors lit
with several different views of the conference room with a time stamp of nine
hundred hours, which had been the starting time of the meeting.

"Now, run the videos to where the Valhall guard began
shouting," Lerman said then looked at Nastya. "Omom Nastya, as a neutral
party would you mind recording the time each guard touched their weapon?"

"I'd be glad to in the interest of truth and
justice," she gave a small bow to Lerman.

By now, everyone had returned to their seats and was watching
the action as it progressed frame by frame, with Nastya stopping the videos to
record on her tablet the time each one of us reached for a weapon. When she
finished, she displayed her results on the monitor. The total action, from the first
shout to my last shot, took just under six seconds. And the results showed that
the two Outpost guards had drawn their guns before I drew mine and each guard
had their gun out of its holster before I fired.

"I think it's clear who started the shooting and that it
was a trap intended to kill my security. It's one of many reasons the Jax would
never partner with Outpost, Valhall, or Lariw—you weren't to be trusted
when you arrived a century ago, and you haven't changed. I'm leaving. If I
don't make it back to my ship or my ship home, the Jax will destroy your
ability to leave this system for a thousand years." Lerman rose and headed
for the elevator.

I watched the ten new Outpost guards who Joshsa had summoned.
When Lerman had entered the elevator, I followed. We exited at the sixth floor,
collected our gear, called for a shuttle, and were picked up two hours later
without incident.

"I'm glad I ducked," Lerman said on the ride back
to the Deathstalker.

"Me too, sir. They had it set up to kill you. They would
have blamed it on me causing the incident and you being caught in the crossfire,"
I said.

He was silent for a long time. "You're right. They never
expected the Jax to join their alliance. They were hoping to create an incident
just short of a war to convince the other system leaders they needed to band
together. Hopefully, you ruined their carefully laid plan. I doubt Nastya wants
any part of them, and I suspect the democracies will reconsider when they hear
what happened, especially if they think joining will put them at war with the
Jax. Given that, this was a worthwhile trip."

When I stepped down from the shuttle, Hada Attali stood
waiting, with a huge smile of welcome. She grabbed me in a bear hug that made
me feel I was home and among family.

"The rumors are running wild, everything from we are at
war with the other Helix systems to you were killed in a fight with Outpost
security. Since I just hugged you and you feel solid, I can discount that
rumor. Everyone is dying to hear what really happened, but you're going to tell
your sister first." Hada linked her arm into mine and half dragged me down
the trail and off to our favorite meditation place: a small bare slab of rock,
just big enough for the two of us to sit precariously perched on the shear face
of gray granite. It was partly hidden by a mighty waterfall that fell hundreds
of meters into a turbulent river of crashing white water that fought its way
over boulders and through narrow canyons into a lush green valley far in the
distance. "All right, what happened?"

"General Lerman decided to make a statement ..." I
went on to explain, between interruptions, my assignment with Lerman.

"So we aren't at war?"

"We didn't leave on good terms, but I don't think we're
officially at war. Maybe someday, but not today." I had mixed feelings
about the assignment, the meeting, and Lerman. He had gone to Outpost to make a
statement—and had succeeded based on his mood on the way back to Jax
space. He had taken a huge risk on me winning the game without himself knowing
the rules. He had risked his life and mine for some benefit that wasn't obvious
to me. And what would have been the ramifications of losing? Maybe in time I
would understand. "How did your assignment go, Hada?"

"Another monarch who had earned his people's hatred,"
Hada said with a snort. "He made the mistake of thinking I was one of his
subjects. That might have worked last year, but I remembered my uppity-sister's
sage advice and told him I wasn't his puppy, servant, or subject and would
leave if he wouldn't let me and my people do our job—it worked. He still fought
me until we saved his life a week later. There were three attempts. His younger
brother eventually replaced him. The brother isn't well liked, but at least he isn't
hated. No Guard died, and I didn't let the client intimidate me, so I count it
as a successful assignment."

"Very successful. What's been happening here while I've
been away?"

"Your addendum to the historical history of Captain
Embry has everyone wanting to learn the whip. Since you weren't here, they've
been consulting me. That turned out to be fortunate. If they had attempted to learn
it on their own, the space gods only know what part of themselves they would
have carved off. Most had never used the whip since their basic introduction
after their promotion and didn't realize how lethal it was. I had several
leather whips made for practice after one lieutenant nearly cut off his foot.
Fortunately, he only ruined a good pair of boots."

* * *

Two days later, I turned in my post assignment report to
Wexler and joined the new third phase candidates.

"Candidates, attention!" Creech barked as I
approached the group.

"At ease." I surveyed the group of three men
and three women.

"Captain Sapir's latest assignment eloquently
demonstrated why we spend so many hours practicing how to shoot and why less
than one hundred percent is not adequate. We are going to spend the next
several classes discussing what she did and why, and then you will attempt to
duplicate the result."

The next several weeks went by quickly as I settled back
into a pleasant routine: working with Creech with the third phase candidates,
teaching the whip to the available Guard officers, spending time working out
with Dragons Hada and Dobrin—who was back from a post assignment leave—and
relaxing and talking with Hada for hours late into the night. Life was good.

* * *

"Captain Sapir, Commander Wexler would like to see
you," Corporal Yaron said after a low bow.

"Thank you, Yaron." Since he didn't say when,
I assumed immediately and followed him back to Wexler's office. On entering, I
bowed low, looking at the ground.

"Sit." He waved me to the only other chair in
the office. "I've just returned from a meeting with the JCC. General
Lerman admits it was a mistake attending the Outpost meeting. He had hoped to
discourage the formation of a Helix Alliance, never believing the three
family-run systems planned to use him to discredit the Jax and in so doing to
convince the other systems they needed an alliance for protection against us.
He let our superiority cloud his judgment. If you hadn't demonstrated the need
for him to stay out of your line of fire, he would probably be dead and you
blamed for starting the fight. It turns out he achieved his objective but only
thanks to the Black Guard. The Committee has changed our name officially from
the Guard to the Black Guard. Lerman said you impressed him with your
performance on the firing range, but he still can't believe you killed seven
men in less than six seconds with single shots to the head when you drew
last."

"Technically, sir, I only killed five. Two shot
each other," I said.

"One does not argue with a general, Sapir. I'm sure
they just saved you two pellets. Anyway, the obvious treachery on the part of
the family-run systems convinced several leaders of the other systems that an
alliance wasn't a good idea and a couple of those systems are interested in
talking with us about providing them naval protection."

"I would have been tried for murder except for the
general's bluff," I said, thinking about his call to the Deathstalker.

Wexler laughed. "That was no bluff, Sapir.
Tradition: once a Jax gives an ultimatum, there is no taking it back.
Otherwise, no one will believe you next time." He stared at me, awaiting
my acknowledgement. Not about Lerman but the necessity for caution before
issuing ultimatums.

I nodded my understanding.

He gave me a brief nod in return. "The JCC are
pleased with your revised third phase training and have released you for
assignments. They emphasize it isn't for saving the general's life but because
you belong on assignment …" He gave a snort, "And they just happen to
have the perfect non-standard assignment for you. One that may kill two birds
with one bullet, as the saying goes." Wexler stopped for a drink of his kaffa,
and the skin around his eyes crinkled with amusement.

I leaned forward in response. To me, an assignment was
like going on a new adventure with family.

"The current leader, the Holy One of Blackwood, is
old and expected to die within weeks. Her replacement is planning on making
some changes in her security, which she feels are not going to be popular."

"Do you know what kind of changes?" Few people
liked change, so the amount and kind of grief she would get depended on the
type of people who disliked the changes: hundreds versus thousands, the poor
versus the rich, or the weak versus the powerful.

"She plans to replace the group who has
traditionally guarded the Holy One and the palace." Wexler gave a wry
grin. "Those in power don't hire us and pay our rates if there is a
cheaper option unless it involves their personal safety. When their personal
safety is involved, they tend to be willing to spend whatever is necessary to
hire the best. Your performance at Outpost convinced Omom Nastya, the next Holy
One, that you are worth the expense."

"Just her?" I wondered if she had a family or
others she wanted protected.

"Her and her daughter, who is being groomed to
succeed her. And there will be travel involved." He laughed. "That
made you a three-time winner: Nastya, Lerman, and I all agree you are the
logical choice. You will have a team of twenty, which should tell you how
important this is to everyone concerned."

"Who will be on my team, sir?" It didn't
really matter. Everyone in the Guard was qualified and family in my mind, but I
was curious if I knew my new team.

"Lieutenant Elijah and Senior Sergeant Catz and
Haber, who was recently promoted. In addition to those three, you have another
six double-dragon recipients from action at New Keif and Lanzhou, six others
who have previously served with you, and six privates. It's a good team."

"Yes, sir. When does Omom Nastya expect us?"

"She expects you in three days. Everyone should be
on Sasser Mountain tomorrow, and the Crouching Tiger will be in orbit two days
from now. You should be in Blackwood on the third day as the contract states.
Be careful, Sapir. The Gurk are Blackwood's equivalent to the Jax Guard and
nasty. They aren't going to like being replaced."

* * *

"Guard, attention!" Lieutenant Elijah shouted
as I entered, and the room became deathly quiet. I surveyed the group in front
of me, noting familiar faces that gave me flashes of past assignments: Lanzhou,
Molova, New Keif, Halo, Faithful, and North Song. These were not only good
friends I had spent good and bad times with, but also family, which now
included the six new Guards.

"At ease," I said, and everyone relaxed into a
parade rest and those who had served with me smiled. "I see some of you
think you're going to a party."

"Yes, sir!" shouted everyone except for the
six new Guards.

"And I suppose you have already corrupted the new
members of the team with wild stories of masquerade parties and my
untraditional behavior?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Well then, I guess it's too late to get rid of
you," I said, shaking my head and frowning. "Lieutenant Elijah,
Senior Sergeants Catz and Nadel, introduce me to the new members."

The three approached and bowed low. Elijah spoke first,
"Per your orders, I've broken the Guards into two groups. Senior Sergeant
Catz commands one team and Senior Sergeant Nadel the other. Sergeant Catz."

"Sir, my team consists of Sgt. Haber, Corporals
Alpert, Reti, Krebs, Jaffe, Rong," she said as she pointed to each, who each
bowed low to me in turn, "and privates Hale, Coklin, and Kemp." Each
bowed in turn.

"Sir, my team consists of Sergeant Ganz, Corporals
Toch, Preis, Volpe, Kott, and Uziel, and privates Suton, Aldit, and Craris."
Nadel pointed at each member, who bowed in turn.

"Our tradition has not changed. We're Jax, and we're
expected to fight to the last Guard. That is surprisingly easy to do. Duty is
however not always so easy. Tomorrow, for those interested, we are going to the
planet Blackwood and our duty will be to keep the Omom Nastya, who will assume
the position of Holy One, and her daughter alive. That will be your duty and my
first priority; dying is neither a priority nor part of your duty.
Understood?"

"Yes, sir." This time the shout was louder.

"There is food and drink waiting outside. Mingle.
If you don't know someone, go up to them and introduce yourself. We may not
always be in uniform," I said to smiles and laughs from those who had been
on assignments with me. "Dismissed."

I spent the next two hours talking with every member of
my detail, reminiscing over old times and getting to know the new
privates—they were now part of my family and neither the least-favorites
nor throw-a-ways.

* * *

"What do you think of this assignment,
Captain?" Elijah asked in the shuttle on the ride to the Crouching Tiger.

"Non-traditional in many ways. I want you to assume
every person on Blackwood is going to try to kill you and the other Guards—like
we were the client." I had a bad feeling about this assignment, not in
protecting our client but in minimizing the danger to the Guard. "Duty is
the highest priority, Elijah, protecting the clients and the Guard. The
situation will be similar to our assignment on Molova—talk to Sergeants
Catz and Nadel, they were both there—but on Molova the threat was to
Prince Badal and his family and the Guard only indirectly. On Blackwood I
believe the threat will be as much against the Guard as against the Omom Nastya
and her daughter."

"Because of the Gurks?"

"Yes. They win if they can kill Nastya or her
daughter because we weren't able to protect them. They also win if they can
kill us and indirectly demonstrate we can't protect her or her daughter."

"Isn't that true on all our assignments?"

"No. How often does an assassin try to kill one of
us while we are off duty?"

* * *

As I walked down the steps of the shuttle, a naval
lieutenant saluted me. "Captain Sapir, Captain Blatt and Colonel Berger
would like to speak to you at your earliest convenience," he said,
appearing a bit apprehensive, which I understood. Messengers frequently took
the wrath of unhappy superiors. The captain and colonel wanted me there
immediately, but neither had the authority to order me.

"Lead on, Lieutenant. I'm sure Captain Blatt has
more important things to do than wait on me."

"Thank you, Captain. In the meantime, I'll have
your troops and luggage taken care of." He waved to a marine master
sergeant, who stepped forward and saluted Elijah as the Lieutenant led me away.

As we approached the captain's office, a marine sentry
opened the door part way, said something, and then opened the door fully for me
to enter. When I entered, both men were standing. I gave a moderately low bow
out of respect for their positions.

"Welcome, Captain Sapir. Help yourself to something
and have a seat," Blatt said, waving toward a sidebar with kaffa, tea, and
water. I poured a glass of water and sat.

"Even without a briefing from Admiral Geller, your
presence would scream non-traditional contract," Colonel Berger said and
gave a snort. "I sometimes think everyone in the Jax Military looks forward
to hearing the rumors after each of your assignments."