The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion Book 2) (14 page)

“Fuckers,” she whispered in anger.

Continuing to swipe the pertinent information onto one drive, Lindsey almost wished she wasn’t discovering just how deep the rabbit hole went inside the SWD.

The door chimed and Lindsey checked the security feed. Commandant Pierce stood outside with her hands resting on her narrow hips. Lindsey unlocked the door and it swished open. Once the officer was inside, Lindsey shut and locked the door.

“What did you find?” Commandant Pierce asked, staring at the computers Lindsey had dragged into the small space. The air conditioner was on high and the commandant shivered. “How bad is it?”

“Oh, it’s bad. Really bad,” Lindsey answered. She’d only brought one chair into the office, so she offered it to the commandant. “Take a seat?”

“I’ll stand. Show me.”

Lindsey quickly saved everything she needed and disconnected from the grid. “Well, the delay in Admiral Kirkpatrick surrendering was on purpose. During that time period, food stores were transferred out of several warehouses to another location.”

“The SWD stole food?” Commandant Pierce arched her eyebrows.

“Yes and no. All the transfers were made using the president’s authorization and the food was relocated to the shelter in the basement of the president’s residence.”

“What are you saying?”

“Well, the SWD forged the president’s authorization and stole vast stores of food and planted it in the president’s own home using the city’s delivery system.  They set him up.” Lindsey organized the screens for the commandant to study. “It wasn’t easy to trace, but I found the origin computer where the forgeries were created and traced the route through the system. Someone did try to scrub the info, but there were still data packets lodged in various nodes along the path.”

“I have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Well, they wiped the computer where they did the forgery. But like a train moving through the city, the orders had stops at various stations along the way to its destination. That’s how I was able to trace backward. The code used to secure the message left little data stamps at each junction.”

“Like a train tripping proximity sensors?”

“Yeah, kinda.”

“So they’re trying to make the president look like a thief.”

“They’re trying to set him up to look like he’s hoarding food and preparing to cut off the rest of the city and only save himself and others in power. Admiral Kirkpatrick has a speech written that discusses his discovery of the president’s ‘theft’ and his own plan to send SWD squads into the dead world to retrieve food stores.” Lindsey’s hands shook slightly and it wasn’t just from the shock of her discovery. She needed food after forgetting to eat all day. Picking up her bar, she took another bite.

“So Admiral Kirkpatrick will look like a hero of the people and President Cabot the villain.”

Lindsey forced herself to swallow the dry lump. “But that’s not the real reason for the squads moving out into the dead world. It’s an excuse.” Pulling up another document, she pointed at several lines. “They’re going after Maria and Dwayne.”

“The pulses.”

“Exactly. They’re trying to locate them using the pulse. This document is from Dr. Curran to a Mrs. Petersen.”

“Mrs. Petersen?”

“Commandant, there is an entire section in the SWD where every person is called Petersen. It’s to protect the core group working together to take control of The Bastion.”

“So the Mr. Petersen we were dealing with isn’t the only one?”

“No. And I looked into the documentation being prepared by the Judiciary Authority. The Mr. Petersen they’re preparing to charge is not the one we encountered.” Lindsey touched the screen and the bland face of man with dark skin and hair popped up. “This is the man who has been in talks with the Judiciary Authority and performing as an assistant to Admiral Kirkpatrick.”

“That’s not him. That’s not the same man.”

“The Mr. Petersen we dealt with doesn’t show up on any security footage from any meetings. He was excised from the vids.”

Commandant Pierce frowned as she read the information on the screen. “So you think the one we were dealing with is still in charge?”

“Definitely. Legatus Martel didn’t have a history in the SWD databases until a week ago. Then she simply appeared and was included in the files sent to President Cabot when he made the move to appoint a new leader of the SWD. I looked at those files. They were skewed to make him select Martel.”

“Where did Martel come from?”

“Well, I had to go outside the SWD to find her. She’s a real person and I found her civilian records. She studied with Dr. Curran at the university, and then she just vanished. I suspect she joined the SWD and became a Petersen. The reason I recognized her name is because Dr. Curran sent her a communique during the Inferi Boon project. It was of a personal matter, so I didn’t pay attention to it. They were arranging to have dinner at the Luminous Restaurant. The one that actually has real meat! Anyway, Dr Curran said the reservation was under the name Martel.”

Commandant Pierce was silent for a very long moment. “SWD has always operated apart from the Constabulary.”

“Because of Admiral Kirkpatrick’s influence.”

“Which has provided them the opportunity to create this elaborate network of lies.”

“They have a very specific agenda.”

“They want Maria and Dwayne.”

“And created a cover story for a fleet of tiltrotors leaving the city.”

“And when they retrieve them?”

Lindsey tugged nervously at her hair. “They’re to be secreted into the labs.”

“Of course.”

“Also, Dr. Curran got samples off the Abscrags. She’s experimenting again.”

Shaking her head, Commandant Pierce looked older than when she’d entered the room. “Of course.”

“This is enough to take to the president, right?”

“Absolutely. I’ll deal with it immediately.”

Lindsey quickly compiled all the information onto a data drive and handed it to the commandant.

“You look about how I feel,” the other woman said with a wry smile.

Glancing toward the screen where the SWD deployment roster glowed, Lindsey sighed. “It’s not a day for good news.”

“You’ve been in here for hours. You’ve got enough to counter the SWD. Take a rest, Rooney. Go get a drink.”

“I’ll probably do that as soon as I finish doing something.”

“Make sure you do. Now let me out of this damn claustrophobic room.”

Lindsey rapidly unlocked the door and watched the commanding officer depart. Once the door was shut and locked, she returned her gaze to the SWD roster. The names of those selected to track down Dwayne and Maria glowed ominously.

Master Seeker MacDonald sat at the top of the list.

Reconnecting to the grid, Lindsey hacked into The Bastion security files and searched for Torran’s wristlet identifier.

Chapter 13

The illegal pub was swarming with off duty SWD personnel and civilians. It was near the SWD Facility and Torran liked to grab a drink after a rough day. Still clad in his uniform, he felt the eyes of the junior officers and enlisted people on him, but he didn’t really mind. It had been a rough afternoon. He’d spent most of it getting acquainted with the faces, names, and profiles of his newly acquired squad. Though he didn’t want to admit it, he wasn’t looking forward to meeting them.

Staring at the pale gold liquid in his glass, he wished it was tequila, but he had no regrets with how his bottle had met its demise. It had been a great night.

The long bar was made of old shipping containers and the lights strung along the pipes gave the basement pub a very post-apocalyptic vibe. Considering they were living in a post-apocalyptic world, he supposed it was perfect. He did miss the old pub in the Scottish Borough that actually resembled a pub from Scotland. Rumor was it had been moved brick by brick from Aberdeen.

The old stool beside him creaked and he glanced over to see Lindsey settling onto it. Her bun had slipped off the top of her head and was a jumble at the nap of her neck. Her bangs and wisps of hair framed her tense face. Still clad in her Constabulary uniform, she was drawing some downright hostile looks from the SWD security forces.

“Are you stalking me?” Torran asked.

“Yep.” Lindsey took the glass from his hand, drank the remains of the liquid, flinched, then signaled the bartender for two more. “I hacked into the city security grid and found your wristlet identifier. Then I made a program in my wristlet to track you. And as soon as I was off duty, I followed it here. So, yes, I’m stalking you.”

Staring at her, Torran wasn’t sure whether he was flattered or a little afraid. Maybe he was both. “Why stalking?”

The big hazel eyes he adored so much filled with tears. “I need a friend.”

“I’m your friend,” Torran assured her while setting an elbow on the counter and claiming his drink.

Lindsey pushed some credits to the bartender, and the slim woman, with a shaved head and wearing a wisp of a black dress, claimed them without a word. Even the SWD prejudice affected their favorite bartender.

“For that amount, get her two drinks,” Torran said to the bartender.

The woman scowled but poured another.

Torran set it next to Lindsey’s other drink. “Bad day at the office?”

Lindsey made a noise that was halfway between a snort and a laugh. “Putting it lightly.”

“Can you talk about it?”

Shaking her head, Lindsey picked up the drink and took a quick sip. She flinched at the taste, but took another. “It’s just... complicated.”

“Like life,” Torran offered.

“Yeah. What about your day?”

“New squad assignment. Spent the whole day looking at very young faces. I meet them tomorrow. Fresh out of training. New recruits dying to get out there and kill Scrags.”

Lindsey was silent for a long moment, then finally said, “Hopefully there aren’t any more out in the valley.”

Torran nodded and gulped down his drink. He still had a slight hangover, but didn’t mind flirting with another. “I hope for the same. Did you see those crazy walls they’re erecting around the cleared areas?”

“I missed that. Was that on today’s news feed?”

“Yeah. Kinda like those damn walls they tried to put up during the doomed final push. The mesh ones. By the time they get done, the valley will look like a maze with all those sections.”

“Just like the Bastion.”

“Except the walls will be around farms, ranches, the mines...”

“But more walls.”

“I’m kinda sick of walls,” Torran decided.

“Though I suppose it’s better than the outside world, huh?” Lindsey almost sounded wistful, yet also afraid.

The vid screen in the corners of the bar continued to display the latest developments and Torran was sick of watching the same looping information. To his relief, the music filtering through the old speakers strung up in the corners of the narrow bar overwhelmed the voices of the news anchors.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about your day?” Torran asked. It was clear that something was weighing heavily on her. He could almost see the computer in the back of her mind whirring away despite the emotional turmoil in her eyes.

“Torran, even if I could talk about it...” She licked her lips and steadied herself against the bar. “… I couldn’t tell you. I don’t even know if I could put into words what I feel.”

“You look so sad. So hurt.”

“And helpless.” Lindsey took another long sip from her drink.

“You’re not helpless. You’re capable. You saved my life.”

Lindsey’s finger danced over his hair, fringing his high forehead. “This is so not regulation.” She obviously wanted to change the topic.

“SWD is much more lax than Constabulary about the whole hair thing. Though looking at your hair, I got to wonder if they’re slacking off.”

Touching her fallen bun, Lindsey rolled her eyes. “I tend to tug at my hair when working. Vaja says I should chop it off.”

“Vaja... is back?”

“No, no. I should say he used to say that. But my dad always liked my hair long. He used to brush it before I went to sleep when I was very little. Of all the things from my childhood, that is the one thing I remember. My dad brushing my hair...”

“It’s a lovely memory.” Torran tugged at a hairpin holding her bun together and her long locks unraveled around his hand. “It looks nice down.”

“You’re drunk.” Lindsey decided.

“Yep.”

An SWD officer brushed past them and his foot hit Lindsey’s stool, nearly toppling her off it.

“Hey!” Torran shouted after the man, but the only response he got was a dark look before the customer went to join his friends at a table.

“I should go,” Lindsey said swiftly. “I am in ‘enemy’ territory.”

“I’ll come with you,” Torran said, downing his drink and sliding to his feet.

“You don’t have to.”

“Yeah, I do. I’m feeling surly.”

Lindsey gave him a grateful look. When he took her hand, she didn’t protest, but followed him out of the packed bar. They both ignored the disdainful looks cast in their direction. Torran hadn’t fully realized how much anger was brewing in the SWD against the Constabulary, but he had been out of the loop for the last few weeks.

Without any real direction, they walked for a few blocks through the impressive buildings that ringed the SWD Facility. This area of the city was cleaner and less crowded than the rest of The Bastion. Most of the buildings housed offices for government officials.

Night had cast a thick blanket of darkness over the city and fog filled the streets. Only street lamps illuminated their way. Torran didn’t like that Lindsey had walked all this way alone. Rape and assaults were rare, but did happen.

“Torran,” Lindsey said softly.

Turning toward her, he saw tears on her face.

“You’re going beyond the wall soon.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

“Come back, okay?”

“Lindsey...”

When she kissed him, he knew it wasn’t out of love, but out of need. The pain, loneliness and fear poured out of her and matched his internal turmoil. After a few seconds, he pulled away and instead held her tightly in his arms.

“I’ll come back,” he whispered.

* * *

Lindsey initially felt foolish seeking Torran out at the bar, but as he walked her back to her small flat, she let go of those feelings. He obviously did care about her and his presence was a comfort. Whereas Vaja would’ve been hounding her to disclose what was going on in her head, Torran allowed her to be alone in her thoughts and only divulge what she was comfortable telling him.

Of course, there was no way she could tell him about Maria and Dwayne being on the run from the SWD. Nor she could she tell him that she’d discovered what the SWD was planning and how Torran fit into their designs. When she’d seen his name on the roster of those selected to venture into the outside world in pursuit of Maria, it was as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Commandant Pierce had all the information Lindsey had collected, but she wondered if the Constabulary would be able to counter what the SWD had planned. She was still processing all she’d learned for it was very overwhelming.

Clutching Torran’s hand, she wondered if she should disclose what she’d discovered. Of course, that would be revealing her illicit activities. That was something she did not want the SWD to know, and she was still determining if she trusted Torran with that information or not. Of course, she couldn’t warn him that she’d do everything possible to prevent his mission from being a success.

So instead of talking, they walked in silence.

When they reached the narrow alleyway that lead to the stairs to her flat, she pulled him to a stop. “Torran, you don’t have to walk me all the way home if you don’t want to. I’m sorry I showed up being an emotional mess—”

“That’s not a problem. I’m glad you came to me. But do you want me to go and leave you be?” Torran asked in such a way she knew he’d respect whatever she said.

After a beat, she admitted the truth. “No.”

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he guided her toward her small flat. “Lindsey, I don’t know what happened today, but I’m here for you. That’s what friends do. Right?’

“You know, Maria would have adored you,” Lindsey said, and felt the pang of loss like sharp dagger in her gut once again.

“I
am
a likable bloke,” Torran said teasingly.

Nearing the stairs, Lindsey realized that someone was sitting halfway up the steps clad in a dark coat with a hood over their head. Torran immediately stepped in front of her, which partially annoyed her.

“Hey, you there. You can’t sleep there. Go to the nearest shelter,” Torran called out.

The figure lifted his head and Lindsey recognized Vaja’s slim face in the dim light cast by the street lamps.

“I live here, asshole,” Vaja answered sharply.

“No you don’t,” Lindsey snapped, darting around Torran to confront her ex as he came down the steps to meet her.

“Lindsey,” Vaja said in such a way that it made her want to slap him. He sounded like an adult tired of a child’s temper tantrum. “Can we just go inside? We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Look, you need to leave,” Torran said to Vaja in a stern tone.

“I’m her boyfriend. Who the hell are you?”

Torran and Vaja glared at each other over her head.

“Vaja, you’re not my boyfriend and he’s just a friend,” Lindsey interjected.

“Are you fucking him?” Vaja asked pointedly.

“If I am, it’s none of your business!” Lindsey gave Torran a sharp warning look, but he just appeared grim.

Pointing at Torran accusingly, Vaja said, “He’s that guy. The one always messaging you.”

“He’s my friend who does message me on occasion, and it’s none of your damn business anyway!”

“Lindsey, we need to talk!”

“No we don’t, Vaja. You need to leave!”

“Lindsey, I left the other women for
you
.” Vaja reached for her, but she stepped out of his grasp.

That elicited a scornful chuckle from Torran.

Lindsey tossed Torran another warning glare.

Vaja pointed to his bag tucked under the steps. “I’ve come home to you and only you. I want to be with you. I love you.”

The words were exactly what she had wanted to hear from Vaja two days before. Even though the delivery was heartfelt and Lindsey was surprised to see love burning in Vaja’s eyes, she realized she no longer wanted him to make declarations of fidelity. At one point, she’d believed she loved him, but she knew she’d been deceiving herself. Maybe a few days ago she would have let him stick around for companionship, hoping one day she might love him, but she didn’t have the luxury of time anymore.

“Lindsey, say something,” Vaja pleaded, giving Torran a dark look.