Keeper Hunter

We ended up in the graveyard. It had a low stone wall around it. All the graves were the same and in rows. The headstones were simple concrete markers with a name, age and date of death. The few I could see all had the same dates. A granite memorial stood at the centre with a list of names on each side. I glanced at the names on the stone and froze. Copper’s name was on the list. I wondered if I had been talking to the real Copper or like me it was a name she had been given. I turned my attention to the dedication plate on the memorial. It stated that the town had been engulfed in a fireball from a leaking tank. I wasn’t sure that caused the damage? Copper if it was the real Copper had said soldiers had killed the townsfolk and burned it down. From the looks of it the latter was what had happened. I would have to ask Copper about the truth. I turned to the man standing next to me also looking at the memorial.

“This ok for you?” I snapped at the man.

He didn’t rise to the bait. “Fine,” the man bowed to me as if I was really a noble of high rank. “Lady Hampton.”

“I’m not a noble,” I protested.

The man gave me a quizzical smile. “You are if Lady ‘B’ says you are.”

I could see I wasn’t going to see eye to eye with him on this but I ploughed on anyway. “So why did she put it out I was related to the late Duke of Mars?”

The man bowed again. “That was my idea. Lady ‘B’ has already censured me over it and it looks like she’s going to censure me even more and I apologise for that.”

I stared at the man in shock. “Why do that?”

“In the hopes of bringing out the Separatists.”

“You bastard!” I shouted at the man my anger surging. “You used me as bait!”

“You would have been quite safe.” The man frowned. “Unfortunately the Separatists got the drop on us. Their goal was to capture you and use you in their negotiations.”

I tried hard to suppress my rising anger and failed my thoughts on how they had used Copper not caring if she died in the process. I’d would have easily been taken if I hadn’t had the gun I got off Jean. The one I’d forgotten to hand back before exiting the Ariadne. I also doubted she had been part of that deception. We were all pawns in an Imperial scheme. I had to wonder how much of this was down to Lady Broaden, I’d have choice words to say to her the next time that we talked. For now I concentrated on the man in front of me.

“You utter asshole!” I shouted at the man venting my frustration.

He put up his hands to placate me but it wasn’t working. “I know I put you in grave danger but I didn’t have any other options. Lady ‘B’ has already vented her displeasure with me for even doing it.”

“Was it your option for Alanna to die in all this an innocent with no knowledge of what you planned?” I said Alanna deliberately instead of Copper to empathise her as an unwilling victim to Imperial machinations.

“That was a oversight.”

“Was it an oversight that you never even supplied me with weapons to defend myself to defend Alanna?”

“In hindsight yes,” the man admitted.

I had enough talking to this petty bureaucrat. “We done here?” I abruptly turned to walk away.

“Did you want to know what happened on the Ariadne?”

I stamped down my anger and turned to give a scathing stare. “What about the Ariadne?” I said coldly. Jean hadn’t mentioned it I was sure she would have since she’d been heavily involved.

“Do you want to know the Garcia was the patsy in all this and she didn’t die at her own hand.”

“Tell me!” I demanded.

“John Falkener was the one who set the bombs in the Marine quarters.”

That name hadn’t been on my list of Paranovans. “So he wasn’t from Paranova?”

“From Earth he had links to the Night Guard.”

“Those idiots!” I snorted. Xenophobes every single one of them. I’d hoped the Empire had buried them but it looked like it wasn’t the case. They were as bad as the Black stripes.

“He was the one who convinced Garcia that Clements was having an affair. Even gave her the gun she used.”

“So she tried to kill me?” That wasn’t too much a leap of logic.

“You weren’t the intended target.”

That did surprise me. I suppose with all the people who tried to end me before it was a natural assumption. “Who was?”

“Captain Gardner.”

“And you know this how?” I was being to get an inkling but I wanted to hear it from his lips.

“I read his mind,” the man said simply.

The old me would have been horrified he had invaded another person’s mind. Since meeting Xenai my attitude on that had changed. “You’re a telepath?” The Confeds called them ‘tepes’.

“Yes, although I can read your mind at all.” The man sound frustrated. “I see why Lady Broaden picked you?”

I was relieved he couldn’t. Xenai had commented on this as well. “Is that all?” I just wanted to away from here.

“For now.”

I frowned at that I didn’t want to encounter this man again. “Good I’ve got places I need to be.”

“Good luck Lady Glenda.”

“Just get lost!” I replied. I wasn’t a noble and I’d never be.

The man bowed to me I had to walk away before my inner VHT surged.

I walked back to the dropships taking deep breathing to calm my anger. I just wished my temper didn’t flare as much as it did. Two Marines stepped into my path their weapons at the ready.

“Halt!” one demanded.

I gave him a hard stare fighting to keep myself in check. “Here to speak to Captain Gardner,” I said through gritted teeth. I wasn’t going to get into a fight here.

“Hey Glenda!” a more familiar voice called out.

I felt myself ease back. I shouldn’t be so confrontational but I used it to excuse my Valkyrie blood. “Claire!” I said and waved to her. She was standing behind the two Marines still in her full combat armour.

“Don’t mind these bozo’s all brawn and no brain.” Claire turned to the two Marines. “This is Glenda Hampton she saved our asses on the Ariadne and she is one of ours!”

The Marines reluctantly shuffled out of my way. I walked past them and up to Claire.

“You ok Glenda?” she sounded concerned.

I felt touched by it I needed the grounding she gave me. “I’ve had better days,” I replied then looked at her. “Know where Captain Gardner is I need to talk to her urgently?”

“Sure I’ll show you the way.

Claire was a soothing balm for my frayed nerves. She chattered to me in a friendly way as if we were on a girls’ night out. I felt a lot calmer when I reached the dropships used at the CP. Jean was off to on side slouched against the metal wall her helmet in her hands. While other Marines were clustered around a holo table that had been set up in the middle of the dropship. Major Burgess stood at the head and was pointing to images on the holo.

“Captain Gardner,” I said to Jean. “Can we talk?”

She straightened up. “Sure.”

“In private?”

“Ok I’ll led the way.”

I followed Jean to the edge of the dropship ring furthest away from the others.

“What’s this about?” she asked curiously.

“How much do you know about what happened aboard the Ariadne?” I was gambling she hadn’t known.

“Sweet fuck all. We got hustled out before we could get the bottom of it.” She glanced around. “An investigation team took over and told us to butt out. Since they were brass I had to go with the flow. I’ve heard nothing since?”

I explained what the blue suited man had told me.

“Shit that stupid slut thought I was banging her man.”

I winced at the coarseness of her words. “Maria was a victim?” I reminded her.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been accused of that.” She snorted. “Because of my scars there are those that think I’m easy. What I will not have is someone messing with my squads.” Jean went silent staring into the distance. “Sorry you had to hear my rant and thank you for telling me.”

I felt guilty for suspecting her. “You’re not the only one taken for a ride.” I waved my hand back to the ruined town. “This whole mess was because I was used for bait.”

“Shit I wish I had questioned my orders?” Jean said. “I know you told me about the Ariadne but this is something else. It just too pat that the brass knew we’d find the Seps here. Look I’m sorry about that.”

I waved her apology aside. “Don’t be I was lucky I still had your gun.” I pulled it from my pocket and handed it to her butt first. “Sorry I meant to give it back to you but never had the chance.” I tried to hand it to her.

Jean stopped me. “Keep it.”

“I can’t it’s useless to me. I’ve only got two rounds left.”

Jean reached into the load bearing harness she had over her combat armour and handed me two full clips. “Take these I’d already requisitioned a sidearm from the armoury.”

Thanks,” I told her. “I feel better being able to defend myself.”

“Please don’t mention it. I feel angry that they used you.”

I decided it was time to change subjects. “Hey have you located my guide yet she took off with the refugees when the Separatists arrived?”

“Oh yes you did ask me about that before. That I don’t know about but I will find out?” With that she walked off.

I knew it was going to be a long wait.