of the Resistance."
Quiet laughter ran around the table. "Yes, Harlan. You can trust this
-oaf. He's for real." and Santorini turned back to the table.
\ No newline at end of file
+oaf. He's for real." and Santorini turned back to the table.
+
+==== Harlan: Thief, Resistance Operative ====
+
+Domosky and Harlan returned to their table where the younger man sat
+staring at his hands silently. Domosky waited.
+
+Finally, Harlan looked up at the big man. "Sorry. I'm a bit pissed."
+He looked at the barkeep. "Even the bartender knows more than I do."
+
+He rose from the table and headed for the door.
+
+Domosky stood up and followed. He caught up with Harlan in a few of
+his long strides. "If you go to the roofs, we won't be able to talk."
+His breath streamed out on the cold night air. "No one knows more than
+they need to. You are entering a new phase. And you need more
+information now. So you're getting it."
+
+He rubbed the back of his head. "I felt much the same as you do last
+week when they filled me in on a lot of minor details. Like Behan and
+Murphy."
+
+Harlan snorted. "Behan doesn't seem like a minor detail to me." He
+looked at Dom. "Who's Murphy."
+
+"The guy sitting across from the Boss at the table. He's an assistant
+to the President."
+
+"The President? The pirate President? Mahoney? That President?"
+
+"Yes. That President."
+
+"Jesus H. Christ on a hofsteader." Harlan stood for a long minute, his
+mouth hanging open. Then he shook his head vigorously. "I don't
+believe that. I don't believe any of those bastards could be turned."
+
+"He wasn't turned. He contacted us."
+
+"That proves it. He's a mole. He joined the Resistance to get
+information on us to pass on to his boss. He needs to be eliminated."
+He looked back at the tavern as Domosky turned him around and they
+walked back.
+
+"His wife would shoot you just for saying that." said Dom as they
+entered the pub.
+
+Harlan's head came up. "Who's his wife? And why should I care?"
+
+"Her name is Silver Santorini. She's the Boss's daughter." He leaned
+forward, scrutinizing the crowd. "In fact, that's her. Over by the
+bar. The one with all the panting men around her."
+
+Standing next to the bar was one of the most beautiful women Harlan
+had ever seen. Her hair was almost pure white, hanging loose and
+tumbling down her back like a waterfall. But she wasn't an albino. Her
+skin had a healthy pink tinge, especially on those high cheekbones.
+Her eyes were light although he couldn't see what color they were from
+this distance. Her rosebud mouth opened as she laughed over perfect
+white teeth. Her neck...
+
+Harlan forced his attention back to Domosky. "Holy shit!" he said.
+"That's the Boss' daughter?"
+
+Domosky had been watching Harlan's reaction to the woman. "Yep. Lots
+prettier than her daddy."
+
+Harlan snorted. "You're a master of understatement."
+
+Then he deliberately turned his back on the very distracting woman,
+shifting so that he faced Domosky. "Do you know what the high
+muckety-mucks have ordered me to do?"
+
+The big man grinned. "As I understand it, you volunteered to serve in
+whatever capacity they needed."
+
+"That was before I heard what the assignment was." He shook his head,
+taking a quick glance at the Boss' daughter. "They want me to organize
+the thieves, destroy the Syndicate, and bring any left alive into the
+Thieves' Guild." Shaking his head again, he asked "How in Hell am I
+supposed to accomplish that? Behan says I have friends who will be
+there for me." He took another quick look at Silver. "As far as I
+know, you're the only person I can call a friend. And you might not
+feel that way."
+
+Domosky chuckled. "You will probably be surprised when you find out
+how many friends you actually have." He leaned back in his chair,
+possibly to cut off the view of Silver Santorini, which was just as
+distracting to him. "And, yes. I am your friend."
+
+Harlan looked at the big man for a moment with a slightly crooked
+smile. Then he realized that Silver Santorini was standing next to
+them. Both men nearly fell as they hurriedly stood up.
+
+Silver's lips quirked. "May I join you?" she asked.
+
+"Of course." said Dom as he grabbed a chair from a nearby table,
+dumping the previous occupant.
+
+"Our pleasure." said Harlan as he moved his chair over to make room.
+
+Silver was chuckling as she stooped to assist the man who had been so
+unceremoniously deposited on the floor. Dom's face went pink and he
+lifted the man to his feet, apologizing.
+
+Silver offered her hand to both of the men. "Hello. I'm Silver
+Santorini. I believe you know my father."
+
+The two men had difficulty letting go of her hand, but she was able to
+extricate it.
+
+She accepted their offer of a brew as the waiter came over.
+
+Once they were alone, she leaned forward and spoke softly. "I have
+been assigned to your team, Harlan. It will be you and me and Dom."
+
+For the first time, Harlan was not pleased to see Mellie walk in the
+door to the tavern.
+
+==== Mellie: Detective, Resistance operative ====
+
+She really didn't expect to find Harlan in the Black Chaupoo. She
+certainly didn't expect to find him with a gorgeous woman with pure
+white hair and green eyes. She felt her own eyes narrow as she walked
+toward them. Harlan had turned and was looking at her. His eyebrows
+were raised as if he were puzzled. Or maybe anxious.
+
+He stood and reached for her as she came up to the table, but Mellie
+ignored his outstretched hand and smiled down at the woman.
+
+"Hello, Dom." she said without so much as glancing at him. "Hello,
+Harlan. Who's your friend?"
+
+The woman's perfectly arched eyebrows also rose and a little smile
+played around her lips.
+
+Harlan sighed. "This is Silver Santorini, the Boss' daughter." he
+said. "She's married to a guy named Murphy who's with the Boss in the
+back room."
+
+Now Mellie did look up at Harlan. Briefly. "I've heard of you." she
+said to the woman. "Everyone talked about how beautiful you are. I
+didn't believe them until now."
+
+Silver smiled again. "Thank you, Detective." She stood. "I had heard
+much the same about you. I see that the gossip was also true."
+
+They stood staring at each other for a moment. Then Mellie offered her
+hand and Silver took it. Their handshake lasted a bit longer than one
+between two men would have and seemed much more intimate. Harlan had
+the distinct feeling that they were saying things to each other
+without words.
+
+The women sat down and the men followed suit.
+
+Mellie stared at Harlan for a long minute, markedly increasing his
+anxiety. Finally she smiled at him and reached out and took his hand.
+Turning to Silver, she asked "Is that Liam Murphy you're married to?"
+
+Silver nodded. "That would be the man. We've been married for three
+years. He's a good man."
+
+"Except that he's a pirate and the President's assistant. That makes
+him a little bit suspect on this side of town."
+
+"I know. I've lived with those suspicions for years now." She
+grimaced. "But I know this man. I know him well. He is sincere. He
+wants to overthrow the tyranny and free the people of Agalder. He has
+the courage and brilliance to do it."
+
+Mellie raised an eyebrow. "Why would he betray his comrades?"
+
+"Because they are wrong and cruel and basically evil." Silver said as
+she took a sip of her brew. "There are another half dozen crew members
+who think like Murph does. They'll join him when it's time. But the
+majority of the crews are only interested in making their fortunes.
+This is supposed to be the last gig. When they leave here, they're
+supposed to split up and head for different parts of the galaxy to
+retire." She snorted. "I'll believe that when I see it."
+
+"What will you believe?" asked Harlan. "That they won't head off to
+different ends of the galaxy? Or that this is their last gig?"
+
+She smiled and Harlan couldn't help it. His heart beat a little
+faster. "Oh, I wouldn't be surprised to see them split up. They all
+detest each other. There is no honor among thieves." She shook her
+head. "No. What would surprise me is if this is their last gig. They
+are all the greediest of pigs. They might split up, but they would
+find another way to make money by harming and killing and raping and
+maiming anyone they can."
+
+Mellie shook her head and spoke - so softly that Silver almost missed
+it. "It will be their last gig all right. They will be much too dead
+for another."
+
+Silver met her eyes, green staring into blue, and she nodded.
+
+==== Silver Santorini: Resistance Operative ====
+
+Silver Santorini and Liam Murphy had been married over three years and
+were very much in love. Yet they had never lived together, never
+shared the small joys of preparing meals together, of planning
+vacations, of sharing their days at work and little triumphs with each
+other. They met every few weeks to report to each other and share a
+couple of hours of steamy sex. It was all they had at the moment. But
+they thought they could see the light at the end of the wormhole and
+prayed that it was not the inside of a star.
+
+They couldn't think about that future now. That could lead to
+inattention and carelessness and they couldn't risk that. They had to
+stay focused. That's why Silver only glanced at Murphy when the door
+opened and the men came out of the back room. He didn't even look at
+her. Behan had slipped out a window, the same way he had come in.
+Santorini came over and pulled up a chair at the table.
+
+"I see you've met my daughter." he said, looking at Mellie.
+
+"Yes. We were just getting acquainted." replied Mellie, her gaze
+steady.
+
+The Boss stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "Don't worry about
+Murph. He's a good guy and dedicated to our cause."
+
+His eyes flicked from Harlan to Mellie and back.
+
+Harlan said "If you say he's ok, I'll trust him."
+
+Santorini stood and smiled. "He's ok, Harlan. You can trust him." He
+kissed Silver and left.
+
+Silver turned to Mellie. "Dad's assigned me to Harlan's team. It'll be
+Harlan and Dom and me." She waited for a reaction.
+
+The churning in her stomach didn't show on her face as Mellie said
+"Sounds like a good team." Then she looked at Dom. "Actually I came
+here to see you, Dom. I'm going to need some help when the time comes
+to take over APD headquarters. And I've already decided that you would
+be perfect in that role."
+
+"What about me?" Harlan's voice was just a little bit whiny.
+
+Mellie began to giggle and Dom and Silver joined in the laughter.
+Harlan looked indignant for a few moments and then chuckled. "That did
+sound petulant, didn't it?"
+
+"Yes." Mellie reached out and took his hand. "Two things, my love.
+First, you're going to be too busy for this. And second, I don't want
+you anywhere around when the time comes. You would be too distracting
+for me and vice versa. Neither one of us will be able to afford
+distractions then."
+
+"Dom's going to be busy, too." said Harlan, still not happy.
+
+"Not like you are. He should be able to help me then. I am going to
+need the second best thief in Crater City for a few hours."
+
+==== Silver Santorini: Resistance Operative ====
+
+Silver left about three hours later. Harlan had come up with a crazy
+plan to take over the Syndicate's Big House. It might work. Maybe.
+They had batted it around and added and subtracted until they were too
+tired to think.
+
+She stepped out into the cold night air, breath fogging out in front
+of her. Most of the streetlights were out, and the route was dark. She
+walked through rough neighborhoods and past collapsed buildings. The
+sidewalk was broken, but she had no problem walking.
+
+Until a shadow emerged from a dark door and came up on her left.
+
+"Hey, gorgeous. I got a warm den for you."
+
+"Go away."
+
+"I can be really nice to you."
+
+"I doubt that. Go away."
+
+"C'mon, sweetie, just come with me for a little while." A hand reached
+out and grasped her arm and just as quickly let go. "Yeeow!! You stuck
+me! I'm gonna..."
+
+He didn't finish his sentence because the knife she held in her right
+hand switched from his hand to his throat. She pushed him back. "One
+last time. Go away. Or die."
+
+Her cold green eyes stared into his reddened ones and he shuffled off
+to seek easier prey.
+
+Unruffled, she slid the vibroknife back into its sheath on her wrist
+and strode off into the night, wondering what Liam was doing.
+
+==== Liam Murphy: Advisor to President for Life ====
+
+Liam Murphy was at home, feet up, with a drink in his hand, staring at
+plans for the pirates' invasion of the Emerald Palace, the
+headquarters for the Resistance. He had given copies of the plans to
+the Boss earlier that evening, Now he was studying the plan, trying to
+find any flaws in their defenses.
+
+A breeze ruffled his hair for a moment. Just for a moment. He went
+still, not breathing. Listening. Murphy stood and moved silently
+across the room, gun in his hand. He turned the setting to lethal.
+Sliding behind an animated tapestry, he waited.
+
+A few seconds later, a man moved along the hall to the door to the
+room. Murphy could see only a shadow. He continued to wait.
+
+A flash of movement and a bearded man jumped into the room, gun held
+out in front of him in a two-handed grip. There was no one else in the
+room. Murphy was effectively hidden behind the tapestry. The man's
+voice spoke a few words sotto voce as he whirled in place to get a
+complete view of the room.
+
+The intruder turned, heading back down the hall, saying "He's gone.
+Someone must have tipped him."
+
+Murphy waited five minutes, then ten, then twenty before he moved. He
+closed the little tube that contained the plans and slid it in his
+pocket. He picked a slim book from the shelf beside him and left.
+
+He made no attempt to get his AirStrider. Best scenario: it had a new
+GPS and a bug on it. Worst scenario: it had a bomb.
+
+He had another ride stashed a few blocks away and had rehearsed
+getting to it stealthily.
+
+They would have left someone to watch the condo. With glacial
+slowness, he crawled from a window in the back to the fence. He had
+cut a hole in it which reconnected itself until he needed it. He
+needed it now.
+
+Blending with the night, he reached the AirStrider in minutes after
+getting through the fence.
+
+The machine started silently and he lifted into the air, heading for
+the Emerald Palace.
+
+Only then did he get the shakes. He thought about how much he hated
+these people who had taken him and used him until his soul was nearly
+as putrid as theirs.
+
+He had been kicked off a passenger liner when he had run out of money.
+He frowned. When he had lost all his money gambling in the first-class
+lounge. Landing on a slimeball planet, he had tried to use what skills
+he had to earn his way off. No one, it seemed, wanted a
+lawyer/accountant. Law/Accounting had been easy for him. His mind
+worked logically.
+
+Then a military fleet arrived in system and he had been recruited to
+join them. They could definitely use his advice, they said.
+
+Two systems later he learned why he had become the chief
+councilor/chief accountant for the fleet after they decimated a poorly
+populated, but very rich world. They didn't kill anyone. They just
+took. Everything. Including women and children.
+
+A year later they landed on Agalder and took over.
+
+Three years ago, when he was considering suicide, he learned about the
+Resistance. In his logical way, he formulated a plan to approach them.
+It took months to get a message to them.
+
+One night, he had been walking home from a bar when a strange noise
+made him pause. It sounded like someone calling for help. He ran
+toward the sound. It came from behind a hedge. He pushed his way
+through the hedge until he was free. Large hands closed over his mouth
+and eyes and picked him up. Tape was placed around his face so that
+all he could do was breathe. His arms were taped and he was placed on
+a Strider. He remained passive, praying that this was the Resistance.
+
+They arrived at a destination about twenty minutes later by his
+reckoning. He was placed on a grav sled and taken inside a building.
+Dumped onto an uncomfortable surface, he smelled the harsh odors of
+the medical profession and sighed. They were going to interrogate him.
+
+He woke up with no memory of the questioning when a soft voice called
+his name. He was groggy but otherwise comfortable. He opened his eyes
+and saw an angel. That was when he met Silver. She ministered to him
+professionally. She was a Nurse/Healer - She could have been a doctor
+but didn't want that profession.
+
+She helped him maintain his dignity through the recovery from
+anesthesia with kindness and humor. That was when he fell in love.
+
+She would ask him questions at times and he answered with no
+reservations. He told her his story - all of it. She listened intently
+and commented occasionally, non-judgmental.
+
+The Boss came in and introduced himself, leaving out his relationship
+with Silver at that time. But he sat down and they talked. For hours.
+Over dinner. Until Murphy's eyes were drooping. They let him sleep
+then. The next day they made him part of the Resistance.
+
+Now he had to get to them or die - painfully.
+
+==== John Behan: Detective, Resistance Operative ====
+
+Behan was riding in his AirSedan, much bigger and more comfortable
+than a Strider. He was too old for that kind of vehicle. The Sedan was
+equipped with all the necessities of a police vehicle, but discretely
+hidden. It had been quite beautiful, a soft blue with dark blue
+interior. However, the colors were obliterated by years of dust and
+dirt, and the dented, scratched surface area of the once shiny
+exterior no longer reflected the moonlight. It fit Behan's personality
+perfectly. He liked it.
+
+He was at a traffic halt. Great force shields stopped the vehicles in
+all lanes at certain points above Crater City, opening at regular
+intervals. Flying vehicles moved above and below him. A bright red
+Strider caught his eye and he thought he saw Liam Murphy on it. The
+red Strider flew off north and Behan changed direction and followed.
+He caught up with Murphy just in time to see an AirLorry sideswipe
+him, sending him tumbling. Murph managed to hang onto the Strider -
+barely.
+
+Behan came alongside the faltering Strider and yelled at Murphy. "Get
+in!"
+
+Without hesitation, Murphy jumped from the Strider and grasped the
+window edge of the Sedan. The Strider went silent and fell. Behan
+reached out and grabbed Murphy's wrist, pulling him inside.
+
+Another Sedan came up beside them and then they were dodging phaser
+bolts. Behan forced the blue Sedan into a 180 degree turn, throwing
+Murphy against the dashboard, then against the back of the seat. He
+grabbed a seat jacket and tried to put it on, ending up just clutching
+it to his chest.
+
+There were three Sedans behind them now, all black. They tried to
+spread out and come at him from different angles, but Behan was going
+too fast. One tried gaining altitude to swoop down from above. Behan
+put the Sedan into a steep dive. Murphy hung onto the handholds in the
+vehicle with white knuckles, mouth pulled back in a rictus, eyes wide
+and terrified.
+
+The Sedan pulled out of the dive with difficulty, nearly scraping the
+tops of buildings. One of the black Sedans had followed them down.
+Unable to pull up, it plowed into the top of a partially collapsed
+building and tumbled to the ground, exploding.
+
+"Push the red button to the right of the dash." Behan yelled as an
+explosion rocked the Sedan.
+
+Murphy looked. There was a small red button set among several other
+colored buttons.
+
+He pushed it. A hologram appeared in front of him, a representation of
+the immediate area with a bright blue dot for Behan's vehicle and 2
+red dots for the enemy.
+
+"Open the drink dispenser."
+
+Murphy complied. What appeared to be a joystick popped out. He put his
+hand around it.
+
+A sight appeared on the hologram, centered on one of the red dots.
+
+"Pull the trigger." yelled Behan as he slewed the Sedan into a 90
+degree left bank.
+
+Murphy pulled the trigger. Tracer rounds spewed forth, found the red
+dot. Then there was no red dot. The other red dot left hurriedly.
+
+Behan dropped down into forbidden territory, between buildings, and
+slowed to a crawl.
+
+Looking over at Murphy, he said "I guess you've blown your cover."
+
+Murphy nodded, wincing.
+
+Behan looked closer. "You're bleeding."
+
+Murphy passed out.
+
+==== Silver Santorini: Resistance Operative ====
+
+Her father woke her when Behan brought Murphy in. She flew down the
+corridors, white hair streaming out behind her like surf. Racing down
+the halls barefoot, she repeated a mantra over and over. "Please God.
+Please God. Please God..."
+
+She skidded around that corner into the emergency department and
+spotted the bay with all the people around it. Cutting through the
+bystanders like a knife, she evaded a nurse's grasp and stood next to
+Liam's gurney. His eyes were closed. He had oxygen under his nose and
+appeared to be breathing well, but he was so pale. Plastic lines
+dripped fluids into his veins as the staff prepped him for surgery.
+
+"Wake up, Liam." she said. "You're not going to surgery until you tell
+me you're going to live." She kissed him. "So open your eyes and look
+at me."
+
+A smile crept across his face and his eyes opened. "I'll live, angel.
+I'll live."
+
+The gurney was whisked off to the OR.
+
+
+A bit of the shiny exterior of the Sedan had been chipped off the
+machine and blown through Murphy's neck. It clipped the carotid artery
+on the right, opening a small hole in the artery. Behan had seen the
+blood and slammed his hand over the wound, keeping pressure on it. But
+Murphy had been almost bloodless when they arrived at the Emerald
+Palace.
+
+The surgeons had him typed and cross-matched and had started
+transfusing even before they moved him out of the vehicle.
+
+Silver sat outside the surgical suite and waited. She could have gone
+inside to the amphitheater and watched, but she just couldn't do that.
+She would rather sit and wait. People came in and sat with her for a
+time and left, to be replaced by another. Mostly, though, they left
+her alone.
+
+Leaning back in the chair, she started to sing, an old, old song.
+
+"I know where I'm going
+And I know who's going with me
+I know who I love
+And the dear knows who I'll marry.
+
+I have stockings of silk..."
+
+The ancient Irish ballad floated out from the waiting room and into
+the halls. People stopped and listened... and may have shed a tear.
+
+Silver sang until she exhausted herself.
+
+The surgeon found her asleep with a smile on her face. He gently
+touched her shoulder.
+
+Her eyes opened and she said "He's going to be all right." It was not
+a question.
+
+He smiled and nodded. "He's going to be all right."
+
+For hours, she sat beside him in recovery and in his room, dozing at
+times, singing at times. They kept him well sedated. The wound in his
+artery was very delicately repaired. It wouldn't take much to rip it
+open again.
+
+He woke the next morning to find her sitting beside him, looking at
+him with a smile on her face and love in her eyes.
+
+She said "Good morning, darling. Welcome to the rest of our lives."
+She stood, leaning over him, and very gently kissed him.
+
+==== Mellie: Detective, Resistance Operative ====
+
+Mellie had called in sick for a couple of days, getting Behan to cover
+for her. When she showed up, she looked like she'd been sick. Her eyes
+were deeply shadowed, black circles under them. She was obviously
+exhausted. She was told to go back home and come back the next day
+rested. She was perfectly willing to do that. She slept all day.
+
+She came in fresh and cheerful the next day. Behan and she caught a
+triple homicide in the North End. There were two suspects. Both had
+run off through the run-down neighborhood immediately after the
+killings. The cordon had been called down quickly though. They might
+still be trapped in the area.
+
+The house was made of gray stone like most of the others in the poorer
+sections of town. Dirty and covered with the red dust of the desert
+nearby, the houses looked like dark coffins dripping with blood.
+Mellie shuddered at the thought.
+
+They were out of the modified AirLorry before it touched down and
+running toward the house. Two uniformed officers stood guard, back to
+back, in the front space, eyes darting back and forth. Their shoulders
+eased back a little when the reinforcements landed.
+
+Mellie and Behan ran quietly past the two officers, using matter
+penetrating equipment to scan the house. Nothing seemed to be moving.
+Behan placed his hand on the door opener and overrode the lock. The
+door opened and they slipped inside. Mellie went right, Behar left.
+Still nothing moved.
+
+They found the bodies in a back room. The men had been lined up
+against a wall and shot. Like a firing squad. Millie thought.
+
+Two of the faces looked vaguely familiar. Behar drew in a sharp
+breath.
+
+She looked at him.
+
+"They're undercover Resistance operatives." he said. "Mason" he
+indicated the middle body "was a friend of mine. His wife is dead, but
+he has two sons and four grandchildren." He sighed. "I'm godfather to
+his sons."
+
+He looked at his friend a moment longer. When he turned back to her,
+his face was blank. "Let's check the basement."
+
+A hallway led outside with a door leading to the basement next to
+that. No light came from below.
+
+They pulled lights from their belts and started down the stairs. There
+were windows high on the walls, but the glass had been sprayed black.
+No light came through. And their lights seemed to be swallowed by the
+stygian darkness.
+
+They had almost reached the bottom of the stair when brilliant light
+exploded from a corner of the room, blinding them. Mellie dived to her
+right, followed by Behan, who landed on top of her.
+
+She said something like "Ummmpphh!"
+
+Behan rolled off and fired at the lights. Mellie was able to drag
+herself up beside her partner but was still having trouble breathing.
+Having a ninety kilo man land on top of you takes your breath away,
+she thought.
+
+The lights went out, although there was a dim glow where they had
+been.
+
+Mellie could hear whispers coming from that direction. She could see
+Behan's face and waved at the corner.
+
+He nodded. She went right. He went left. No lights. Nudging their feet
+along, trying to find objects silently. She thought she could see him
+as a darker shadow in the blackness. When he turned his face toward
+her, she knew she was right. They were less than twenty feet from the
+corner. The glow emanating from the area was a putrid yellow. The
+odors in the area were just as foul.
+
+Behan held up his fist, pumping it twice. Then he slashed it forward
+and they moved together. Leaping over boxes and cans. They landed in a
+pool of slime, which was glowing yellow. Movement to their right
+brought them scrambling to reach two figures moving toward the stairs.
+
+Moving faster than Behan, Mellie tackled the closest one. An inhuman
+screech shattered the silence and Mellie grabbed onto what felt like a
+crab leg.
+
+"Shit! Brol." she grunted. Wrenching the leg encased in chitin
+backwards, she felt it pull loose. The creature shrieked again.
+Multiple appendages grasped her , lifting her up and throwing her at
+the wall. She hit the duracrete wall and all the air rushed out of her
+- again. Sliding to the floor, she watched as Behan attacked the other
+Brol with a pipe he had picked up. He broke a couple of legs before
+the thing stuffed him under the stairs.
+
+They heard the two Brol skitter up the steps, then the yells and a
+couple of screams as they made their get-away.
+
+Mellie groaned and picked herself up from the floor, hobbling over to
+the stairs. Behan was just backing out from the small space
+underneath.
+
+He stood up, groaning even louder than Mellie. "You all right?" he
+asked.
+
+She smiled. "Probably about the same as you are."
+
+"In that case, call emergency." But he laughed.
+
+Officers came pounding down the stairs, looking concerned.
+
+Lt Marks appeared. "Well, you're both alive at least."
+
+One of the patrol officers joined them with a Brol leg in hand. It was
+about five feet long, made of hard chitin, an exoskeleton. Inside lay
+muscles and tendons and ligaments that attached to chitin instead of
+bone.
+
+A crime scene tech came by, looked at the leg, and said "We should be
+able to identify that guy by the morning."
+
+Mellie was surprised. "How can you identify one Brol out of the
+thousands on this planet?"
+
+The tech grinned. "They are all required to register when they arrive.
+We have their DNA. Each and every one of them." He got back to work.
+
+Behan nodded. "There's a law on almost every human planet. Alien
+sentients are required to register on arrival and record their DNA."
+He rubbed his back. "Brol are the most plentiful aliens on Agalder,
+but they are by no means the only ones."
+
+Lt. Marks walked over to them. "Get back to HQ. Get the computer work
+done." He hesitated a moment, looking at Mellie, then shrugged. "And,
+for God's sake, take a fresher. You both stink."
+
+The emergency personnel checked Mellie and Behan over and released
+them and they made their way back to Headquarters. There was a
+mountain of computer work to be done. Not only have they been fired
+upon and responded by firing their own weapons, but there was an alien
+species involved. But they washed up and put on clean clothes before
+getting to work. All personnel kept a spare set or two of clean
+clothes at HQ. Just in case.
+
+Something was bothering Mellie. Finally she recognized the concern her
+brain was niggling at. She turned to Behan. "Why didn't they kill us?
+That had to be deliberate."
+
+Behan looked up and nodded. "Good point." he said. "They never meant
+to kill us."
+
+Mellie frowned. "But they were shooting at us when we came down the
+stairs."
+
+Behan asked her "Did either one of us get hit?"
+
+"No, but..."
+
+"Brol never miss. They are close to the best shots in the universe.
+They want us alive. And they probably want to talk to us."
+
+==== Mellie: Detective, Resistance Operative ====
+
+"Well, we certainly want to talk to them." said Mellie.
+
+"I want to talk to them. I want you safely protected in here. You're
+not going anywhere near the Brol."
+
+"Do you think I'm afraid to meet them?"
+
+He snorted. "No. And that's the problem."
+
+Mellie looked at him, eyebrows raised.
+
+He sighed. "You are so determined to prove that you're just as tough
+as the guys that you put yourself in danger. The Brol are a
+patriarchal society. To be male is to be king of the hill. To be
+female is to live in misery.
+
+"The Brol warriors say that the females are all retarded and must be
+beaten regularly so they understand their duties. I passed a few words
+with a female Brol once. She seemed intelligent enough to me.
+Intelligent enough to learn a little Terran.
+
+"At any rate, with their attitude about women, the Brol would not take
+too well to a female officer. They have short tempers and they tend to
+lash out."
+
+Mellie stared at her partner for a full minute. Then she said "I'm
+going." She stood up, leaning her fists on her desk, towering over
+Behan. "You have to show them that humans value females as much as
+they value males. That we're equal. And screw their cultural
+sensitivities. We've got those, too."
+
+She leaned in a little closer. Behan was beginning to cross his eyes.
+"And as for that 'lashing out' business, we're pretty good at lashing
+out, too."
+
+With that, she straightened up and left the squad room. Every
+detective in the room followed her with their eyes. And Behan watched
+the watchers.
+
+The Brol contacted them the next day. Marks had pushed the BOLO to
+include any Brol anywhere or any being that even vaguely resembled a
+Brol. Several Brusqal and a Grinkek had been harassed. The Grinkek in
+particular was very angry. Grinkek do not get angry. Ever. Resembling
+terran mushrooms, they look nothing like Brols.
+
+Lt. Marks set up the meeting. He tried to insist on a dozen officers
+to accompany Behan and Kaminsky to the meeting but was turned down.
+
+They did agree that he could come and bring one other. Marks chose
+Alex Biggers. Mellie and Behan stared at him.
+
+"What?!" he asked.
+
+==== John Behan: Detective, Resistance Operative ====
+
+The Brol lived in an abandoned cosmetics factory, close to the
+crater's edge. They had dug nests and tunnels throughout the complex
+and no one had disputed their squatting rights. Picking a fight with a
+seven foot spider was not considered a good idea.
+
+The place was dark and creepy at night. Mellie whispered "Why didn't
+they just import cosmetics? They're not that expensive for the lower
+grades."
+
+Marks said "They were very expensive after the Iron Wars when taxes
+were placed on them. Manufacturing our own seemed like a good idea
+until the pirates showed up."
+
+They stopped on a low hill in front of the main building and waited.
+The Brol had wanted them to go inside - at night - with no lights in
+the building. Marks had expressed his opinion of that idea.
+
+So they stood and waited, their lights on, their hands on their guns.
+Biggers was whistling between his teeth until Behan threatened to
+shove those teeth down his throat.
+
+In the silence that followed, they could hear the same whispering that
+Behan and Mellie had heard in that basement. A minute later, they saw
+movement near the factory. It looked like a dark rug flowing toward
+them. The forward movement wasn't fast, but definitely threatening.
+Marks stepped forward and spoke.
+
+"That's far enough. Any farther and we will leave."
+
+A sinister chuckle ran through the spiders. Behan was very glad he had
+emptied his bladder before coming.
+
+Marks took another step and his attitude had changed. His shoulders
+were braced, his jaw set, and his eyes as hard as rock. He radiated
+belligerence. The other three walked forward with him. The spiders
+backed up, some being shoved against the building by their fellows.
+
+Marks stopped three meters from the Brol. "Now that we've got that out
+of the way," he asked "why did you want to talk to us?"
+
+One spider, larger than the rest, skittered forward a meter. Its
+whispery, raspy voice sent shivers down Behan's spine, while the hairs
+on the back of his neck stood up.
+
+"We talk to Behan. You weren't there."
+
+Mellie stepped forward. "I was there. You talk to me, too."
+
+The Brol actually recoiled. It hissed. "Take female away."
+
+Behan moved up beside Mellie. "She is my partner. She fought one of
+your people in that basement. She was there. She stays."
+
+A murmur ran through the crowd. "If she stays, we will leave." said
+the leader.
+
+Behan chuckled. "Then go." He turned to leave.
+
+The murmur grew louder. "Wait."
+
+Behan kept on walking. The others turned to follow.
+
+"Very well. She stays."
+
+They stopped and retraced their steps until they were crowding the
+leader. It waved a leg at them. "Move back. You're too close."
+
+They stepped back.
+
+Behan asked "What did you want to tell us?"
+
+Two of its three eyes glanced at Mellie. "Others of your kind came two
+days ago. They promised to pay us well if we killed the humans in that
+house. We went there last night and killed them. We were looking for
+anything that might be valuable to us when you trapped us."
+
+The leg wave again, this time to include the mass of spiders behind
+it. "We were not responsible for the deaths of those humans. They were
+killed by their own kind."
+
+Behan's jaw was clenched so tight that he thought his teeth might
+crack.
+
+Mellie yelled. "Bull shit!" She moved another step until she was right
+in the leader's face. "You killed them. For money. That makes you
+responsible."
+
+The Brol raised its two forelegs and gave a very obvious shrug. "We
+were only the instruments."
+
+Mellie put a hand on Behan's arm. He was trembling with the need to
+attack this blithe murderer. He glanced at her and took a few deep
+breaths. The trembling subsided.
+
+"No." he said. "You made a choice. You chose to murder three good
+people. I don't know much about the Brol, but from what I have seen
+tonight, I doubt there are three good people among you."
+
+The lead Brol raised his two front legs as if to step forward. A
+jabbering came from the back of the crowd. The spokesman put his feet
+back down. Behan realized that he was just a spokesman. The real
+leader, at least of this group, was at the back.
+
+"Why did you want to talk to us?" Behan asked.
+
+There was movement in the crowd and the largest Brol Behan had ever
+seen came forward. It pushed the spokesman aside and spoke. "We know
+who ordered the kill. If you want to know, you will pay us 60,000
+credits by tomorrow night. No negotiation."
+
+The monster turned and reached out with its front legs, grabbing the
+spokesman. Casually it bit off the creature's head. Then it threw the
+wildly twitching body to the side and sauntered off, chewing noisily.
+
+==== Harlan: Thief, Resistance Operative ====
+
+The four humans stood absolutely still for nearly a minute. Then they
+turned and walked away. Biggers got just far enough away to put an
+outbuilding between them and the mob of spiders before he threw up. He
+managed to do it very quietly.
+
+The other three stood by. Mellie handed Biggers a tissue after he was
+able to continue walking. She said "Don't feel bad, Alex. We were all
+struggling to keep our dinners down." She patted him on the shoulder,
+earning her a weak smile from the detective.
+
+The department had plenty of money. The bribe was paid. They were
+actually expecting a much larger number.
+
+They got the name the next day. Chas Hawkins. The chief of the
+Syndicate. Behan passed the word on to Santorini at the Resistance.
+And Santorini passed it on to Jake Rogers, one of the best assassins
+on the planet.
+
+Two nights later, the Big House suddenly turned into a stirred up
+sting dauber's nest. People were running in and out of the doors, even
+through the windows. Lights stabbed at every inch of the lawn and
+shrubs. People could be seen inside, gesticulating, shouting.
+Eventually the people and their intrusive lights returned to the
+house. Quiet returned, but it was a menacing quiet.
+
+Had anyone been watching, he might have caught a glimpse of a group of
+five shadows within the night's darkness. This darker dark moved
+across the lawn to a group of houses on a tree lined street with few
+lights. Very few watchers could have followed the progress of the
+shades from tree to tree, staying in the blackest part of the murky
+gloom.
+
+Harlan was one of those very few watchers. He saw their progress down
+the street. He followed them as they slipped through the night, unseen
+by people only a few feet away.
+
+Harlan realized that the group was splitting up. Three continued on
+toward the Green Palace, but the other two went in opposite
+directions.
+
+Harlan watched the two head out. One was going for John Behan. And the
+other was after Mellie. Harlan took to the roofs, running as fast as
+he could. He pulled out his communicator and called Behan.
+
+"Yeah?" came a gruff voice.
+
+"John, you're going to have a visitor in about five minutes."
+
+"Are you behind him?"
+
+"No. Another one is going for Mellie. And three are headed to the
+Green Palace."
+
+"No problem. I'll take care of this one and call the Palace. You take
+care of Mellie."
+
+"Right." Harlan disconnected and jumped from one roof to the next.
+He'd never jumped that particularly wide gap before. Now he barely
+noticed.
+
+It was late, past end of day. Harlan opened Mellie's bedroom window
+without thinking of how she might view the intrusion. The flash of a
+phaser brought him to a halt. A burn spot appeared 2 millimeters from
+his left ear.
+
+"Mellie! It's me!"
+
+Mellie appeared out of the shadows in her room and smacked him in the
+jaw. "You friggin' idiot! I could have killed you. All I could see was
+a dark figure wrenching my window open."
+
+Harlan rubbed his jaw. "You hit like a girl." he said. She drew her
+fist back for another demonstration and he caught it in his hand.
+"Okay. That hurt. The Syndicate is sending you a visitor and I don't
+think he's friendly."
+
+She nodded and reached into her cupboard for her phaser's power pack.
+"How do you think he'll come in?" she asked as she checked her weapon.
+
+"Through the kitchen." Harlan said. "But we need to cover both the
+bedroom and the kitchen."
+
+Mellie nodded. "What about the other entrance points? The front door?
+The rec room?"
+
+Harlan glanced at the windows with the stunning view of the city. "No
+one's coming through that window. If I can't do it, no one can. And as
+for the front door? No way. Too expected."
+
+So, of course, the intruder came in through the front door.
+
+Harlan was moving between rooms and he heard the slightest squeak of
+the hinges. Mellie was flat against the wall just inside the kitchen.
+Harlan could see her looking at him. He indicated the front room. She
+opened her eyes wide, raised her eyebrows, and grinned at him. He
+rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to live that gaffe down.
+
+The two of them moved to positions on either side of the entrance to
+the rec room and waited. And waited. Nothing happened.
+
+Fifteen minutes. Twenty. Nothing. Twenty-five minutes. Then a sock
+flew through the air and landed on the floor inside the rec room.
+Neither Harlan nor Mellie moved.
+
+Another five minutes before a shoe followed the sock, landing with a
+thunk.
+
+The intruder waited another ten minutes before he poked his head into
+the rec room and found himself facing the wrong ends of two phasers.
+He didn't move anything except his mouth. "If I moved fast enough, you
+two would shoot each other."
+
+Mellie looked at him with a nasty smile. "Go ahead. Try it."
+
+He smiled back. "No. I think I'll just put my weapon down and let you
+tie me up. Which is what Cassidy told me to do anyway."
+
+"Cassidy told you to give yourself up to us?" Harlan was incredulous.
+"I don't think so. Not after you killed three of our best people."
+
+"I didn't kill them. Nobody knew about that hit except Hawkins and
+four of his goons. His 'Special Squad', he called them. Well, he's
+gone now and Cassidy's in charge and he doesn't want anybody else
+killed. On either side."
+
+Mellie was nodding. "That makes sense, Harlan. Cassidy's known for his
+pragmatism."
+
+The intruder was nodding.
+
+"What's your name?" asked Harlan.
+
+"Ned Moreno. My father was Timmy Moreno. You might remember him,
+Harlan."
+
+Harlan remembered. Timmy Moreno. His father's friend. A man of honor
+and strength. Harlan had looked up to him. And he had played with
+Timmy's son. Jake.
+
+"Jake." he said. "I thought you died with your dad."
+
+==== Harlan: Thief, Resistance Operative====
+
+Jake looked down at the carpet under his feet. "No. He protected me
+with his body. I lived because he took the force of the blast." His
+eyes roamed up the wall, seeing a time years ago and miles away. "When
+the Guard came around to see if everyone was dead, I unfocused my eyes
+like you taught me. Remember? And lay limp. I had enough blood on me
+to look realistic."
+
+"Someone poked me in the side with a gun. It hurt, but I managed to
+stay limp. They went on."
+
+His gaze met Harlan's. "I lay there for a long time." His eyes
+sparkled with unshed tears. "My dad and me - we didn't get along well.
+Part of it was the Resistance. He believed. I thought it was
+bullshit."
+
+Running his hand through his hair, he said "We argued, sometimes to
+the point of throwing punches. I couldn't sway him. And I was too
+stubborn to open my eyes."
+
+He chuckled, a laugh with no humor in it. "Boy, did I ever have my
+eyes yanked open that night." Looking at Harlan, he said "If I had
+twitched, they would have shot me dead. Even though I was supposedly
+on their side."
+
+He hung his head down and shook it. "Shit! I was dumb."
+
+"I think I lay there, between the cold floor and the cooling body of
+my father, for at least an hour. At one point I started crying. Crying
+like I had no tomorrow. And I didn't. I had no idea what to do, where
+to go."
+
+Still with his head hanging, he said "The reason I survived had
+nothing to do with my skill or knowledge. The Resistance came. I was
+crawling out from under Dad at that point and was trying to get to my
+feet." He smiled grimly. "I was as stiff as Dad was becoming."
+
+"Three men suddenly appeared - like out of thin air. One was
+Santorini. I didn't know the other two." He sighed. "They obviously
+knew me. One spoke up. He wanted to kill me. Santorini looked at me,
+covered in my father's blood, tears streaking down my face, one leg
+still stuck under the corpse. He shook his head and had them bring me
+along."
+
+"For days, I slept or lay staring at the ceiling. I didn't eat much. I
+didn't think much. Thinking was far too painful. I just lay on the bed
+in a fog."
+
+He smiled then, a genuine smile. "Finally Santorini's daughter, Jade,
+came into the room. I wasn't dead, so I noticed her. Brilliant green
+hair and eyes and a smile that would light up the world. She kicked me
+out of bed, forced me to dress, and dragged me back to the land of the
+living."
+
+Harlan smiled. "I think I've met her."
+
+"At the Big House?"
+
+Harlan nodded.
+
+"Yeah. She's been undercover there for a couple of years." He leaned
+back. "I don't like it. Hell. I hate it. But Jade's a big girl and can
+do what she wants. I'm just her husband."
+
+"You're married to that witch?"
+
+"Yeah. Ain't she great?"
+
+Harlan grinned. "Hell, yeah."
+
+Harlan and Jake began to laugh. Mellie stared at them. "What's so
+funny?"
+
+Harlan managed to say. "You'll have to meet her."
+
+When he had controlled his laughter, Harlan said "You'll have to
+forgive me if I don't trust you implicitly yet, Jake. I'll let
+Santorini okay you."
+
+Keeping their phasers centered on Jake's back, Harlan and Mellie
+herded him out the door and into the garage, boarding a two seater
+AirScooter. Mellie sat on Harlan's lap and guided the machine. Fifteen
+minutes of discomfort and crowding later, they arrived at the Green
+Palace.
+
+Santorini met them at the front door. He didn't even look at Harlan or
+Mellie. He went straight to Jake and hugged him, holding the younger
+man tightly for a moment. When the Boss stepped back, Harlan could see
+tears in the eyes of both men.
+
+Harlan shrugged and put his phaser away. Looking at Mellie, he saw
+that she was smiling and had already holstered her weapon.
+
+Santorini brought Jake over to them. He started to introduce Jake, but
+they all interrupted, saying that they had indeed met.
+
+The Boss said "Oh, yeah. That's right. Thank you for not killing or
+maiming him. Jade would kill all of us."
+
+Mellie looked at Santorini and asked "You got any more daughters,
+Boss?"
+
+"Yeah. Two more. Why?"
+
+Mellie shook her head. "Nevermind."
+
+Jake carried a message from Cassidy. Cassidy could see what was about
+to happen on his world and he wanted to be on the winning side. By his
+calculations, the Resistance would win. He would be throwing all the
+resources of the Syndicate behind the rebels.
+
+There were stipulations, of course, including a full pardon for every
+man or woman who fought for freedom.
+
+Cassidy wanted that pardon. He had set up a legitimate business
+several years ago, importing fashionable clothes from New Dessel where
+they were made with cheap labor. To his credit, he had insisted that
+all of his workers be paid at least a good wage by New Dessel
+standards. He also managed to get them good health care coverage and
+even two weeks vacation. They were basically indentured servants so he
+forgave fifty percent of their debt and released them when the rest
+was paid off. He even rehired them at a significant increase in wages.
+All of this could be done on New Dessel and still save him money.
+
+He wanted to move to New Dessel and continue his reforms, but he
+needed to be free of his past. Going straight was complicated.
+
+Cassidy also foresaw the need for their armories to be updated. He had
+done that for the Syndicate. He offered the Resistance the same
+advances - at a discount, of course. Cassidy was giving them a good
+deal. If they could trust him.
+
+Jake thought Cassidy was sincere. He wanted to be a hero for a change.
+And to make money at it. Jake said he could almost hear the cheering
+of the crowds when Cassidy talked about his dreams.
+
+The Boss agreed to meet with the would-be hero. Each would bring their
+most trusted associate and no one else. They would all be armed. That
+was understood. Trust only stretches so far.
+
+==== Santorini: Boss of the Resistance ====
+
+Santorini chose Harlan to come with him. While Harlan was surprised,
+no one else was. Harlan was the best second story (or third or fourth)
+man in Crater City and, therefore, the best guard the Boss could have.
+
+They set out the next night two hours early in an AirSedan, black as
+the darkness around them. It was roomy and comfortable inside and
+well-equipped with weapons. They flew to the meeting point and waited
+a kilometer away, scans probing the area to give warning when anyone
+approached. The car was well hidden in some ruins.
+
+Harlan slipped away into the rocks and disappeared.
+
+The Boss was surprised when Cassidy and his assistant showed up and
+pulled in next to them. Cassidy raised his windscreen and grinned at
+him.
+
+"Good evening, Santorini. You can tell your young assistant to come
+back in from the wilds."
+
+The Boss raised their car top and glared at the Syndicate head. "I
+thought the meeting was later and over there." He waved vaguely in the
+direction of the proposed meeting place. Turning his head, he yelled
+"Come on in, Harlan."
+
+Cassidy laughed, a real laugh, full of humor and good feeling. "You
+seemed to have gotten lost. And out here, one place is as good as
+another." He climbed out of the Sedan and sat on the front and
+signaling his associate to join him, effectively eliminated any threat
+from the vehicle's armament. The associate was wearing a helmet,
+obscuring the identity.
+
+Looking at the Syndicate chief, Santorini grunted. "Gutsy, aren't
+you?"
+
+He climbed out of his vehicle and walked over to Cassidy and the
+other. He already knew who the helmeted other was. He had known as
+soon as she moved.
+
+Positioning himself between the Syndicate representatives, he leaned
+against their car and looked up at the stars. "Nice night." he
+commented.
+
+They were all looking at the spot where they expected Harlan to
+appear. Cassidy jumped and even Santorini gasped when Harlan touched
+them on the shoulders from behind.
+
+Cassidy and his associate looked at the thief and at the Boss, then at
+each other. Santorini reached out and hugged the helmeted associate.
+The helmet came off and brilliant green hair spilled out. "Daddy."
+said Jade. "You're such a spoilsport."
+
+The four sat down and talked. Jade had ordered sandwiches and salads
+from the kitchen and a couple of bottles of wine. It took two hours,
+but they hammered out an agreement that would allow for amnesty for
+freedom fighters and their families.
+
+They also discussed a land agreement. Everyone who fought for the
+Resistance would be eligible to buy land on the planet. Good land at a
+good price. The world had been devastated by the Iron Wars, The
+population outside of Crater City consisted largely of roving gangs of
+bandits. There were no other towns. Not anymore.
+
+Santorini wanted to rebuild not just the city but the whole world.
+
+Cassidy had his hopes set on New Dessel. He wanted to free the
+indentured servants and provide them with a living wage. He wanted to
+build a middle class that did not yet exist on that planet.
+
+Santorini wished him luck. The Syndicate chief would run into a lot of
+opposition from the factory owners on New Dessel. They liked the
+status quo.
+
+They were packing up to go home when Jade spoke softly to her father.
+"I'll be going with him when he leaves for New Dessel, Daddy."
+
+Santorini went very still for a moment. Then he looked at her. "I
+know. But relations should improve between the planets, both
+communication and commerce. We'll see each other often."
+
+He grinned at her. "By the way, your mother's pregnant again."
+
+Leaving her with a shocked expression on her face, he hopped into the
+sedan and took off.
+
+==== Cassidy: Newly promoted head of the Syndicate ====
+
+Cassidy and his crew were pounding at the doors of the Green Palace at
+dawn the next day. They were ready to do the upgrades on the armory. A
+firefight almost broke out when Resistance members saw the Syndicate
+people.
+
+Cassidy was at the head of the Syndicate group and had his hands up
+high. "Hey! Hey! We're here to help you, not fight you. Where's
+Santorini?"
+
+A gruff voice down the hall called "Right here. I'm having to fight my
+way through."
+
+A path cleared and Santorini came trotting up to bring the delegation
+inside. He pushed his way through to the lifts and they climbed
+aboard, relieved to be away from the house guards.
+
+Cassidy looked at the Boss. "They didn't get the memo?"
+
+Santorini grinned. "I didn't expect you this early. I was just
+starting to inform everyone. Sorry about that."
+
+Santorini took them to the armory and left them on their own, a show
+of trust that Cassidy hadn't expected.
+
+Emerald showed up a few hours later. She walked up to him. Actually
+she did something between swaying and gliding. And then she kissed
+him. Thoroughly, The men cheered and Cassidy turned bright red.
+
+It took seven hours to install the new equipment and ammunition. By
+the time they were finished, several friendships had been formed
+between Syndicate guys and Resistance guys. After all they were in the
+same business - getting rid of the pirates. A large group went out to
+eat together that evening.
+
+Santorini and Cassidy watched from the third floor office as the young
+men left, pushing and shoving and laughing. Cassidy said "That bodes
+well for relations after we kick the pirate asses off the planet."
+
+The Boss laughed and agreed. "Who'd a thunk?"
+
+Harlan opened the office door and stuck his head in. "I can't find
+Mellie. She's not responding to her communicator. I'm going to police
+headquarters to find her."
+
+As he pulled his head back into the hall, Santorini yelled. "No!
+Harlan. Get your ass back in here. NOW!"
+
+A moment later, the young thief slipped back into the office, starting
+to argue. "Look, Boss, I know I'm not supposed to be over there. But I
+can hide in stairwells and bathrooms. I won't get caught. I..."
+
+The Boss put his hands on Harlan's shoulders and guided him to a
+chair. "Look. She's busy. She's not answering her com unless it's Lt.
+Marks or higher. She's on her own at the moment. We're keeping an eye
+on the situation and she seems to be doing well." He pushed Harlan
+back down in the chair. "Now don't you get yourself involved over
+there. She has her work and you have yours. Leave her alone."
+
+"Now you either get to share a bottle of supposedly real Scotch
+whiskey with me and my new best buddy here" touching Cassidy's
+shoulder "or get out and go foment riot and rebellion."
+
+Harlan couldn't help himself. He laughed and took a drink before he
+left to do some fomenting.
+
+==== Mellie: Detective, Resistance Operative ====
+
+Mellie probably wouldn’t have phrased how she was doing as ‘well’. She
+was running scared, every day, every minute. Someone would call her
+out. She knew it.
+
+Meanwhile, she had dug up some important information, but no one had
+contacted her to transfer it to the Boss. She now knew the identity of
+the mole in the detective squad and he was likely to find out that she
+knew at any moment. She had tricked him. It was just a matter of time
+before he figured out that he’d been had. And her life expectancy
+would decrease exponentially at that point.
+
+She had been sheltering in the bathroom, but she really needed to get
+back to the squad room and keep an eye on Tommi Roper, Detective
+second class and spy for the pirates.
+
+When she walked in the squad room, a couple of the guys looked up, saw
+her, and went back to their work. Five men were grouped around Behan’s
+desk and seemed to be arguing vigorously. She could hear the raised
+voices but didn’t understand the words. As she approached, the voices
+fell silent and the men stared at her.
+
+“What’s going on?” she asked.
+
+There was silence for a while, then Alex Biggers spoke up. “Roper here
+thinks you’re a spy for the pirates. He says he’s seen you close to
+both the Big House and the Presidential Palace, like you were
+delivering messages or somethin.’”
+
+Roper stepped forward and squared his shoulders. “I saw you walking up
+to the presidential palace yesterday. It was dark, but I know it was
+you.”
+
+Her gaze didn’t waver. She thought Now or never.
+
+"And why were you there after dark? Exactly what time did this
+'sighting' take place?"
+
+Roper sneered. "I was on a stakeout. Watching for any unusual
+activity. And it was just about 20:15"
+
+She nods. "20:15. Well, at that time I was having dinner with Lt.
+Marks."
+
+Eyebrows went up. Even Behan gave her a look.
+
+"And his delightful wife, Celia. Lt. Marks thought that Celia and I
+would get along well. He was right. I think I will enjoy knowing
+Celia."
+
+Behan grinned. The rest looked mildly embarrassed. Roper looked
+unhappy. "Well. I said it was dark. Musta been somebody who looked
+like you."
+
+Mellie smiled. "Actually, Roper, I've been wanting to talk to you. You
+weren't on any stakeout last night. You were meeting with O'Hara, one
+of the group leaders in State Security. He reports directly to the
+President. In fact, I'll bet he wanted you to join with Caspenski, the
+Syndicate goon who wants to take over from Cassidy. You work for the
+Syndicate, too, don't you, Roper? And you report everything to the
+pirates."
+
+The group around them had grown. There were a dozen men and a couple
+of women listening now. The uproar that followed Mellie's words
+brought in another crowd.
+
+Mellie raised her hand and the noise quieted down. "You're double
+crossing everybody, aren't you, Roper? You're a spy for the pirates.
+So everything you hear, everything you see, even everything you
+suspect, goes right back to the bastards who have this planet under
+their thumbs. Just how much are you getting paid, you traitor?" Her
+voice had risen to a shout.
+
+Roper swung a fist at her, but she dodged and grabbed his arm, pinning
+him over the desk. "You're not even a good cop."
+
+Roper yelled "You're a liar! You can't prove any of that."
+
+Smiling a predator's smile, Mellie pulled out a disc, the size of a
+contact lens, and inserted it into Behan's computer. A vid came up.
+Roper was walking toward a dark shape standing near a hoverlight on a
+rainy street. The figure turned as Roper came near and the light
+played across his face. Every cop gasped. They all knew that face.
+Dietr, head of state security for the pirates. The two men walked a
+little way together, then stopped and talked. Something exchanged
+hands. Dietr slapped Roper on the shoulder and Roper turned and walked
+away. The vid stopped.
+
+Mellie looked around at her colleagues. "Santorini will want to talk
+to him." She pulled the disc and handed it in a container to Biggers.
+
+Everyone looked at Roper. He spread his hands. "I was playing him. I
+wanted to get some info from him and go to the Resistance with it.
+C'mon guys. You got to believe me. I was born here. This is my home. I
+love Agalder. She's lying. She created that tape." His voice rose as
+five cops hustled him out of the squad room.
+
+Behan hadn't moved during the incident. Now he looked at Mellie. "Good
+work, Detective."
+
+The stunned audience, consisting of cops and clerks broke free of
+their shock and started talking all at once. Behan leaned toward
+Mellie. "Good work." he repeated. "But you painted a target on your
+back. Be careful."
+
+She nodded and headed out the door. She needed to see Santorini.
+
+==== Mellie: Detective, Resistance Operative ====
+
+Mellie Kaminsky was feeling pretty cocky after successfully taking
+Roper down. She climbed in her little tan AirSedan and lifted off on a
+course to the Green Palace. But before she reached her assigned
+traffic lane, three AirScooters surrounded her. The men on them were
+dressed in black and had black helmets. One pulled right along side
+her vehicle and smashed the passenger side window. Mellie shot him
+with her phaser, but he kept coming, like it had no effect at all. He
+pulled open the passenger door and came in.
+
+She took a crowbar that she kept in the car and swung it with all her
+might against his left shoulder as he crawled in the vehicle. That
+stopped him. He screamed and fell back against the passenger door. The
+door swung open. Mellie pushed hard against the thug. He grabbed her
+wrist as he fell out of the sedan. Praying that the seatbelts would
+hold, Mellie stabbed him with a knife that she always carried. He let
+go and disappeared, falling.
+
+The other two had been waiting to see if their colleague would take
+care of the problem. When they saw him fall thousands of meters, they
+attacked together. Mellie dived and then rolled her sedan, doing
+acrobatic maneuvers that she had learned at the Academy. She came up
+behind one of the scooters and rammed him hard enough to leave him
+hanging onto his bike with his hands while his legs flailed in midair.
+
+She was just congratulating herself when she looked up to see the
+third scooter right in front of her. The rider tried desperately to
+get out of her way but there wasn't enough time. She slammed into him
+and together they fell.
+
+Desperately Mellie threw the sedan into reverse and managed to
+disengage from the scooter. She pulled up hard on the stick, trying to
+come out of the dive. And she almost made it.
+
+==== Harlan: Thief, Resistance Operative ====
+
+Harlan had just hopped on his AirScooter when he heard the sound of
+the collision in the sky. He looked up. There were just a few sparks
+falling. He thought it looked like a sedan vs scooter accident and
+took off to see if he could help. He recognized Mellie's sedan as she
+pulled free of the scooter wreckage. His heart seemed to stop as the
+little sedan's nose was pulled up, away from the hard, hard ground. He
+reached for the com to call for help, but all they heard at the Green
+Palace was a scream as her sedan plowed into trees along the highway.
+
+He came down almost as fast as she had, his scooter skidding sideways
+and throwing up a wave of earth and grass. Running through the trees,
+he tripped and fell twice but barely noticed. He found the wreckage
+back in the woods. The vehicle was wrecked, steam pouring from the
+front. He saw a few flames. But he couldn't see Mellie. The protective
+bags covered all the windows. Then he saw a hand pawing at the window.
+It dropped to the door handle and the door cracked open about five
+inches. The bags were still in the way, but the hand shoved a crowbar
+at him. He had the door off in three minutes.
+
+Reaching through the bags, he felt her. He also felt blood. Cutting
+the seatbelt with his knife, he started to pull her out. But she
+resisted him briefly. She cried out as he removed her from the
+vehicle. Her face was covered with blood and she was cradling her
+right arm.
+
+He tried to stand but his knees gave out and he sank to the soft
+ground. Holding her gently, he wailed, great, heaving sobs that
+threatened to tear his chest apart. He tried to talk, to tell her that
+his heart would die if she did, but she hugged him, pointing out that
+there were flames coming from the front of the car and would he please
+take them somewhere else?
+
+He carried her to the road where Santorini, Behan, and most of the
+detective squad were just touching down. Mellie lifted her left hand
+and waved at them. Behan sagged against his sedan as he realized that
+she wasn't dead. Hanson and Biggers gently cleaned some of the blood
+off her face. Finding a scalp laceration, they packed it and then
+placed a splint on her arm.
+
+She accepted all these ministrations with good grace although she
+yelped a few times. By the time the emergency vehicle arrived, she was
+already bandaged. The emergency personnel scooped her up and headed
+for the hospital. They let Harlan ride with her because they realized
+he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Getting her out of his arms
+was hard enough.
+
+Mellie was the only one to notice that, while everyone recognized
+Harlan, no one made any attempt to restrain him. He was a thief, but
+he was also a legend. And Agalder had few legends. Its people tended
+to treat those legends with respect.
+
+==== Santorini: Boss of the Resistance ====
+
+Another of those legends watched the lights of the emergency vehicle
+disappear into the traffic lanes in the night sky. Santorini had put
+his head in his hands and cried when he saw that Mellie was alive. Now
+a couple of the detectives were eyeing him. They looked to Lt. Marks
+who shook his head. No messing with the legends tonight.
+
+Santorini kept his gaze on the sky, but he didn't miss the exchange.
+He smiled as he climbed back into his AirSedan and headed back to the
+Green Palace. Watching the lights of the traffic and the city, he was
+going over the plans for the next day. He needed to check with Behan
+to see when his partner intended to initiate the take-over of the
+police headquarters. His very last thought was how much he was looking
+forward to peace and prosperity for his planet.
+
+The missile hit his sedan just to the rear of the passenger door and
+exploded. Wreckage fell over a four square kilometer area.
+
+Harlan: Thief, Resistance Operative
+
+The fractures in Mellie's arm were multiple and involved both the
+forearm and the wrist. So Harlan was sitting outside the surgical
+suite when Jurgeson, one of Santorini's aides, came running up to him.
+
+He bent over with his hands on his knees, gasping for air. "They
+need...you. At the...Green Palace. Now."
+
+Harlan had stood up. Now he leaned closer to the runner. "Why? What's
+going on?"
+
+The man straightened up, putting a hand on the wall. Harlan saw that
+his eyes were red and swollen and tears were running down his cheeks.
+"Santorini's dead." he said, face screwing up like a little kid's.
+"Somebody brought him down with a missile."
+
+Harlan's gut felt like someone had hit him in the gut. He sat down,
+staring at nothing. Then he jumped up again. "Wait. No. I just saw
+him. He was fine."
+
+The other man nodded. "They got him when he was leaving the scene of
+Mellie's crash. Behan's car blew up, too, but he wasn't in it. It was
+still on the ground. They don't know yet whether it was another
+missile or a bomb."
+
+He took Harlan's arm, trying to drag him away. "Look. You've got to
+go. Now. I'll stay here with Mellie. I won't leave her side until you
+get back." He pushed Harlan toward the exit. "Now go!"
+
+"But why? Why do they need me so much?"
+
+The other man smiled sadly. "Because you're now the Boss of the
+Resistance."
+
+"Me?!"
+
+"Yeah. You. Santorini told us last week. With things coming to a head,
+he wanted the order of succession clear in everyone's mind. He even
+printed it out and signed it."
+
+Harlan shook his head. "But why me?" he asked.
+
+"Probably because you would ask that question. He said you'd feel
+unworthy of the position. You're not cocky." He hesitated and smiled
+slightly. "At least not most of the time."
+
+Harlan turned to stare at the door of the OR for a moment. Then he
+laid his hand on Jurgeson's shoulder. "You take care of her. They may
+come after her again. I'll send backup. Make arrangements to move her
+to the Palace as soon as possible."
+
+The Green Palace looked like a bee's hive that someone had just
+kicked. He walked in and saw all the red, weepy eyes and snotty noses.
+They were all talking at once. The noise was unbearable.
+
+He put two fingers in his mouth gave a piercing whistle. Everybody
+shut up and stared at him. "All right. We've lost the Boss. There will
+never be another like him. And nobody ever call me Boss." He looked
+down at his boots for a moment. "But I want to know what's going on
+now. Is anyone missing? Who's looking for the killers? And I want them
+brought in alive. Understand? Come on people. This is too important to
+stand around and cry. We've got work to do. Get me a sit-rep."
+
+He set up his office in an auditorium. A desk was placed in the middle
+and someone remembered to bring a chair. Computers and vid-screens
+covered 180 degrees of the walls. There were desks all around,
+climbing up to a viewing section at the top. Most of the desks were
+occupied with people speaking to faces on screens and to each other. A
+line formed in front of Harlan's desk. Most people had simple
+questions or suggestions, some of which were important.
+
+John Behan came up behind him and leaned down. He said "Mellie's doing
+fine. Drowsy and in no pain at the moment. Jurgeson and three others
+that I trust are with her."
+
+Harlan looked up. "How did she take the news about the Boss?"
+
+Behan shrugged. "She was so sleepy that I didn't tell her. I'll drop
+back later when she's awake. The staff knows to call me."
+
+He straightened up. "I'll be at APD Headquarters. It sounds like
+they're getting restive over there." Smiling slightly, he patted
+Harlan on the shoulder and left.
+
+It was several hours before Harlan could break away long enough to see
+Mellie. Behan was there, holding Mellie in his arms while she cried.
+Harlan felt a vast relief that he didn't have to tell her.
+
+She saw him and gave Behan a hug then held out her good arm to Harlan.
+Sitting on the bed, he put his arm around her carefully. His other
+hand reached out for Behan. Harlan looked at the older man and saw
+infinite weariness and sorrow in his eyes. Behan squeezed his hand and
+left and Harlan finally let his tears flow into Mellie's hair.
+
+==== Silver Santorini: Resistance Operative ====
+
+Murphy's surgeons had not let him out from under their gimlet eyes. So
+Silver treated him as if he were made of spun telucium and likely to
+break at any time. She made him stay in the hospital area. She knew
+exactly what would happen if she brought him home. He was just going
+to have to wait until the doctors were certain that he was healed.
+
+She was singing as she started out for her parents' suite. They all
+lived in the Green Palace. It was the safest and most defensible place
+outside of APD Headquarters. She wanted to talk to her father. When
+she got there, they told her that she would never be able to talk to
+her father again.
+
+Jade, Emerald, Silver, and Garnet were devastated. But they had to
+comfort their little sisters, Topaz and Golden. Their mother was in
+shock. She sat in a chair and stared at a hologram of her husband.
+
+When Harlan finally was able to visit them, he went to Santorini's
+wife, Lavender, and knelt beside her. Silver watched from across the
+room as her father's successor spoke in low tones to her mother. At
+first, nothing happened. Lavender remained almost catatonic. But
+Harlan kept talking and Lavender's head slowly turned to look at the
+young man. Once she even smiled. Then she began to weep, silently,
+covering her face with her hands. The daughters gathered, pushing
+Harlan out of the way. When they finally thought to look for him, he
+had left.
+
+==== Harlan: Leader of the Resistance ====
+
+After leaving the Santorini suite, Harlan returned to the auditorium,
+now dubbed the "War Room". He called for attention and stood by his
+desk, looking up at the rows of desks and those crowded into the
+viewing area.
+
+"The time is now." he said. "Now we go out and fight." He swept his
+arm around the huge room. "We all have assignments. We know what to
+do. Some of us will succeed. Some of us will fail. Some of us will die
+tonight. But the Resistance will win through. We will have freedom.
+Now go - go for Agalder! And may all the gods there are bless you and
+watch over you."
+
+He raised his fist. "Agalder!"
+
+The word came back at him with a thousand voices "AGALDER!!!!"
+
+He stood for a minute, watching his forces file out, then turned to
+leave. He ran into the Santorini sisters. Jade, Emerald, Silver, and
+Garnet stood between him and the door.
+
+Silver said "We're coming with you.". It was a quiet statement of fact
+that boded no argument.
+
+Harlan opened his mouth to protest but remembered when he had
+patronized Mellie and her reaction to his chauvinistic attitude. He
+shuddered.
+
+Looking into their eyes, he saw the fiery rage. But it was a cold,
+calculating fire and he nodded.
+
+"Thank you." he said.
+
+They climbed into two AirSedans. Three more sedans followed them.
+Harlan led the way to the Big House. He had to bring the thieves and
+assassins under the control of the Resistance. He had to find Cassidy.
+
+The neighborhood around the Big House was deserted. Houses stood
+empty, doors hanging open. Some windows were open. Some broken. A dog
+came running up to them, whining, lost. Jade grabbed her and put her
+in one of the sedans where she'd be safe and warm.
+
+The Big House was lit up like a small city. Lights were on everywhere.
+The Resistance group could hear shots and explosions. Windows were
+missing in places. Doors were on the ground or hanging askew.
+
+The group surged forward, but Harlan called out "Stop!"
+
+People stopped and looked at him.
+
+"We have to find Cassidy and his forces. If we go in there now, we
+won't be able to tell friend from foe." He looked at the house. "I
+know that place. I can find my way around."
+
+Looking back at the group, he said "You wait here. I'll find Cassidy
+and come back."
+
+Jade, Emerald, and Silver moved to stand with him. "You don't know
+that house as well as we do." Said Emerald. "We'll come with you and
+act as your runners."
+
+Harlan had to swallow his reaction. He nodded and they moved off into
+the night. They were all wearing black and they faded into the shadows
+within a few meters.
+
+Emerald led them to a door that was hanging ajar. The lock had been
+blown off. The door opened into a kitchen the size of a warehouse. The
+ceilings were at least five to six meters high. Moving quickly, but
+silently, they ran, crouching between huge machines and long tables.
+There was some fighting going on at one end of the room. Emerald led
+them in that direction.
+
+Huddling in the shelter of a freezer, they tried to make sense of what
+they were seeing. The brilliant flashes from phasers lit up the scene
+at intervals, but they could not identify the combatants.
+
+Jade suggested that they withdraw and try another exit from the
+kitchen. They turned to go to the other end and heard the sound of
+running footsteps coming closer. A young man ran up to them,
+completely ignoring the phasers that were pointed at him.
+
+He glanced at them and said "Come on. Cassidy wants you in the
+ballroom - now."
+Then he turned and ran back the way he had come. Harlan and the
+Santorini sisters stared after his departing form.
+
+The man turned and saw them standing still and ran back. "Are you
+coming? Hurry up." And off he went again.
+
+The four of them looked at each other, gave simultaneous shrugs, and
+ran after him.
+
+Their guide led them thru a maze of hallways and up and down
+stairwells. The sounds of gunfire and distant explosions grew louder
+and faded and grew louder again. Finally they ran up to a huge, ornate
+door that stood open with guards on either side. They burst into a
+room even larger than the kitchen. The ceiling was three stories up
+with mezzanines running around at the second and third floors. Floor
+to ceiling windows looked out on the lawn.
+
+Groups of people were scattered around the room, most leaning over
+tables, looking at holograms, some talking. Emerald spotted Cassidy
+across the room and they headed for him.
+
+Harlan reached the new Chief's side, but Cassidy ignored him and took
+Emerald into his arms. He spoke in her ear for a moment and then
+reached out and brought Jade and Silver into his embrace. The four of
+them stood, heads together, for what seemed like an hour to Harlan but
+was probably only a minute or two.
+
+An explosion sounded as if the battle was getting up-close and
+personal, but no one in the room even looked up.
+
+Cassidy finally turned his attention to Harlan. He nodded toward the
+door. "Yes. They are getting closer." He grinned. "Would you believe
+me if I said it was all part of my plan?"
+
+Harlan didn't smile. "No."
+
+"Then you'd be wrong. They are moving into this section." He pointed
+to a wing of the building that extended out into a wooded area. "Here,
+here, and here." He pointed to three sections of outside wall. "These
+are hidden doors. Our forces are just outside and when these thugs
+enter through here" he pointed again "we will attack from three
+sides."
+
+Then he smiled and added "If everything goes according to plan."
+Shaking his head, Cassidy said "And we all know how likely that is."
\ No newline at end of file
projects / universe.git / blobdiff