Counter-Measures

  lips, the reassuring smile disintegrating. "Then I buck up and get along as best I can."

  "I'm going to reroute Seekore for backup. She's on the vector closest to Terguz. She'll have to dump Delta V, revector, and accelerate to mass, but she ought to be there within three to four weeks. Can you-"

  "Too long," Skyla gave him a dull stare, as if she'd been completely drained.

  "Staffa, I've got to handle this myself. Ily left that yacht in plain sight.

  She's abandoning it here. She's short, you understand? She's going to skip, maybe steal a ship, maybe buy passage, I don't know. But by the time Seekore can get Sabot here, Ily will be only a memory. "

  "All right, I can buy that. I'm still rerouting Seekore, just on the basis of the intelligence you've provided. If Terguz does explode, maybe Sabot can pick up some of the pieces." And if worse turns to worst, Seekore can break you out of trouble! "You say the Director of Internal Security is siding with the rebels? "

  "That's the word in the tavern. I'll know better after I've been on planet."

  "And what if you get down there, see Ily in a crowd, and fall to pieces like you just did on the comm?"

  Skyla's glare was a brittle blue. "I don't know, Staffa. I guess I . . . If I fall apart when it counts, she wins. " She paused, a weary expression dominating her beautiful face. "I've got to pull myself out, Staffa. You understand that, don't you? You said you did in the message. You meant that, didn't you?"

  He nodded, heart breaking as he forced his smile. "I meant it. I believe in you. I said I'd back you, no matter what." And if I d known how fragile you really were, IV have torn apart all of Free Space to find you.

  A faded shadow of Skyla's old raucous grin finally molded around her lips.

  "You know, you're one hell of a man, Staffa. If I hadn't been in love with you before, I'd kill for you now.

  "And I for you. " He reined in his emotions again, knowing what she needed to hear. "I love you, Skyla. If I can help in any way, let me know."

  She nodded with nervous jerks of her head, unable to meet his eyes. "How's the situation on Targa? "

  "We just made planet. Sinklar's out talking to his ghosts.

  "And Chrysla? She's dealing with the situation?" "She's not here."

  "That's right. Off trying to find herself, you said." "The women in my life seem to share that trait." Staffa chuckled. "She's with MacRuder. He's . . .

  well . . . "

  Skyla glanced up, frown lines tightening around her eyes. "I've never heard that tone in your voice before. "

  Staffa sighed, smile going crooked. "I've made my peace, Skyla. I've bet everything on you. And you know what a great gambler I am. "

  "Why? Why me?"

  "Oh, something about love, about the times you've kept showing up at just the right time to save my life. Then, I can remember the times when you tried to seduce me and I let you. "

  "Let me?" A pale eyebrow rose.

  "Why you don't think I enjoyed being wrapped up in that pale hair of yours, do you? Half the time I was afraid to move for fear I'd rip a hank of it out of your head! "

  "Afraid to move? But I thought . . . " Understanding dawned, her eyes growing bluer. "You worthless Riparian slime mold. When I get ahold of you, I'm going to kick you so hard your balls loop around your-"

  "You and whose army? Looking at you, I'd say you'd be a one-handed whipping.

  Remember the last time aboard Chrysla? You thought I was going to seed, getting fat and lazy. I've been keeping fit, practicing my hand to hand. How about you?"

  Her expression had gone brittle again.

  Staffa lowered his voice. "Uh-huh, just as I thought. Better start tuning up, my love. Next time I see you, I might be able to take you with both hands behind my back."

  Come on, Skyla, look me in the eyes. Where's the old spirit? Give it back to met

  She hesitated for a long moment, eyes downcast. "Not on your best day, fat boy. " When she looked up, her composure had returned. "I've got to go."

  I IBe very careful. Whenever you can, report in. Just in case, you understand.

  We want all the latest information we

  can get on Ily and the political situation. I'm depending on you. "

  "Depending on me, huh? You're a fool, Staffa. If you only knew some of the She shook it off like a wet dog. "I'll be careful."

  "I miss you. "

  She winked at him. "See you around. I've got a couple of bitches to go kill."

  The monitor went dead.

  Staffa groaned as he sagged back into the command chair. "Skyla, Skyla, for the Blessed Gods' sake, you can't even maintain control talking to me, how can you deal with pus-Rotted Ily?" He shook his head. "She's going to kill herself. "

  "Perhaps," Kaylla told him. Her face had filled the monitor. "On the other hand, we've got a plot on Ily's location now. I can have my agents on Terguz start working on how to close in on her."

  Staffa stared woodenly into the monitor. "Listened in, did you?"

  "I have a stake in this, remember. Also, keep in mind that I know you, Staffa.

  I know how you work, what makes you tick. You have problems with guilt. If you're going to charge off like an Ashtan bull, I want a bit of warning.

  That's just the sort of thing you'd do for Skyla. "

  He bridled, anger stirring-and she read his expression. "Your secret is safe with me, Lord Commander." A thin smile even graced her lips. "And to show you how foolish I really am, I'm worried about her, too."

  He rapped his fingertips on the console cover. "Thank you, Kaylla." He hesitated. "What do you think? Will she make it? Pull herself together?"

  "Given enough time, Staffa. She's a tough lady."

  "So are you, but I don't know if she's got the time. Ily is . . ."

  is " Yes, I know. " Kaylla steepled her fingers. " Gyper Rill the Director of Internal Security on Terguz. He has contacted us, offered his full cooperation."

  - Did he mention the yacht?"

  "No." Kaylla's tan gaze hardened. "But he has been a major supporter of reforms on Terguz. Skyla was right about that. From what my agents have deduced, she was also right

  about the Vegan Representative vanishing. I'll follow up on that now. "

  "And my decision to reroute Sabot?"

  Kaylla's lips quivered. "When it comes to women, Seekore would scare the quanta straight. And, Staffa, if things go wrong, Seekore can settle the score. If things go right, she can bring Gyper Rill back for a thorough interrogation. "

  "You're a cold-hearted and efficient Magister, did you know that?"

  Kaylla smiled wryly. "Don't get maudlin, Staffa. It's all your fault. You should have let me drown in the sewer, or be crushed under all that sand. "

  "Thanks, Kaylla. If your people can keep an eye on Skyla, so much the better.

  I . . . I'd take it as a favor." "Let me see what happens. " She paused, then asked,

  "You're going in tomorrow?"

  "As soon as the mining machines can open the tunnel." Kaylla took a deep breath. "Gods be with you, Staffa. Bruen should be there within a week. Good luck."

  "I'll do my best . . . for all of us. "

  She gave him an understanding smile and killed the connection.

  Staffa leaned back, cradling his head in his hands.

  In her Itreata office, Kaylla Dawn stared thoughtfully at the monitor as her fingertips tapped on the console top. Staffa had looked like a man who'd been kicked in the belly.

  She rubbed her eyes, trying to still that hair-trigger sense of impending trouble. Staffa loved Skyla Lyma with a desperate passion. Kaylla had listened to him in the desert and in his dreams; he'd called out to her repeatedly when he'd teetered on the edge of sanity. Skyla had come, like an avenging angel, to pluck him from disaster. Of all the women Kaylla had ever known, Skyla was enough of a she wolf to match a man like kar Therma.

  I should hate them both. Her tan eyes narrowed to slits, images of her last day on Maika replaying-as clear an
d vivid as if she'd lived that horror but hours ago.

  Stop, Kaylla. You loved yourfamily with all ofyour heart, but their day is past. Now you have only the eternal present to live in. "The past is only illusion."

  "What's that?" one of her secretaries asked. "Nothing. "

  "Magister? I have a line from Ashtan. Division First MacRuder would like to speak with you as soon as you clear the line to Targa. "

  Kaylla accessed her terminal as MacRuder's face formed. He stared out at her with fatigue-flat eyes, perspiration shiny on his face.

  "First MacRuder? How is the situation?"

  Mac gave her a grin; a trickle of sweat slipped out of his matted blond hair.

  "I think we've got it licked. Comm is functioning at rudimentary levels, enough to manage simple tasks like running the sewage plants. We've got organic command posts set up all across the planet. With the programs you provided, we're able to get food to the places that need it. Spare parts are getting around-but then, you know about spare parts. It's always the right number, but wrong part." He seemed to drift off, smiling to himself.

  "MacRuder? Are you all right?" -Hmm? Oh, yes, what was I saying?" "About parts? "

  A frown lined his forehead. "I'm sorry. Yes, we're getting parts sent out to places that need them. We'll have problems down the line. Orders need to be filled for places like Rega. "

  Kaylla braced her chin on a palm. "How long since you've had any sleep, Mac?"

  "Oh, I don't know. Maybe He shook his head. "Before we made planet. Chrysla would know . . . I think. " "You've lost your edge, First. Get some sleep. And, Mac, good work."

  He smiled, nodding. "There was something .

  "The ship," Chrysla's contralto said from the side. "Tell her about the-"

  "Right! Pus Rot it!" Mac seemed to come to life again. "We've got a transport spacing for Imperial Sassa. Those folks should be getting some relief. We'll send off another as soon as we can put one in the schedule. " He paused.

  161t,s just a matter of making the schedule now."

  Kaylla laughed. ' 'You should hear yourself! Mac, have your staff send us an inventory of what you started for Imperial Sassa. We'll let Admiral Jakre know what's coming,' and we'll find out what they really need."

  Mac's glow faded again. "We're not . . . too late . . . are we?"

  "No, Mac. You'll have saved a lot of lives. They'll be glad to hear about your efforts on their behalf. "

  Mac's eyes went vacant. "Don't . . . don't tell them, Kaylla. I've already hurt them enough. I did this to them . . . killed all those people. It's my fault . . . my . . . "

  "Mac, you did your duty, that's all. Now you're doing it again. " She hesitated. "Lady Attenasio, if you can, put him to sleep."

  "As soon as possible, Magister Dawn," the contralto assured from the side.

  "Come on, Mac. Let's check with Red and Andrews and see if the Power Utility is on-line. Then we'll call it quits for this round. "

  Kaylla cocked her head, curious at the concern, yes, even the love in that reassuring voice. She killed the connection, and pursed her lips. Are you aware of how they feel about each other, Staffa ? Or is this another upset for you?

  Kaylla returned her attention to her terminal. "Comm, I need the names of our agents on Terguz. " If Skyla Lyma were safe, Staffa could concentrate all of his faculties on the Mag Comm-unless his wife was running off with another man.

  Men acted peculiarly when it came to women-just as Staffa and Nyklos bristled constantly over Skyla Lyma. And what if MacRuder takes your wife to bed, Staffa?

  Will you be saintly and suffering, as you were in the desert? Or will the Star Butcher rear his ugly head?

  I'm not used to skulking. The realization settled into Skyla's mind as she strode down one of the main thoroughfares in Terguz. She'd taken the hourly shuttle to the planet's surface, dropping through the clouds of ammonia and chlorine. The shuttle port itself had been excavated out of the bluewhite ice.

  To reach it, the shuttle had to drop down a square shaft past the energy fields.

  The city had been cut out of the ice, each of the warrens insulated and protected from the burning cold. Terguz City had been laid out radially, different boulevards departing from the shuttle hub at forty-five degrees. Skyla now proceeded down the corridor along which the embassies, trade organizations, and importers had placed their offices.

  Electric carts kept to the center, whirring by on fat rubber tires. People in every sort of dress imaginable either hurried along or browsed, inspecting the holo displays inset in the shop walls. Brightly painted banners stretched down from the arched ceiling, while holographic slogans written in laser-colored letters glowed in midair. Skyla recognized most of the phrases as Seddi in origin-belonging to Kaylla Dawn's Itreatic broadcasts, no doubt.

  Skyla had stepped through the shuttle port door, expecting to blend with the crowd and pass unnoticed to the Vegan Rep's offices. Despite her efforts, she seemed to draw attention. Men gave her that penetrating stare before nodding.

  Women gave her the double glance, the first categorizing, the second calculating.

  What is it? Why can't Ifade into the crowd here the way I did on Etaria? On Etaria she'd worn a veil in public. Was it her eyes? Did her eyes betray her here as a siff jackal among so many Vermilion sheep?

  Part of it was the walk, she realized. Back straight, steps long, carriage erect. All Etarian matrons walked that way, dignity was one of the few luxuries allowed them. But the inhabitants of Terguz bore themselves with a certain air of endurance.

  Can you walk like that, act like that? Skyla shortened her steps, letting her shoulders slump and keeping her eyes downcast. Yes, that was it. Immediately she slipped into partial invisibility, glances now being drawn to her Vegan scarf.

  She reached the Rep's, palmed the lock plate, and stepped inside. The square reception room could be crossed in five paces. A counter transected the space, and a woman stood and nodded in greeting.

  Skyla nodded back, closing the door behind her before she walked over and unpinned her scarf as was proper introduction manners when one Vegan dealt with another.

  The woman unclipped her own scarf, her black eyes taking Skyla's measure. Gray streaked her raven hair, and

  crow's-feet had tightened at the corner of her eyes. The long straight nose accented her long face and pinched mouth. "You are not Vegan. Who are you? Why are you here?"

  Skyla glanced around suspiciously. "Is there someplace where we can talk? I understand that Pedro Maroon, your Rep, has disappeared. "

  "What interest is it of yours, impostor?"

  Skyla met the hostility in those burning black eyes. Kinship and clan meant everything to the Vegan people. Perhaps Maroon was this woman's son? Brother?

  More than politics would be at stake here.

  "Tell me, did the Rep meet with anyone before he vanished? A tall woman with long black hair and large dark eyes? Or, perhaps, an athletic woman with amber eyes and a . . . well, provocative body? A woman with auburn hair about so long? "

  "Who are you?" Excitement gleamed in those hot black eyes.

  "Which woman?"

  "The one with yellow eyes, like those of a cat. Yes, a cat woman. "

  "Good description." Skyla's gut began to twist. "She's about as deadly, too.

  Did she see him often?"

  "Only once."

  "And you never saw Pedro Maroon again?" I'No. "

  "Where did she see him?"

  "Here. In his office, and then he left. "Where did he go?"

  "I don't know."

  Skyla paused, thinking. "May I see his office?" "Who are you?"

  Skyla hesitated. "Someone who would like to help." The woman crossed her arms stubbornly.

  "Pus Rot you, listen to me! I don't have time to play your games. Vega's internal security is at stake here-along with Rega's and Sassa's as well. The amber-eyed woman's name is Arta Fera. Ah, yes, you've heard of her. She,'s Minister Ily Takka's special assassin. Ily is here, on
Terguz. She's being chased by the Companions, the Seddi, and Regan military forces. Arta is a beautiful woman. She has a way of blinding men with her sexuality, but in the end, she kills

  them. Do you understand? She got to Pedro, found out what she needed, and killed him. "

  The woman's eyes betrayed panic, then pain.

  "I'm sorry, but that's as blunt as I can be. Will you help me? Maybe you know something, some way we can run Ily and Arta down, stop them from killing again. "

  "I am Magrite. Pedro was my sister's son. We come from the old line, the de Varo family."

  Skyla nodded. "Here, on Terguz, I am called Silk. One day, Magrite, I hope I will be able to introduce myself and tell you my lineage. For the moment, can you tell me if you noticed anything different after Pedro was last seen with Arta? "

  The hesitation still lingered, but Magrite took a deep breath and said,

  "Someone accessed the files.

  "You're sure? "

  She nodded. "Pedro was a very thorough man. His mother taught him well . . . and his family honor has long been one of outstanding service to the Vegan people. When he locked the offices at night, Pedro would seal the files with a magnetic field. He carried the switch in his pocket, in an ordinary looking laser pen. He switched the field on when he left with the assassin. The night he disappeared, the field was broken. The field was not for security, you understand? "

  "I understand. The field was to detect tampering. If anyone pulled one of the file drawers open, it would change the magnetic field and trigger the system.

  "

  Magrite nodded. "You understand. Someone accessed the data cubes that night. I have conducted an inventory. All the cubes are still in their holders. "

  "But they might have copied the data9"

  " That is a possibility." She watched Skyla with an obsidian stare. "The personnel files and vessel registry files were opened that night. I can tell by the realignment of the magnetic fields. "

  "So they might have been after some kind of personnel data? I assume you have files on every Vegan citizen? The same with not only Vegan ships, but Regan and Sassan vessels that have contracted as Vegan carriers?"

  :'You are correct, lady. 'What else, Magrite?"

  "He returned here with her after I and the rest had locked up and gone home. I know this from the access codes. His body chemistry opened the lock to both the outer door and to his personal office." Magrite lowered her eyes. "He . .