Through the Ghost
Chapter 17

The sergeant escorted the two operatives to the bridge where the Admiral awaited them. A numbness had over taken Tal. He felt cold and disconnected. It was a familiar feeling, one he’d hoped to never relive.

They entered the navigation center of the ship. Anger began to fill the void within him. It was here that the esteemed Admiral had decided to shoot down his partner. Here that she was executed. The admiral gazed out at the floating wreckage that had been Griff’s ship.

“Operatives,” the admiral greeted them. “It seems, unsurprisingly, that you lied to me about the presence of our fugitive. Where I’m from that’s enough to put you in the mines on Farragut.”

Tal bristled at each drawn out syllable of the man’s voice.

“But I have other plans,” he announced. A handful of soldiers rushed in, surrounding the two operatives.

“You see, I was supposed to bring her in alive by Councilor Sandrian. Councilor Marlow however, offered a substantial bounty for evidence of her demise.”

“You backstabbing bastard!” Griff barked taking a step towards the admiral. Five rifles clicked in response. The sergeant looked aghast as she stood beside them.

“Sir! You swore an oath to the government of Helias.”

“Sergeant, oaths mean about as much as the meager pay-checks Sandrian scribbles his name on.”

She whipped out her sidearm, all eyes focused on her and the two operatives at the center of the room.

It was then that Tal noticed one of the soldiers step into his peripheral. The veteran commander failed to notice the subtle movement as his attention was directed towards the mutinous sergeant. The light caught the unnamed private just enough to give him a glimpse of the scar on her jaw. A smirk turned the edges of her mouth, his eyes linked up with hers. Anna delivered a quick wink, then sprang into action. Her hand whipped out, catching the admiral in the Adam’s Apple. While he gasped, Anna leveled her rifle against his temple.

Tal reacted by grabbing the arm of the soldier to his right. Twisting the man’s arm just short of dislocating it, Tal wrenched the soldier’s rifle from his clutches. The crook of his arm squeezed tightly around the soldier’s neck. He could feel his hostage’s pulse increase as he applied pressure.

“Stand down!” the sergeant called out to her fellow soldiers. The remaining soldiers all looked around confusedly.

Tal raised his stolen weapon, careful to not let his guard down or his hostage move.

“You have five seconds before I order these fine officers to test how effective you’re really as invincible as they claim,” the admiral spat at Anna.

“I’m afraid you won’t be around to find out,” she threatened.

“You’re my retirement ticket, and I swear to the nine hells that no one is going to stop me from getting out of Sandrian’s service.”

“I don’t think so Admiral,” the sergeant commented. “I’m putting you under arrest for treason against the government of Helias.”

There’s a tense moment as the remaining soldiers weighed their allegiances. Tal started mapping out the order in which he and Anna would have to dispatch them. He felt comfortable that this time Griff would set aside his grudge for just a moment.

His finger hovered close to the trigger, yet no one made a move one way or another. Each second ticked by to the sound of his steady heartbeat. Then, much to relief of everyone involved, the soldiers lowered their weapons. The admiral’s mouth opened and shut in speechless fury as his arms were hastily placed behind his back. The moment of silence was immediately broken as the admiral began ranting and raving about how he’d achieve vengeance.

While the admiral was escorted away, Griff turned to face Anna, her eyes were ablaze. “I-“ he began to say before her fist connected with his face, knocking him to the floor.

“I should kick you out the airlock,“ she threatened.

Tal sighed, “As much as I hate it, I have to bring him back to Jaya in fairly good condition.”

“Fine, guess you’re stuck with me. You’re welcome by the way.”

“For what, letting you punch me in the face?”

“For saving your ass.”

“Okay, thanks. Can we go?” Griff replied, massaging his jaw.

They began to leave, only to stop short as the sergeant waited expectantly in the doorway.

“I don’t suppose you’re just going to let us go?” Tal asked.

“As far as I’m concerned you were never here.” After a brief pause she added, “My mom had moved to Azariah.”

Anna and Tal nodded in understanding.

“We are a little short on a ship at the moment,” Anna replied.

The sergeant smiled and led them to the hangar. One of the pilots shuttled them back down to Boca Alacran where they were reunited with The Amaryllis. It made Tal thankful Griff had insisted on waiting to retrieve it from the dock. The thought of The Amaryllis being blown to bits pained him. Of course, Anna might have chosen a different diversion if it was “her” ship on the line.

As The Amaryllis left Boca Alacran behind, the three operatives sat around the cockpit in awkward silence.

Griff sighed. “You two are so intent on protecting each other that you don’t think about the bigger picture. If The Council turns its back on Orothros, then we’re just as vulnerable as anyone else out here. It’s only through cooperation that we’ve managed to survive this long.”

“Maybe you should have left me on Boca Alacran then,” Anna replied.

“I can’t do that,” Griff clarified.

“Then I guess you’ll have to knock me out again,” she threatened.

Griff straightened up. Tal stepped between the two of them. “That’s not going to happen either,” he stated.

He steeled himself against Anna’s intoxicating gaze. Then he used the only thing he knew would still motivate her. “Rahn’s investigating who infected New Azariah,” Tal lied.

Her features softened. “What?” she asked in disbelief.

His eyes flicked towards Griff. Anna had her back to him so she was unaware of the incredulous look the other operative was giving.

“He listened to my report and sent out Operatives Morgan and Cottin to investigate a lead. If you want to find out who infected your friends you’re going to have to come with us.”

Griff gave him a surprised look from behind Anna’s back. There were no such operatives with those names, but Anna had no way of knowing that.

“Okay,” she answered abruptly. “But I want to know the second they return, whether they found anything or not.”

Tal flashed a relieved smile.

“Alright, what are we waiting for, take me home,” she announced.

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