SWNOVELS Chapter 5: UCOA Daughter
JACK WAS FLYING THE HOVERCRAFT LOW to avoid detection on the HUB. He was going over the plan with his sister, Darbe.
He saw the city in the distance shining like a gem.
“Here we go!”
Jack reached under the console and turned on the tracking/communication device. He re-sealed the console as he was instructed by one of the rebel techs.
“This Captain Jack Marlow of UCOA requesting landing. I’ve retrieved Darbe Winslet.”
He looked over at Darbe.
A voice soon came on the console speakers.
“Captain Marlow, you’ve been granted landing, initiating auto pilot. We’ll take it from here. The A.M. and council have been notified. Job well done, Captain.”
Jack turned off communication and looked at his sister. Her long, deep brown hair showed a few strands of blond. Her eyes were big and emerald green. She wore the training outfit she was kidnapped in. The rebels dressed her in her in a beige and gray. She smelled and was purposefully skinned up with a few good self-inflicted bruises.
She put her hand on Jack.
“Let me kill him, our father.”
“Promise me, Jack.”
Jack sighed, “you don’t know what it’s like taking a life. It stays with you, It’s a burden you carry until death.”
Darbe became curious.
“What was your first kill like?” She added, “was it self-defense?”
He lit a cigarette and exhaled out a long stream of smoke.
“I had just graduated and was on street duty. My partner Sanjay and I went to a Japanese place for lunch. We were seated when a man with prematurely white hair started arguing with another man. They were loud, and Sanjib took it as his opportunity to get some police work done, so he walked over to them and asked if there was a problem. When Sanjib approached them, the man explained that he was being sold NTT at a ridiculous price and he didn’t need a cop getting into his business. He pulled out his blaster and shot Sanjib in the restaurant.”
Blowing a hole through his head. Splattering blood over the people in the next booth.
“The two men got up and ran, and they spotted me. I barely ducked as the one they call Birch obliterated the seat just missing his head. The two headed out the door. People were crying and on the ground. I went over to my comrade and checked his pulse. I then turned to pursue slipping on the blood on the floor.
“Officer Sanjay is down!”
“I need medical attention and backup.”
“I repeat I need medical and backup up!”
“I’m in pursuit of two suspects near 102 Numar 12th and 7th.”
Jack recalled the steps of that day so clearly in his mind.
“I darted out the doors, and a mix of people were blocking my view. The blend of colors from the citizens made it even harder to see. I knocked a few individuals out of the way.
“This is UCOA police business out of the way!”
Then he saw two figures running towards the ATM.
“I pulled my gun out and was running after them they were a half a block ahead of me, and their long trench coats were getting larger. Both of the assailants turned into a small alley. There were Chinese mongers selling synth fruit and goods. It’s was crowded and people were celebrating Chinese New Year. There were lanterns everywhere, and the street was full of people celebrating and Hologram dragons were marching and dancing in the distance.
My watch went off, and a voice came over the com.
Jack looked past Darbe, and she leaned in as if she was entranced by the story.
“We’re tracking your location ETA two minutes do not pursue, I repeat, do not continue.“
I saw the two getting further away.
I ran into the crowd and fired my blaster in the air. Everyone hit the ground. I saw the two assailants running. I fired hitting the white hair one in the arm he turned and rounded the corner and disappeared from my view. The other one had long dark hair he reached out and grabbed a woman. He was pointing the gun at me then back at the frightened woman.
“Any closer cop, and I’ll blow her head clean off!”
“Throw your blaster to the ground!”
She managed to work herself free.
Jack began to perspire clenching his hands together. While telling his tail. He hadn’t mentioned this story to anyone. He continued,
“Before she could run away, he blew a hole through her chest. I’ll always remember her eyes as she fell to the floor.”
“I took my shot, killing the suspect.” Jack put his hand on his face. Jack looked intently at Darbe.
“I’ve made it my quest to capture the white- haired man. Either dead or alive.”
“It’s the least I can do for my partner Sanjib.”
Jack leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve been working in Numar district ever since. Jack turned towards Darbe.
“Is that, “what you wanted to hear?”
Darbe looked at Jack, “I didn’t mean to pry, I’m sorry.”
Jack moved and adjusted his seat.
“I wake up every morning seeing those faces.” He grimaced at his sister.
“I’ll be the one to kill our father. I know how to deal with that kind of pain.”
Jack and Darbe were met by a smaller Runner ship and then guided them into the military docking station. Jack frowned at Darbe.
“What, Jack?”
Jack touched her cheek.
“This is part of the plan they didn’t tell you about.”
Darbe saw a flash of light as Jack’s fist came across her face knocking her unconscious.
Jack opened the pod, and the guards helped him out. They were wearing black outfits armed with SEBS. Jack and Darbe were put into a medical hovercraft.
“I’m Doctor James, the A.M.’s personal doctor. Let me have a look at you.We should be meeting with the A.M. within the next few hours.”
Jack looked at Darbe.
“Is she ok? I found her in a nearby cell and Capt. Reynolds took out the guards, while I snuck the A.M.’s daughter out.”
The doctors looked at the girl, and he said in a matter of fact tone of voice.
“She’s unconscious but stable, we have the best physicians in Megacity, not to worry. UCOA owes you a debt of gratitude Captain Marlow.”
Jack sat up and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Don’t thank me, thank Captain Reynolds.”
The doctor stopped and gave a blank stare then a concerned look came about him.
“Captain Reynolds?”
Marlow, new he had his attention.
“Yeah, she orchestrated everything from the beginning.”
The doctor started adjusting his equipment and patted Jack on his shoulder.
“Well, you’re safe now and so is Miss. Whinslet.”
The ship landed, and Darbe woke up.
“Jack?” Oh God, my head, what happened?”
Jack put his hand on her leg. Having her eyes follow his, she saw they were in the enemy’s hands.
“You fainted.”
The Ship landed, and the guards separated the two of them.
“I’ll find you later Jack.”
“I Won’t lose you again.”
“The UCOA thanks you for your service.”
Jack saw her being led to a black SLV car. He watched her slowly ascend and disappear.
Two guards escorted Jack to a large holding area. Soon an officer came and sat down in front of Jack. He looked at him and didn’t say a word. Jack stared back. He knew the drill. He was a master at being on the other side of the questioning table.
“Am I being charged with any crime?”
The guard spoke. “We owe you a debt of gratitude.”
Jack turned his head and said in a flat tone.
“Thanks for the cozy welcome.” The officer handed him a cigarette. Jack took it, and the officer lit it for him.
“The UCOA was attacked just after you and Captain Reynolds left the cabinet meeting.” He continued.
“I’m Officer Conley of the UCOA special services division.”
He looked at Jack and then peered into the double glass.
“Why did you and Captain Reynolds run from the scene after the explosion?”
Jack stared back for a moment and then took in a long drag. He decided to shy away from the original plan.
“Captain Reynolds was protecting me.”
Connery turned and had an inquisitive look.
“She had top secret information and was protecting it from a possible traitor in the UCOA.”
Jack looked at Conley. “He goes by the name of Birch. I’ve been after him for quite some time. I found out he was part of some underground rebel base on the outskirts of the Deadlands.”
Conley questioned, “ Thomas Birch? Ok, let’s get an APB out on this guy. We have our Terrorist.”
Jack’s expression hardened. He knew this false information. Thomas Birch, the murderer of Sanjib Sanjay, will finally see justice. Jack killed two birds with one stone. On the one hand, he reveled the fact he would instantly be shot on site and if taken alive meet an untimely accident in a cyber freeze cell. The other was siri was almost off the hook so to speak. Jack now pushed aside his inner guilt of accusing an innocent man of terrorism.
Two guards entered the holding cell, and agent Conley stood up and offered his hand to Jack.
“It was a pleasure, sir.” Jack shook hands and Conley continued.
“My orders are to take you in UCOA unmarked SLV to an undisclosed location and await the A.M.”