Tranquility Down

Tranquility Down

Part Ten

by G. Lawrence

In this sequel to Tranquility in Darkness, we find Grey, Kris, and their allies struggling to establish the Lunar Republic as a legitimate nation. This old-style science fiction story has been presented in 11 parts. After this one, there is one more part to go.

Recap: Grey and Kris have been reunited on the Farmer family farm in Southern California, but the Congress-in-Council is sending covert agents to deal with the troublemaker once and for all. All characters are over 18 years old. All rights reserved.

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Chapter 10

FATAL MISCALCULATIONS

"Jenny? What are we doing in the sticks?" her cameraman asked.

"Patience, Ronnie," Jenny Oliver said, standing next to her unmarked runner parked down the street from town square.

"I have a date tonight," Ron protested.

"You're going to be a few days late," Oliver said. "I have a tip Hope Valley is the place to be, and until we get a story, berryville is our new home. Find rooms for us?"

"Yeah, some dump at the end of town," Ron said. "You're Smith and I'm Jones. Creative, huh?"

"You're a regular Hemingway, Ronnie," she said. "Let's put on the wigs and go to that pub over there. The Strangled Chicken or something like that. Whatever we're looking for will end up there eventually."

"You're buying this time," Ron said, setting the runner's minicams on auto search. "And if someone recognizes you, don't expect me to take the first punch."

"Coward," she said.

"Weak bridge work," he replied.

As they walked down the sidewalk to enter the tree lined plaza, they noted the old storefronts and a great deal of activity around the seed store where business was lively. They did not notice the ordinary cargo transport that slowly circled the plaza and eventually came to a halt beside the quaint town hall.

________

"Terrific omelet, Mrs. Farmer," Gott praised, wiping his chin.

"Thank you, Simon," Marsus replied, pouring more juice for Kris. "We haven't had this much breakfast company in a long time. Least not on a Friday."

"Friday?" Kris asked.

"Yes, Kris," Marsus laughed. "You space folks sure must have a hard time keeping up with the calendar. Ben loses track, too. End of June already. Last day of school for the children."

"Speaking of the children," John said, hearing footsteps on the stairs.

"We're ready, Mom," Jaybee said as he and Susie entered the kitchen.

"Where's Ben?" Susie asked.

"Out near the highway, just like yesterday," Marsus reported. "And you remember what he said. You keep your distance when he's in the field, and if any strangers come by, you run up to the house as fast as you can and stay with Mister Gott."

"We remember," Susie said.

"Ben told us if there's trouble, he doesn't want any humans getting in the way," Jaybee said, looking at the fearsome energy blaster holstered on the enforcer's hip. And the slightly less powerful energy weapon Kris was wearing. "What kind of trouble's going to happen, Mom?"

"You never mind about that. Be sure to thank your teachers for putting up with you all year and bring home good marks," Marsus lectured, giving each of them a bagged lunch.

"School transport's coming," John noticed, looking out the window.

As Jaybee and Susie went to the door, Gott jumped up, tucked his sidearm under his long jacket, and escorted the children down to the road.

"These last couple of days haven't been easy," Kris apologized, helping Marsus clean the dishes. "And I know Grey feels awful about what your family is going through. Say the word and we'll evaporate."

"No," John refused. "If agents are coming for him, Ben needs an edge. He knows the ground here. That stretch along the highway is cut with creeks and irrigation channels."

"We've been through worse, Kris dear," Marsus assured her.

A moment later Gott reappeared, coming up to Kris at the sink.

"Are you sure about this?" Gott asked.

"Governor's orders," Kris said without enthusiasm. "You watch John, I watch Marsus. That's the way he wants it."

"We could help him down there," Gott persisted.

"Grey hired you because you're a professional. He expects you to obey orders. He let me stay because I promised to play this out his way," Kris said. "Grey's a lot more worried about the Farmers than he is about himself."

"Yeah, I picked that up," Gott said. "Any clue how long this is going to take?"

"Not much longer. Silent Wind will be ready Monday afternoon, and the Council knows once Grey reaches M.I.S.T. he'll be out of their reach. They've got to make their move soon."

Gott went to look out the window, not able to see where Grey was working from the kitchen.

"Relax, Simon," Marsus said. "If any runners come up our road, Mrs. Aslym will give us a call."

"And I've got our Security Computer on my com link," Kris said, holding up a small transmitter. "There aren't going to be any surprises."

Marsus finished the dishes, then packed a sandwich and several biscuits into a basket before starting for the door.

"I'll deliver that," Gott said, reaching for the basket.

"No, I want to," Kris said.

"It's my job," Gott protested.

"He's my boyfriend," Kris disagreed.

"My how you youngsters go on," Marsus sighed.

"Youngsters? I'm older than you are," Gott said.

"It's a state of mind," Marsus answered, handing the basket to Kris. "Better let Kris do it, Simon."

"Why?" the enforcer asked.

"Because she wants to kiss her fella, that's why," Marsus smiled.

Kris flushed to be so obvious, then dashed out the door and ran down the hill.

"Not trying to tread on your rep," Marsus said.

"Don't spread it around, but I'm not here to boost my reputation," Gott said, sitting down at the table and reaching for another cup of coffee. "Not saying this association won't be good for my career, and the pay is generous enough, but for me, that's not what this is all about. Any more than it is for you people."

"For us?" John asked.

"When you stood up to Mason, it wasn't just about the pumping station," Gott said. "When Waters said he wanted to take the battle somewhere else, you refused, even though it put your family in harm's way."

"We owe him a lot," John explained.

"No one owes anybody that much," Gott disagreed.

"What does an old mercenary like you owe him, Simon?" Marsus asked, sitting next to Gott with a friendly hand on his arm.

"Not what I owe him, what I owe myself," Gott said. "Don't know what it is, but something's happening here. Something's changing, and I want to be part of it. Not many men in my profession get a second chance."

Marsus laughed. "I'm sorry, Simon, I'm not laughing at you," she quickly said. "But every place that young man goes, it seems to affect people the same way." She reached over to her husband and hugged his arm with a twinkle in her eye.

"Soups on, Ben," Kris shouted, trotting across the pasture toward the roadside creek.

Dressed in a clean jumper, Lassiter and combat scanner laying at his side, Grey stood up and waved her on.

"Quiet this morning," Kris said.

"Unfortunate," Grey agreed. "This waiting is beginning to exhaust my patience."

"Try living on an aircraft carrier for six months just to fly a handful of missions," Kris said.

"Perhaps this isn't so bad after all," Grey reconsidered, looking at the green trees, tall grasses, and the rolling meadow behind him.

Kris passed him the basket and Grey zealously ate the biscuits before opening the sandwich wrap. A bottle of apple juice was eagerly gulped down, too.

"You've developed quite an appetite," Kris said. "Until these last couple of days, I've never seen you eat like you enjoyed it. Mar's cooking really that good?"

"She does make commendable biscuits," Grey said. "But you're correct about becoming engrossed with the food. When we get home, I'll ask the Medical Computer for a treatment program."

"Enjoying food isn't a disease," Kris laughed. "And don't try to fool me, either. I know you can eat stale rations when you want to, but I also know you're a good cook. You work hard in the biosphere bringing in healthy crops, and you know how to manage a spice rack."

"You're discovering too many of my secrets," Grey said. "If this information becomes widespread, it will dispel my mystique."

"That'll be the day," she said, sitting close to him on the embankment. "Can I stay here until those guys show up to shoot you? I promise not to get involved."

"You're still angry with me," Grey concluded.

"I'm mad, I'm hurt, I'm pissed off, but I also understand your feelings. I'm a very confused girl," she said, putting her head against his shoulder.

"Can I assist?" he asked.

"No, this is my problem," she said, shaking her head. "You can be a stubborn son of a bitch sometimes, but you've needed that quality to survive. I can't expect to show up out of the blue and suddenly change you. At least, not in just one year."

"If it helps, I intend to share my feelings more," Grey said, stroking her oddly colored hair. "I've already come to depend on you and the other... you and the planning committee more than I ever expected to depend on anyone. It's a strange feeling, and not a very comfortable one. To be honest, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't try."

"Really?" Kris said, turning up for a kiss.

"No, but Marsus said that's what you want to hear," he replied.

"You're kidding me, right?" Kris said, pushing up to her knees. "You better be kidding me, moonman, or I'm going to shove your face right into this creek."

Grey answered by pulling her into his lap and giving her a slow, passionate kiss, lingering on her lips.

"We need to go on vacation more often," Kris sighed.

"Think the Council's agents will give us an extra twenty minutes?" Grey suggested playfully, though the way Kris responded, perhaps the idea wasn't so far-fetched after all.

"Overlord to Traveler, big problem," the Security Computer suddenly announced over the transmitter.

Grey and Kris immediately reached for their sidearms and tactical equipment.

"Traveler to Overlord, what's the situation?" Grey asked.

"Unfortunate news, Governor," Security said, dispensing with code names. "A group of terrorists have seized hostages in town. Outside communications are being suppressed, and a statement has been issued demanding revenge for the casualties at the Aslym farm."

"These can't be McNair's men," Grey guessed.

"Agreed," Security confirmed. "No doubt it's a cover story intended to divert responsibility."

"I'm going into town. Be prepared to provide an update the moment I arrive," Grey instructed.

"Entering the town may prove unwise," Security advised. "The enemy has the odds and the ground. Recommend you return to M.I.S.T."

"We've invested too much effort in this mission to quit now," Grey said. "Review our tracking records, try to identify how many agents we're up against."

"Acknowledged," Security said, abandoning the channel.

"They must have decided my position here is too strong," Grey decided, displeased he hadn't anticipated their counter strategy.

"Security could be right. If we return to M.I.S.T., they won't have any reason to keep the hostages," Kris said.

"The purpose of this mission is to compromise the Council. Force them into negotiations. If I abandon these people, I'm the one whose integrity is compromised," Grey explained.

"Okay, let's get going," Kris agreed.

____________

The plaza was rapidly filling with people as a loose ring of lightly armed citizens surrounded the entrance to town hall. The sheriff was yet to arrive, or even acknowledge his calls, but one of the deputies was trying to control the anxious crowd. Investigating the situation from behind the scenes, Jenny Oliver was thrilled to discover her anonymous tip had been right.

"Ronnie, is any of this getting out?" Oliver asked.

"Not yet," her cameraman said. "But we're recording everything. When our connection goes through, we'll be nationwide in minutes."

"I'm ready to start," Oliver said, adjusting her bright orange press tunic. "Where are my best shots?"

"We've got stationary cams focused on the town hall and a nice right angle shot of the crowd from the feed store," Ron said. "I'll use the mobile unit for close-ups."

"Sounds good. Let's ... Hey, what's going on over there?" Jenny asked. "Who are those people who just drove up? Christ, it's Simon Gott, the enforcer. Ronnie, let's go."

Jenny and her cameraman ran through the town square, pushed past a group of on-lookers, and found a strange young man asking questions of the female deputy sheriff.

"Who's that guy?" Jenny asked someone in the crowd. "That skinny kid with the blaster on his hip."

"Ben Brown," a man in the crowd said. "He's the Lone Ranger who shot up McNair's gang."

"Ronnie, look," Oliver said, lowering her voice as she pointed to a blonde woman getting out of the runner. "Do you know who that is?"

"Sure, that's Kris Fairfield," Ron said, also on a whisper. "But I've got even better news. Take a real close look at Ben Brown."

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God," Oliver squealed, jumping up and down while hardly making a sound.

She pushed forward with her cameraman following, getting within a few meters of Grey and Deputy O'Rourke.

"I don't know who you think you are, but we're going to wait for Sheriff Gasparian," O'Rourke said.

"I'm the one they're looking for," Grey said, Kris standing to one side and Gott on the other. "How many hostages are there?"

"Tell him what he wants to know," Gott said, the tall enforcer not the sort of man people ignore.

The deputy discovered herself confronted by three civilians armed with energy blasters, not exactly common tools of the trade in small towns.

"I remember you from the Aslym place," Deputy O'Rourke said. "Your name is Brown."

"His name is Waters!" Oliver shouted from the edge of crowd. "Grey Waters. And his girlfriend there is Captain Kris Fairfield."

"It is Kris Fairfield," a voice said, recognizing her.

"Sure is," another agreed.

"Who did she say Ben is?" someone asked.

The crowd burst into comment, gesturing and debating. Deputy O'Rourke stepped back and looked Grey over, not sure if she believed it.

"What's this all about?" O'Rourke asked.

"How many terrorists are there, and what is the status of the hostages?" Grey asked again.

"Near as I can tell, five or six men took over the town hall," O'Rourke said. "Took about twenty people hostage, mostly teachers and students setting up for the graduation ceremonies."

"Any way inside except for the front door?" Grey asked.

"Back door's locked. Windows have their bomb shields down. It's the main entrance or nothing," O'Rourke said. "And there's at least two of them just inside the door."

"Ben. Ben," Trammel Jones called out, the big man emerging from the crowd. "They got my little Melissa in there. Sorry, Farmer, they got your youngsters, too."

As Grey sensed the anguish of Marsus and John, he felt a boiling rage that he quickly needed to suppress. Stay calm, he recalled. Stay focused. Remember your training.

"Can anyone get me a floor plan of the building?" Grey asked.

"I can. Easy to download if you have a link," a member of the volunteer fire department said.

Kris walked over with her com unit, set the transmitter on the Security Computer's restricted channel, and began asking questions.

"Trammel, do you still have those directed charges we used to clear the tree stumps?" Grey asked.

"Sure as hell do, Ben," Jones replied.

"Get them," Grey requested. "Deputy O'Rourke, keep these bystanders away from the building. Mister Gott, please assist the deputy."

Grey turned from the wide marble steps leading up to the front entrance and walked around to the side of the building, finding a wall that looked completely sealed off due to a lack of windows or doors.

"Security, have that floor plan?" Grey asked.

"Affirmative," Security said.

"How about heat sources?" Grey requested.

"Most are confined to the auditorium on the first floor," Security reported. "A corridor runs the length of the building near your position, then turns left along the back wall to a loading dock, then left again to a kitchen area. I assume you'd like to reach the auditorium from the rear?"

"Affirmative," Grey acknowledged.

"The kitchen has a service access that enters the auditorium near the stage door."

"Targets?"

"One near the foyer to the left of your point of entry," Security advised. "One in the rear hall guarding the loading dock. At least three, possibly four or five in the auditorium mixed among the hostages. Target acquisition in that area will be difficult."

"Governor Waters, I presume?" a female voice said from behind.

Grey turned to see the obnoxious media reporter walking in his direction with a cameraman following close behind.

"I have no time right now," Grey said, studying the readouts Security was downloading to his tactical scanner.

"What's going on? Why are you here? Why are these terrorists in Hope Valley? What are you going to do about it?" Oliver asked in quick, breathless sentences.

Grey continued his tactical review until Jones ran up with the equipment he'd requested.

"Can these charges blow a hole through this wall?" Grey asked.

"Spent ten years in the demolition corps, Ben. I can blow a hole through just about anything," Jones assured him.

"I need you to focus the direction inward against these bricks," Grey said, indicating a small section of wall. "I need a hole large enough to jump through."

"I'll get the job done," Jones promised. "Ben, are you really the Governor of the Moon?"

"Maybe not for much longer," Grey replied.

Jones stepped to the section of wall Grey had indicated and carefully packed the charges into the cement grooves around the old red bricks. He was just getting to the fuses when Kris came around the corner.

"What's the plan?" she asked, giving Oliver a dirty look before turning her back on the camera.

"Trammel is going to create a breach in this wall," Grey explained. "I will enter and eliminate the terrorists, thus freeing the hostages. Give us three minutes, then have the crowd make loud noises to camouflage the sound of the explosion."

Grey could see Kris was fighting against every instinct she had to object, but finally she agreed. In response, he drew his Lassiter and blasted the camera spying on their conversation, causing Oliver and her cameraman to retreat.

"Kris, I know you spent many years of sadness after the war because your boyfriend died," he said softly enough that only she, and maybe Jones, could hear. "I've been reluctant to let us become too close because I don't want you to feel that pain when I die. Other than failure, it's the one thing that worries me the most."

Kris looked into Grey's soft gray eyes as if seeing him for the first time. Suddenly so much of his reluctance, his distance, became clear to her. It explained too much not to be the truth, and it embarrassed her to realize she had not thought him capable of such insight. Or compassion.

"I love you, moonman," Kris said, giving him a kiss. "You go in there and rip their guts out. Whatever happens, I'll be okay."

"If I'm unsuccessful, you and Gott will need to clean this up," Grey said with a concerned frown.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of it. But don't count on us taking any prisoners. Three minutes?" Kris said, glancing over at Jones.

"Three minutes, Captain Fairfield," Jones said, setting the timer.

Kris ran back to the town square, quickly waving to the people and telling them what she needed. Grey took fifteen paces back from the charges, held his sidearm ready, and counted down the seconds.

An enterprising cameraman, Ron already had a back-up minicam focused on the event. Suddenly there was a roar from the crowd, several shotguns went off at once, and the charges blew, a cloud of dust bellowing off the side of the building.