Chapter 13

The expressions on the commanders' faces changed as they stared at Mr. Z. None of the three men moved. Time seemed suspended. Randy was sure he had fucked up somehow. The reactions were outside of his realm of experience. Commander Meers' gasp broke the momentary silence. "Oh hell."

Before he could stop himself the question "What?" escaped from Randy. He felt worse than the time in health class during the sex education component. He had said 'Va-gene-a' in answering a question.

Andres Zucher turned to look at the Commanders. "Right, well we need to stop Cassell from going, and if he insists on going, he needs to take a bodyguard."

"Percy!" Llew burst out.

Randy looked at Commander Percy Meers. He felt as if he was behind in the conversation and desperately wanted to catch back up.

"What?" Commander Meers looked perplexed.

"Sorry," Llew had lost the excitement in his voice, "no, not you." He looked at the commander. "I meant Lieutenant Percy. She reports direct to Sir Samuel Cassell, she's head of security for something, can't remember what now. Also team leader of his rapid response team, but far more importantly for this, she's ex-SAS. She's almost certainly had training as a bodyguard, but as a head of security she will have clout."

Zucher nodded intently, Randy could see his mind working. The spy replied, "I didn't realize she was SAS," he murmured, "she kept that secret well." Andres turned toward Llew, "But you're right. Let's get her in now." He looked up. "AI, Locate Lieutenant Priscilla Percy please."

"Lieutenant Percy is in her office on Artemis base." The normalcy of the AI's response calmed Randy.

"In that case, please contact Lieutenant Percy and ask her to come here ASAP. Tell her it is vitally urgent."

"Acknowledged."

Commander Meers spoke up. "Meers to Lipskiy Security, a Lieutenant Percy will be arriving shortly. Please direct her to A9N as soon as she gets here."

A human voice answered, "Yes sir."

"Information," the AI gave a status update. "Lieutenant Percy is on her way, it will take her five minutes at most."

Andres captured Randy's attention. "Randy, I think you've done everything you needed to do. It's up to us now." He reached out and put his hand on Randy's shoulder. "I think it's time to get you to safety, and back with the rest of your party."

Randy wondered if he had made a miscalculation. "Did I do something-er," Randy looked back and forth between the three men. "What's happening?"

"We think you've discovered an assassination attempt on Sir Samuel Cassell, the head of Earthat Confederacy Intelligence." Andres' revelation was astonishing.

A murder. Randy did not know this Mr. Cassell but his life was at stake and he was involved. Randy realized his mouth now hung agape. His vision tunneled to the collar on Commander Carter's tunic. He felt himself plop hard onto a chair. It jolted him back into the present. He looked first into Commander Carter's eyes, then at each other man there. The three men had changed. The scope of the revelation framed these men as dedicated Confederacy professionals.

"Nice one kid," Commander Carter's voice expressed a pride and reassurance. Softly he added, "Well done."

Commander Meers moved away. Now Randy started to concentrate on the task. Their sudden change and the present actions had a context. They again were the men he just met. Randy stayed focused on Llew and Andres.

Llew turned back to Andres. "Okay, so we have a probable assassination attempt on Sir Samuel in Gillingham." Andres tilted his head in interest. "This means that you, sir," Andres pursed his lips, "need to try and persuade him not to go. But it also needs someone to try and work out who this King of Clubs is. I take it we are still no nearer identifying him?"

"Sadly not." Andres seemed to tighten his body, "Nor his people."

"What we need," Meers' voice startled Randy. He sat down again, "is to use it as a trap. Is there any way we could send lookalikes in their place?"

"It's an idea," Zucher nodded. "But what..."

"Information," the AI interrupted Andres, "Lieutenant Percy is on Lipskiy."

"Wait one," murmured Zucher.

The door opened. Randy turned to see a woman walk into the room. Compared to the standard augmented Confederacy personnel, she seemed normal. Some of the novels that Randy had been reading spoke about people who floated across rooms, this woman seemed to do just that. He half expected to see energy crackling from her fingertips. Andres and Llew seemed to take the opportunity to channel their thoughts. What Commandeer Meers was doing remained a mystery. Randy did not look away. Taking a cue from the men, he waited.

"Sirs," the lady spoke. She sounded like Mary Poppins from the old movie. "How can I help?"

"Welcome, Lieutenant Percy," Zucher started, "may I introduce Commanders Percy Meers and Llew Carter."

The fact that Andres failed to introduce him did not bother Randy. Instead, he was relieved. At this point, the professionals were starting a meeting, to save an important man's life. Randy might meet her later.

"Hello again, Commander Carter," Percy nodded to Llew. "Commander Meers," she shook Commander Meers' hand, then she met Randy's gaze. He sensed a mental 'I see you' but knew she was economizing on time.

Randy eased away. He missed what Andres said, his focus on moving to the side quietly.

"I briefed him two days ago," Percy answered a question Randy had not heard.

Quickly Randy grabbed his tablet. He pulled up a web graphic organizer. Quickly he began placing data and observations, linking what he could. Copies would need to be forwarded to everyone present. Reasoning that his investigation had given them a chance to prevent the attack, maybe his view on what they were discussing might help. Besides, he could type seventy words a minute.

As Andres recounted the events of the meeting and Randy's discoveries, Randy expanded and interlocked the data in the web. There were insights that Andres had that he shared now that Randy had initially overlooked. Even the inflection in the voices and the occasional sigh or even grunt of affirmation helped him to emphasize some points.

"Sir Samuel must not be allowed to go," Zucher finished.

"Agreed." Percy's voice caused Randy to look up from the tablet. "How do you propose to stop him?"

"We were hoping you would have some clout with him," Andres replied confidently.

Lieutenant Percy smiled. Suddenly she channeled a look given by his teacher and mother figure Leslie Jenkins. "Not that sort of clout." It was the 'oh hell no' face reserved for Ray-ray or Mr. Jenkins. "The best I could do is guard him."

"I was wondering whether we could get some lookalikes to go in their place, and use it as a trap," Meers said softly. "Thoughts?"

Randy sent a request to the AI to find some individuals who might fit the bill.

Percy shook her head. "No," she said decisively. "Sir Samuel wouldn't go for that. He would consider it cowardice on his part. No matter that we would consider his actions to be foolhardy at best and cretinous at worst."

"We still need to persuade him not to go, and if, as you suggest, that doesn't work, we need a plan B," Meers said.

"I'm plan B," Percy said quietly. "I need to know as much as possible about this cemetery so that I can protect Sir Samuel, and also plan an ambush on his putative attackers." Randy began pulling up maps and posted videos of the cemetery. He requested a three dimensional construct. "Who are the other two people?"

When Commander Meers mentioned Ogden and Vickers, Randy created two linked webs and requested the AI to begin filling the web with public biographical data.

"Don't know them." Percy paused a second. "Are we sure they're not involved?"

"As sure as we can be," Zucher answered.

"That's my job," Meers followed up. "I'll do a deep background check on both and get it to you ASAP." Randy requested those webs be sent to Meers separately.

Percy nodded, and then turned to Llew. "And you've been to this cemetery?"

"Two days ago, yes."