Chapter 9: Escorting a Ghost

Amanda and her companion Cynthia were out hunting a fugitive and I was stuck doing paperwork. In fact I was the only one still here. I glanced at the comm when the holo of commissioner Drake appeared and sat back, “Sir.”

He looked tired, “I was told you are the only marshal left. I need you to do an escort. She is already there but needs an escort for her next stop.”

I nodded, “Name?”

He snorted, “Good question. She is not in any system but works for us in ... private. Escort her to Hades and anywhere else she wants. She will find you at the starport VIP lounge.”

The holo vanished and I bent to grab my bag, “Time to go to work Dragon.”

She leaped to catch my back and climb up as I stood and started for the hall and the lifts. I ignored dispersing, if she was not in the system they did not want a record. I used a public transport to get to the starport and headed in and straight to the VIP lounge. I glanced around but no one stood out. I spun at the slight feel of someone behind me and froze.

Samantha smiled and caressed my cheek, “You look well little brother.”

I tried to talk but nothing came out. She took my shoulder and pulled me to a privacy booth. She sealed it and accepted Dragon as she pushed me into a seat and sat beside me, “We need to talk.”

I found my voice, “You died.”

She nodded, “Almost, they wanted me to suffer. I was given a zombie drug.”

I looked at her feeling hurt, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Samantha sighed, “Because I needed as much help as you did. You had marshal Jessop that had taken you in. I had a woman take me in and help me even if I did not want to be an assassin I was conditioned.”

She looked down, “I have watched you many times. I was even watching when you graduated and became a marshal.”

I looked away, “But why not tell me or...”

She covered my hand, “Because you were marked and watched. I accepted another position for the emperor and just being near you was dangerous. Hades was not the only place that had schools like ours and the emperor needed someone that was not in any data base.”

Samantha sighed, “I have still had close calls and had to kill...”

I looked at her before squeezing her hand, “Only when you had no choice.”

She smiled, “Perhaps but I do not like doing it.”

She looked around before standing, “We have a shuttle to catch. I already have our tickets.”

I took Dragon from her and stood with my bag, “Why keep doing it?”

Samantha took my hand, “That is why you are here. This is my last mission and the emperor wants to make sure I retire.”

I looked at her and she laughed, “He dots on his little pet like a father.”

I smiled and shook myself before letting her hand go, “I do not think me escorting you has anything to do with you retiring.”

She shook her head as we took a slid walk towards the distant gates, “He wants you with me on Hades. I have never been back and the school I am searching for will be dangerous and difficult to find.”

I nodded and took a breath to get my balance. I moved a half step in front of her, “Once we are secure you can brief me.”

We were silent while we waited for the shuttle up and during the ride. Once in the cargo ship we went to the suite and left our bags. Samantha started to check the room and I began going the other way. We piled the bugs and two gas bombs on a table before I led her out and through the ship to one of the jump rooms. Dragon crawled into her lap as we leaned back to wait.

She smiled and pet her as she relaxed. I watched the other people that had already been on the ship and then the ones that came aboard. It was several hours before the ship began to move and then finally we jumped and the world turned inside out. As soon as we returned to normal I stood and let Samantha out. The school she was looking for was teaching children to be spies and saboteurs.

They also taught how to kill and that was what had brought it to the emperor’s attention. I was a little hesitant around Samantha at first but settled down long before we reached Hades. We were on the first shuttle down and I led her through the normal customs without stopping. I changed tactics as we came out into the starport lounge area and crossed to a vehicle rental both.

I slipped my ID in the slot and paid for a fast sport vehicle. Samantha smiled when I led her out front and to the flashy vehicle, “This will stand out.”

I smiled, “Not more than me taking a marshal vehicle.”

I looked at her after we were in, “Where to?”

She leaned back with a sigh, “Home.”

I looked at her for a minute and she finally turned her head, “I need to see it again.”

I shook my head, “That is not smart. The school will be watched.”

Samantha nodded, “The emperor left it intact with remote cleaning robots inside.”

I started the vehicle and lifted it before turning and accelerating. I did not need a map or directions, they were burned into my mind. It was quiet as we flew and Samantha looked at me, “Do you know the planet Keys?”

I looked at her and nodded, “A pleasure planet.”

She smiled and leaned back, “A nice place to take a vacation.”

I kept looking at her before nodding and looking ahead. I brought the vehicle down inside the warning fence and parked by the side door. I slipped out with Dragon crawling onto my shoulder and moved around before I opened the other door. I continued to scan the area as my sister stepped out. She smiled and headed towards the door as I walked beside her.

Walking the silent halls and looking into empty rooms brought everything back. Samantha shook her head when we entered the display room, “Sometimes I still feel what they did.”

I looked at her, “Why did you come back?”

She smiled, “I was going to sneak you out.”

I nodded and reached out to take her hand, “How did they find out?”

She looked at me, “We never found out.”

I looked around before turning to pull her out, “If they knew, why stay?”

She glanced at me as I led her towards the grandmaster’s quarters, “We never figured that out either.”

I thought about the questions as I led her into the huge set of quarters, “I took his head for what I thought he had done.”

Samantha squeezed my hand and let it go, “Time to get to work.”

I looked at her and she smiled, “You remember the masters and the grandmaster. There should be hidden panels or a hidden room.”

I nodded, “I killed the auto defenses but since they were here and fought I never looked.”

We moved apart and started searching the room slowly. I was going over the school layout in my mind and glanced to the right wall. According to the measurements that wall should be six feet further back. I moved to it and started looking at it closely. The grandmaster had been right here when I reached him. I grinned and looked at Dragon, “Smell the poison.”

She leaned forward and I let her crawl down my arm. Samantha crossed to me, “What is she doing?”

I moved slowly as she held the back of my hand and leaned close to the wall, “Smelling for poison.”

Dragon looked back and chirped. I leaned closer to examine the wall and the slight discoloration on what looked like a knot. I nodded, “That is one.”

I moved and nodded to Dragon and she went back to smelling. It was several minutes before she found the second. I lifted her to my shoulder and looked up before grinning at Samantha, “We would never get in this way without triggering a trap or bomb.”

She looked up, “The school library is above us.”

I nodded, “The tech holograph booths to be exact.”

She spun, “Lets go see if we can cut through.”

I shook my head, “First we go to the work shop for proper tools and then we go up.”

Samantha grinned as she slipped her arm into mine, “Suck eggs little brother.”

I grinned and glanced at Dragon, “Not eggs big sister.”

She laughed and reached up to caress Dragon, “Maybe not.”

Thirty minutes later I set the pack of tools down and began building a small vacuum chamber in a holograph booth. Samantha put an air mask on and knelt to start drilling a tiny hole. I finished and put my mask on before starting the pump. Dragon was sitting just outside the plastic and would know if I needed her to use acid to open the chamber.

Samantha looked at me as I watched the needle go down before nodding to her. She turned back and slowly moved the drill deeper. A laser drill would have been faster but knowing the grandmaster there may be explosive gas in the room below. My sister pulled the drill out and I handed her the tiny fiberwire for the holo camera.

She slowly pushed it into the hole until the holograph sprang up to show us the room. She nodded, “There is some type of gas.”

I turned, “Checking the element detector attached to the camera.”

I read the list of elements, “Explosives.”

She grunted and pulled the camera out before turning to the pile of things we had brought. She slowly inserted a tube before turning the valve on the small tank. There was a hissing sound but we sat and waited. Finally she shut it off and pulled the tube out and we checked with the camera again. I nodded after reading the element list, “Safe.”

She pulled the camera out, “And the ceiling is clear to cut. Remove this damn vacuum chamber.”

I grinned and flipped a switch to open the valves and let air in. Samantha used a sonic cutter instead of a laser just in case. I tossed the plastic and frame out of the booth and let Dragon climb back to my shoulder. I watched until my sister grunted and lifted a square from the floor. I knelt and helped her before she started cutting the section that was the ceiling of the room.

When we pulled it out I felt the material, “This is demo plastic.”

Samantha felt it and looked into the hole, “It is a good thing I used sonics.”

I nodded and carefully set the piece aside, “Me first.”

She opened her mouth and I grinned, “I am the one that is supposed to protect you remember?”

She smiled and moved back as she gestured, “Just do not trip any traps.”

I sat and looked down before slipping in. I caught the edge of the hole and hung as I looked below me before dropping. I knelt to look at the floor and then carefully searched the room before moving and nodding to Samantha. She dropped down into the room with me easily and did her own check and then went to the single shallow counter.

She plugged a device into the computer and waited until the screen blinked and came on. I was checking items on the other walls without touching them. Samantha cleared her throat as she pulled the device out, “Anything else in here?”

I smiled, “Besides poison or weapons?”

She grinned, “Yeah.”

I lifted a small case with a broken seal, “This.”

Samantha took it before looking at the seal, “This comes too.”

I gestured up and watched her climb onto the counter and jump before pulling herself out. I followed and locked the booth door behind us. I led her back through the school and out to our vehicle. I looked at the six constable vehicles around ours with a dozen constables pointing weapons at us. Samantha shook her head and I grinned, “I told you.”

A four man team started for us as I slowly opened one side of my coat to show my badge, “Imperial Marshal.”

The lead man gestured, “Hands out to the side.”

I sighed, “Constables you saw my badge and you see the animal on my shoulder. I am sure you know who I am but if you do not, my name is lieutenant deputy marshal Morpheus. I am not only authorized to be here I am the only one authorized by the emperor’s own authority. Now bring a reader to scan my badge before you piss me off.”

They looked at each other and the response officer gestured, “I am not telling you again.”

I looked at him and drew in one motion before stopping, “Drop the weapon or I will kill you.”

He started to open his mouth and the constable commander straightened from behind his vehicle, “Everyone calm down.”

I shifted to move in front of my sister, “I am on protection detail and here on direct orders of the emperor. Lower your weapons or I will be forced to take action.”

The commander moved out, “Lower your weapons and put them away.”

I kept my pistol aimed at the response leader as everyone else straightened and lowered their weapons. He licked his lips and I saw his finger start to tighten. I shifted my aim and fired four times rapidly. He screamed as both shoulders were hit and then his legs. I shifted my aim as the other constables started to react, “Freeze!”

They stopped moving and I looked at the commander, “Move them back.”

He was tight lipped as he gestured and the men backed away. I glanced at the constable on the ground, “Stay commander and come closer to your man. Keep your personal comm on.”

He stopped moving before slowly walking towards the downed man. I opened the door for Samantha, “Inside.”

She slipped in and I closed the door and moved to the downed officer. I knelt and pulled a small narrow tube out before touching it to his temple, “Who gave you the kill order?”

The commander opened his mouth before closing it as the man spoke in a monotone, “Ser Daniels of the Phoenix school.”