Simon Hawke - The Cleopatra Crisis

“We’d better get back to the house and check on how it wentwith Lucas,” said Andre.

“Cooper, why don’t you clock out with your wounded and getyourself and them some medical attention?” Steiger said. “I’ll take over here.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you all back at the house,” said Steiger. “Gotell Travers we pulled it off before he dies of an anxiety attack.”

Andre and Finn clocked out while Cooper hurried to check onhis wounded. Steiger stood alone in the atrium. He took a deep breath and letit out slowly. I’ll be damned, he thought. We did it.

“Steiger ….”

He turned around. One of Cooper’s men was standing by amarble column about twenty feet away, holding a disruptor.

“What is it, soldier?”

“It’s payback time, you bastard.”

“Simmons!”

As Simmons fired. Steiger made a flying dive to the left.The deadly blast from the disruptor barely missed him. He rolled and came upwith his laser in his hand. Both men fired at the same time.

“Now.” said Lucas, and Caesar and Calpurnia suddenly materializedbeside each other on their bed. Lucas heaved a deep sigh of relief. Andell wasright on schedule. He laid his weapons on the bed and bent to remove the warpdisc from Calpurnia’s wrist, then went around to the other side to get the onethat Caesar wore.

As he started to remove it, he heard a voice say. “Freeze.”

An invisible fist grabbed a handful of his insides andstarted squeezing. His laser and his stunner were both on the far side of thebed.

“Don’t try it.” Hollister said. “You’ll be dead before youget your hands on ’em. Just straighten up slowly and keep your hands at yoursides, where I can see them.”

Lucas knew his only chance was his thought-controlled transponder.All he had to do was concentrate and..

“Move away from the bed.”

Nothing! Lucas tried again, with the same result. It hadfinally decayed. He had hated the damn thing, but of all the times for it to goout ….

“What’s your name?” asked Hollister.

Lucas swallowed hard. “Priest. Col. Lucas Priest.”

“You in command?”

“That’s right,” said Lucas. His mind was racing. but therewas no way out. The weapon in the S.O.G. man’s hand was dead steady. And deadon target. And what do I call you. Apollodorus?”

“Name’s Hollister. Captain. That was some job your peoplepulled off tonight. Took a lot of fuckin’ balls. My compliments, Colonel.”

“Thank you. Captain.” Lucas said. “I’m just sorry theymissed you. Mind if I ask how it went?”

“First-class operation,” Hollister replied. “Your peopletook some losses, but I’m afraid we lost. However, the war’s not over yet.”

Lucas moistened his lips nervously. There was no chance torush him. He’d be dead before he got two steps.

“It’s funny,” Hollister said. “I came here to prevent Caesar’sassassination and instead. I’m going to be the one who kills him.”

“Of course.” said Lucas. “Caesar and his wife are murderedin their bed. the Egyptians turn up missing. and Cleopatra gets the blame. Verygood. Captain. That’ll change the whole scenario. For a piece of last-minuteimprovisation, that’s not had at all. I don’t suppose there’s any way that Icould talk you out of it.”

“I’m afraid not, Colonel. I’ve got my orders. Sorry.”

“Hollister, wait.” said Lucas quickly. “Listen to me. Youcan’t ever go back again.”

“I know that.”

“I give you my word of honor as an officer and a gentleman thatif you surrender to me. I’ll see you’re treated well. And I’ll guarantee thatthe men we’ve taken prisoner from your unit will get the best of treatment.”

Hollister smiled. You know something. Colonel? I believeyou. And because I believe you. I’ll make you a deal. I know you’d be willingto die to stop me. but you’d never make it, so why die for nothing? You give meyour word that you’ll see my people are well treated and I’ll let you live.Sorry. but that’s the best I can do.”

Lucas sighed. “Damn you.” he said softly. “All right. you’vegot my word.”

“Thank you. Colonel. Now, just to make sure you don’t attemptany last-minute heroics, would you be so good as to lie face down on the floor?”

Lucas hesitated.

“Now. Colonel,” Hollister said.-Unless you want me to burn ahole in your kneecap.”

If I dive across the bed, thought Lucas, he might not killme with his first shot and I may have a chance to-

Hollister fired and Lucas screamed with pain as his legbuckled underneath him. He fell to the floor, clutching his kneecap and moaningin agony.

If it’s any consolation to you. Colonel, you never would’vemade it,” Hollister said. “I’m a dead shot. Remember, sir, you gave your word.”

He raised his laser and aimed it at Caesar’s sleeping form.

Whoosh, thwaack !

Hollister cried out as the weapon was struck from his handand clattered to the floor. The blackthorn walking stick whistled through theair once more and Hollister crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Lucas looked up, grimacing with pain, and saw Dr. Darknessstanding over him.

“Got yourself shot again, I see,” said Darkness. cheer up.At least you didn’t get killed this time.”

EPILOGUE

“Feel up to some visitors?” the nurse said, smiling. Lucaslooked up as Finn, Andre, and Travers walked into the room. Forrester came inbehind them and the nurse left to give them some privacy.

“How’s the knee?” asked Forester.

“They tell me it’ll be fine after I’ve had some therapy.”said Lucas. He grimaced. “First a bionic eye, now a nysteel kneecap. If I keepthis up, before too long I’ll be a cyborg. How’s Hollister?”

“He’s busted up a bit, but he’ll live,” said Forrester. “Darknessfractured his skull and broke his wrist. He asked about you too, by the way.”

Lucas smiled wryly. “He could easily have killed me.”

“Why didn’t he?” asked Andre.

“Because he was concerned about his men. He said he’d let melive if I gave my word as an officer and gentleman that they would be welltreated.”

“They will be.” Forester assured him.

“Hollister’s a good man,” said Lucas. “he just happens to beon the other side. In a way, I feel sorry for him. I trust the rest of themission went all right?”

“The mission was totally successful,” Forester replied.

“Capt. Travers tells me that there weren’t any problems withCleopatra’s reinsertion. Or with Caesar and Calpurnia. With the bodyguard outof the way, the conspirators were able to move against him and he died onschedule, in the Senate. Congratulations. You did a hell of a job.”

“Thanks,” said Lucas. He glanced at Travers. “How does itfeel to be back?”

“A little strange,” Travers replied. “It’s going to takesome getting used to, but I’ll have plenty of time. I’ve already started workingon my book. You’ve given me one hell of a final chapter. I’m going to dedicateit to Col. Steiger’s memory. and the other men who fell in battle.”

Lucas stared at him, stunned.

“Oh. hell,” Travers said with a stricken look. “You didn’tknow?”

Silence. After a moment, it was broken by Delaney.

“Creed didn’t make it, Lucas,” he said softly. “he caught itduring the assault.”

“Oh, shit,” said Lucas.

“Nobody saw it happen,” Andre said, “but we know who did it.Creed took out his own killer. It was a man named Simmons, a former field agentwho was involved with the Network. It’s possible that he was involved with theUnderground. as well, but if he was, the Underground probably didn’t know abouthis Network connection. They don’t knowingly cooperate with those people.”