Countdown by John Walker (most life changing books TXT) 📕

Shit… all the people in the yacht are showing as enemies. Let me try to get Rita’s computer online.” Though even as he said it, he worried that maybe she wasn’t there.

She might well be dead after all. Or a prisoner on the ship. If he had to take something up to that vessel, raid a starship… I’m not really prepared for that. He’d wondered if they might have to raid the ship though he counted on Loch’s return to his nest. Well… she’s got to be on that yacht. Biggun seemed convinced she would be.

“If she’s there,” McCully said, “her computer’s off. Or not transmitting properly. Maybe… damaged? Jammed? I dunno. Watch your fire. She knows to keep her head down when the shit hits the fan.”

“Kind of defeats the purpose of being here if she’s not,” Zem replied.

McCully sighed. “You wanted him either way. So this works out regardless of what happens. Stay focused.”

Zem came to a realization. His moodiness, the way he fussed about the mission, became grumpy about setbacks all came down to his concern for a friend. He’s been in positions to save people in the past. Other soldiers but that had been different. They were comrades. Soldiers in arms.

He never thought of them as family. Not like the people he’d been running with. His bond with them felt real… far truer than anything else he’d experienced. He never felt particularly close to his biological father, didn’t know his mother growing up. Rita felt like a sister. Letty, Rutger, even Borden’s annoying ass… they meant a lot to him.

And I’m not used to that. It makes sense now.

Admitting it made things easier to stomach. He drew a deep breath, narrowing his eyes on his computer. The men were entering the building on McCully’s side. Any moment, things would turn violent. Game face, dammit! He still wanted confirmation about Rita… was she there or not? I will have it in a moment. Relax into the job!

“They’re coming in now,” McCully said. “I’ll be going loud in a minute, guys. Get yourselves ready.”

“No problem.” Zem glanced at Torrence. She gave him a nod. He drew a breath, waiting for the first attack, a shout or scream. They were too far away from that side of the compound to hear any gunfire. It’ll come down to her calling contact. He glanced at the computer. And dots winking off the screen.

Any moment…

***

Rita found the yacht to be one of the gaudier vessels she’d ever seen, even in video feeds. Either Loch didn’t know he had tacky taste or he didn’t care. Faux leather covered the seats. Lacquered tables and walls caught the light, reflecting white blobs bright enough to be uncomfortable to look at.

What little paint there was happened to be mustard yellow. It made the whole place feel sick. That included the carpet which, while new, still looked ancient because of the color. She’d seen old archival pictures resembling the decor but only half believed they were real. Finding someone who genuinely lived like that baffled her.

Loch spent most of the trip talking to the pilots. Rita had no idea why he bothered them. At least he left her alone, at least until the last ten minutes of the trip. Then he came back with an idiotic grin, arms out to either side.

“Well? What do you think? This is top-of-the-line stuff. Hard to get this kind of look these days. No one really sells it. I needed to get a specialist from Earth, some history buff who worked with my interior designer. Cost a fortune if I’m to be honest.” Loch flopped in the seat across from her. “But it’s damn comfortable and looks amazing.”

Rita stared at him with wide eyes. She nodded in response, afraid of what might come out if she said something out loud.

“We’re almost there. Sorry it took me so long in the cockpit. Weather’s turning to shit unfortunately. But there’s plenty to do in the compound besides wandering around outside. Should be fine.” Loch looked her over. “You didn’t want a drink or something? You could make whatever you want.”

“I don’t like to drink anything going for planetfall.”

“Ah, nervous?”

“A long time ago, I decided I’d rather be sober if I’m going to die in a horrible shuttle crash.” Rita shrugged. “Probably stupid, I know. I’ve kept that promise to myself the whole time though. It’s important to me.”

“I get it.” Loch gestured out the window. “You’ve gotta admit, now that you can see where we are, it’s pretty decent. I mean, grassy for the most part. Lots of trees in the hills. Sorry about having to blindfold you when you came the first time. I had no idea what you wanted back then…rather, I couldn’t trust your word.”

“And you do now?”

Loch grinned. “Getting there. You’re sitting in my yacht without guards. How much more proof do you need that we’re cool? Besides, I know you like the idea of this job. It appeals to you. What the hell did the military ever do for you? Kick you out? Screw them. This is going to be amazing.”

The ship slowed, rumbling enough that Rita grabbed the seat to stay in place. Loch chuckled, doing the same.

“Gets a little bumpy at the last few seconds.”

Sure does. Rita’s heart sank at the thought of having to go on high alert, of needing to be a hundred percent on her evacuation game for the foreseeable future. Loch made light of the situation, acted like he totally trusted her, but she knew better. He had to be thinking he’d win either way.

She might be on his side and in that case, he had what he wanted out of her. Or not and he’d kill her. After all, where would she go? Loch’s problem was he didn’t know how to evaluate a