Keeper Hunter

With a deepening regret I realised there would be no one to save me. I was on my own. No Keepers to call upon, no Valkyrie to back me up. I had two rounds remaining not enough to keep the enemy at bay. I was in dire straits I just hoped I’d given Copper time to get away. The Separatists had withdrawn for the moment after I’d downed their leader. I was sure the figure in white was the Prophet from Alfheimir. I had failed to stop him permanently how could the guy be so lucky. I leaned against the wall and observed activity where the shuttles had landed. The lull gave me time to consider the oddities of the Separatists’ actions. If I knew better I would have said these Separatists were under some sort of control. Any rational thinking attackers would have surrounded the building and attacked simultaneously. Yet these Separatists weren’t acting rationally. I saw a shuttle lift and fly away the Prophet if my guess was correct. It flew low over the forest luckily in a different direction to the way Copper had gone.

Something flashed through the sky with rush of sound I ducked instinctively expecting the worst. One of the Separatist shuttles on the ground exploded. I saw a flying craft bank and turn for another attack run. I recognised it as an Interceptor and my blood ran cold. The last time I’d seen interceptors was in the skies over Alfheimir Imperial fighter-bombers that should not have been there. They had been about attack a bridge full of refugees with no way of getting off it. I watched it bank and dive in for another attack run. It was time I left I had no desire to be collateral damage. I shoved my Seven Double ‘M’ into my pocket and headed for the window at the back of the room. This window overlooked a high walled backyard over grown with bushes. I scrambled out the window and dropped down the bushes cushioning my fall. At the rear of the small enclosed yard was a rusty metal gate. I pushed it and it wobbled I pushed harder it gave slightly. I pushed again putting all my strength into it. Suddenly the gate parted with the wall and I rolled out going head over heels out onto the road behind it. I hit the ground hard bruising my arm as I did so. I staggered to my feet and looked up to see dropships descending the Moon and Star logo bright on their under hulls. The Interceptor returned strafing the remaining shuttles. A dozen dropships landed surrounding the town and the Separatists landing zone. It wasn’t long before I heard the heavy tramp of armoured boots. I had delayed to too long. Several armoured soldiers in Imperial pale green swung around the corner of a ruined building and onto my path. It was pointless to run I held up my hands.

“I surrender!” I announced hoping that would at least stop them from shooting me.

What I didn’t expect was the leader of the soldiers’ chuckle.

“Why am not surprised to see you in the middle of this?”

I recognised the voice. “Captain Jean Gardner?” I said my arms still raised.

“Relax Glenda we know you are on our side,” Jean said waving to her team to lower their weapons.

I dropped my hands. “Ok what happens now?”

“We go talk to the major at the CP?”

“CP?” I asked and winced I was retreating things again.

“Command post.” She flicked a signal to her team. “Move out!”

We walked through the square several Marines were piling bodies into black bags.

“Your handy work I see,” Jean commented with a flick of a hand to the corpses.

I didn’t want to see I deeply regretted the loss of life. But the more practical part of my mind reminded me it was either they or I. “I did give them a chance to surrender which was more than they gave me.” I had a sudden thought. I glanced over to the last place I had seen the Prophet. “I shot the leader.” I indicated a patch of blood it wasn’t much to look at. “Is there someone I can get that can analyse the blood stain there?”

“OK but why?” Jean said to me.

“I want to see if the blood is the same as the Prophet from Alfheimir?”

“And?”

“I believe the leader of the Separatists is the same as the Prophet?” I told her of my encounter with the Prophet on Alfheimir.

Jean gave a low whistle. “If that’s true he’s going to be pissed with you. You shot him twice and ruined his day.”

“I just wish I killed him but he’s got more lives than a cat?” I said.

“Just like someone else I could mention.” Jean turned to her Marines. “Get it seen to.”

“Aye ma’am,” one replied with a salute and hurried off.

Jean turned to me and jerked her thumb to the refugees ground car. “I take it that’s your vehicle?”

“Some refugees it’s theirs. I came in an ATV with my guide. I got her out of here with the refugees.” Which reminded me they were out in the forest somewhere hiding. “I got them hiding in the forest,” I told Jean. “They should be easy to spot they are T’Arni and they should be with an ATV.”

“I’ll make sure they are safe.” Jean gestured. “This way Glenda.”

I followed Jean not like I had much of a choice I just wished I’d been more honest with her. We exited the western edge of the ruined town. I felt guilt and horror seeing the devastation the Empire had done to it’s own citizens. What made things worse was the graveyard we passed it was full of graves with simple headstones. I didn’t want to count the number of dead it seemed the whole town was here. I understood Copper’s feeling she felt guilty surviving while others died.

A handful of dropships formed a hollowed square the outskirts of which was guarded by pairs of Marines.

“Hey Glenda,” one shouted her hand raised in a wave. Another voice I recognised.

“Claire!” I replied. Another I’d regretted getting tangled in my mess.

“You ok Glenda?” she called out.

“Fine,” I told her. I wasn’t I was just trying to keep my emotions in check I’d killed. Although in self-protection I still regretted the loss of life I guess that was my Keeper blood talking.

“Keep your eyes on our surroundings!” Jean warned her.

“Aye ma’am!” Claire saluted.

“Later Claire,” I said.

Claire didn’t reply she was too busy keeping watch. Jean led me up the ramp of one of the dropships. The inside had been turned into a command and control centre. An older man with grey hair and a face full of scars stood towards the back his helmet on a rack above his head. Next to his was a Marine with bulky comms equipment. It reminded me of the Confeds on Davenport they had the same sort of setup. Jean marched up to the older man and saluted.

“Major Burgess?” she said.

Major Burgess turned to regard Jean I saw him glance at me. “Who’s the civ captain she don’t look like a Separatist?”

“This is Glenda Hampton she helped with the investigation on the Ariadne.”

I took note she said I helped and not took charge. I was grateful for that.

“You’re that Hampton?” Major Burgess grumped.

“Excuse me Major Burgess,” A voice behind me interrupted.

I turned to see a short man behind me. He had olive skin and black slicked back hair. He had on a dark blue business suit. He seemed to be scrutinising me carefully.

“Do you mind if I borrow Lady Glenda for a moment?”

I stared at the man I didn’t like him calling me Lady Glenda if a real noble heard that I’d be in a lot of trouble. Nobles didn’t like their titles taken by commoners. I was sure as I could be I had no noble blood. Having Valkyrie blood didn’t count in the Empire.

Major Burgess scowled. “What do you want…?” He looked at me a shocked expression on his face. “Wait a minute you said Lady Glenda she one of yours?”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that I was totally confused.

“One of Lady Broaden’s actually,” The blue suited man replied.

I liked that even less. I began to feel like a pawn in a greater game and it angered me.

“This way Lady Glenda.” The man bowed to me.

I waited until we were outside before confronting him.

“How about we cut the act. Now what do you want?”

“Straight to the point,” he said. “Lady ‘B’ warned me you’d be like that?”

I assumed by him saying Lady ‘B’ he meant Lady Broaden. “Are you going to answer my question?”

“I don’t want anyone to overhear what we say so we’ll go somewhere else.”

I just wanted it over so I agreed. “Ok lead the way.”