Children of Steel Read online

  However it was clear to everyone that we had a few spies back at Hobson’s Choice because they obviously knew we were coming here and did their best to stop us. Fortunately their best wasn’t good enough, this time at least.

  19

  The next stop was something new for me; I was going to be part of an expedition at the next stop.

  This was supposed to be one of my secondary jobs and I was glad I was finally going to get to do it. The planet we were going to had been surveyed from space years ago, so now the company wanted to explore some hopeful signs and see if they could establish a mine there. I found out we were supposed to do this last year, but the fight back at Arboral had changed our plans.

  Breakout was a lot more enjoyable this time; we really didn't expect anybody to be around as this system was pretty well outside of the sector. We still did the drill, but everybody was a lot more relaxed about it.

  The whole process of making orbit and getting a base camp set up took two weeks time. The planet was okay I guess, it was cold, cold enough that I'd have to wear my insulated flight suit even at the equator. It had an earthlike atmosphere, which was the rule more than the exception for our class of survey team I was told. There weren't too many storms about, and the planet was seventy five percent land, most of the water having frozen I guess.

  They left us with one of the assault shuttles for local transport, the cargo shuttles being more than we needed; two helicopters; and some ground vehicles specialized for the snow. We had a base camp of three main buildings, a barracks, a garage/shop, and a lab/storage area. There were thirty six of us, and we'd be here about six months, depending on the Astra's schedule. The Astra itself still had the other half of the troop contingent onboard to deliver; I just hoped they didn’t run into trouble in the process.

  Kate and Franz were there, they being part of the standard survey team. Sheen was there too, as part of the security and technical forces. That was where I fit in myself; Rudy was along being my WSO and a tech as well.

  There were also four Tiger's along, who with Sheen and myself made up the total security detachment. Fortunately, Rasha, who I’d still been seeing occasionally, was one of them so I wouldn't have to be celibate for the whole six months. Sheen and I had never ended up in the sack together, but there were no Jag's here and now that her boyfriend wasn't around maybe something would happen. I hadn't made a pass at her in over a year, but now that she was the only unattached Leopard around I was definitely going to start again.

  Of the remaining thirty people we had four Wolves, one was a chemist, three were techs; six Bears, two were geologists, one was a micro biologist, the rest were techs; two Possums, one was Rudy, the other was a cartographer; two Monkeys, both nurse/medics; six Rottweilers, they were all scouts; two Otters, they were marine biologists; two Goats, one was the cook and his mate was the doctor; and six Badgers, they were our engineers and administrators, I didn't know the break down.

  The techs split down into several different fields with a lot of overlapping, same with the engineers. The Tigers also doubled as Techs as did Rudy, Sheen and myself.

  A Badger named Klaus was the expedition's leader, with Franz the second in command as he was the senior scout. The head technician was an old Wolf named Janus, the head of security was a Tiger named Tiberius, and the head scientist was a Bear named Jack. I was considered the person in charge of all flight op's, but as there was just the one shuttle and the two helicopters it didn't really mean much, I was primarily responsible to Tiberius and considered part of security.

  That was fine with me though, Tiberius liked me a lot. Probably because he couldn't stand Marcus. Also as a member of security I'd get to spend a lot of time with Rasha and Sheen.

  Getting back to the present, the camp was set up about thirty degrees south of the equator and about fifty miles east of the largest ocean on the planet. Photo reconnaissance from space had indicated this was a likely spot for a good mineral find. There were about fifteen other promising sites to be checked as well, which were scattered around the planet. This one was fairly central to the majority of sites, though two of them were a good fifteen thousand miles away.

  The climate here was cold with a capital 'C', it got to a high of 2 degrees Celsius during the day, and about thirty below at night. There was a constant wind and the only cover was a low brush of some type that came up to my knee. It didn't do anything to stop the wind however.

  One thing for sure, I'd be glad when my winter coat came in! It'd make a big difference. I envied the Tigers, they were all Siberian derivatives, and with their winter coats they'd be able to take it all in stride.

  The first night I had to stand watch with Sheen, which was fine with me as we were pretty good friends. Watch was a pretty simple affair; we had surveillance cameras covering the grounds, and a perimeter fence that would scream if anything ran into it.

  We didn't really expect to have any trouble, but we had no idea at all what the local animal life consisted of, or if there even was any here. So far we hadn't seen a thing, but all the activity may have just scared it away.

  Watch was pretty boring, which was about what we expected, the hourly patrols just served to remind you how cold it was. At least the winter lining in my combat armor was battery powered, but it wasn't air tight and the wind found ways in.

  "What are you doing afterwards?" I asked Sheen as the end of our shift neared.

  "Going to bed, why?" She asked giving me a suspicious glance.

  "Want some company?" I grinned.

  "Raj, it hasn't even been a day yet, what are you going to do months from now?" she sighed.

  "Hey, it's cold around here and I think we'd both be a lot warmer in bed together." I admitted honestly, though I don't think she believed it. "I promise to behave, for tonight at least."

  "In that case, you have a deal. It is cold out there, and this building seems to have trouble dealing with it."

  "That's a fact; these temporary structures just aren't made for this. Everybody's going to be grumbling until they get their winter fur."

  We finished our shift a short while later and I followed Sheen through the empty corridor to her room, it was still three hours before the day began for everyone else. We went inside and helped each other strip off our gear and after a quick trip to the bathroom, climbed quickly into her bed.

  "Damn, at least they could keep the floor heated during the night!" she growled as we curled up together.

  "Everybody's supposed to be asleep, remember? Why waste the energy."

  "It still stinks, I hate cold feet."

  "Next time try leaving the liners from your combat boots on then," I suggested.

  She snuggled a little closer, her back against my stomach, "That's a good idea; I'll give it a try."

  "If anything else gets cold let me know, I have an idea for that too!" I said quietly in her ear.

  "Just remember your promise!" she chuckled, "Really Raj, I didn't expect you to start in for at least a week. What's the rush?"

  "I figure the sooner I start, the sooner I'll succeed," I yawned. It had been a long day and I was getting tired despite my suggestion.

  "What make's you so sure you'll succeed?" she asked with a hint of humor in her voice.

  "Well," I said counting off the points, "first you are a Leopard and a young one at that, even if you are older than me. Second there's only one unattached male Leopard on the entire planet, and that's me. Third your boyfriend Clint isn't on the planet and the two of you don't exactly have a monogamous relationship."

  "And you don't think I'll find what I want among the Tiger's?"

  "It's a possibility," I conceded, "What's the matter Sheen, don't you like me or something?"

  "You're in my bed aren't you?"

  "Then what have you got against sex with me?" I grumbled half asleep. If I had been totally awake, I probably never would have had the nerve to say it straight out.

  "I don't have sex with Leopards very often anyway, or hadn't
you noticed?"

  I woke back up, "What? I thought you and Banner had before he mated with Terease?" I asked confused.

  "Well yeah, we did a few times. But I mostly stick with Jaguars, Clint usually, but I've been with Pepe too," I could feel her grin, "And even Tigers on the occasion."

  "Why?" I was dumbfounded.

  "The Jag's are just a lot more laid back, that's all. You should be the first to admit that many Leopards can be maniacs," she said accusingly. "And I prefer the calming influence they have on me. Haven't you noticed I'm not as hyper as the rest can be at times?"

  "And all this time I thought you just liked large men," I said depressed.

  "If that was the case, you'd have been successful a long time ago Raj. But the fact is you have a tendency to be exactly the kind of Leopard I avoid. I've seen the way your ears go back, the nose gets wet and your eyes dilate.

  "The last Leopard I knew like you got shot in the back because he lost it and had to be 'put down'. It wasn't a pretty sight believe me, I had nightmare's about it for month's."

  "Who shot him?" I asked suspiciously.

  "I did," she admitted so quietly that I almost missed it.

  I thought about that a second and filed it under reason's to work on self improvement.

  "So I guess this mean's sex is out of the question then?"

  "Dammit Raj, I'm being serious here," she sounded really upset. "You’ve got one hell of a temper, worse than his was! I don't know how you've managed to survive this long! You've got several warnings in your records from your crèche days, Balizar can't figure out why you weren't put down then. Sure you've behaved since you almost got tossed out of advanced, but I've seen the type before and we're both afraid you'll revert."

  My ear's perked up at this, "You've read my file?" I asked coldly, "That's supposed to be private!"

  "Balizar showed me before this expedition started," she replied coldly. "In case something had to be done."

  "That should be Tiberius's job, why'd he tell you? And who else has he told?" I wanted to know just what had been going on behind my back.

  "He didn't tell Tiberius," she said quietly, "other than to say you have a temper, which everybody already knows. I suspect Herza knows too, but that's not the point!"

  "What is the point?" I asked settling back down.

  "The point is, I'm expected to stop you if you really do go crazy."

  "Why you? Why not Tiberius? Better yet, why not Herza?" I asked confused.

  "Because I've done it before, and Balizar wants this kept inside the clan, he has this hope that you're going to learn to control yourself, and every year older you get the better the chances. As for Herza, she's in love with you and wouldn't be able to do it."

  That last part was a shock, Herza in love with me? I couldn't believe it. Either I said it out loud, or she read my mind.

  "Yes, she's in love with you. Except for that damnable temper of yours, you're her idea of perfection I guess."

  The idea of Herza feeling that strongly towards me made me feel uncomfortable, so I changed the subject. "I've read my file too you know."

  "Really?" That surprised her, "Doesn't it worry you then that you only just squeaked by?"

  "I didn't just 'squeak by'," I confessed.

  "What do you mean?" She turned and faced me in the darkness, I could see the concern on her face by the dim light of the telltale's on the far wall.

  "I was supposed to be put down when I was eleven," There I had finally said it! Only one other person knew, and that was Cassandra of course.

  "Why weren't you?" she asked drawing away a little.

  "Cassandra isn't just in intel just because she's sneaky, smart, and devious; she's also a good computer hacker. She had flags on everybody's files, everybody in my family that is. When the order came down, she erased it, as well as the files that prompted it. She then made it look like it was carried out to the person who ordered it, and got him transferred to another department."

  "Why?"

  "So I'd make it out alive! What do you think?" I said exasperated.

  "No, why'd she do it? They could do her too for that."

  "Because we're in love, and there really isn't any reason for one of us to go on without the other." I said quietly. "After that incident, she made it quite clear that we'd go together and I realized it would be my fault if we did. So I started trying to calm down and not let my rages get me into fights.

  "I admit now that the incident on the ship was a mistake, but after the fight I just kind of lost it. I've been trying something new now and it seems to be helping. That's the other reason I want to have Cassandra around again though, besides lifemating, when she's there I have an extra incentive to behave.

  "Anyway, I've been good since then. I've gotten mad a few times sure, I admit it. But I haven't stayed mad and haven't done anything have I?"

  "I thought the reason was the trips you've been making to the Bars with Herza."

  "They helped at first," I admitted, "But they really didn't change my behavior," I smiled, "just made me a better weapon."

  "What did you do that they were going to 'do' you anyway?" she asked quietly after a moment.

  "I don't want to talk about it, but don't worry, I didn't kill anyone. I've never lost it enough to do that."

  "That's reassuring at least," she smiled.

  "So now that it's all out in the open, think you might change your mind about having sex?"

  She rolled back over and snuggled up again, "No, my original plan still stands," I groaned. "But I'll tell you about it now, I think you deserve it for being so honest."

  "Well what is it?" I asked after a couple of seconds.

  "You behave, and I'll screw your brains out! I'm not the celibate type myself you know. And Balizar does believe in you, and you have been good. But screw up once and I'll be sleeping with the Tigers!"

  I gave her a hug, and a little nip on the ear.

  "But not tonight! I'm tired."

  "Me too," I admitted, confessions and admissions took a lot out of one. We both went to sleep then. I dreamed of Cassandra that night and got the impression that we shared the dream. In my dream, we were both together again, as in many of them to be honest. But it was years later in this one, we were both officers now and posting the same assignments.

  We were serving on a ship I think, and some of the faces in it were familiar ones from the past, but most were the formless ghosts of dreams. As the dream continued, I suddenly found myself young again, back at the age of eleven, but here on the planet.

  It was then that I had a nightmare that I hadn't had in years, one where I lose all control and start to strangle somebody only to have them turn into Cassandra. This one ended differently thought, this time I was shot in the back of the head by Sheen.

  I woke up panting then, I usually did after that part. I laid there slowing my breath and calming down, thinking about the dream and its changes. Usually I was killed by myself, in a strange split of views. It was a strange dream, but I had always suspected that it was a post hypnotic suggestion, planted by Cassandra. After that old incident I had allowed her several liberties with my body and mind, in a hope to change my behavior. The nightmare had started shortly afterwards, but as my attitude changed it had gone away.

  I guess the talk had jarred it loose; I was surprised it was still there even. But it was amateur work, done by one desperate child for another. We both knew that I had reached the allowable number of incidents, and we wouldn't be able to cover up another one. I had been getting into at least one fight a week at that point, with a large percent of my opponents ending up seriously injured. It was only when Cassandra had drilled it home that I was hurting her too, that I really made an effort to change.

  I closed my eyes and went back to sleep, one point of the dream that I guess my subconscious had supplied, was obvious: I had damn well better behave around Sheen.

  The next morning I awoke refreshed, the nightmare not having caused any further p
roblems. I dressed and after breakfast headed out to check on how the shuttle had weathered the cold. I didn't expect to find any problems, and didn't. But it's standard procedure to do the checks, you never know if there's something local that considers some part of the shuttle to be perfect for it.

  After finishing that chore, I went to see what, if any, flying jobs were coming up. It turned out that there was nothing set for at least a week; they wanted to finish the local tests first, and complete setting up.

  I ended up alternating my duties between security, and helping to assemble equipment. By the end of the first week, they had gotten most of the data they wanted on the local site and it looked good. Another site was then selected and we began the arduous task of loading the shuttle for its trip.

  It took about three trips to shuttle all of the necessary equipment and personnel to the new site. After a week working there it was on to the next one.

  That was the way it went more or less for the next three months, go to a site, set up, test, break down, and move again. Sleeping at the remote sites wasn't much fun, the shelters being even less insulated than the main camp, but I did get my winter coat after a couple of weeks, so it wasn't too bad. I also had to make a lot of side trips for the scientist's, collecting biological and mineral samples from the different areas that we encamped at.

  The hardest part were the long watches, as our small security team often got divided in half and sometimes even in thirds. By the time all of the preliminary tests had been completed, the geologists had identified four sites for further testing. The biologists had also determined that there were no harmful micro-organisms, and we couldn't live off of the local plant or animal life.

  The first casualty was one of the wolf technicians and it happened out on a test site, she was killed by an explosive charge that detonated prematurely. The second, a Rottweiler scout, was lost in the mountains when an ice bridge collapsed during a sensor planting expedition. These kinds of things were expected, accidents happen.