Chapter Eight
May 10, 3056
Shanty-town
Clayborne Remembered
Circinus, Circinus Federation
“It is a bloody fortress,†growled Lucien as he stared at the three story mansion, once the three companions (and the girl) had clambered over the broken and rusted wrought iron gates. The grounds were filled with brown dead grass, a dry fountain that may (at a distant time in the past) have once flowed with water, and broken statuary.
But the mansion itself was a stark difference from the rest of the buildings nearby. The walls, pocked-marked with bullet impacts and even the mark of a light autocannon, were solidly built, and Lucien pointed towards one section where the granite had been broken. “Stone on the outside, but that is armor underneath—BattleMech armor, Jason. Not a single window on the ground level, and that entrance is covered by the overhang . . . are those murder holes above?â€
Jason grinned. “I imagine they are, Lucien—see the scorched flagstones? I bet they spew inferno gel, not merely boiling oil. And those two abstract sculptures flanking the entrance—do those look like stylized turrets to you?â€
“Aye,†the one-time Falcon replied. “Auto-blazer cannon, I would wager—nothing else is that compact and they have no recoil. The windows on the second flight are all narrow slits, and the ones on the third story are covered in armored shutters . . . never mind the razor-wire coils lining the walls. And that roof is too steep to allow someone to easily traverse it—looks slick as well.â€
The Bondsman turned his eyes away from the mansion and gazed at his bond-holder. “You think the Cameron is inside?â€
“Neg, Lucien. If the heir even exists, however, there is a good chance that the owner may well know where she is—and if not, I am certain he can aid us in our second mission.â€
Jason nodded quickly and he stepped forward towards the entrance—and sure enough, both of the decorative sculptures twisted in place to track him. He bounced up the steps and he politely knocked on the double doors, doing his best to ignore the shafts above his head which would rain down pure Hell upon him if things went wrong.
“Go away!†came a muffled voice from within. “Don’t want what you are peddling—if you aren’t off my property in five, they will be picking up pieces of you for the next week!â€
“I need to speak with Walker Roche—the matter is urgent.â€
“Are you deaf? I said leave!â€
Jason faced a small video picked buried in the wall and he nodded. He removed his jacket and unbuttoned the cuff of his right arm sleeve, rolling back the shirt to his elbow. And he held up his right arm before the monitor, presenting to it his codex.
“If this is the abode of Master Roche, he will wish to speak with me and my companions. If he is not here, then I apologize for disturbing you and will go away.â€
The lock on the doors snapped open and one side slowly opened, revealing an old white-haired man, holding a riot gun in one hand.
“I am Walker Roche—you took your own sweet time getting here, didn’t you?â€
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The interior was surprisingly clean and well-keep, although filled with relics and books and artifacts. Walker had let the four of them into his home, and then he secured the thick doors again, and bared them as well. He had started to ask questions, but then he nodded when he saw the frightened and battered girl and shook his head.
“Find a seat and take a load off—and touch nothing!†he snarled as he made his way between stacks of books, papers, and furniture to disappear within the warren. The girl shivered and Lucien patted her gently on the head and picked her up, putting her in a plush sofa chair, and placing a thick comforter over her. “You need not worry, girl,†he said. “He will not harm you—and you are going somewhere better.†He examined the couches and shook his head. “I think I will remain standing, Jason—I would hate to break his furniture by sitting on it.â€
Jason just sat on a couch next to Amanda. Walker came back into the room and he carried a mug and a plate—thick battered cuts of friend potatoes filled the plate, along with a golden mustard. “Here,†he growled at the girl. “You look hungry,†he said as he handed her the food and the mug filled with chilled juice.
The waif waited until Lucien nodded and then she gingerly took them both, setting the plate in her lap and began to gobble up the food, pausing only long enough to slake her thirst with the juice.
“Slowly, girl!†Lucien barked. “Too much of a feast after nothing will make you sick—take it slow.â€
She flinched, but did as he commanded.
The old man nodded. “Took you bloody long enough to come here for me. I’ve been expecting visitors since the Invasion began seven years ago! Did you forget about Walker Roche?â€
“Who are you, old man?†Lucien asked.
“Walker Roche—former Scorpion, former Dragoon, former Irregular, and resident historian for President McIntyre.â€
Jason nodded. “We lost track of you after the Dragoons quit sending reports—and neither Cranston Snord nor his daughter Rhonda were forthcoming with information on your whereabouts. Never mind that the Scorpions were not part and parcel of the Invasion and that limited how many of our resources we could bring to bear.â€
“Yeah, Cranston and Jamie both have their fool idea that the Vulture Lords are better for the common man than the Clans—despite all they have suffered at the hands of those same carrion-crows! Is it too much to ask that you have come to bring me home?â€
Lucien frowned. “You were on the Dragoon Expedition? Why didn’t you answer the recall? You could have been home six years ago?â€
“Do you realize how much it would have cost to buy passage for me and my collection to the Occupation Zone? I would have had to sell these items I have spent half a century collecting!†Walker Roche glared at the Elemental, and then he shrugged. “And who exactly are you?â€
“Jason Scott, Star Captain, Clan Goliath Scorpion Touman. My companions are Star Commander Amanda Djerassi and Bondsman Lucien,†Jason paused and he grinned. “The girl has not told us her name. I do not believe she trusts us yet.â€
Walker snorted. “She bloody damn well better not trust you! Or me. That is how you survive in the capital city of Circinus—trust no one. Calling this place a cesspool is an insult to sewers galaxy-wide.â€
“We are here because I Seek, Walker Roche,†Jason said as he leaned forward. “And I think we can arrange your transport back to the Homeworlds—if that is your wish.â€
The old man nodded and he sighed. “Aye,†he whispered. “I took the name of my homeworld as my honor-name when I joined the Dragoons. I would like to see her skies once more before my time is up—I’ve seen eighty-six years, boy. Never thought to see so many, but I am tired and I want to return home.â€
“It will be done, Walker Roche, and you will be received by the Khan herself and honored for your service.â€
A tear trickled down one cheek of the old Warrior and he nodded. “You Seek, eh? Damned if I haven’t been Seeking for half a century—what are you Seeking?â€
“Two things,†Jason answered. “There is a family that dwelt on Circinus following Kerensky’s departure—a woman named Mira Levin and her daughter Colleen. I am Seeking their descendants.â€
Walker grimaced and shook his head. “And I can guess why. You won’t like what you find, Seeker, but I know where you can find Mira Levin’s sole surviving heir—and he is every bit as screwed up as his as great-great-great Grandsire Richard. And the second item?â€
Jason grinned. “Tell me about Laredo.â€
Walker smiled in return. “Kerensky’s HQ . . . that’s the real reason you are here, isn’t it?â€
The Scorpion did not answer and the old mercenary warrior/spy shook his head. “I’ve done some prospecting over on Laredo—you have to hand it to Aleksandyr, he certainly hid it well. And his depopulating that entire continent helped to shield it.â€
“He massacred the people there?†asked Amanda in shock.
“Displaced them,†the historian corrected. “Claimed that the Rim World defenders had used nukes and persistent chemicals on Laredo that made it too hazardous to stay—moved ‘em lock, stock, and barrel here to High Plains. And he did test Rim chemical and nuclear warheads on a chain of islands between here and there. Those places are damned lethal to this day, so not too many folks continue on to Laredo if the outer islands are still irradiated and poisoned. Damn shame, too. Laredo is far enough north that it is a lot more temperate, with actual forests and ample fresh water, even a few glaciers up in the mountains. But it is a small continent, as continents go—more a large island, really—and the local animal life thrives there.â€
Walker paused and he collected his thoughts. “Evolution here on Circinus never really got above the reptile stage—but reptiles have flourished. Along with insects and fish. There are nearly three hundred species of snakes alone here—including two who fly. Well, one flies, the second glides. At least one hundred are venomous. We’ve got reptiles as big as a pachyderm, and smaller carnivores that are just plain vicious. They’ve had three centuries to reclaim Laredo for themselves—and they have, boy. They have.â€
“But, yeah. I’ve got a good idea of where it is—and a few ways to get inside without heavy excavating equipment. But we won’t be able to get anything out without a full-scale excavation—and if you do that, the Black Warriors will be on top of you before you can say abracadabra,†he shrugged. “Might not be anything left there, anyway. Time ruins all things, boy, but no one has broken into it, as far as I can tell.â€
Jason nodded. “I need to see it with my own eyes—so I report to the Khan on what remains intact. There may come a day when the Scorpion needs it. Can you take us there?â€
The old man paused and then he nodded. “I can—but I wouldn’t advise taking the girl along. McIntyre keeps me under watch, but, I’ve got a couple of tunnels he doesn’t know about.†He paused and shrugged again. “We’ll have to get my collection out through them—if he thinks I am planning on bolting ship, he will try to seize everything. And shoot you.â€
“The girl will stay with the DropShip—and I will have Star Commander Tomas and his people begin moving your collection aboard. And if President McIntyre truly does not know about your tunnels, we will be long gone before he discovers your absence.â€
“That’s the sixth problem,†Walker said sourly. “First, the gangs on Circinus don’t often help each other—but you are an outsider. And none of them like seeing an outsider kill their own and steal their property,†he said pointing to the girl. “Second problem, that gang-banger you shot and killed is related to one of the senior Black Warriors and probably would have been a ‘MechWarrior in a few years, and his family is gonna be pissed at you. Third problem, assuming you stay your ass alive to this point, is getting to Gordan Cameron—yes, he’s taken the name of his ancestor—without getting shot up in the process. He holds down an high position in McIntyre’s government and is a powerful big fish in our small Circinian pond. Fourth problem is that while Circinus might be backward and primitive, McIntyre has set up a pretty decent air-defense network—getting off of High Plains and onto Laredo ain’t gonna be a walk in the park. Fifth, once we get to Laredo, we’ve got all that indigenous life to deal with while we find a place to an entrance. It ain’t gonna be as simple as pick a clearing, walk twenty yards, and say ‘Open Sesame’, Aladdin. You’ve gotta deal with those first, Seeker, before we event think about sailing off into the deep black.â€
“Fore-warned is fore-armed, Walker. Do not worry yourself about me—I fully intend to finish this mission and return to my Khan.â€
Walker snorted. “So did I, my boy. So did I. And look how—and where—I ended up.â€