The Tortuous Path (Fall of the Terran Empire Book 2) Read online

  In the distance, Danny could hear the first mech closing in. We’ve got to go. Now.

  We can’t make it to the city anymore, said Isaac. They’re blocking the way.

  Then we go this way, said Danny, pointing down the empty street behind them.

  “Give me a few minutes to think it over,” Isaac called out to the mech.

  “Sorry, Isaac. I’m not that stupid.”

  The mech advanced on their location and repeatedly fired into the building they hid behind.

  Run, said Danny, and the three clones tore down the street into the darkness.

  Behind them, the second mech had arrived, and the two war machines broke into a run after them.

  Chapter 3

  Danny pumped several rounds into the Zeta clone trying to cut him off. A second appeared from behind a corner, but Gerry acted first, almost cutting the man’s head off with a plasma bolt to the throat.

  How did they get ahead of us so fast? Danny said over the neural link.

  They must’ve run ahead while Masterson was talking, Gerry said without breaking stride.

  Do you see any more?

  No, I think that’s it, but keep your eyes open.

  Any ideas, Isaac? Danny said. We could use one of your inventions right about now.

  Sorry, my boy, Isaac said. I’m afraid I’m all out of rabbits at the moment.

  Rabbits? What good are they?

  Never mind. We need to utilize our strengths better.

  What strengths? Gerry said. We’re outnumbered and outgunned.

  The neural link, dear girl. The combined resources of our three minds. We need to find an access point so that we can get on the planetary network.

  Isaac, we’re in the middle of fucking nowhere. How are we supposed to do that? Gerry demanded.

  Even these isolated communities have technology.

  Are you sure about that? They don’t even have paved roads around here.

  Or people, Danny said. Why is that?

  Tran is a corrupt and impoverished world, Isaac explained. At the height of the Empire’s power, there was plenty of trade that kept the planet prosperous. But as the Empire weakened, that trade waned. Taxes were steadily increased, stifling commerce and encouraging black market activities. Finally, the Tran declared independence, further exasperating the situation. The warfare that followed meant that much of the planet’s GDP went to the military, rather than to infrastructure. As things got worse, people moved away looking for better opportunities.

  I’m just glad they have these narrow streets, said Gerry. They make it a hell of a lot harder for the mechs to keep up.

  This way, said Danny, ducking through a doorway into a dilapidated building.

  What are you doing, little brother, said Gerry. It’s a death trap in here.

  No, I’ve seen buildings like this one before.

  He’s right, Isaac said. This building is an old commuter station. There should be a tunnel network underneath.

  Explosive rounds smashed through the front wall of the building just as the clones started their descent down the stairs. Using their augmented abilities, they cleared each flight effortlessly, and soon reached the tunnel platform. Strange looking animals scurried away from them into crevices in the crumbling walls.

  Without hesitation, the team jumped onto the tracks and raced into the bowels of the transportation system. With no lights and everything in disrepair, it proved to be an ideal hiding spot.

  Unfortunately, the clones pursuing them would have the same augmented vision as they did, and the darkness would prove not to be a hindrance. Still, the mechs would find it difficult, if not impossible, to follow, which evened the score.

  I think this tunnel should lead to the urban center, said Isaac.

  Should? said Gerry.

  Yes. I’m not entirely sure.

  Okay, let’s say it does. What do we do then?

  I know someone who can help us.

  Another friend? Gerry snapped.

  The last one was a business associate, not a friend.

  But this one is a friend?

  No. He is another associate.

  Great. Let’s hope Zeta hasn’t got him on the payroll too.

  Chapter 4

  Danny, Gerry, and Isaac emerged from the tunnels onto a much busier street. The downpour hadn’t abated, but the roads were paved and full of vehicles. The sidewalks held a surprising amount of pedestrian traffic, who seemed unperturbed by the never-ending storm.

  Perfect, Isaac said. We are close.

  At least something is going our way, Gerry said. I don’t see any sign of the Zeta assassins either.

  The doesn’t mean they aren’t still following us, Danny said. You know that.

  Unfortunately, I do. Still, I feel better deceiving myself, okay?

  Whatever works for you, sister.

  The three clones traveled several city blocks, keeping an eye out for any signs of pursuit, and dodging the odd careless umbrella. If Zeta still shadowed them, they were doing an exceptional job staying concealed.

  Danny didn’t want to give himself any false hope, but he was starting to believe that their tour of the underground tunnels might have worked.

  Here it is, Isaac said.

  You’re kidding, Gerry said.

  No. Why?

  This is a bar. That’s why.

  It is one of my contact’s businesses. He keeps strange hours and likes to work out of here.

  I don’t understand, Danny said. How is a bar owner going to help us?

  The bar is not his real business, Isaac said. It is more of a facade.

  What is his main business?

  Let’s just say he has his hands in a lot of things.

  You know all the winners, don’t you Isaac? Gerry said sarcastically.

  You must understand that human cloning was illegal when we started Zeta, said Isaac. We couldn’t exactly go through normal channels, could we?

  Uh huh. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Isaac.

  Technically, human cloning was still illegal, but Zeta bypassed that issue by locating its business in a region of space not under Imperial control. It also didn’t hurt that both the Empire and the Frontier Alliance were Zeta clients.

  Danny tensed the second he walked inside. The bar was full, and it felt as though all heads turned to inspect them.

  So, three clones walk into a bar, Gerry said.

  Funny, Danny said. Where do we find this guy, Isaac?

  We’ll have to ask to see him, Isaac said. Just let me do the talking.

  Sure, Gerry said. What could go wrong?

  The three clones pushed their way through the crowd. The tavern’s patrons made a point of not moving out of the way or hiding their hostile attitudes.

  Danny met each glare with impassive eyes. These petty thugs didn’t come close to intimidating him, no matter how hard they tried. In fact, when he did lock eyes with some of them, and they saw the deadly calm in his stare, the erstwhile toughs lost their bravado and looked away.

  “Should I just shoot one of them and get it over with, little brother?” Gerry said out loud, surprising Danny.

  Sister, relax. We’re not supposed to attract unwanted attention, Danny said.

  I hate to break it to you, little brother, but that ship sailed the moment we walked in here. “What are you looking at?” Gerry said to a man standing directly in front of her. “You want to give me a kiss?”

  The man wisely turned and walked away, without saying anything.

  “That’s what I thought,” Gerry said. “Anybody else?”

  Can you please not start any trouble? Isaac said.

  I’m not the one starting anything, Gerry said.

  Please? Just this once?

  Fine. I’ll try.

  Thank you.

  Isaac reached the counter and waved the bartender over. “I’m here to see Mr. Leventis.”

  “Who is that?” the bartender said.

  Isaac sighed. “Just
tell him Isaac Stern is here to see him.”

  “Wait here. I’ll see if there’s anybody here by that name.”

  The bartender left the bar and disappeared into the crowd.

  “I know what you are,” an older man with a gray beard said to Danny. “Why aren’t you in uniform?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Danny said, taking a page out of the bartender’s book.

  “Oh, come on, you’re not fooling anyone with that outfit. I don’t know about your friends, but you’re a Zeta clone. That much I know.”

  Gerry leaned in and locked eyes with the man. “It’s probably healthier to mind your own business.”

  The man blanched. “Alright. No need to be like that.”

  This is a bad idea, Isaac, Danny said. One of these men is bound to figure out that we’re who Zeta’s been looking for.

  Just relax. Here comes the bartender now, said Isaac.

  “Mr. Leventis will see you. Just head over to the back of the bar, and you’ll be let in.”

  “Thank you, young man,” said Isaac.

  They pushed their way through the crowd again. Danny walked behind Gerry and noticed her deliver an elbow into the ribs of a man who stubbornly refused to get out of the way. The guy cried out and doubled over, clenching his side.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” said Gerry. “Did I do that?”

  “Get the hell away from me,” yelled the man.

  I thought you weren’t going to cause any trouble? Isaac said.

  He wouldn’t move, Gerry said.

  I’m pretty sure you broke a few ribs, Danny said.

  So now it’s my fault the guy is a weakling?

  Isaac threw his hands up in frustration but didn’t say anything else.

  Upon reaching the far wall, a door slid open. Inside it was far less crowded. The people they did encounter looked more threatening than the belligerent types in the main bar. They were all alert and kept their eyes on the clones, but none tried to challenge, or prove anything. Danny noted the shape of their clothing and quickly deduced that all were armed.

  At the far end was a wide desk, with a burly man sitting behind it. Isaac approached the barrel-chested man, who remained silent.

  “Mr. Leventis, it is wonderful to see you again,” said Isaac.

  Danny and Gerry stayed back, ensuring that they could see the whole room and everyone in it.

  “What the fuck are you doing here, Isaac?” said Leventis.

  “You haven’t changed a bit. Okay, let’s skip the small talk. I need your help.”

  “I’m sure you do. First, I hear about that chaos that took place just out of town, and then you show up at my bar after who knows how many years. What’s going on? And don’t try and bullshit me.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. Okay, you’re right. We were involved in that conflict you mentioned. I bought some product from Luka, and he sold me out.”

  “To Zeta?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Didn’t I always tell you not to do business with that piece of shit?”

  “You did.”

  “Well, I hope you did me a favor and killed that prick.”

  Isaac didn’t answer.

  Leventis nodded. “Good. He deserved it. So, what do you want from me?”

  “We need to get off this planet, and back to our ship.”

  “That’s a big favor.”

  “I’ll pay.”

  “Of that, there is no question. But still. It’s no small feat. Especially with all the pressure Zeta’s going to put on this planet, now that they know you’re here.”

  “Are you saying you’re not going to help us?”

  “No, I didn’t say that. I just don’t think money is going to be enough this time.”

  “Okay, I’m listening. What is it you want?”

  Leventis leaned in like a hungry lion about to devour its kill. “I want you to do a job for me.”

  Chapter 5

  “What kind of job?” Isaac said.

  “Oh, nothing too difficult for a couple of military clones,” Leventis said. “I just need you to kill someone for me.”

  “No. Out of the question.”

  “Okay, no problem. Good luck to you.”

  Let’s go, Isaac said over the neural link. We’ll find another way.

  What are our options? Danny said.

  We’ll steal a ship like we did on Pallias.

  We had help on Pallias, Gerry said. Safehouses. We don’t have anything here, and this place will soon be crawling with Zeta assassins looking for us.

  You’re not thinking of taking the job, are you? Isaac said.

  Danny and I were built to be mercenaries, Gerry said. We’ve spent our lives killing for the highest bidder.

  Yes, but that was before your liberation. You had no choice then. You do now.

  Let’s get some more information first, okay?

  “Who exactly is it you want eliminated?” Isaac said.

  A broad predatorial grin formed on Leventis’s face. He tapped at the surface of his desk, and a holoimage appeared of a middle-aged man. “His name is Erbakan, and he is a scumbag. A human trafficker. Takes women from one planet and sells them into slavery on another. Lowest of the low. If anybody deserves to die, it’s him.”

  Hell, I’ll kill someone like that for free, Gerry said. Tell him we’ll take the job.

  “Why do you want him killed?” Isaac pressed.

  “Is the sex trafficking not enough? People like that need to be killed on principle alone.”

  “I won’t argue with you there, but what’s the real reason you want him dead?”

  Leventis leaned back in his chair. “Erbakan has been expanding. Moving into other business areas of mine. He has become something of an annoyance.”

  “I see. He’s trying to compete with you. In what field? Arms dealing?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Do you accept my terms, or not?”

  “Yes, we accept, but on the condition that you get us off this planet immediately.”

  “I can do that. Erbakan’s not on Tran anyway. He’s here.” Leventis waved his hand, and the holoimage vanished. He tapped on his desk again, and a new holoimage appeared, depicting a space station. “Aurora station, in the Volsung system. That is where you need to go.”

  Isaac nodded. “We can do that.”

  Leventis smiled and shook his head. “Not you, Isaac.” He pointed at Danny and Gerry. “Them.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you think I am stupid? I know what these clones can do. What’s to stop them from commandeering my ship and not bothering with the job?”

  “You would have our word.”

  Leventis laughed. “Sorry, Isaac. That’s not good enough. My idea is better. You will stay with my men on a different ship. When the job is complete, I’ll reunite the three of you, and give you the means to go wherever you want.”

  I don’t like it, Danny said over the neural link. It places you in danger.

  It’s alright, my boy. It will get us out of this system. Zeta won’t know where we are.

  There’s another problem, Gerry said. How do we get close to Erbakan?

  Good point. “Let’s say we agree to your terms,” Isaac said. “How do they get close enough to Erbakan without him realizing what they are?”

  “That’s the best part. I’ve managed to capture a couple of Erbakan’s men and had their features, and voice patterns copied. I’ll provide your clones with the necessary holo-emitters to disguise themselves. Erbakan will never know the difference.”

  What do you think? Isaac said.

  It’s risky, but it can work, Danny said.

  I don’t think we have much of a choice, Gerry said. If we refuse, his next call will be to Zeta.

  Agreed, Danny said. Let’s just get off this planet, and we’ll figure out the rest later.

  “Very well, Mr. Leventis,” Isaac said. “We accept your terms.”

  Chapter 6<
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  “I propose that we build battle stations in the systems we currently control,” Admiral Tavian said. “With the upgraded plasma beam, they would present a formidable defense against the Frontier Alliance and Zeta.”

  “Yes,” Emperor Cherenko said. “Despite the end of hostilities with Zeta, they can never be fully trusted again. I like your proposal, Tavian. We need to adopt a more defensive posture. Between our fleets and new battle stations, we should have enough of a deterrent to dissuade any future aggression.”

  Admiral Reynolds gazed down the long table with contempt at the other Admirals. Nobility to the last. More concerned with preserving what they had left, than regaining what the Empire had lost. They represented Imperial rot, and Reynolds placed the blame for the Empire’s decline squarely on their shoulders. He had even started losing respect for Emperor Cherenko himself.

  When Cherenko was still an admiral, he gave Reynolds tremendous opportunities to prove himself. At the time, Reynolds had the threat of retirement looming over his head. But Cherenko believed in him. He made him a Vice Admiral, and then an Admiral. When Cherenko became Emperor he promoted Reynolds as a reward for his success.

  Reynolds was grateful to Cherenko for all of it, but his first loyalty had always been to the Empire, and he couldn’t bear to watch it wither before his eyes.

  “Your worship, if I may speak freely,” Reynolds said.

  “Go ahead,” Cherenko said.

  “Majesty, I believe that we need to stay on the offensive. If we take a defensive posture our enemies will see it as a sign of weakness.”

  “On the contrary,” Tavian interrupted. “An offensive strategy requires enormous resources. We simply cannot afford to continue on this path. We need to secure what we have left, or we risk losing everything.” Tavian turned to Cherenko. “Your worship, your predecessor, Emperor Detlev, promoted an aggressive policy and almost bankrupted the treasury in the process. It is time to regroup. Secure our territory. Replenish the Imperial coffers.”

  “Majesty,” Reynolds said. “As you know, that aggressive strategy allowed my fleet to take back the Pallian and the Allimanian systems. Had we done what Admiral Tavian is suggesting, both those systems would now be part of the Frontier Alliance, leaving the Empire significantly weaker.”