Ark of Ascension by Schultheiss Michael R

Author:Schultheiss, Michael R.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyamgallal Press LLC
Published: 2023-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The Asset

Evalla endured the drive in silence, keeping a firm lid on the gale-force of emotions that blew within her. The anger she felt gnawed at her insides, and she had to admit it hurt. She had trusted Kard enough to come all the way to Tarsho—granted, he had hired her, but she had still trusted him.

She stole a glance at her uncle. He was looking at his comm, and seemed intent on whatever he was reading there. She could see a hint of tension in the slant of his eyes, the lines of his face.

He’s a man of the Laskos Syndicate… and he’s a Surveillance Directory asset.

It all made a certain kind of sense: how else to explain the seeming leniency of his prison sentence?

I should have seen it a lot sooner, she told herself. But what else is he hiding from me?

On the other hand, she knew a thing or two about secret missions. Kard’s terms of release almost certainly would have included a strict confidentiality clause, an agreement to not tell anyone, not even his niece, that he was in any way working for the Commonality.

You’re being silly, she admonished herself. Why should she be angry with Kard for doing what he no doubt had to do?

Because he’s family, the defiant part of her whispered back. And family shouldn’t lie to each other.

She looked away from Kard, and found herself locking eyes with Agent Raivo Tuyin. The sharp-featured woman stared back, slate-gray eyes hard and unyielding.

“I’m not thrilled about this,” Tuyin said.

“Having to rescue us?” Evalla said. “I suppose that makes sense.”

Tuyin’s eyes grew sharper. “Does it? Does it really?”

Evalla had to suppress a smile. Agent Tuyin’s tough-gal act probably worked wonders in the environment of the Surveillance Directory, but Evalla was a combat veteran who had killed numerous humans and xenics.

“Sure,” she said. She nodded toward Kard. “You stepped in to save us. That exposed him as a Surveillance Directory asset.”

“Those aren’t cheap, you know,” Tuyin said, her voice carrying a note of warning.

“Makes sense,” Evalla said, shrugging. “I mean, must have been a political headache, cutting him that deal.”

Tuyin stared at her. The other agents on either side of her glanced at Evalla but then stared off into space.

Evalla smiled at Tuyin. It was a bit like taunting a viper from a safe distance, or maybe a leashed guard dog: part of the fun was seeing how far you could push it before it struck, and getting a reaction made for an exhilarating jolt of adrenaline.

“Hey, Kard,” Evalla said, looking toward her uncle, “speaking of that deal, I’m wondering: did you even do three years?”

“I was the agent of record,” Tuyin said, her tone crisp. It was like listening to twigs snap. “Have you ever heard of a Hall hearing?”

Without waiting for an answer, she pointed at Kard. “Four hours. I had to endure four hours of cross-examination in a Hall of Administration hearing to approve the deal for your uncle.”

“Sounds like a sweetheart deal,” Evalla said.

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