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ARCHON
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The following scene excerpt is from chapter sixteen, featuring Agent Barrisen and Dietrich Sullivan.
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An hour and forty-five later, Barrisen was gearing up with her crew in the back of a shuttle, dropping planetside. Dietrich, Tamlin, and Parrish, a lethal-looking bunch she’d pieced together over the years from some of the toughest units in the Union. Parrish was in the back of the shuttle, running last minute equipment checks, making sure they had everything they needed to pull the Te’Khan ship’s data core. Tamlin sat mid-section, along the wall opposite Barrisen and Dietrich, packing demolition charges into a large black over-sized duffel. It was quiet, had been since they’d left the Nomad just a few minutes prior. They’d never been a talkative bunch.
Dietrich sheathed a six-inch recon blade he’d been using to touch up his fingernails and gave Barrisen a nudge. “So what are we doing with Walden?” “We aren’t doing anything. I told you. He’s mine.” “That’s a given. But when’s it going down?” Barrisen looked toward the back of the shuttle, watched Parrish seal the second crate, then open the last and start running his final checks. “We pull the core units first—make sure we get what we came for—then I’ll deal with him “You think he’s suspicious?” “If he’s not, he ain’t as smart as he thinks he is.” She slapped the clip back into her sidearm, sighted down the barrel, then stretched her leg out and shoved the weapon back into the holster on her hip. “I had the captain put three squads on stand-by. We’ll go down first, take the tour, get setup. I don’t want him seeing what we’re doing, so we need to keep him out of that section.” Dietrich’s thick brows peaked. “That won’t be easy.” “I know.” “Even harder when Anetra gets here.” “I know, all right?” Dietrich eyed her for a second, then finally made his point. “I wanna be there when you put him down.” Barrisen fought the urge to smile. Dietrich Sullivan wasn’t just her right hand. He was a pit bull, loyal. The kind of animal that would dog-stomp anyone, or thing, to keep her safe. It was probably the closest he’d ever get to admitting he actually cared. The least she could do was not chide him about it. “I said, I’ll handle it.” She told him. “Walden’s my problem.” “And you’re mine. I don’t want to hear your father bitchin’ ’cause you caught one in the head.” Barrisen laughed. “Wow… Are you trying to change my mind, or do you just suck at pep-talks?” “I’m just saying… No need to take unneeded risks. Right?” Barrisen nodded. “I’ll let you know when. But I’m not waiting for you, so don’t go too far.” “Do I ever?” She smiled. << Back to Overview |
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