AllFreeNovel
Share Us
4
You've Lost Your Mind
Jack
Jessicawasstillrantingwhen we touched down again at RATS. I'd blocked her out for the most part, well aware I shouldn't have said what I said and Mimi would no doubt pay for my uncharacteristic behaviour in due course.
But watching Mimi turn her back on 1958 Leningrad because she knew there was more at stake than saving her alternate parents was one of the most heart-wrenching things I'd ever witnessed.
I was in awe of her courage and shamed by her sense of morality. She did the right thing even when it cost her dearly. Jessica Harding and her indignant rage paled in comparison to Mimi's heartache.
But I wasn't so besotted to not see the trouble I had created for Mimi. Or, more personally, the trouble I'd created for myself. Jess could go to Clive about me taking Mimi on this flight. She could cause untold damage to my position here at RATS. Shewouldcause havoc for both of us with her cronies. But from a professional point of view, I was walking a very thin line and Jessica Harding wouldn't hesitate now to push me over it.
I shut down the MPCV without comment. I filed the repaired — remade — sine wave and attached the flight's log, sending it all to Dispatch for storage. A copy would be sent to Clive at the same time, but that didn't mean he'd read it unless someone made him aware of the need to.
There was a chance, I could get away with this flight. First, though, I should smooth Jessica's ruffled feathers.
But when I turned around, Dr Harding had already unlocked the hatch and was in the process of opening it. Mimi was still struggling with unbuckling her seatbelt, so she either hadn't noticed or didn't understand the ramifications.
You don't piss Jessica Harding off without getting something nasty thrown back at you in return.
I stood up as Jessica jumped down the steps, eager to get away from me no doubt, and then she came to an abrupt stop. I couldn't tell what had made her hesitate, but I gently pushed her aside as I exited the Vehicle, so Mimi and I could step fully outside, and then I got an eyeful of what was what.
Clive stood in the middle of the hangar, facing Orion 6b. Our Orion. Orion 2b was absent, no doubt putting out Sergei's fires somewhere else. Murray Holt and his crew were waiting to board Orion 6b for no doubt another whack a mole after we vacated it.
But Clive was not alone. A group of suit-clad official-looking gentlemen were standing around him, and behind them were what could only be described as military-like personnel. They wore fatigues and carried weapons; side holstered pistols, but I could see bulges where other apparatus was likely stored. Buzzcut hairdos, square jawlines, unfriendly faces, hard eyes.
We were either being arrested or about to be spirited off to Guantanamo Bay for several unpleasant months of interrogation. It was hard to tell.
Jessica hadn't moved from her spot, despite Murray and his crew approaching to board the Vehicle. At least she hadn't shouted out my sins to all and sundry just yet. Murray's eyes met mine, breaking that train of thought; worry and fear were obvious to see in his astute gaze right then.
"All topped up and ready to go?" he asked, clearly putting on a good front for the staff nearest us.
"Nothing's broken," I said as a Technician pushed between us to check off things on his tablet computer.
"What's going on?" I murmured.
Murray opened his mouth to reply when Clive stepped forward and said in a booming tone of voice, "Dr Evans, a moment if you would."
When Clive called, you answered. He had that way about him. But I didn't like seeing my friend so obviously riled. In fact, it looked like everyone present in the hangar was riled. And there were quite a few people present.
If Sergei was setting trap after trap for us to run around like headless chooks throughout Time fixing up his messes, then that made sense. But I rather got the impression it was more than that.
My money was on the suits and goons.
"Dr Harding, Novitiate Wylde, please store your clothing and file your reports," I snapped.
"Yes, Doctor," Jessica said, more out of habit than respect, I thought. Mimi met my eyes with a worried gaze and then slowly nodded her head in acquiescence. For once, I thought she would actually do what I say, and I couldn't have been more thankful for that.
I watched them both leave the hangar, ensuring their escape was completed before I approached RATS' commanding officer. The goons followed my every step with ice-hard eyes, the suits sneered at me, looking down their noses at my 1950s attire, or at me, it was hard to guess.
Clive met my eyes briefly before turning to indicate the suits at his back.
"Parliament has seen fit to provide the Royal Academy of Time Surgeons with some aid," he announced.
"Aid?" I queried.
"Yes," Clive almost snarled. "I believe one would call them overseers."
