8 Lawrence - Escape (2/2)
”Report, on the double.”
”Yes, Sir!” She saluted, and they both left at a trot.
Heaving a huge sigh and trying to get my heart rate down to something like normal, I went into the freezer maybe this would cool down those two spots on my chest that were still burning. Mussing I thought about Serina T'gerr. She was the one that was going to kill the Emperor and my ardor cooled.
Well, there was nothing further for me here. The next step would be to get transferred to Caribbia, and that would be difficult, to say the least. Ambassador Harump was not known for dispensing favors.
Using my Medit, I'd already given the busboy an antidote to the sedative plus a hypnotic, while I was thinking. After the hypnotic took hold, I told him about meeting the communication specialist and the incident regarding Serina, trying to make it real to him.
Lady de Winters voice suddenly blared out over the intercom ”A glass of lemon-aid, and a snifter of cognac, my study.”
”Yes, Milady,” I acknowledged. There wasn't time to finish waking the busboy so I just left him in a trance, hoping that no one would find him. I programmed the synth for lemon-aid and put the tall crystal glass filled with the slightly opaque yellow liquid into the instafreeze while I poured a generous splash of cognac in a crystal goblet and warmed it with my hands. Placing both on the silver tray and again draping the white cloth over my arm, I was ready to brave the dangers of the villa again. A quick look at the map in my head and I knew the way to Lady de Winter's study. Walking as fast as I could, and not spill, I rapidly made my way to the Lady de Winters study, I knocked on the door and then walked in, without waiting for acknowledgment from those within. Serina and the Lady de Winter were deep in a conversation and hardly even noticed me. The Lady de Winter was saying, ”You and I will get along just fine, but please call me Cynthia.”
”Cynthia . . .” Serina said as I handed her the lemon aid.
I left the room, but paused outside the heavily soundproofed door and insulated wall, indicating for amplified hearing. Slowly I began to hear Serina and the Lady de Winter word by word as Imp managed to filter out the extraneous noise.
”. . . Crystal Cove, . . . Imperial Marines . . . strong self-interest.”
Suddenly Imp got the proper filter and accompanied with his identifications I heard:
Serina: ”This all sounds good, Cynthia. I know you can deliver on the riches end, but power?”
Cynthia: ”The dear Duke is planning a coup—we will assassinate the Emperor, and all of his supporters in the Imperial Senate.”
Serina: ”Why not all of them.”
Cynthia: ”Because they are on my payroll. After our wedding the Duke die's—then I will be the leader of the known universe. Support me, and you could be adopted as the Princess heir apparent. You have access to the Duke. He has taken a fancy to you; I know the signs. When I give you the signal—kill him. I'm childless after I'm gone, the empire will be yours. You could easily kill him; you're better than he is—I saw you throw the fight this morning.”
Serina: ”I'll be an Imperial Princess? You've got yourself a partner, Cynthia!”
There was no question in my mind now, I had reached the top, and it was up to me to stop them and avenge my father at the same time. Serina was the most obvious target—the Duke and Lady de Winter were just too strongly guarded. I'd definitely have to get transferred to Caribbia somehow—but how?
I walked back to the kitchen in a daze; I don't even remember if I saw or talked to anyone, all that I could see was Serina's beautiful body being drawn-n-quartered as punishment for treason. Somehow I pulled myself together and finished instructing the busboy ending with, ”one minute from now you will awake, you will remember all that I have said, as though it happened to you, you will not remember me. You will continue with your job, just as if this never happened.”
”Imp, is that Port program still valid?”
”Hot and waitin',” he replied.
Watching with my augmented vision, for security devices and guards, I rapidly traversed the villa. At times I hid in empty rooms while waiting for someone to pass—once I had to backtrack to another hall and go the long way around a couple of gossiping maids. Even with augmented vision and amplified hearing, to help me avoid detection, my nerves were more frazzled the closer I came to the Port. I traversed the few remaining ”kilometers'' of corridors, well it felt like it. Right around the corner was the Port complete with an attendant, resplendent in the Lady de Winters' livery. Imp caused the Com on the wall to emit an attention signal that the attendant attempted to answer. While his back was turned, I calmly, for someone whose clothes were wringing wet with sweat, walked around the corner and into the Port. Imp synchronized things so well that I stepped out of the Port and into Draco's embassy without missing a step. It was a clean getaway, and no one the wiser.