Crystal Horizon: A Short Prequel to Crystal Deception Read online

  Ignoring her well-honed defensive mechanism, she hugged him back.

  “We did it,” she said.

  “You did it,” Sid whispered in her ear.

  They sat on a corner of the ops bench and she recounted the details of her winning run, enjoying his undivided attention from start to finish.

  “What motivated you to throw this on my shoulders?” she asked as they walked out of the theater together.

  “My intuition. I’ve been trusting my gut instincts more and more.” He put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “I’m on an amazing lucky streak, so far anyway.”

  She looked up at him. “What does your gut say about our time here at camp?”

  Before he could answer, Captain Dooley came around the corner, eyeing them as he approached.

  * * *

  Over the next weeks, Sid found himself paired with Cheryl on a regular basis. Sometimes it was just the two of them, and other times they were part of a larger team.

  In a relentless progression of missions, they were challenged with hypothetical situations that tested their leadership, team building, and strategic skills. They also confronted heart-stopping physical obstacles, like scaling the face of a cliff on a rainy day, and traversing a dense forest on a moonless night.

  They proved to be a great team, and they or their group usually prevailed in those scenarios structured to have winners and losers. Observers saw Sid as a fierce competitor who carried the day, but in his head, he attributed a significant portion of their success to Cheryl.

  As they grew closer, she revealed an irreverent streak that he thoroughly enjoyed. His first exposure was when she mocked a way-too-serious instructor behind his back. They laughed out loud in the middle of what was supposed to be an important exercise. The instructor rewarded their antic with a scathing glare, and this served to deepen their bond and feed their shared delight.

  At week six, she suggested they sneak down to the lake after lights-out to stargaze. Lying side-by-side on the dock, they hung their feet into the water, took turns making up silly names for constellations, and talked about everything and nothing.

  She pointed up at something he couldn’t see. “Before camp, I was first lieutenant on the Fleet ship Prospect. We spent three months shadowing the Kardish in orbit. Prospect is now being provisioned for a trip to Mars Colony.”

  “Do you wish you were with them?”

  “Definitely,” she responded without hesitation, then her face creased with an impish grin. “But on the up side, I got to meet a guy whose gut tells the future.”

  They made love that night. Sid immersed himself in the thrill and pleasure of being with her. He didn’t understand why she’d responded to his advances. He didn’t care. He was happy.

  * * *

  It was the last week of camp, and Sid, alone in the cabin, sat on his bunk. He heard a single knock on the door and before he could respond, a tall, solid-framed man entered. From his rugged appearance, Sid judged him to be a battle-hardened soldier in his mid-thirties.

  “May I help you,” said Sid—a statement, not a question. He’d never seen the man before and this was no social visit.

  “I’m Captain Sparrow,” the man replied. “Call me Jack. May I sit?”

  Sid thought briefly about the protocol of standing and saluting, but Jack was dressed in civvies, so he thrust his chin at the back of an empty chair.

  Turning the chair, Jack looked around the cabin as he lowered himself into the seat. Shifting his gaze to Sid, he said, “I’m from a covert unit of the DSA—the Defense Specialists Agency. I’d like to chat with you about who we are and what we do.”

  You have my attention, Sid thought, though he remained silent.

  “The DSA supports the needs of the secretary of defense. Our job is to be out in front for him, probing high-risk situations, gathering information, and delivering outcomes on his behalf.

  “We’re not fighters unless we have to be. In the perfect mission, we infiltrate, do our job, and then we’re gone. If we do it right, no one knows we were there. Hell, we don’t want anyone to even know we exist. But sometimes we end up fighting. When we do, we fight hard and we fight to win. Think super spy, Sid, only with broader skills, better toys, and fewer rules.”

  He stopped talking and studied Sid, who maintained a poker face and remained silent. A moment later, Jack continued.

  “You’ve been through basic, officer’s school, and special-ops training, and you’ve displayed characteristics at each stage that we find appealing. You don’t know it, but you’re here at camp for a final review. While a best outcome wouldn’t have included a dalliance with Cheryl Wallace, your term here has been rated a success by those who matter.”

  Sid felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle at the mention of Cheryl and he worked to maintain a passive demeanor.

  As if sensing Sid’s displeasure, Jack sat back in his chair, creating more distance between them. “I know my comment about the lieutenant touched a sensitive spot. Your calm response right now is a trait I value.”

  “So you said that to test me?”

  “No,” said Jack, shaking his head. “In this situation, she’s relevant.”

  Sid’s instincts told him where this was headed, but he needed to hear it. “Help me understand.”

  “If you accept our offer, you leave here tomorrow morning. You can’t tell anyone where you’re going. You can’t even mention that you’re leaving. Not to anyone, Sid. Ever. That’s why she’s relevant.”

  Sid contemplated the word “offer” and all it implied. He pretended to study a scar on his wrist as he let the silence grow. Then he lifted his head and met Jack’s gaze. “What exactly is this offer? Spell it out for me.”

  “We want you to become a covert warrior for the DSA. Defense specialists are the vanguard of clandestine intelligence and protection for the Union. Join us and you’ll be involved in missions that can save millions of lives. Literally. I can’t make you appreciate who we are and what we do using words. You have to live it to understand. But let me paint some big pictures for you.

  “There are countries that have chosen not to join the Union. A few have become aggressive and their actions create dangerous situations for innocents. In the past year alone, my DSA team went into hostile territory seven times to assess a situation and perform sensitive—I’ll call them ‘tasks’—that changed the dynamic on the ground and saved lives.”

  Jack’s com sent an alert and he checked it as he talked. “Right now, a high priority is the alien spacecraft that’s orbiting Earth. The agency is spending a lot of resources trying to get actionable intelligence on the Kardish so the secretary has something to work with.”

  He looked Sid in the eye. “The offer is to become a member of my team. The offer is live, but I need an answer.”

  Shaking his head, Sid said, “Let’s start by slowing down. I don’t know you and I don’t know what to make of your pitch. What you describe sounds interesting, but I’m not sure what parts are real. Maybe all of it. Maybe it’s all bullshit. Your only credibility right now is that you’re here inside camp. That’s a plus given the security this place has, but it’s not enough.”

  This time it was Jack’s turn to remain silent. Sid mulled the situation and made a decision. “Give me some names, people I know and trust, who can back up your story.”

  “You want references? Really?” Jack looked at him for a long moment. “Okay, check your com. I’ve sent you three names.”

  I’m not going to look while you’re sitting there, thought Sid. But he was anxious to learn if the story checked out.

  He’d known from the start that doing well at camp led to big opportunities afterward. In fact, that had been an important factor when he decided to attend.

  But he hadn’t expected to hear about his options at an impromptu meeting at his bunk.

  And beyond that, Jack was right. Cheryl fulfilled him in ways he never thought possible. I’m crazy about her. That complica
ted matters, and he needed to think things through.

  “And I’ll take two nights to sleep on it. I’m not going to make this decision right now. I’ll check your reference list. If it flies and if I’m inclined, I’ll meet you here at eleven hundred hours two days from now.”

  “Let me know if your answer is no. Otherwise, I’ll meet you in two days in the infirmary at seventeen hundred sharp. That building has its own exit road.” Jack got up and moved to the door.

  “Hey,” Sid called. “Is it worth leaving everything behind? Did you ever look back?”

  Jack didn’t turn around. “You’re a sophisticated warrior who craves adventure. It’s a dream come true.”

  Sid played with those words as Jack exited the cabin.

  The moment the door closed, Sid checked his com and considered the three names Jack had sent. Two of them were captains who’d mentored him from his earliest days. He had known them for years and trusted them.

  The third name was an admiral he’d interacted with for a short period about a year earlier. He appreciated that Jack put a heavy hitter on the list, but he doubted he’d learn anything useful from the guy. Sid already understood that Jack had serious connections and this was an inside operation. What he wanted to know was if Jack’s words matched reality.

  He called Captain Paul Stanley, his first choice on the list, and was pleased when the officer answered.

  “Hey, Captain,” said Sid. “It’s good to see you. How are you doing?”

  “Hi, Sid,” Paul said. “It’s been a while. You’re looking fit. I hear you’ve been made an offer you shouldn’t refuse.”

  Sid studied Paul’s face. They’d been through a lot together and Sid felt confident he could read the man. “What can you tell me, sir?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know much,” Paul said, shaking his head. “Whatever you got going, it’s connected. Two admirals and a government goon are telling me to tell you that it’s the right choice. I haven’t a clue what ‘it’ is, so I can’t provide you guidance. I can just confirm that they want me to use my good name to tell you that it’s real. I’ve seen a lot of stuff over the years, big guy, but this is weird. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  Seeking to keep the conversation on track, Sid pressed him. “Would you mind telling me who the admirals are?”

  “I’ll tell you that one is O’Hara. The other is at Central Command and I’ll only say that I know him and believe he’s being straight. I don’t know the goon, except to say he has a clearance level higher than mine.”

  “Why would they go to all this effort for me?” asked Sid with sincere innocence. “Part of me feels like I’m being played here.”

  Paul laughed. “You got talents, bud, so it makes sense to me. If they’ve offered you something and it sounds like a fit, take it. When they go to this much trouble to recruit you, they’ll treat you well going forward.”

  They chatted for a few more minutes, then Sid thanked him and signed off. He called the other captain on the list and the conversation was similarly supportive. His mentor reinforced that the Union was going to great lengths to have Sid feel good about the situation. He, too, admitted he didn’t know any details about what that situation was.

  Sid climbed into bed that night thinking that as technology evolves, it becomes ever harder to pin down truth. He could come up with a dozen ways an organization might orchestrate a group of people into reinforcing a thought or idea without them even knowing they were being manipulated. This whole thing could be a deception and he’d never know.

  Yet one item seemed indisputable—powerful people wanted him to work for them. As he closed his eyes, he relaxed his mind, hoping an answer would come to him in his sleep.

  * * *

  Cheryl awoke next to Sid. They were a half-day’s hike into the woods, and though the air was cool outside, it was warm inside their tent. They actually had two tents but never bothered to set hers up. It would have been wasted effort.

  “Mmm,” she thought, snuggling against him.

  Their training scenario—the last one of camp—was constructed much like a treasure hunt. They needed to decipher clues to find the next secret location, which held clues to the next location, and so on until they found the hidden treasure. The first team to find it and bring it back to camp won bragging rights for that year’s graduating class.

  The two didn’t care about hidden treasures or bragging rights. They both wanted to use the time enjoying each other.

  At the first hint of sunrise, he kissed her neck. Giggling, she turned to him and they lost themselves for a bit. Afterward, she lay in his arms and thought about this man who’d captured her heart.

  He was kind and considerate in his daily life. She loved his quiet confidence and was honest enough with herself to admit she was attracted to the hint of danger that lurked beneath his surface. He brought out the best in her. It was joyous to be in his arms.

  He interrupted her thoughts when he lifted his head. “Did you hear that?” he whispered.

  “No,” She whispered back. “What did you hear? Is it someone, or something?”

  He sat up and started pulling on his clothes. “Let me go look.”

  Cheryl dressed as well. “I’m not sure which would be worse, finding a bear or Captain Dooley outside.”

  Sid opened a flap just enough to see into the morning light. “I think I caught us breakfast in my snare.” She heard excitement in his voice, then she processed his words. “A snare? Yuck. I’m not interested in eating a little forest creature for breakfast.” She was no longer worried about bears or captains.

  “Quick.” He spoke as if he were leading a campaign against the enemy. “Stay behind me while I check.”

  He crept out of the tent and worked his way toward some brush near a stand of trees. She watched him with a mixture of confusion, fascination, and anticipation. This wasn’t part of the treasure hunt exercise and it wasn’t his characteristic behavior. Enjoy his delusion, she thought, entertained by the silly performance.

  He crawled over the ground, staying hidden behind rocks and shrubs as he moved closer to the brush and his snare. Cheryl stayed on her feet and followed from a distance.

  When he was a within reach of the trap, he turned and mouthed, “We got something big.”

  She tensed in excitement. He cautioned her with a hand sign, then reached forward and pulled back the brush.

  “Breakfast is served, my lady,” he said, lifting a restaurant pouch out for her to see.

  “What the hell?” She moved next to him. “Is that from Smitty’s?”

  Smitty’s was a small restaurant about three miles due west. They’d eaten there a few times over the months and loved their breakfasts. Opening the pouch, he reached inside and lifted out two coffees. Wrapping both hands around the cup, she inhaled the aromatic steam and took a sip. “Umm.”

  Back in the tent, they feasted on their bounty. “Eggs, muffins, fresh fruit! I’m in heaven!” Smiling like a child on her birthday, she sampled everything. He fed her a bit of waffle, and when syrup dripped onto her chin, she chased it with her tongue. She saw he was fascinated by her attempt at an impossible chin-lick maneuver and, unashamed, laughed out loud and tried again.

  As they ate, Sid confessed that he’d walked to the restaurant and back in the early hours of the morning. “It was my pleasure, Cheryl.”

  He was acting way out of character, but she thought it was cute. They both knew that graduation was coming. She accepted that they would be headed in different directions. Modern transportation and communication services made long-distance relationships easier, but it remained a challenge. She appreciated that he was making their last days special.

  They feasted, cleaned, and packed, then walked along a trail up to a ridge crest. With an open view of the valley, they could see a portion of the camp’s lake in the distance. Sitting on an angled rock, Cheryl lifted her face and savored the warmth of the sun.

  “Can you see them?” asked Sid, pointing
into the valley.

  She squinted in the direction he indicated and saw Sophie and Alstine, two of their classmates, walking in the distance.

  “They’ll be following that trail across the valley floor.” He moved his arm as he traced the path with his finger.

  Then he turned to her. “Cheryl, I’ve been ordered to return to camp. We’ve been instructed to meet up with those two. You’ll finish this round with them.”

  She looked at him and frowned. That’s the second time he’s called me Cheryl. When they were alone, he always called her something silly, like Angel or Sweet Bun. It wasn’t that she preferred the pet names, but she understood that everything was good between them when he used one.

  Her other concern was that he’d been sent a change of plans while she hadn’t. She checked her com and found the feed confirming his story. It should’ve prompted me about such an important message.

  The morning’s events were all off, wrong enough that her training kicked in. As she followed him down the trail, she reviewed everything they’d done together over the past week, searching for clues. The tension grew as his silence lengthened.

  It took a couple of hours to catch up with Sophie and Alstine. When their classmates came into view on the footpath, Cheryl squared up and confronted him, “What’s going on, Sid?”

  He stepped to her, caressed her cheeks, and kissed her, holding it for a long moment. He squeezed her hands as he stepped back, and then turned and walked ahead on the trail, his pace quickening with each step. He nodded to Sophie and Alstine as he strode past them, and then the trail curved into the forest.

  Following him with her eyes, she brought her fingers up and traced her lips where he’d kissed her. She stood unmoving until he vanished from sight. Her mind swirled in turmoil as she struggled to understand.

  When Cheryl got back to her cabin that night, dread filled her heart. She looked for him in his bunk, and then checked his usual haunts. She tried calling him, but her com told her there was no such person. She asked their friends if they knew his whereabouts, and then she asked everyone she saw. She didn’t sleep that night. She just stared into the darkness.