Free Shadow of the Swan (Book Two of the Phoenix Legacy) by M.K. Wren

done it before.”
    “And we’ve failed before.”
    “I know.” He looked at his watch. “I’ll get a few wheels turning in SI, then I’m going to Leda.”
    “Wait, Ben.” She stared at the jambler, knowing the answer to her question. “Why this?”
    “I sent Haral Wills to the physics lab as soon as I heard about Alex and Andreas. Damn it, we checked it two days ago, and I told Andreas not to let anybody but Lyden and Bruce into his lab. Dr. Bruce said he’s sure at least three techs have been in on various errands in the last couple of days.”
    “Willie found a monitor?”
    “Yes, and I’ll lay you odds he’ll find more.”
    She closed her eyes, holding back the tears. “He’ll find some here.”
    Ben stared at her. “How do you—Erica, only one person has access to this office when you aren’t here.”
    She only nodded. She couldn’t explain now.
    Ben said flatly, “That’ll have to wait until I get back from Leda. Just keep that jambler handy.”
    “Be careful, Ben.”
    “Sure. That goes for you, too. Later, Erica.”
    In the silence he left behind him, Erica stared blindly at the calendar-clock on her desk. 17 Decem 3257. The numbers and letters were limned in red light against black. Connotative colors; blood and death. They were also the colors of the eagle crest of DeKoven Woolf and symbolized the hope embodied in the Ransom Alternative.
    Her hands curled into futile fists; she pressed them into her burning eyes. The enormity of this disaster overwhelmed her capacity to encompass its true proportions. She only knew it was a disaster from which the Phoenix might never recover.
    And Andreas and Alex—she wondered if she could recover from the personal disaster of losing them.

7 .
    Predis Ussher seated himself in Andreas Riis’s chair, as he had at every Council meeting since Andreas and Alex had been captured. None of the councilors objected, and Erica found that revealing. At first, shock had made them indifferent; now it was indicative of acceptance.
    She watched Ussher, noting the hectic light in his eyes. This would be the day. Ironic that he needed formalized sanction; a salve for a brittle ego.
    Her gaze moved to Jan Barret, seated on Ussher’s left. Jan still wasn’t comfortable in Alex Ransom’s chair, or with the triple-starred insignia of First Commander on his collar. Then John M’Kim, almost disinterested, his accountant’s mind occupied with other matters. Marien Dyce was watching Ussher intently, and Erica thought to herself that she must be slated to make the nomination.
    Erica looked to her left, scanning Ben’s closed, granitic features, then beyond to Dr. Robert Hendrick, who fittingly enough sat at Ussher’s right hand. He was a dark, handsome man not yet forty, one of the first Second Gens born in Fina, and perhaps a little spoiled as a child for that reason. His father had been a close friend of Andreas and held the same position Rob did now, Physical Science research coordinator. But Rob Hendrick wasn’t the man his father had been, and his loyalty wasn’t to Andreas Riis.
    Erica sighed. She had advised Andreas to move Hendrick into a position where he wouldn’t be heir apparent to Physical Science’s seat on the Council, but Andreas had procrastinated, insisting he was the best man for the job, and he had admittedly inherited or acquired his father’s administrative ability, if nothing else. And now Hendrick sat on the Council at the right hand of Predis Ussher. If the contempt she felt for him was evident, she didn’t care. He deserved it for many reasons, not the least of them his arrogant estimation of his personal appeal to women.
    She turned her attention to Ussher as he touched the “record” button on the console in front of him.
    “The Council is now in session on 31 Decem 3257.” He surveyed the councilors, then, “We’ll begin with a report from Commander Venturi.” Ben became the immediate center of attention, but he was intent on Ussher.