Depraved by Trent Evans

Chapter 20

The bluff overlooking the aerodrome of New Vickers was an odd spot to meet, Beckett thought, but then again, getting Kaman to meet with him at all had been a shocking—if welcome—development all on its own.

Trees lined the edge of the bluff, the sprawling airport facilities filling the valley far below. TSS aerial units lifted off with the characteristic frantic scream of engines every few minutes.

“I take it you procured the HKU without too much trouble?” Kaman’s arms were folded as he looked down upon the amazing sight.

Beckett kept a close eye on the twin TSS elite guards that flanked the Chairman, their towering height only outmatched by the lethality of their weaponry, each of them armed with an automatic rifle, a pair of long blades, and at least two visible handguns. Their black cloaks rustled in the chill breeze.

“We got him, yes. Quite… they’re impressive soldiers.” Beckett cleared his throat. “I’m sure you didn’t ask me out here to talk shop, Chairman. What can I do for you?”

“I like that about you, Beckett. No formalities, no flourishes, no… pleasantries.” Kaman spun on his heel, the guards stepping back slightly. “Did you know it took two entire years simply to perfect the first one? To get the gene modifications just right? The enhancements refined? The prototype HKU?”

“I believe that’s the one we ran over with an armored IFV, isn’t it?”

The dreaded leader’s eyes flashed, but he gave Beckett a tooth-filled grin. “Had fun, did you?”

Beckett shrugged. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t driving it. But I pinned a medal on the shoulder of the man who did.”

The Chairman shook his head. “A waste—and stupid of us, really. Far too valuable to commit such units to the meatgrinder of combat.” He winked then. “We learned though, didn’t we?”

“What do you want, Kaman.”

“It’s not so much what I want, it’s what I’m saying is going to happen.”

Being in the presence of the man made Beckett’s skin crawl. Kaman was a man of bestial urges and needs, and immense, almost-insurmountable power.

But as it so often was, dealing with Kaman was… a necessary evil.

For now, anyway.

“And what is that?”

“Rexall will bring Yulia to me. Those were his original mission parameters, and it’s a certainty he will carry them out. He’s no good to you with her in tow anyway. He can’t protect you when he must keep track of her, can he?”

Beckett had to hide his surprise at learning Kaman’s original orders to Rexall were to capture Yulia.

That Beckett’s parameters were also for Rexall to abduct Yulia seemed a… remarkably interesting coincidence.

He had to think though, as he listened to the Chairman drone on.

What the hell was Kaman up to here?

If Rexall’s original orders involved Yulia… Was he actually bringing her to Beckett right now?

Or to Kaman?

Had Norton’s modification to the Protocol been faulty after all?

He hated that he didn’t know, but he was damned sure not going to let on in the least what he was up to.

“You expect me to believe you have a single drop of concern about my safety?” Beckett laughed, hoping his bluff of bravado would be sufficient to keep Kaman guessing. “You must really be up to something.”

Kaman put his hand on his chest. “Why wouldn’t I be concerned for you? You’ve allowed me to make the most progress against the rebellion in years.” Kaman clenched his fist before him. “I’m this close to crushing it forever. Thanks to your help.”

The TSS leader was given to grandiose overstatement and hyperbole—it seemed almost all dictators were—but Beckett knew there was always a kernel of truth in everything Kaman said.

The problem was that he had no idea what that kernel might be.

With Kaman, not knowing what he was truly up to… often proved to be a lethal state of affairs for a man.

Worse, it was still possible that Kaman was simply lying. He was not at all above deception, of course, but seemed very rarely to stoop to such a level.

Still, he couldn’t help but wonder why Kaman wanted Yulia for himself. To interrogate her? That was possible, but she’d be of only marginal use in that respect; she knew little of operational details, aside from the location of Gamma.

It was also possible Kaman wanted her for more… prurient reasons. Which were immaterial to Beckett. Lechery was potentially a weakness that could be exploited, if that was the case.

But something told him that wasn’t the reason either.

It didn’t add up, and yet… he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

Not knowing the why was always a risk.

“And what if I have need of Rexall beforehand? More pressing matters?”

Kaman shrugged. “Use him as you will. He will return to his mission parameters when you are finished with him. The HKU never wavers from his purpose once it’s set. Marvelous soldiers, in that way. Don’t you think?”

He gave Kaman a smile. “I do.”

In the end though, he really didn’t care if the TSS leader was lying—because he was certain now that the Chairman had no idea Beckett had wiped Rexall’s neural map, and remapped it entirely.

To serve Beckett.

Kaman’s singular weakness was his arrogance, and with arrogance came a serial tendency to underestimate his adversaries.

And Beckett had made it his mission to ensure he was the very last enemy Chairman Kaman would ever have the chance to underestimate.

“There is something else we must speak on, Beckett.” Kaman turned back toward the vista, lacing his fingers together behind him. “Plans are now finalized to wipe out every last Awakening unit. I have a… proposal for you.”

“I’m listening.”

“In exchange for your word not to interfere with my operation, TSS will enter into negotiations for a power-sharing agreement, including autonomous territory for the Carter Faction. Your troops will remain under your command, and not subject to TSS law. But they would be required to support TSS operations should another… rebellion ever materialize in the future. Until then, the Carter Faction would be something akin to, maybe a governorship? A satrap? A place of its own… with a few stipulations, of course. What say you?”

The evil bastard was still full of surprises, it seemed, and this was the biggest one yet.

But it could, in the long run, potentially work even better for the plans Beckett was formulating. It might actually be the best shot at winning versus the TSS—ironically—and it would help him be rid of the Awakening, once and for all, as a festering thorn in his side.

“This is the best opportunity you’ve ever had. The best opportunity you’ll ever hope to get.” Kaman walked over to him then, extending a hand. “Give your word, and it is done.”

Beckett shook it. “You have my word.”

Kaman grinned. “It’s interesting, isn’t it? The way wars so often end. Not with climactic battles, or stirring last stands. But by handshakes, by men who know it’s for the best. For everyone.”