The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(24)

“Agreed.” The tall woman with intense ebony eyes motioned to an empty chair near a console. “Sit down, Rooney, before you fall over.”

Begrudgingly, Lindsey obeyed.

Commandant Pierce sat in her own chair and bent toward Lindsey. “For the next few days, there will be a continuous explosion of indignation and denials. President Cabot knows that the Constabulary just saved his ass. He’s going to do everything he can to keep this in the forefront of the media and the city. But already the media wants to know where the leak came from. There will be a witch hunt.”

“Is that why Vaja isn’t here?”

Commandant Pierce lifted an eyebrow. “He left once the worm went out. He doesn’t have the stomach for this, does he?”

Lindsey wasn’t sure she did either, but there was no way in hell she wasn’t going to fight for her city.

“There’s no way they can track it back to us, Commandant Pierce. I made sure of it. I even routed it through the SWD system.” Lindsey was particularly proud of that part of her plan.

“At some point fingers will be pointed.”

Lindsey leaned her elbow against the armrest of her chair and stared at the commandant. “Who’s taking the fall?”

“I don’t like doing this, Vanguard Rooney.”

“Who?”

Commandant Pierce sighed. “Castellan Reichardt is missing from the city.”

“Oh, f*ck me,” Lindsey muttered.

“We both know he’s not coming back. President Cabot is already demanding a full accounting and demanding to speak to the castellan, since it’s his job to protect the city. Once it’s discovered that Dwayne is not inside the wall, it’s only a matter of time before they’ll investigate him. And they’ll uncover his affair with Maria.”

“And it will look like he created the worm out of spite.”

“He was a part of all of this. When I shift the blame onto him, I won’t be lying.”

“But you’re saving your ass!” Lindsey flinched. “Sorry, sir.”

Commandant Pierce’s eyes blazed with anger, but her voice was calm when she answered. “I saved all our asses. In the end, I have to protect not only my own ass, but yours, Vaja’s, Petra, and every other person in this command center. And beyond that, the city.”

Lindsey didn’t dare say anything. She had to remember that even though circumstances had made her and the commandant allies, in the end, Pierce was her commanding officer.

With an exhalation, the other woman slumped in her chair. “The city will survive because of us, the SWD be damned.”

“There are good people in the SWD,” Lindsey said, thinking of Torran. “The man we rescued is one.”

“MacDonald started off as one of us, but yes, I’m sure there are good people in the SWD. Just separating them from the traitors will be difficult.”

“What will happen?” Lindsey asked.

“Trials. Most likely by tribunal. And if they’re found guilty, they’ll end up serving their lives in a small cell tucked into the wall.” Commandant Pierce shook her head. “We’re all that’s left of humanity and yet there are people who will fight to have power over the masses no matter how small those masses might be. We serve the people, Vanguard.” Pierce pointed at the screens. “We serve the people out there. If we ever forget that, we’re doomed.”

“Will they see the castellan as a hero?” She wanted people to see Dwayne for what he was: a noble, good, decent man who sacrificed so much for not only the woman he loved, but The Bastion.

“I hope so,” Commandant Pierce answered.

Lindsey believed her.

“Now, go home. Rest. I’ll need you back on duty in ten hours. We have a lot of work ahead of us and I’ll need you in the mix. Also, I sent this to President Cabot’s secretary today.” Commandant Pierce tapped the pad at her side, then handed it to Lindsey.

Lindsey stared at the screen in surprise. “I don’t understand. I thought they couldn’t fix my leg because of resources.”

“President Cabot wanted there to be wounded veterans of the final push as a symbol of the Constabulary’s effort to protect the people of The Bastion. He ordered that any soldiers that had visible disabling injuries be denied medtech assistance.”

Anger, raw and fierce, flamed inside Lindsey and clawed up her throat. She had to swallow hard to keep from swearing aloud.

“You were propaganda,” Commandant Pierce said, lowering her eyes. It was clear that this order was not one she’d agreed with.

Unable to speak, Lindsey stared at the request for her leg to be repaired.

“President Cabot will do this for me. He now owes me,” Commandant Pierce said confidently.

“Why waste that leverage on me?”

“It’s not a waste when I need you ready to assist me in saving this city.”

Lindsey smiled just a tad and tucked a loose strand of hair behind one ear. “I do appreciate this, sir. Immensely.”

“Well, you’ve proven that even with your injury you’re a brave and capable soldier. Master Seeker MacDonald would vouch for that, I’m sure.”

“Is he going to be all right?”

Commandant Pierce gave Lindsey a questioning look.