///
Cleve keeps up the act of Louisa-as-prisoner as they pass through the dome’s vestibule and then out into the fresh air of Chiron. They continue on a little further, out of sight of anyone else potentially leaving or entering, and then he lets go of her arm. “Is there anything you need smuggled back in?” Louisa asks him.
“Are you all right?” Cleve asks back. This is their first chance for a straight conversation since she was dragged before him and Mariah this morning.
“Psh! I’ll be fine,” Louisa says, waving off his concerns. “I didn’t think they’d catch me; those University folks are craftier than I gave them credit for. They may talk tough, but they’re not as bad as the repo squads, frankly.” Cleve raises an eyebrow at that; yesterday morning she seemed quite alarmed about PSF involvement in Snacker’s capture. “Don’t get me wrong—they’re better armed, but they show a little more discretion in how they apply force,” Louisa clarifies.
“That’s because they’re professional soldiers,” Cleve tells her.
“Maybe,” Louisa allows. “But probably that guy we rescued Snacker from is going to recognize you, too,” she warns him.
“Oh, yeah, definitely!” Cleve agrees, shaking his head and chuckling at what a botch he made of that mission, falling over and somehow binding his own wrists. It’s a good thing Louisa stayed on top of things. He’d need a whole new face to not be recognized if he bumped into Damian again; a change of clothes won’t be enough. Cleve’s self-deprecating laughter dies away into a sigh. “Yeah,” he echoes more subdued. It’s a problem he doesn’t have a solution for right now.
Going back to Louisa’s earlier question, Cleve can think of nothing that Data Haven needs smuggled inside the dome. Any trade good Louisa handles from Xiao are not his concern. She is free to do whatever it is she normally does out here. “Well, I’m going to go check on the craw stash,” Louisa says, referring to the hideaway disguised as a craw den. “Today’s a chance for a check-in with the Demon Craws.”
“You can get a message to them?” Cleve asks, perking up. She should definitely inform them that Cleve and Mariah are here and that elections are underway. Data Haven needs to know that there’s a plan afoot, one that has formed since the previous war plans were all agreed upon weeks ago.
“Sure. Is there anything specific you want me to share with them?”
“Actually, yeah.” Cleve pulls out his journal and begins jotting down a quick report for her to deliver. She watches, bemused, as his pen continues to scratch on and on. She thought he’d just relay a simple verbal message to her, not prepare a lengthy letter. But Cleve isn’t going to let this opportunity pass him by. With the information they recently picked up on repo squad movements, he’s not worried about Louisa being intercepted, and this is a chance to share all the operational details and projected scheduling. If the election goes the way Mariah’s been prodding it, they’ll be dealing with a new leader and opening up negotiations. Astrid and Chloe are fellow datajacks; if there are going to be peace talks, they should be at that table alongside him and Xiao. Having them somewhere nearby would certainly be handy.
Cleve even includes what they know of the coming spaceship. That’s all new intel since he departed Data Haven, and there are certainly hackers who might have ideas about overcoming the communication hurdles to contact it. If anything happens to Cleve, that information still needs to reach Data Haven hands. “What’s the nature of this check-in?” he asks Louisa, trying to decide if there are any orders he should issue.
“We’re going to be planning our next hit.”
“Which is…?”
Louisa shrugs. “I have to get the intel from them on what the status out in the field is. I’m going to share what the status inside is. We’ll talk over what we know about where all the Planetary Security Forces are, and then we’ll decide on a target.”
Cleve mulls that over and decides to err on the side of caution. “Hold off on any further attacks until the elections are settled,” he tells Louisa.
“Right! That would jeopardize the negotiations,” she says, easily convinced. “I did enough work yesterday, anyway.” Astrid might not be keen to hear this news, however. “We’ll keep some plans in place, though,” Louisa tells Cleve. “Keep some eyes out to make sure the PSFs uphold the upcoming ceasefire.”
“Yeah. Getting intel is definitely still useful,” he agrees. “Just don’t tear anything down.” Finally finished with his report, he hands it over to Louisa and asks the shimmerfly floating around them to accompany her in case there’s a return message. Louisa makes a quick scan of their surroundings, just to double check that they aren’t being observed, and then slips off into the bushes, headed in the direction of the craw hide. Cleve’s sure Bella will be able to keep up with her just fine. Satisfied, he reenters the dome.
///