The Cairo Saga, Book 2: The Solaris Irregulars
Part 22: Parting is such sweet sorrow
Tukayyid City
Tukayyid
Free Rasalhague Republic
The sun was shining, and Sinead and Steven Clark where enjoying their last day on Tukayyid. The quiet café that Sinead and picked for lunch was out of the way, but they where not that surprised when Simon Clearwater found them. The ComStar operative sat down at their table and ordered a coffee "Look, Steven, you can't go: you're the only commander to win a battle with Word of Blake. The press is building you up as the hero of the war. We still need you."
Clark shook his head "I can't do it, I can't be responsible for so many lives. Look, the Irregulars are set up, give Rob Dancer command: he's been a member from the beginning. You even have the Nature's Wrath to play with now. You don't need me."
Clearwater turned to Sinead "Can't you talk some sense into him?"
"If I could talk Steven into anything, he'd never have faced Cain on Solaris VII." Sinead laughed, "Anyway, I want my daughter to grow up on a planet, not a series of DropShips and Warships. We've made up our minds."
Clearwater sighed, "Ok, I admit defeat: you both want to get out, and I can't blame you." He stood to leave "I wish you both the best of luck with the rest of your lives."
No sooner where to words out of his mouth then the front of the café exploded. Clark felt himself being lifted through the air: the sensation was almost pleasant, but the impact against the rear wall was not. He managed to get himself into a seated position, and through the remains of the front wall he saw a man trying to reload a portable SRM launcher. Clark pulled himself to his feet, and managed to get his service revolver from its holster.
Aiming with blurry eyes, he began to fire at his attacker. The first two rounds missed, but the third smashed the man's left kneecap. The next two rounds ripped through his right lung. The sixth round missed over his left shoulder, but the seventh entered just below his chin and snapped his neck in two. The final round blew the back of the man's head off, his brains creating a strangely beautiful cloud signalling the end of the threat
The gun fell from Clark's shaking hand, and he made his way back into the ruins on the café. Clearwater was standing un-steadily, shaking his head slowly, and trying to make the ringing stop. Clark walked past him, and came to the place where Sinead lay. Blood ran is streams from her ears and nose, and her eyes where closed. Clark fell to his knees and checked her pulse: slow and irregular.
He looked around the derbies, his eyes unfocused as shock took hold "Someone call a doctor!"
He was still shouting two minuets later when the first ambulance arrived.
To Be Continued...