The meeting concluded. The six members exited out of the room with a look of confusion and horrified faces. Gertrude and Jarred stood side by side for a moment, as the others continued on down the dirty, well-used metallic corridor. The lighting above fizzled slightly, blinking off and on, until the hiss of it stabilizing snapped the two out of their bewilderment.
"We won't survive this, will we?" Gertrude stated.
"Of course we will." Jarred unconvincingly assured her. He gave a slight snicker. "The fleet commander knows what she's doing. She'll make sure we're all good as gold."
She glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one could hear her. "We're talking about taking on the entire goddamn ECU, Jarred. This is a major coup of galactic proportions."
"And we'll do fine." He lowly whispered back to her. "This robot kid is going to really pay off. Just you wait and see. Nothing can ever come back to us. Absolutely nothing…"
The woman let out a barely audible sigh. She walked away from the door and folded her arms, as if the coldness of the corridor was affecting her.
"The Corporate Alliance is taking a big risk doing this. We're conspiring together to topple one of the most respected leaders of Earth Gov. One slip up and this is really, really going to make our lives very uncomfortable."
"Bah!" Jarred mocked. "Let it go, Gert. Can't worry about that kind of stuff bother you now. We're in too deep at this point. So don't you get cold feet and try to bailout…"
"I'm not." She glared over at him, the fire of contempt in her eyes. "I just feel stating the obvious gives me some clarification. I'm not trying to convince you… I'm trying to convince myself."
Jarred laughed, adjusted his tie, and started heading down the corridor with the others.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Gertie! I'm going to see if they've got a buffet table somewhere on this base."
From behind, the tall red headed fleet commander emerged from the meeting room. She motioned to Mister Bim to give them a moment of privacy, and approached Gertrude, taking note of her look of unease,
"You were rather silent during my explanation of the plans, councilwoman." She stated with a bemused glare. "I take it that you have some reservations about the matter."
"Reservations?" Gertrude mockingly repeated. "Please! This is a full on coup. If this gets back to us, somehow, in some way… despite all your assurances of a safeguard… we're as good as dead." She motioned her hands about, with a nervous laugh. "Then all this will be for nothing!"
"Calm yourself," Admiral Meredith coldly demanded of her. "This assassin will do her job as programmed. You saw it with you're own eyes. The method is sound. So stop frittering over the consequences if it should not." She pointed a finger directly at her. "You knew of what you were being asked, of what had to be done, don't try to grow a conscious now… or are you becoming a liability to the Corporate Alliance? Should I inform them that, you, Gertrude, are thinking of removing yourself from our new order?"
Gertrude's eyes widened in fear. There was a hint of panic behind that shocked expression, and she nervously shook her head in response.
"No… no… I'm not saying that at all… I was… just… uh…"
"Why don't you think on that for a bit, hm?" The red headed woman smirked in a patronizing sadistic manner. "Head back to your world, sit in your comfy office, and really think about it. If I don't hear from you, I'll take that as a sign you wish to proceed, regardless. But, if you have a change of heart, give my aide, Mister Bim, here… a quick text message." She leaned in to her closer. "I'll be more than happy to send someone to help take care of you in your time of need."
That direct hint was not lost on the councilwoman. She understood the underlying message being conveyed, all too well. The fear in her eyes now doubled. Instead of saying anything more, the woman nodded slightly and backed away.
"Mr. Bim!" Meredith commanded aloud. "Please escort our guest here back to her ship. Make sure she doesn't get lost down those… deep… dark… forbidding corridors." She stepped back from the woman and shrugged. "Who knows what can happen in a place like this? I'm just looking out for your safety, my dear. Woman to woman, if you know what I mean."
Bim approached the frightened councilwoman and gestured the direction for her to go. She acknowledged him, took a last bow of respect to Meredith and headed down the corridor. Bim was about to follow, until Meredith grabbed his arm lightly.
"Make sure she understands…" The admiral glared at him. "You know how."
Mister Bim nodded. "To her, or to her family?"
Meredith smirked, a wicked grin that only a true psychopath would give back.
"Both…"
The man nodded in understanding. He quickly caught up to Gertrude and guided her by gripping her arm. She almost recoils in protest, but gave a quick glance back at the admiral looking on. Meredith continued to give that cold, evil smirk. The true nature of the woman shone through like a supernova. This was a woman you did not cross, that you did not reject, and one that Gertrude could see was very committed to following through on her word. She was too far in it now.
Mister Bim held on to her arm with unbreakable firmness.
"Tell me, Miss…" He stated in a calm voice. "Which of your children would you miss the most?"
"Pardon?" She glared at him.
"Which of your three kids do you think you'd miss the most?"
Gertrude eyes widened. "Are you…. Are you threatening me?"
Bin, still looking ahead, un-phased, gave a slight nod.
"If you should continue to question or raise anymore doubt about our mission…" He looked down at her. "Well, let's just say, there will be one less child… or a one missing parent… that will never return home."
The woman gawked at him, even as they continue to walk down the corridor towards the docking bay. He gave a slight inhale, shrugged his shoulders and looked ahead again.
"It's your decision. Just know, that whatever one you make… the outcome from it will be permeant either way."
They continued on down the hallway. The lights down the narrow strip, dim and eerie, with the sound of the other members ships powering up as they prepared to leave. Gertrude remained silent, tears in her eyes, her bottom lip quivering, but held her head up defiantly. The price now apparent to her, Meredith was correct, there was no turning back now. Not for her… or her family.