“You may leave now,” Votary says. “You’ll have to slide the door open the old-fashioned way.”
“Yeah, sure. Enjoy your bath.”
“I will.”
James forces the door open, then shuts it. He hears Votary engage the manual lock from the other side.
“What a freak,” James says to himself.
He sniffs his own body and decides a shower is a good idea. He jogs down the hall to his own room. He wonders what would have happened if he had denied Votary’s request.
Vape and Vlad recline in a pair of hover chairs in a secluded room somewhere in the bowels of the Womb. Vape looks at the only other augmented human from Earth on the ship. Probably in the entire Malignant fleet. He has lingering doubts about his decision when the Templar, Constructor, approached him. He killed that Templar, but now he wonders if it was the right decision.
He looks at his companion. Vlad is literally a monster brought to life. He’s lived for centuries. Vape wants to ask him about his life and decides that since Guntho is nowhere to be seen that now is the best chance.
“You doing alright over there?” Vape casually asks.
“What do you want?” Vlad asks.
“Nothing, just conversation.”
Vlad turns to him. “I’ve seen you building up the courage. What do you want to ask?”
“Are you a vampire?”
“No, I’m an augment.”
“Are you Dracula?”
“If you want to call me that, I wouldn’t be able to say you’re wrong, but what do you really want to know?”
“Do you know that Abel guy?”
“You should probably refer to him as Father on this ship, but yeah, I know him. Rather, I knew him.”
“When? How?”
Vlad sighs. “About six hundred years ago, I guess. Father’s always looking for augments. The job’s just gotten easier for him recently.”
“That’s an understatement. What was Father looking for?”
“Mostly news about his family. His parents were Adam and Eve. Their friends were people like Zeus, Odin, and Vishnu. Do you get the picture?”
“Yes, I’m not a fool.”
“Alright, Father knew that, although everyone he knew was long gone, people like us would have to exist. He searched for the relics of his mother’s crew, then tried to link them up with descendants. When he found me, he gave me this silver kilij. It gave me power and apparently longevity, too.”
“Were you the only one?” Vape asks.
“No, we had others. They’re all long dead.”
“Who were they?”
“Think of a classic monster and that’s them. None of us were good enough for Father, though, and when we were the only two left, he vanished. It hurt at first, but later I decided I didn’t need him or Baldr.”
“Who’s Baldr?”
“He was Odin’s son and Thor’s younger brother. Apparently, he was extremely important to Father.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea. Father never told me. I just know that a descendent of Baldr was all that mattered. Whenever Father thought he learned of the answer, we immediately traveled there, and I do mean immediately. Father would create a portal and send us there. Then we’d start the process over in a new town, or country, or continent.”
“Sounds crazy.”
“No, I was the crazy one for following him. That’s why I eventually thought of his abandonment as generosity and not punishment.”
“Really?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d gladly kill him if it was possible, but I accept the world I live in.”
“So, what’s it like living over six hundred years?”
“In a word, boring, but you learn to just watch the way life evolves. That’s why I was so happy to join the Malignant. It lets me finally leave this planet and watch life in a different part of the galaxy.”
“I can respect that,” Vape says.
“No, you can’t,” Vlad says. He stands from his chair. “I’m going to get something to eat. Do you want to come?”
“Sure,” Vape says. “What else is there to do?”
“Exactly.”
Maria enters the only open bar in Colberton late in the evening. The room is packed with people from every walk of life. Maria smiles when she sees bikers playing pool with yuppies. She forces herself to the counter and signals for the bartender to serve her.
“In a minute, Officer,” she shouts to Maria.
The nearest patrons look at Maria’s uniform with a combination of surprise and confusion. Maria ignores them and reaches over the counter to grab a mug.
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it,” Maria says to the bartender.
She angles her body to pour a glass from the nearest beer on tap. She spills the frothy head off the side of her glass and replaces it with the amber escape that she needs.
“Hey!” the bartender screams.
She points out Maria to a pair of bouncers. They move to engage Maria while she downs the entire drink in a single turn of the mug.
“Ah,” Maria says, “just what I needed.”
“You need to pay for that and leave,” the first bouncer says.
“No, I don’t,” Maria argues. “It’s a new perq of the job.”
“You’re a disgrace,” the second bouncer says.
That single sentence flips the switch in Maria. She smashes her glass against the side of the unsuspecting bouncer’s head. The bald man goes down to the floor with cuts along his face. The first bouncer swings at Maria, but he’s all muscle and no capability. Maria easily ducks it and scoops up a bar stool with her left hand. She heaves the furniture at the man and slams him into the bar. The man crumples to the floor. Maria feels hands grab both of her arms. Apparently, some in the bar have decided she’s the one at fault.
Maria struggles to break free.
“Get her gun,” someone shouts.
“Shit,” Maria says.
She hears the continuous fire of several machine guns. It takes a moment for the screams to die down and Maria to realize that, first, the shots weren’t meant for her, and second, that she’s no longer being held. Maria sees a trio of men and one woman holding weapons at the crowd.
“You all good, Officer?” one of the gunmen asks.
“Yeah, thanks,” Maria says.
“Not a problem,” he responds. “The Enterprise has your back. Maybe it’s a good time to leave?”
Maria grabs a second mug and tops it off with a porter this time.
“One more for the road,” she says to the terrified drinkers.
Maria walks past the Enterprise thugs.
“Thanks, I owe you guys one. Feel free to collect when you need to. I’ve got your back now, too.”
“Good to know, Officer. Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
Maria finishes her drink, drops the glass onto the floor, and leaves the bar with a strong feeling that she has a new family. As she leaves she hears the gunmen apologize to the crowd.
“We’re sorry to ruin your buzz, but we can’t have you offing cops. Please go back to your fun.”
Cecilia waits on her park bench again. She glances nervously, too nervously, for Hank to show up. Eventually she catches a glimpse of him. She has to smile when she sees the FBI agent’s disguise. This time he dressed as a man far older than his fifty-five years. He slowly works his way to her, hunched over a four-point walker.
“Mind if I take a seat, sweetie?” Hank asks while assuming the voice of a centenarian.
“If you must, Hank,” Cecilia replies.
“Thank you.”
Hank takes a seat and gives a show of searching for a handkerchief, then wiping his brow.
“Why’d you call me so soon?” Hank whis
pers.
“You have to bring me back in, Hank. Julie knows. I don’t know how, but she knows I’m FBI.”
“You’re just paranoid. If she’s a Templar, she’s got much bigger things to worry about than you.”
“She does, but somehow she manages it all. She all but called me agent. I can’t go back there. If I do, I’m a dead woman.”
“Just calm down,” Hank says. “Is there anything useful you can give me? You said she’s a Templar. Did she say anything about the Malignant?”
Cecilia thinks for a moment.
“She did, actually. She said something about how there’s a chance the Templars can win. She seemed really sure of it.”
“That’s good. Did she say what it was?”
“Not really. I got the feeling that even she was surprised and the revelation recently hit her. I don’t know if I would brief the President about this, but I gotta admit, it filled me with some hope. Say what you want about Julie Tress, but she definitely knows how to inspire people and run a business. It’s a shame she picked evil.”
“Let’s just hope she isn’t right about the Templars winning and then somehow corrupts them. That’s all we need, for The Enterprise to go superpower. The A-Men are good, but they can’t beat the Templars. They probably won’t be much use against the Malignant either.”
“What about rogue augment sociopaths?” Cecilia asks.
“You heard about that, huh?”
“It was kind of hard not to.”
Hank nods. “True enough.”
“Was it the A-Men? Did they send an assassin?”
“That’s above your pay grade.”
“Don’t give me that shit, Hank. If you want me to go back to playing pretend with Julie, you’re going to answer me.”
“Fine. Yes, the A-Men sent an assassin. He was one of the deaths. The government has decided to leave Mr. Polite alone. He only attacks when provoked, and we’ve run out of ideas on how to take him down. A lot of good any of them were anyway.”
“Shit,” Cecilia mumbles.
“So, are you still The Speaker?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this shit, but yes. I’m still your woman.”
“Good. Do you have anything else for me?”
“No.”
“Alright then, we should probably end our little meeting.”
Hank stands and repositions his walker.
“Good job keeping the streets safe.”
Cecilia raises her eyebrows.
“Well, safeish,” Hank states. “It’s nice not having to worry about The Enterprise killing innocents.”
“You know it won’t last,” Cecilia says.
“Peace never does. I’ll catch you later, Olivia.”
“Bye, Hank.”
Cecilia watches as Hank slowly lumbers off. She stands and walks away in the opposite direction.
Hunter and Keith lounge in Hunter’s basement. Cans of beer are tossed carelessly on the floor. The boys rock out to music far too loud to be truly appreciated. As the song finishes, Hunter turns it back down. He wipes sweat from his forehead and hands Keith a freshly opened beverage.
“Thanks,” Keith says as he accepts his drink.
The two boys clink their cans and take a pair of long draws.
“No problem,” Hunter says, then burps. “We gotta do something to distract us from the crap going on in the world. You hear that shit about that auggie bastard taking out a four-mile section of downtown Colberton?”
“Kind of hard to miss it,” Keith responds.
A knowing look crosses Hunter’s face.
“I guess so. I hate those damn auggies. It took them less than a year to screw the whole planet over.”
Keith nods.
“Did you know that Jenny’s an auggie?”
“No, I didn’t. No offense, man. I’m just talking bullshit.”
“Nah, you’re right. Auggies are a cancer. She’s been sleeping around on me.”
“Really? That bitch. All the hot ass that you passed up for her and this is how she treats you.”
“Exactly,” Keith jokes. “See, you get it.”
“Who’d she cheat with? Anyone I know?”
“That guy Percy I’ve mentioned. The crippled bastard was calling her Kitten. I should have beat his ass more than I did.”
“But you did mess him up, right? You can’t be stealing my man’s bitch and expect to walk away.”
Keith laughs. “The guy’s already on crutches.”
“Good,” Hunter says. “That son of a bitch deserves to have a limp dick that doesn’t work except to dribble piss into his panties.”
“Thanks, bro. You’re right. I don’t need that bitch.”
“Hell no, especially if she’s an auggie. That’s just asking for trouble. By the way, what was her power?”
“The shit was lame as hell,” Keith says. “She could make bubbles appear. She said she was going to use it to start her career as a clown.”
“A clown?”
“I know. I’m glad I’m free of that shit.”
“Tell me you at least used her power?”
“What do you mean?”
“Could she send bubbles out of anywhere?”
“Yeah.” Keith laughs.
“Man, I would have had her legs up in the stirrups shooting bubbles out of her pussy and would have popped them with my dick.”
“Who says I didn’t?”
Hunter and Keith slap hands.
“My man. I knew there was a reason I liked you. I hope you tore that pussy up. Put a hurt on it and ruin it for Percy.”
“Whatever. He can have her. I need to collect more virgin tags.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. Finish that beer, and we’ll go find some.”
Hunter slaps Keith on the shoulder and heads out of the room. Keith stands to follow him. He feels guilty for his tough talk with his friend. He wants Jenny back, but every time he thinks that, he scolds himself. He can’t take Jenny back. She betrayed him. Maybe she told the truth about not having sex, but Percy shouldn’t have known about that birthmark. Nothing will change his mind on this opinion.
“Keith, hurry the hell up! We’ve got pussy to crush!”
“Coming!”
“Not yet, asshole! Wait until you bury it in a snatch!”
Keith laughs at his friend’s joke. Hunter may be full of bluster, but it was the bluster he needed to hear today. Hunter never fails to attract the women to him. He needs that tonight. He needs to find someone to help him forget about the girl he still loves.
Jenny interrupts her parents having a conversation about Merrill’s impending retirement.
“Mom, Dad, I need the car,” Jenny blurts.
“Excuse me?” Merrill asks. “Since when do you just interrupt people like that?”
“I’m sorry, Dad, but I need to go to Colberton. You have to let me.”
“Honey,” Jenny’s mom says, “I know you’re hurting, but he’s just a boy. There’ll be others. Keith isn’t worth it. I saw pictures of what he did to Percy and, frankly, I don’t want you around a boy like that.”
Jenny’s tears fall down her cheek. Her parents take notice.
“It wasn’t Keith’s fault. I did something bad, and Percy provoked him.”
“Define bad,” Merrill says. “What exactly did you do?”
“Please don’t make me, Dad.”
“No, I want to hear this,” Merrill says.
“Me, too,” his wife adds.
“I posed in my bikini for Percy. Percy then implied to Keith that I had sex with him.”
“Thank God,” Merrill lets slip.
Both Jenny and her mother look at Merrill for an explanation.
“Sorry,” he sheepishly says. “I
was just excited you didn’t have sex with him. Losing your virginity was bad enough; I don’t need you turning into the town slut.”
“Honey!” Merrill’s wife protests.
“Thanks, Dad. I’m glad you have such a high opinion of me.”
Jenny buries her head into her mother’s arms. The two parents share a silent conversation as Jenny sniffles.
“I’d love to take you, Jenny, but I can’t go. The base is on alert again since that augment took out a chunk of Colberton.”
“I’m needed with the FRG,” Jenny’s mother adds.
“I know,” Jenny blurts. “That’s why I need the car. I just need to go see him. I love him, and I need to force him to take me back. I can’t live without him.”
“Yes, you can,” Merrill insists. “Don’t say things like that.”
Jenny can sense her parents’ resolve fading. She presses the issue.
“Please, just let me. I need to speak with him. I know I can make him understand. Just let me go see him.”
Her parents are still hesitant.
“I never ask you for anything. Please, just do this for me. I promise I’ll come back the same day. I won’t sleep over. I know that’s what worries you. I promise I’ll come straight back.”
Her parents waver further.
“Please,” Jenny adds for good measure.
“Fine,” Merrill says. “You can go on Monday in the morning, but you better leave first thing, because I expect you home for dinner at six.”
Jenny lights up.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she screams as she wraps her arms around his neck.
She gives her father a big kiss on the cheek, then offers her mother the same gratitude. Both parents smile as their daughter bounces out of the kitchen.
“What were we talking about again?” Merrill asks his wife.
“As-salamu ’alaykum,” a man says from behind Amine.
Amine turns from standing over the stone marker of his father’s grave to see who addressed him. He smiles as he confirms the voice belongs to the face he expects.
“Wa’alaykumu al-salam,” Amine responds.
He grabs the man who stands before him.
“I’m pleased to see you, Uncle Sameer,” Amine says.
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