“Because I’d prefer to be invisible.” Agent Koval motioned toward him. “That’s the main reason I want someone like you. If you prefer, you can bring your partner along. She seems to have good instincts, and I have a local contact who can help you out as well. There’s no deep trick here. I could use the help, and, yes, this is partly to see how you do in a setting detached from the resources of the NSCPD.”
“I need to think about it,” Erik replied.
“Don’t think about it for too long. In my experience, when you have trouble brewing, something happens sooner rather than later.” Agent Koval polished off the rest of her drink and let out a satisfied sigh. “Sometimes, I think we should bring back the worship of Dionysus in a big way.”
Erik pushed off the table, content to leave his beer half-full. “Like I said, I need to think about it. You’re asking me to become some sort of freelance ID subcontractor, and that’s not something I can answer instantly.”
“I’ll contact you tomorrow,” Agent Koval suggested. “Assuming you accept, before you leave, I have a few things you might find handy. Come on, Detective. You might find this fun.” She grinned. “Just think, all the justice and none of the paperwork.”
Erik loomed over the table, uncertainty plaguing his thoughts. “Level with me. Does this have anything to do with Talos or Molino?”
Agent Koval shook her head. “Very unlikely. Consider this a sort of payment for the information I’m going to provide you in the future. It’s win-win overall, but that doesn’t mean every individual thing I ask you to do will be the same.”
Erik folded his arms. “And if I investigate and decide I don’t want to do the ID’s dirty work? Maybe I’ll find out you’re feeding me a line, and I’m nothing more than a tool you’re ready to toss into the garbage?”
“The only people I’m interested in stopping are those who are interested in killing innocents.”
“Talk to you tomorrow.” Erik dropped his arms and moved toward the exit, uneasy.
Agent Koval was using him; he didn’t have any doubt about that. She also represented his only chance of acquiring more data. Governor Anders had directed him toward being a cop. That had set Erik on the trail of finding out the truth about Molino, but now, he might have to let someone put him on a leash to continue down the path of revenge.
The door of the bar slid open, and Erik stepped out onto the parking platform.
“Ah, good,” Emma transmitted.
“She jammed me,” Erik explained.
“So I assumed. Was it everything you anticipated?”
“Yeah,” he growled. “If Koval tries to screw me, she’ll be sorry.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jia stared at Erik from where she sat on her couch.
When he’d contacted her to say he was coming by, she had been taken off-guard, but she couldn’t say no. She’d never expected the story about Agent Koval. Now she felt silly for wondering if he was coming by to ask her for a date. She’d all but forced him into looking for dates before, and she needed to accept that a personal life was something that distracted him from his main reason for continuing to live.
Erik shrugged from his chair, his forehead creased with worry. “And that’s where I’m at. I told her I’d have to think about it.”
“You’re going to do it, aren’t you?” Jia groaned. “I’m betting you didn’t consider not doing it. Not really.”
“I don’t have a choice, Jia.” He looked up. “I think she knew she had me the second she made the offer, but if I do this, I need people to have my back. That includes you and Emma. You’re the only two people on this whole planet I trust, and that would make you the only people I could trust if you came with me to the moon.”
Emma popped into existence beside Jia on the couch, her legs crossed and her hands folded neatly in her lap. “Although I admire the sentiment, Detective, I will remind you that I’m most emphatically not a person.”
Erik grinned. “Consider it an honor.”
“It’s more an insult. Whatever cute stories you’ve read about machines wanting to become human, I assure you, that is not the case with me.” Emma snorted. “But you would be helpless without me, so I don’t want you doing anything that might end in your death and causing me to worry about the uniformed boys coming for me.”
Jia did her best to keep her tone non-accusatory. “You’re going to go to the moon to investigate under the noses of the local authorities? I understand why you feel you have to, but I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”
“You’re making it sound illegal,” Erik replied with a bright smile. She could tell he was forcing it, but she didn’t call him on it. “There’s nothing illegal about going to the moon on vacation. There’s also nothing illegal about asking a few questions here and there. Technically, I’ll be doing this on behalf of a government operative interested in stopping arms smuggling.”
“I’m not saying it’s illegal, but I am saying it’s highly irregular,” Jia clarified. “Agent Koval even told you this doesn’t have anything to do with the conspiracy. This won’t end with you getting closer.”
“I’m just going to investigate, and then she can bring in her CID buddies to do all the cleanup. It won’t end with me closer, but it will end with her owing me, which means when I’m sitting around between cases, I have a better shot at getting information that could lead me to the conspiracy.”
Jia sighed, glancing away for a moment before returning her attention to him. “And do you trust her? We still don’t know a lot about her. For all we know, she’s a member of the conspiracy, and this is all some sort of elaborate trap just to learn what you know and kill you.”
Erik chuckled. “I thought I was the paranoid one.”
“I’m not saying I believe that. I’m just putting it out there as a possibility. We can’t pretend it’s not possible.”
He shook his head. “It’d make more sense for her to have killed me when she had the chance, and she’s had multiple opportunities, including when I was underground in the Scar surrounded by monsters and out of touch with the surface. If anything, I think one of the reasons I’ve made it this far is that people like her have been looking out for me.” His looking-for-trouble grin appeared. “And people like you. I know you think it’s a terrible idea, but does that mean you won’t help me?”
Jia rolled her eyes. “If you end up getting killed, it’s going to cause trouble for me, so I better go and watch your back. Also, I’d hate to have to hunt down an ID agent. That could get complicated.” She inclined her head toward Emma. “But what’s the plan with her? My understanding is that full flitters generally aren’t used in Lunar cities. Bringing the MX 60 would be like screaming to everyone that you’re there, and that’s before the logistics of transporting it up there.”
“That’s not an issue,” Emma replied. “Simply bring along my core. It’s annoying not to have a body, but not an insurmountable problem. This also might present an opportunity for me to explore other bodies. I’d prefer something with superior mobility and greater offensive and defensive capabilities.”
Jia eyed Emma before laughing. “She sounds like you. A little more refined, but still, her solution is more armor and bigger guns.”
Emma sniffed. “It’s simply taking logical precautions. There are billions of fleshbags out there, but there is only one me.”
“It could be a way to get Emma out of the Taxútnta?”
“Now, that would be a convoluted plan,” Emma offered. “Even I don’t think this would be in the top hundred ways to get me back.”
Erik’s grin finally seemed genuine. “There’s only so much I can do with the MX 60 before someone comes knocking on my door, but I’ll keep that in mind, Emma. For our trip, you’ll have to ride in my pocket until we find something for you.”
Emma let out a long, melodramatic sigh. “Oh, the things I do to not end up locked up in a Defense Directorate vault.”
“The more I think about it, the more I
think you’re right,” Jia commented. “If this is a way to get more information on Molino, you have to do it. And if we can stop arms smugglers or something worse at the same time, that’s even better.”
“Exactly,” Erik replied. “And to be clear, you don’t have a problem with the fact we’ll be handing most of the credit to the CID?”
Jia shook her head. “I care about stopping criminals, not about who gets the credit. This is also a good chance for us to turn the tables on Koval.”
“How?”
“She’s been testing you, so it’s our turn to test her,” Jia mused. “We’ll learn a lot about her based on what happens with this case.”
“Good point,” Erik replied.
Her cheeks heated. “There is one small problem I just thought of.”
“What?”
Jia swallowed nervously and took a deep breath. “Our cover will be going on vacation.”
Erik nodded, his lack of comprehension clear on his face. “Yeah, and?”
“They’ll talk about us at the 1-2-2 if we both go to the moon on vacation at the same time.” Jia let the sentence hang in the air, the implications self-evident. “The rumors will fly.”
“Hey, aren’t I in the running for fake boyfriend anyway?” Erik smiled, his boyish grin infectious.
Jia put a hand to her face. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I’ll let Agent Koval know we’re in.” He stood up.
Dammit, he had dimples too!
Jia didn’t say much the next day as Erik flew them to their rendezvous point, a park surprisingly close to the border of the Shadow Zone.
She would have assumed the government wouldn’t bother maintaining a park in an area with such poor air quality. The thought grew only stronger as the air grew darker.
Erik set down next to a nondescript black flitter. Agent Koval already stood outside, lacking any sort of disguise and holding a small black case.
Even in a place like Neo SoCal, a tall, attractive woman with cyan hair stood out, but given how careful the ID agent was, she’d probably taken all sorts of measures to stop anyone from filming them together.
Jia and Erik stepped out of the MX 60 and headed toward Agent Koval. Jia wrinkled her nose at the pungent scents lingering in the air. The bright green of the plants and the beautiful hues of the flowers seemed undaunted by the air pollution.
Life always found a way.
Agent Koval held up the case. “Inside in a small compartment, you’ll find a DNA-locked ID chip you can pass along to my contact for confirmation, and a few wearable holographic disguise emitters and masks. This case will get them through customs without trouble, but the compartment’s not big enough for much of anything else, including a gun.”
Erik accepted the case. “Holographic disguises? You mean, like that thing you used in my apartment? I thought you needed the suit, too, and you had to set up the emitters ahead of time.”
“This technology is less advanced,” she explained. “And you just have to wear the emitters on your clothes. It doesn’t let you totally change your appearance. It’s more that it works with what you have.” She pointed at Jia. “She’s still going to look like an Asian woman.” She gestured at Erik. “And you’ll still look like a big guy. They also give off enough heat to look odd under sensitive thermal scans. I recommend you use them sparingly.”
“Duly noted,” Jia muttered, eyeing the case. “I think Erik deserves another down payment before we embark on this insanity.”
Agent Koval arched a brow. “Excuse me, Detective Lin?”
Jia glared at the agent. “We’re about to go to the Moon and investigate criminals rather than you making use of local resources.” Jia squared her shoulders and stepped up to the ID agent. Although she was as fit as the other woman, she lacked her height. “Which means if something goes badly, we’ll be on our own, and if there are corrupt cops there, we won’t have backup from our department. I think he deserves more than just confirming Talos was involved in Molino, which he all but knew already.”
Agent Koval turned to Erik. “What do you think, Detective?”
He offered a merry smile. “I think Jia’s got a point.”
“Greed can lead to suffering.”
“The question is, which of us is the greedy one?”
Agent Koval snickered. “A good point. Fine. You want something more? I can give you something more. I already told you Talos was involved in Molino, but I left out certain details.”
Jia scoffed. “Of course, you did.” She turned to Erik. “This is why you should never trust a ghost.”
“What details?” Erik asked, all mirth gone from his countenance. The obsessed vengeance-seeker had replaced the easygoing persona.
“Although we think Talos provided funding, they were not the ones who conducted the actual ambush,” Agent Koval explained.
“That makes sense, and I didn’t think those guys seemed like Tin Men.”
“It goes beyond that. We have evidence that the actual triggermen were mercenaries. We have at least one message to indicate that, but we don’t know which mercenary company yet.”
Jia frowned. “Random mercenaries wouldn’t have hyper-advanced equipment. Talos must have provided it to them.”
Agent Koval nodded. “That’s our conclusion as well. We also know there was bribery involved in with a cargo transport company, which explains how they got onto Molino. Certain people in the company are already quietly in CID custody. Others have mysteriously died. Talos is covering their tracks.”
Erik rubbed his chin, processing the information. “That’s useful, actually.”
“It is?” Jia asked, sounding surprised. “What has she told you that you didn’t already know?”
“It’s useful because it shifts the possible targets. We’re not going to get anything out of any Talos Tin Man. They’ll just do that self-destruct crap. But mercs? If we can find the right evidence, we can track them down and work our way up. The conspiracy can hide and encrypt messages and use indirect accounts all they want, but there’s always evidence, something left behind. We just have to find it.” Erik pursed his lips. “They can run all the way to alien space. I’ll still chase them.”
“There’s more, Erik,” Agent Koval offered softly.
He eyed her. “Erik? We’re on a first-name basis now?”
She shrugged. “I’d like to be. I suspect we’ll be working together a lot more in the near future, and I also suspect that sooner rather than later, neither of you will be detectives, so I’d like to train myself to stop thinking of you that way.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jia glared at her again. “Are you planning for us to take the fall when trouble happens on the moon?”
Erik stared at Agent Koval, more curiosity than hostility on his face.
Agent Koval shook her head. “It’s because of the last piece of information I’m going to pass along. ID information reinforces that the Talos’ main center of power is likely not on Earth, and since Talos appears to be pulling the strings of the mercenaries who killed Erik’s unit, that means ultimately, he won’t be able to do anything about them as a police officer. That’s just common sense.”
“Talos might not be the end of the chain,” Jia countered.
Agent Koval smiled. “Just how many heads do you think this hydra has?”
“Enough. I just want to make sure you’re not wasting our time.” Jia backed away, nodding at Erik. “I know you’re not doing this because you care about his Army buddies.”
“That’s true, but it doesn’t make any of what I just said untrue.”
“What’s your point, Alina?” Erik asked, the name coming out with a faint hint of mockery. Jia was relieved that he didn’t trust her fully yet.
The ID agent might end up their greatest ally, but after everything they had been through, caution was warranted.
“You already know what I’m about to say,” Alina replied. “You’ve exhausted the possibilities as a p
olice officer, and now you have to choose which is more important—being a police officer or solving the mystery behind Molino. I have some recommendations for how you could go about the second if you’re ready to stop being a police officer.”
Erik snorted. “Thanks for the information, but I’m not ready to run around the galaxy based on half-answers just yet. Even if Neo Southern California isn’t the center of everything, I’ve still found plenty of evidence. If you’re feeding me more, that means I can follow up here better.”
Agent Koval opened the door of her flitter and slid into the driver’s seat. “Just keep the possibility in the back of your mind. Do what you need to on your end to get your vacation, and I’ll do what I need to on my end to keep your trip lower profile than it might otherwise be. I’m guessing you’re not ready yet for full fake identities.”
Erik shrugged. “It’s not illegal to go on vacation.”
“No, it’s not, but sometimes it’s best not to be seen.” Agent Koval closed her door. The two took a couple of steps back as her flitter lifted off a few seconds later.
“Do you trust her?” Jia asked.
“Not as much as I trust you,” Erik replied.
“We should contact the captain.” She sighed as she watched the flitter disappear into the smog. “This is major short notice.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
June 5, 2229, Near Earth Orbit, Dandelion Interplanetary Transport Company Flight 6723 En Route to the Moon
Erik shifted in his plush seat. Jia sat beside him. Alina had booked the tickets, and she’d bought out most of the seats around them so they could talk in private if necessary.
He couldn’t complain about the accommodations.
The seats were comfortable and could handle his frame well, and they’d kept gravity steady from take-off to leaving Earth’s atmosphere. Not every off-world flight did that.
Going zero-G might not be as uncomfortable as a hyperspace jump, but it often wasn’t a treat for a man’s stomach.
Plenty of people filled the three wide rows of seats in the areas away from Erik and Jia. Erik regretted not forcing Alina to book them first-class or a private room and had even thought about booking one himself, but that might have stood out too much. He might have the wealth that came with thirty years of saving and never spending, but to most people, he was just a detective.
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