Ajax: Relinquished

by Gavin Magson

  Ajax gave the woman a half smile and looked down to inspect the items on display. His reply sounded a little distant and distracted. “I was in Justice One, sorry that I didn't call.”

  Once Beryl had ceased staring at his face to try and tell if he was lying she decided it was for the best that she did not interrogate the man about his absence. Her clientele varied widely, from those looking for personal protection in a bad neighbourhood to cold blooded killers that broke the law simply by existing. She had learnt quickly that the fewer questions asked the better for her life, and her livelihood. As long as they paid up front she did not care what happened with the weapons she sold; Beryl never allowed her conscience to be troubled by her business.

  “I heard off Aiko today, a rarity of late, but most welcome under the circumstances. She said that you would be joining those mercenaries in Sector Six. You do realise that those mercs aren't simply carrying handguns? Neither are the men they are fighting with, for that matter. I trust this means you are in the market for something with a bit more punch?”

  The childish grin on Ajax's face only confirmed her question. She needed no more invitation to display the considerable ordinance she kept in reserve for more specialised needs. Ajax watched in wonder as a variety of armaments appeared from the cellar below. Within a few minutes there was everything from assault rifles to surface-to-air missiles in front of him. He was possibly more amazed by the fact that this sweet old woman had managed to carry such equipment up the stairs with apparent ease.

  “Before we get a little carried away with ourselves, what is your price range today?” asked Beryl, setting down the last piece of her display.

  “I only have just shy of fifty thousand to spend today.”

  “That's no good at all, you are going to need more than that to wage a war. What are you getting paid?”

  “Ten thousand per day, variable bonuses depending on what importance an eliminated target is.” answered Ajax as he picked up a compact rifle. He attached a nearby suppressor to its barrel and sighted along the weapon.

  “That much? Rine must like you, that's double what he is paying any of the mercenaries I've talked to; assuming they told me the truth. I trust you not to get yourself killed, consider your budget extended with one hundred thousand store credits, though I will want your first ten days pay coming straight here if you spend it all.”

  Despite his desire to purchase everything in sight Ajax managed some self-control at the mention of Beryl’s offer. He had not discussed with Rine, or Aiko, how long he would be required in the slums, yet Beryl had seemed confident that he would easily be drawing a wage for ten days. He might regret it later but Ajax could not turn down such a deal with a variety of ordinance before him.

  “It's a deal. Now, what would you recommend for a man entering a war zone for the first time with the intention of killing everyone pointing so much as a finger in his direction?” asked Ajax.

  “I think I have the perfect thing just for you. A multifunctional gun that should meet your everyday needs.” said Beryl, selecting a rifle towards the middle of her display. “This assault rifle is very similar to your handgun in that it fires standard calibre bullets that come in several varieties. If you think the explosive tipped handgun bullets packed a punch then you are in for a treat. Accurate over long distances, easily switches from full to semi-automatic, or three round burst, this thing can be a nightmare for its victims. You would struggle to find a more accurate assault rifle.”

  Ajax put down the gun in his hands and inspected the recommended one. He took note of its balanced weight as he peered down the gun’s sight. The length was just right for his hands, cradled against his shoulder he could bring it up swiftly, even in confined spaces. Beryl certainly knew his needs and what best fitted them.

  “I'm sure that this will be the gun for me. I'll take it, Beryl.” said Ajax, handing it back to the shopkeeper. “How much do I have left for ammunition after that?”

  “For you the gun is thirty thousand, regular bullets are five hundred credits for a box of one hundred. Could I interest you in incendiary, explosive, armour piercing or two-stage?” she asked.

  “I'll take the lot, but you'll need to tell me what two-stage bullets are, I haven't heard of them.”

  “Really? I am surprised that someone of your particular skills has not heard of them. I just know you will love them. Two-stage bullets have a second propulsion system that increases the bullets range by about a third, when compared with a standard round, and are reinforced in order to stabilise and still have a deadly velocity on impact.” Beryl reached under the counter for a munitions box and opened it to display several bullets, passing one to Ajax. “Here is a two-stage, notice the extra weight and external perforation? These things are not cheap, but they can mean the difference between carrying around a second gun just for a distant shot. You don't need to change any settings of your weapon on the fly to fire them either, just get one in the breach and fire.

  “If you were buying an ordinary rifle I would not advise you to buy this bullet type. The extra force generated by the first stage has a tendency to break the firing mechanism and even crack barrels. This gun was designed around these bullets, so nothing to worry about there. I even have telescopic sights with several magnification settings that complement the two-stage. So, how many bullets do you want?”

  “I'm going to want a lot of everything, as well as some more ammunition for my handgun,” he placed his gun and remaining supplies on the counter, “I was told to give you anything I would need to smuggle into the slums. Have you got any big explosive charges or grenades in stock?”

  “I have both, let me show you what choices you have.”

  Ajax was a rich child let loose in a sweet shop, he could not resist sampling everything on offer. By the time he left he was nearly spent up, including the store credit he had been offered, and Beryl's stock was severally depleted. When he arrived in the slums there was going to be a small arsenal waiting just for him and Ajax was certainly going to enjoy himself; his opponents, not so much.

  It was slow going making his way back to the tavern in the late morning throng. The streets had filled out, much to the delight of shop owners after the torrential weather had hampered their business. Ajax blamed the warming sunlight for coaxing the inhabitants outside, offering them a rare chance to shop without significant risk of being caught in a downpour. He laboriously battled his way through the crowded streets, past yet more shops selling nearly anything imaginable, until he reached the Haven's courtyard and the safety it offered.

  Ajax sat down on the fountains lip with a heavy sigh and stretched out his limbs. He watched on, fascinated by a nearby flock of birds as they fought over a half-eaten sandwich that had been discarded by its owner mere seconds earlier as she hurried through the courtyard. They reminded him of a terrifying sight he had seen back in Justice One, only the meal on offer then was a dying man with no chance of survival.

  Ajax tried to void his mind of the memory, focusing on the changes to Sector Four that were all around him. The trees that ringed the courtyard had shed their leaves weeks ago, leaving the cobblestones slick from the rotting debris. Where once the light showed brightly coloured buildings the world around him was cast a dull grey.

  Above him dark clouds were coming in from the Outerlands, travelling fast and heading for the mountain Konar City had been built upon. Soon the image of rabid humans was cleared from his mind, the prospect of yet more rain soured his mood. Ajax would never allow himself to face anything like that again in his life. It had taken all his mental and physical strength to survive the prison; he would rather die than return to the nightmare.

  He took several deep breaths before he pulled out his tablet from a pocket within the jacket. He scrolled through his contacts and pressed a button to start a call with Aiko. It took several rings before she answered, the voice on the other end sounded a little flustered.

  “Hello, Ajax? Is everything all right?” she a
sked.

  “Don't worry, everything is fine with me. I was just calling to tell you that I have bought my supplies from Beryl and am ready for deployment. What is the next step?”

  “You'll need to catch the train over to Sector Six, should be one on the hour, every hour. When you arrive make your way to one of the guest houses, we can send your stuff in advance to the one you choose. I think Rine will want you to leave as early as tomorrow, the situation has escalated since your conversation with him. If you are in the Haven tonight I can come over with a map and show you your options for a base?”

  “Yeah, that would be great. I'll see you later, I look forward to it.” a faint click signified the connection had been cut. He was foolish to think that Rine would give him more time to spend with the crew, if anything he should be surprised that he wasn't already in the slums. Ajax laughed to himself and typed up a message to Ilya whilst he enjoyed what was left of the mild weather outside.

  Ilya, I have accepted the job from Rine and could be heading into Six very soon. I'm going to miss you, make sure to stay safe and don't get into any trouble whilst I am gone. I’ll try my best to keep my nose clean whilst I am away. Don't forget to message me with the date of your union. Enjoy yourself and I'll see you soon – A

  He stayed sat on the cold stone lip for a few more minutes whilst he waited to see if any reply would come through. When he finally admitted defeat Ajax headed into the tavern, pushing through the busy throng of afternoon diners. He turned right once he made it past the doorway and headed for Sal's desk. The big man sat behind it was deep in conversation with an elderly couple, both of whom had small bags deposited at their feet. Ajax waited patiently until Sal handed over a room key and bid them a pleasant stay.

  “Mr Frost, what can I do for you this afternoon?” asked Sal, his chins still wobbling long after he finished talking.

  “I am going away for a while, since what I gave you for rent last time must be close to depleted I need to organise payment for the next month.” he pulled out a credit chip and placed it down on the desk. Sal's eyes narrowed as they followed the movement.

  “You risk your own life to save mine, then you stood up for my niece, fighting seven men to do so; don't you think you deserve at least a month rent free? This time I am not taking your money.” said Sal, pushing back the chip.

  Ajax stared into Sal's defiant eyes and saw no give in the stubborn man. He knew when to fight his battles, this time it was in his best interests that he accepted the man's gratitude.

  “Since I disobeyed your wishes last time I will take the money back. Come next month you will be taking my rent money whether you like it or not. Don't think I am afraid of you.” Ajax could not help but grin whilst saying it, his effort to sound serious hampered instantly. “I’ll be going away for a short while, can’t say when I’ll be back. Definitely not several months this time.”

  “Dare I ask where you’ll be?”

  Ajax looked Sal in the eyes, saw the genuine curiosity of the man stare back at him. The landlord had always been good to him, if a little distant when he first arrived in the city. He did not want too many to know where he was going, nor what he would be doing there.

  “It’s probably for the best that I keep you in the dark on this one. Don’t worry, I won’t be able to keep away from here for too long; that food of yours is enough to break out of prison for.”

  He said his goodbyes to Sal before the man had chance to reply. He turned around, heading towards the staircase and his room. He quickly peered into the dining room first to see if any of the crew had surfaced. It was a struggle to do so but Ajax could vaguely remember Greg mentioning they would all be going shopping for new equipment and a team to carry out repairs on the captain’s ship. Ajax headed upstairs, the worn carpet underfoot a familiar friend. He stepped onto the second storey and pulled out his room key, lodged deep in a pocket.

  As the door opened he caught sight of the body. Instinctively his fingers wrapped around the hidden knifes handle before he recognised the woman. Ajax released his grip as Sarah rose from the edge of his bed, then shut the door behind him.

  “What are you doing here, Sarah? And how did you get in?” asked Ajax, a hint of anger in his voice.

  “My dad owns the tavern, doesn’t take a genius to figure out that I have access to the spare keys. You've been avoiding me, back two days and you haven't even made the effort to talk. Did our time together mean nothing to you?” she closed the gap between them, wrapped both arms around his waist and leant her head on his chest.

  Ajax was totally disarmed by the gesture, he was unsure what was happening and had no idea of how to react. The embrace went on for several seconds until Sarah lifted her head, staring into Ajax's eyes before closing hers and leaning in for the kiss; it never came. Ajax gently grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed Sarah away.

  “I could ask the same of you. I've been told what you have been doing since I left, sounded like my bed was not cold before you’d climbed into someone else’s. You tried to substitute my money with that of others by offering them your body, did you expect things to go back to how they were? I told you that it was your decision whether to wait for me, that I could be gone for weeks or months; you made your choice.”

  “I did it because I missed you, because I love you, Ajax. Please come lay with me, like we used to. I've missed you.” he had to admit it was impressive how, with such little effort, the dress went from hugging her curvaceous body to unceremoniously discarded on his floor.

  Plenty of things had changed since his time in prison. Ajax was not the same man that had murdered Hiro. He was harder around the edges, his stare less inviting than it once was. Strangers instantly knew to fear him, the smarter ones respected him. It was something that he had noticed from those that talked to him before and after his stint in prison. He also did not waste food and was not choosy about what he ate; he'd never dream of complaining about a bad meal again. Something that had not changed was his body’s reaction to the soft, naked flesh of Sarah in close proximity, a fact she noticed almost instantaneously.

  “I might have made a choice, but it was through necessity; do you understand what I went through? I can see your body has also made a choice,” she said, stepping forward to caress the evidence. “So why don't you listen to it and enjoy yourself?”

  She was so close that Sarah could see the Adams-apple bobbing in Ajax's neck, the confusion in his eyes as he fought his body’s natural desires and urges. A mischievous grin spread across her face just as a bead of sweat appeared on his brow. Sarah thought she had him under her spell.

  It took all of his self-control to step back, to deny himself what his body screamed at him to seize. Sarah's lustful expression instantly changed to shock mixed with pain and anger. “This is not what I want. Tomorrow I am leaving again, it would be wrong to start this only to leave once more; I don't want to hurt your feelings. You are a beautiful young woman who deserves the full attention of a man, so go find him whilst I am gone. It would be for the best.”

  He was surprised when tears started to fall down her face, splashing on Sarah's exposed breasts as her body began to shake. He had presumed that she was just after his money, yet the tears seemed real enough to him. Perhaps she did had feelings for him? It did not matter, there was no way that he would change his mind. He knew it was not worth the pain it would cause himself, Sarah had shown her true colours to him.

  Through the sobs he could half hear the words she was mumbling, nothing coherent enough to understand the crying woman. Ajax stepped forward and embraced her, focusing his mind on anything else in an attempt to block out all carnal thoughts of her naked, exposed flesh. He ran a hand through her hair, stroking it as she released more tears onto his clothes.

  “Everyone has left me. You say I deserve someone who will give me his full attention and yet you are just like all the men I have ever known. Did you even care for me, was I just something you could stick your dick in?” Sarah spat the questio
n, pulling away from his embrace to look defiantly into his face, showing Ajax her red rimmed eyes and tear streaked skin.

  “Of course I did, you mean a lot to me and that is why I want you to move on. If things go bad I might not be coming back, there is always the possibility that my job will see me dead. I don't want someone waiting around to see if I come back on my feet or in a wooden box. Someone with your beauty won't struggle to find love, so just forget about me and move on.”

  Ajax, being a man who does not understand women and is lacking in the knowledge of how to console one, thought he had done a good job defusing the situation. Sarah quickly gathered her dress and pulled it over her head, her tears subsiding. She stepped around Ajax to open the door and paused to say her last words to the man.

  “You are right, Ajax, I am beautiful and I do deserve a real man, so thank you for allowing me to realise that. I hope you don't miss this fine ass where you are going, since it is the last time you’ll ever see it.” and with that Sarah slammed the door as she left his life.

  He had to admit that she did have a fantastic body. Such a shame about the personality that ruled it.

  By the evening Ajax had packed away a bag full of clothes, transferred his last spare credits he had hidden onto his implant, and organised his room ready to leave the tavern once again. He suspected that Aiko would be close on her guess of his departure time, and now that he had little left in Four there was no reason to drag his feet when the time came to leave.

  The confrontation with Sarah was finally out of his mind, the images of her body had stayed far longer than he expected and had a detrimental effect on his work rate. Her perfume still hung in the air, a soft blend of multiple fragrances that brought back memories of passionate nights spent together.

  His tablet vibrated, skirting across the bedside tables surface as it attempted to escape. Ajax caught it before it managed to nose dive for the floor.