by V Guy
The woman looked exactly like her. Except for the currency of the video, she would have believed she was that person. Additional surveillance showed the woman as she freely arrived and departed the ship, others boarded and exited without restrictions, and one of Selena’s concerns about the creature’s motives faded. Another worry was similarly dismissed by the other passengers’ cordial attitudes toward it.
She was enthralled. All the women showed a measure of deference toward Malik, but none of them behaved particularly dependent. Surveillance of the redhead was brief. Selena moved to the admiral’s archive to locate more. Accessing this information prompted the appearance of a life-size image of the creature in the interface. Selena cried out in alarm. It appeared doubly dangerous at close range, and she quickly cleared the projection. An investigation of this new treasure trove told her much of Malik’s capabilities and little of the mystery woman, but an internal surveillance recording was found. She set it to run. Midway through the playback, the woman seen earlier, reappeared. Selena stilled the image. A composite was completed of the woman’s image and projected before her.
Who are you? she thought, pondering her double.
Selena was generally happy, and her master fulfilled her every wish, but this woman represented a missing past, Malik sought her with a passion her master withheld, and the two individuals were associates.
Embarrassed and ashamed of her rebellion, she disabled the projection and set aside the skull interface. Everything she would ever need was present on Stellar Clipper. Underneath this conscious declaration resided a determined mental fragment that insisted there was more.
The minutes passed as she deliberated, the image of the woman remaining firmly imprinted on her mind. This person was a reflection of who she might have been, and her mind spun with the possibilities as she lowered the lights. Selena’s memory was excellent. If there were a history with the creature who knew this woman, then she and the woman might also share a history; she should be able to discover it. Selena raised the bedcovers, closing her eyes as her mind reached toward the past. She projected Malik and her double into that gap, released her trepidation, and focused.
29: Sniper
Day 741: Evaline, Hia City
Serena clasped a cup of coffee as if it were a talisman and looked nervously toward the predawn glow. “I don’t suppose I really need to run today.”
“He’s here,” said Liola, watching from the kitchen table. “These windows are obscured and shielded, and he won’t likely make the attempt unless he has a clear shot. The park is the place he’ll choose.”
“But how could this guy know? How could he be certain where I’d be?”
“Other people were watching you earlier,” said Elena. She joined Liola at the table. “We know he’ll strike. It’d be best if he did it when we were ready.”
“Ready?” said Serena, glaring. “I’ll be the one shot.”
“And I’ll be right beside you. Sticking to a routine is the best way to avoid spooking him, and you’re extremely regular. Everyone is in position.”
Serena groaned. “I’m not sure about this.”
“Stretch,” said Elena, rolling her eyes. “It’s the easiest place and the chance of collateral casualties is minimal. Let’s go. I’ve stretched and will get stiff if we don’t hurry.”
Serena’s visage paled at the idea of being a target. “Are you certain the assassin is in Hia City?”
“Intel from Red Town says he is,” said Liola. “Malik confirmed our tracking of multiple vehicles, thanks to the breaking of northern spaceport codes, and registered the arrival of one of those vehicles to this area. The shooter is either camped in the woods or using a safe house in town. We found the empty hovercraft.”
“Where?”
“In the hayfield near that massive barn on ground route 17A.”
Serena bit her lip and paced.
“We either run and get shot at, or we run and don’t,” said Elena, scowling. “Let’s go already.”
Indecision yielded to determination, and Serena abandoned the half-drunk cup of coffee. “All right. Worry about it now or worry about it later. Let’s save time for something else tomorrow.”
She gathered her duffel bag, verified the contents, and opened the door to the garage. She looked worriedly at her running partner as she entered the Halfwing. “I’ll need antacids later.”
Elena glanced at the gauges and did a security check of the systems. “We’ll need fuel, too.”
Serena warmed the engine, opened the garage door, and eased the craft out. After verifying the door’s closure, she rotated the hovercraft and lifted it into the air.
“Standard approach route and caution,” said Elena, strapping monitoring equipment to herself under her clothing. A device similar to an exercise tracker was secured to her wrist, and she activated a data connection to her gear.
“We’re on our way,” she said into her comm.
“Station one ready,” replied Buddy.
“Station two ready,” reported Hadrin, the man Serena had called Scarface.
Preston, the one initially designated Pierce, was the next voice. “Tracking several birds already.”
Elena grinned. “Arrival in eight minutes. We’re friendly. Don’t shoot.”
Serena’s Halfwing made a customary, cautious approach, dropping into a cul-de-sac to reach the ground. It was then piloted from a group of homes to observe the park.
“Why didn’t you just track the vehicle?” asked Serena. “This wouldn’t even have been necessary.”
“It could’ve been a decoy. We need to be certain. Jump the wrong guy and a second one could do the job.”
“Two of them?”
“It’s possible.”
Serena eased the craft into a slot away from the only vehicle present. “What about that one?”
“They’ve checked it out.” Elena’s visage hardened. “No talking about this. The weather, running, or the movie we watched last night, but not about this.”
“This is all I can think about.”
Elena made a snort. “Then we’ll talk about it later. Relax and behave normally.”
Serena scowled but said nothing. They stretched to relieve any new tightness, then set out on the path. Two new vehicles had parked by the time they rounded the second curve, discharging a young woman with her dog and an older woman in sweats. Exercise had done much to overcome Serena’s anxiety, and a faster pace meant she had a more immediate concern than being shot. Morning’s light took the edge off the worry. They were rounding the final turn away from the trees when she felt the impacts.
The first was a sting inside her right shoulder blade, while the second hit her square in the center of her neck. Her body shield had taken the burden of the shots, but she fell forward as instructed, collapsing to the ground as if the shots were effective. Elena ran to her immediately, shielding her from further assault.
“Three-twenty-four degrees, elevation fifteen degrees,” she said softly into her comm. After another glance at her wrist device, she added, “No trees or homes. It must be a drone.”
“I got that bird,” said Preston. “It eased slowly from cover then stopped for the shots. It’s not moving.”
“It’s awaiting confirmation,” said Elena, doing her best to provide proof of Serena’s death. A projection system within Serena’s gear projected blood and an almost completely severed neck. Elena screamed.
“Yep, that’ll do it,” said Buddy, laughing. “I’m taking our drone to mark and track.”
“Target’s moving,” said Preston to him. “I’m feeding you course data. Hurry. It’ll soon be out of range.”
“Gotcha. Have it in view.”
“Any other observers?” asked Elena.
“Hold position,” said Hadrin. “I’m watching. The old woman departed in a hurry. I don’t think the lady with the dog knows.”
“We’re awful vulnerable. Can you give me something better?”
“Your Half
wing has started and is moving toward you. Vectors toward the nearest hospital have been programmed in. I’ll surveil after you depart.”
“The drone has locked on,” said Buddy. “I’m aloft and following on a parallel course.”
“Good,” said Elena, wrapping Serena’s simulated injuries and watching the Halfwing stop beside them and open its doors. “Our ride is here.”
She grabbed Serena and scowled. “Can you give me a little help?”
“I’m supposed to be injured,” said Serena, making a huff of indignation. “Isn’t the purpose of falling down to be convincing?”
“Then pretend you are partially conscious and get up. You’re heavy.”
Serena moved to ease the other’s efforts. “You should have seen me before.”
Elena grunted impatiently. “Then thank the galaxy this isn’t before.”
She got Serena into the craft, closed the doors, and soon had the craft aloft.
“No followers,” reported Preston after a few moments. “I think we’re good. Moving to catch Buddy.”
“Hurry,” said Buddy. “The drone is dropping toward a warehouse. We’ll need people on the ground for verification.”
Elena briefly flew toward the hospital then sent the Halfwing in an arc toward Buddy’s craft. Preston loaded his gear, boarded his Tracer hoverbike, and rode toward the highway. Buddy surveilled the scene then parked his hovercraft in a small lot across from the warehouse’s single exit. Hadrin boarded his Tracer-II bike and followed Preston.
“What do we have here?” asked Buddy over his comm.
“One moment,” replied Liola. “Six employees are indicated from the business’s profile.”
“And seven vehicles. Can you get a layout of the place?”
“I’m not Malik,” she replied, grumbling. “I’m working off a business listing. Can you provide a street address?”
The information was delivered, and five minutes later a schematic appeared on Buddy’s console. “One large, main chamber with three bays, as is expected, plus a row of offices and bathrooms along the back, with protected storage on a second level. Elena?”
“Got a copy. I’ve landed in the trees behind the building. Moving out.”
She immediately disappeared as a cloak was activated. Serena piloted the craft through the canopy and toward home. Elena glanced back to watch. “She’s clear. Proceed.”
Buddy eased from his vehicle, ducked behind his craft, and promptly disappeared. “Approaching.”
By the time Preston and Hadrin arrived, Buddy and Elena had the front and rear of the building under close observation. The two other men secured their bikes farther down the road, dismounted, and became invisible. By the time he arrived, Elena had picked the backdoor lock and eased into the main chamber.
“Nobody seems to be here,” she reported softly. “At least I don’t hear anyone talking or operating equipment. Let me check the loft storage.”
“It is early morning,” said Buddy, entering one of the open bays. “Watch for traps, because we may be expected.”
“Expected?” Elena asked, almost to herself. She observed the steps, thought better of them, then climbed some crates to the loft storage, wire cutters granting her access through the protective cage. She eased toward the access door and frowned. “There’s a charge wired to the door to the steps. Did anyone bring sniffers? There may be other explosives in here.”
Elena noted the aged wood beneath her feet and squatted to investigate with her knife. A few twists bored a small hole into the wood. A little more effort offered visibility into the chamber below, and she was rewarded with the sight of two bodies. Cutting a slightly bigger hole allowed her to see another unmoving body with a hole in the head. She rose as she pondered the situation, glancing to where the drone had landed after flying through the open windows. It was still powered.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said, easing down the way she came. “I think he’s watching. Report?”
“Either they are storing the signature chemicals, or explosives must be everywhere,” whispered Buddy. “The sniffer is going crazy. I’m getting clear.”
“I’m already clear,” reported Preston. “You’re likely correct on the second part. I detected the signal from the drone earlier and am returning to the bike to gather my equipment. We may be able to break the encryption.”
Hadrin trotted down the road. “Returning to my bike to depart. I have an idea to test.”
Buddy reached his craft. “Ready, in case the drone takes flight. Would the killer just leave it?”
She joined him in the passenger side. “He might. Opinion, Preston?”
“He’ll keep it.” Ten minutes passed. “I have an encryption.”
Preston transmitted the information to Buddy, who spent precious time resetting his drone controls to interpret it. The wait was agonizing, but the other drone remained unmoved. Their stealth devices were of the Descent variety and were plugged in to stay charged, and they waited invisibly until the early afternoon, antsy and impatient, until being rewarded by a single vehicle entering the area. It stopped before one of the open bays. A well-dressed man stepped out, glanced at the exterior of the building, and entered.
“We have a registration of a Monitor, Liola. Sending you the recording.” Elena looked at Buddy. “Can we see with the drone’s eyes?”
A shrug and a nod later, he had visual feeds from three different cameras passing though their skull interfaces. Initially facing into the body of the warehouse, the drone’s primary focus rose, rotated, transitioned through the rear window, and flew over the building to enter the main chamber. A man’s face was clearly seen as it was caught and shut down. Several trips to his vehicle were required for the dismantled craft to be stowed. When it was, the visiting Monitor hovercraft moved down the entry drive, onto the road, and toward the outskirts of Hia City.
“He’s ours,” said Liola, her voice betraying her excitement through the comm. “I’ve good facial markers. Searching the law enforcement system. The vehicle is a rental, but the supplied name doesn’t match the one associated with the images.”
“We’re following,” said Elena, removing her interface. “Preston?”
“Will situate myself downtown. Liola is transmitting vehicle tracking feeds. I’ll converge when he stops.”
She nodded. “Hadrin?”
“Covering another bolt hole. This guy is careful.”
Multiple explosions shook the ground behind them, obliterating all traces of the warehouse. Flames rose skyward in a fireball to lick the sky.
Hadrin made a grunt of confirmation. “Like I said—careful.”
The assassin was adept at concealing his tracks, taking a long and meandering path around and through Hia City until turning onto the highway toward Silas. It stayed on the road for three hours, then exited to a small rural road, stopping at a closed restaurant fifteen minutes later. Elena and Buddy arrived after three additional minutes, circled the area to look for movement or an alternate mode of transportation, then landed at a distance to wait for the man’s appearance.
“What now?” Buddy asked Elena.
“We wait for Preston.”
Moments later, the surveilled vehicle suffered the same fate as the warehouse.
Elena’s countenance fell. “I guess we don’t wait for Preston. Let’s check the area.” She activated her comm. “The car was rigged. We’re searching to see if he left on foot.”
They parked in the vicinity of the burning vehicle, activated their cloaks, and disembarked. Preston arrived on his bike ten minutes later to surveil the surrounding area. Thirty minutes of searching proved fruitless, and they were on the verge of quitting when the cheerful voice of Hadrin sounded through their comm.
“Come on home, boys and girls, I got him.”
They looked at each other in disbelief then hurried to their vehicles. The man was dead when they arrived.
“Five minutes of questions demonstrated he wouldn’t talk,” said Liol
a, rounding the counter with a beer as they entered. “Now we can see how well he refuses Malik.” A skull interface and a mind box rested nearby.
Buddy glanced at the devices, the dead man, and then at Hadrin. “How did you do it?”
The other man started laughing, sighing in satisfaction. “I considered that the vehicle might not have actually been abandoned. I was right. He caught a taxi for the final leg before walking his gear to the hovercraft. He casually entered the driver’s side to find me waiting. Liola arrived to port him after his sedation.”
Elena looked at him, both relieved and perturbed by his success. “What about the vehicle?”
“Toast. Rented under yet another name.”
“Then it’s done?”
Liola appeared tired as she considered the qualification. “I found him. He was a police sergeant from Tinzel. This episode could be over, but what if coming wasn’t his idea? What if he was under orders from someone higher up? What if he reported back home?”
She considered the fatigued, satisfied faces around her then turned to Serena. “You need to move. This will only worsen if you stay.”
30: One Evening
Day 749: Evaline, Pathfinder
Malik ascended the ship’s ramp, his pace more deliberate than usual. Evelyn, Ileana, Arturo, and James waited in silence as he walked into the forward passage. Many of the initiates treaded the passages, but they deferred to the crew when he approached.