by Jan Domagala
“Is he here?” Hardy asked once they were seated and the waiter had left them with the menu to peruse.
Stryder had quickly taken in every single face in the large room on his way over to their table. He’d done it without appearing to allow his gaze to wander away from his partner for the evening, even though the lighting was subtle and subdued. He didn’t know how he’d managed to do it; he just knew he had.
“Yes, he’s in a private booth over by the far wall in what I can only imagine is the VIP area,” he replied never taking his eyes off hers. “Third booth from the right,” he added.
“But you’re sitting with your back to them, how can you possibly know that?” she said, quickly glancing over his shoulder to where he’d said.
“Careful, don’t let them see you checking them out, not yet at least,” he said.
“How did you know where they were? You didn’t take your eyes off my ass the whole time we walked over here, so you must know this place already. How often have you been here Kurt?” she asked.
“Including tonight?”
“Yes.”
“One time, tonight, and what makes you think I was watching your ass?”
“You’re a guy.”
“Well it is a mighty fine ass.”
“So you admit it, you were watching my ass the whole time we’ve been in here.”
“I’m not watching it now, am I?”
“Only because I’m sitting on it. Go on Kurt, tell me. How did you know?”
The smile faded from his face as he pondered her probing question. How much could he tell her? Could he trust her? Should he let her into his little secret and if he did would she be able to handle it or would she freak or worse still inform the General?
He wasn’t sure if he was ready just yet to inform Sinclair, unsure of where his future would lead once the General knew.
One thing he was sure of though, and the realisation hit him like a ton of bricks, was he could trust her! He didn’t know how he knew, he just knew.
“What? What’s the matter Kurt? What’s troubling you?” she asked becoming concerned.
“I’ve a confession of sorts to make. You know how I told you about the project on Outpost Station Five, the one that failed?” he said easing his way into it.
“Yes, I read the report once my clearance got upgraded.”
“Well, I wasn’t quite accurate when I said in my report that there were no changes.”
“Go on, how inaccurate were you?”
“Well, my speed, strength and stamina have all increased like the reports stated, but by a bit more than they realised. Up until now I’ve not been able to quantify by just how much, but that’s not all.”
“Go on, I’m listening.”
“My other senses have all increased, my hearing, my sight, smell and touch; in fact all of them. I can walk into a room and almost instantly know details about all the occupants in that room. The main change though, the one I’ve kept to myself, the one the project was set up for, was a success, a total success.”
“Your immune system, they increased it?”
“Yes, now I’m more resistant to toxins and disease but something else too. Simple cuts and abrasions heal almost instantly while anything larger or more serious takes a bit longer. Again, I’ve not been able to quantify this either. I don’t know all the science behind all this, I just know it worked.”
“I saw your face heal almost immediately back at your villa. I thought I was seeing things at first, but that explains so much,” she said quietly. She looked at him, smiling and said, “So that’s how you knew so much about where Bane was, even though you were staring at my ass the whole time.”
“It’s a nice ass.”
“Nice? A second ago it was a mighty fine ass, now it’s just nice. Are you going off me already Kurt?”
“No, I...” he stammered then saw the mischievous glint in her eye and knew he’d been had. He smiled then said, “You don’t seem fazed by what I just told you, why is that?”
“I was fazed, one minute I’ve a mighty fine ass and then it’s just nice.”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“Yes, I do, but it’s no big deal.”
“Excuse me? Would you mind explaining that? This whole situation is because of the results of that project. The Alliance wants to duplicate it, Col Sec wants to reproduce it, everybody wants it and the only viable specimen they have to work with is here,” he said tapping his chest. “So it is a big deal. There are so many potential advances we could make with this, but as with any great discovery, someone always turns it around and uses it for harm.”
He looked at her allowing his guard to drop and she saw all his anguish, all his fear come flooding out.
“I don’t know what to do,” he said finally.
She glanced down at her hands then up to look him in the eyes once more, taking that moment to process it all.
She said, “You know Kurt, there are some things we’re not meant to know.”
“Are you saying I should keep this to myself?”
“I can’t tell you what to do, that’s a decision only you can make, but whatever you decide I’ll back you up all the way if you want me to. What I meant was that there are certain things that we shouldn’t tamper with, we’re not Gods. We’re mortals and what they’ve done to you and would do to others is beyond the realm of mankind.” She looked away for a moment then turned to him once more, “But hey! That’s just my opinion, what do I know right, I’m just a grunt, a Marine?” she said and her smile was back in place, a little shaky, but it was there.
Stryder looked at her and realised his feelings for her were just a little deeper than friendship.
“Let’s order, I’m starved,” he said with a smile. He knew then that whatever he decided, whatever he did, he would not be alone. This woman would stand by his side through thick and thin.
“Me too,” she said and they both looked at the menu.
13
Norsky arrived at the Golden Palace and injected himself with a short-term dose of facial reconstruction nanobots, the effect of which would be temporary but dramatic. They would work on the soft tissue in his face altering his appearance to whatever design he had pre-programmed into them. Nothing too drastic, but different enough so he wouldn’t be recognised from any mug shot data file.
He was admitted into the club and shown to a table close to Stryder and Hardy. He took great pleasure in the knowledge that he was within earshot of them and they had no idea. From his vantage point he could watch what was about to happen with complete impunity.
The call he’d made to Alexander Brown had had the desired effect. Knowing that the five men he’d supplied had all been killed had incensed Brown. Bane supplying his name was even worse, almost like it was his fault, but finally knowing that the killer would be at Bane’s club eased him a little. It was a chance to get revenge, kill the guy responsible and if Bane’s club got trashed, even better. It was all good.
Norsky could see no downside to this. Stryder was obviously capable, having taking care of five local thugs, but then he would expect that of Recon Delta, they were supposed to be the best Col Sec had. Now he had the chance to see him in action, so that when it was time for him to make his move against him, he would be better prepared. And, if in the process he kept the two main gang leaders at each other’s throats, perhaps start a little turf war causing a little unrest in this city, then that was good too.
The Alliance would be pleased.
Stryder and Hardy seemed content to remain at their table waiting for their meal. So far they had made no move to contact Bane or even appeared to know that he was there. Perhaps he was wrong, perhaps they were just out for dinner and not there to see Bane after all. It would be a while before Brown arrived, plenty of time for him to enjoy himself first. The club had a reputation for serving excellent food, no matter who the owner was. He looked at the menu and decided to order.
THEY HAD BOTH ENJ
OYED their dinner; the food had been excellent. Stryder had opted for Beef Bourguignon with local vegetables whilst Hardy had chosen Rack of Lamb. To wash it down they had chosen a half bottle of Savary Rose from a local vineyard. It had an excellent reputation and supplied all the clubs, restaurants and other outlets on Celeron and recently had also begun to supply off world after winning a prestigious wine tasting contest.
The two of them had declined any starters opting to go straight to the main course, not knowing if they would be interrupted.
“What happens now?” Hardy asked once the waiter had cleared their plates away.
“Now it’s down to business,” Stryder replied.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“It’s time I asked Mister Bane a few questions,” Stryder said as he calmly got to his feet, turned towards the VIP area and started walking over to where Bane was seated.
Hardy was at his shoulder in seconds and, slightly surprised, he glanced at her as she said, “What, you thought I’d let you go over there on your own? Hey, we’re a team, where you go, I go,” which brought a smile to his lips.
“Okay, partner, here we go,” he said as they continued across the floor.
NORSKY HAD ALMOST FINISHED eating when he saw Stryder and Hardy get up and walk towards Bane.
“Oh shit!” he thought as he checked the time. Brown should be here by now, where the hell was he? He needed to do something to stop them from getting anything from Bane, but what?
BEFORE STRYDER AND Hardy reached the VIP area, they were stopped in their tracks by a huge man mountain.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he said placing a hand the size of a shovel on Stryder’s chest.
Stryder looked down at his chest where the beefy hand was placed, then slowly looked up at the man standing before him making eye contact. He had to look up slightly for the guy was at least five inches taller than him.
“Over there, I want to talk to him,” Stryder said glancing past the man mountain to where Bane was sitting.
“Mister Bane sees no one while he’s having dinner, unless they’ve made an appointment, and you don’t have an appointment,” the guard said.
“Oh, he’ll see me,” Stryder said confidently.
“I don’t think so,” the guard said with a smirk.
“Why’s that?” Stryder asked.
“Simple, to see him you’ve gotta get past me.”
“Is that all?”
“Never gonna happen,” said the guard leaning his face closer to Stryder’s adding menace to his words.
Stryder placed his left hand on the guard’s wrist and twisted it free of his chest. The guard went down on one knee, his face contorted in a kind of rictus of alarm from the pain in his wrist.
Stryder released his grip and stepped over the guard towards the VIP area.
The guard was up straight away coming after Stryder. He placed a hand on his left shoulder to stop him. Stryder grabbed it with his right hand and brought it over his head turning towards him. The guard’s arm was held rigid giving Stryder the advantage, he placed his left hand on the guard’s shoulder to gain further control and because the arm was twisted against the joint there was nothing he could do to prevent what was happening.
Stryder again forced him to the floor, let go and walked past him.
This time when the guard got to his feet he bellowed his rage and frustration wanting to tear Stryder apart.
Stryder turned to face him and put up a finger to halt him. The effect was almost comical, the giant guard pulled up short unable to believe what was happening.
Calmly Stryder said, “Look, all I want to do is talk, so be kind to yourself and introduce me to your boss before you make me hurt you.”
The guard was completely flabbergasted, didn’t know what to do or say, he just knew he wanted to destroy him.
Bane’s attention had been grabbed when his guard went down the first time and he continued watching avidly, since he couldn’t help but notice the stunning beauty with the man giving his guard so much trouble.
“Tony, why don’t you bring them over here, you’re scaring the customers,” he said before anything else could be done or said.
Tony, the man mountain, grudgingly tore his eyes from Stryder’s to look around him at his boss.
“Okay Boss,” he said; then returning his gaze to Stryder said, “This ain’t over.”
“You just name the time and place and I’ll be there,” Stryder replied calmly locking eyes with him.
Tony, unused to not being able to intimidate, didn’t know how to react to Stryder’s calm indifference. Finally, he broke eye contact and gestured towards the booth where Bane sat.
“Go ahead,” he said.
Stryder, flanked by Hardy, walked towards the booth and stood at the entrance waiting for Bane to invite them in. He allowed Bane to keep some semblance of control here on his own turf. The display with Tony showed that he was not to be messed with, but by waiting for the invite from Bane, he demonstrated some respect for the man. Stryder would not make him lose face in front of his men.
“Okay, so you got my attention, I just hope it was worth it. Who are you and what do you want?” Bane asked after a short pause during which he finished his meal, carefully wiped around his hard mouth with a napkin then slowly pushed his empty plate away. He was in his fifties with a large frame that still looked in good shape for his age. Salt and pepper hair was combed straight back from a prominent forehead, below which deep brown eyes looked out at the world. A long, flat nose lay close to his face, a testament to a fight he lost in his youth. It was the last fight he ever lost. He became a student of a fighting arts master and used his prodigious strength and thirst for knowledge to learn what he could to gain revenge on the man who had bested him. He quickly climbed the ranks of the criminal underworld to become the leader of the largest gang in Jacksonville.
“My name is Kurt Stryder and I used to work for Col Sec. What I want is a little more complicated,” Stryder said by way of introduction.
“Go on, you still have my attention, you’ll know when you don’t, trust me.” Bane said.
“Can I, trust you, I mean?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I need the truth from you about something that happened recently, something you possibly had a hand in or at least knew about. Can I trust you to be truthful about it?”
“Why don’t you ask, and then decide when, or if, I choose to answer?”
“Okay, earlier today, five local muscle were sent to my house to force me to go with them and be handed over to whoever hired them. I chose not to go.”
“And?”
“What I need from you is the name of the guy the muscle worked for.”
Bane looked at Stryder trying to figure him out. Finally he said, “What makes you think they didn’t work for me?”
“Well, whoever sent them would’ve come to you looking to hire muscle for a job. Now I figure he’d be someone you didn’t know so you wouldn’t trust sending your own people. You’d pass him onto someone else, possibly a rival, and let them take the risk. That way you’ve given this guy what he wants, where to get the muscle he needs. You get what you want, your fee and, if it went sour, you retain your safety and your rivals forces are depleted.”
“Sound reasoning, but why would I tell you anything?”
“I used to work for Col Sec, I still have contacts there and they will want to know what happened, so if you don’t tell me I can’t guarantee you won’t have them crawling all over this place looking for answers.”
“That sounds like a threat to me, have Col Sec crawling all over this place wanting to know what happened,” Bane said getting a little angry, but Stryder knew it was mostly for show. He knew he could ill afford to have Col Sec mount an investigation centred on him.
“What did happen anyway?” he asked finally.
“To the five men, the muscle?”
“Yea, what happene
d to the muscle, they in the cells?”
“No, the morgue,” Stryder replied.
“The morgue?” Bane asked as if he’d misheard.
“Yes, I killed them,” Stryder said calmly.
NORSKY WAS JUST WONDERING what he could do to get Stryder and Hardy away from Bane. They had been there far too long for his liking, when he noticed that there was a disturbance over by the entrance.
Alexander Brown and a number of his men had arrived.
All hell was about to break loose.
14
“What the hell is going on now?” Bane said as he spotted the group of men force their way past the Maître d’ and into the club.
When he saw who was leading them he said just one word, “Brown.”
Stryder and Hardy both turned to see to whom Bane was referring.
“Who’s Brown?” Stryder asked, spotting the guy in charge of the large bunch of intruders.
“Alexander Brown. He hates me and if what you’ve just told me is true, you killed five of his men,” Bane replied.
“Why are they here?” Stryder wondered.
“Why don’t you go ask him?” Bane asked calmly.
“No, I mean why are they here now, at this particular time? Don’t you think it just a little strange they turn up just as you and I start talking?” Stryder said, elaborating his point a little. “Almost as if someone didn’t want us to meet,” he added.