by Cary Caffrey
Sigrid passed a handful of coins to her, as much as she could spare. The girl took the money without thanking her and ran off.
"Are you sure that was wise?" Suko asked.
"We have enough," Sigrid said.
"I don't mean that. I mean, I'm not sure she'll be spending your hard-earned crumble on take-aways."
"If you mean you don't think she'll use our money to buy food, I think you're right."
"Then why give it to her?"
Sigrid looked around, at the decaying neighborhood, the boarded-up windows. It was so much like where she'd grown up in Geneva. That girl, it might just as well have been her lying there, bullied by the street boys. "Because I don't want her to have to do what those boys wanted."
"A most admirable sentiment," a voice said from nearby. "But unfortunately, misguided."
Slowly, Sigrid rose to face the speaker. He stood not more than ten meters distant. He wasn't armed, but the men at his flank were. They held assault rifles at the ready and aimed squarely at her and Suko. Unlike the gang boys, these men had the hardened look of trained soldiers. Her first thought was that they were mercenaries, but a closer inspection revealed the truth.
They were freelancers.
Suko reached for her own rifle, but Sigrid stayed her hand. Her eyes were fixed on the man in their midst. He was older than the image Hitomi had shown her, perhaps by ten years, maybe more. But it was him. It was the information broker, John Mirren.
"Those men worked for me," the broker said. He glanced down at the two dead boys at Sigrid's feet. "I would be within my right to demand compensation."
Suko stepped in front of her, shielding her from the men and the eight rifles they held. "You would not live to spend it."
"I do not take kindly to threats," the broker said sternly. "Not in my own territory."
Sigrid pulled Suko back beside her. "You must forgive my partner, Mr. Mirren. She only means to protect me. I promise you, we only came to talk and…to warn you. I'm afraid we may both be in danger."
Sigrid sensed his eyes on her, sizing her up, evaluating. He was confident, but he was curious, as well.
"Then let us talk," the broker said. "But not here. There are too many eyes about, and you two attract too much attention for your own good."
The men at his flank raised their rifles, and Sigrid knew this was not an invitation. The armed freelancers led them down the street toward a building at the end. The lighting still functioned here, a rarity for this district. Armed guards patrolled the entrance. Sigrid spotted more eyes watching them from the windows and rooftops above.
Once inside, John Mirren left them. He departed through a closed door while his guards directed the two girls upstairs to the topmost level. To Sigrid's surprise the interior of the building was not nearly so run-down as she'd thought. It was surprisingly well appointed, furnished, painted, with all the fixtures in working order. A polite receptionist greeted them on the upper landing, inviting them in. The guards did not follow.
The broker's office proved even more of a surprise. Tall, wooden shelves filled with real leather-bound books adorned the walls. The floor was carpeted with a colorful Persian throw; padded leather chairs sat empty and waiting.
"Would either of you like a coffee?" the receptionist asked.
"Sounds lovely," Suko said before Sigrid could decline. Suko accepted the cup, instantly adding a generous pour of cream, turning the whole thing a milky white. Four heaping spoonfuls of sugar followed.
"I'm not sure that still qualifies as coffee," Sigrid observed.
Suko sank into one of the padded chairs, kicking her feet up on an ottoman. "Just because Selene drinks it filthy and black doesn't mean the rest of us have to."
Within minutes the door to the inner office opened, and John Mirren entered. He was unarmed, and curiously, his guard did not accompany him. Even the receptionist left them, closing the tall, wooden doors behind her. He walked across the office, coming to stand behind a great oak desk. He helped himself to a cigarette from a silver case; a real cigarette, Sigrid noted, with real tobacco and all the requisite carcinogens and poisons. He offered one to her. She declined.
"You're Andraste," he said simply. It wasn't a question.
"How did you know?"
"It wasn't difficult. You're from Alcyone, aren't you? The Academy."
"We are."
"Then I'm glad to see Lady Hitomi's work completed. Am I permitted to ask your names?"
"My name is Sigrid Novak. This is my partner, Suko Tansho."
"Charmed," Suko said, raising her cup. This elicited the smallest of smiles from the broker.
"Well, Ms. Novak, Ms. Tansho, what exactly brings you to Bellatrix, and what might I do for you?"
"Aren't you more interested in why we think you might be in danger?" Sigrid asked.
"I imagine the two subjects are directly related."
"They are, sir."
"Then, perhaps if you were to start at the beginning…"
Sigrid took a deep breath. "Three weeks ago, I met a man on the Konoe transfer station. His name was Corbin Price."
The information broker nodded. "Of the Merchantmen. Yes. Go on."
"I killed him," Sigrid said. "And I'm here to kill the men he was working for."
"I'm not sure I follow. The Merchantmen work for no man, Ms. Novak. They are traders, nothing more. They trade with anyone willing to deal with them, but I have never known them to work as agents for anyone."
"Yes, I realize that. But he took something from me. Information. Information on us and on New Alcyone. I believe he was tasked with acquiring that information for someone here on Bellatrix."
"And you believe I know who these men are?"
"Sir…" Sigrid shifted uneasily. "…you are a broker of information. I was hoping…"
John Mirren shook his head. "I know of no plots involving the Merchantmen, Ms. Novak. Nor of Project Andraste. As for whom the Merchantmen might sell that information to… You must realize how many people would be interested in getting their hands on anything concerning you. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid if you're here to kill all the parties involved, you may find yourself at war with every corporation in the Federation."
"That war has already begun, Mr. Mirren. One way or another, my partner and I will end it."
The broker leaned back against the chair behind him, studying her. "I believe you. And from what I know about Lady Hitomi's work, I imagine you're capable of making good on that statement. But I'm sorry, Ms. Novak, I have no knowledge of any of this."
Sigrid cursed silently. To come all this way for yet another dead end.
"If you lie to us, Mr. Mirren, we will know."
Ignoring her threat, the broker looked at the cigarette in his fingers, nearly burned to the filter. He snuffed it out in the ashtray on his desk. "You said I was in danger. Why?"
"There was a man on Konoe. His name was Bernat Wereme. I took a list from him—a coded list. There were many names on that list, Mr. Mirren. Suko's name was on it. My name…" Sigrid looked up at him. "And yours. Your name was on that list as well. Why do you suppose that is?"
The broker held the cigarette case open in his hands, closed it. "I think we both know the answer to that."
"Lady Hitomi told me you helped locate us—girls like Suko and me. You were instrumental in creating Project Andraste. You're involved in this."
He shook his head. "That information is known only to Lady Hitomi and myself. It's impossible anyone could know."
"The fact that your name is on that list suggests otherwise. Someone knows about us, both of us, and they want us to know. That list was sent to me for one reason: to draw me here. It's an invitation, but it's also a warning. The only question remaining is who sent it? At the moment, Mr. Mirren, the prime suspect is you."
The broker put the silver case down softly on the desk. But when he looked up at her, Sigrid saw the hardness in his eyes, challenging. "I did not contract Corbin Price to steal from you, Ms. Nov
ak. Or this Bernat Wereme. I sold information to Lady Hitomi—more than a decade ago. Since that time, not one person has approached me regarding information on Project Andraste. Nor have I volunteered it."
"But if they did, you would sell them that information. That is what you do."
Surprisingly, the broker shook his head. "No, that was not part of our agreement. The information I sold to Lady Hitomi was exclusive. I was compensated accordingly. I would not break that contract."
Suko stood up, regarding him carefully. "A freelancer with honor? Who knew."
"Mr. Mirren," Sigrid said, "that information is worth a great deal of money."
"Didn't you just say you could tell if I lied? I'm not lying to you now. Only a fool would cross Lady Hitomi Kimura, Ms. Novak. And I did not get to this position by playing the fool."
She stared back at him, scanning him. He was angry, perhaps even furious with her, that she might dare accuse him, here in his own domain. But he was no liar. Everything he told her, it was the truth. Sigrid cursed, an action John Mirren picked up on.
"Does that disappoint, Ms. Novak? Would it be easier to find me guilty—give you someone to punish? Is that what you were hoping to find?"
Sigrid didn't want to admit it, but it was true.
"I believe you, Mr. Mirren. But that doesn't change the fact that someone is looking for us. And those same people know about you. In good conscience, I must warn you, those men will stop at nothing to acquire any information regarding us. I suspect we will not be the only ones to pay you a visit in the near future."
The broker turned back toward the window. He stood silently for a moment, staring at the squalor, the red skies above. "If that is true, then you have only one possible course of action."
"And that is…?"
"You must find these men first. Find them and kill them. Or they will surely kill us."
"That is precisely what I came to Bellatrix to do, Mr. Mirren. But I'm afraid, without a target, we're no closer to resolving this."
"Then, Ms. Novak, I suggest we find you a target."
"But…you said you didn't know—"
"Do you know how many corporations call Bellatrix home, Ms. Novak? Four hundred and sixty-two. And out of those, how many do you think would be interested to find out you were here now?"
"Uh…all of them?"
The broker nodded. "Yes, all of them. And what do you suppose would happen if I were to announce I was auctioning off information regarding your whereabouts?"
Sigrid understood. "The men I'm after would hear—"
"Oh, they will hear, Ms. Novak. And when they do, they will have no choice but to move against you. To remain hidden would be to risk losing you to a rival faction. That is how we will find your target. Don't worry, Ms. Novak, when I'm done, they will come to you."
"Sigrid…" Suko said; her voice held a cautioning tone. "If we do this…"
"I know—we'll have every hired gun in the system after us."
John Mirren eyed the two heavily armed young women, sizing them up. "Ms. Novak, if you think this too risky—"
"No," Sigrid said. "No, it's perfect, Mr. Mirren. Where shall we do this? Perhaps here in the District?"
The broker raised his eyebrows. "For obvious reasons, I would prefer another location—one as far from my operations as possible. You said the Merchantmen were involved in this?"
"They were," Sigrid said, her fists clenching at the memory, "before I killed them."
"Then I suggest you start in the Trade District in Portside. There's a place near the transport terminal—it's quite popular amongst the freight haulers and traders. If the Merchantmen were here on Bellatrix, you'll find your answers there."
"And if we don't find these answers?" Suko asked.
Sigrid answered for him. "Then Mr. Mirren will see that they find us."
"Ms. Novak, once I announce that you and your partner are in Portside, they will find you. I only hope you're prepared to receive them when they do."
"I came here to face our enemies, Mr. Mirren, not to hide from them. Inform your contacts. Let them know we'll be waiting for them in Portside. We'll be ready."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Special Agent
"You handled yourself like a pro in there," Suko said.
Sigrid took Suko's arm as they exited the broker's offices. Side by side, they walked down the long steps and back into the filth and noise of the streets outside. "I don't know about that. We just talked."
"It was more than that, and you know it. You were made for this."
"Don't say that!" Sigrid said, horrified—horrified at the idea of more negotiations. This was Lady Hitomi's domain. Not hers.
"I was impressed, and frankly…I think a little turned on."
Sigrid felt her cheeks flush, reddening. "What, now? At a time like this? Here?"
"If not here, where? When?"
"Anywhere! Goodness, anywhere but here." Sigrid stared out at the cracked streets, the boarded-up buildings, the groups of roving gangs. "I want to be done with this place, Suko. I want to complete our mission and get the hell out. Ever since Konoe, all I wanted to do was get here. Now I just want to leave. Hitomi was right. She was right to leave the Federation. We don't belong here. We belong on New Alcyone. I don't trust any of these people, and I don't think I like them very much either."
"They'll never leave us alone. You know that."
Sigrid held tight to her arm. "They will. Or we'll kill them all. I swear it."
They stopped by the corner. It was growing dark, the sky turning from a bright orange to a deep blood red in the waning afternoon light. The meeting with the broker had changed everything. She had a destination now, and she had a plan. All they needed was their transportation to arrive.
Sigrid checked her chronometer again. "Now where in the blazes is Leta?"
The high-pitched whine of thrusters sounded in the distance, growing louder as the source grew closer. Suko saw them first and pointed. "Looks like Leta found us some transportation after all."
"Rather…" Sigrid said, gaping at the sight. "Maybe I should have sent Trudy."
Leta's solution to their transportation issues proved somewhat of a surprise. Sigrid watched as the pair of sleek vehicles screamed toward them, skimming across the road. Trudy arrived first, putting her shining silver ride into a ninety-degree skid to come to a stop mere inches from Sigrid. Leta was close behind, riding on a flaming-red mount of her own.
"This? This is what you brought?" Sigrid said, her arms thrown up wide in disbelief.
"You don't like them?" Leta asked.
Sigrid couldn't help but notice that Leta's ride, shining and fresh from the factory, was painted the same brilliant red as her long mane of curls. "I told you to get transportation. Not accessorize!"
Leta blinked back at her. "Um, we brought two!"
Sigrid shook her head. She only had herself to blame. Leta's lust for exotic vehicles was no secret. And despite her misgivings, she had to admit Leta's selection was not without its allure. Sigrid had never seen anything like them.
They were called Longspurs. They were small, open-aired vehicles, fast and light, brutishly armed and highly maneuverable. They seemed barely vehicles at all. There was only room for two passengers seated on a single seat, one person behind the other. The Longspurs offered no armor and no protection. Repulsors beneath the chassis supplied lift, with one massive thruster nozzle to the rear providing push. Sigrid noted that someone had removed the engine and thruster fairings as if to better show off their pure power and speed. They appeared completely unsafe and wholly wondrous to behold.
"They're fast," Trudy said hopefully.
"Very fast," Leta added. Her hair had become disheveled during the ride; she fixed it now in the reflection of the gleaming chrome of the fuel cell.
"Where on Earth did you get them?" Sigrid asked.
"Local mercs. They were kind enough to take us for a ride."
"Yet you somehow managed to leave
them behind," Suko said as her hand caressed the seductive swell of the thruster nozzle. "Clever."
"Oh, I doubt they'll even notice they're gone," Trudy said. "At least not until they wake up."
Suko stored her assault rifle and shotgun on the weapons mounts before throwing her leg over the seat and resting her feet on the pegs. The driver position was rather aggressive. Suko was forced to lean forward to reach the control bar, her stomach hugging the swell of the fuel cell above the engine mount. This also proved a more aerodynamic position. Steering and pitch were controlled largely by leaning forward, back, or side to side.
Sigrid climbed on behind Suko. The passenger seat was slightly raised, allowing Sigrid to peer over Suko's shoulder. There didn't seem to be any hand grips so Sigrid had little choice but to lean against Suko and wrap her arms around her waist, holding to her tight.
"Now, no distracting me," Suko cautioned as Sigrid pressed herself against her. "I've never driven one of these before."
"Distracting? I'm just—"
"You know what I mean."
Suko fired up the engine. The sudden roar of thrusters igniting sent a rumbling of vibrations up Sigrid's legs and along her spine. It was thoroughly invigorating.
Leta mounted the other Longspur, with Trudy climbing on behind her. It was time to go. Time to complete their mission.
"Hang on," Suko said as she kicked the thing into gear. The acceleration was incredible, the rush of air around her invigorating. Suko twisted the throttle forward, pushing the Longspur harder. The lively vehicle responded in kind. Buildings rushed past, pedestrians scattered, shouting and waving raised fists. But Suko was only just getting settled in, familiarizing herself with the beast of a machine and putting it through its paces.
They left the Broker's District quickly behind, heading for the elaborate freeway system that twisted its way out of the Old City. Here, the Longspur showed its lust for speed. Even as they approached 240 kph, the maximum allowed within the city limits, skimming the roadway not more than a foot off the ground, the ride was as smooth as glass.