Pierce resisted the urge to vomit. “Doesn’t have to be a deal. Just, you know, if there’s something you want in the future, maybe I can get it for you. I have access to one of Letha’s temples. Perhaps you could use an upgrade?”
“Why would I need that?” Grinder said. “I can use whatever warlord I’d like to get what I need.”
Pierce frowned. “I may be a Noob officially, but I know more than you do. You’re allied with no one. You can’t go back to Fireshot or anyone else without overextending yourself. It’s pretty simple, really. You give me what I need and I give you what you need, or you continue having more primitive weapons that you’d like.”
“You’re a sneaky bastard.”
Pierce smirked and stared at Grinder’s whole body. She was the fittest of anyone he’d seen so far. No female bodybuilder would have stood a chance against her, nor any male bodybuilder, for that matter. He thought she could toss a human with only one hand.
The beast interrupted Pierce’s thoughts with a growl.
“You shouldn’t steal glances that haven’t been offered,” Grinder advised. “Drake gets jealous.”
“Ah,” Pierce replied. “My apologies. I’ll try to keep my eyes to myself.”
Grinder pet Drake again, calming him. But he kept one eye open and on Pierce.
“What does she look like?” Grinder asked.
“Here,” Pierce said, as he held up his wristband. The holographic image of his wife projected just above his arm. Grinder took one look and her eyes went wide.
“There,” Pierce said. “That’s the same expression Rodrigo had. You know her, don’t you?”
“You’re not going to like what you find here,” Grinder said. “I suggest, if you have a way out, that you go back home before this place changes you.”
“I’m not leaving until I find the truth,” Pierce insisted.
“And if she doesn’t want to go with you?”
“Then I’ll do what I can to help her, and to give her what she needs, if there’s anything. I’ll leave her here.”
“How do I know you can be trusted?”
“You don’t, but these are the facts: I risked my life to come here just to find out if she’s okay. I think my willingness to die is a halfway decent proof of my intentions.”
“You’re annoying, but you make sense,” Grinder said. “I have a hard time imagining that she ever loved you, though.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you about that,” Pierce said. “The heart’s a funny thing.”
“Ugh,” Grinder said. “Another sappy comment like that and you’re Drake’s dinner.”
“Are you at least considering my offer?”
“If I give you the credits to buy a weapon from Letha’s temple, how do I know you won’t keep it for yourself?”
“Simple. Give me enough credits to buy one for you and one for me. All I’ve got is this…” Pierce slid his hand to pull the mini-gun out, but Drake lunged forward and bared his sharp teeth while shielding Grinder.
“That was stupid, sorry,” Pierce said. “I really was just showing you that my weapon is terrible, I swear. I’m not here to assassinate you.” He lifted his hands above his head, far away from the mini-gun.
Grinder reached around Drake’s mouth and snatched the mini-gun out of its holster. She examined it. “This thing wouldn’t have even left a bruise. Let him up.”
Drake backed up and resumed sitting several feet away.
Pierce breathed in relief. “For fuck’s sake,” he said. “I’m trying to make a deal with you. I need information, not your death.”
Grinder tossed the mini-gun onto Pierce’s lap. “Fucking useless,” she said.
“The deal or the gun?”
Grinder laughed. “I want a new shield. One of Letha’s generals destroyed mine. They’re hard to come by. Can you do that?”
“Why can’t you just go to whoever helped you get your first one?”
“That person’s tied up at the moment. Besides, he would see it as a failure that I lost the first one, and not want to invest twice.”
“So you’re saying he would know better than to work with someone like you, who kills before asking questions,” Pierce said. “Sounds like a relatively smart person, if you ask me.”
Grinder raised her hand up to strike the man. “Maybe I will just fuck you up for sport.”
Pierce up his hands up in defense, as if that would help. “Hang on,” he said. “Remember, I have full access to one of her temples.”
Grinder paused and considered what he’d just said. “You satisfied the sirens?”
“All three.”
“Hmmm. Maybe you’re not useless.”
“Guess I’m packing something better than my tiny little gun.”
“What did I tell you about stupid comments like that?”
“Right. Sorry. Yes, I can deliver. Can you help me?”
“Aren’t you afraid Letha will have you killed for helping me?”
“I have a feeling she’s a little tied up at the moment too.”
“She should be out here paying for us to help her with that little problem. Instead, she’s holding on to her precious credits to leave the fucking planet.”
“I’ll be sure to deliver that message to her as well.”
“Very well,” Grinder said. “We have a deal.” She swiped her wristband over Pierce, sending him enough credits for a shield and an upgraded weapon. Then she began to march away.
“Hey,” Pierce said. “What about the information on my wife?”
“That way,” Grinder said, as she pointed behind Pierce.
“There’s a lot of forest over there. Could you be more specific?”
“You really are an idiot. There’s only one thing that way. The waterfall. If your wife is around here, she’ll spot you there and decide for herself if she wants to see you.”
“Oh,” Pierce said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Just get me my shield.”
Grinder and Drake slithered back into the trees and disappeared. Pierce spun around and headed for the waterfall, in total disbelief that he was still alive.
Pierce found the Dark Mark at the cusp of the waterfall. He was so caught up in the sight of her that he wasn’t paying attention as he snuck forward.
The Dark Mark wore a mask that could have been straight out of an erotic ballroom fantasy. It was marble white with intricate golden carvings covering the surface. The carvings were of people engaged in sexual acts. They reminded him of the ones in the brothels of ancient Pompeii, where customers would point at the sexual positions they wanted performed.
Pierce was so captivated by the Dark Mark’s appearance that he didn’t notice the ledge he was leaning over was unstable and loose. It collapsed as he edged farther. With a short yelp of surprise, he tumbled down the side of the ravine.
He scrambled for purchase, but his hands couldn’t find anything firm enough to grasp to slow his descent. His fall finally came to an end as he slid into a buildup of branches and mud. It was something a beaver-like creature must have created.
When he tried to pick himself up off the ground, a boot pressed into his chest and shoved him back into the mud. He looked up to see the Dark Mark standing over him.
Up close, Pierce could see that her mask covered the upper half of her face and concealed her identity. She could be anyone. If she’d wanted, she could even hide in one camp, then relocate to another. No wonder she was the deadliest assassin on the planet. No one knew who she was.
With the Dark Mark’s boot on his chest, he wasn’t exactly in a position to negotiate. He was totally and completely at her mercy. He thought the best approach was to make light of the situation. “How’d you know I like being dominated?” he joked.
The Dark Mark didn’t laugh or even sneer. She made no response at all. This was part of her camouflage. No expressions. Pierce was beginning to understand why her services were so expensive.
“Not one for jok
es?” Pierce asked. “That’s fine. Uh, hi. How’s your day going?”
No response. She just stared down at him.
“Well,” he said. “I’m here trying to find my wife. Her name’s Mara.” He began to pull her image up on his wristband, but the Dark Mark kicked his hand aside with her other boot and pressed harder into his chest.
“Okay,” Pierce said, sensing she wasn’t interested in a discussion like Letha and Grinder had been. “That’s all I’m really here for, so if there’s nothing else, I should be on my way.”
She leaned down and thrust her hand out. A needle emerged and plunged directly into his neck. He collapsed, unconscious.
When Pierce came to, he found himself back at the edge of the uncontrolled territory. “Fuck!” he shouted. “I was so close!”
He unsteadily stood up, fighting off the searing pain in his head and rubbing his eyes. As his eyes began to focus he realized he was staring down the end of a fusion rifle barrel. It was a weapon only Wardens could use.
Pierce groaned. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
“What were you expecting when you went hunting for me?” Ulric said, his mechanically augmented face unmistakable to Pierce.
The Warden’s theatric mask and outfit might have easily misled others, non-Agents, but he knew better. This fucker was nothing more than a sentient A.I. gone wrong.
“Some coffee, maybe,” Pierce said. “Perhaps a hello. Isn’t that what machines do?”
“You’re a funny man,” Ulric said.
“Thanks,” Pierce said, intentionally misinterpreting his words. “Not everyone thinks so, but it’s nice to get encouragement now and then.”
Ulric snorted and pushed the barrel into Pierce’s face. “This isn’t going to go well for you.”
“No, it likely won’t, but you’re a Warden, so you can’t just outright destroy me unless I’ve broken the rules. I don’t think you’re going to do that.”
“Get in the ship,” Ulric ordered. He gestured toward his small scout ship.
“Actually,” Pierce said, “I’m sort of in the middle of looking for my wife. Wherever you want to take me, it’s probably away from where I need to be. So, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll pass on the ride.”
“You’re allied with Letha, right?” Ulric asked.
Pierce nodded. “Yeah, more or less.”
“Then you don’t mind if I hand you over to Fireshot?”
“I do, as a matter of fact.”
“Then get in the ship.”
“When you put it like that—”
Ulric slammed the stock of his fusion rifle into Pierce’s face. Pierce’s world exploded into stars and the coppery taste of blood.
“Just get in and shut up.”
“Ah, fuck, fuck, fuck! That fucking hurt!” Pierce shouted. “What the fucking fuck?”
Ulric didn’t respond. He just stayed a few feet back and marched Pierce to the scout ship. The hatch opened automatically, and Pierce climbed inside, fearing what was next.
The ride didn’t take very long. The little ship soared over the landscape at such a high speed that Pierce couldn’t make out what they were passing by as they traveled.
“You’re looking for your wife?” Ulric asked.
“Did I stutter?” Pierce replied.
“You should have let it be,” Ulric said. “Things happen for a reason. There’s an order to things. You should have let that order be.”
“I’m not here to disrupt any order. That’s more Letha’s thing. I’m just here to find the truth.”
“The truth,” Ulric said, “is that you’ve made a mistake.”
“Uh-huh,” Pierce said. “I’ve gathered as much. But I’m still going to find out what happened to my wife, no matter what it costs me personally.”
“You make no sense,” the Warden said. “Humans aren’t supposed to sacrifice themselves simply for knowledge. It’s not in your nature.”
Pierce’s eyes widened. “You’re surprised by how humans behave? Oh, that’s rich.”
“Despite what you think, we do have desires,” Ulric replied. “And our processors are modeled after the human mind. Really, we’re just an improvement on you.”
“Oh, sure,” Pierce joked. “I thought you were just heavily augmented. It’s a good look. You’re scary as fuck. To be honest, I’m kind of relieved. A.I.s are more rational than humans. There’s a chance you have some sense. At least now I know you’re not about to shoot me.”
“You’d be wrong,” Ulric said.
“Come again?”
“You’re a threat to the system. That makes you my enemy.”
“I beg to differ. I work for the system. You probably knew that already, since you’re a Warden. I’m an Agent. So, if you don’t mind, you can drop me off anywhere. I have no idea where we are. But anywhere will do.”
The scout ship came to an abrupt halt, jolting Pierce back and forth. He grunted with pain.
“Absolutely,” Ulric said. “How about here?”
Pierce looked out of the cockpit. What he saw caused his heart to beat faster with fear. They’d stopped at an outcrop of rocks, similar to the kind Pierce had used to mask his stealth ship’s location. They were somewhere the viewers wouldn’t be able to see them.
“Great,” Pierce muttered. “You are going to kill me.”
“I’m doing you a favor, Agent. As I’m sure you’ve been warned, the truth you’re seeking will make you wish for death.”
“How ‘bout we leave that up to me?”
“No,” Ulric said and disembarked. “Get out.”
Pierce tried to stall. He couldn’t think of a way out of this situation. Yet, he had to try. “Is it true?” Pierce asked. “Are you behind the alliance against Letha? And why? What has she ever done to you?”
Ulric forced Pierce to climb down into the hollowed-out area beneath the outcroppings, making sure to keep a fair distance between them.
“Despite your pathetically low intelligence,” Ulric said, “you have made the correct assessment. I am behind it. She won’t learn that in time, nor will she learn of the reason behind it.”
“It doesn’t hurt to tell me, then,” Pierce suggested.
“It doesn’t serve any purpose to tell you,” Ulric said. “Except the satisfaction of seeing you suffer, knowing the truth.”
“I’m fine with that. It’s not like things could get any worse.”
Ulric made what might have been a guffawing sound, but Pierce wasn’t sure. This A.I. hadn’t learned the delicate intricacy of human expression. “Your misguided investigation into trafficking was justified. To keep the system at a balanced level, we needed more volunteers. The system was designed for overpopulation. However, we’ve learned that human depravity and need for bloodshed exceeds expectations.”
Pierce said nothing but raised an eyebrow.
“Letha’s quest to seek revenge for having been forced to come here could lead to an unraveling of the system, an outcome we cannot tolerate.”
“You keep saying ‘we,’ as if there are others involved.”
“Who do you think keeps the humans in check?” Ulric asked.
“Ah,” Pierce said, “It’s so kind of you to do that for us.”
“You should know one more thing,” Ulric said. “You were right about your wife. She’s here. You’ve already met her. Even more pathetic, you didn’t even realize it.”
Pierce’s mind raced, trying to piece the puzzle together. Who had it been? Had she changed her appearance so much that he didn’t even recognize her? Had the planet and struggle for survival changed her to the point of being unrecognizable? It didn’t matter. He still loved her. He still needed to ask her why she hadn’t tried to leave. He still needed to see if there was anything he could do to help her.
“After this, I’m going to end her too,” Ulric said.
As anger burned inside him, Pierce felt for the mini-gun hidden inside its holster and considered swinging around with it. If he did that and f
ailed, or if the gun didn’t do enough damage to the Warden’s enhanced body, the fusion rifle would obliterate him before a second option emerged. Instead, Pierce tried to use his wristband to activate his stealth ship. He didn’t want to blow his cover, but he was running out of options. There was no response. Someone might have found it and disabled the comms relay, taking it for their own. Maybe it was too far away. That settled it. The mini-gun was the only option.
In one motion, Pierce snatched the mini-gun out of its holster, dropped to the ground, and swung around to fire all six bullets in Ulric’s face. When Pierce pulled the trigger, Ulric was hit hard in the chest with a massive blast and thrown backward. His metallic body skittered along the rocky ground.
“Wow,” Pierce said to himself. “This thing does pack a punch, after all.” Then he realized he hadn’t gotten the shot off before the blast. Something or someone else had intervened.
Pierce closed in to finish Ulric off, but another blast hit. This time, he could see that it had come from a long distance away, possibly even from his stealth ship. The blast was so large, he couldn’t be sure if they were aiming at him or Ulric. He didn’t care. Destroying Ulric would be satisfaction enough. He leveled the mini-gun at Ulric, but a third blast rocked the ground, flinging Pierce and Ulric through the air.
Pierce landed hard against a boulder. His shoulder felt dislocated. Blood trickled into his eyes, distorting his vision. Dust and debris were everywhere. He wasn’t even sure he could find Ulric at this point. The more pressing concern was getting out of range in case another blast came in.
Pierce scurried up and out of the crater and scanned the area for some kind of cover, but when he tried to run, his legs betrayed him. He tumbled to the ground. His body had taken damage from the blasts. He didn’t feel any real pain, but that could have been from adrenaline. Pierce couldn’t tell without tearing his clothes off, but it was likely shrapnel had hit him. He was bleeding everywhere.
Another blast, and dust fell over Pierce like a blanket. He closed his eyes to keep from being blinded and stumbled on in the darkness.
The next thing he knew, he was on the floor of a cave, leaning against a rocky wall. Pierce’s lips were parched, cracking, and bleeding. He hadn’t had water or food for at least two days, and he couldn’t muster the strength to move. His left leg was broken, and his right ankle was contorted from the fight. The worst part, however, was that he was hidden between two large piles of boulders. Neither those who wanted him dead nor those who could save him would ever find him. He knew this was going to be a slow and painful death. Even the best thing he could think of—crawling to a cliff and ending it quickly—wasn’t an option since he couldn’t manage more than a few inches an hour. He was fucked, and he knew it. It was time to say some last words before his brain started having delusions. He tried to record them on his wristband, punching weakly at it.
Planet Kill Page 22