by Dusks, Rydre
I finally searched his face, studying the shadow of a beard beginning to line his jaw. "Do you have any idea what the vice president is doing in there?" I blurted. At this point I’d been directly violated, and I felt I had the right to completely forget about the confidentiality agreement. "He’s creating bioweapons, and he plans on selling them to the military. Era's going to wipe out every country in existence."
Toanwar leaned back, his eyes wide. Clearly, he had not expected me to say something so drastic. "Is that what he told you?"
I gave an affirmative nod. "I’ve spoken with one of the creations. The thing is as insane as Dentrin is, and probably way more dangerous. You and Zlade go to the Tower all the time. Isn’t there a way that you guys could prevent this from happening?"
Toanwar was silent for several moments before shaking his head. "No, Crow. Even though Zlade and I do a lot of work in the Tower, we are not the ones to make decisions. We only work in the labs. If you really want to do something about it, talk to the Strejca or the police."
There was no way that the police would back me on something like this. Dentrin seemed too insistent on hiding his secrets, and the result wouldn’t be good for me. But I hadn’t thought of asking any fellow Strejca for help. The Strejca were not necessarily legal in everything that they did, and if I told Insidd about the potential disasters that Dentrin planned to birth, perhaps an arrangement could be made. I didn’t want anyone to kill the vice president, but perhaps his twisted creations could be stopped.
A nasty feeling shot through my head after I’d thought this. I doubled over on the couch, giving out a sharp gust of shock as if all the wind was knocked out of me.
"Crow? What’s wrong?" Toanwar inquired while placing a hand on my back, but I was too busy attempting to shake the startling sensation from my brain.
Don’t you dare contact the Strejca.
My eyes widened in surprise as I attempted to sit up, paying no attention to my godfather.
Don’t you dare, Crow Hightower.
Sylvain? How could he read my thoughts all the way from Saydea? I began to panic, suddenly feeling vulnerable about thinking of anything.
"I-It’s nothing. Just a sudden headache. Could you get me some painkillers?" I asked.
Toanwar stood up. "Certainly. You stay here for a moment."
As he walked to the kitchen to grab what I’d requested, I tried to contact the distinct voice with thoughts of my own. And why shouldn’t I?
It was several seconds before I got any kind of response. If you tell the Strejca to kill me, you will make enemies quickly.
I frowned. You’re all hooked up back at Saydea. I’d like to see you try and stop us.
You need to learn your place, Crow. I thought we were going to be a team.
I have just as much interest in teaming up with you as I do befriending Allan Dentrin.
There was a bout of silence for a moment. ...Fine. Contact the Strejca and see what happens. By the way you are acting I’m sure you are jumping at the chance to be rid of me.
Exactly.
I didn’t receive anything else from Sylvain, so I stood up as the ugly feeling began to recede. Toanwar came back into the living room holding a couple of pills and a glass of water for me. I didn’t have a headache, but I took the medication anyway.
"Scarsar Insidd, Majuo Strejc ne GujreCorosso."
"Insidd, it’s Hightower. I’ve got a strange request for the Strejca."
"Well shoot it my way."
I cleared my throat just a little as I set the phone down on the kitchen table, turning it onto its speaker mode. Toanwar stood not too far from me to listen to the conversation. "When Phazer, Kaliqaiah, and I entered Saydea, we discovered that the vice president was creating bioweapons. But the scary thing is he plans on selling them to the military."
"What? Phazer just told me that you were berating the vice president about being a twisted sadist."
I glanced upward in complete exasperation. “No… I was furious that he never addressed the issue with the escaped experiment in the lower labs, but that isn’t the point. Dentrin told me directly that Era is buying the creations from him.”
“Well there goes the whole of Va’lent and any other inhabited space on Kairenz,” Insidd concluded darkly.
"Exactly," I agreed, "so why don’t we go in to destroy the creation plans before they can be sold?"
Insidd chuckled. "That’s rather reckless, don’t you think? I mean, Era could have us kicked out for disobeying Law Forty-two or could even have us all sent to prison. Or could have us all killed, depending on his mood."
Law 42 was known as the Strejca Oath, and was often obeyed in other countries as well. It stated that all registered Strejca in Iason, machine police in Souloroh, and Daliq’ehete in Ifearor were to never endanger mortal beings in any way, despite their crimes. Strejca, and their relatives of the other countries, were strictly machine-managing organizations. Daliq’ehete were treated a little differently in Ifearor due to their country’s appreciation of robotics, but the law was still the same. Unfortunately, Era abused laws like these and turned them against citizens of Iason daily. If even one Strejc were to go off and harm a citizen on their own, the entirety of the Strejca would be in trouble for it. There were loopholes in it, however. Acting on a situation that would put another mortal being in harm's way while not on duty only caused the doer to be in trouble, and not the entire Strejca organization.
"We’ve pulled through worse," I told Insidd, slackening my grip on the side of the table where I stood. "I don't normally request doing something against the law, but it might be less of a blow and more discreet if we do it off duty."
He made a thoughtful noise. "Hm, you are fixed on this issue at Saydea, aren’t you? I suppose we can figure something out. Remember though, we are a bounty organization. There is no way that I would allow our Strejca to do something like this without a reward. So if anybody's doing it off duty, they're doing it willingly without pay, and the chances of the Strejca doing that is pretty slim."
"I am willing to pay you under the table," Toanwar spoke up.
"Sol! Is that the man behind the VR Mashinica I hear? I feel honored, Mr. Voelwrath!"
Toanwar must have remembered that I’d told him several months ago, that Insidd was obsessed with aide creations of Voelwrath Robotics. VR Machinics were highly intelligent bots that Toanwar hand-crafted himself. They did a variety of complicated tasks that were normally impossible or too tedious for humans, and were ordered through the Tower’s vast underground mechanical and medical supply. They were pricey, but according to Insidd and Toanwar, worth every jel. Zlade was one of these Machinics.
Toanwar chuckled. "Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have one of those?"
"I would take the offer, Mr. Voelwrath, but I do have employees who need paychecks."
"Of course. Thirty-five thousand jela will go your way. This issue is just as important to me as it is to Crow."
The talk of money reminded me of the check that Dentrin had sent me. I knew it would have come by now, but it was usually Click or Zlade who retrieved the mail.
"Good gods, that is plenty generous enough. Consider it a tentative deal, but we'll need to talk to the rest of the Strejca first. Hightower, are you still there?"
"Yes, Insidd," I answered, bringing my thoughts back to the discussion.
"I’m going to contact the other Strejca, and we will set up a time to come to your house to hold a meeting if that is alright."
"Why my house?"
I could almost hear him smirk. "You were the one with the idea and you know about these bioweapons best, from the sounds of things. I want you to make a plan." Insidd ended the call before I could respond. Typical of him.
I exchanged looks with Toanwar, but his expression was indifferent. “What do you think I should do?” I asked, hoping that if he didn’t have anything to say, I could at least bounce ideas off him.
He shrugged one shoulder. “If Insidd is bringing a
ll the Strejca, we could set something up in the backyard.”
“Like… perhaps a cookout?” I inquired. “Maybe the food will entice them enough to help out in this.”
“Seems solid enough. I’ll have Zlade go out and pick up supplies then. You’d better call Insidd back up and let him know what time everyone should come over.”
Once plans were set and Insidd had been informed, I walked out of the kitchen and to an end table beside the entry door where Click or Zlade usually left the mail. After picking through a few envelopes, I came across one that addressed to me and Saydea had sent. This was the check.
Just to be sure, I opened it and looked, rolling my eyes at the number scrawled over the check surface. Ten thousand jels… What was I going to do with that much money? I considered giving it to Toanwar but felt like he'd probably rip it up and scold me again about the whole Saydea issue. The Voelwraths were already paid a hefty amount by the Tower, and if Toanwar did have an easygoing streak concerning Saydea he probably would have told me to use the check for myself anyway.
I took it to my room and set it in my armoire beside my other Strejc gear. I wouldn’t rip it up like I threatened to. Not yet.
It wouldn’t be long before the Strejca began to arrive; Insidd was prompt about calling his employees. There was a total of fifteen of us, which seemed like a small number in such a vast city as GreyCross, but we were reliable enough that there was no need to have more. Cooking for fifteen Strejca, plus my boss, and plus Toanwar was not a difficult task. When Kajaru was alive he often held cookouts at Toanwar’s home, so my godfather was used to it. The Voelwrath house was a vaguely familiar place for most of the Strejca besides Insidd. He usually didn’t attend unless it was highly important.
I spent a little time programming Click to help with the grill before attempting to think of what I was going to say to my associates. Just how was I going to devise a way for us to get in there and kill Sylvain when the being could read my thoughts at will as well as control my actions in close proximity? I certainly couldn’t be the head of this, and neither could anyone else for that matter, seeing as how I didn't know if Sylvain had any limits as to who he could manipulate. Wasn’t there a way to block him out?
Va'th was the first person to show up at Toanwar’s door. Upon seeing me he gave me a half-hug and a beaming smile.
"Crow! You look well! How’s your cheek?"
"Healing," I answered. "Come into the backyard where the food is. We’ll have our meeting after everyone’s eaten."
After a short time of greeting my co-workers at the door, I switched off with Toanwar so that I could watch Stelliot out in the lawn. A couple of the other Strejca had brought their own children and had let them play with my son. I couldn’t help but always smile when I watched Stelliot get playmates. He seemed to brighten up from his abnormally well-behaved, submissive state into a regularly active toddler. A Strejc took a good-sized ball from a large bag she carried and tossed it to her daughter. Stelliot and the girl began to laugh and play, and it filled me with a sense of ease.
After everyone had eaten, Zlade and Click helped carry out chairs for everyone to sit down in out on the lawn. Click set one out for me as well, but I only sat in it for a brief amount of time.
"The reason you were all brought out here this evening is because Hightower has scored us a new and unique job," Insidd began. All five feet, three inches of him seemed proud as he stood up to make sure everyone was paying attention to what he said. "This one will be different, as we can't exactly perform our actions on duty, but we're still being paid. I want everyone to seriously consider the risks being taken before jumping in to help, because it could mean trouble with the Tower.
"Now, before any of you start bitching rumors about how I choose Hightower’s ideas over anyone else’s, I want you all to hear him speak."
So mildly put, Insidd, I thought regrettably before standing. Without effort, I landed a good seven inches on top of my boss, therefore I was more easily noticed. It caused everyone to finally hush.
"As most of you should know, Saydea is creating bioweapons. What you probably don’t know is that they plan on selling those bioweapons to the Iason military."
A wave of shocked sounds came from the Strejca at my words. I’d expected this--it was something that nobody wanted. No one within Era's own capital sided with his views.
"Vice President Allan Dentrin is creating highly intelligent beings modeled after the Crei of Kairenz. Currently, he only has one under his care, but this being was made to have the abilities of KahRatese, and possesses the power to read minds and control people. And those may not be the only things he can do."
Phazer spoke up suddenly. "And how did you find this out, Hightower?" Her voice was skeptical but weak. She'd lined her chair with cushions, and one of the other Strejca had helped support her all night. It seemed she was still suffering from the attack a couple of days ago, but determined to be a part of the meeting.
I made sure to look her in the eyes when I answered. "I spoke with him personally. Apparently he is small and frail, but he knows me inside out without even laying a finger on me. I went into the facility a day ago and went down into the Zone where they held the creation. I was driven there by something I can’t even explain. It was this… manipulating force that had me in a death grip.”
“Wait a second. It… controlled you?” one of the Strejca chimed in.
Seeing my nod, several of them began to whisper doubts. Va’th, who sat close to me and had looked equally as perturbed, turned on them. “You think Crow, our most reliable Strejc here, would lie about this?”
“If he knew he could get something out of it all,” Phazer shot back.
I scowled. “This isn’t something I’d lightly joke about, Phazer. This is serious.”
“Oh sure,” started another Strejc sarcastically, “because reading minds and controlling people is totally believable.”
Insidd hushed them with his next words. “Oi! Shut your mouths! You think I’d bring all you here if I thought Hightower was just playing a joke?”
Phazer and the other accusers finally quieted.
I was annoyed, but I continued. “The creation goes by Sylvain, but is also known as the High Saydea Project. My discussions with Vice President Dentrin have only confirmed that this series of creations will cause disaster for Va'lent, and we all know what that means."
"But Insidd said we're risking our necks for this. If there's only one creation, why don't you yourself go after it and kill it, Hightower? Why put the rest of us in danger?" Phazer continued.
Va'th raised a finger. "May I say something again?" After giving my approval, Va'th stood. "The Mirrored Plains on Lenta," he announced.
The triggered response was shudders and biting of lips. The fate of Kairenz's southern continent was not something that was often spoken of casually.
"Recall Lenta's terrific war that wiped out practically everything, and how the Mirror Curse suddenly started afterwards? I don’t think that’s coincidence, and neither does anyone else. Now that the Curse has spread up to the ocean, who’s to say that it won’t keep going into our own continent if Era starts a war?"
The Mirrored Plains… Even I fought to hold back a shudder. A long, almost never-ending stretch of hard black crystal, blanketing a quarter of the world in a glossy murk of painful remembrance. It was a folktale that long ago the Mirror Curse started as a warning to those who quarreled, but began to spread across every ounce of land after Lenta warred heavily. Not much lived on Lenta after the Curse took over. It turned living beings to molten crystal, and devoured plant life like a starving animal. Science had no explanation for the phenomenon, and no one was brave enough to get adequately close to investigate further. All that was for certain was that the Mirrored Plains grew at least seventeen miles further across Lenta every year. It was looked down on to mention it in Iason, and was taboo to even think of in the areas of Lenta that were still inhabited.
I took the stage
again. "Va'th has a point. We can’t let Dentrin’s insane ideas come into play. His completed creation needs to be destroyed, and his failed creations ought to be as well. I would do this on my own, but I can't. Dentrin has a strange hold on me, and every time I go in there I'm risking getting trapped like a lab rat by him. I honestly don't feel safe doing this alone."
"But… doesn’t this mean we would be disobeying Law Forty-two?" a Strejc pointed out.
"It does," Insidd said, "but that's why we'd be doing it off duty, and not with the entirety of the Strejca organization. And really... what’s more important? Our jobs, or the continuance of life on Va'lent?"
He didn’t seem to want to protest about that.
"In a short while I’ll collaborate with Insidd and gather some teams after making a more detailed plan as to how we’re going to carry through with this,” I finished.
Phazer, queen of cynical viewing, opened her mouth again. "This is all new and exciting, sure, but off-duty pay was mentioned. Exactly how much are we talking?"
"Thirty-five thousand," Insidd announced casually. "I'm thinking a team of at least five, but I'll take up to ten Strejca who want to help out. Either way, that's a lot of money for everyone involved."
As the Strejca discussed the new job I glanced over to see Stelliot still busy playing ball with his young female friend. Smiling faintly, I looked back to see Va'th scooting his chair closer to mine.
"How in the names of the gods did you find out all of that?" he whispered.
I couldn’t help but stare into his pale eyes as it took me a couple of moments to register what he'd said. So many thoughts ran through my mind that I had to collect myself before I could focus.
"I feel like I have a connection there, Va'th. I know it sounds weird, but I’ve met up with Dentrin twice and have felt like I’ve been in complete danger both times. The second time landed me in the position of getting manipulated by his screwed-up Project."
Va'th rubbed at an itch; he’d always been a bit on the fidgety side. "Well thank the gods that you aren’t harmed. I understand your fear, though--like the thing about him selling his projects to the military. If he knew that the Strejca could really stop him if they wanted, why didn’t he just keep his mouth shut?"