by S. J. Bryant
When Fenton approached his own front door his pace slowed and his gaze locked onto the photo collage. He took a few quick steps to the door and began ripping the images down, holding handfuls of tattered pictures. He whipped around and stared to either side, his head swinging wildly. At first he saw nothing, his eyes remaining wild. As Nova stepped out of the shadows, his eyes narrowed.
Nova sauntered across the street, stopping some distance away.
"Interesting pictures you have," she said.
"What's it to ya?" he asked, pulling a few more pictures from the door.
"Just a casual observer interested in talking."
"I don't want to talk to you. Get out of here."
"That's a shame. Maybe you'd be more willing to talk if you could see a photo of mine?" Nova asked, reaching into her knapsack to pull out a final photo.
She held it up to the man and his hands went still. The photo showed Fenton's locker, open, with his condemning photo collection scattered throughout. Sitting on the very top of the pile of filthy images was one of Cracos, caught in a very awkward pose with none other than Zodac Xion.
"How did you get that?" Fenton hissed.
"Ah, so you are ready to talk?" Nova asked.
The man frowned but said nothing.
"I have copies of this ready to send out to all the casino staff, including Mister Cracos. I wonder what he'd think of it?" Nova asked, the picture of innocence.
"Don't!" Fenton cried out, stepping towards Nova with his hands held out.
"Then just answer a few questions for me and I'll be on my way."
Fenton gritted his teeth and stared down at his shoes. "Fine."
"Why do you have these?" she asked, holding up the picture of Fenton's locker.
"Security," Fenton said.
"I can't imagine taking compromising images of your boss is a good way to get job security."
"It's all I could think of. I have a wife and kids. They need me."
"How exactly does snapping your co-workers like this protect your family?" Nova asked, confused.
"So I can't disappear."
"What do you mean 'disappear'?"
"Like the others. I can't disappear just because Cracos decides he doesn't like me. These are an insurance policy," Fenton explained, gesturing to the images.
"The others?" Nova's brow furrowed at the man.
Fenton looked up and down the street before turning back to Nova. "People, they've been disappearing. They just won't show up for work and no one sees them ever again. That can't be me."
Nova thought for a few moments. Disappearances on Tabryn weren't that uncommon, the drugs and crime eventually took their toll, but Fenton seemed genuinely frightened. She stored the information away for the time being.
"Do you have more photos?" she asked.
"Why would I tell you?" Fenton asked, on edge.
"I'm working for Cracos," she said and Fenton's eyes widened. "On a completely different case."
Fenton let a long breath out.
"The casino is losing money. Maybe your photos will tell me where."
Fenton tapped his foot on the ground as he considered Nova. His eyes flicked to the gun at her hip and her hand which rested just next to it. His eyes returned to her face.
"Fine. Wait here," Fenton said. He felt around behind his back before allowing his chip to be scanned and sliding into his house as quietly as smoke.
Nova stared at the door; sure that Fenton would be able to see her via the door's security system. Her eyes didn't budge as she waited. Fenton may have planned to never come out. But eventually either he, or his beloved family, would have to leave.
Many minutes later, certainly longer than it should have taken, the door opened and Fenton side-stepped out, closing it right behind him.
"Here. This is all I have." Fenton shoved a small screen at her. She took the device in hand and looked down at the picture. She swiped her hand across the screen and it moved to the next image, and so on.
"You getting this, Cal?" she said out loud.
"Yes, it's being recorded."
Nova nodded when eventually the device returned to the first image.
"Thank you, Fenton," she said, returning the digital viewer.
"Is that all?" he asked, his voice rough.
"For now."
"Leave me out of it," he said, regaining his courage now that Nova was leaving. "I have nothing to do with stolen money."
"We'll see."
She strode to Crusader, parked only a few blocks away. She climbed inside and went straight to the command pod where Cal was looking up at the images as they flicked across Crusader's front screen.
She sat in silence and stared at the pictures as they cycled across the screen, shaking her head at the loose morals that were rife within the casino. Drugs featured in every second photo and the others showed married men and women in questionable positions with people other than their spouses.
Nova nearly choked when an image popped up showing Cracos in a dark corner of the casino. His arms were wrapped around a woman; one hand firmly grasping her right buttock, with their lips locked. Nova recognised the red-haired woman immediately and was relieved when the picture changed. There was only so long she could look at Vicki's pale legs wrapped around Cracos's midsection without throwing up.
Many of the images had been taken with the casino's own security cameras and some were taken with other image-capturing devices. Nova chuckled at a photo showing the elderly man she had sat next to on her first night at the casino. She looked hard at the picture and shook her head as she saw that the man was losing that game as well.
Overall the pictures revealed nothing of the missing money. Nova hadn't really expected them to; Cracos had already had his own security staff scour over every second of recorded video from the casino's extensive security system.
"Another dead end," Nova said, slapping the control panel. Tabryn was proving even more horrid than she had originally thought.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A vice-like grip clenched Nova's heart as she slouched down the all-too-familiar street. The pavement was cracked with the occasional weed pushing its pathetic way towards the sun. Dull grey buildings, decorated with graffiti, pressed in on her. Slogans pronounced various gang allegiances and down an alley a painted monkey smoked on a cigar. Mixed amongst the names and gangs were cries for help. No Way Back was a common tag in this area of the city, one of the bleakest areas of Outer Tabryn: the urchin district.
This was where Nova had grown up. Here, she had spilled her first blood, and here she had learned to fight. There wasn't much about her childhood that she liked to remember. Looking up at windows still broken from her youth, reminded her of how little the universe changed. She felt like she'd been running her whole life from that grim reality and yet here she was; her feet stepping down the same dirty pavement, breathing in the same smoggy air, and passing the same broken hovels.
What the hell was she doing back here?
But of course if something big was happening in Tabryn, like a major steal from the planet's biggest casino, then Roxanne would know. Roxanne. Nova's memories of her were clouded, usually by cigarette smoke. She ran a brothel and an orphanage. In a place like Tabryn, A always led to B.
Nova didn't remember arriving at Roxanne's door. Maybe she'd been born right there on one of the dirty beds? Nobody knew, and Roxanne had seen so many children come and go she wouldn't have been able to tell her. In Nova's memory, Roxanne was always wearing a deep red silk dress. It had a puffy underskirt which ballooned out in a bell. Apparently, they were all the rage in old-century Earth and Roxanne was determined to see them make a come-back.
Roxanne's hair was always made up to perfection; a bun with tantalising wisps of auburn hair framing her face. She had jewels aplenty which glittered in the buzzing electric bulbs of the broken-down house. She had been stern, unyielding, and determined to survive in a world where everyone else was dying. That was Roxanne.
The evening was setting fast, but she couldn't have come any earlier. Anyone who knew anything, would have told her that Roxanne's didn't open until dark. Everyone would be asleep while the sun was up.
The street glowed with dying orange and purple shades, all was quiet, except for one house.
In this region of Tabryn there weren't many houses, having been replaced with big apartment blocks, but Roxanne loved old things. She had insisted, and through sheer force of will, had managed to keep the old house.
Light poured out of the windows and music flooded out onto the street. It was a charming attempt at happiness in the bleak and dreary neighbourhood.
Unlike the rest of the city, Roxanne's house had changed since Nova had last been there. Bits of it had fallen down and been replaced. There was even a new room tacked onto the side. Two doors led into the building, the one on the left was coloured red with a silhouette of a woman painted on its front, and it led into the warm room filled with music. The blue door on the right hung from rusted hinges and the dim light behind was accompanied by silence instead of music.
Nova took a deep breath. She could barely remember the last time she'd been here. Before she left Tabryn she would occasionally drop by to say hello to the children. She'd never liked Roxanne but she did respect the woman's strength. It took a lot to stick out your chin after being beaten so many times.
Nova grabbed hold of the doorknob on the red door and pushed it open. The light and noise grew tenfold and she felt like turning away and slamming the door behind her. Before she had a chance to turn tail and run, someone grabbed her hand.
"Well hello there, you. I haven't seen you around here before. What's your flavour?"
The girl holding Nova's arm had a pretty face and pouted lips. She blinked up at Nova with a sly smile and her busty dress showed off her modified assets. She held her hand out to the rest of the room.
It was still early and most of the patrons had yet to arrive. By midnight, the place would be alive with activity. As it was, there were only a few groups of people, mostly working men and women. They eyed Nova with a mixture of curiosity and greed. As an off-worlder, she would be a good source of credits.
There were men and women in various stages of undress with mods that made them especially appealing to certain tastes. A woman opened her mouth to reveal a set of pointed teeth.
Nova's breath caught in her throat; a lecheon! But no, it couldn't be, the teeth were fake and there wasn't a leach lurking behind them. Nova shivered. Who would be attracted to a lecheon? She forced the memories of her recent encounter with the coven on Boullion Five away and focused back on the young girl.
"I know. There are so many choices," the girl said with a giggle.
Nova frowned. "Actually, I'm here to see Roxanne."
"Oh." The girl's eyes went wide. "I'm afraid Mistress Roxanne no longer takes clients."
"I'm not a bloody client, she's a…… a friend of mine," Nova said, failing to think of a better word.
"I see. What's your name?" the girl asked.
"Nova," a cracked voice whispered from the far end of the room.
Nova looked up with surprise. She could barely recognise the woman before her. How long had she been away? Surely not that long? But it looked like Roxanne had aged at least twenty years compared to the woman in her memory.
"Roxanne," Nova said.
"Let her go Kell, we'll have tea out the back," Roxanne said.
She turned on her heel and swept back through the doorway from which she'd come. Her hair glimmered in its customary bun, but the bright auburn had been replaced with grey. The woman who had stood so tall and proudly for so long stooped as she walked. She shuffled along, as slow as an invalid.
Nova hurried across the room, ignoring the curious stares, and caught up with Roxanne. The room had changed from what she remembered. The furniture was new, or at least newer, and ornaments decorated the shelves. The staircase leading up to the bedrooms had been repainted. It was nice, for what it was.
One thing hadn't changed about Roxanne. She walked with her head up and her chin out. Her eyes still sparkled with defiance and bright intelligence as she lowered herself into a plush armchair and gestured for Nova to do the same.
Nova sat and stared at the woman who had been so many things; carer, teacher, task-master.
"So how is breaking heads?" Roxanne asked.
She leant back in her chair and eyed Nova with curiosity. A very young girl, too young to work in the front room, appeared and laid out a chipped teapot and two cups. She poured it with shaking hands and then disappeared, all in complete silence.
Nova's heart tugged, she could remember being that girl. She had scurried into this very room with a pot of tea. Only she hadn't been so graceful. She'd spilled the tea and in return Roxanne had backhanded her so hard that she'd stumbled across the room until she hit the far wall.
"Easier than breaking hearts," Nova said, reaching for a cup. She lifted it to her mouth and took a sip. It was the exact same flavour that Roxanne had kept decades ago. Some things never changed.
"Ha!" Roxanne laughed. "Each to their own."
Roxanne reached under the table and pulled out a long cigarette. She tucked it into her lip and held up a lighter. Taking a big suck, the cigarette caught, the orange embers casting a glow over the old woman's face. She blew out a plume of smoke around the side of the cigarette without bothering to take it out of her mouth.
"How's business?" Nova asked.
Roxanne glanced at the door leading to the front room. A tinkle of laughter drifted through; the festivities had begun.
"Same as it ever was. Only business that pays even when everything else goes to shit." Roxanne took another deep drag.
"Many children?" Nova asked. She fidgeted in her seat. The room was too familiar and yet too different. The same pictures stared down at her, but she should be an urchin running in with snacks, not sitting in the plush lounge.
"More every year," Roxanne said with a sigh.
She sucked again on her cigarette but this time her drag was cut short by hacking, deep and throaty. It sounded as if her lungs were filled with liquid, struggling just to get another breath in.
Nova's brow furrowed. She held out a hand but Roxanne waved it away. The room filled with the smell of the cigarette. It wafted up Nova's nostrils and made her head dizzy. She wanted nothing more than to be free of the poisonous fumes. It was another affectation of Roxanne's obsession; while the rest of the human colonies smoked clean drugs, Roxanne insisted on smoking the old-century toxic ones.
"Why are you here?" Roxanne said. "I'll admit you're probably the last person I expected to see walking through the door."
Nova nodded. She looked down at her hands. She hadn't expected to feel so intimidated. Apparently habits learned during childhood were hard to break because despite defeating entire lecheon covens and facing down the Ancients, her heart fluttered at confronting this ghost from her past.
"I'm doing a job," she said.
"Oh? And have you come to break my head?" Roxanne asked, the corners of her mouth twitching.
"No, no, nothing like that. I just thought I'd ask if you've heard anything."
"Me? Why would I have heard anything? I'm just a simple business owner," Roxanne said with a crooked smile.
"Let's not play games," Nova said, resting her tea on her lap. "I know as well as you do that this place is the absolute central hub for Tabryn gossip."
Nova stared at Roxanne. The older woman's smile grew, but she waved her hand for Nova to continue.
"I'm working for Cracos."
"Ah. His casino brings me a lot of business."
"He's losing money and he d
oesn't know how. Do you know of any major operations going on? If you give me something useful, I'm sure I can chuck a few credits your way."
Roxanne chuckled. "I assure you, my services are worth far more than a few credits. Or at least they were back in my youth. Regarding your disappearing money though, I don't think I can help."
"Really?" Nova said. "Let's not waste time. You name your price and we'll get a move on."
"As much as I would love to take your violently acquired money, I really don't have anything for you."
Nova sighed and sat back in her chair. Another dead end. She took a sip of tea. Somewhere in a far room children giggled. Nova shook her head; there were too many ghosts in this place.
"I'm sorry to have wasted your time," Nova said, standing. She placed the fragile cup back on the table and looked at Roxanne.
"Nonsense, it's always good to see one of my children again, alive. Sadly it doesn't happen often."
Nova had to nod at the grim sentiment. How many of the children she had grown up with were still alive? Not many, if any. Those that were alive were probably high on Zine or some other drug. Nova was an exception, for sure.
"Did you want to see the others before you leave?" Roxanne said, her old legs shaking as she stood.
"Would I know any of them?"
Roxanne waved her hand. "They're all the same when you get down to it."
Nova nodded. "No, thank you. There are too many memories in this place for me."
"You should try living here."
Nova smiled and nodded, heading for the door to the front room.
"You may want to leave the other way," Roxanne said. "Business will have started."
"Of course." Nova strode to the back door that led to the yard.
She laid her hand on the knob and stopped. "It was good to see you," she said, still facing the door.
"And you," Roxanne replied to Nova's back. "Stop by anytime."
Nova nodded and marched out into the night. She made her way through the toy-strewn yard and back onto the pavement. Night had truly set in and the streets were as dark as her thoughts.