Death Dealer

by T. G. Ayer

 

  Just them, Fletcher nodded and smiled, the creases in his forehead relaxing.

 

 

  Nerishka sent an eye-roll to Lyra and received a satisfied feeling in return. She faced Fletcher, who by now had relaxed against the sofa and had rested his chin on his upturned palm as if in an attempt to keep his head up.

  Lyra replied.

 

  Nerishka studied the man, wondering where he was taking his attempt at picotech research. How deep were his pockets and how far did his influence reach? Her job had been to terminate the mark, but where pico was involved it wouldn’t hurt to find out a little more about if there were other parties invested in his venture. She didn’t believe for one minute that he was doing this by himself, and Karsin’s absence made her even more curious about what she could learn.

 

  he said, his mental voice almost sounding little slurred.

 

  He’d listened and nodded when she fell silent. Then he gave a short shake of his head and frowned. His actions made it clear the serum was doing its work.

  Fletcher cleared his throat.

  Nerishka shrugged.

  Nerishka nodded, impressed with her own argument. She’d have almost believed it herself if she hadn’t seen the vids of what picobombs did to their targets: like devouring dreadnought-class starships in seconds.

  she continued.

  Fletcher was nodding.

 

  Nerishka sat back and rolled her shoulders, making it clear she was rife with frustration. To Lyra she said,

  said the AI drily.

 

  But before the AI could reply, Fletcher’s voice broke into their conversation.

  Blah blah blah, thought Nerishka. She needed him to tell her details. Sitting forward, she asked, Nerishka had intended to needle him a bit, set him mentally off balance, and wondered if she’d perhaps come on too heavy.

  His smile wavered, as though he was struggling with something he either wanted to say, or desperately didn’t want to say. He cleared his throat.

 

  Fletcher nodded. The man frowned, as though trying hard to grasp onto fading memories.

 

  Nerishka waited a moment, then let out a mental groan.

 

 

  ESCALATION

  STELLAR DATE: 10.05.8948 (Adjusted Gregorian)

  LOCATION: Commodore Lounge, Eshnunna

  REGION: Anahita, Ayra System (Independent)

  Lyra took a few moments to respond. A Hand agent’s life in jeopardy is not something to be taken lightly.

 

  asked Lyra, her tone soft.

  Nerishka shook her head. Could be she was just paranoid, as Lyra had observed earlier—deep cover agents like Karsin often had duties that kept them out of communication…but for him not to leave a message at a drop….

  Nerishka knew that it would be reckless to ignore the possibility. If Karsin was in danger, she had to help him.

  Hand operatives usually worked alone, yes, but if one of them were ever in trouble and another agent was in the vicinity, it only made sense to ensure that operative wasn’t compromised or in danger. Other than the life of that agent, there was also the information they possessed that had to be taken into consideration.

  asked Lyra, her tone both curious and concerned.

  Nerishka let out a mental laugh, the sound dry and hollow.

  Lyra chuckled.

 

  Fletcher let out a soft grunt, alerting Nerishka that he still struggled with his memories. She had to complete this kill and move on to checking up on Karsin.

  Nerishka leaned closer to meet her mark’s worried gaze. she said softly, her mental tone low and sexy. She topped her suggestion off with a smile to eclipse the seduction in her voice.

  Fletcher began to shake his head, shifting forward slightly and raising his hand out toward her as though he intended to stop her, to push her away. But then the movement morphed into a single nod.

  ea.> The motion was a little uncertain at first, then became firmer as his eyes cleared somewhat. He attempted a smile, his lids lowered. If he’d intended it to be sexy, he’d failed.

  And the creep factor just went up another notch.

  Lyra observed.

  asked Nerishka almost absently as she got to her feet in one smooth move.

  Lyra let out a soft snort.

  As Fletcher got to his feet he tapped his beacon and turned on DND; Nerishka followed suit, keeping pace with him. Once he descended the staircase, he slowed his steps and walked alongside Nerishka as they crossed the floor.

  As they passed the bar, Nerishka caught sight of a hooded figure who appeared to be staring at the entrance to the san. She was frowning, but her expression wasn’t what had caught Nerishka’s eye. It was the almost-green tone to the woman’s tattoed skin that had singled her out.

  Had her attacker from the san been resurrected somehow? she said, her tone daring the AI.

 

  Nerishka rolled her eyes.

 

 

  Even so, it took a conscious effort to not turn and stare right into the woman’s eyes. Forcing the stalker’s hand would help Nerishka figure out who the woman was but deviating from her mission now would be more than reckless.

  But she had to deal with Fletcher first. No sense in bungling this kill because something like a little attempted murder had led her astray.

  Fletcher led Nerishka silently down the hallway and out into the all-white reception area. He seemed partially preoccupied with his thoughts but also appeared concerned for Nerishka, ensuring she was right by his side.

  asked Lyra.

  Nerishka kept a close eye on her mark as they approached the reception desk where Andrew waited in his pale cloak.

  "I trust you have enjoyed your time at the Commodore Lounge," said the man, his smile wide.

  Fletcher removed his tokens and handed them over to the man, Nerishka doing the same, aware that Andrew was most curious at their simultaneous departure.

 

 

  Nerishka and Fletcher left the Commodore Lounge and headed out to the bay where she’d entered the establishment.

  A private skycar was already there, waiting for them with its doors open. Fletcher strode toward it, filled with confidence now, back straight, head high, leading Nerishka to wonder if she was being played after all.

  When she admitted her conerns to Lyra, the AI replied,

  Nerishka agreed. She followed as Fletcher ushered her inside the skycar and slid in beside her.

  The silence in the back of the skycar was almost claustrophobic, more on Nerishka’s part considering she’d started out already feeling this whole job was taking too long.

  Lyra continued,

  Nerishka sent her AI a grin as Fletcher reached for the chiller to grab a drink.

  He poured a blue alcoholic beverage into a glass, then dropped a still-smoking ice cube inside before offering it to Nerishka. She shook her head, and instead reached for a bottle of water. With both antidotes in her system, she had to be careful in case any alcohol diluted the effects and endangered her ability to resist the toxin when the time came.

  Now Nerishka studied the man as he chugged back the first neon blue cocktail and reached for a second.

 

 

 

 

  Nerishka sent her AI an amused grin.

 

  Nerishka was prevented from responding when Fletcher turned to face her. “So…I’ve been looking at your file. Karsin’s approved the application but it appears the details on where you are from isn’t on file.”

  She eyed him for a moment, as though judging whether or not he was worthy of hearing her story. Then, with a resigned nod, she said, “I was in Bollam’s World twenty years ago when the Intrepid and its fleet destroyed those AST dreadnoughts. Ate through those starships in minutes. The firm I was with at the time got their hands on a portion of the residue, some of which contained inert picobots. We were making strides, but when the AST came back and took control of the system, they shut us down. Hard.”

  Fletcher’s eyes widened as she spoke. “Damn…you’ve seen the tech, then.”

  Nerishka nodded. “Yeah, but when I say ‘hard’ I mean few of us survived. Most of those who did are at some AST black site working on the tech.”

  The story was partially true. Except the part where the AST black-site was still researching picotech. The Hand had shut that down with extreme prejudice.

  “How’d you survive?” Fletcher asked, his eyes narrowing.

  “Vacation. I was at the Disknee World when it went down. One of my coworkers got a message out to me. I never went within a hundred light years of Bollam’s World again.”

  Fletcher nodded absently as he considered her words but didn’t reply as the skycar slowed on its final approach.

  Nerishka’s HUD confirmed the ride over had taken seven minutes and twenty seconds. That gave her just over twenty minutes to get to into the lab and terminate her mark.

  Get a move on, she muttered silently as the skycar settled onto its cradle. Fletcher exited as soon as the doors slid open and then waited on the deck for her.

  Nerishka hurried out as quickly as her heels allowed and offered him a grateful smile. She felt a little bad for the guy. He’d been completely taken with her ruse, and it felt somewhat like the proverbial taking of candy from a baby. The serum had only made things easier for her, and even though it would have already begun to fade, Fletcher would remain reasonably compliant until she got to his lab.

  Nerishka grumbled to Lyra.

 

  ssumed that would be the case. Just wishful thinking, I guess. Still, he must have something big to hide if he’s using tech like that.>

  Fletcher slowed his stride, casting her an apologetic glance as they exited the landing bay. “I’m sorry. I feel like I’ve been neglectful of you. I just had a few messages to respond to.”

  Nerishka nodded and smiled politely, keeping up with his long stride more so because she was watching the timer count down until the serum dissipated. They headed across an empty reception area—likely a security access point for visitors who used the skycar bay to enter the facility.

  Fletcher palmed the panel at the lift, then repeated the process inside, giving him access to a floor that didn’t appear on the level indicators above the doors. Only the numbers on Nerishka HUD gave an idea of how far up they went.

  At last, the doors slid open on the fiftieth floor, revealing a long elegant hall that looked nothing at all like what Nerishka had expected.

  Glossy black stone floors, walls wavering in a holographic pattern of endlessly twisting gold and silver ladders that resembled a multitude of DNA strands.

  A holographic recording began to play as they neared a set of large doors, the woman smiling cheerily and launching into Fletcher Tech’s mission statement and the company’s vision for a better future for all in the Ayra System.

  Nerishka said to Lyra.

 

 

  the AI commented as Nerishka was led to a pair of black plas doors emblazoned with ‘Fletcher Industries’ in shiny gold lettering.

  The doors opened and Fletcher led her further inside, striding down a long wide corridor. Lyra was keeping track of their location and the route out just in case, which Nerishka could see clearly on her HUD.