by RJ Johnson
“Very carefully,” Meade said without a trace of irony. “That program you loaned me worked like a charm on Laszlo’s ArmBar. There’s no reason to think it wouldn’t work on Corcoran’s.”
Sarah crossed her arms, her brow furrowed as she considered his plan, “I suppose the virus can be reprogrammed for Corcoran’s ArmBar.”
Meade grinned, “There we go, that’s just the kind of positive spirit we need around here.”
“I hate to throw some cold water on this whole thing, but just how do you expect us to get in the arena?” Kansas added, “The passes I get, that gets us inside, but the real problem is everyone and their brother knows our faces by now and they’ll be on the lookout I guarandamntee ya that.”
“The faces part is easy,” Meade said nodding to Kansas, “We disguise ourselves using that camouflage program you loaned me earlier.”
Kansas stroked his white beard and nodded, “That’ll be good for the first half-hour, what’s your plan after that?”
Meade turned and looked at the abandoned warehouse in front of them and he sighed, “Hopefully the chaos that’s created after we expose Cassandra should allow us to get out. Once people figure out what Cassandra does, there’s gonna be a riot inside the arena. The outcry will be far too much for her to handle. Hopefully the scandal should be enough to force her from office.”
He hesitated and looked at the three people around him who had risked everything for him. He hated himself for asking, but he needed to know they were willing to help.
“I know this is one hell of a long shot I’m asking you to believe in, and most times, I’d be happy to go home and knock back some of Emeline’s finest,” Meade said nodding to his friend. “But, Corcoran can’t be stopped by anyone else. She’s got the power, the men, the firepower and a machine that predicts everyone’s future. It’s… it’s up to us. I can’t rightly ask and expect you all to follow along like good little soldiers. That’s not who I am. But, you’ve heard my peace on what I want to do tonight and why I think it’s important for everyone. No one here is stupid, so I know you all know the risks of what I’m asking. I only hope that you understand why I’m asking to put it all on the line and that you trust me enough to see this thing through.”
Meade turned his back on them and stepped toward Palmetto’s warehouse, “If anyone wants to walk away right now, I’ll wish you well and even buy the first round next time I see ya.” Meade lolled his head to one side, “Provided I survive the night of course.”
They stared at him, silent at first. Meade looked over their faces and saw the exhaustion and injuries they had picked up by following him this far. But he also saw hope. They weren’t looking to each other to see who backed down first, but rather, who was going to step up first.
Emeline shrugged and glanced over at Kansas, “I’ve heard worse plans out of him before.”
“I’m interested in seeing how this ride turns out myself,” Kansas said with a smile. “I never did like the old bitch anyway. It’d do my heart good to see her out on her ass and the Coalition embarrassed.”
Meade felt the pride swell up within him and he turned back with a warm smile on his face until he saw Sarah and her demeanor. He moved closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, “Sarah, I’m…” he hesitated. What could you say to someone after you’ve failed them so completely? “I’m sorry that I couldn’t do more for your father. By the time I got to him it was too late.”
She looked at him with that strange empty face that she had worn ever since learning about her father, “I’m sure you did everything you could.”
Meade nodded and squeezed her shoulder. She raised a hand up to his, and squeezed back. Encouraged that he might have finally gotten through to her, Meade looked back at the warehouse and sighed.
“Welp, no time like the present,” he said. He wasn’t looking forward to speaking with Palmetto again. He never wanted to work for the man, and here he was looking to put even more of Palmetto’s goodwill on credit. It was a dicey situation that he wasn’t sure how to get out of, but, he didn’t have any other choice. “Stay here and watch for the Coalition. We don’t want to get pinched just as we’re getting started.”
They agreed and gathered by the Aerocycles, each of them busying themselves in their own way so that they wouldn’t have to think about the fact that they would likely be staring directly into death’s face for the second time within a few hours.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Meade approached the warehouse office door and knocked lightly. It swung open and revealed a dingy looking office with a bored secretary sitting at a desk under a slowly rotating fan. He looked up from filing his nails, glancing at Meade for a moment before returning to his task.
“I’m looking for Palmetto,” Meade said.
The receptionist ignored him and looked closely at his nail to look for the rough part that needed to be filed down.
“He’ll want to speak with me,” he added.
The receptionist rolled his eyes and glanced back at Meade. “Mr. Palmetto is not taking any visitors today.”
“’Fraid that don’t apply to me. Tell him Jim Meade’s here with a report and I promise you he’ll want to speak to me.”
“You don’t understand,” the receptionist said with a bored air, “Mr. Palmetto is and has been totally unreachable for the last few days. Even if I wanted to help you…” the receptionist’s eyes ran up and down over Meade’s body with some approval, “which I’ll admit, I would be more than happy to under the right circumstances, I couldn’t.”
“Where’d he go?” Meade growled.
The receptionist shrugged, “Not my department.”
Meade snapped. He didn’t have time for this. He moved past the receptionist’s desk over the man’s protests and kicked open the office door. Inside the office was empty, with no one inside. It was an empty conference room with a dozen chairs surrounding an oak table.
He looked around, “Where is Palmetto?”
The receptionist appeared by Meade’s side, out of breath, “I told you he’s not here.”
“That’s not necessary Mr. Granner,” a voice said out of nowhere. Palmetto’s face appeared on the wall opposite Meade. Granner bowed quickly towards the monitor and exited the room ever faster, closing the door behind him.
“Bursting in on my business, making demands to see me… Bit overdramatic don’t you think Mr. Meade?” Palmetto asked.
Meade ignored him, “You hired me to find out what’s going on. I did. I’m here to make a report.”
Palmetto sniffed and rolled his head from side to side, “I’m breathless with anticipation I can assure you Mr. Meade. However, there have been…” he paused, searching for the right words, “circumstances that have forced me to put your concerns on the backburner.”
“I just need one thing from you Palmetto…”
“Yes, I know,” Palmetto replied smoothly. “You need a ticket to the Zero-G fight tonight.”
Meade was taken aback, “Four if I’m being accurate, but how could you possibly…?”
Palmetto waved him off, “You’re still a fugitive and have so far failed in your attempt to clear your name with the authorities. I imagine you’re not so stupid as to come here and turn yourself over so I can claim the reward -”
Meade shook his head, “No such luck Palmetto.”
“Which means,” Palmetto continued, apparently undisturbed by Meade’s interruption, “…that you need something. Since all the players in our little drama will be attending the fight tonight, I can only imagine that you’ve come up with some sort of half-baked scheme you believe will help clear your name. I considered ordering my men to take you now, but I have to admit, it might be worth the price of losing out on your reward to see what you’ve come up with.”
Meade steadied himself, no sense in letting the warlord get under his skin. If Palmetto wanted to show off, he’d let him. He swallowed his pride knowing that this part wouldn’t be easy, “I wouldn’t ha
ve come if I didn’t think it would profit you in some way.”
Palmetto indicated with his fingers that Meade should continue.
“I figure one way or another after tonight, Laszlo won’t be around to run things,” Meade said sounding more sure of himself than he felt, “Corcoran’s gonna see to that.”
Palmetto cocked his head, “How?”
Meade hesitated, this was the tricky part. He needed to strike the right balance between telling Palmetto what he needed to know, and not so much that the Warlord might learn about Cassandra.
Palmetto’s face changed and darkened. He leaned forward and spoke in a tone that made it clear he was not taking any of Meade’s shit today, “Understand that you only continue to operate with my goodwill. To me, I don’t much care what happens to you next. If a pathetic worm like you decides to stand in the way of what I want, then there is nothing holding me back from watching you roast in front of the whole Coalition. Tell me what you know, and I’ll consider your request. Otherwise, ready yourself for a return to Enzeli prison.”
Meade shuddered. He didn’t think he had it in him to escape the inescapable prison twice in one day. But, he also wasn’t about to tell Palmetto about Cassandra, so he decided to stick to Rule #8: When you lie, keep it as close to the truth as possible.
“Laszlo got the idea that assassinating Corcoran would allow him to rise to power as the new Ambassador to the Coalition. With his new position, he would be able to consolidate his holdings and power over everyone,” Meade shot Palmetto a look through the viewscreen, “including you.”
Palmetto absorbed this new piece of information and tapped his fingers together, “And you believe the Ambassador will prevent this?”
“I don’t think the Ambassador stands a chance, her chief of security is in on the conspiracy.”
Palmetto cocked his head and chuckled, “Hugh? I never thought the man had it in him.”
“Apparently bags of dough come with a spine after all,” Meade replied.
Palmetto looked up at him through the viewscreen, “Tell me Mr. Meade, What are your intentions?”
Meade was confused, “My intention?”
“Yes,” Palmetto said nodding, “I want to know what you intend to do tonight. Do you intend to save the Ambassador?”
“It’d be the right thing to do,” Meade said gruffly.
“Not to mention that saving her will create the right kind of goodwill that clears your name…” the Warlord added.
“I’ve got my motivations, I admit,” Meade admitted, “but I’m the one who’s betting my life and freedom that Laszlo is going to take his shot at the Ambassador and I intend to stop him.”
Palmetto nodded and leaned forward, “I’ll admit, the status quo among the Warlords could use some shaking up. I will give you the assistance you require, but remember that after this, you are mine.”
“I keep my promises Palmetto,” Meade said as he felt the relief flow through him. He was suddenly struck with the thought that there was no turning back after this. If he couldn’t deliver what he was promising to Palmetto, there’d be no place on Mars he could hide. He had sounded confident enough when he had been discussing his plan with Emeline, Sarah and Kansas, but now, as he was confronted with the idea of actually doing it, he found himself wondering, just how the hell WAS he going to pull this off?
Palmetto must have seen it in his face because he heard the Warlord chuckling on the other end of the viewscreen, “I have to say Mr. Meade, every time I think I have you figured out, you go and surprise me. I’m curious however, just what makes you so sure that you’ll be able to pull off your plan?”
Meade suddenly flashed on the battle at Enzeli and how the people outside that cared so much about him that they were willing to lay their life down. No matter what he was about to face, with that kind of loyalty behind him, it didn’t matter what the plan was. They’d pull it off because they had to, and because Meade had asked. That was enough.
“You know why I like playing poker Palmetto?”
The Warlord shrugged.
“Because every single time the cards are shuffled, a brand new combination of cards is created in the deck that’s never existed before in the universe. It’s one of the best demonstrations of pure chaos and random chance demonstrated in a simple, easy to understand mechanical form. What no one ever seems to understand about me is that I am that random chaos. I’m that random event that throws your plans and life philosophies into doubt,” he said hotly, gathering steam. “And those who stand in my way rarely see the chaos coming before they’re enveloped by the destruction left behind in my wake.”
Palmetto nodded with a smile while typing quickly on his ArmBar, “I look forward to the fireworks you plan on setting off tonight.”
Meade whirled around, his duster jacket flapping behind him as the receptionist appeared at the doorway holding an envelope. He snatched it out of the receptionist’s hands and moved out the door, “You ain’t the only one.”
C hapter Twenty Eight
They lined up by the thousands outside the massive arena in A-Block. The championship Zero-G fights was the premier social event of the year on Mars and anyone who was anyone in New Plymouth and Mars wasn’t about to miss what was promising to be the showdown of the century.
Banners promoting the two feuding fighters covered every available advertising space near the arena. It was Kevin Chau versus Titus Greene and the promoters were doing their best to make hay out of the fact that Greene had killed Chau’s brother in the ring several months ago. The intensity of the rivalry had led to some of the highest tension and drama surrounding the Zero-G fights in history. All anyone could talk about was seeing how Chau was going to avenge his brother in the ring.
Citizens, Moles, Runabouts and Coalition MPs alike were all crowded around the entrance as everyone (regardless of rank or station) was being filtered through the security area where Coalition scanners had been setup. There, the citizens verified their tickets as well as their identity. The citizen would step up, present their ticket and submit to a scan of their identity and match it to their SecureCard in their ArmBar.
Meade pulled up and dismounted his Aerocycle aiming his ArmBar at the arena entrance. The display flashed up in front of him and displayed a zoomed in picture of what was going on at the entrance. Apparently, someone didn’t have a valid ticket and was being roughly escorted out of the line. Meade lowered his ArmBar and grimaced. He had been counting on the camouflage program to hide their faces and get them past security - the scanners made that plan unlikely to work.
Kansas, Emeline and Sarah landed next to him and moved to join him. Kansas looked down at the entrance to the Arena and shook his head.
“I was afraid of that,” Kansas’s deep voice rumbled. He opened up his camouflage program and played with the settings, shaking his head. “They’re using an alpha wave scanner down there, which interferes with the holoprojection. There’s no way any of our disguises will last through those scanners.”
Meade took a minute to study their situation. They hadn’t come this far to be denied.
“What about the service entrance?” Emeline asked. “They might check for passes, but they’re not likely to be scanned by the camo monitors.”
Kansas stroked his beard and bobbed his head, “Maybe, but there’s still no guarantee that we’d survive inspection.”
“Maybe we don’t have to,” Sarah said mysteriously.
“What do you mean?” Meade asked.
“Knowing the Coalition’s procedures the way I do, they’ll have the entire arena on lockdown, including the service entrances. But what they won’t watch is their security center.”
Meade was surprised at this, “They’re not watching their own security center?”
Sarah shook her head, “As much as the Coalition likes to let everyone believe they’re unstoppable, we still have limited resources. They figure anyone who can get into the security area is supposed to be there.”
&nb
sp; Sarah called up a map on her ArmBar and showed them the schematics, “My idea is that Kansas and Emeline can sneak in through the Service entrance while I disable the rear cameras and call the guards off to a different location.”
“What about me?” Meade asked.
She grinned, “You’re coming with me as my prisoner.”
Meade swallowed and shook his head, “No dice, I’ve already been a prisoner enough for one day.”
“You wouldn’t actually be my prisoner as you,” Sarah said exasperated. “You’ll have the camouflage running the whole time as some non-descript criminal I’ve picked up in my role as the good little Coalition lieutenant. I’ll tell the MPs in the security center you’re a fugitive that we need to transfer you back to holding. I’ll sneak into master control and get Kansas and Emeline into the arena. Then, I sneak us past the guards and into the arena.”
Meade considered her plan, it wasn’t half bad and it was the best chance they had to get into the arena if they wanted to stop the assassination attempt.
Meade sighed, “What crime against humanity do you want to turn me in for?”
Sarah’s eyes lit up for the first time since Meade told her that her father was dead. She leaned forward and withdrew a pair of handcuffs.
“Find someone who looks rough enough to commit murder, but not so tough that I couldn’t take him down,” she instructed.
Meade nodded and opened up the camo application and began flipping through the preprogramed faces that Kansas had included. He selected a rough looking bald individual with a scar running down the right side of his face. Meade added a five o’clock shadow and nodded. This avatar looked terrifying enough for their purposes.
He pushed enter and his face flickered. Suddenly, Meade’s face was replaced with the rough looking Coalition runabout who no one in their right mind would want to mess with.
“Perfect,” Sarah said nodding. “Now, add in some bruising and blood if you can. Really sell the idea that I kicked your ass.”