“In my line of business you become jaded. Then, I let people down. Then, they die.”
Flint looked him in the eye and scrutinized the human’s demeanor. “I don’t believe you. Your actions denote a strong sense of right and wrong.”
Rev shrugged off a growing anger. The little machine was faithful like a puppy to its master. Flint just hadn’t had enough time around him yet to make those observations. “You’ll see,” said Rev. “Time will tell whether I deserve your friendship or not.”
Rev flipped to the next photo and he felt a surge of sorrow in his chest. The photo was of Cassie kissing Rev on the cheek, which brought back memories he’d rather not dredge up right now.
Flint saw the pain in Rev’s eyes and took the pictures and put them back in the suitcase where he found them. Then they left with Rev deep in thought.
Chapter 15
FLINT DIDN’T WANT TO BREAK Rev’s concentration as they wandered the hall back to the transmat elevator, but had to know. “Where are we going?”
“Good question,” said Rev. “We can’t use the passkey until we check out the routines of the cleaning crews. That leaves us with one clue left.”
“Which is?” said Flint.
“Locate Taki and make sure Willa is safe. Besides, we might get lucky and find Braz along the way.”
“Shouldn’t we report to Regency Tuloff that we’ve returned?”
“He’ll find out soon enough.”
The door opened on the elevator and two guards stood waiting for them. “You’re to . . . ” said one of the guards flatly.
That was as far as he got before Rev sucker punched him in the mouth. A tooth dislodged and the guard spit it out as he spun to the floor unconscious. The other reached for his weapon. Rev, moving with the speed of a tiger, slapped the hand down with his left while grabbing the guard by the crotch with his right. He squeezed hard and the guard groaned, frantically trying to pry Rev’s hand away from his genitals. Rev was far too strong for the feeble effort and lifted the guard off the floor, flinging the thrashing man head first into the opposite wall, away from the elevator. The guard’s head crashed through the plaster and his body went limp, dangling senseless with feet nearly a meter above the floor. Rev dragged the other unconscious guard out of the elevator and tossed him alongside his buddy. Rev casually motioned Flint to enter the elevator.
“That soon enough for you?” said Rev.
“Regency Tuloff will reformat me for sure. You didn’t kill them did you?” howled Flint.
“Oh shut up,” said Rev. “They’re not dead, but they’re going to have one helluva headache when they wake up.”
“But, Regency Tuloff—” Flint whined.
Rev cupped his hand on Flint’s face, covering his protesting facsimile of a mouth. “We can’t be bothered by bureaucratic bullshit right now. If my hunch is right, we’re about to be kidnapped by the Deviant Resistance Movement.”
“Really?” said Flint surprised.
“Really. All we have to do is make it easy for them to spring their trap.”
“Is that why you thought we could find them easily when you let Willa go in the park?”
“If Willa made it to Taki, then there will be someone watching Braz and Cassie’s apartments for their return. My guess is, when we find some secluded place, away from roaming eyes, we’ll get our answer. No kidnapping—Willa didn’t make it. Kidnapping—Willa’s safe.”
“But why would they need us?”
“Simple, we have the passkey,” he said, waving the little card in front of Flint’s face, “and we’re their best bet to expose the impending governmental overthrow. Besides, the Earth would love to hear about the high-and-mighty Tsunamian struggles. It would build a lot of sympathy for the Deviants in their cause for equality if their story gets broadcast across the Alliance.”
“That’s very astute of you,” said Flint. “I wish I could think like that.”
“You will,” reassured Rev. “I guarantee you’ll be as jaded as I am in no time.”
True to the P.I.’s observations, they reached the lobby of the apartment building and moved casually to allow any amateurs to spot the pair. They noticed two Nordic nondescript males trailing them as they left the lobby. Rev strolled the causeway enjoying the warm sunshine. Even during the day only a few individuals milled about sitting on benches, reading or walking to some unknown destination.
Rev felt their tail following them from a discreet distance. Snagging Flint by one of his arms, Rev dragged the little automaton off the main causeway and into a vine-covered alcove. When it appeared like they might’ve lost their trackers among some of the denser foliage of the small garden retreat, Flint turned to retrace his steps.
“Get back here,” whispered Rev harshly. “They’re in front of us now, not behind.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I planned it that way. If my guess is right, one will be hiding behind us, while the other will confront us up there by the big shrub.”
Sure enough, a Nordic male, all in white, approached them as they walked along. When he got close, he acted like he would shift out of the way. Instead, he blocked their path. Rev was heavier and taller than the man. The male smiled up into Rev’s face and pressed a las-pistol against Rev’s chest. Rev raised his hands in surrender.
“Put your hands down please,” said the polite Nordic male.
His accomplice moved out of the vines with a similar weapon and pressed it into the small of Rev’s back.
“You will come with us peacefully,” said the first Nordic male.
“Or you’ll shoot?” said Rev, sarcastically.
“Precisely.”
“Give me a break,” said Rev. “You don’t intend to shoot and I’m not about to resist you, so put the weapons away.” The Nordic male looked surprised at the brashness of this human. “Look,” said Rev. “We want to see Taki as much as he wants you to bring us to him. So quit fooling around and take us there.”
The leader of the two nodded and they put their weapons under light-weight jackets and escorted the pair out of the secluded breezeway.
Rev walked alongside the first male wondering how any of the Tsunam could distinguish each other apart if they dressed the same like these two. It was a strange feeling seeing so many of the same individuals as they walked in silence. They were like little carbon copies with only minor differences to tell who was who.
“How long have you been staking out the apartments?” asked Rev, breaking the silence.
“Two days,” said the leader.
“That would be the morning that Cassie’s body was found,” said Flint.
“Yes,” said the leader. “Then Willa was attacked by the same creature that killed the Earth woman.”
“She survived,” said Rev, more of a statement than a question.
“Yes,” he said, “but she didn’t get away unscathed. We were told to bring any Earther to Taki immediately if they came looking.”
* * *
WHEN REV WALKED OUT of the transmat elevator, he found himself on a beautiful beach. The roar of the surf pounding was oddly comforting. The white sands nearly blinded him; he covered his brow with a hand looking for Taki.
“We aren’t in Kansas anymore,” said Rev. “I thought you guys only had metropolises on your planet?”
“There are a few pockets of natural preserves left,” said a very distinctive voice from behind Rev. A Tsunamian of the most Mediterranean-looking model came up and extended his hand.
“My name is Taki,” he said. “Am I in the presence of Mr. Smalley?”
The P.I. shook his hand firmly. “Call me Rev, please.”
“I’m delighted to meet you at last. Braz and Willa have told me much of you.”
“Is Braz here? I’d very much like to speak with him.”
“Alas, he is not. He is on reconnoiter at the moment, but he should be back very soon. He informed me that you are only one of two remaining eugenics so
ldiers on Earth.”
“I am.”
“You see, we here on Tsunam,” said Taki, “cannot claim such notoriety. We are inundated by mediocrity these days. Not enough diversity and with that, stagnation sets in.”
Rev liked him right away. His candor and looks gave him the feeling that Taki was unique. There was a light sheen on the man’s shaved head and the only hair he possessed was neatly groomed on the base of his skull just above his neck where a long patch grew black and very straight. About half of the hair was braided with a unique style, weaving several braided ropes into one long strand.
“If you don’t mind,” said Taki, “I’d like the passkey you found in Braz’s apartment.”
Rev handed it over. “What will you do with it?”
“Send it to Braz. He’s very resourceful, but without this last piece he’ll fail to recover an item we desperately need to escape Tuloff’s militia.”
“I’m glad to help,” said Rev. “That is, if you let me?”
They walked in silence up a sandy path where rivulets of fresh water streamed over smoothed stones in shallow channels on its way to the ocean. They crossed the stream where a waterfall created a deep pool. Rev could see a rustic building up along the pathway and guessed that it was their destination. The building was much larger than first glance hinted at and seemed to have space for hundreds to dwell within.
“Aren’t you worried that the government will find this little paradise?” asked Rev.
“We are indeed,” said Taki. “If they do, we can transport quickly and mingle with the populace to regroup somewhere else at a later date. It happens so frequently anymore that I’m afraid we have become accustomed to the game. For now we are at peace and that is what is important.”
“So you aren’t behind the government overthrow?” asked Flint.
“I’m sure Regency Tuloff wants us to be, but we’re not,” said Taki. “All we want is the right to exist in society without persecution.”
“Persecution?” prompted Rev.
“Some of us may look normal according to Tsunamian standards, but we wish to experience love,” said Taki. “While others have genetic flaws that have made them unique. These may be undetectable to the naked eye, like lower than average intellect. For those who possess these flaws, being captured by Tuloff’s government would mean instant termination. They find refuge here in hopes that someday they will be able to return to their lives without fear.”
“Are there Deviants with external flaws?” asked Rev.
“Certainly,” said Taki. “Being overweight or underweight easily marks the individual as a Deviant.”
“So they’re destroyed for being out-of-spec?”
“Yes,” answered Taki with sadness in his dark eyes.
“What else would cause instant destruction?” asked Rev.
“Religious freedom for one. The Tsunamian philosophy is to not allow the pursuit of the Maker, stating it’s a capital crime to believe in an afterlife.”
“How does the Tsunamian government deal with any of the other races in the Alliance, if they feel so strongly against religion?”
“They don’t for the most part,” said Taki. “You are, after all, the third human they have ever allowed to set foot on Tsunam.”
“After today I doubt Rev will be allowed to be here,” said Flint, hovering over their heads and smelling a large peachy flower just off the path.
“He’s right. We came back early from taking the body of Agent Townes back to Earth after she was found murdered by the Beast.”
“I heard that too,” said Taki. “This Beast is an atrocity and it saddened us all when we heard she had been killed. A tragedy to say the least.”
“Do you know much about the Beast?” asked Rev.
“No, but Willa was there in the park that night and met the Beast. She saw it murdering your agent. As for the Beast itself, the thing has not had a long history. There’ve been rumors of its existence for only the last few weeks.”
“That would be about the same time as the first murder then,” said Flint.
Rev nodded. He wanted a close up view of the Beast to give it a piece of his mind. The creature might be larger, but he doubted that it had seen as much action in its short life as he had. Brute force could only take you so far in hand-to-hand combat. Experience would even the odds when confronted with close-order combat. He wanted to make that thing pay for murdering wantonly.
“You said Willa is safe and here?” The P.I. forced his mind back to the present.
“Yes, you will get to meet her when we get inside, if she’s awake from her midday nap. Her shoulder had a nasty cut and she lost a lot of blood. But she will heal without any damage.”
“That is good,” said Rev. “I can’t wait to speak to her again.”
“You must be careful not to upset her too much when asking about the Beast. She is still rattled from her experience.”
“I’ll try my best.”
They arrived at the entrance. A wide double paneled glass door opened and the smell of roasting chickens and baking bread filled the air. Rev took in the smells and realized just how hungry he was.
“Welcome to my home,” said Taki.
Chapter 16
“HI WILLA,” SAID REV, peeking around her door. She was lying on her side in a fetal position. Her shoulder was wrapped in bandages with dark terra-cotta stains that told the whole story.
Flint buzzed past Rev and into a light and airy room. The lush green leaves from palm trees shaded the direct sunlight, but allowed enough light in to let a healthy glow pass through. Rev could feel a breeze connect through the open door and entered. He propped the door slightly open to to keep from blocking the cooling breeze.
“Hello,” she said, as her eyes focused on Rev. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“We skipped the normal channels to get back here,” said Rev. “How are you doing?”
“Better than expected,” she said. “They treat me like a queen.”
“That’s good. You deserve it.” Rev moved closer, pulling a chair to the bedside while Flint whipped around investigating all the new and interesting sights. “Feel up to a few questions?”
“I guess so.”
“Can you tell me what happened after we parted in the park?”
“I did like you said and went as fast as I could. Heading to the eastern entrance of the park and I guess you used a different entrance?”
“South side,” said Flint curiously going through some papers on her desk by the window.
“South,” she said thinking. “That’s why you didn’t hear the Beast’s roars. It was awful. A short while after we parted I heard footsteps behind me and I got spooked and ran. It followed for awhile but it must have lost my scent or something because I made it all the way to the glen at the eastern entrance when there it was, in the shadows. It was hard to measure, but so tall, so tall.”
“No doubt,” said Rev.
“It was very big and it was eating an arm.” She paused, her eyes got wide and her hand covered her mouth. The fear lapsed and she was able to continue. “I must have screamed at that point but I don’t really remember very well. The thing chased me out of the park and knocked me down, cutting me with its claws. It got a little confusing at this point except I remember getting into the transmat elevator with it tearing at me through the half closed door. Somehow I forced the doors shut which sheared the arm clean from its body. There was a horrible noise from the Beast and the elevator jolted so hard that I hit my head on the ceiling. Then I was safe in another part of the city and made it to the safe house where I was moved here for treatment.”
“Sounds like a real adventure,” said Rev. “I’m glad you survived with only minor wounds.”
“I was lucky I guess.”
“Have you seen Braz since you’ve been here?” asked Rev.
“No, he’s on some mission to locate Cassie. That’s what Taki told me.”
“Hmm.” Rev rubbed his
head. “I really need to talk to him and find out what he plans to do.”
“I can tell you a little bit about it,” she offered. Rev perked up and waited. “Taki has been building his own Stroustop anomaly station here on this island and plans to transport all the condemned Deviants to another, more lenient, planet. But I don’t think it’s ready yet.”
“I suppose if it was, there would be no reason to stay,” said Rev.
“Braz must know where the parts can be found and that is part of his mission. You’ll have to ask Taki for more. They treat me well but they don’t tell me very much.”
“They just want you to get better, I’m sure, before troubling you with details.”
“I’m fine. I just wish Braz was here.”
“Soon I bet,” said Rev. “You feel up to something to eat?”
“Oh my, yes,” she said.
“I smelled something like roasted chicken from the kitchen,” he said.
“And bread,” added Flint.
“Did you know they raise their own livestock here?”
“No way,” said Rev with a big grin.
Willa smacked him in the arm. “You’re making fun of me,” she said with a grin. “I’ve never seen or tasted anything so good as the food I’ve had here in the last few days. Nobody ever told me consuming animals tasted so good. My whole life has been supported by protein wafers and vitamin supplemented juices. To taste natural food is new to me.”
“Doesn’t eating the flesh from animals make you ill?” asked Flint disgusted.
“Not in the least,” she protested. “I never thought I would say this, but I enjoy it immensely. Although I do feel a little guilty taking the poor creatures’ lives. But they sure are tasty.”
“She’s a convert,” said Rev to Flint.
“And a felon,” replied Flint.
“I don’t care. They already want me dead because I had sex. What’s another felony added to my capital crimes. Fresh bread with butter is worth dying for.”
“Amen sister,” said Rev.
“You said chicken?” she asked.
“It smelled like it.”
The Beast of Tsunam (Rev Smalley: Galactic P.I. Book 1) Page 12