Zaak walked to the door to see her out, then came back when he was convinced she’d departed. “Okay, she bought the whole thing. She’s gone.”
With a relieved sigh, Loree stepped to Dingo and helped him from the floor. “Sorry I had to hit you. She would’ve suspected something if I hadn’t.”
The big man held his back but smiled as he stooped to retrieve his cigar. “No problem. Easiest kronar we ever made. I hate the operative dealers. They’re no good for buying, and most of them take our kronar to line their own pockets. She’s one less to put up with around here.” He laughed and slapped Seb on the back, happy with their take. Then he smiled at Loree. “You’re welcome back any time you wanna rough up another one. We’re always willing to help.”
Seb told Loree that he wished her luck with the pace bike. He was glad to be rid of it.
“No…” Loree glanced at Zaak. “Seb, I only told you to bet the bike so you’d have something of value in the pot. That gave Dingo a reason to throw a fit. The bike was just a fake wager. I didn’t even win. All I want is my knife. You don’t have to give me-”
Seb laughed and insisted she take the bike. Holding up his sling, he repeated Dingo’s earlier observation that he didn’t trust it anymore. Besides, he’d be able to buy himself a new one with the five thousand kronar he’d just swindled from the operative.
“Well…thanks.” Loree gave Seb a confused smile.
This new life sure is different from my old one, she thought yet again. Now people give me stuff and I don’t even have to slay anybody.
Loree and Zaak left the pawnshop and exited to find the pace bike. The parking lot was dark and only lit by streetlights, but they saw the bike parked between their own hummer and Dingo’s run-down jeep. Loree walked around the bike to inspect it while Zaak stood watch.
Zaak ruffled his hanging bangs. “Good thing you speak that guy’s language. We never would’ve found another pair in this part of town to help us.” He wiped grime off his elbows where they’d been in contact with the table. “I hate El Miret. I knew there was a reason I decided to live east. Malice should be factored for how he runs his region.”
Loree agreed and knelt on the far side of the bike to investigate its mechanics.
“And did I hear wrong, or did you just get hired to kill yourself?”
She laughed. “You thought I brought you to this city just to put some random operative in her place? I knew operatives sometimes hire freelance assassins at these games. Alex saw on a newscast that Cruelthor was sending assassins into the major cities to hunt me down, so I wanted-”
“We’re here because Alex was worried? She’s always worried about something. Why didn’t you just reassure her back at the ranch? I’ve been training with Ryu nonstop, and I could’ve used a good night’s sleep. We didn’t need to come to El Miret just to make Alex feel better.”
No, thought Loree, assassins hunting me down is something I’m worried about, thank you very much.
She rolled her eyes at Zaak, knowing the lack of empathy between her brother and the most timid Warrior. They never understood each other. Alex thought only of her concern for people; Zaak acted only out of his concern for the mission. It was a unique conflict to watch, especially since Loree’s concerns had to lie somewhere in the middle.
There’s so much to leadership I never planned on, she thought. Of course, in the Dominion I never would’ve worried about hurt feelings and loving relationships between my followers. This is better. But certainly not easier.
“I wanted to intercept Embroglia,” she told Zaak, “to learn how much they have on me. Sounds like very little.”
“Why would Cruelthor still be hiding your file?”
“You noted that too, huh? The only explanation I can think of is that he doesn’t know we’ve teamed up. He’s probably still trying to hide me from anyone who knows the truth about me. Once we go public as the Warriors, I bet he’ll release whatever records he has. For now, I’m safe. Embroglia sure didn’t have a clue who I was. And she’ll report to headquarters that she hired another assassin, so that might take some heat off.” She winked up at him. “Don’t tell, but I’m not really gonna slay Bullseye.”
Zaak snorted a laugh, then surveyed the city block with a scowl. “Still, I don’t see why we had to come here.”
Loree shrugged and wiggled her finger in an oily part of the bike’s interior. “It wasn’t that troublesome of a field trip. Like Dingo said, ‘Easiest kronar I ever made.’”
Zaak gave up. “It’s getting late. We’ve got a long drive back to Havanahell. Wanna leave the hummer for someone to steal? It’s one of our clean hummers that’s not linked to the base, so we don’t need it. We can take this bike back home if you think it’ll run.”
She recognized this as another of his ‘Robin Hood donations’ and had to smile. “Sure, leave the hummer. Just grab my bag out of the back, would you?”
“Okey-doke.” Zaak walked around the hummer, out of sight.
Loree rose from her inspection and thought on what she planned to do next.
There was more than one reason she’d brought Zaak on this trip.
Over the past few weeks, she’d used their base’s transmitter to communicate with Matsuri on Solarus 5. At first she’d done this to make up with him, but lately their conversations had turned to the road ahead. She’d brought him into her confidence and told him about the Warrior team, and he’d kindly offered to help however he could. Since Matsuri knew the rebels, she’d asked how the Warriors would be received once they went public. Matsuri had been careful in his response, but he’d said enough to suggest she might not fare any better with the Underground than Beathabane and his Hood rebel group.
Once the Warriors go public, she thought, we’ll need rebel support. We have to make peace with the Underground. The problem is, I can’t be the one to reach out. The Underground – all rebels, for that matter – hate me. I doubt they’d let me get a word out before killing me.
Loree heard Zaak rummaging around in the back of the hummer, and she bit her cheek.
Zaak has to be our Warrior representative, she thought. And that’s a problem because Zaak doesn’t have a particularly high opinion of the Underground. He’ll argue that we Warriors can get by on our own. But we’ll need rebel support.
Zaak appeared around the hummer. “Got it.” He strapped her backpack on himself.
“Great. Let’s go.” Loree climbed on the bike. The best way to get her brother to cooperate was to praise him, so she said, “Thanks for coming along, Zaak. I wasn’t sure the others were ready for undercover work yet. You did great.”
Zaak snorted as he climbed on behind her. “Someone had to keep an eye on you. We haven’t even started to save the world yet, so I didn’t want you to run off and get yourself killed.” He chuckled. “Now I know you’re demanding pay for suicide.”
She laughed. Starting the bike, she drove out of the parking lot in the direction of the main highway. The pace bike sped along the dark street, and Loree noticed that the mechanics needed a little work.
Okay, she thought. Get on with it.
Over her shoulder, she shouted, “I brought you for another reason too, Zaak. We need to make contacts other than the ones you already have. Nat doesn’t strike me as entirely trustworthy, I have my doubts about Blaze, and I haven’t met half your other contacts. I need you to go to the Underground headquarters and rub shoulders with their commanders.”
“Why?” he yelled in her ear.
“Well, we’re destined to save the world, but there are only four of us. We’re bound to need outside assistance, and we’re better off making friends now before we get in over our heads. Once Ryu and Alex finish their training, we’ll throw ourselves into mission after mission. We need to prepare for all scenarios. The Underground might see us as enemies, so I’d like to eliminate that possibility pronto. Do you know anyone at Undertown, the refugee camp outside Phili?”
“No.”
“Matsuri t
old me the location and password. He says Undertown is their commanders’ main headquarters. It’s on our way back to Havanahell. I’ll drop you off and come get you when you signal the pace bike.” She tapped the transmission screen between the handlebars.
“Why aren’t you coming with me? You’re the one who wants to be allies with them.”
Loree frowned. “I’m not the best person to establish relations with the Underground.”
“Why not?”
“When Matsuri left the Dominion, the Underground demanded that he prove his allegiance by eliminating me. He couldn’t go through with it, but they accepted him on the basis that he put forth a valiant effort. I’m not exactly looking forward to greeting the people who tried to slay me. Besides, they’ve never trusted Dominion deserters. You know how they treat the Hood. The Underground tends to forget little details like how and why people flee the Dominion in the first place. The Hood gets the worst of it because Underground Commander Cagod doesn’t trust Beathabane’s relationship with Cruelthor. I share that relationship. Cagod won’t trust me at all if I try to make allies.”
“Well, can’t you just wear your Warrior suit and hide who you are? They never need to know the Kota Warrior Leader is you, Bullseye, the ex-Dominion operative.”
“It’ll come out,” she insisted. “Once we go public as the Warriors, I’m positive Cruelthor will announce who I am in hopes of exposing me. I don’t want the rebels thinking I tried to trick them.”
“But-”
“Zaak, trust me. I spent my entire adolescence learning how to be an assassin by going on missions against the Underground. We’d never make allies with them if they saw me as the first representative of the Warriors.”
“Well, then, screw ‘em. We can get by on our own.”
There’s the attitude I was expecting, thought Loree.
“No, we can’t. We’ll need allies, Zaak.”
“And you think I can convince them we’re on their side? They won’t know me at all, so why would they trust me? Why not have Matsuri talk to the commanders – Cagod accepted Mat, and he used to be in the Dominion, so wouldn’t Cagod listen to him about you?”
“I don’t want to bring Matsuri into this if I don’t have to. He’s taking a big risk by giving us the password to Undertown – Potok 7, by the way. Things might go badly for him if the Underground ends up hating us.” She frowned. “Besides, I don’t want to drop Mat’s name and remind the Underground how I know him. Don’t bring up Mat if you can help it because that’ll just open a can of worms.”
Zaak let out a huff. “Loree, I may be your second-in-command, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to win over the Underground. I’m not exactly known for my people skills.”
“Well, you’re the one who’s supposed to be making contacts for us, remember? That’s what Trok told me.” Throwing in Trok was always a good touch.
I shouldn’t play on my own brother’s weaknesses to get him to cooperate, she thought suddenly as she caught herself doing exactly that. Oh, well. I’ve always been good at manipulation. Stick with the system that works. Trok says it’s okay to use my old training as long as I use it for the right reasons.
Zaak sighed in her ear. “Okay, I get it. But why make allies with the Underground? They’re so self-righteous, and despite all their strutting they never accomplish much against the Dominion. You’ve said yourself that Cruelthor doesn’t take them seriously.”
“True, but as far as the rebel world’s concerned, they’re the big guns. We need to make nice if we want allies.”
Zaak muttered something about just wanting a good night’s sleep, and Loree grinned to herself.
He’ll do it, she thought. If it means finally being able to start our work as the Kota Warriors, he’ll do it.
They soon reached the highway that ran southeast in the general direction of Phili and Havanahell. Loree looked over the front wheel and saw the rail system that stretched down the middle of the highway. Finding the correct switch on the pace bike, she flicked on clamps that locked onto the rail. This allowed for greater speed, and the rail locked them on so she didn’t have to pay much attention to driving.
“Close your eyes for a while,” she yelled back. “This is as good a night’s sleep as you’re going to get tonight.”
A few hours later, the air blowing into Zaak’s face grew warmer. He opened his eyes. The full moon shown bright in the cloudless sky, but he couldn’t help but note how lame this planet’s moon was. It at least gave off enough light for his keen eyesight to examine their new surroundings.
The vegetation along the road appeared lusher than back near El Miret. He didn’t know how long ago, but Loree had turned off the main highway onto a country road. Up ahead but still some distance off, the lights of Phili created a skyline.
“You awake?” she called back to him.
“Yeah.”
Loree slowed the pace bike and pulled over. She turned off the engine, kicked down the brace, and stretched her legs. “Your Warrior suit is in my bag. Go change over there.” She pointed downhill to the edge of a forest.
Zaak knew he was past the point of no return, so he didn’t argue. He climbed off the bike, adjusted the backpack, and marched downhill to the trees.
Once here, he unzipped the backpack and pulled out his black suit. Before changing, he examined his palm and scraped off the tiny ID tag stuck to his skin. With a flick, he shot it into the dirt where it would disintegrate. Then he grinned at his suit.
Yeah, he thought. I’m a little excited to finally play Warrior Hunter.
Zaak stripped down and put on the armored suit, complete with a facemask that rose from his collar to cover his lower face. A helmet-like piece slipped down over his head and provided a clear shield over his eyes. He rummaged in the bag and found two straps with holsters, but they were empty. Then he pulled out a heavy belt and strapped it around his waist. Dressed thusly, his transformation was complete.
Now I’m Rave, he thought. After all this time, I hope I’m ready for this.
Feeling a tingling burn, he let his senses flare and closed his eyes. The breeze swept over his suit. He heard the rustling of leaves and creatures moving in the woods, and the damp trees smelled green. Dulling his senses again, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath to gather his strength. When he was ready, he stuffed his civilian clothes in the backpack and headed back up the hill to where Loree waited.
“Spiffy.” Loree smiled as she examined him, then started the bike.
“I notice you didn’t pack any weapons.” He climbed on behind her.
“You need to appear nonthreatening.”
“Hmph.” Zaak – Rave now – held on tight as Loree sped off.
With Phili’s skyline still far ahead, Loree turned onto a side road. Soon they reached a very poor, run-down suburb. The locals had attempted construction here, but they’d run out of either kronar or Dominion approval. Now, the entire suburb looked abandoned.
A massive hill rose up on the far end of the main street. Here lay an abandoned construction site. Skeletal frames rose out of the ground. A giant hole in the side of the hill looked like it led into a shallow tunnel.
Apparently following Matsuri’s directions, Loree drove the bike toward this construction site. Rave used his MOB eyesight to read a sign by the hill’s tunnel. The sign declared, ‘Caution: Highly Unstable.’
Oh, that isn’t obvious, thought Rave. It might as well say, ‘Dominion: Please Don’t Come Down Here.’
Loree yelled back at him, “I’ll dump you at the mouth of that tunnel. You memorized the bike’s transmitter number, right? Send me a signal as soon as you’re ready. Okay?”
“Okay,” he answered uncertainly.
He thought she was being a tad dramatic about the Underground not accepting her, but he wasn’t going to say anything. She might throw him off the bike without stopping if he argued. She was like that, although he’d admittedly deserved her flaring temper a number of times. Better to go along
with her plan.
I’m nervous, he thought. Get it together, Rave. If she thinks it’s so important… Well, maybe it is.
Loree shrieked the pace bike to a stop at the edge of the pitch-black tunnel, and Rave jumped off. She tore away and raced up another road to disappear. Rave stood and watched after her taillights.
Rave heard shuffling sounds behind him. Holding his position with his back to the dark tunnel, he focused his mutate-genes and felt the burning sensation run through his body. The shuffling intensified in his ears. He smelled sweat and must from old clothes, along with the smell of gunpowder.
“What’s your business here?”
Rave held up his hands to show he was unarmed. Slowly, he turned to see six soldiers hurrying toward him from inside the tunnel. They looked like guards, and all aimed guns at him. Matsuri must’ve given good directions – this was clearly the entrance to a base.
“What is your business here?” the lead soldier said again.
“Take me to your leader.” He added, “Potok 7.”
If Matsuri’s right, he thought, that’s the password. I don’t exactly have the most faith in Matsuri, but…
He held his breath.
The lead soldier lowered his gun, motioning for the others to do the same. “Fox, sweep him.”
Another soldier stepped forward and took out a scanning device. He ran it over and around Rave, paying special attention to his hand which normally held an ID tag. When the scanner gave no signal, the soldier stepped back. “He’s clean, Ace.”
The lead soldier, Ace, nodded at Rave. “Follow me.”
Rave obeyed as the soldiers turned back into the dark tunnel. He kept his arms in the air – just to be sure – but the soldiers no longer seemed concerned he was a threat.
“Sorry about that,” said Ace as they walked. “Can’t be too careful. You’re here to see Commander Cagod?”
“Yeah. I guess you could say I’m on a diplomatic mission.”
In the absolute blackness of the tunnel, Rave’s enhanced sight still saw debris that covered the tunnel floor. The soldiers wore night-vision headgear, and they walked him to a dead-end in the tunnel.
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