“Sounds like you admire the crazy bastard,” Dill scoffed.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen someone risking so much.”
“So, he eliminates the Council and self-appoints himself as a radical dictator. How far does he expect to get?” McKenna said, himself beginning to think less and less of Draeger and his outlandish goals.
Hasker leaned against his desk and took a very long drag, looking upwards and blowing the smoke upwards. “You’re going to love this part,” he smiled.
“Stop screwing around,” Kimmy said as she crossed her arms.
“Crazy viruses, government takeover, gangland blues… It’s all incomparable to what his end goal is. War. A war against what he believes to be the only enemy for hundreds of years. Not a government body, a certain gang, or another colony.” Hasker looked straight across the room at Veena for a few long and awkward moments as McKenna and Dill looked to her as well. Veena looked to them nodded. Hasker slowly and flamboyantly moved towards her, reaching his hands out to her. “‘And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,” he said as if preaching a sermon as he inched closer and closer to Veena. She looked to the ground, embarrassed that she was the enemy in many humans’ eyes. “‘and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people’”. Hasker looked into her violet eyes as she peeked up at him. He smiled and turned back to the others.
“Back off her, Hasker,” McKenna said.
Hasker turned around and walked back to his desk. “He wants the ones who came from the sky, the Revente. Draeger wants a war with our saviors, our gods, our eternal heroes.”
“Really?” McKenna groaned. “Another xenophobic fanatic. And one who believes himself. How does he plan to stand against them? He’d need an entire Navy. More than that, a damn miracle to even stand the slightest chance.”
“That’s if he’s actually bloody serious,” Dill laughed.
“He already believes us ready to fight,” Hasker said. “But his true ace card is his cure. Renatus, he calls it.”
Veena had stayed silent long enough. She knew she wasn’t any human’s enemy, but rather Draeger, was a man possessed by evil. “But it's not a cure,” Veena said, stepping forward and breaking her silence.
“It's a weapon. He's killed hundreds, human and Revente. Nothing is too great of a cost to him. He's cut up each of our species into pieces to find the equilibrium of the cure, what makes us immune, and splicing it with human physiology. He's spent billions on research with many successes and many failures. The Taken are the run off these failures.”
The room looked to her in shock when they heard her. “They're not some mutants infected with a mutated strain of Black Cell. They were human once, people taken against their will forced into a madman's scheme of racist revenge. Sacrifice is what he needed and he's received plenty for his cure, his evolution. And I can tell you for a fact he's done it, or is very close.”
Dill nudged McKenna’s shoulder. “If we nab that cure in the midst of all this, we’ll get promoted faster than shit off a shovel, eh, sir?” Dill chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. He was still overloaded with big talk from Hasker and The Commander and was finding it difficult to grasp with serious consideration.
“What he’s made is an abomination, Roberts.” Dill dropped the quips and gave the doctor his attention. “The strengths of the Revente without the weakness of a human. I've spent my life in genetics research. He needed me to fuse the two cells of Auroran and humans, to find the missing link within my species genes.”
“So, with this new super virus he's created, why aren't gangers lining up to get this juice? They would surely see the benefit, right?” Dill asked, still skeptical of The Commander’s validity.
“Like I said, he wasn't complete with Renatus yet. Ninety-five percent succumb and transform into the Taken. The remaining five percentile die from rapid physiology restructure. He'll perfect it, but in his own rite. He sees the mortality rate as a selection process, the true gift of evolution going to those worthy of it and willing to stand up to my people. Once it’s complete, he plans to disperse it to the entire planet.”
“Just how could he do that? Dispersal on a planetary scale?” Dill said.
Veena shook her head and looked to the ground. “I don’t know.”
Hasker watched the room become silent. “Well, the science is beyond me,” Hasker shrugged. “But I do know he has nearly unlimited resources and has cured a seemingly incurable disease after four hundred years. I can’t put it past him. I expect he’ll have had help from his other supporters.”
“You mean other people have bought into this bullshit?” McKenna said.
“Be wary of him,” Hasker said, dropping all his strange mannerisms and playful attitude. “The Commander has a way with words. He has an empathy about him that can sway people in his favor. It’s how he formed his private military, the Golden Bough. He made the mistake of speaking philosophy to me, something of which pays me no interest, but I believe he may have swayed other parties with more practical methods.”
“Valiant…” McKenna muttered.
“The promise of corporate domination is always effective to a businessman. I doubt The Commander told Mister Valiant of his true intentions for Renatus. But Valiant is merely where he receives his funding from. My sources say he’s approached Tianlong Group as well, with success.”
“Jesus,” Dill said. “They’ve the largest private fleet in the system, big enough to rival the ENF.”
“He has his navy in the sky, which leaves—”
“His ground Army. Wargame?” McKenna said.
“After I declined, The Commander quickly went to my rival,” Hasker said. “Wargame has been slowly pooling troops in mass, a move I’ve yet to see in my time here but can only indicate an act of war with my own party. Wargame has enough war parties in deployment to outnumber my organization two to one.”
“Wargame is maniacal,” Dill said. “The Commander can’t expect any cooperation from a blood-thirsty psychopath.”
“On the contrary. The Commander knew this and has used it to his advantage. Wargame seeks power through violence and war, nothing else. If The Commander succeeds in his insurrection, I’m sure he would have made some promise for Wargame to spread his power globally. Wargame has a sickness and craves battle. Promise him a war with the greatest military in the galaxy and he’ll gladly jump in, whether he knows he can succeed or not. The thrill alone will excite him.” McKenna still couldn’t fathom the gravity of the plans The Commander was carrying out.
“The Council can’t let this happen,” McKenna scoffed in disbelief that so much could transpire, yet nothing more than a whisper makes it to the uppercity. “An impending war down here alone is enough to—”
“What?” Hasker scoffed. “Take action? Believe me, McKenna, they know. But they couldn’t be bothered with the problems down here, of course. If I know our officials, they would rather let us rip each other to shreds down here, keeping the crime low by letting it eliminate itself. The Council would take no action unless gang activity soared upwards and threatened their own safety. But little do Windsor and his councilors know, that is exactly what Wargame is planning.”
“Presuming he gets through you,” Kimmy said sternly.
“I’ve always tried to keep the balance as best I could down here with other gangs. Chaos isn’t good for business, you see, but Wargame’s pack is just too large. I’ve given an emergency alert for my Wordkeepers to prepare, but it’ll only be a matter of time before Wargame is through with us and ascends to the upper sectors.”
The team stood motionless and shocked beyond any consolation. The situation before them was bigger than any of them. It was an alarming concern not just for Interpol but for the ENF and every other human on the planet. Hasker took one last drag from his cigarette before putting it out.
“I don’t know the man,” McKenna said. “Why do all
of this? Surely it’s not because of racism. Something that simple is driving him to rip apart all order and civilized living?”
“A man of ideals and actions, as I said before,” Hasker said. “Listen closely, McKenna, this next piece of information I offer to you for free. An idea is poison. It can lead a man into madness once he begins to believe himself. Ideas can breed a certain type of consciousness that consumes morals, greying the lines of right and wrong. It doesn’t matter whether you believe in something noble or evil. An idea can lead any man into villainy, pure of heart or corrupted, disregarding the status quo, leaving it entirely behind him. The Commander believed in preserving our species and becoming dominate so that oppression would become true and final history. And he will cross any lines to make it justly so.”
“You said he had changed when you saw him. In his absence, what happened to him?”
“I don’t know, Marshal. I guess a man is still capable of keeping his own secrets these days, even from me. Whatever happened to that man enlightened him and created this.” McKenna looked to Dill who was also taken aback by all the information.
“Dill, we need to get back topside ASAP. This is beyond any of us.”
“Right, sir, I agree,” Dill said. Hasker looked at Dill curiously.
“Marshal, I’ve given you just about all I have,” Hasker said. “Even though you won The Games, this isn’t information I would’ve given out to just anyone. After seeing you in battle, seeing the kind of people you’ve attracted to your side, the charisma of a Martian, I’m only aiding you because I believe you’re the man who can stop him.”
“You must be kidding,” McKenna said. “I can’t fight a battleship, an army of psychopaths, survive some virus.”
“You’re going to stop him before he has a chance to enact his plan, and I can tell you how.”
“What’s it to you anyways?” Kimmy said smugly. “Instead of taking a backseat and watching the bodies pile, you’d take a side all of a sudden? That doesn’t sound like you at all.”
“I’ve got my own problems to worry about now. Wargame is on my doorstep and if I somehow miraculously survive that ordeal, I’d rather have the peace of mind knowing Earth isn’t on fire with a new deadly pathogen killing everyone. I won’t bow to the Aurorans and stopping The Commander is the best way to keep it that way.”
“So how about we stop wasting time here and you tell me where he’s operating out of?” McKenna said.
“That’s an easy question to answer,” Hasker chuckled. “Red Sector, grid twelve.” Kimmy and Dill sighed in disappointment, Dill shaking his head. They weren’t pleased to hear the location, for being veterans of the undercity, they already knew the gravity of the locale.
“What? What is it?” McKenna said as he looked to Dill.
“Grid twelve, The Promised Land…” Dill said.
“Far to the north within Freedom right in the heart of Wargame’s territory as well as dozens of other factions,” Hasker said. “Staging areas for war parties, battlegrounds for dominance over the Land, almost literally the one place you can’t go. Marshals and Interpol detectives may be able to pass around with moderate concern around here, but anything short of a Navy invading the northern grids and starting a war, you won’t make it.”
McKenna laughed out of frustration. “You’re kidding, right? Time isn’t something I have right now. How do I stop him?” McKenna said.
“I don’t know when he plans to begin his operation, but I know there’s still time. He’s meeting with off-worlders soon, attempting to gain alliances on other colonies no doubt, and he’ll be there personally and my brokers have secured a time and a meeting place. I’m forwarding the information to your OPIaA now.” McKenna looked at his tool to view his new message.
“Yellow sector?” McKenna said. “Awfully close to home.”
“McKenna, be careful. I may have given you the information you needed but, even to me, the man is unpredictable. Whether you’re planning on killing him or apprehending him, use the utmost caution.”
“Right,” McKenna said.
“With The Games wrapping up, it’s only a matter of time before the truce is lifted and all hell breaks loose down here. I suggest you get topside as fast as you can and make your move. I’ll have a couple of my Keepers escort you out.”
“And what about you? When The Commander is dealt with, you’ll still have Wargame to worry about regardless.”
“Does it matter?” Hasker smiled. “Just one less gang for the Council to worry about down here, right?” McKenna didn’t acknowledge. There was nothing he could do except stop The Commander. Hasker looked at McKenna as he turned around, ready to walk out. “This isn’t the first Federation spy you’ve hunted, is it?”
Veena looked at McKenna, curious as to what Hasker was speaking of. McKenna stopped and turned his head. “Excuse me?” He said, irritated at the merchant of truth.
“I know a bit about you, McKenna, as you probably guessed. You have experience hunting ghosts such as Draeger.” McKenna’s eyes wandered for a moment. “I know you have what it takes to apprehend him. More importantly, I know you have what it takes to put him in the ground.” It was then that McKenna eliminated any doubt of Hasker’s credibility. He could vouch for Hasker’s knowledge, even for haunting actions as far back as he was implying. McKenna nodded slightly and continued walking. His team followed, all except Kimmy, who stayed motionless, staring down Hasker. He leaned closer to speak quietly.
“Kim—”
“Just go, Alan.” She didn’t even blink. He knew full well what her true plan was.
“I can’t leave you here knowing what you’re about to do. We couldn’t have gotten here without you. You held your word—”
“So hold yours, Alan. I need to do this.” Hasker smiled, making her even more enraged. She felt McKenna’s hand on her shoulder; he turned her slowly.
“Look at me,” he whispered. She looked up at him. “How many more will I risk losing to revenge? To their past? You’re better than this. This isn’t who you wanted to be.” He let go and started walking before pausing. “Unless it simply wasn’t true.” Her eyes wandered as she was left unsure of her decision. “I couldn’t have gotten here without your help, I mean that. There’s always a place for you on my crew.”
“Maybe… we’ll see each other in the future,” she said regretfully. McKenna nodded before walking out of the door with the rest of his team. Once they were through the doors, several guards began escorting them out. Dill glanced behind him to see the doors close.
“We’re just leaving her?” Dill said.
“It was like you said, Dill. Everyone has their own agenda. We helped her get to Hasker, she got us the information we needed. What more is there left to say?” Dill saw that McKenna wasn’t pleased with her decision to stay behind and knew it was best to drop the subject. Dill didn’t exactly trust Kim, but she did fulfill her end of the bargain with no strings attached. He looked to Veena.
“Doctor? Are you holding up?” Dill said.
“I’m fine, but we should hurry.” Dill then looked to Humphries and wasn’t even sure if he should bother asking.
“Humphries?”
“The faster we leave this cesspool of human indecency, the faster we can kill this Commander meatsack.” Ripper barked beside Humphries as he trotted along with them, looking to McKenna with a smile. The team proceeded towards an elevator and to the surface with an important mission ahead.
Kimmy stared at Hasker and began pacing around him; he already knew what was in store as he took off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
“You have every right, Kim,” Hasker said, putting his palms in front of him. “I’d rather it be you than some competing savage.” Kimmy ran forward, jumping into the air towards Hasker and sending a jumping front kick his way. Hasker threw his arms down as he jumped back, blocking the kick. She continued with an assault of light strikes and sidekicks with hopes of wearing his defenses down, but she was attack
ing out of anger, only tiring herself. “Why this lust for revenge?!” Hasker shouted as he continued to defend himself. “For trying to bring you back?!”
“Reclamation of lost property?!” Kimmy shouted as she sent another jab only to be blocked. “Your Wordhunters would’ve killed me!”
“They would’ve done no such thing, Kim!”
“No one lives to cross you! Not even Bea!” Hasker caught the name curiously. It was the name of her guardian from long ago. Kimmy scooped her palm into Hasker’s leg, bringing his defenses low for only a moment. Kimmy swept her leg back and launched forward with a perfect butterfly kick, sending both of her heels on Hasker’s exposed face, stunning him heavily. He stepped back to recover while the doors behind Kimmy slid open, funneling several Wordkeepers inside at the sound of the fighting. Kimmy turned her body to lunge her wrist through the air, sending a remote virus to each of the guard’s tools, causing the power cells to rupture while sending a stunning electrical shock arching to each other guard. They dropped to the floor after having two million volts surge through them, all writhing in pain. Kimmy turned her attention back to Hasker.
“So, your foster mother then,” Hasker said, panting. “It was always revenge. Festering inside even after I gave you a life.”
“You killed her for protecting me! All she wanted was something else for me than this life!” She ran forward, sending her leopard punch through the air. Hasker felt his own anger and regret come over him. He caught Kimmy’s arm and threw her over his shoulder.
“You don’t know any of it, Kim!” Hasker yelled. Kimmy quickly sprang back up, full of anger.
“And how many other lives have you claimed like property?!” Kimmy continued her barrage against her father, desperate to kill him. “How many like me?!” Hasker heard her and purposefully let his guard down, recalling the events of that day.
“It was just you, Kim.”
“Goddamn liar!” Kimmy’s last punch smacked Hasker in the jaw. The punch glanced off him as her stamina depleted. Her footwork failed to keep up with her command, causing her to stumble to the floor on her palms. He saw Kimmy’s tears start to drop on the floor; her fighting was over not from lack of energy but more from lack of will. He then looked over to his guards starting to recover and pointing their rifles at Kimmy. He motioned his hand for them to stand down. “I have no one!” Kimmy cried. “Nobody but criminals. A womanizing ganger with a lust for control as a father. I can’t even remember her face…”
The Bloodlust: (Volume Three of the Virion Series) Page 22