Children of Darkness

by James E. Wisher

  “I blasted their skiffs with the ship’s cannons. What did you think happened?”

  “I know.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “It’s just, I worked with those people. I can’t just flip a switch and think of them as my enemies.”

  “Well, you’d better work on it because they don’t seem to have the same problem.” Marcus started back down the hall.

  They walked a couple hundred yards when the comm on his gauntlet beeped. “What is it, Solomon?”

  “The tech just arrived to fuel up the ship. What should I tell her?”

  “Tell her to put in two thousand credits’ worth. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “You got it, out.”

  The tech had just finished refueling when Marcus and Iaka got back. She was a cute little thing, nineteen or so, with short blond hair and a grease-smudged face. When she spotted them she smiled, revealing a crooked set of teeth. “All done, sir.”

  “Great.” Marcus gave her the coins he got from the bartender.

  She gaped at the pile of money then hurried off to deposit it. She’d probably never seen that many hard credits in her life. He remembered the first time he saw that many credits, Vlad had handed them to a dome patrol officer.

  Solomon met them at the airlock. “Diagnostics look good, we’re at ninety percent efficiency.”

  “Good,” Marcus said. “We couldn’t have bought parts anyway. How about fuel?”

  “Little over half full. Plenty to get to New Vegas,” he said with a decided lack of enthusiasm.

  Marcus nodded. They were in decent shape, considering. “Iaka, please keep an eye out for the bartender’s crawler. We’ll go get the crates.”

  “No problem.”

  When they got back to the cargo hold Solomon asked, “What did you want to tell me?”

  Marcus sat down on the back of the trailer. “They’ve got a galaxy-wide alert out for us. Even if we make it to New Vegas I don’t know how we’ll get to the council’s space station. There’s bound to be several Earth Force ships there.”

  “We got a three-day jump to New Vegas, a day on the planet, then another five days to the council. Anything could happen between now and then. Let’s just take one thing at a time.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. No sense worrying about the dragon at the top of the mountain when the ogre guarding the pass might kill you.”

  “If you say so, about New Vegas…”

  “Relax, you just stay on the ship. Keep the weapons on. Anybody tries to bust in fry them. It’ll be fine.”

  Chapter 9

  New Vegas filled the view screen. Marcus glanced over at Solomon. His hands shook. Marcus sighed and hoped Solomon could keep it together for however long they’d need to finish their business on the planet.

  The spaceport nearest the casino where he had to meet Vlad’s contact sat on the night side of the planet. Not that it made much difference. With the light from the holograms advertising the casinos night became day. The colony mirrored its Earth counterpart only on a larger scale. While Las Vegas was a city dedicated to pleasure, New Vegas was an entire planet dedicated to it. Casinos, hotels, brothels, and restaurants catering to hundreds of different life forms dotted the planet. Marcus often heard it said if you couldn’t buy it on New Vegas, you couldn’t buy it anywhere. He smiled, what a great place.

  When they got closer, the automated landing system guided them in. While the computer flew the ship he listed their remaining liquor on a merchant forum. It wouldn’t take long for someone to jump on the deal he offered. The landing gear touched the ground just as he finished posting his merchandise, then he powered down the engines and set the external defenses.

  When he finished shutting down the ship Marcus said, “All right, I’m going to find Vlad’s contact. You two wait here. If anyone calls about the cargo tell them it’s available for immediate pickup.”

  Iaka got to her feet. “I want to go with you.”

  “No, the last thing I need to do is spook this guy by bringing someone with me.”

  “You need someone to watch your back.”

  “No, just wait here and stay out of trouble.”

  Marcus grabbed his gauntlet and stalked out of the cockpit. He looked back at the closed door. Couldn’t the woman do anything without an argument? He continued out of the ship and on toward the main terminal. He hoped to catch a cab. Or better yet find someone to share a cab with since he didn’t have any money to hire his own.

  Iaka walked in a little circle in the cockpit muttering to herself. Goddamn know-it-all pilot. Why wouldn’t he let her help? At least he could listen without getting pissed off all the time. She rounded on Solomon. “He’s stubborn, just plain stubborn. An Earth Force agent might shoot him in the back. Why wouldn’t he let me go with him?”

  “This place was built with secret meetings in mind.” Solomon patted the chair next to him. Iaka sat down and tried to relax. Solomon couldn’t help it if his friend acted like a jerk. “The businesses sprang up to give the people waiting to meet something to do. After a while the tourists showed up which gave the people sneaking around cover.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “There aren’t many laws on New Vegas,” Solomon said. “The big one is no killing. Lethal weapons aren’t even allowed off your ship. If you break this law you get banished from New Vegas for life and the organization you work for gets banished for fifty years.”

  “So?” Iaka asked. “What if they hire an assassin to do it?”

  “First, no one knows we’re on planet and second, both the major assassin guilds have agents here that contract for business.”

  “So they wouldn’t want to risk getting banished,” Iaka said. “With the criminal activity on this planet I’m surprised the planetary governments don’t get together and raid the place.”

  “Marcus was right, you don’t have a clue.” Solomon smiled at her. “The governments are the biggest crooks on the planet. They’ve all got small offices here.”

  “Wait,” Iaka said. “Earth Force has an office here?”

  “Sure, but only about a dozen agents work out of it and they spend their time spying on the other governments. They shouldn’t have enough time to bother Marcus.”

  “What?” She had a plan now but it felt sketchy even to her.

  “I said Marcus shouldn’t have to worry about Earth Force.”

  “Oh, that’s not what I was thinking. I thought if I hacked into planetary communications I could backtrack to the Earth Force computer.”

  “That’s not a bad idea, but it won’t work.”

  “Why not?” She crossed her arms and stared at him.

  “Each government has its own hyperspace relay to prevent that sort of thing.”

  “Oh.” Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a spy. “You know an awful lot about how things work here.”

  “Sure, I told you I was born here.” A slow smile spread across his face. “Mom danced at one of the clubs, among other things, and Dad was a pro gambler. She said Dad was here for a week-long poker tournament. He stayed just long enough to lose in the first round and knock her up. She sort of looked after me until I started walking and talking a little. After that I was pretty much on my own.”

  “God, that’s horrible,” Iaka said.

  “It wasn’t so bad. One of Mom’s other boyfriends was a bright computer geek, like me.” Solomon’s smile grew as he remembered. “He was shy, but he liked kids. He made sure I got fed and when I grew older he taught me computers. Johnny was the closest thing I had to a dad. He died of black rot when I was sixteen. Mom died of it two months later. I’m not sure how the rest of her boyfriends made out.”

  Iaka stared. What a terrible childhood, yet somehow Solomon turned out a decent enough person. How he managed it defied imagining. “I’m sorry.” It sounded lame but nothing else came to mind.

  “Don’t be,” Solomon said. “I once heard a holoevangelist say that the sum of your experiences make you who you are. He
said a lot of other stupid crap too but that’s what I remember. Anyway, I like who I am so my screwed-up childhood must have done me some good.”

  Iaka stood. “I’ve got an idea but I don’t think you’re going to like it.” And she felt sure Marcus wouldn’t like it. “Do you know where the Earth Force relay is?”

  “Sure, it’s on the roof of their building.”

  “Is it heavily guarded?”

  “Oh no.” Solomon held out his hands as if to ward off the bad idea. “We’re not leaving the ship. Those casino guys have a long memory. I’m not giving them another shot at me.”

  “Why are you so worried?” she asked, trying to play down the risk. “You said it was against the law to kill people here.”

  “I’m sorry. What I meant was it’s illegal to get caught. Kidnapping someone, killing them, and disintegrating the body is fine. As long as you don’t disturb the tourists no one cares.”

  “Look, I need more information before I go speak to the council. This is my last, best chance to get it.” Iaka turned toward the door.

  “Wait,” Solomon said. “You’ll never find the place by yourself. It’s not like they advertise. I’ll show you where to find it then you’re on your own.”

  Iaka let out a sigh of relief. She’d felt sure Solomon wouldn’t let her go alone but now that he’d offered to go she relaxed. “Thanks, and don’t worry, I’m sure they’ve forgotten all about you.”

  “Right,” Solomon muttered. He typed a short message into the computer then turned toward Iaka. “Ready?”

  Iaka grinned. She’d pocketed a small multitool while he typed. At last she had a chance to do something besides run for her life. It felt good. “Let’s do it.”

  Solomon sighed as they walked through the streets. He’d lost his mind. Why else would he leave the ship? The only safe place for him on the planet and he’d left. He made an easy mark walking down the street for all to see. The colored lights and holograms made shadows everywhere and Solomon imagined every one hid someone that meant him ill.

  The one saving grace of this stupid project, Earth Force had built their office just a couple miles from the spaceport and well away from the casinos. Bums and hookers decorated the alleys. Solomon smiled. The place hadn’t changed.

  After the fifth turn Iaka said, “Are you certain you know where we are?”

  Solomon looked back at her. “Sure, we’re about half a mile away.”

  “How can you tell? I was lost after the third turn.”

  “The city planners laid the city out this way on purpose so you’d get lost and have to stop at one of the businesses, ask directions, and hopefully buy something.” Solomon smiled at her bewilderment. “Don’t feel bad. I spent most of my childhood running these alleys and I don’t even know them all.”

  Solomon couldn’t believe he’d been gone for three years. The sights, the smells, everything seemed the same. He winced at the stench of rancid meat wafting out of an alley. Yeah, home sweet home.

  He forced his mind to focus on the moment. One more block and they’d arrive. “After the next left you’ll see it across the street.”

  “Finally.” Iaka picked up her pace.

  Solomon held out his arm to slow her down. “Easy, the building isn’t going anywhere. Let’s take our time.”

  They made a left and stopped in the shadows across from a plain concrete building with a cracked brick facing. A few windows on the first and second floor had lights glowing. On the roof rested a large dish. “There’s your hyperspace relay.”

  She craned her neck to look. “Good, I don’t see any guards. If I can get up there I shouldn’t have any trouble getting into the system.”

  “Great, how’re you going to manage that?”

  She pointed at the fire escape on the building next door. “What if I climbed up then jumped across to the relay.”

  “Nah, way too obvious. They’ll have the fire escape wired. Let’s take a look around back.”

  They walked a circuitous route around to the back of the building. As they walked Iaka said, “There doesn’t seem to be any people out.”

  “At this time of night in this part of the city you wouldn’t want to meet anyone likely to be out.” They approached the back of the building and Solomon snapped his fingers. The Earth Force building was just a few feet from a pawn shop. “Bingo, there’s your way up.”

  Iaka looked at the buildings then back at him. “Where?”

  Geez, she was the worst spy ever. “Get in between the buildings and brace your feet against one and your back against the other then inch your way up.”

  She studied the walls again then looked back at him. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “You got a better idea, let’s hear it. I don’t plan to spend a second more out here than I have to.”

  “Fine.”

  Iaka wedged herself between the buildings and worked her way toward the roof. Every time she lifted a foot he expected her to come crashing down and break a leg or her neck. She worked her way up the side of the building one slow, painful inch at a time. At last, after ten minutes, she pushed herself over the edge and on to the roof. He felt exhausted just watching her.

  Solomon had his hand half raised in salute when something crunched behind him. He turned partway around.

  Iaka lay on her back and tried to catch her breath. Why couldn’t they have the relay on the ground floor? When her heart slowed to something close to normal she got to her feet and went to the edge to show Solomon she’d survived. She looked down just in time to see a figure in a gray jacket slam a stun baton into his head. No! She choked off a scream. Any loud noises might draw unwelcome attention.

  She watched, horrified, as a hovercar pulled up and a second person got out to help the first load Solomon into the trunk. The lid slammed and the car shot away. Iaka watched until the car disappeared around a corner. She caused this. She hadn’t believed in the danger and now Solomon...

  No! Leave it for now. She still needed to hack the relay. She’d worry about Solomon afterward. Marcus would know where to find him and she’d do her best to help get him back, assuming he didn’t shoot her after she told him what happened.

  Iaka moved away from the edge of the roof and over to the relay. At the base of the dish she found a sealed metal box. She removed one side with the multitool. Inside she found a tangle of cables and digital readouts. Iaka examined each cable until she found the one she wanted.

  Reaching behind her head she lifted the small flap of skin that covered the input jack for her implant. She took a deep breath and plugged in the cable. Her eyes rolled up as she dove into the data stream.

  Chapter 10

  Marcus smiled at the attractive older woman he’d shared a cab with. She winked and handed him a slip of paper with her room number on it. He took it and the cab drove away. He may have given her the impression he’d pay her a visit later that night. When the cab disappeared around a corner he flicked the paper away and shuddered. He really needed some credits.

  He looked up at the front of the casino. A huge hologram of a swirling galaxy danced around above the entrance. Sixty stories above, people with more money than he could imagine looked out over the city without a care. Lucky pricks.

  The doors slid open when he approached. Inside they’d decorated everything in shades of crimson and gold. A pair of security guards eyed him. Marcus didn’t blame them, he stuck out from the well-dressed masses like a gangrenous thumb. To hell with them, he’d make Vlad’s delivery and they’d blast off.

  An information kiosk directed him to the bar. He passed row after row of slot machines. Hundreds of sentients, mostly humans, fed coins into the machines. Marcus ignored them. He preferred poker, of course he never had much money to play with.

  He found the bar at the far end of the ground floor. Like everything else it sported the crimson and gold design with polished wood mixed in for good measure. The bar had only two other patrons at the moment which suited Marcus. He sat on a stool
at the end of the bar.

  “What’ll you have?” the bartender asked.

  “I’m waiting for someone.”

  The bartender shrugged and wandered back to the middle of the bar. Marcus waited. He checked the time and waited some more. Finally, half an hour late, he spotted a slender Asian man with a dragon tattoo. The man caught his eye and made his way over.

  His contact offered a small bow and asked, “Care for a Venetian Blast?”

  “I’d prefer a Martian Slam,” Marcus said.

  The man nodded and sat down beside him. The bartender started down to offer drinks. Marcus’s companion turned and looked at the bartender. The man froze. A moment later he headed toward the other end of the bar. “You have something for me?” He had a soft, almost feminine voice.

  Marcus took the disk out of his pocket and slid it to him.

  His contact studied it and tucked the disk into one of his pockets. “Did the old man tell you what was on it?”

  “No, and I didn’t ask.”

  “Wise. Do you have a name?”

  Marcus nodded.

  A ghost of a smile played at the corner of the other man’s mouth. “Wiser yet. Wisdom should be rewarded.”

  He slid a velvet pouch to Marcus.

  The man stood and Marcus joined him. “Thanks for the tip.”

  The stranger bowed slightly and left.

  When he’d gone Marcus sighed. Running errands for gangsters, Earth Force trying to kill him – all he used to worry about was money for fuel and not starving. Hardly anybody wanted him dead. He pulled open the pouch. Inside rested a small silver sphere. Marcus closed the bag and slipped it into his pocket. He hoped it wasn’t a bomb. He groaned, life used to be simpler. Time to head back to the ship and help himself to a bottle of expensive scotch.

  Marcus looked up at the Star and smiled. The sight of his beautiful ship never failed to cheer him. He used his gauntlet to deactivate the defenses and lower the boarding ramp. He trotted up and headed to the cockpit.