by Neal Jones
"Yes," Grax nodded, "this will do nicely." He walked behind the bar and set out three glasses. "Shyq martinis?"
"None for me," Sol replied warily, pausing at the double doors to the balcony.
"Me either." Tilura perched on the edge of one of the sofas, her weapon in her lap. "I really hope that you know what you're doing, Thalor."
"I do. And you won't need your disruptor. Scattering fields are in operation at every level of this tower, remember?"
Tilura shrugged. "Old habit."
"Both of you relax," Grax instructed. "Between the three of us we have over forty years experience operating in this sector. You two are acting like this is your first meeting with a mob lord."
"And you're acting like I don't have a million deyl bounty on my head," Solomon retorted irritably. "What the hell have you got up your sleeve that makes you think Gaetin won't seize me the moment he walks in the room?"
Grax smiled over the rim of his glass. "Trust me, Sol. I know how to play the game."
"So this is all a game to you?" Tilura challenged him. "I thought you wanted to find your sister."
"I do. And this is just round one of the opening match. It's all about outmaneuvering your opponents, and the only way to do that is to know them well. What did you think I was doing during our trip here? I have thoroughly researched Ghyl's and Gaetin's organizations, and I have also reconnected with several old friends who once kept me in good supply of both money and information. You two sit back, let me do the talking, and we should be done here in less than an hour."
"I hope you're right," Sol muttered, looking out past the balcony to the glittering cityscape.
Half an hour later, Gaetin arrived, surrounded by four bodyguards, and Draussen was close behind, a retinue of five surly looking thugs trailing him. Grax greeted them as if he owned the entire tower and the two men were his honored guests.
"Gentlemen, would you like some drinks? Indravian sunsets perhaps? Or maybe a Chrisarii volcano? That one's my specialty. It's a big hit with my patrons on Exxar-One."
"No," Gaetin snarled, looking at Sol from across the room. "So it's true. You really were stupid enough to come back here."
"Nice to see you again too, Gaetin. Slaughtered any more of your veshes lately?"
"Sol, that's enough," Grax intervened. "We're here to talk, remember?"
"Yes, Gaetin, do try to control that temper of yours," Draussen added, settling himself onto the velvet cushions. "I'll have one of your volcanoes, Thalor. Hello again, Tilura."
"Hello, Draussen. How's the smuggling business?"
"Oh, can't complain. I could always use more good pilots, though. Your ship was the Gothmar, right?"
"Yes, but I'm not looking for any work at the moment."
Grax handed Ghyl his drink. "How nice. You two act like you haven't spoken to each other for several months."
"We haven't," Tilura frowned. "Not since Sesrin disappeared. And even then I didn't talk to him directly. The only time Draussen and I met face to face was when he first hired Sesrin and me. I told you all this, remember?"
"Oh yes, I remember," Grax said, strolling casually back to his post behind the bar. "But then I discovered who cleared that arrest warrant back on Orethiaze."
"What?" Tilura exclaimed. "When?"
"When Sol hacked the global police net, of course."
"Why didn't you tell me?? Who is it?"
"Oh, Tilura, stop!" Grax snapped. "You really never were a good liar." He looked at Ghyl. "What exactly is it that you want from me, Draussen? You hired her to get me back into this sector, and now I'm here. So let's all stop wasting each other's time, shall we?"
Draussen sipped his drink, glancing leisurely back and forth between the two Orethians. "He's right, Tilura, you're not a very good actress." He glanced towards the balcony doors. "Solomon, is it?"
"That's right."
"You're very good. I thought my men had covered my tracks quite well. How exactly did you learn it was me who erased that warrant?"
"I didn't know it was you. I was only able to trace the hack to the Haffsa system."
"And that's what told me it was you, Draussen," Grax cut in. "I had to do some very detailed research, but I eventually uncovered the paper trail of the sale of the only inhabitable planet in that star system. I'm still a little baffled as to why you wanted to cover up your ownership of that planet in the first place, but that's another mystery for another time. So now I'd like to know why you kidnapped Sesrin and had Tilura bring me back into Nevala?"
"The only person I've been holding hostage is her son." He stabbed a meaty finger at Shrane. "I haven't seen Sesrin for several weeks."
Grax made a noise of disgust. "You're lying!" He glanced at Tilura. "Where is she?"
"I don't know!" Tilura insisted. "I was telling you the truth about that! Sesrin really has disappeared. I thought Draussen was behind it at first, but like he said, the only one kidnapped was my son."
"Wait a minute! Your son??"
"Yes. Draussen kidnapped him and told me that if I didn't get you back into the Nevala sector, he would kill him."
Grax looked back and forth between Ghyl and Tilura, speechless.
Gaetin snickered, toying with a dagger that he had drawn from a holster on his armored vest. He looked at Gunn. "This doesn't really concern us, Sol. Why don't we leave them alone to discuss this."
"I dare you," Sol sneered.
Two of Gaetin's bodyguards stepped forward menacingly, and three of Grax's mercenaries responded in kind.
"Hey!" Tilura shouted, knocking Thalor out of his stupor. "That's enough, all of you!"
"All right," Grax continued, shaking his head. "He has your son, and I'm here now. So what do you want with me, Draussen?"
Ghyl grinned, displaying a rather unattractive set of crooked and dirty teeth. "Seems that the Sr'gg'nss have learned that the Crown of Az'Nn'rkk is a fake. They, of course, knew exactly who to blame and hired me to hunt you down. Tilura had just left my employment to go search for Sesrin, so I arranged a personal meeting for us, but she refused my very generous offer. I had no choice but to take her son." He looked at Tilura. "He's doing quite well, by the way. He's become good friends with my own boys."
"I don't understand." Grax turned to Tilura. "Why did you refuse his initial offer?"
"Do you know what the Sr'gg'nss are going to do to you, Thalor?? You will never leave Mr'gss-Gl'nn alive! I was trying to protect you!"
"Well," Draussen said, rising, "I think we're done here. Excellent work, Tilura. Your son will be delivered to the meeting place we discussed before." He motioned for two of his men to seize Grax.
"Not so fast," Grax replied. Two of his mercenaries were already stepping forward to meet Ghyl's men. "Sit down, Draussen. No one's going anywhere just yet."
"Yes, Mister Grax, I quite agree." Gaetin leaned forward, pointing his dagger at Ghyl. "You've delivered me two valuable prizes today. Shall we discuss payment?"
Draussen threw back his head and guffawed. "You think it's that easy?" He leaned forward, glaring menacingly. "I have long dreamed of bringing down the mighty leader of the Xornh," he growled.
"Enough!" Grax commanded them. "Gaetin, you're not paying me anything. The bounty contract is void because Ka'Hir isn't dead. So unless you'd like me to broadcast her location to the entire sector, put your dagger away."
"What?" Gaetin sputtered.
"Yeah, what the fuck??" Solomon echoed.
The two men began yelling at each other, and Grax motioned for his mercenaries to get between them. "Gaetin!"
The mob lord turned, glaring at Grax.
"Stop pretending that it isn't true." He held up a data disc. "One of my informants provided me with a visual record dated two years ago. Ka'Hir is alive and well on the Kauramide homeworld. She has a four year old daughter." He turned to Sol. "Apparently she was able to escape before he could get his revenge, so he found some other innocent Chrisarii woman to slaughter and passed her off as Ka'Hir f
or the purpose of the bounty contract." Grax looked at Gaetin. "I'm sure that the Rykon League governors would be very interested to learn of this."
Gaetin roared with fury, leaping to his feet, but Grax's mercenaries and Draussen's bodyguards immediately surrounded him. Sol, however, suddenly found himself surrounded by Gaetin's men.
"I am Xornh!" Gaetin snarled. "We do not operate under the authority of the League!"
"No, but most of the other mob lords do. That's why you put out a League contract, isn't it? You wanted Solomon caught by any means necessary, and you assumed no one would bother to check if that poor woman's body was really Ka'Hir."
"He's right, Gaetin," Draussen sneered. "You'll have no prizes here today. You are, of course, free to issue another bounty on his head once you leave Shel'Belard. I'm sure by then, however, he'll be long gone."
Gaetin whirled on Solomon, nostrils flaring. "You'd better run, human!" he seethed. "The next time I see your face in this sector, I will rip it apart with my knife." He held up the dagger, the light glinting off the steel blade.
Sol just smiled and nonchalantly crossed his arms as he leaned against the balcony doors.
Gaetin gave one last noise of fury, and then marched out of the room, his bodyguards trailing him.
"Well," Grax said, smiling. "That takes care of one issue. Solomon, he's right. You'd better leave while you can." He tossed the data disc to him. "That has all the information you need to find Ka'Hir. There's also a set of coordinates where you and Tilura can meet me in five days." Thalor turned to Draussen. "We should have this mess cleaned up by then."
"No, we're doing this together," Sol protested. "I'm not leaving you at the mercy of the Sr'gg'nss, Thal."
"He's right," Tilura added. "How much are they paying you to deliver him, Draussen?"
"More than either of you has in your pockets, I'm sure," Draussen smiled. "Tilura, your son will be at the rendezvous coordinates in two hours."
"Good luck," Thalor said to Sol.
"Wait!" Tilura said, turning to Grax. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Grax nodded. "Don't worry. I'll see you in five days."
"Come on, Tilura!" Sol pocketed the data disc as he walked quickly out of the room. Tilura cast one more glance at Thalor before following Gunn.
"I have no more need of you," Grax told his mercenaries. "Thank you for your brief service."
They left just as quickly as Sol and Tilura. Only Draussen's bodyguards remained.
Draussen turned to Grax. "Just you and me, Orethian."
Grax tossed back the rest of his drink and set the empty glass on the bar. He crossed the short distance between them and held out his wrists. "I'm all yours."
The mob lord looked at him warily. "That's it? You're surrendering just like that?"
"Yes. Like you said, I have nothing that could beat the offer made to you by the Sr'gg'nss. So what other choice do I have?"
Ghyl's eyes narrowed, and he stared at Grax for several moments before snapping his fingers. One of the guards stepped forward to handcuff Grax. Surrounded by Draussen's men, the Orethian followed Ghyl out of the room.
Chapter 14
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( 1 )
Brantar Varis sighed, pushing away the printouts that cluttered her desktop. She stood and stretched, glancing at the chrono display in the upper corner of her computer screen. She'd been working nonstop for the past seven hours, compiling all of her research from the past three days. She ordered a fresh mug of tea from the dispenser and walked to the window. It was only late afternoon, so the dance club across from the hotel was still silent, and the street below was relatively empty. It would soon be clogged with the foot traffic of those getting off work, and since the next two days were a weekend, the club would be busier than usual that night after sunset.
The melody of the door chime interrupted Varis' thoughts, and she returned to her desk as she called out, "Come in."
"You look exhausted," Vasik observed as he entered.
"I've been trying to make sense of the timeline surrounding Moru's disappearance in 2627. I've been to Lykenshy, Athdan's College and the Bri'Nai Institute. I interviewed a Doctor Reldun who was Moru's supervisor at Lykenshy, as well as a Doctor Tirem who retired twenty years ago from his post as senior key of the medical research department at Athdan's. He was there when Moru was hired back in 2638, but he didn't know anything about the circumstances surrounding his hiring. He said that Korik never talked much about his past and kept to himself when he was off work. I also spoke with one of the chief clerks in the records office who was there forty years ago. She doesn't remember Moru specifically, but she did give me the name and address of the woman who was the head of the records department at that time." She leaned forward to rummage through the printouts and then handed one to Vasik. "Her name is Jikar. She was my first stop this morning. The only reason she remembers Doctor Moru is because of the eleven year gap in his employment history when she requested his records from Lykenshy. When she put in a request with Doctor Reldun, she instead received a response from Athdan's headmaster who said that there wasn't any need to further research Moru's employment history. His records from Lykenshy were all that was necessary for his file."
Vasik handed back the printout. "And how long was he with Athdan's?"
"A little over twenty-five years. He became senior key of medical research when Doctor Tirem retired."
"So that was about...five years? And then he left to go to Bri'Nai?"
Varis nodded. "Apparently they wanted him to serve as senior key of their biogenetics division. They offered him a better salary than what Athdan's was paying."
"And about a decade after that is when he disappears the second time."
Varis nodded, shuffling through her printouts again. "Doctor M'Harri had nothing new to add to her statement from five years ago, but I noticed that you had asked her about Moru's work computer."
"Yeah. The institute allowed us to examine the hard drive, as well as the network mainframe. My techs didn't find any files out of the ordinary. Most of it was foreign to us anyway. According to M'Harri, everything there pertained to his research."
"And you found nothing on his computer at home either."
"No," Prill sighed. "J'Soran, you already know all that. It's in the case file."
"Yes, I know, but I'm certain that Moru's disappearance fifty years ago and his disappearance five years ago are related somehow, and the only logical connection is the type of medical research that he was involved in. What do you know about the field of bio-technology and its application in genetics research?"
Vasik smirked. "Is that a trick question?"
J'Soran handed him her compad. "That's the transcript of my conversation with Doctor Reldun. He and Moru were involved in a covert genetics research project for the military back in the early twenties, during the T'Cosh-Inon Wars. It was about three years later that Moru quit his position at Lykenshy and disappeared. After I interviewed the doctor, I looked up Moru's old address in that city. His apartment has been rented out many times in the last several years, but it's currently empty, and I was able to search it quite thoroughly. I didn't find anything, of course, but the way that Reldun described Korik's state of anxiety right before he left made me wonder if he hadn't hidden something in that apartment in case something happened to him. The building owner wasn't very helpful, he's only been there a few years, and he doesn't know anything about the former owners."
"And you think that Moru hid something at his house here in Anjisald?"
"I want to take one more look."
"Didn't you already go through that place the day you got here?"
Varis stood, reaching for her coat. "I did. But I need a break, and M'Harri won't be done at the lab for at least another two hours."
"And you don't want to go talk to her now because..."
"Because I want to catch her off guard as she's leaving for the day."
They left the room and hea
ded for the elevator at the end of the hall.
"I have to admit that I'm amazed at your thoroughness," Prill said. "If you ever leave the navy, I know several districts here that are looking for good anteris."
"Thanks," Varis replied, glancing over her shoulder at him. Neither took any notice of the man who passed them after leaving the elevator. "But I find this whole process tedious and exhausting. I couldn't do it every day."
( 2 )
Avyrem pretended to be searching his pockets for his key card while watching Varis and Prill from the corner of his eye as they entered the elevator. He waited another few moments to be sure they weren't coming back, and then he walked quickly to Varis' door. He extracted a compad from inside his coat, and, within a few seconds, he had hacked the com panel beside the door. Another few seconds and he was safely inside the room. Varis had left her desktop a mess of scattered printouts, and her compad was next to the computer terminal in the middle of the chaos. It took Avyrem only a few minutes to copy all of the data from her investigation to his own pad, despite the encryptions Varis had implemented on all of her data. He slipped quietly out of the room, leaving everything just the way he had found it.
( 3 )
Korik Moru's old residence was a simple, two story, circular house, identical to half the other homes in its neighborhood. The small lawn surrounding it was neat and trim, with no ornaments or outdoor furniture. There was a small of plot of dirt next to the front doorstep, presumably for a flower bed, but there was no indication that Moru had ever planted one. Inside, the house was as austere as the exterior and sparsely furnished. Varis' heels echoed on the hardwood floor as she crossed from the foyer to the front hall.
"You look down here, I'll take the second floor." She activated her bio-net and then passed her palm over each step as she ascended. At the top, she knelt and crawled on her hands and knees along the baseboards, searching with her fingers for any loose corners, or anything that didn't feel right. She crawled into the rooms, searching along the floor, then the walls, then the ceiling – poking, prodding, scanning – but Vasik was right. There was no hidden spaces, and no sign that anything had once been patched or fixed over. The washroom was spotless, and there was nothing in the hall closet. The second bedroom that Moru had turned into a study contained only a chair and a desk against one wall. The drawers were empty, and only a thin layer of dust covered the surface.