“Treason is always possible,” Lord Ultor said slowly.
“Which is why we need to identify all its potential signs as early as possible, and squash them at their roots,” Alacer agreed eagerly. “In my modest opinion, we can’t take this lightly. And the last mission literally sounded the alarm. Four great nighters lost their lives, as well as one invaluable praetorian,” he glanced briefly at Lord Ultor’s face, swathed in sudden grimness, then added powerfully, “Renegades killed them all, and out of all of them, they kept Vesper alive! Slightly smoked, with his hands zip-tied behind his back. Probably only out of decency...”
“Don’t you think that if renegades actually managed to pull Vesper to their side, they wouldn’t make such obvious mistakes?” Nidor protested rapidly. “Aranea is not stupid!”
“Did I tell you to speak, Captain?” Ultor asked dryly. “Your turn will come, please wait for it patiently.”
“Forgive me, my lord,” Nidor muttered apologetically.
“It’s obvious that Captain Nidor defends his ward,” Alacer attacked immediately. “Not out of ill will, I assume. So far, his service has passed without incident, and he’s one of the best nighters in the world.” He bowed to his opponent with ostentatious respect. “But if it turned out that he raised, and the whole time supported a traitor... how embarrassing! His further fate wouldn’t make anyone envious of it. So he could be subconsciously denying all the signs, or interpret them as a beneficial version of events more suitable to him. But tell us honestly, Nidor,” he suddenly turned to face his colleague, with challenge in his eyes. “Has it never, ever struck you as at least... strange?”
Vesper held his breath in, full of internal trembling. What Nidor said now... that would be the sentence. Or at least a good portion of it.
Older captain glanced at the lord askingly. Could he talk now?
The other nodded.
“I’ll tell you this, Alacer,” Nidor said slowly through his teeth. “Strange? No, I didn’t think it was strange. I’ve worked in this field too long not to see other much more suspicious coincidences. And in fact, interpretations can be taken in any chosen direction.” He glanced at his opponent with ostentatious suspicion. “For example, there is a young, eager, recently-promoted nighter captain. As it usually happens in rat races, the captain decided that the best contribution to his developing career would be showing off some unusual accomplishment. Something like that could for example be... I don’t know, starting a witch hunt, perhaps? But where could he get a black sheep in such a tightly knit team?” He pretended to think on it for a moment. “Maybe he’d have to look for help outside?” he nodded and mused lively. “And strangely, at a time most convenient for the young captain, his desired witch shows up, and there are several of them. And additionally, quite accidentally, they happen to be in the camp not necessarily favoring the young captain. In another coincidence, the renegades politely deliver the supposed evidence against the aforementioned witches.”
The captain grinned maliciously, seeing the other’s face stiffen in sudden astonishment. “Oh, it was easy to talk it over, and help the luck a little bit. Such an arrangement is very beneficial for both parties.” Nidor pierced Alacer with a harsh, accusatory glare. “The young captain climbs up very quickly, proving his eagerness and usefulness, getting rid of two inconvenient people at the same time. The renegades neutralize their enemies, who defeated them more than once, and on top of that, they sow grain of discord among the team that was solid up to this point. Suspicions multiply, nighters stop trusting each other, everyone starts to watch their backs, doesn’t trust his friends. The Polish unit is practically falling apart...” he broke off for a moment, then finished forcefully. “But those are only speculations and my own suspicions. If I had evidence, the Capitol would look into this matter.” He finished speaking, turned to face the lord, and assumed a stony expression.
Alacer paled and reddened interchangeably. He wanted to say something to Nidor, but was unable to choke a word out.
Ultor’s expression didn’t change by a jot, as if neither of the two speakers had impressed him in any way.
“What does our young nighter think of all that?” he asked calmly.
“They’re framing me,” Vesper replied immediately. “Aranea’s counting on her ability to pull me over to renegades. She could really use a success like having someone from the Warrior Family cross over, at least for propaganda.”
“Not only that.” Lord Ultor commented. “Aranea has a very tough challenge in trying to create an army out of this random mix of junkies. Someone with military experience would be an invaluable help to her. After all, even the talented General Nex is only a Viner,” he grimaced in barely noticeable disdain.
“She told me straight up that she’d like to be with a Warrior again,” Vesper confessed. “And she hopes that I’ll go over to her soon,” he broke off, conscious that he had started walking over very thin ice.
Ultor nodded calmly, as if he hadn’t noticed any subtext in Vesper’s words or a reason for even a sliver of jealousy.
“Gents, have you come to an agreement?” he said to the captains. “Or are you staying with your own opinions?”
They didn’t answer, staring at one another with clear hostility.
“As far as I’m concerned, you can think whatever you want,” Lord Ultor stated. “The truth will come out sooner or later, I’m confident about it. But I will insist on one thing...” He threw them a long look.
“Yes, my lord?” they replied right away.
“Keep your opinions to yourselves,” he said with emphasis. “If I hear even a word on this subject from a third person, the guilty one will face the harshest consequences. You are both responsible for the team’s morale. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir!” they replied immediately.
Ultor nodded, not taking his eyes off both captains.
“And I have rather unpleasant news to end tonight’s session, Captain Alacer,” he added. “In the very beginning of your higher rank career, you’re being reprimanded. And it will be written into your file.”
Alacer gulped, staring at the lord like a whipped dog.
“It’s clear enough, taking a look at this young nighter here,” Ultor nodded toward Vesper, “to know that he wasn’t given first aid at the scene. And I don’t care who overlooked that duty. You led the rescue mission, and were responsible for its flow. Of course, you can put the consequences on the whole team if you deem it prudent.”
Alacer gulped again.
“It was my fault only,” he said weakly. “I have nothing to say in my defense, my lord.”
“That’s what I thought,” Ultor said mercilessly. “I’m pointing out that this is the first and last reprimand you will get for this reason...” he broke off, but the meaning was clear.
He got up. The others followed.
“We find ourselves in a difficult situation,” Lord Ultor said in much calmer voice. “On one hand, Captain Alacer is right. We can’t close our eyes to speculations pointing to the possibility of another traitor among our ranks.”
Vesper felt something squeeze his chest so hard, he couldn’t breathe. So Ultor believed it, after all...
“On the other hand, Captain Nidor is also right,” Lord Warrior Ultor said. “Starting a witch hunt, throwing premature accusations, and succumbing to questionable suspicions is the perfect water in the renegade’s mill. Which is why I will not give definite opinions on either captain’s behavior at this time.” He looked at Vesper, nodded, and a sliver of a smile ran across his face. “And when it comes to our young friend here, I’ll just say this: I, personally, believe him.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Vesper whispered, feeling unmeasurable relief. “Thank you.”
“Of course, it doesn’t mean I couldn’t be wrong,” Ultor added. “I don’t have the gift of truth recognition like Aranea. And sometimes I prefer to believe what I’d like to be real, not what actually is. But I have an honest hope that I’m
not mistaken about you, Vesper.” He looked straight into his eyes.
“You are not mistaken, my lord,” the nighter said simply. “Definitely not.”
“You can go,” Ultor said, sitting behind his desk.
He looked out of the window, where the soft, gentle night already reigned. He stole a brief sigh. They bowed to him quickly and started toward the door.
***
They got out in the corridor and stopped there, all three of them. They stared at each other in silence.
“No offense, Vesper,” Alacer broke the silence suddenly. “I’d just like you to know that I would treat anyone who woke my suspicions this way. Everyone, without exception. And there’s nothing personal about it.” He glanced at Nidor, and repeated with emphasis, “Nothing.”
“All right,” Nidor extended his hand toward him. “If you say so, then I believe you, Alacer.”
The other extended his hand slowly. The captains shook hands briefly, without overt sympathy. It was definitely a newly formed friendship. A truce at most.
“All right,” Vesper said, also extending his hand to Alacer. “If you say so...”
“If the lord trusts you, then I have no reason to believe anything is different,” the other said, stretching his hand out. “Forgive my honesty, that’s just how it is.”
Vesper nodded. He exchanged a brief handshake with Alacer, and they both let go of each other’s hands nearly instantly.
They started walking at an even, measured pace. Alacer went to his quarters, Nidor and Vesper went to the TV hall. A crowd of nighters hung out there, drinking blood, happily discussing various subjects.
The friends approached the bar, where the distributor showed full levels of fresh blood again. They poured themselves a glass each, and stood, leaning on the counter, sipping the red liquid. Finally Nidor couldn’t contain himself and slapped his friend’s back with all his strength.
“We won, man, we won,” he whispered triumphantly in Vesper’s ear. “Despite all this crap, we’re ahead. What’d you think of that?”
The other nodded, unable to say a word. His vision had darkened from the slap, and the skin on his whole body sang with pain.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry,” Nidor apologized immediately. “I forgot. I really forgot.”
“It’s okay,” Vesper said at last, trying to smile. “Don’t worry about it, man. It’s okay. We won, you were right. And that’s what counts. We won.”
He stretched his hand out and Nidor grabbed it. They shook their fists tightly.
They stood there, facing each other, grinning triumphantly. The wide-open windows let in the warm, July night. A thin sliver of the moon, shaped like the letter ‘C’, shone down from above. A new moon was coming.
You are with me at the beach, lady
And nothing could save me now
Your scent wants
Your scent wants
Me to gently grab your waist
We keep walking and in the distance
Your eyes reflect the waves
Your one whisper
Your one whisper
And nothing could save me now
Oh lady, please want...
You walk over to me in a bikini
You don’t leave traces in the sand
I can’t get up
I can’t get up
So I lay, staring at your body
You undress me gently
Lady, I nearly die, nearly undressed, from my lips
Flows
A trickle of blood
So you’re clad in a bikini
Death in a bikini
I’ll offer you my neck, my lady
Blood will stain the oceans, so kiss
Me and keep kissing so kiss
Me and keep kissing kissing...kissing
And just let me, lady
No I don’t want to undress you at all
I’m so afraid
I’m so afraid
You will disappear without the bikini
So let me touch you lady
Just gently through the clothes
This one time
This one time
I want to know how cold are
The stairs
Republika ‘Death in a Bikini’
Renegade
“Well, I don’t know,” Crumbly said shaking his head in refusal. “I don’t like it. Not one bit.”
Nidor and Vesper exchanged a knowing look. It was to be expected. All three of them sat in comfortable chairs in the captain’s quarters. Tightly covered windows didn’t let in even a speck of daylight. Because of the human guest, a few twenty-watt bulbs brightened the place up. From Crumbly’s point of view, semi-darkness reigned in the room. From the nighters’ point of view, it was indecently bright.
“Can I get you some juice?” Nidor got up and walked up to a fridge. “I should have some in here...”
“Don’t bother,” the human said. “It’s probably expired.”
The captain nodded and sat back down in his chair.
“So what exactly don’t you like?” Nidor asked with a light sigh. “Talk.”
“This whole set up bothers me,” Crumbly confessed openly. “As far as I understand, you want me to secure some place outside of legal channels, yes? And ask my colleagues to join in, and they wouldn’t know what they’re getting into? That’s not cool, I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “Something doesn’t seem right here.”
“Listen, man,” Nidor said slowly. “I’ll tell you what’s up.”
Despite that announcement, he was silent for a moment, muttering to himself, as if he was putting together a speech he was about to share with the A-T. The other watched him, seemingly calm, but clenching and unclenching his fists slowly.
“We’re expecting a butchery,” Nidor finally choked out. “The renegades had certain connections with the Polytech... they were developing new weapons for them, UV laser guns, stuff like that,” he cleared his throat and spoke more fluidly. “Our man was able to steal the plans, and hmm... neutralize the creators. According to our intelligence, he determined the hiding place’s access time and set up a code that would only open for the lord. But immediately after sending us the information, he disappeared. So we can expect that the time and place of delivery will be perfectly known to the renegades.”
“They’ll be waiting for you,” Crumbly said calmly. “For you... but mainly for that lord of yours. It’s surely a tasty treat from them.”
“Their whole renegade bunch!” Vesper interjected quickly. “The whole bunch, you understand? Most likely all of them will be there, including Aranea and Nex. That’s why only the best of us are going. I don’t even know if I’m considered...” he broke off suddenly, glancing at the captain askingly.
Nidor didn’t comment. He watched the A-T carefully.
“As far as I understand, you want to increase your chances,” the other said thoughtfully. “And call on people to help, since you have them on your side.”
“Exactly,” the nighters’ captain confirmed.
“Why don’t you take care of it legally?” the cop asked right away. “Let ISA petition ATOM for support in securing the party. Or invite Five to play, if it would be more convenient for you...”
“We don’t want word to spread,” Nidor replied quickly. “Understand that this time, this is all too big to risk the word getting out, if anything happened. These could be slaughterhouses, of the kind that if less institutions sniff around, the better.”
“Slaughterhouses...” Crumbly said slowly through his teeth. “Oh, right.”
“Well yes, we’re not asking you to secure a kindergarten picnic,” the captain stated. “If that’s your main problem, then I understand...”
“I’ll tell you what my problem is,” Crumbly parried rather gustily. “The illegal, stinking job, that’s that.”
Both nighters stared at him, startled.
“I always avoided these situations. Because you know how it is,” the A-T said relucta
ntly. “The guys take... used to take bouncer gigs. You know, the Motherland feeds you worse than a dog, and you have to live somehow.” He grimaced, pursing his lips angrily. “Officially, you’re not allowed to take any extra jobs, because, after all, being a cop is a calling, not a job. But you have to live somehow,” he broke off as if he didn’t want to talk more on the subject.
“Easy, man,” Vesper calmed him. “We know how it is. If you get only two grand before taxes, after ten years on the job, then it really is a joke. In that case, a hundred or two for a night at the door makes for some decent money. But you could get fired for that...”
“That’s not such a big deal,” Crumbly loosened up. “The worse thing is, you can screw yourself over bad. Because you take a gig, and another. You make some money, and it’s decent. After a while, the club owner comes up to you and says, ‘Listen, maybe you could hang around me, I’m supposed to meet some weird guys, they scare me a little. I’ll pay well, no problem.’ And you take the gig, a job is a job... and then you find out you secured a drug transaction. And then, bye-bye everything. You’re up to your ears in shit creek. So I avoid these things. It’s better to live poorly, but have peace of mind.”
“Oh come on, we’re not going to deal illegal blood there!” Vesper said indignantly. “It’s... it’s like a jihad, a holy war, don’t you understand? We need to eliminate the renegades and then everything will be okay. We’re on the bright side of the Force...”
“Oh, you know what you guys are?” the cop said straight up. “The bright side, really? I think you’re some damn vampire international organization that dips its tentacles in the most important public institutions! So far, you know what I’ve seen of that bright side of the Force? Your lord publicly slaughtering three unarmed men, and the hall applauding! I still wonder why I didn’t report a crime, damn it!” He clenched his fists and stared at both nighters with hostility.
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