The Last Spartan 1: Different Paths

by A. E. McCullough

  “How did you guys survive the airstrikes?” asked Agent Smith.

  “Luck mostly. Outside of that it was the determination of one man, Iaido Achilles Spartan. We’d lost communications sometime during the fight, so we didn’t know the airstrikes were inbound. By that time, we had been pushed back into the pass about a hundred feet. We were down to our last fifteen men and were fighting in shifts, ten on the line with the other five resting or binding wounds. Of those that were on the line, only Master Chief Kirk survived and he lost his legs to the firebombs…they were burned completely off.”

  “The concussion from the bombings also collapsed the pass on those of us resting. Luckily for us they dropped the nukes further out to catch any fleeing bugs or we wouldn’t have survived at all. As it was, only four members of Omega Squadron survived the pass; Sgt. Major Spenton had a punctured lung, Master Chief Kirk had no legs and I had a severe concussion, only Iaido Spartan was fully operational. He gathered up the three of us, dragged or carried us twenty clicks outside the blast zone where we made camp on a small island which became our home for the next year until a survey vessel came back to the area and rescued us.”

  “You guys were stranded on that rock for a whole year? There couldn’t have been much left alive after the blanket-nukes. How did you survive?” asked Special Agent Johnson.

  “You want to know about Spartan? He is the most resourceful and dangerous man alive. He is a true galactic hero even though the Coalition wouldn’t recognize him as such and he is my friend, now and until I die. If he ever needs me, I’m there.”

  Lt. Kristopher fixed the older agent with a stare. “Now gentlemen, unless there is something else, I must get back to work. It has been a busy day.”

  “One last question. How was your reception when you returned to Coalition controlled space?”

  Lt. Kristopher pointed toward the military awards hanging on his wall. “The Sgt. Major and I received the Medal of Honor; the Master Chief was medically retired and transferred to Walter-Reed Hospital for rehabilitation and received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star.”

  Special Agent Johnson asked, “And Spartan?”

  “He was sent to New Leavenworth on Pluto.”

  “And why should you three be honored and Spartan sent to prison?”

  “Ask the General who ordered the airstrike,” Kristopher said softly.

  “And where would we find him?”

  “The White House.” Lt. Kristopher signaled their time was over by turning his back to the two agents.

  Standing, Special Agent Johnson nodded his head thoughtfully and walked out of the office with his young protégé in tow.

  Chapter 6

  Diana watched the Feds leave before returning to her desk. She spent the better part of the next hour hacking into the federal database and downloading all information on their investigation. When she backed out, she double-checked her trail to make sure there was nothing leading back to Spartan Investigations. There wasn’t any nor was there any indication that she had been inside their database.

  Clicking a button that securely locked down the office, Diana moved deeper into the sanctuary guessing that Iaido would be in the dojo. She was right.

  He was busy pounding on the heavy bag. Twisting his upper body slightly, Iaido pivoted his front foot which acted as his base while simultaneously twisting his hips shooting his rear leg at the target. Shaping his foot, with the toes pulled back so he was striking with the ball of the foot, Iaido concentrated all the speed of the kick and the mass of his body into a two-square inch area. All this took less than a second to happen, the resounding thud on the heavy bag echoed in the dojo. Even though his back was to the door Iaido asked without pausing in his workout.

  “What did you find?”

  Thud. “Not much.” Thump. “Crime scene pics.” Whack. “DNA samples taken at the scene.” Thump, whack. Finally Diana asked, “Can you pause for a second?”

  Setting his foot down, Iaido’s body radiated heat while sweat was pouring down his face.

  “Better?”

  “Yes, it wasn’t just a murder. It was a murder-suicide. His wife stabbed him before turning the knife on herself.”

  “Amy murdered him then killed herself?”

  “Crime scene pics and tests prove so. Besides, only her DNA and prints are on the murder weapon.”

  Iaido grabbed a towel from a nearby rack. “Anything else of note?”

  “Just one, an old fashion business card in the form of a tarot card was found in the Sgt. Major’s pocket.”

  “A what?”

  “A tarot card; the Wheel of Fortunes unless I am mistaken.”

  “What’s a tarot card?”

  “In ancient Europe, tarot cards were once widely used by gypsies for divining the future. Their practice and usage declined with the centuries until in the late nineteenth century, tarot cards were considered a gimmick items with no real power of divination.” Handing a printout of the business card to her lover she continued. “However with the mystical influence of the Sylvan Empire, over the last decade their popularity has grown.”

  Iaido nodded his head while he studied the printout. “And this?”

  “This was in the Feds’ files. It’s a copy of the business card of a fortune teller down in Five Points who goes by the name of Talia Stargleam. On the back of the card is a handwritten note that just says, ‘Any Leads?”

  “Interesting. Anything in their files on this Talia character?”

  “Not much, it seems that Talia Stargleam is a Sylvan diplomat just recently arrived from Alpha Centuri. I am working on getting a copy of her visa but the only thing else they have are her basic stats; five foot nine inches tall, long silver hair, fair complexion, articulate and helpful. There is a hand written scribble that must be from the young Agent Smith that says…Hot Babe.”

  “Yes, that does seem like a remark our young Fed would include in his report.” Still wiping off his sweat, Iaido asked, “Why would a Sylvan diplomat work as a fortune teller?”

  “I wondered that myself, so I did some research. It seems that all Sylvan Embassies are set up as a fortune teller’s store. According to their legends, the gypsies of ancient Europe are the only descendants of the Sylvans from the time before their Exodus.” Diana said, “Now that many Sylvans have returned, many of the old ways are reappearing.”

  “Exodus?”

  “According to Madam Aleksandra’s blog, Sylvans once inhabited Earth but left prior to the first Ice Age. She is quoted as saying that ‘Terrans have forgotten their roots; a tree cannot flourish without roots, it will wither and die, only by returning to the past will the future be secure.”

  “That’s rather vague, don’t you think? Who is this Madam Aleksandra?”

  “According to the federal database, she is the head of the Sylvan Consulate” said Diana. “And if you want to talk with this Talia character you will have to deal with her first.”

  Iaido nodded and moved toward the shower, “I think I’ll pay Madam Aleksandra a visit.”

  “I’ll keep checking through the Feds’ files. Maybe when the autopsy reports are filed they will show something enlightening but I’m not holding out too much hope.”

  “Neither do I but as they say; hope springs eternal.”

  Walking out of the room, Diana muttered under her breath. “Spoken like the optimist you aren’t.”

  A short time later, Iaido ventured back into the busy streets of New Atlanta. Dressed in civilian attire; which for Iaido was cargo pants, shirt and a synthetic leather trenchcoat overtop, all in black. The loose fitting clothes and dark colors effectively hid the numerous weapons he carried and armor plates covering his vital areas. Moving effortlessly through the crowd, he stepped off the moving sidewalk and into the past; or at least it seemed that way.

  Old Town was one of the few sections of New Atlanta that still had buildings standing from before the war; some even before the Great Meteor Strike of 2012. Five Points, the section of
Old Town Iaido found himself in, was the oldest part of New Atlanta. Many of the buildings were from the late 1900s, originally kept up as a historic district with antique shops and restaurants for tourists.

  However the tourist industry changed greatly over the last century.

  First, the Great Meteor Strike; then the Arabic Wars with the United Islamic Nations and finally, the Galactic Civil War put an end to mass tourism. The average citizen of the twenty-second century worked six ten-hour days to fuel the war effort, not counting the time spent shuttling between the larger cities or one of the five orbiting space platforms. Even after the war, this became the norm. So, without the credits of tourists to upkeep the area, Old Town had reverted to its natural state. Not particularly a slum but run down. With the local university only four blocks away, Five Points had become the home to artists, druggies and many other underground activities that take place in large cities. Most gangs of New Atlanta had a representative or club in the area which actually acted as a stabilizer. No one gang controlled the area and if any one gang pushed too much, the others worked together to rein them in, making Five Points a sort of sanctuary to all.

  Iaido knew this section of New Atlanta well.

  This area was one of his best for snitches. Since it was early evening and most of the bars were just opening up for business it was a good time to make contact with some of his informants. The average citizen would still be at work for at least another hour or two, so foot traffic in the area was light. Rounding a familiar corner, Iaido located one of his best informants sitting in a high chair. Like a king overlooking his subjects, he was surrounded by five hookers in varying degrees of revealing clothes with two hulking bodyguards on either side of his throne. This was Ledrix, the midget gay pimp.

  Standing only four foot tall with broad shoulders, black spiked hair, numerous body piercings and tattoos; he wore purple spandex shorts and a lime green vest and was the undisputed king of this particular block. Technically Ledrix was a Jovian; which meant that he was a descendant from the first settlers of the moons around Jupiter. The increase in gravity on the settlers combined with the radiation leaks in the early life-domes caused the genetic mutation of dwarfism in their kids. Even though living conditions on Jupiter and her moons had improved, the rates of dwarfism are still one in four but the lure of jobs and a lower cost of living still drew a steady supply of settlers every year.

  Ledrix looked up from his girls, expecting to see his first ‘John’ of the night only to spy Spartan and the smile froze on his face. It lost the inviting warmth it was meant to have; instead it became the grin of the guilty, like the kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  “Spar...Spartan, my old friend.”

  “Ledrix.”

  Hearing one of his bodyguards growl slightly, the Jovian gestured at his bodyguards to stand fast. “What can I do for you this evening?”

  Iaido barely glanced at the bodyguard. “Ledrix, you better train your watchdogs better.” The hulking brute flexed his muscles a bit more and took a small step forward. He didn’t take his eyes off of the Jovian. “If he takes another step forward, I’ll kill him.”

  Ledrix hopped out of his throne and moved in front of his latest boyfriend. “Please Spartan, don’t. He’s new. I’m not finished with him.”

  “I’ll let it slide this time but you better train him better before someone does kill him.”

  The relief that flushed over Ledrix’s face was obvious.

  “I need some information.”

  Ledrix swallowed hard before asking, “What can I do for you?”

  “A friend of mine was killed last night. I want your employees to keep an ear out for anything out of the ordinary. Someone knows something and there is bound to be talk.”

  “Sure…sure thing,” Ledrix said. “If they learn anything I’ll contact Diana.”

  With a silent nod, Iaido turned his back on the Pimp King and moved further along the streets of Five Points.

  Finding the store wasn’t hard. A large tarot card with flashing purple neon broadcasting ‘Fortunes Told’ hung above the door. Entering the shop was like stepping back in time. There wasn’t a single piece of modern equipment in sight, just rows of wooden shelves crammed full of knickknacks and stuff that Iaido didn’t recognize. The air was full of the scent of jasmine and cloves which gave the area a wholesome feel. Moving through the shelves, Iaido couldn’t help but caress the wooden shelves; wood being so rare in this modern era. He couldn’t be sure but it felt real. If it was, the furniture alone in this room was worth a small fortune.

  Moving up to the counter, Iaido paused as a large black bird landed a few feet from him with a loud squawk.

  A soft voice came from beyond a green beaded curtain. “Greetings warrior.”

  Sliding the curtain aside, Madam Aleksandra entered the room. She was tall, fair of skin with jet black hair that hung down to her waist and was pulled back off her brow by a beautifully crafted silver tiara with a red gem that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Her lacy black dress was elegant and she seemed to glide across the floor instead of walking. Only two features marked her heritage as a Sylvan, the pointed ears and her red eyes. Sylvan eyes were shaped much like humans, having the slight slant common to those of oriental heritage but no human could have the ruby red pupils of a Sylvan.

  Iaido paused for a second as her eyes seemed to peer into his soul. Remembering his manners, he bowed low. “Greetings Madam Aleksandra, my name is Iaido Spartan. I seek an audience with the Lady Talia.”

  Returning the bow with a nod of her head, Madam Aleksandra gestured to a nearby table. “Your name is not unknown to me.” Gliding to her seat, she pointed at the cards lying on the table. “The cards foretold your coming.”

  Iaido glanced at the tarot cards. Only three cards were face up: the Hermit, the Knight of Swords and the Wheel of Fortune.

  Madam Aleksandra pointed at each card as she explained, “He that searches for truth shall take up the blade of honor and be the instrument of change.”

  “I’m not sure you are talking about me.” Iaido pulled out the printout of the business card and set it on the table in front of the Madam. “This was found on the body of a friend. I would like to ask her about it.”

  Madam Aleksandra gestured to the seat across from her. “Are you working for the government?”

  Taking the offered seat Iaido said, “No. My interests are purely personal.”

  With a quick flutter of its wings, the huge raven landed on his shoulder. Iaido looked sideways at the bird. The raven paid no attention to his glare and looked away. As soon as he turned his attention back to Madam Aleksandra, the raven squawked loudly before taking a nip out of his right ear.

  Iaido lurched aside. “Ouch! That damn bird bit me!”

  Madam Aleksandra’s laughter filled the room. It was a wholesome sound, like raindrops hitting a pond.

  “Edgar was just giving you a kiss. According to the ancient race that inhabited this region of Terra several centuries ago, I believe they were called the Cherokee, any warrior that was kissed by a raven is destined for greatness.”

  Iaido rubbed his ear. “Thanks but I could’ve lived without his blessing. Is he real?”

  “Who Edgar? Yes, he is real.” Madam Aleksandra said. “You thought him to be a simulacrum? There are still ravens native to this land, rare though they be. When I assumed this post on Terra, I called him. Edgar is my familiar, a helper of sorts.”

  Before Iaido could ask what she meant by that, the curtain of beads separated again. Judging from the Feds’ description he knew this was Talia Stargleam. However their notes didn’t do her beauty justice. There were striking similarities between the two Sylvan women. Talia had the same fair skin and waist long hair which was also pulled back with a silver tiara. However, Talia’s hair was so white that is almost seemed silver and her eyes were emerald green. She wore a lacy green dress but where Madam Aleksandra’s was conservative and formal, Talia’s was low cut a
nd enticing.

  Talia glided over to the table and curtsied low to her senior. “You called Madam?”

  “This is Iaido Spartan, the warrior foretold. He has questions for you. Aid him to the best of your ability.”

  Turning toward Iaido, Talia once again curtsied. “Greetings warrior. How may I be of service to thee?”

  Iaido stood and returned the greeting with a bow. “Lady Talia, I would like to ask you a few questions concerning Sgt. Major Spenton.”

  “His fate is known to me. I will mourn his loss.”

  Iaido gestured at the printout of the business card on the table. “I understand you have been on earth only a short time but you sent the Sgt. Major a business card with a note asking ‘Any Leads’ may I ask why?”

  “It is nothing sinister.” Talia cast a wary glance at the Madam. “I hired the retired Sgt. Major to locate my sister. She was a military attaché assigned by the Empire to assist Omega Squadron and I thought he would be the best person for the job considering his past.”

  “Your sister?” Iaido rubbed his chin as he thought back. “I remember several Sylvans working with us but I don’t recall any females.”

  Talia giggled slightly. “You might have met her and not realized she was a female.”

  Shaking his head in disbelief Iaido gestured at the two women, “Don’t take this the wrong way but I am very well-travelled and I have met many sylvan women in my time. Few look as radiant as you two but they are all lookers, if you get my meaning. There is no way I would not have noticed her.”

  With a slight smile Madam Aleksandra said, “Thank you for your kind words but the Sylvan women who serve the Empire in the military shave their heads and dress just like the men. To a Terran, there would be no noticeable difference.”

  “Okay, I’ll buy that. But why would the Sgt. Major know the whereabouts of your sister?”

  Talia glanced nervously at Madam Aleksandra who nodded briefly, “According to the last communication with my sister Medea, she had developed a special friendship with Sgt. Major Spenton.”