by Gavin Magson
His choice of seating on the long, dimly lit carriage was limited to torn, soiled, or a combination of both, so Ajax opted to stand. He was surprised that there were no ceiling straps to hold onto so he grabbed hold of an overhead luggage shelf for support. There was an ingrained background smell that worried him, but he did his best not to think about its putrid origins. When the last passenger had sat down the doors closed and the train started to move forward, picking up speed quickly.
The old man who had been stood so close to Ajax on the platform was sat behind him, seemingly engrossed in a battered newspaper that appeared to have been scavenged from a bin.
“Have you ever been on one of these trains before, boy?” asked the man, barely loud enough for any other passengers to hear.
Ajax turned around to face the old man, who was still staring at his newspaper. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yes. Now sit down before you end up smeared across the floor.”
The tone of the man's voice was enough to stop Ajax from questioning his words, he chose to take his advice and sat down opposite the man on the best patch of seat he could find. As the train reached the crest of an underground tunnel it picked up yet more speed and tilted forwards so much Ajax had to use his hands to prop himself up in the seat. It was a good thing he had been warned beforehand, the man was right about him ending up on the floor if he had not sat down sooner.
Ajax was bitterly disappointed with the journey. As impressive as it was that they tore through the underground tunnel network at incredible speeds he was hoping to have seen more of the city as they passed through two sectors. He tried to remember his view of the entire city as they descended to the planet, mentally picturing the sloping sectors built around a mountain. They had to descend in order to reach the slums, which might explain the underground train ride. It did not ease his disappointment at all.
It was not long before the carriages began to level out, soon the tunnel started to brighten and light filtered through murky, grime covered windows. The train crested an incline and Ajax could see out of the carriage into Sector Six's train station, which surprisingly managed to outdo Four's in terms of dilapidation and shoddy construction.
When the train finally stopped at a platform the passengers were quick to exit, perhaps it was impossible to become acclimatised to the trains’ foul smell. Those lining up along the platform were much greater in number and better dressed, looking more like the people he passed in the streets of Sector Four. He could not understand the appeal of travelling to the slums, with the exception of a protection job that paid very well. All he had heard so far of the slums described them as a living hell.
Fashions were so inconsistent he could not understand the stark contrasts. Those in Four seemed to wear brightly coloured, yet cheap clothes; in Six their clothes always looked heavily faded, worn until they were almost falling off the wearer. Ajax looked down at his own clothes, satisfied that they did not look too out of place. Apart from the old man who gave him the valuable advice no one should take a second look at him.
Ajax followed the crowd and found himself carried out into the streets, he was not prepared for the sight that greeted him. The streets were filled with people, all in a hurry, a never ending stream of bodies that outdid Four at least tenfold. The air felt a lot more lived in here, hot, stale, yet humid and heavy with body odour.
He noticed that a constant gap was being maintained between the crowd and the buildings either side of the street. It took him awhile to notice that dozens of people were trying to sleep on the ground against the buildings, all lined up in a row that stretched out of sight. Some of them were evidently already dead, others merely had one foot in the grave.
Ajax heard his name called out nearby, he swivelled around to see Steiner waiting with four burly men. As he approached the group Ajax recognised one of the men from his train, who had got on after Ajax and sat down at the rear of his carriage. Ajax was easily the skinniest man there, leaving him feeling dejected and desperately wishing he could bulk up quicker.
“Glad you could join us, Mr. Frost. I was starting to worry you had got lost in the melee,” said Steiner, indicating the bustling streets a step away.
“Sorry about that, I've not been to Sector Six in a long time.” he replied.
“Very well, if you gentlemen would follow me we have an appointment to make; and stay alert, death is everywhere.”
Chapter 13
It took the group of men a long time to navigate out of the gridlocked streets, eventually they found themselves in what counted as the upmarket part of Sector Six. Ajax followed from the rear of the group, allowing himself to fall back a few steps to check out the strange sights of this part of the city. The skyscrapers he had seen on approach to the planet were unbelievable up close, some were as long as a street and the tops pushed through low-lying clouds; they were truly colossal. He noticed that the other bodyguards were constantly alert, reacting to any sudden noise or movement by grabbing at unseen weapons under their clothing.
The square that Steiner led them into had a fountain at its centre, yet it was nothing like the one outside the Haven Inn. The green-grey scum floating on the water’s surface was certainly not a sight many people would enjoy, or the smell of stagnant water undisturbed by the long defunct fountains pump. Empty beer bottles were haphazardly stacked around the fountains base in miniature pyramids, built on a base of broken glass and discarded cigarette ends. It was still busy in this part of the sector, though the general bustle seemed a bit more relaxed and slower paced. Ajax noticed that few people were entering or leaving the buildings nearby, and the general background noise was far less in the square.
The square was formed by buildings that looked much older than the ones they had passed on their walk, all darkened in shadow. It was hard to ignore the sheer wall that rose up behind the row of buildings to Ajax's right. He remembered that the slums were built at the mountains broad base, the wall easily towered above the skyscrapers around it and could probably be seen from as far away as the Sector Seven border. A memory of Duke telling him that the slums were an extension to the city surfaced; why did Konar need such a monstrous wall, what were they trying to keep out?
The reason the buildings looked older was simply because they were older, some of the first to be built outside of the main city. Those who could not afford to get into the city must have made do with living in its shade, the closest they could get. Now that the sun had passed overhead the ominous wall cast its long shadow across the slums, plunging this part of the sector into premature darkness. Ajax thought that growing anything must be a nightmare whilst the expansive shadow moved around the circumference.
Steiner marched up to the door of one of the larger buildings, Ajax could make out four identifiable storeys as he followed, though there could be more since its windows had been positioned almost haphazardly. Steiner did not knock, he pushed the door open and led the group through a dark hallway and into a ground floor bar. There was little lighting provided to illuminate the gloomy room, possibly to prevent its patrons from identifying each other, or to not depress them by just how squalid the bar room was.
Several pairs of eyes looked up as the group walked in, and as one they took only a quick glance before turning back to their drinks. They might be poverty stricken but the patrons knew trouble when they saw it; they certainly weren't stupid. The bartender, a greasy sheen covering his face from the humid conditions within the bar, recognised Steiner. When he caught sight of the troupe he pulled down an almost gleaming mug from its place above the other filthy containers.
The group approached the bar, only Steiner pulled out one of the battered stools and sat down on it. He cursed as his hand stuck fast to the bars sticky surfaced.
“We've come to use the regular room, Marcus. Have any of my guests arrived yet?” asked Steiner.
Marcus wore his nerves like a vibrating overcoat, he could not have looked more tightly wound if he was being tortured. When he h
anded the mug to Steiner its amber liquid struggled to stay within the container, its surface sloshed around erratically before Marcus managed to set it down.
“They've been here a few hours now, boss, they keep coming down and asking where you are. I told them you must have been held up, kept stalling them.”
Steiner paused with the mug almost pressing on his lips, he lowered it back to the bars cheap wooden surface.
“Hours, you say? They were told to be here only twenty minutes ago. How many men in their group?”
“Um, there were only five that I counted, couldn't have been more than that. I had hardly opened up when they came in, so I would have seen if they tried to sneak anyone past me.” replied Marcus.
Steiner seemed to mull over Marcus' words before deciding that he had tormented the man enough.
“We had best not keep them waiting any longer then. Remind me to settle my tab when business has been concluded, make sure no one else comes up to our floor until I am done.”
Marcus only managed a nod, by then the group were already heading for a staircase towards the room’s rear. Ajax found himself wondering how Steiner could have such an effect on the owner, perhaps Ilya's claims of his barbaric nature were just touching the surface of what Steiner was actually capable of.
As the group climbed cracked and blood stained stairs they did not see Marcus reach under his bar, a faint glow coming from the tablet he had hidden there earlier.
Steiner's reserved room was the largest that the building had to offer, the only exception being the bar one floor below. It had been fashionably decorated at some time in its life, which Ajax suspected was at least fifty years ago. Mould grew on the ceilings and window frames, which were so rotten he was surprised the glass wasn't pushed out by a slight breeze. It took some focusing to see into the square through the windows, they were so dirty the panes could have been made from frosted glass. A foul odour that followed you around the room didn't improve his opinion on the place either.
Only Steiner took a seat at the table, he placed his briefcase on the grimy table centred in the room, mirroring the man sat at its opposite end. There were seven men stood opposite the five of Steiner's, all wearing a uniform smugness that seeped out of their every pore. Marcus was either wrong or had lied, thought Ajax, and was conscious of how this whole deal might look like a setup. He felt on edge no matter which scenario they would have to play out.
Steiner unlocked his briefcase and passed it across to the squat man in front of him, who copied Steiner by sending a similar case his way. Whoever Steiner was dealing with certainly took pride in his appearance. The man wore a tailored black suit that contoured to his powerfully built frame and probably cost more than the worth of the building they were in. His blonde hair was cropped short, just like his goatee, and he stared hungrily at Steiner with piercing blue eyes. He was certainly a lot more professional than Ajax's current employer, and appeared far wealthier.
Ajax watched intently as Steiner carefully opened the small briefcase facing him. Inside it was filled to the brim with credit chips, uncountable to Ajax as their transparent bodies all blended together. The lid snapped close almost as soon as Steiner had opened it.
“This is everything from the list I ordered, Steiner?” asked the seated man, his relaxed posture a little unsettling to Ajax.
“Everything and a little extra, Major. I included a taster of my new creation, a permanent nano machine swarm that accelerates the healing process; only a single dose, I'm afraid. I thought it could be of use to your cause, hopefully this will be in high demand from your organisation in the future, once its potential is known to you.” replied Steiner.
Major took out a small vial filled with a silvery liquid that shimmered and shifted even when perfectly still. He held it up to the little light provided from the grimy windows, staring at the contents for an age. After his lengthy inspection he put the vial back in the case and closed its lid, handing it to the nearest bodyguard behind him.
“Are you not going to count your money to make sure it is all there?” asked Major.
Steiner let out a short laugh, “Your reputation precedes you, Major. There is no doubt in my mind that everything is to order.”
Major stood up from his seat, scraping the chair legs across the rotting wooden floor with a screech. The man looked nothing short of uncomfortable in his suit, as if the attire was entirely alien to him. Ajax could see how he might be a military man by the way he held himself, back straight, head held high and proud. Even when relaxed the man looked dangerous, ready to attack at a moment’s notice.
“If everything is in order then we will be on our way, your merchandise will be put to very good use, Steiner. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.” they shook hands across the table, Steiner rising from his seat to accept Major's calloused hand.
Ajax, being nearest to the door, opened it to let the eight men pass through. Major was last to leave and stopped in the doorway.
“You, I'm sure that I recognise you. Were you the man who fought Kayne last night?” Ajax nodded, trying not to look too surprised that Major had recognised him. “A very good fight indeed, that monster needed to be put down. You lost me a lot of credits with that win; good thing it was a worthwhile performance. I wish that your talents were not wasted here.” and with that Major was gone. Ajax watched the men walk out of view then shut the door behind them.
Ajax could not shake the feeling that he had narrowly cheated death. He had looked into Major's eyes and seen the feral stare of a killer who does not hesitate, nor show mercy or compassion; he reminded him of Kayne, just perhaps with a dash more self-control. His blood had run cold for a second when he saw the look in those eyes. Ajax was glad to see the back of him.
“Frost, can you carry the case for me?” asked Steiner, picking the briefcase up from the thick wooden table and holding it out expectantly.
Despite being filled to the brim with credit chips the case seemed to have no real mass to it, which surprised Ajax when he semi-tensed to pick it up and almost launched the briefcase through the ceiling. The man who had been stood nearest to him turned the doorknob and pulled open the door as Steiner approached.
It was an instinctive reaction, he had no time to comprehend why his body was diving for Steiner. Both feet powered into the ground and Ajax kicked away, he tackled the man approaching him around his waist, sending both in an arc that narrowly cleared the wide table. The fingertips of Ajax's free hand clipped the table edge as he cleared it, just lifting the front two table legs.
His mind had heard the faintest noise as the bomb armed when the door was opened and sent a message to his limbs without explaining why. A purple and orange fireball tore through the room and blew out every grime covered window in a deafening roar. The table flipped over and wedged itself diagonally between the wall and floor, protecting the duo underneath.
Ajax struggled on the floor, his ears left ringing and his vision blurred by the explosion. It took a moment for him to realise it was blood in his eye causing the obstruction, which he wiped at feverishly. There were popping noises, faint and intermittent that he could barely hear over the ringing, gunshots? Ajax rolled Steiner over and saw that he was only unconscious, not dead as feared; it came as a small relief.
As Ajax drew his gun and peaked his head over the table he could see Steiner's one surviving bodyguard firing at an unseen attacker through the widened doorway. In seconds Ajax had unleashed his whole clip into the wall, at least one of the bullets found a hidden gunman. A body folded across the doorway and floor, blood spurting from a ruptured artery in his neck.
Within a heartbeat another had taken the dying man's place, firing on the remaining bodyguard, whose crippled legs were bleeding profusely. Ajax rummaged through his jacket pocket, finding the fresh clip he was looking for and pulling out a loose round from another pocket, which he slotted into the chamber before the full magazine.
Ajax fired the explosive round on the do
orway, not expecting the sheer power behind it. The explosion blew most of the wall away with it, giving Ajax a line of sight on the stairwell. Two men were running for its safety, but they could not outrun his bullets. Three bullets in quick succession felled them in their strides.
He turned to look for the bodyguard, who had bled out during the fire fight and lay dead in pool of his own scarlet blood. Ajax landed a ringing slap that awoke the unconscious Steiner, the man's only visible injury was a minor head wound that slowly trickled blood. The curse was certainly inventive but it was good news, it confirmed he would at least live for the time being.
“We've been hit, Steiner. It's just you and me left now; everyone else is dead.” said Ajax, remaining calm despite the fierce flames licking at the ceiling above.
“Those double crossing BASTARDS!” screamed Steiner, clutching at his head wound. “Right, at least we still have the money. I want him dead, I want all-” he stopped mid-sentence, distracted as something happening outside in the square caught his eye.
Ajax cautiously manoeuvred himself across the floor to follow Steiner's line of sight. Out of the shattered window he could see that two surviving attackers were making a run for it across the square, with Major nowhere in sight. Ajax rested the gun on his left forearm, sighted along its barrel, steadied his breathing and fired two shots into the back of the man carrying the briefcase. His limp body pitched forward onto the cobblestones, still clutching the briefcase in one hand. The other was stupid enough to try and go back for the augments, and took a bullet through his head that scattered grey matter into the air.
“The stairs, go now,” said Ajax, pushing their briefcase into Steiner's hands and leading him out of the ruined room, both crouching low to avoid the flames.
Outside in the corridor were four ruined bodies, none showing any signs of life. They stepped over them cautiously and headed for the stairs. Ajax scanned every doorway in case of more attackers, yet only saw empty, dishevelled rooms.