Extensis Vitae: Empire of Dust

by Gregory Mattix

  “Copy that,” he told Royce. “I’m meeting with my son in a couple days to get the compound schematics. So much has changed since I was with CorpSec that we need fresh intel about the defenses and plans. That Thorne DefenseNet is going to be critical. You sure their people can disable it?” The DefenseNet was run by a sophisticated AI, infamous for terminating any hacking attempts—often permanently.

  “I’m not sure about anything, but they sure as hell seem to think so. If not, we’re bloody screwed, mate. That’s beyond our capabilities to hack and disable.”

  “Yeah, I know. It’s one thing getting a small group across the frontier border—quite another bringing in a small army by air. If that defense grid isn’t down, everyone will be blown to bits. How do you plan to slip across the border with all the rest of your fighters?” Mason spotted Mack and Junior approaching, their arms filled with bags of supplies.

  “Our new Asian friends have been kind enough to offer us transport, so we’ll be dropping in with the first wave. Shouldn’t be long now. It’s up to you to give the word.”

  “If all goes well, we’ll be ready in a week or so. Thing is, Marcus is taking a lot of chances, so I want to do this before his cover gets blown.”

  “Aye, we’re all taking chances, but you’re right,” Royce said. “If he gets compromised, the whole thing is over.”

  Right, everything hinges on him. We’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t get compromised.

  Just then, Keeva’s bright blue hair emerged from the crowd. She and Ciera were lugging their own heavy bags.

  “All right then, time to roll,” Mason said. “We’re about to pack up supplies and fall back to our new base of operations. I’ve got the perfect spot picked out.” He disconnected from Royce, got to his feet, drained the rest of his cola, and tossed the empty bottle in a recycle bin. He watched with amusement as Keeva shot Turner and Sawyer exasperated looks, which sent the two men scrambling to help the women with their bags.

  “Let’s get outta here,” Mason growled.

  “What, you’re not gonna help a girl out with her heavy baggage?” Keeva batted her eyelashes at Mason flirtatiously as she sauntered up and fell into step beside him. They led the way toward their van, a couple blocks away.

  “Your charms don’t work on me, miss. I’ve got more than enough baggage to carry as it is.” He gave her an annoyed scowl as she glared at him. After a moment, they both broke into laughter. Mason snatched the bag out of her hand. It was surprisingly heavy.

  “What the hell is in here?”

  “Figured we’re gonna need some more hardware for this gig. Got some explosive charges in addition to the ammo.”

  Mason decided not to ask where she had acquired those. He just hoped they had enough firepower that they wouldn’t need to resort to explosives. If they didn’t, they were going to be up to their eyebrows in shit. The campaign could turn out to be very short-lived.

  Chapter 16

  Reznik stepped off the shuttle and looked around the crowded Sea-Tac airport. He supposed he should start at Shiru International’s headquarters since he had no idea where Rin lived. I suppose I could call her on Datalink, but that would spoil the surprise. He found a holodisplay diagraming the city’s subway system. A flashing red message over the holo warned that several subway lines were disabled following a recent terrorist attack. Reznik decided it might be better to catch a taxi instead.

  He followed the general flow of traffic down the concourse. Iris scanners flashed around him. Holograms appeared, displaying high-resolution personalized advertisements to the travelers, then disappeared. “Book a vacation package to beautiful Tahiti today, Ms. Warren,” a smiling model suggested to the woman walking in front of Reznik.

  “Welcome visitor,” a voice boomed from overhead as Reznik’s iris was scanned. “Would you care to register for Sea-Tac’s frequent traveler program?”

  “No. I don’t want to see any more advertisements,” he told the advertisement system.

  “Very well. Thank you for visiting Sea-Tac. Enjoy your stay.” Reznik breathed a sigh of relief as the pushy ads stopped.

  Up ahead, a security checkpoint was manned by armed guards with SMGs. Travelers waited in line to enter clear glass booths where they were scanned for weapons and explosives. Multiple cameras surveilled the crowds.

  Lady Angelis had provided Reznik with digital travel credentials to enter Pac-Rim, but he wasn’t sure what he had to do as she had loaded them through his Datalink. As he waited in line, he accessed his HUD, trying to figure out how to send his credentials so the booth would turn green and allow him to enter.

  A booth to his left chirped a warning, and the red words “Unauthorized Immigrant” flashed on the glass. An armed officer approached the locked-down booth where the traveler trapped inside banged on the door in alarm.

  [Welcome to Sea-Tac, Michael Reznik. It is good to see you are well.]

  Reznik started as the message popped up on his HUD. It appeared that a Datalink voice connection was active, yet the message was text. Is this part of the immigration procedures?

  “Uh, hello. Who is this?” He looked around to see who was contacting him, but none of the officers seemed to be paying him any attention. The person behind him coughed politely, and Reznik saw it was his turn to enter the booth. He stepped inside, and the door shut with a solid thump behind him. He waited while the device scanned him from head to toe, searching for illegal weapons and explosives. On Lady Angelis’s advice, he had refrained from bringing any weapons along.

  [This is an old friend. We were able to assist each other with respective needs in the wasteland a while back.]

  “Ichiro? Hey there! I wasn’t expecting to hear from you out here in Sea-Tac. Are you in the area?” He realized it was a dumb question the moment he asked it—Ichiro was bedridden in an old missile silo beneath the wasteland thousands of miles away.

  The scanner stopped, but the door remained closed. Reznik hoped he wouldn’t be locked inside. He pushed against the door, but it remained closed.

  [I am neither here nor there any longer, but everywhere.]

  Reznik wasn’t sure what that cryptic reply meant, but he saw an armed guard take notice of his plight. He waved at the locked door. It wouldn’t open, yet it hadn’t flashed him as unauthorized either. What the hell do I do now?

  “Yeah, well I’m stuck at the entry control at the airport right now, actually. Could you—”

  [Assist you? Of course.] The door immediately clicked open, and the guard lost interest. Reznik stepped out and made his way through the lobby. People milled around, greeting inbound travelers. He looked around for signs to transportation.

  “Actually, I was going to say ‘just give me a minute,’ but I’m good now. I assume you did that?”

  [Yes. My reach is much greater than it once was, my friend. I was deeply saddened to hear that you had perished in Skin City, but that fortunately is not the case. What do you seek? Perhaps I can assist you?]

  “Thanks. I had some friends that were able to uh… revive me, I suppose you could say. I’m actually here looking for Rin—thought I’d drop in and surprise her. I’m kinda old school like that,” he said with a grin. “Do you know where I can find her?”

  [Yes. I have been keeping a watchful eye on Ms. Takahashi since the attempt on her life last month. I think she will be happy to see you once again. You should see your HUD map update with the location of her residence. Might I recommend the Green Line subway? There is a stop four blocks from her residence.]

  “Great, thanks.” His map updated and plotted a course. “On my way.”

  ***

  Reznik rode an escalator up to street level and out of the subway station. A cool rain was falling, the steady drizzle quickly threatening to drench him. He turned up his collar and zipped up his light coat as he stepped out into a square that was filled with a dazzling display of neon lights and massive holoscreens on the sides of towering skyscrapers. The scene made the Times Square
of his day pale in comparison.

  People flowed swiftly around him with umbrellas and hoods up to keep from getting soaked to the bone. Reznik felt as though he was in a fast-moving river as the crowd pulled him along. He walked a couple blocks before turning right, onto a quieter street, as he followed Ichiro’s directions on the map. A ritzy high-rise appeared ahead on his left, and he jogged the last couple hundred yards, water spraying from his footfalls.

  Aoki Tower had an exquisitely furnished lobby with marble floors and an immaculately trimmed indoor garden. Reznik felt guilty as his shoes squished loudly and water ran off his coat onto the polished floors. A couple armed security guards watched him as he made his way toward the elevators. Just need to go to penthouse unit C.

  “Evening,” he called out, and the guards nodded politely in return.

  He stepped into the elevator and pushed the “P” button, noting the forty-nine floors below it. I bet Rin’s got a sweet view from up there.

  “Please scan your access chip,” the elevator prompted in a pleasant female voice.

  “Shit, I don’t…” The scanner suddenly beeped and turned green, and the doors slid shut silently.

  Ichiro. That guy sure comes in handy. The elevator rose swiftly, and within seconds, Reznik was stepping out on the penthouse level.

  He followed the corridor to Rin’s unit and found himself outside her door a moment later. He raised his hand to knock but suddenly second-guessed himself. His idea to drop in on her didn’t seem so good as he stood at her door.

  What if she gets angry that I just dropped in? We weren’t exactly close friends like that. Or what if she’s with someone? I’ll feel like a huge jackass just barging in like this. He thought about calling her and almost lost his nerve.

  Screw it. I didn’t come this far to turn back now. Besides, Ichiro thought she’d be happy to see me. He knocked firmly on the door.

  A moment later, the door swung open, and Rin stood there. Her blond hair was tousled, cascading freely over her shoulders, and she wore a bathrobe that hung open. Underneath, she wore yoga shorts and a halter top that showed off her six-pack abs. She held a half-empty bottle of liquor in one hand. As soon as she saw him, her striking turquoise eyes widened in surprise and the bottle fell from her hand. “A, bikkuri shita… you’re alive!”

  Reznik leaned forward and neatly caught the bottle’s neck inches from the floor. “Hey there,” he said with a stupid grin on his face. “Did you miss me?”

  He got his answer in the form of a rib-creaking hug that expelled the air from his lungs. Reznik hugged her back.

  “You’re soaked. Let me take your coat.” She closed the door and tugged on his coat, which Reznik quickly relinquished. Rin hung it next to the door and smiled at him. A second later, she seemed to realize she was only half dressed and self-consciously cinched her robe tight.

  “Is this a bad time? Sorry to just drop in on you.”

  “Not at all. Come in.” She turned and led him inside her apartment.

  Something was off about her movements, Reznik realized. Her normal grace was replaced by exaggerated care as she walked into her open living room. He realized she was well on her way to being drunk. How is that possible? He remembered them sharing drinks on several occasions, and their skins had prevented them from becoming intoxicated.

  The apartment was sleek and modern, with minimal furnishings or ornamentation. Dark hardwood floors and low, clean furniture made the place seem cavernous. This place must cost a fortune. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from floor-to-ceiling windows that yielded a spectacular view of the lights and motion of Sea-Tac below.

  Reznik whistled. “Now that’s a hell of a nice view.” He absently handed her the bottle and stepped up to the window, taking in the lights outside, reflected in thousands of drops of water beaded on the glass.

  Rin stepped up beside him, taking a quick sip from the bottle. He glanced over to see her studying him. “I would’ve cleaned up and made myself presentable if I had known I’d be getting guests. Can I get you a glass? Cognac, vintage… something rather.” She shrugged as if it wasn’t important.

  “Nah, this is just fine.” He plucked the bottle from her and took a sip. The expensive liquor warmed his stomach, and he felt the chill from the numbing rain fading. He handed the bottle back. “It’s good to see you again, Rin.”

  “You as well. I had thought we’d lost you.” She smiled sadly. “Life’s been rather… tumultuous… difficult… since you left.” She looked embarrassed as she tried to find the right word. “I didn’t abandon you, you know. We turned over all the repo shops we could find, but to no avail.” She sighed. “Was it Lady Angelis? Did she recover your black box?”

  “Lynessa, actually. She’s sort of the new sheriff in town for the time being. Lady Angelis supplied the new skin, of course, and got me back on my feet. Shall we?” He gestured to a low sofa facing the windows.

  Rin swayed for a second and had to catch her balance on the window before joining Reznik on the sofa. “Sorry about this.” She gestured with the bottle. “It’s been tough lately, and old habits die hard. Although, having the alcohol constraint removed by my brother has to be the best thing ever. Until you showed up, anyways.” She smiled and passed him the bottle.

  “No worries. Tell me what’s been going on lately. I got some of it from Lady Angelis, but I’d like to hear about you, too. I heard there was an attempt on your life?”

  Rin sat near him on the couch. “It had been a few months since I’d seen any action, so I wasn’t expecting mercs to attack in public like that. I was unarmed, and they got the drop on me in the mall. Riffraff.” She snorted.

  Reznik smiled to himself, knowing that “unarmed” was a relative term in Rin’s case.

  “Ichiro warned me just in time and helped me get out alive,” she continued. “Under interrogation, the lead merc confessed to being paid off by someone from CorpSec. Thorne’s people are still angry about how everything went down in Skin City. Bombings and assassination attempts seem to be the new norm lately.”

  “Unconventional warfare. Sounds like tensions are really heating up.”

  “According to Marcus, Ayane has been moved to a prison, and he has limited access to visit her. Hard to find any good news to give you, I’m afraid.”

  “Well, I’m glad you made it out of that ambush. That’s good news.”

  She took a pull on the bottle and handed it back to Reznik. “I’m really glad you’re back. The war plans for the campaign against Thorne have been proceeding finally, after having been stalled for months. As a result, I’ve had a lot of downtime to do some thinking these past few months.”

  They sat in comfortable silence for a short time, watching the city out the windows. Reznik was content to listen to Rin speak. He was waiting for her to get whatever was bothering her off her chest.

  After gathering her thoughts, she continued, “Here’s the thought that’s been troubling me: what’s the point of living, if not for the fear of death? My brother has tried to convince me to re-enable my remote backup, but I haven’t. It’s been disabled since I was captured and sold out to Haze. My family’s ancestors were samurai. The greatest honor to them was sacrificing one’s life for a noble cause. I figure if that choice is taken away from me in the end, then what’s the point of living? The noble samurai would never accept such a thing, and I feel I should be able to offer my most valuable gift in whatever manner I choose. I’d prefer to live each day as if it’s my last.” She held his gaze, her eyes intense and full of internal turmoil, as if pleading with him to understand. The alcohol was clearly loosening her tongue. She sighed. “Truth be told, I grow tired of this life, Reznik. I told Seijin I’d return as his lieutenant since he has no one else he can trust, but it seems that’s all there is for me—a life of fighting. If I’m not fighting my own battles, then I’ll just be the sword someone else wields.”

  Reznik swirled around a mouthful of cognac as he considered how to re
ply. “When I was having digital dreams before Lynessa came for me, I kept focusing on a memory of this Green Beret poster in a bar I used to hang out at. ‘De Oppresso Liber,’ this poster had on it—to liberate the oppressed. It got me to thinking, maybe that’s why I’m here. I’ve been given a second, and now a third, chance. Fighting is what I know—that’s my purpose as a soldier. I have to help those that cannot help themselves. I think it’s a sign that the time has come to bring this campaign to an ultimate conclusion. I feel if I can do that, then maybe everyone can get on with their lives, wherever that may take us.”

  Rin was silent a long time. “I’d like to think I try to live my life according to Bushido, but just being beside you makes me feel like a failure.” She smiled sadly. “You would have made a fine samurai, you know?”

  “I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “Not to worry. My failures are my own to deal with. You are a model of how I need to improve, is all. And you are right—we need to see this through.”

  Reznik watched the lights of Sea-Tac flickering through the constant rain tapping against the glass. He wondered if it had been his intent all along to recruit Rin to his cause. Some friend I am, taking advantage of her in an intoxicated state.

  “Have you heard from Ichiro?” she asked.

  “I have, actually.” He was glad of the change in subject. “He popped in on my Datalink with a text message just when I had gotten myself into a slight bind. I was surprised, to say the least. I wasn’t expecting that.”

  Rin laughed. “He always has impeccable timing. He’s freed himself from this world, did you know? Now he moves freely, surfing the electrons of cyberspace.”