by T. C. Edge
Chloe giggled at the sight, hidden there between her companions. She felt…safe with them, as if they’d really have her back if they ran into any trouble. That was a feeling that, were she to dwell on it, might well draw a tear. She had friends. Real friends. She wasn’t alone anymore.
She smiled beneath her cloak, and looked at the tall form of Ragan ahead of her. So strange to think that she’d met him only days ago, though he’d been seeking her for some time. To think that he almost caught her once a while back. How different would her life have gone if he had. How might things be now? Would the data have been destroyed? Would she and Ragan now…
She dismissed the thought, suddenly seeing a flickering light ahead. Down the street, among the many neon signs above shops, one blinked particularly brightly.
Ink Alive, it said, the shop sign not only bright, but congruous with its name; it really was alive. The sign moved, changed form, waved to the crowd to come near. It wasn’t just a sign for the shop, but advertising in itself.
Ragan stopped at the sight of it, and drew the group towards a little recess to one side. They slipped from the violent torrent of bodies and reformed into a circle.
“We’re here,” he said.
Tanner looked around.
“Um, where? I’m not seeing this Dax anywhere.”
Ragan nodded down the street.
“Ink Alive. It’s his tattoo parlour.”
“He works in a tattoo parlour?”
“It’s a front, Cliff. His true dealings are done below ground.”
“Right, sure. How do we know if he’s there?” Tanner asked.
“We won’t until we go ask,” said Ragan. “I’m thinking it’s best if you two stay here.” He looked at Tanner and Nadia. “No point in us all crowding the guy unnecessarily.”
“Sure,” said Tanner, shrugging. “We’ll find a way to pass the time, huh Nadia. I saw a nice quiet alley a street or so back.” He winked. “Sort of place you’re used to.”
“Shut up,” said Nadia. “Honestly, just…shut up.”
The insult only seemed to spur Tanner on, his grin growing increasingly broad.
“I think he is in,” said Chloe, looking down the street.
“Why?” asked Ragan. “Can Remus sense him?”
“Yeah, there’s that. Also, those two bouncers of his are outside. I’m guessing they mainly guard the door when Dax is about.”
“Ah, them,” said Ragan pointedly. “I’m not sure they’ll be too happy to see me again.”
Their only previous meeting had ended with Ragan knocking them out cold, just as Chloe fled through Dax’s secret passage at the rear of his store.
“Nor me,” said Chloe. “I’m guessing they’ll recognise me now. Maybe…” She thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s best if they don’t see me?”
“You don’t trust them?” asked Ragan. “Hmmm, stupid question,” he said off the look she gave him. “I guess you’re still a wanted woman, even without the data.”
Chloe nodded solemnly. It was a fact she’d gotten used to, one she’d have to live with. The simple truth was that few people would know that the entire reason for her manhunt had now been erased. Most likely, only the NDSA and members of Project Dawn, as well as Martha and her employers, knew that Chloe was no longer a person of interest. At least, not for that reason, anyway.
Around here…well, things were different. If the authorities knew she was here, they’d try to snatch her up immediately. Try, and probably fail, given the abilities of her companions. Data or not, she was considered a violent criminal, and though a great deal of crime went unpunished around here, the things she’d ‘supposedly’ done most certainly wouldn’t. It would be the same almost everywhere, she imagined. It would take a long, long time for people to forget. And even then, she doubted she’d ever be able to live a normal life.
Mostly, that thought didn’t bother her. A normal life to her didn’t have great appeal anymore. What was a normal life, anyway? Working in these writhing streets? Living underground in these deep, subterranean pits? Following the laws set down from above, by those who barely even bothered to enforce them?
The world was a giant knotted ball of ironies, and a deeply unpleasant place. Her fondest memories in recent years had been spent alone, with only Remus for company, safe in her solitude. Some of that had changed now - she had people she trusted, people she felt like she could count on - but the essence had not. If she could complete this job, find some quiet corner of the world, and hide there for the rest of her life, she’d probably be happy enough with that. As long as Ragan was there too…
She blushed at the thought, foolishly. She’d only known him for days, and even then their interactions had been limited. But the truth was that, even in so short a time, something had changed inside her, broken free. She couldn’t go back to being alone again, not after what had happened. She looked at Ragan, and foolish of not, she saw a future. She saw a home.
“Chloe…” It was Ragan’s warm voice again, luring her back out of her thoughts.
“Um, yes Ragan?” she said, blinking.
He frowned.
“Are you all right. You seem a bit…distracted?”
“Sure, I’m good,” she smiled.
Ragan studied her carefully for a moment, then looked back down the street towards the entrance to Ink-Alive. The two hulking bouncers were either side of the door, performing the double role of security staff and ‘living’ billboards, their exposed arms entirely covered in an array of interesting, and moving, artwork.
Ragan looked back to Chloe.
“Let’s just go,” he said. “Frankly, if they’re working for Dax, I think we can trust them not to go running off to the authorities as soon as they see you.”
“I guess so,” said Chloe, not quite so sure.
Ragan turned his attention to Tanner and Nadia.
“Keep an eye on those two outside the door,” he told them. “Don’t go wandering off, OK. If you see them speaking to any peacekeepers, or acting suspicious once we enter, come let us know.”
The two nodded, and Ragan and Chloe headed off, moving back into the bustling street. Without her full entourage, Chloe felt suddenly exposed. She reached up, repositioning her hood to make sure her face remained in shadow. Eyes down, she sneaked a view ahead, keeping close to Ragan’s side. She took his arm, and he glanced down at her. She liked how it felt to be next to him like this.
It felt natural. Normal. Right.
Chloe and Ragan, against the world, came a foolish thought.
Foolish, yes. But she liked the sound of it anyway.
63
Ragan stepped through the crowd with Chloe linked to his arm, her smell intoxicating. Even over the many competing scents that swirled their way down the street, hers swept up his nose and beyond, sending a pulse of longing through him. She felt so small next to him, so oddly vulnerable, though he knew that wasn’t the case. Perhaps it was him projecting something onto her. Perhaps he wished to see her as in need of saving, because that’s the way he’d thought for so long.
She wasn’t, of course. Chloe could handle herself just as well as he could, and had proven that she didn’t need anyone save Remus to get along just fine. Still, having her clutched tightly to his side sent a thrill through his body, a sensation that he’d never truly felt. It was enlivening to have her so near, so close. To see that look in her eye as she glanced up at him.
His pulse seemed to quicken at the sight, those blue irises of hers so deep, so wondrous. She was as beautiful as he’d always hoped. No, more. That pale, creamy skin, that jet black hair, the soft, feminine features that hid the true power and violent potential that lay within. She was a paradox, a contradiction; that beauty and innocent complexion in such contrast with her ferocity, her independence, her soul so scarred by what she’d seen and done.
He’d never met anyone like her before, no one that came close. For so long he’d wished to find her, help her, save her from her torment.
He’d taken it on his shoulders as much as finding and destroying the data itself. Now, spending time with her, getting to know her, she was more than he’d expected. She was sweet, kind, so unexpectedly pure and naive.
It was the way she acted around the group, the way she looked at Tanner and Nadia as they conversed. He’d seen the look in her eyes as if she was seeing such interactions for the first time. She was almost like a child at times, looking around in wonder, learning. And then at others, she’d fall away into herself again, go quiet and sombre, seek time alone. It was all so endearing to Ragan, the girl so enchanting, so fascinating. And so startlingly beautiful.
She was an enigma that he may never fully comprehend. But he knew one thing - he wanted the chance to work her out.
As they walked together, side by side, he had to avoid the urge to turn her in the street, and kiss her right there and then. His mind swirled with thoughts of her, thoughts that needed to be expelled. Work had to come first. The mission had to be his priority.
He realigned his focus, and a moment later they were moving from the bustling masses, weaving their way towards their destination. They emerged in front of the two large bouncers, both calling out to the crowd and trying to drum up business. It took a second for them to recognise Ragan as he came, their first reaction to assume him a potential customer, and enter into a sales pitch.
“Hey there, you look like a man with a dark side,” said one of them. Ragan recalled their names from their previous rendezvous - this one was called Dale, the other Bruno. “I’m thinking something gothic, something dangerous,” went on Dale. “A man like you…” He stopped, eyes turning suddenly fearful, as he recognised who he was speaking with.
“Hey, Dale,” said Ragan breezily, smiling. “No hard feelings about what happened before.”
The brutish man drew a hand instinctively to his jaw, which was bruised from the punch Ragan threw. He scowled, though more from fear than anger.
“W-what do you want?” he asked. “You’re not interested in tattoos…”
“No, we’re not.”
The man only just seemed to notice Chloe, small as she was to Ragan’s side. She tilted her chin up, revealing her face beneath her hood.
“Hey, Dale,” she said lightly. “Remember me?”
Dale started.
“Phantom…” he whispered. “Chloe Phantom…”
“Now now, big man,” warned Ragan. “Not so loud.” The other bouncer, Bruno, looked over from the other side of the entrance. His eyes widened too, jaw slackening. “Now both of you are going to keep nice and quiet, understand?” said Ragan.
Both men nodded silently.
“Good. We’re here to see your boss. One of you go fetch him. Now,” he added with a growl.
The two men exchanged glances, and then Bruno spun off, hurrying into the parlour. It left the other three outside, an awkwardness settling as Dale tried to keep his gaze elsewhere, and Ragan continued to scowl in a threatening manner to ensure he kept in line. The wait was, however, mercifully short, as within what seemed like seconds, Dax was hurrying out into the street, bulging eyes looking upon the group.
“Inside, quickly,” he said, waving them through. “And you two, stay out here and don’t let anyone in.”
“But…”
“No buts, Dale. Just say we’re having trouble with the machines.”
Dale grumbled, and Ragan and Chloe swiftly stepped through the doorway and into the parlour. There didn’t appear to be any customers currently being seen to, so no one had to be ushered out. Ragan imagined that Dale and Bruno worked partly on commission, hence the grumbling - shutting the shop at this time of day was only going to cost them.
There were, however, a couple of artists there, lounging to one side and waiting for work to come. They looked up as Dax led Chloe and Ragan inside, but didn’t appear overly interested. It was likely that they were fully aware of Dax’s illegal operations, and were paid extra for their discretion and loyalty. Shutting the parlour in the middle of a busy day, and quickly ushering in two rather shady looking characters, probably wasn’t entirely unusual around here.
Without a word, Dax led them through the back door of the parlour, down a set of stairs, and into his office. It was filled with screens, stations, other electronic devices. Ragan noticed one screen showing a security feed of the outside of the parlour - he’d probably seen them coming before they even arrived.
Shutting the door behind them, Dax finally turned on them, his narrow features shaped into confusion, his spectacles sliding to the end of his nose. He pushed them up, and shook his head.
“Now what the hell are you doing here, Chloe,” he asked. “And with him,” he nodded towards Ragan. “What on earth is going on?”
“I told you I’d protect her, didn’t I, Dax?” said Ragan.
Dax looked at him, suspicious.
“It’s true,” said Chloe. “He’s saved me several times already, Dax. The reason everyone’s been hunting me…it’s over. Ragan has sorted it.”
Dax’s frown deepened. He shut his eyes, and raised his palms.
“OK, I’m going to need some catching up here. What exactly has been going on with you these last few days, Chloe? I thought you left the city with that new I.D. I made for you. What are you doing back here?”
“Long story,” murmured Chloe. “All you need to know is that we need your help.”
“No no no!” said Dax, shaking his head. “That will not do, Chloe Phantom. You can’t come stomping through my door and expect me to not wonder what’s been going on with you. You say the reason you’ve been hunted is…just done? Finished? Honey, I need an explanation here. And you,” he said, turning to Ragan. “I want to know more about your story too. I’m happy you stayed to your word and protected her, but…just who the hell are you! I’ve heard chatter from the CID about you. Seems they’re quite confused by your disappearance. I’ve been trying to figure things out, but I can’t. Now please…” he took a heavy breath. He really needed it. “….just tell me what’s been happening.”
Ragan and Chloe looked at one another, both of them smirking at the breathless outburst.
Ragan shrugged
“Do you want to start, or shall I?” he asked.
It took about fifteen minutes to catch Dax up, the hacker asking questions along the way that lengthened the process. Nothing was left out, though Ragan wished to cover certain topics without going into great detail, particularly the truth of what lay hidden in Chloe’s nanites, and the existence of Project Dawn.
Chloe, on the other hand, seemed to have other ideas. She appeared happy to provide the full low-down, filling Dax in without restraint. The hacker watched on, eyes small and thoughtful, rarely showing great surprise, stroking his chin as he learned of just what secrets Chloe’s blood held.
Eternal life. The evolution of war. A dangerous new horizon. Big concepts to get your head around, but Dax took them in his stride. It looked to Ragan that he probably had an inkling already, even if he didn’t know for sure. A man like this, who traded in secrets, wasn’t likely to be fully out of the loop.
The mention of Project Dawn, however, had Ragan lifting his hand to try to stifle Chloe’s hurrying voice. It was an instinctive reaction, protective of the organisation he served. Or, used to serve.
“What?” said Chloe, seeing Ragan’s raised hand and shaking head. “Dax needs to know everything if he’s going to help us.”
She was right, Ragan quickly realised. They were here to find the location of Martha Mitchell, and possibly Mikel. Anything, really, that might help them track the data. They didn’t have Project Dawn or the CID to rely on for intel. Dax was their best, and only, hope, and so he deserved their trust.
Ragan withdrew his hand, and his objection. Chloe’s voice rushed on.
By the time she’d completed the explanation - mostly, she’d done the talking - Dax leaned back, considered things, and then asked calmly, “So, what do you need?”
“H
elp,” Chloe said quickly. “We need help in tracking the data and its location. There’s no one else except you, Dax.”
“And why didn’t you just call me?” he asked. “I gave you the comms link. It’s perfectly safe to use, untraceable and…”
“I lost it,” said Chloe, interrupting, her voice a little guilty. “Or, well…I left it at Project Dawn’s base. We can’t go back after what’s happened. So, we had to come see you, face to face.”
Dax nodded, quick to understand. He seemed partially worried about Chloe, and partially bemused by her quite remarkable change in fortunes since they last saw each other half a dozen days ago.
“Your life is nothing if not hectic,” he said with a slanted smile. “From prey to hunter, he mused. “I like that.”
Chloe drew a mischievous grin.
“I kinda do too.”
“And how are you playing with others?” He looked to Ragan. “Is he…treating you well?”
“Yes,” said Chloe softly. “He’s been…great. ” She trailed off, blushing faintly. “There’s another two outside. They’re nano-enhanced like us. I like them, Dax. I like…all of this.”
Dax continued to eye Ragan suspiciously, though smiled at Chloe’s obvious positivity on the subject.
“Well, that’s good then,” he said after a pause. “I always wanted you safe, Chloe, and happy if that were ever possible. If Mr Hunt here, and your other companions, help with that, then I suppose they’re fine by me.”
Chloe bristled with joy, as though getting the seal of approval from some great authority. Perhaps, Ragan thought, Dax was that to her. At the very least, he’d helped her over the years in staying hidden, providing her with identifications, backstories, pieces of tech that came in handy. Perhaps she looked up to him more than she realised. Or maybe it was simply that she didn’t have anyone else…