“We don’t need an armed response unit, and we don’t need an access permit. I’m a Magistrate. I issue my own warrants, and the shooter isn’t at the server farm, is he, Ankh?” The Crenellian shook his head slightly. “There may be some security, but we can handle them. The fewer locals we put into the line of fire, the better off everyone will be. You are more than welcome to tag along.”
“But, that’s not how we do things on Collum Gate. We have protocols,” the supra stammered.
“Federation Law supersedes. I’m sorry, but you no longer have jurisdiction. The Federation needs this case resolved, and quickly. I cannot overstate the importance of Collum Gate to the health and well-being of the Federation. Be proud of that. I want your help, but I call the shots. If you can’t agree to that, then we’ll do this without you. That’s not a threat, but it’s the way it has to be. Please join us, and help us help you.”
“I’ll let my superiors know,” he replied softly. “Head for the garage, and I’ll meet you there in about five. We’ll take a law enforcement van.”
“I would prefer to remain low-profile. We can take our hover-van. It’s leased for the duration of our stay.”
“You mean the one where your driver was puking and has probably already quit?”
“I’ll drive,” Red offered.
“I’ll have the uniformed driver meet us at your van if it’s still there.”
“And this is why we need him with us,” Rivka explained. The empty van was where they’d left it, the blood dried to a dark brown on the floor. The driver was nowhere in sight.
“I could drive,” Red said.
“Then you can’t use your railgun, and we know how much you love Blazer.” Rivka tapped her foot impatiently.
Five minutes became ten.
“You’re driving, Red. Ankh, sit behind Red on the floor and call out the directions to keep us going the right way,” Rivka directed. Jay climbed into the far back, with Lindy beside her. Rivka took the middle seat, and Ankh crouched between the driver’s seat and the first row back. Rivka removed her jacket, tore off her stained shirt, and threw it on the floor, then put her jacket back on. “Okay, let’s go.”
Supra ran at them, yelling for them to wait.
“I’m sorry. Guvna had a lot of questions. The driver is on his way.” Harpeth pointed to an approaching man.
Red threw open the driver’s door and stepped out. He walked around the van to get into the first row, but Ankh was in the way.
The Crenellian pointed to the next row back.
“Ain’t gonna happen,” Red replied. He reached in and lifted Ankh out, standing him on the ground.
Ankh stared at the bodyguard. “I need to be able to see and react,” Red clarified.
“Just sit in his lap,” Rivka told them.
“No!” they declared in unison.
“Red, goddammit, make room.” Rivka was starting to steam.
Red wedged himself against the side of the seat. He reached out and pulled Ankh in next to him. Ankh didn’t take up much room, so Red relaxed and settled in.
“I’ll sit up front.” The supra started to get in as the driver fired up the engine.
“Sit back here with me so we can talk. I’d like to hear more about Collum Gate. This looks like an incredible place.” Rivka smiled and patted the seat next to her.
“Where to?” the driver asked. Ankh gave him the address.
“Tell me about Collum Gate,” Rivka requested when the hover-van had lifted into the air and started maneuvering toward the street.
“Collum Gate was established nearly two hundred years ago by a spacefaring race called the Sc'allid...” Rivka watched him and nodded every once in a while, but she was engaged in the conversation on the tactical communication system within their heads.
Did you see that he’s not armed? I’m not taking responsibility for him, Red said.
Fine, I’ll watch out for him, Lindy replied.
Bullshit! We watch the Magistrate first and the rest of the crew second. He’s number eleven on our top ten list.
I’m not armed, Ankh said.
Neither is Jay, Rivka jumped into the conversation.
Are you sure about that? Lindy asked.
I didn’t want to, but she made me. It’s in the back of my pants, Jay interjected reluctantly.
What? Rivka tried to keep her exterior neutral while she found out who was packing what heat.
You are, Red emphasized to the Magistrate.
Of course, Rivka replied. But I’m me, and you have neutron pulse envy. If I wasn’t here, you’d be carrying it.
Damn straight. Blazer and Dealy, bringing evil to its knees.
His is Blazer, but yours is Dealy? Jay remarked.
Mine is Mabel, Lindy admitted.
“Rivka?” the supra said more loudly to get her attention.
“I’m sorry,” Rivka stuttered. “I was thinking about the case. I get lost that way. Federation Law is streamlined, but it’s still plenty complex. I am concerned about the breadcrumbs.”
“Breadcrumbs? I don’t understand.”
“It’s from an old human children’s story. It’s pretty horrific if you think about it, but scaring our children seems to never go out of style. The children left breadcrumbs so they could find their way out from the evil witch’s lair, or something like that. We follow the clues like breadcrumbs. We only need one to get us started.”
“I see,” Supra Harpeth said, pursing his lips and looking out the window. “We’re almost there. Pull past and let us off around the corner.”
Red lifted Ankh over his lap as the two changed seats.
“Why do humans have to be so big?” Ankh asked the window.
Red shrugged and clutched his railgun to his chest. He watched through the front window before leaning down to see to the rooftops of the buildings to their left. The nondescript but stylized building to their right housed the servers they were after. Somewhere deep within, the signals were intercepted and then sent to recipients who could be anywhere in the galaxy.
Ankh shared none of his concerns about the myriad of tendrils that might lead from the communications node. He and Erasmus had no doubts that they’d figure it out. All they needed was time. “I need time with the computers,” Ankh found himself saying out loud.
“We’ll give you as much as you need,” Rivka assured the Crenellian.
The architecture of Collum Gate was nonlinear, consisting of curves and rounded corners. The humans were shocked at the imbalance within single structures. Windows would be on different levels and were different sizes. Taking in a block as a whole, balance would be restored. Comparably-sized buildings swept upward as mirrors of their counterparts, individually discordant, but taken together, they comprised a symphony.
Rivka admired what she saw. When they turned the corner, she was introduced to yet another block of flowing buildings. The hover-van jerked to the right and slowed. When it stopped, Red opened the door and jumped out, hurrying to the corner where they’d just turned. He assessed the area. No open windows opposite. No observers on any rooftops that would hold them. Many flowed to a point, and wouldn’t support someone outside. Red appreciated that aspect of the architecture.
The others disembarked, and Lindy held them back. Red gave the thumbs-up and headed down the street, startling a woman with two small children. She turned and ran the other way. Red led the group to the target building’s entrance.
“Keep Ankh out of sight,” Red called over his shoulder before he went inside. Rivka stayed on one side of the Crenellian with Supra Harpeth on the other, and Jay followed. Lindy stayed between the group and the roadway where hover-vehicles of various types flew past.
The road surface was a fine carpet of greenery, grass that helped fuel the planet’s oxygen supply. No wheeled vehicles remained on Collum Gate since the planet’s leadership strived to present a modern appearance while retaining the old world charm.
They used that to welcome alien races t
o incorporate a part of their world into the culture of Collum Gate.
Or used to.
Now people ran in fear.
Red walked into the lobby of an apartment building. There were no signs, and stairs to the left led both upward and downward. In the middle, an open elevator door beckoned.
“Which way, Ankh?” Red asked as he scanned the small area, his railgun pointing where his eyes looked.
“Down,” the Crenellian answered.
“Looks like a tight squeeze. Don’t bunch up.” A double-wide stairway went up, but a narrow set of stairs led downward.
“At least they’re well-lit,” Rivka suggested after they had descended through the first two turnbacks. “How deep does this go?”
The lights went out.
Chapter Ten
Rivka instantly pulled Ankh behind her. She stared into the darkness below. A hint of light remained. Her enhanced and oversized eyes pulled in all there was until Red’s outline appeared. She focused on him and saw more detail as her eyes further adjusted, including a shadow. To the big man’s right, squeezing into the corner, unnoticed, with a long blade in hand.
Red, armed person at your three o’clock low, Rivka said over the comm.
With a vicious swing, he brought his railgun through the space. It connected with a heavy thud, and whoever was trying to ambush the group was thrown into the wall. The shadow crumpled to the landing without a sound.
Rivka hurried ahead. “Coming down behind you, Red.” When she reached him, she warned him again. “I’m here, reaching around you to look below.”
She leaned past him, making contact to let him know exactly where she was. He aimed his railgun into the darkness.
“I have a flashlight,” he whispered.
“Not yet. Have it ready.” She pulled his barrel lower. “I’m going to use Dealy. We can’t destroy any more servers like we did with Nefas, but if this doesn’t stop them, I’ll need you to light them up.”
She removed her neutron pulse weapon and aimed down the stairs to where three cloaked and hooded forms continued to climb slowly and silently upward. She dialed her weapon to nine and aimed at the shadowy figures.
“You can stop right there unless you want to die,” Rivka warned. The three hesitated for only for a moment before continuing toward her.
Rivka fired. From below came grunts and screams from the wounded, their innards reduced to slush. They turned to run, but died before descending a single step and tumbled down the stairs.
“Lights,” Rivka said evenly. Red clicked on his flashlight. Behind them, Lindy shone hers into the corner of the landing.
“What if those people didn’t do anything wrong?” the supra asked, his eyes glistening under the flashlights’ beams. He bent down to check the body. “I’m going to have to report this.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you do,” Rivka growled. “We’re in the presence of something dark. I can feel it.”
It was like a raincloud that hung just over one’s head, threatening to spill sheets of water on the masses below, merciless in its torrent.
Rivka joined Harpeth in looking at the corpse. She pulled the dark cloak away to reveal a young woman, willowy thin, in a skin-tight bodysuit. A sheath hung on her hip. Beside it, a curved thirty-centimeter blade had fallen from her hand.
“Is this your standard accouterment for a casual day out?” Rivka asked the supra. He gazed at it open-mouthed. Rivka picked the weapon up and passed it back to Jay.
“So young.” He put his fingers over her eyes and brushed downward as if he needed to confirm that they were closed. He clenched his teeth. This was his town, and these were his people. Something was going on, and he didn’t know what. He was more embarrassed than anything. He wanted to be upset by how quickly the Magistrate killed people, but ambassadors were dying, and this was a step toward finding those responsible. He wrestled with justifying the Magistrate’s methods. He made his decision. “I can’t be a part of this.”
“Then go outside and wait for me.” Rivka put a hand on his shoulder and continued in a hushed tone, “It’s okay if this isn’t for you. Magistrates have to deal with the very worst the universe has to offer. When violence is called for, we have no choice but to outdo the criminals. As they say, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.”
She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. The supra slowly made his way between those standing on the stairs. Ankh moved to the landing and checked the sprawled body. He removed a pair of goggles from her head, loosened the band, and strapped them on.
“Turn off the flashlights, please,” he requested, and they did as he asked. Rivka kept her focus down the stairs, watching the landing below where the jumbled bodies lay.
“Night-vision goggles, thin and high resolution. I shall keep these. You can turn the lights back on.” Ankh pushed the goggles to his forehead and waited while Red slowly moved downward. He dipped around the landing and pulled back in case anyone was waiting. He’d seen nothing but a closed door at the bottom of the next flight of stairs. He removed a pair of goggles from one of the bodies and put them on.
Lindy, take one of these sets of goggles and give the other to Jay, Red told them. He passed the two sets to Rivka, who handed them back to Jay and Lindy. They extinguished both flashlights and put them on.
“Sweet,” Red whispered.
He continued down the stairs, with Rivka close behind and Ankh casually strolling after them. Jay enjoyed the goggles, waving the knife to see it in the light-green glow by which she was seeing in the dark. Lindy brought up the rear, her railgun pointed at the wall. She turned her head in all directions, enjoying the ability to see without having to carry a flashlight.
Do you hear anything? Rivka asked.
A mechanical hum. Nothing that sounds like people. Red kept his observations clear and concise.
When he reached the door, he stopped.
Anything I should know before going in, Ankh? Keep in mind that I have a railgun, Red requested.
Don’t shoot any of the equipment. It’s best if you don’t shoot anything in that room, Ankh replied.
I think we’ve already dealt with the guards. The people in that room shouldn’t be armed, should they? Lindy ventured.
Magistrate, can I have Dealy?
You can borrow Reaper, Rivka replied. Red shrugged one shoulder before he reached an empty hand back. Rivka slapped the neutron pulse weapon into it. We could use a couple more of those if you have any lying around.
There is only one of those, and I’m appalled at how cavalierly you treat it! Ankh shot back.
It’s called field testing, and we’re doing it up right. You’ll have our report soon.
Really? Ankh wondered.
No.
Rivka didn’t need to turn around to see his goggled eyes staring at her. Jay moved in front of the Crenellian, brandishing her blade as she put herself between the door and him.
Lindy, protect Ankh no matter what happens, Rivka ordered.
What’s going to happen? she asked.
On three, Red interrupted, and when he’d counted down, he rammed into the door. It was locked and didn’t budge. The only thing he’d accomplished was announcing their arrival. He took two steps back and powered into the door, but it remained steadfast in denying entry. Red saw where the bolts were in place.
“Fire in the hole!” he yelled and took aim.
“Don’t...” Ankh started to say, his voice disappeared into the skull-bouncing thunder from the hypervelocity darts shredding the locks. Red jammed through, dropping the railgun to hang from its sling as he took aim with the neutron pulse weapon.
Movement drew his eye, nothing more than a shadow darting behind a stack of electronics. The room was filled with equipment bathed in muted light, colored indicators flashing in syncopation.
Sprawling, yet haphazard, the room had a purpose. It was cold. Much better for the equipment than heat. Heavy power cables were strung through the open overhead. Red rushed to the fi
rst bank of computers and leaned around, counting on the goggles to see into the dark corners.
“Coming around the end!” Red called.
Rivka had followed Red in, suddenly alarmed at being unarmed.
A figure appeared and darted toward the door. She stuck out her leg, sending the individual tripping and face first into the floor at Jay’s feet. She touched her blade against the side of the person’s neck.
“How many more are in here?” Rivka demanded, rushing over to grab the person’s arm. A woman. Thin and pale. The woman’s mind ran under the dark cloud of fear.
None.
She was telling the truth. Rivka added in a gentle voice, “Let her up.”
Jay kept her blade aimed at the woman with the adult face but a youth’s body.
“That’s all there were in here. We’re clear,” Rivka told Red. He nodded and signaled for everyone to stay where they were as he quickly explored the rest of the room. Two minutes later the lights came on in the room and stairway. The goggles adjusted instantly, protecting the wearers from getting blinded.
Red removed his and carefully put them into a pocket. Ankh pulled his up, letting them rest on his oversized forehead. Jay and Lindy followed Ankh’s lead.
“It’s your show. We’re looking for the next breadcrumb,” Rivka said.
“Put one of the coins I gave you inside that server,” Ankh directed, pointing.
“I don’t have them,” Rivka replied.
“Where are they?”
“On the ship,” Rivka said softly.
“What good are they on the ship?” Ankh asked in his neutral voice. Rivka suspected he was annoyed.
Red held out a hand with one of Ankh’s devices.
“Why do you have these?” Rivka wondered.
“I thought they might be useful,” Red answered. “Just like grenades.”
“You have grenades?” Supra Harpeth asked, appearing in the doorway. Lindy jumped, earning a harsh look from Red.
“Don’t you?” Red shrugged one shoulder.
Ankh sat down while Rivka remedied her shortsightedness by emplacing the device Red had given her. The Crenellian disappeared into thought, and the group waited.
Judge, Jury, & Executioner Boxed Set Page 48