Destiny Sorrow

by Rod S. Galves

  “Time of the death jackpot!” Announced Sorom with a strange smile.

  “What is this?” Asked Evelin.

  “We do before every mission,” Golbert explained. “We bet on who's going to die.”

  “How morbid!” Exclaimed the former military.

  “It's just a joke, to relax. I vote for Willys.” Said Sorom.

  “Willys.” Voted Norna.

  “Willys.” Voted Golbert.

  “Willys!” Voted Dijo.

  “You're all voting for the same person!”

  “Willys!” Voted Willys with a strange excitement.

  Evelin looked surprised at the group and Norna showed the girl his mechanical arm.

  “He is the one who has got more injured in any mission. It's not mean, it's just a fact.”

  Golbert slapped Willys' ass and smiled.

  “But he will not die! Now come on, we have a pharaoh to kill.”

  “How terrible.” Said Evelin quietly next to Willys.

  “Oh, the slap? No problem, no, we have a very serious policy of respecting the bodies of others. I gave them permission to do this, it's not going to happen to you unless you want to.”

  He went to the ship with his mechanical legs making noise that they needed oil.

  Sorom, Dijo and Willys took a beautiful, polished civilian ship and separated from the others flying into the sky, while Evelin descended into the tunnels with the rest of his group.

  Kurtrick

  Inside the tunnels, Evelin saw old subway cars waiting for them. Norna gave orders to the large number of Chaos Agents who were parting into different groups.

  “You stay in the position below the Ziggurat. Me and a few others are going to get the guns and we'll find you there.”

  Ratz, who carried a missile launcher on his back, did not seem satisfied.

  “I finally come on a mission and you're going to keep me waiting?”

  “Ratz,” Golbert began, “we are just getting weapons. A small number is better. When we need to boom, you’re going to boom.”

  Upon hearing the words, a sadistic smile grew and Golbert turned to Norna shrugging.

  “Looks like all Ingas are the same.”

  Norna let out a laugh and then looked at the rest of the group.

  “I want Tugsten's room with us, the rest can operate their wagons!”

  Evelin saw Tugsten, Sliger and Jamin gathering around Norna, who looked at her impatiently.

  “What are you waiting?”

  Evelin was surprised to have been chosen and got into a wagon with the other five. The others of her room sat on old benches while Golbert and Norna operated a control table.

  She was able to hear the wagons where Ratz and the others left and it didn't take long for her own to move, going in the opposite direction.

  “We hope not to have to fight, but Kurtrick is a bit unstable and we don't have much money.” Norna reported. “If all goes well, you will only have to help carry our weapons, but be prepared for the worst.”

  Everyone in Evelin's room had their weapons, including Tugsten's hand-machine gun. Yet she didn't see any weapons with Golbert, and Norna was carrying only one pistol.

  “Are you not unprepared?” Asked Evelin.

  “I'm not the team shooter,” Norna said. “I intend to take the Rubilacxe and fly away.”

  “And I deal with it all with this.” Golbert showed the implants in his huge hand. “You know that physical attacks are better for crossing barriers.”

  “Yes, that's why I have a knife in addition to my firearms.”

  Golbert laughed in response.

  “It's okay, I'm not going to die that easy, you know.”

  The young woman remembered when she met Golbert the first time, even after taking shots he still was fighting like a beast.

  “One day you will be shot somewhere that you will not be able to recover.” Warned Evelin.

  “If we can overthrow God, it would have been worth it.”

  Evelin admired man's determination.

  Norna warned that it would take time to reach their destination. Evelin noticed the modified wagon. Although it was quite old and falling apart, there were modern parts attached to the sides.

  “How did you do that?” Asked Evelin.

  “It was all Dice,” Tugsten said. "She's a genius and now we can walk freely underground in the city.”

  “But if we're going to invade the Ziggurat around here, they're going to find out our method of transport and they can track us to the base!”

  “We know that.” Jamin continued. “Sorom has plans in case this place is discovered. The safe house will remain protected.”

  “But we're still going to lose the tunnels. How are they going to transport the troops?”

  “I think we are in the final stretch,” suggested Tugsten. “Then we'll have to use the air. When we attacked your base, we just flew in and everything worked out.”

  “This revolution of yours looks like a house of cards: if a little thing goes wrong everything falls apart.”

  “You have very little faith,” Norna said, leaving the control table and joining the others.

  “You have too much faith in Sorom.”

  “He is a great man,” Golbert proudly announced. “I'm going to the end of the world for him.”

  Curiosity about Sorom's was once again surrounded Evelin's head.

  “He said that the three of you are the original members of the Agents. Maybe if you have an interesting Sorom story, I trust him as much as you do.”

  “I think someone's into the little boss!” Provoked Golbert.

  The girl tried not to be affected by this speech, however her acting ability was not her specialty.

  “It's nothing like that! I just want to understand what you see in him!”

  “Beyond that intense look and impressive muscles?” Asked Norna who generated more doubts in Evelin's head.

  “You and him... are you together?” Asked the young woman.

  Immediately the two founders began to laugh.

  “What's so funny?” Asked Evelin confused.

  “Nothing.” Replied Norna trying to remake her pose. “Maybe one day you'll find out. Just, can't I compliment my friend without having second thoughts? Now sit down and try to control your questions a little.”

  Evelin followed the order and spent the rest of the trip talking to Tugsten and Jamin. Sliger used to be quiet and give short answers when needed.

  After a little over half an hour the wagon began to stop.

  “We are arriving.” Began Norna. “The building is controlled by Kurtrick, so we shouldn't have a problem with the army, but we'll still be on the surface and have a time to walk there. Keep your eyes open.”

  “Let your more apparent weapons here,” Golbert continued. “We don't want to get caught with that kind of weaponry.”

  Evelin was not happy, but left her laser machine gun in the wagon, carrying only the All Tool and hidden pistol. She saw Tugsten putting on a glove up his machine gun hand, which he clearly didn't hide well.

  The group jumped out of the wagon and walked up a ladder. Evelin went up hoping to give on the surface, however, when opening the trapdoor, the darkness increased, and the smell was horrible.

  “It is a few meters of sewage to the safe exit,” Golbert said taking the lead. “I hope you don’t mind the smell”

  With flashlights it wasn't hard to see the way and Golbert and Norna seemed to know very well where they were going, not taking long to get to new stairs.

  Now, Evelin saw the city lights. The sun was already starting to set and the neon lights in the establishments and lights in the transports became increasingly flashy. Few people walked at ground level, but several cars on airways crossed constantly.

  Right away, they didn't see any army vehicles and didn't wait to find it. They entered a parking lot next door with a large man watching them coldly.

  He was as tall as wide, wearing a simple asymmetrical suit and with
the tip of a tattoo on display on his target neck. On his face there was absolutely no hair.

  “What is your purpose here?” Asked the man.

  “We have an appointment with Kurtrick,” Norna replied, “we came to shop.”

  The man nodded and went to an elevator.

  “Wait here,” he said, “I'll let you know when you can come up.”

  The six were waiting and with each passing minute the tension increased.

  “Could he be denouncing us?” asked Jamin worried.

  “Not likely,” Norna replied. “We are customers. Kurtrick is used to dealing with criminals. If he were to deliver all the wanted people who he does business, he wouldn't have many clients.”

  Another minute passed and Evelin turned to Norna.

  “I was thinking of one thing, if you could ask one more question.”

  Norna turned her eyes, but then opened a playful smile.

  “Go on.”

  “From what I understand, we have very little money to buy what we need.”

  “Yes,” Golbert agreed.

  “Does this Kurtrick know about our plans? Because if he works as an arms dealer, he might have a destiny he doesn't like. If we tell him we're going to take down God, maybe he wants to help us. For free.”

  “That's not going to work with Kurtrick,” Norna replied.

  “Why not?”

  “Because he's a...”

  Before Norna could finish her thinking the elevator doors opened and the man from before came along.

  “You may enter,” he said unceremoniously.

  The six of them came in and there was another man with all the hair shaved. He was wearing the same kind of suit and there was something weird with his mouth. It took Evelin a while to realize that he didn't have any teeth either.

  The elevator went towards the top floor and, with its glass walls, it was possible to see the interior of the floors. Decoration products of the highest levels were sold to high-class people. Each floor looked like the interior of a luxury mansion, with several androids acting as vendors for their wealthy clients.

  Evelin wanted to continue the conversation with Norna and know why Kurtrick wouldn't care about losing his destiny. However, with the strange man in the elevator she didn't feel comfortable asking.

  Just after the elevator passed cloud level, it reached his destination. The double doors opened, and the man made a sign to leave.

  Although no longer a store, the interior of the room had decorations as incredible as those sold, which made her conclude that Kurtrick was ostentatious.

  The toothless man didn't say anything, pressed another button and the elevator went back down, leaving them alone once more. This time, however, it didn't take long to be attended. A woman, also without any hair, came out of a door and asked everyone to come in.

  In the room there were five other people on guard duty. All with the same style as the previous guards and with cold expressions. Sitting at a table in the center, there was an android wearing puffy, colorful clothes. Evelin looked around confused.

  “Where is Kurtrick?” Asked Norna.

  “I'm right here! Can't you see?”

  The static voice emanated from the android in the center, with pixels forming a frowning face.

  “Is he a robot?” asked Evelin.

  “Is there a problem with that?” The voice contained anger in its tone. “And WE prefer the term ‘android’.”

  Once again Evelin was surprised.

  “You can ignore her,” Golbert said, “she is a new recruit.”

  “So, to what do I owe your presence? I was hoping to see Sorom, he begged a lot to get an appointment with me today.”

  “He is busy,” Norna replied, “but sends wishes for success to you.”

  “The success I already have.” Continued the voice with more emotions than Evelin expected of an android “I want to know what I can do to help you.”

  “Weapons.” Norna replied by going straight to the point; “Everything you have here now.”

  “What's the hurry?” Asked Kurtrick. “I can make orders too. The best items take a while to get.”

  “Well, we don't have time,” continued the pilot of the Agents. “We want everything you can give us now.”

  The pixels on Kurtrick's face quickly changed and formed a confident smile.

  “I don’t give things here; I sell. But let me see what I can offer.”

  He stayed static for a few seconds, and Evelin looked at the others waiting for something until he moved again.

  “I think I have something you're going to like.”

  One of the bald ones brought an android of a model very different from everything they had ever seen. It was completely black, and its head was oval, different from the rectangular of Gardenia.

  “He is an elite android fighter from Limbus.” Announced the trafficker.

  “How did you get such a thing from a neighboring country?” Asked Evelin and repented soon after.

  “It's my job, sweetie. I've got 20 of those. They can defeat an entire battalion on their own. And two hundred more standard combat androids from Gardenia. Another bunch of guns and ammo for months of war. We even have a laser revolver here. You really want everything? I'd charge a million, but since we're friends, I'm only going to make eight hundred and fifty thousand, what do you think?”

  Immediately Evelin strained her muscles thinking what he would do when he heard how little money they had.

  “How about five thousand?” Proposed Norna in all seriousness that he could pass.

  The android stopped for a few seconds before proceeding.

  “I think there was a failure with my sound receivers. Did you try to haggle for five grand?”

  “All right,” said Norna. “Ten thousand and we have a deal.”

  Kurtrick took a revolver placing it on his desk and all his security guards took his guns.

  “I can sell you that revolver for ten thousand,” Kurtrick replied. “Or shoot you if you keep with this joke.”

  “We have twenty thousand,” Norna announced. “That's all we have to spend.”

  “I may be a machine, but you're hurting my feelings. I thought Sorom was a businessman. I can take the 20 grand and give you some common weapons and ammo.”

  “We only have twenty thousand, but we need everything you got.” Golbert said.

  “Are you kidding me?” Said the android showing irritation in his voice; something that left Evelin confused “This is not charity, it's business! If you're going to treat me like this, you can leave and never come back.”

  The security guards took a step forward trying to intimidate them. Evelin saw Golbert and Norna looking at each other without ideas and decided to interfere.

  “Kurtrick, how much do you know about Sorom's plans?”

  The android analyzed the figure of Evelin and only then responded.

  “I know that they are against the God-Computer and want to fight it. I don't care what my clients do, if they pay well and unfortunately, you're not paying.”

  “What if I tell you that soon we will have contact with Air Temple technology? The Guardians' weapons are the most advanced. We give you the twenty thousand and you deliver everything you have, then we leave all the technology of the temple to you.”

  Once again Kurtrick stopped, calculating the information.

  “Even if it were true, what guarantee would I have?”

  “Our word is enough,” Norna said. “We never go against our word. It is a policy of Sorom.”

  “Oh, yes, because the Chaos Agents are known even for honesty.”

  “We can give you the location of our base,” Golbert suggested. “There is no greater guarantee than that.”

  “I prefer something more substantial, perhaps the daughter of the guardian Simeht.”

  instinctively Evelin's hand went to her pistol watching the android rising and heading towards er.

  “If anything goes wrong, I'll give you to your father and b
e a hero of history. If you win, I'll give the little girl back and you give me God's technology.”

  The bald guards raised their weapons surrounding the group. The agents also took their weaponry, prepared to defend themselves. Tugsten pointed his machine gun covered by a flaccid glove.

  “We don't negotiate people, Kurtrick,” Norna announced.

  “A pity, it is a very lucrative market.” Kurtrick continued without being intimidated. “You know you won't make it to the elevator alive if we start a firefight. I'm making a very generous offer.”

  Evelin saw in Norna's eyes that she really seemed to be considering the exchange and decided to act again.

  “It would not be good. If you arrest me, Sorom will pass my location on to my father. He's overprotective, he's going to come here with temple troops and inevitably end your trafficking scheme.”

  Once again, the women exchanged glances and Evelin concluded that the pilot would let her try to solve it before anything drastic.

  “Are you threatening me, little girl?” Asked Kurtrick. “I've dealt with Guardians of the Order before, and I'm not afraid of your father.”

  “The point is that you won't have to deal with anyone. We will win and, when that happens, you will have the rarest and most valuable weapons on the market.”

  Kurtrick's pixelated expression changed, showing a raised eyebrow evidencing his attention.

  “How can you be so sure that they will win? Fighting the whole country with your little group is suicide.”

  The truth was Evelin wasn't sure they were going to win. She did not believe they would even fulfill today's mission; however, she needed to convince the android and remembered what Norna and Golbert said earlier.

  “If anyone is capable of it, that someone is Sorom. There is no alternative to him other than to end the destinies of God-Computer. And you know Sorom, you know what I'm talking about is true. He will not stop until his mission is completed.”

  This time the android stayed longer thinking until he asked his security guards to keep their weapons.

  “You will give me this twenty thousand, the location of your base and Miss Simeht here will record a video saying that Kurtrick is a great companion and was helping her escape the Chaos Agents. In case any unforeseen circumstances happen, I can win favors from the guardian Simeht. And you're still going to owe me that, I'm not usually that generous.”