Pax

"Nathan's one of mine. As for Mortimer, I've never seen him before. It seems that Nathan's taken a liking to him and wants to get him out."

Nathan sighed. Well, the whole story wasn't working out to well anyway.

"You look like a hardworking man. All this crap is out of your area. Let my man go, he didn't really do anything wrong did he? And why not let this crazy come too? I have a psychiatrist on my team. She's dealt with worse than this guy. And all this will go away. Like a butterfly, flutter flutter. Do you have butterflies on this planet?"

MaCurdy didn't show any emotion.

"Yeah, it's true. My wallet was stolen, that's why I couldn't give you any ID. We're apart of a bigger team, broken up in the bar fight. I can't tell you much more, but I can tell you that if you let us out, we may be able to prevent a major attack. This other guy, Mort, what'd he do? I mean, if it wasn't serious, every extra man's helpful. If you let us go now, I can assure you, we'll be saving a lot more lives than if you let us out later."

Nathan looked to Mort who looked extremely puzzled. The truth was, the kid wasn't very bright, hell, he was about as bright as a broken light bulb, he wouldn't be much help, but Nathan felt sorry for him.

 

"Hello officer. I’m Carter, and I'm here to bail my friend out. Fleet business. Top priority."

"Sir!" Nathan hollered at Carter. "What about Mort? He's here as well!"

"The three of us have been on an undercover mission. We've been trying to look for drug traders all around this system. The three of us got separated in a raid on a drug ship which led to a fight, that's how Mort got the scar. After the fight, Carter and I discovered Mort was missing. I guess he'd been taken by one of the druggies on board another ship. We landed on the closest living area to search for him, but were split up in a bar fight last night. Mort told you he was homeless because of our cover stories. Officer, I know this looks bad, especially with Mort and I not having our badges, but you need to let us out. Please..."

"I don't remember any of that," Mort said muttering and scratching himself. “There was only fire, just fire. It burned and seared flesh. The smell of yourself cooking, no knife has ever been near my face. What are we doing?"

"Nathan's one of mine. As for Mortimer, I've never seen him before. It seems that Nathan's taken a liking to him and wants to get him out. You look like a hardworking man. All this crap is out of your area. Let my man go, he didn't really do anything wrong did he? And why not let this crazy come too? I have a psychiatrist on my team. She's dealt with worse than this guy. And all this will go away. Like a butterfly, flutter flutter. Do you have butterflies on this planet?"

"Yeah, it's true. My wallet was stolen, that's why I couldn't give you any ID. We're a part of a bigger team, broken up in the bar fight. I can't tell you much more, but I can tell you that if you let us out, we may be able to prevent a major attack. This other guy, Mort, what'd he do? I mean, if it wasn't serious, every extra man's helpful. If you let us go now, I can assure you, we'll be saving a lot more lives than if you let us out later."

“You,” MaCurdy said looking at David. “are about the most reckless gung-ho son of a gun I know. If it really is true that you’re part of some top secret mission then you just blew your damn cover with that ridiculous story. I’ve been undercover before, you never do what you just did, ever.”

“And you,” MaCurdy was looking at Nathan now. “As far as I can tell all you did was steal some food to eat, probably because you couldn’t pay for some. Luckily for you nobody pressed charges, and legally all we can do is detain you overnight since you didn’t do anything else. We could hold you for curfew violation and a few other things, but what’s the point.”

“And you,” MaCurdy was eyeing Mort. “You’re weird as all hell, but there’s no law against being weird. You claim you’re not on meds or crazy, even if you were there are rules against involuntary commitment unless someone is a clear harm to themselves or someone else. Aside from you scratching at your shiner you aren’t self destructive. No one has pressed charges against you either.”

“I technically have the right and duty to detain you both until your release tomorrow. Ask for a hefty bail fee too, for the people and treasury of Ceres. Hell, I should lock up all three of you apes for making me work so hard tonight, but I won’t. I really hate paperwork, and I wanna see my wife and kids sometime this century. Get the hell out of my station and never come back. If I see any of you mutts here again I won’t be so nice. Piss off.”

 

“I technically have the right and duty to detain you both until your release tomorrow. Ask for a hefty bail fee too, for the people and treasury of Ceres. Hell, I should lock up all three of you apes for making me work so hard tonight, but I won’t. I really hate paperwork, and I wanna see my wife and kids sometime this century. Get the hell out of my station and never come back. If I see any of you mutts here again I won’t be so nice. Piss off.”

Nathan let out a sigh of relief. The three of them left the station. "Mort, you're with us for now," he said. He turned to Carter, "We can't just leave him here, he'll be killed. Besides, as clueless as he seems now, we might be able to get some help from him when we do our mission. Speaking of which, where's the rest of the team, and why are we heading towards a brothel?"

 

"We can't just leave him here, he'll be killed. Besides, as clueless as he seems now, we might be able to get some help from him when we do our mission. Speaking of which, where's the rest of the team, and why are we heading towards a brothel?"

"Before I answer that, allow me to beat the **** out of you," I whacked him lightly over the head, "Why'd you tell him we're on a secret mission? I told the guard we were a scout team sent ahead of the Athena. Official fleet, no funny business! Ah well, at least he seemed like a decent bloke. And I doubt he'll spill the beans. And I suppose it's not like theres anyone on our tail. I need a drink, but I don't got any cash, and I don't suppose you two do." I rested against a grimy pillar, and pulled the two aside from the dirty miners rushing to and fro.

"Now before I tell you whats what, we have this cat to deal with," I turned to Mortimer, "Listen Mortimer, you got a PDD? Good. I'll give you directions to our ship and you can er, wait there, till we get back. Its safe. You could come along but uh, no offence but we're being a bit sneaky here, and it doesn't look like subtlty is your thing, since you kinda gavea away Nathans cover story when he was trying to get YOU out."

I put my arm round Nathans shoulder and turned him away from the pale weirdo, "Now, we met up with Wolfs contact. The Spectre or something, very shady. She gave us the locations of this spy ring. 4 Guys. We're going after the guy who likes to hang around this brothel." I coughed, "Not my first choice you understand but uh, the others insisted. Trins been put in command whilst Pappy has run away with his old boyfriend or something to reminisce about the good old days. And Trin seems to be particularly pissed at me for some reason. Dunno why, who could hate me? Anything I left out... Ah yes, we got a new guy. Tall fella, African, cybernetic implants on his face. Doesn't say much." I glanced back to see if Mort was still there. He was. '****,' I thought, 'How am I meant to ditch this creep?'

While I let Nathan process all that information, I took out my notepad, and jotted down everything that had happened in the past few hours.

 

"Now, we met up with Wolfs contact. The Spectre or something, very shady. She gave us the locations of this spy ring. 4 Guys. We're going after the guy who likes to hang around this brothel. Not my first choice you understand but uh, the others insisted."

"I'm sure," Nathan replied. Carter turned back to Mort, probably checking if he was going. "I don't think Mort's going to be easy to get rid of. Maybe we could give him a task. Nothing too important." Carter was writing something down. Nathan noticed an assault rifle on Carter's back and a nano edged knife attached to his leg. "Hey, Carter, I dunno where you got that assault rifle, but I wouldn't take it in to the brothel, probably not the best thing in terms of staying low."

 

"Listen Mortimer, you got a PDD? Good. I'll give you directions to our ship and you can er, wait there, till we get back. Its safe. You could come along but uh, no offense but we're being a bit sneaky here, and it doesn't look like subtly is your thing, since you kinda gavea away Nathans cover story when he was trying to get YOU out."

Mortimer stared blankly at the man speaking now, Carter he thought was his name. They had been walking up towards a brothel. Actually Mort knew the place, simply because it was a great place to hide now and then when large crowds were after you. Mort pulled over his hood because he felt people were staring at his scar.

A lot of the things Carter and Nathan spoke about meant nothing to him in reality. He didn't actually pay much attention to the situation. He had heard it, but it didn't penetrate his brain. Mort was consider actually being quiet, but he could sense they were going to go into the brothel.

"There is a difference between trying to get someone out and losing the integrity of the person. Any smart and intelligent person could tell the scar on my face is from a fourth degree burn," Mort said an intelligence that was strangely something people wouldn't expect, but he still talked in that low sorta way.

Mort stared for a moment into the gutter and out of his vest pockets he took out a wallet. Wherever he got it from, it appeared to be a new accessory. He waved it in Carter's face for a second. It was a casual wave, not to close to Carter's face, actually Mort kept his distance, but he still waved it for a while. He was still staring at Carter with that creepy blank stare, that empty stare.

"I nicked this when we got out of jail. A man tall, black hair, blue eyes, walking to the next party," Mort said throwing the wallet at Carter's face, but taking the contents of the wallet for himself, "Man hadn't noticed, if he would we would be dealing with a screaming man. Subtle enough for you?"

Mort removed his gaze from Carter and then began staring at the cement. He began spinning around in circles for a second. He liked watching the grate spin the way he was spinning. He stopped spinning for a second and wobbled slightly.

"Weee!" Mort said quietly, "So, what do you need? Some way of getting inside? You know the bartenders, some of the prostitutes, and one of the bodyguards are informers? If you just go in there they will tell your target."

 

"So, what do you need? Some way of getting inside? You know the bartenders, some of the prostitutes, and one of the bodyguards are informers? If you just go in there they will tell your target."

I grabbed the wallet, shook it, peered inside. Empty. Damn it. I took a longer look at the boy, no mean feat considering his festering scar, "Look at you. Your spinning around squealing to yourself. We walk into that place with you, and we'll attract more attention than a hoolahooping hippo. Hehehe hippo... Ahem." I glanced at Nathan, and sighed, "Alright Mortimer. You can tag along until we reach the brothel, but then you stay outside, and go spin to yourself or something. And if your coming along, you obey my orders. Trin put me in charge... of myself at first, but now it looks like i have a little team."

I shook my head. A crazy pick pocket and a clean cut youngster. Lucky me.

 

Oliver rubbed the bridge of his nose. Leaning forward from his chair, he placed his elbows on the edge of his desk, and interlaced his fingers. He breathed deeply. In front of him was an open notebook, the pages filled with pictures of people and interconnecting lines, like a family tree. But this family was not related, they were drug dealers, convicts and delinquents. None of the photos caught his attention as he rifled through them. A knock on the door broke him from his search. He shut the notebook and tucked it neatly in a drawer beside him.

“Come in.”

The door creaked slightly as a short, stubby man with glasses stepped in, he had a boxy case in one hand, a laptop. He was one of the accountants that the Detective Squad relied on to keep information siphoning from the offices to the Ceres Police Force HQ.

“The results from ballistics came back,” he said, “The bullet didn’t have any recognizable markings that would allow us to trace it back to company that sold it.”

“Your implying that whoever fired it got it off the black market?” Oliver presumed. The man nodded.

The detective knew what that meant. The bullet was useless, one of thousands of unmarked ammunition that any two-bit criminal could get his hands on, effectively making the person who fired it a shadow in a pitch black room. Davis sighed, he would have to find another way to find his suspects.

“Is there anything else you need detective?” the accountant asked, taking his laptop from the case and placing it on his desk. It flickered to life. Oliver intended to use all the resources at his disposal to find these organ thieves, but something in the back of his mind nagged him that there was more happening in Ceres. He dismissed the thought.

“Yes, find me the list of police officers that were on patrol tonight. Would that take long?”
“Not at all!” he said, and began typing at a frantic pace. He looked up quickly at Oliver.

“Okay, according to the records there are 16 active officers” He said. Oliver winced, too many. Process of elimination.

“Could you cut that list down to only the officers who detained anyone?” Oliver requested. The man complied obediently.

“That leaves it to only one in this area. A umm, Officer MaCurdy.” He stated.
“Where?”
“The local jail, I can just patch the location to your PDD, if you’d like.”
“Perfect.” Oliver said, a hint of success in his voice. He stood up, throwing on his overcoat. That’s where he’d go next.

________________________________________________

20 minutes later

Detective Davis arrived at the station. He strode wordlessly to the front desk, to a guard who seemed somewhat pissed off, probably because they stuck him in the night shift. Oliver didn’t care, he wanted answers. The guard spoke up without looking away from the security camera sets.

“What do you want?” the guard said flatly.
“You have prisoners here, I need to see them.” Oliver said sharply, quickly gaining the guards attention.

“No prisoners here buddy.”
“What?”
“Well, there was. But they were released.”

Oliver’s face turned into dark suspicion, “On whose authority?”

"MaCurdy's."

"Call him. Now."The detective said.

 

"Alright Mortimer. You can tag along until we reach the brothel, but then you stay outside, and go spin to yourself or something. And if your coming along, you obey my orders. Trin put me in charge... of myself at first, but now it looks like i have a little team."

Mortimer stared blankly at Carter, but there was something suspicious in his eyes. Like movement that no one else could see. As if Mort was only pretended to not think. Gears and whistles were beginning to work. Mort's eyes became a little narrow as if he wear giving Carter a glare.

Mort went onto looking at the cement sparkles, but gave a half studied glance at Carter as if a response was brewing inside his mind. As if he were trying to stop the impulse to reply. Mort stared back at the brothel. He had been here, in that brothel once before. He had found his way in living in their janitors closet for a few days. Everyone in the brothel was nice to him, well the dancing ladies were the nice ones.

The men kicked him out immediately when they found him.

"The most dangerous things, are the things that do not appear dangerous," Mort mumbled probably low where maybe Nathan could have heard it, but not so much Carter.

Mort's eyes were not direct towards anyone and as he watched the cement his eyes twinkled as if they were smiling. And he wore a smug smirk on his face. He turned his attention finally back towards Carter the same boring emotionless face.

"Hello, my name is Mortimer, Mr. Carter it's a pleasure," Mort said as if he was wondering and lost.

 

"The most dangerous things, are the things that do not appear dangerous," Mort quietly muttered. At times, that kid creeped Nathan out.
"Hello, my name is Mortimer, Mr. Carter it's a pleasure."
And then there were times when he was just plain crazy.

Nathan turned to Carter. "So, what are we supposed to do if we see him? Hell I don't even know what he looks like!"

 

"Not yet, I'll rest before we start. I was asking if you ready to go scout the place out. Plus, I need to stop by a vendor. Neither of us are dressed to get into a club."

Well we should be received a rather detailed feed from Jerrome before we get there, and you’re not going to see much from scouting it out, it’s a club. On the outside, it’ll look like any old neon-light-enveloped bar.” Trin pictured it from the last time she was there.

The lights made the dark street glow five different bright colors, but once she stepped in there, it was very dark. Heat and moisture from the hundred bodies in there loomed in there; you could smell it, taste it, in the air. The only reason she gone there, around a year ago, was for a good one-night-stand before she shipped off for Earth. The dancing was okay, for a rough club of this sort, but she was more interested in the bar. The same would go for this return visit, especially if Johns is working the bar. It wasn’t often she got to see someone she knew. For the next few seconds she drifted off into thought about the place and the bartender.

Snap back into train of thought. Her eyes flicked back over to JJ, “Yeah…we’re definitely going to need some new clothes.” She looked at his rather loose-fitting clothes, then at her own that were somewhat tight, but just not the right style of course. “The tighter the better, at one of these places. Believe me, I know. Or actually,” she wasn’t used to telling a guy how to dress, “you could just go for the huge black trench coat. Then you’d be able to hold all those weapons you decided to drag along.”

Her mind slipped back to a year ago at the club. Some guy, she couldn’t see his face, was all over her at the dance floor, she didn’t do anything to stop him. He was her mark, she just needed to edge closer to him, and he’d do all the rest of the work. She was too drunk to notice she moved towards the wrong guy. It was likely she didn’t care. All she had to do was allow him to do whatever he wanted, and when the time came, she grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him out of the bar with her. Trin remembered seeing Johns’ face smiling as she did that. He knew what she was there for the moment she walked in. It was a good night. “Or just whatever ya find that works.” She wasn’t really looking at JJ when she said that.

"How should we enter anyway? Workers? Patrons?"

“Always as patrons. The worker’s there would know immediately if you weren’t one of them. Every one of them takes smoke breaks with each other for fresh air. They’d know right off the bat.” I can’t believe I just used a baseball expression. I can’t believe that sport is still around. Trin’s mind went back to JJ again. “Just remember to be as loose as you can there. The moment you start standing around on the side of the club staring into the crowd, that’s the moment everyone there will know you’re not there for the scene.” Discrepancy was vital.

Then Trin turned back down to her pistol, trying to find the piece she dropped. How did he sneak up on me? I can’t allow myself to be that completely caught off guard again, especially by someone when they’re tired. It was inexcusable.

 

"Hello, my name is Mortimer, Mr. Carter it's a pleasure."

"Likewise," I shook his hand, still fixing him with an odd glare.

"So, what are we supposed to do if we see him? Hell I don't even know what he looks like!"

Without taking my wary eyes off Mortimer I flashed my PDD in Nathans face, "Thats Franc Volton. Clear? Good." I stowed my PDD in my pack not breaking away from Mortimer's eyes. "Why do I get the feeling you ain't as crazy as you make out? Crazy people don't suddenly get urges to come on secret missions... Or maybe that makes them crazy. Either way I think your a bit more complicated than your making out."

I pushed past him, "Brothels this way. Lets go."

 

"Why do I get the feeling you ain't as crazy as you make out? Crazy people don't suddenly get urges to come on secret missions... Or maybe that makes them crazy. Either way I think your a bit more complicated than your making out."

Mort didn't continue his fixed stare at Carter after they shook hands, instead Mort found himself distracted by a leaf in the gutter. Poor leaf, musta fallen somewhere. Like from a tree, but wherever his eyes could go Mort saw no trees. How far had this leaf traveled he touched it not minding the words Carter said?

As Mort watched for a brief second as Carter showed who the man they were looking for. Carter pushed himself through Mort and Mort only stared at the man. Mort followed him, what else was he to do. His words stuck in his head. And things moved inside his metal casing.

"Well son, you're a bit more complicated now," the man paused and pushed up his glasses, "We wanted to incorporate a two body system, where machine and human worked together. How do you feel?"

The young man stared at the glasses fellow, didn't know what to think. Didn't know how to speak back. Didn't know how to comprehend what the man said. The man didn't seem to care if he answered or not. He was just some thing. A part of that man's intellectual property.

Would have it been best if he were dead? He didn't really consider it. It was never actually part of his thinking. But things stirred in his mind because they people were given him deja vu. Mort found himself passing Carter. They were probably halfway across the street by now and Mort held onto Carter's PDD.

"What is this?" Mort asked somewhat curious, "I saw you flash it at that guy....Nathan I think. And you asked me if I had one. Is it like GPS? I got one of those in my head ya know. GPS that is."

 

"I saw you flash it at that guy....Nathan I think. And you asked me if I had one. Is it like GPS? I got one of those in my head ya know. GPS that is."

I rolled my eyes and turned back to Mortimer. Then with a look of surprise snatched my PDD back. The sneak! I tilted my head, and prodded his chest, "If your coming along, you follow my orders. First order of the day, stay quiet unless it is very important. Importance is measured by relevance to the mission. Imaginary friends, imaginary GPS's, ramblings are not important. Second: DON'T Nick my stuff!" A second later I realised Mortimer was being serious, and honestly didn't know what a PDD was, I sighed and reluctantly handed it back to him, "Its like a computer phone. I don't rightly know the details, Im not a techie. I just know how to use it... Kind of. Nathan can fill you in on any other questions on the subject. Now saddle up, and follow me."

I was usually given to irritation, but incompetence always made me impatient. I guess it's because I've always naturally been quite intelligent, and anyone who didn't match up to me I always automatically presumed to be slightly inferior or not worth my time. Mortimer annoyed me though because I couldn't figure him out, and I had a sneaking suspition he was messing around with me.

 

"If your coming along, you follow my orders. First order of the day, stay quiet unless it is very important. Importance is measured by relevance to the mission. Imaginary friends, imaginary GPS's, ramblings are not important. Second: DON'T Nick my stuff!" A second later I realised Mortimer was being serious, and honestly didn't know what a PDD was, I sighed and reluctantly handed it back to him.

Mort only shook his head and was surprised to get the PDD back. Usually people who snapped back at him kept the things he took. Mort stared at it, it was strangely familiar only in the sense that he had in his head stuff like this locked away. It was if staring at a family member. It was strangely comfortable in his hand.

"Hey Carter," Mort said in his usual quiet tone, "Afterwards can we get something to eat? Mortimer is hungry."

Mort placed his hand forward to return the PDD to Carter.

"A lot of interesting things stored in there," Mort said handing it back, "If I come with you, do I get one?"

 

As they headed to the brothel, Mort began asking questions about Carter's PDD. "Its like a computer phone. I don't rightly know the details, Im not a techie. I just know how to use it... Kind of. Nathan can fill you in on any other questions on the subject."
"Wait, what? I don't know what any of this stuff is... I mean, I know a bit of extremely simple tech...stuff, but I honestly have no clue when it comes to how things like this work." Nathan turned to Carter, "So, what do we do if we see the guy?"

 

"Well we should be received a rather detailed feed from Jerrome before we get there, and you’re not going to see much from scouting it out, it’s a club. On the outside, it’ll look like any old neon-light-enveloped bar.”

JJ considered for a moment contradicting her, telling her that no amount of electronic monitoring will tell you the amount of lighting outside and inside, the state of the nearby shops, the degree to which a pile of sludge stinks and burns your lungs like fire, he remembered with a shudder. But it was a non-issue. This would just be a simple infil-exfil mission, right? No need to act like we were going to assault the place.

“Just remember to be as loose as you can there. The moment you start standing around on the side of the club staring into the crowd, that’s the moment everyone there will know you’re not there for the scene.”

JJ raised an eyebrow to her, And how will we stay 'loose'? His mind wandered again to the thoughts of Trin in a tight dress, this time gyrating against him. JJ knocked his head backwards against the wall, making an audible thud, trying to banish the thought. This is serious, get your head in the game. In reality, it would be best if they were to split up and cover different parts of the crowd in order to get a bead on the target, wherever he may be in that neon orgy. That would mean slimming down some equipment, a pistol in a shoulder holster at most, maybe a spare on one ankle and the tagger on the other.

He turned to say as much to Trin, when he was stopped by the look on her face. One of utter concentration with a self-critical eye as she pawed around on the ground for something. JJ saw a gleam on the ground not a foot away from where she sat and drew a powerful penlight from his pocket, illuminating the object, a piece of her pistol. No sooner had he shown where it was did she snatch it up.

JJ sighed and held the light over her work. "Do you always do things the hard way?" he asked.

 

Akinlabi was standing at the mouth of a dim alley. In the adjoining street, a much larger stretch for movement, people were coming and going, never glancing in his direction. Most were wearing long overcoats, meant to hide merchandise or armaments underneath, but for a couple of meandering woman; dressed by the bare minimum, their curves and features flaunted to attract clients. A man of nondescript features slowed his walking next to a blonde girl, wearing a dress so short one could almost see where her two legs met, and an orange ribbon tightly wrapped around surgically enlarged breasts. He was obviously nervous, but after a short exchange, the two left together into another alley, at the opposite side of the street.

"Everyone's a crook," the young man broke the silence, his voice a mix of sarcasm and carelessness. His role was to keep Akinlabi company, and unofficially supervise his actions, while Frank Stellar left to 'set a meeting'. The diamonds have obviously impressed him. With any luck, word of mouth would reach Rico Grieger, and he'd come out of the shadows to inspect any business transaction. Akinlabi could not see Wolf anywhere, but he was confident, not the least doubtful, that his friend was covering his back. And better unseen, he thought. He considered whether he should be nervous, being in such a notorious area, conning men who should normally not be trifled with. Strangely, he was incredibly calm; either he was a fool, or he was confident in his path. Still water do not ripple before the wind touches them. Edginess would only harm his cover, he decided.

"See that man going into that alley with the hooker?" The young man kept talking, pointing across the street. "You may not recognize him, but he's Earth's diplomat. Married too. Seems he got his hands on a good set of camouflage gear this time around," he smirked before concluding, "and a good set of legs, among others. I wouldn't have recognized him, but you see, it is all a matter of mannerism." The young man turned his head to Akinlabi, smiling proudly. "In my line of work, you learn how to read people. Doesn't matter what he looks on the outside, Mr. Third from the Sun still acts the same." He grinned, eying man and prostitute vanish where their adulterous actions would be disregarded.

Akinlabi nodded slowly, but looked toward the other side of the alley instead. "Don't worry," said his escort, "it shouldn't be much longer now."

 

As a light flicked on at the object she was fumbling for, her mind left the inconsequential man and Johns behind. Her eyes immediately flicked to that point and she grabbed at the same moment for the piece, quickly taking it from the light. Then it slowly moved towards what she was working on. She brushed her hand over her ear nervously, and fell back to work again. How did he surprise me again? I must really be out of it today. What she was thinking of previously had wiped from her mind.

"Do you always do things the hard way?"

Trin gave a short glance at JJ and then back down as she finished putting the pistol back together. “I was raised in a place where help cost a person. Sometimes it was a day’s worth of pay, other times it was engine backfiring because someone didn’t know what they were doing. We learned that everything not done yourself was a liability.” Then only one image drifted into her mind; a tall, powerful man, one who had given his life for a ship he didn’t even own, and the only person to truly understand Trin. Bryce Cambell, why did you have to go? Why did you have to let me go?

Trin’s hand shook and fumbled with the last pieces as she was putting them back on. She dropped the last one on the floor. “Damn it.” I can’t lose it now, I’m busy. She quickly snatched it up and slapped it on the gun.

She looked back up at JJ, even though his face was hiding behind the light. “Don’t take offense by it, but I will never ask for help unless I absolutely have to.”

 

"Afterwards can we get something to eat? Mortimer is hungry."

"Mortimer doesn't get fed, if Mortimer speaks in third person," I chided him.

"If I come with you, do I get one?"

I took my PDD back and said "I thought you said you had one in your head? If you come, do as I say, and stop rambling on, you can have all the PDD's in the whole goddamned universe. Nathan give him yours as a taste."

"So, what do we do if we see the guy?"

Without bothering to look at him, once more as I did with my PDD I whipped my tagger out, waved it in his face, and shoved it away again all the while keeping my eyes on Mortimer, "What I do is tag him. What you do is get laid, thats an order Nathan. What Mortimer can do is... Erm... OH!" I pressed my ear communicator, "Hey everyone JJ, Trin, Pappy, meet Mortimer. I managed, and don't ask me how, to suddenly have a team of three, so he's gunna say a few words to tell you about himself."

I switched the communicator off, and sniggering like a schoolboy handed it to Mortimer, "Quick Mortimer, say something Mortimerish! Like you did before," I glanced at Nathan and shrugged, "What can I say, I'm a child at heart. This is gunna piss Trin off so much!" Still laughing I gestured for them to follow, "Walk and talk Mortimer!"

After rounding the next corner, we saw the brothel, it's windows draped with silk red sheets. It's clean white marble pillars stood out in stark contrast to the rest of the rust stained slums. I whistled in wonder, "Going for the renaiscence era brothels I see. Can't say it doesn't look good." I turned back to my cohorts, and pointed at Nathan, "Ok. Get laid," I pointed at Mortimer, "Piss about... Quietly," I pointed at myself, "Work. All clear? Lets go, enter seperately, so they don't think we're a group, I'll go first. Then Nathan, then Mortimer. And Mortimer when your done with my communicator, give it back to me... subtly. Better yet, I'll come to you. Lets roll people."

 

"Mortimer doesn't get fed, if Mortimer speaks in third person," I chided him.

"Sometimes I like third," Mortimer said.

The quick and yet emotionless response would probably get a double look from Nathan and Carter. After all Mortimer hadn't really shown that he could be quick thinking, but then suddenly he came back with that. He fiddled around with his hands.

"I thought you said you had one in your head? If you come, do as I say, and stop rambling on, you can have all the PDD's in the whole goddamned universe. Nathan give him yours as a taste."

"So PDD is the same as GPS?" Mortimer asked.

Mortimer took a moment and placed his hands on his scar for a second.

"Cause I can't make calls in my head," Mort said.

The man named Carter suddenly began to talk to people in his head. All he did was press a button and he was allowed the ability to communicate with people. Maybe Carter was the same as him. Maybe Carter wasn't. Maybe Mort was thinking to much. He wondered if he were wondering to much or if he were wondering just the right amount of wonder.

"Piss about... Quietly,"

"I don't know have to use the restroom, yet," Mort said.

 

"What can I say, I'm a child at heart. This is gunna piss Trin off so much!"

"Sounds like you've got a death wish buddy."

The three of them finally reached the brothel.

"Going for the renaiscence era brothels I see. Can't say it doesn't look good."

"David Carter, the brothel expert."

"Ok. Get laid,"

"Will do."

Nathan entered the brothel. A girl walked by and smiled at him. Nathan scanned the room, trying not to be suspicious. He looked around to find that Mort and Carter had gone off their own ways somewhere. Nathan saw a man walk by about ten metres away. He was bald and had a slight beard. The man quickly entered a room.

He turned his communicator on.

"Carter, I'm not sure if it's our guy or not, but a bald guy with a slight beard just entered a room about ten metres away from me."

 

"All I'm saying is, there are other options besides turning yourself in to the wrong gungho types and getting a good ass chewing before going to a military prison."

"I only ever considered it outta boredom, not guilt." Dog took one more sip, and set the unfinished drink down. I guess now's not the time t' get sh**faced. "Living on an asteroid ain't as glamorous as it sounds. But now that you've shown up, things aren't so boring." Dogface looked around the cramped quarters. "Make yourself comfortable. We ain't gonna be able to find yer boy anytime soon. Cop's are pretty serious when it comes to curfew." Dog spoke as a man who knew from experience. "They have no problem usin' them little batons." He rubbed the back of his head as he recalled the incident with Sergeant Whitmire. The bastard didn't fight fair. "Oh well, we'll find the kid soon enough. They got cameras all over. We can have em' check the footage in the mornin'."

****

"Nathan located. Police station. I'll handle it."

Dogface dropped from his pull-up bar. "Who the..?" Oh, it's his PDD. Pappy was still in the head. "Hey, pinch it off old man. They found yer stray!"

When Dog went UA he kept what gear he had on him. He originally intended to sell it, but every time the thought occurred to him, he decided against it. "I knew that s*** would come in handy." He headed to the back room where his mining gear was stored. There was a strongbox next to his tool cabinet. What the hell was the combination again? "Oh yeah." Dog keyed in the combination and opened the box. "Hello ladies."

OOC: I can't add more tonight. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

Through the press of sweating half naked bodies, I spotted a bald man with a matted beard entering a side room, lead by a scantily clad busty android. I briefly checked my PDD photo, and instinctively reached for my communicator, "Thats our guy, just moving off- ****," I cursed remembering I had given my communicator to Mort. A quick scan of the joint didn't reveal him, so I quietly ducked into the room after Franc. He was sitting bleary eyed on a lavish sofa, while the android stood over him slowly peeling away what little clothing she wore. A look of fury came over Franc when he saw me, and thinking fast, I adopted a stagger, "Thish ishn't the bathroom!" I slurred in a confused manner.

"**** off," He said, his unfocused eyes betraying his own genuine intoxication.

"Right away shir," I obliged, before tripping over, falling onto Franc. In the brief struggle that followed, I whipped out my tagger, and jammed it at the back of his cloak pulling the trigger. Mission accomplished.

"Gerrof me!" He blurted angrily shoving me into the stunned stripper. I reached out to stop her from falling, and winked at her, "pretty thing aren't you. Whatsh a girl like you doing in a plashe like thish?"

She blushed, and my cheeks were soon burning red after Franc smashed his fist across my face. "RIGHT! Letsh go then!" He demanded.

The room spinning I stumbled backwards apologising, "Im shorry shir, shorry!"

"You will be boy," he swung at me again, and was astonished when I gripped his arm, and twisted it around his back eliciting a cry of pain from Franc. Seven years of martial arts training evident in my movements, I grabbed the scruff of his shirt, and pushed him through the cheering crowd who were lusting for a fight. I threw him through the doors into the dirt, where he lay sprawled. His small eyes narrowed, "You ain't drunk."

"And you ain't stupid, clear off," I commanded.

He shakily got to his feet, and seemed to be slinking off when he suddenly howled a challenge and hurled himself at me. I deftly doged to the side, and gave him a humiliating kick in the rump much to the amusement of the onlooking crowd. He then whirled around and approached more slowly his fists raised like a boxer. I sized him up, 'street brawler' I thought, 'easy.' My confidence came from the knowledge that he wouldn't kick, whereas I would, this fight would be over before it began. I did admire how he hadn't totally lost his temper. Most would simply continue the clumsy charge he had accosted me with the first time.

He came closer, and when he was just too far away to punch me, but just close enough for me to kick I raised my leg sharply, and booted him in the teeth. Once again he fell to the ground, although this time he looked to occupied with finding his bloodstained teeth to keep fighting. The crowd whooped and jeered, and to keep up pretenses I said allowed, "Even off duty I don't get a break!"

I then whispered in Franc's ear "I'll cya down at the station sometime bucko. Stay outta trouble, or I'll have ya in cuffs before you can say 'Please don't kick me in the mouth again sir- OH THE PAIN hehehe' "

I turned back to the assembled crowd, some of whom who were now exchanging money with others. It seemed some bets had been placed, and a lot of unhappy faces showed that bets on the grizzled tough guy currently looking at a six figure dental bill had been in the majority. I identified Nathan and Mort in the crowd. Taking back my communicator I said, "we're done here guys. Mort you with me. Not you Nathan, you still haven't accomplished your objective but I think I can help you." I turned back to the crowd, spotted a cluster of the strippers, one of whom was the one Franc had hired.

"Sorry bout that Miss. But my friend here is a paying customer, and is as gentle as a mouse. I hope that'll make up for it," I pointed her towards Nathan, and she strutted that way, her hips swaying. I grinned at Nathan, and forwarded him the coordinates of Spectres underground base "Have fun boyo!"

Then chuckling to myself, I cheerfully walked back towards the base, "Franc is tagged, and is missing quite a few teeth. I'm coming back to base... Nathan... he might be a while."

 

No answer. That wasn't like Carter. He had an objective, he would be listening intently for any news on it. Nathan looked around. No sign of Mort or Carter.

"Thish ishn't the bathroom!"

Nathan whipped his head around in time to see Carter stumbling in a drunken slur. He hoped to God that this was an act. Careful not to give away their identities, Nathan slowly approached what was now becoming a fight with an audience. It soon became evident that Carter was surely not drunk when Franc ended up on the ground. Nathan noticed Mort in the audience and made his way to him. Voltan was tagged and the three of them began leaving.

Not you Nathan, you still haven't accomplished your objective but I think I can help you."

Carter approached a stripper and began talking with her pointing back to Nathan. He left, promising to forward the coordinates of the team's base. The stripper made her way to him before Voltan stopped her.

"I paid for you, you're mine," he said roughly. Then, making sure she didn't move, Franc made his way to me, his mouth still bloody.

"Look kid, your pal might have been a good fighter, but I know a scrawny little bug when I see one. Get out of here before I squish you into the ground."

"OK. Let's just forget about this..." Nathan said. He began walking away when Voltan stopped him again.

"Kid, these teeth ain't gonna pay for themselves."

"No. Teeth aren't intelligent, that's good observation there buddy." Nathan replied sarcastically.

"So pay up!" Voltan was angry now, the veins on his head growing

"Look, I've got no money, I'm very busy, let's just drop this and calm down." Nathan replied. A fist slammed into Nathan's cheek, Voltan's fist.

"You too busy to fight?"

Nathan stumbled back, keeping his eye on Voltan. "I don't exactly think you're in the position pal." he answered. Another fist hit, this time from somebody else. Nathan turned to the new threat. A big guy with a small head. Voltan must've hired him with his job. Even though Voltan was hurt, two on one was bad odds for Nathan. He needed to take out one of them first so he could face his enemy at all times. Nathan stepped to the side, dodging the big guys second punch and ducking. Voltan, who was attempting a punch at Nathan, instead hit the face of his guard. Nathan elbowed Voltan in the stomach, temporarily stopping him from doing anything. The big guy was on the ground now. Nathan put another kick in to get him out of the fight. Now it was just Nathan and Voltan. Voltan was already on the floor, nearly out as well. The crowd stood behind Voltan, with Nathan facing them, so when Voltan quietly pulled the gun out of his jacket, nobody but Nathan knew. Voltan gave Nathan a look that said go outside, wait there.

Voltan picked himself up from the floor, Nathan now outside, and slid his gun back into his jacket. Meanwhile, Nathan tried desperately to get his communicator to work. A beep and a strange ringing sounded, it was on and working on Carter's network.

"Carter. Things didn't go quite as planned. Voltan came back for another round, he's coming for me with a gun. He won't kill me, he would have already done it, but any help from you two would be great."

Voltan stepped out and told Nathan to move around the back of the building. Nathan followed obediently, his hands in the air. His only hope now, was Carter and Mort.