“They’ve done fine. They made that slick arms dealer go to ground. Impressive.” Kalei took another sip of her tea. “But I have to admit I’m a little annoyed. I was ever so close to figuring out who he really was. I suspect he’s a lot more than a simple criminal, or even a not-so-simple criminal. No one shows up and builds up that kind of rep in only a year.”
“He’s an old man who’ll die sooner rather than later,” Alina suggested. “It doesn’t matter if he’s a super-criminal. I’m more worried about some of the younger terrorists he’s helped along the way.”
Kalei let out a dismissive snort. “So you sent two cops to hunt on the Moon? As impressive as they are, I’m not convinced it wasn’t a mistake. They’re used to dealing with a different kind of threat.”
“That’s not true. They get things done, and more importantly, they cause things to happen. Don’t you see, Kalei?” She eyed her friend.
“What am I supposed to see, Alina?”
“They’re catalysts,” Alina stated. “Erik thinks he’s Cassandra, but he’s not. I believe in him, and even if some of my superiors don’t want to prioritize his concerns, that doesn’t make them wrong. A lot of things have started moving since he returned to Earth. Whoever killed his unit made a mistake. They should have finished him off when they had the chance. And Jia might be young, but she’s a rabid dog when she’s on the hunt. I’ve never seen such a well-matched pair.”
“But they’re wrecking balls. Both of them.” Kalei huffed and set her cup on the end table. “They’re worse than that. Rabid dogs? They’re not even that. They’re starving Zitarks dropped into a vat of meat.”
“Thanks.” Alina grimaced in disgust. “That’s an unpleasant image.”
Kalei wagged a finger. “Something being unpleasant isn’t the same thing as it not being true, darling. Those two detectives lack the subtlety needed for ghost work. They’ve already proven it. They were supposed to keep a low profile, but they couldn’t even fly here without drawing attention to themselves. Even with the local authorities trying to keep things quiet, it’s leaking out.”
Alina laughed. “It wasn’t like they asked for their transport to be hijacked. What did you expect them to do, sit there and just wait for the terrorists to rendezvous? The true hero doesn’t seek fame and glory. True heroes act when they’re needed.”
“Heroes?” Kalei scoffed. “No such thing in this universe.”
“That might be true, but I don’t think it matters. You think they’re not good choices because they draw attention, but that’s one of the reasons I’m interested in them.” Alina offered a slight grin. It was hard to contain her excitement.
She hadn’t intended to disrupt Kalei’s operations on the Moon, but Erik and Jia were already proving themselves.
The short-term damage would be worth the long-term rewards.
Alina hadn’t been sure before. Even though the two detectives had often gone off on their own in their investigations, in Neo SoCal, they still had a safety net—a good captain and an increasingly less corrupt department willing to help them. She needed to be sure they could operate when they knew they wouldn’t be able to call an army of cops for backup. If they were going to be useful to her and her superiors, they would need to learn to make do with the help of a few interesting toys and a lot more personal danger.
“I don’t understand why them making a spectacle of themselves is a good thing,” Kalei countered.
Alina half-closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. “You know why I love mythology so much?”
She eyed her. “I don’t understand what this has to do with those two.”
“You’ll see. Just answer the question.”
Kalei considered the question for a moment. “You like mythology because it’s full of sex and violence?”
Alina shook her head. “It provides anthropomorphized symbols of meaning that easily stick in people’s minds. Stories that can change their hearts.” She flicked her wrist toward the ceiling. “We’ve lost a lot of that in our modern culture, or we’ve let other, darker stories blind us.” She clenched her hand into a fist. “Everyone’s dancing around conspiracies, insurrectionists, terrorists, Talos, whoever. There are too many people in the government unwilling to admit how bad things often are because they’re worried about the UTC looking weak. And why does the UTC look weak?”
“We lack stories.” Kalei shrugged. “Isn’t what you’re talking about a synonym for propaganda?”
“No. I want true symbols. A lot of people have implicitly accepted that the darkness and corruption will win. Even those who don’t add to it try to look the other way. That’s how the lie of Earth as a perfect planet can be maintained. People like Erik and Jia bring the lie into the light and force us to reckon with it. They demand that everyone stare at the truth.”
Kalei sat down on a tan couch, not full-sized, and thus better able to fit inside the unit. “But isn’t that a bad thing? If people believe things are messed up, won’t they just get more worried when they see that on the news? It’s not like we ghosts spend all our time trumpeting the people we take down.”
Alina grinned and spread her arms wide. “Think about mythology. It’s filled with stories of horrible monsters and deadly beings, but it’s also filled with heroes who slew those beasts or flawed men and women who could make up for mistakes with heroism for a greater goal, like Hercules. Sure, we live in different times, and the age of heroes is long past, but authentic champions kicking ass in public—people like Erik and Jia—sends a message to everyone that there might be a lot of darkness, but the good guys are strong, too. Good can win.”
Kalei shook her head, her lips pursed tightly. “It doesn’t sound like you’re trying to recruit new ID agents, then. If those two become like us, they can’t be big symbols of hope. Some of us need to operate from the shadows.”
“I’m not, and I don’t think this job will be enough, but it’s the start. I need their strength. No, the UTC needs their strength. And you’re right—their very strength will cause people to continue going after them, but that requires those same people to stop hiding.” Alina scoffed. “Ghosts like us creep around in the shadows doing what we need to do, but that means we’re never shining a full light in the darkest corners and forcing the enemies of the UTC out.” She slapped her palm on the wall. “And I’m not going to let the UTC die a slow and painful death because everyone’s more concerned about covering their own asses than taking a chance.”
Kalei blinked a few times, a thoughtful expression settling over her face. “And do they realize what you’re doing? You’re dangling them as bait for some dangerous people, darling.”
“They’re not the kind of people who will run from danger,” Alina insisted. “The reason I’m interested in them is that they’ve spent their time together running toward trouble. And they are just the people we need to smoke out people far more dangerous than Marius Barbu.”
Kalei slid her hand across the cushion. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I.”
Jia’s time on the moon had reinforced that even though it was close enough to be seen at night and had been settled for almost two hundred years, it was startlingly different than Neo SoCal. Many minor things stood out, such as the lack of full flitters zooming around in huge rivers of metal. Even in the Shadow Zone, tall buildings were the norm, whereas in Chang’e City, squat, deep, and long structures dominated. She was surprised by how many buildings had half or more of their levels beneath the ground.
Not everything was different, though. Where there were buildings, there were alleys.
Jia laughed at the thought as they passed through a narrow alley in a dirty part of the city. Trash was strewn about the alley, and the building exteriors needed a deep cleaning.
“Moon air getting to you?” Erik asked.
“Something like that.” Jia tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Someday, it might be nice to visit here on a real vacation.”
“A little travel convince you that you’re missing stuff?”
“I suppose.” Jia offered a small shrug. “Not that I want to leave the Solar System anytime soon.”
A hard thud sounded from near the front of the alley. A soft groan followed.
“You see, Frankie, that’s the problem,” a man shouted. “We’ve been very patient with you, and you had to be disrespectful.”
“P-please,” groaned another man. “I can pay him back. I just need more time. He said I had two weeks, and it’s only been one. I already have half the money. I’ll send it right away.”
“Nah. It ain’t going to work like that. He’s got to set an example. He changed his mind about the extension.”
Erik and Jia jogged forward and turned the corner. Five muscular men stood around another man lying on the ground. The man on the ground’s face was bloody, and he clutched his arm.
In Neo SoCal, such a brazen mugging would have only been possible in the Shadow Zone. There would have been too many cameras and drones around otherwise. Jia had noticed that Chang’e City had far fewer drones and cameras.
At least, none that were obvious.
One of the men turned toward Erik and Jia.
She wanted to laugh at his ridiculously long waxed mustache. He could choke someone with it. It must have been a fashion trend among the thug set in Chang’e City since she’d seen more men with that kind of facial hair in the last few hours in this part of the city than she’d seen for most of her life.
Several of his friends had similar mustaches, but none achieved his size.
“This ain’t your problem.” King Mustache grunted and motioned for them to continue down the otherwise deserted narrow street. “Mind your business.”
Jia sighed and shook out her hands.
She hadn’t even brought her badge to the Moon, and they were in theory supposed to be keeping a low profile. The authorities were doing a decent job of downplaying their involvement in the hijacking, but too many public heroics would make their presence known and complicate their mission.
All that didn’t mean she intended to walk past this. There was no way she could ignore a crime in progress, and if she called it in, the criminals would scatter.
For all she knew, the local PD turned a blind eye.
“Thank you, Alina,” she whispered to herself, touching her face. The disguise simplified things.
Erik gave her a sidelong glance. Jia returned a shallow nod and stepped forward after he inclined his head toward the thugs.
“Why can’t he have another week?” Jia asked. “I’m sure he’s an idiot who borrowed money from someone he shouldn’t, but if he’s already gotten half in a week, he’ll have a better shot at getting the rest.”
King Mustache laughed evilly. “Don’t think you won’t have trouble just because you’re with your boyfriend.”
Jia grimaced. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“I’m trying to become her fake boyfriend,” Erik grinned. “But she won’t bite.”
King Mustache looked between them, his face contorting in confusion. “I don’t have time for this. I’m working. I don’t know who you are, so get the hell out of here before I decide to find out, and it hurts you.”
“The lady asks a good question,” Erik offered with a shrug. “It seems like bad business to take half the money when you can get all of it. Going back on extensions makes your boss look unstable. I don’t know if I’d borrow money from an unstable loan shark.”
King Mustache snapped his fingers. His four thug friends spread out, two stomping toward each detective, glowering all the way. The thugs stopped and raised their fists, murder in their eyes.
“You don’t want to do this,” Jia insisted, her heart speeding up.
King Mustache laughed and spouted a grievous insult to her mother. “I told you to walk away. Now you pay.”
She put up a hand. “If we take you down, can he have another week?” Jia asked.
Erik cracked his knuckles, giving her the side-eye. “That’s all you’re going to ask for?”
“This isn’t a mugging.” She explained. “I don’t even know if you can mug muggers, can you?” She gestured to the victim. “I’m just trying to give him a chance. I hope he reflects on his poor financial choices after this incident.”
The man on the ground watched them, his eyes pleading.
King Mustache’s smile faded into a deep frown. He pinched the bridge of his nose and growled. “It’s a shame to bloody that pretty face, but you have got to learn respect, woman.” He pointed to his present pains in the ass. “Take them out.”
Jia waited for the one on her right to step forward before snapping her leg up, crunching the man’s head. He fell backward, eyes rolled up.
Erik didn’t wait, he jumped forward, between them arms spread wide to clothesline them both, sending them down gasping for air. His arms had hit them both in the throat.
The thug near Jia swung his meaty fist. She jerked her head to the side, dodging the blow. “You don’t hit a lady!” She hissed. Her palm strike to the nose staggered him. Two more quick jabs and a roundhouse kick sent him to join his friend on the ground.
Erik finished his two opponents off with solid punches to their faces with his right hand. The backs of their heads hit the unforgiving street.
That left King Mustache.
He stared at them, mouth agape. He shook his finger. “You moving in on Boss’s turf?”
Jia rolled her eyes. “I don’t care about your employer’s territory, but for personal reasons, we’d rather not get mixed up with the local cops right now.” She pointed to their victim. “We don’t want more trouble. Just give him his week.”
King Mustache sighed and shook his head. “Whatever. This ain’t worth the hassle.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and turned around. “I wouldn’t try to take the Boss’s territory, whoever you are.”
Erik chuckled. “Don’t worry. We’re only going to be here a few days.”
“Good. The last thing Chang’e needs is more muscle.”
Jia knelt to inspect the downed men. They were all still breathing. She sighed.
The victim stood swaying. “Thank you.”
“Not being an idiot would be a fine way to thank us,” Jia reprimanded. “There won’t always be random people around to save you from loan sharks.”
He nodded and walked quickly down the alley in the opposite way the mustache king had headed.
“We should get going,” Erik suggested. “We can’t stop every random street crime in this city.”
Jia stood and dusted her hands on her pants. “I know, but it felt good.”
Erik grinned. “Yeah, it did.”
Chapter Forty
June 9, 2229, Chang’e City, the Moon, Founders’ Park
Erik swallowed the last bite of his sandwich, licking off one finger.
He leaned back against the park bench next to Jia and surveyed the reasonable or at least non-mustached crowds filling the statue-laden area.
A multi-tier fountain burbled in the center of a square of thirteen different statues of famous early lunar colonists. A ring of small trees enclosed a smaller circler of multi-hued granite and marked the edge of the park.
“Everything always tastes distinctive when you’re on a different planet,” Erik commented. “It’s got that nice post-butt-kicking seasoning, too.”
“Sorry.” Jia smiled sheepishly. “I couldn’t walk past it.”
“Neither of us could.” Erik shrugged. “And I’m not worried about annoying a few goons of a local loan shark.” He gestured to her face. “It’s not like we look like ourselves anyway.”
Jia commented, her face relaxing. “This isn’t technically a planet, by the way.”
“Huh?” Erik turned to her.
“You said earlier that everything tastes different based on the planet, but this is a moon, not a planet.” Jia set her half-eaten sandwich, a gyro still clad in its wrapper, in her lap. She glanced sidelong
at Erik. “You don’t question any of this, do you?”
“Moon sandwiches?” Erik shrugged. “I said it tastes distinctive, not bad. It could have used more sauce. That’s one thing I’ve noticed here. It’s like they’re afraid of sauce.”
“I’m not talking about our lunch.” Jia looked around. She waited until no one was close and lowered her voice. “I’m talking about everything we’re doing and why we’re here. It hit me last night how bizarre this is. I used my vacation time to go to the moon to investigate something, but not as a cop. Instead, I’m some sort of weird ghost freelance subcontractor.”
“Oh, that.” Erik scratched his cheek and shrugged. “I don’t see any big reason to care about it. So far, we’ve done more harm than good. Who knows? I might be regretting this in a few days.”
“We’ve also played fast and loose with a lot of rules. I’ve been doing that a lot more since I met you.” Jia stared at the false sky, eyes narrowed. “I’m not saying I regret anything I’ve done, but I can’t ignore it either.”
“Rules and even laws aren’t the same things as right and wrong. You’re more educated than I am. I’m sure you could sit there for hours listing the unjust garbage governments have done in the name of the law.”
“That’s…true.” Jia frowned. “But if we do whatever we want, don’t we risk becoming what we’re fighting?”
Erik grinned and shook his head. “Nope, we don’t. You say it all the time—antisocial. Isn’t that what we’re really worried about? People who don’t care about others? I’m a cop, and I used to be a soldier. I’m not saying I don’t care about law or order, just saying you always have to remember the law’s supposed to serve the people and not the other way around. I’m sure plenty of those corp bastards we’ve smoked out know how to use the law to their advantage, so I’m not going to lose any sleep over playing fast and loose on occasion.”
Enlightened Ignorance Page 31
