Sue pulled on her shadowsuit, becoming a void of light within her own home. The matte black material bent the light that surrounded her body. It tried to conceal itself. It tried to disappear.
Silhouette left the apodment and climbed into her personal transport, engaging the long-term transit mode. She darted away from her home and passed through the nearest public transport gate, her Ocu’s encryption hiding her identity from the data collection systems. She made her way to an interplanetary warpship en route to planet Fujisan. Her payment was processed when her transport joined thousands of others as they latched onto the underside of the warpship.
Within thirty minutes of her arrival the warpship had filled to capacity and launched into space. Despite it being a direct flight on the fastest public transit systems humanity had to offer, it still was quite a journey. Days passed while Silhouette slept in her transport, the ship cycling waste and nutrition as needed. Upon arriving at Fujisan, Silhouette and the other passengers were woken with a cocktail injection which was designed to simulate emerging from a normal night’s sleep.
Once awake, Silhouette disengaged her transport’s hold on the warpship and it self-navigated to the coordinates of Folami’s cottage.
If green could be an experience, this was it. Waves of vibrant grass danced across the rolling hills upon Silhouette’s approach. Nearer to the cabin, moss took over much of the landscape. The residence was tucked into a small forest of bamboo trees that were draped with lichen. A river of clear water meandered to and fro, lush algae covering its rocky riverbed.
The cottage itself was quaint, hidden, unobtrusive. Everything about it seemed natural, like it was born of the environment which encompassed it. The wooden building was nestled within a more dense section of the bamboo forest, surrounded by clusters of trees, set just a few feet off of the river water.
Silhouette’s transport landed next to two others which were parked on the property. She walked over to the entrance and knocked.
Her brother opened the door.
“Hey, Sue.”
“Hey, Davi.”
“Come on in.” He was dressed in jeans and a tanned bomber jacket. “You can take the mask off. There’s no one else around for miles.”
Silhouette peeled off her mask and let her hair hang loose, the translucent strands appearing green in reflection of the landscape behind her. “How have you been?”
“Good,” said Davi. “Better. I’ve gotten used to my position at the Presider’s side and I like following her command. The structure she sets for me is...nice. It’s helped me adjust to this new lifestyle.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Sue. “You and I need to see each other more outside of work. I’d like to show you around Erde sometime.”
“Yeah. That’d be great.”
The cottage had a simple interior. In the small kitchen, something was bubbling on the stovetop, producing a pleasant aroma of seafood and spices. Old books lined the shelves of the living area. Sue eyed the dining nook where she had seen Folami during their recent conversation and noticed that the window was open, letting in a soft breeze and the soothing sounds of the river.
“Thank you for arriving so quickly, my dear.” Folami exited from her bedroom dressed in a modest, lightweight brown dress. Her cherry blossom earrings sparkled as their diamonds caught the light.
“I need more notice before you rip me out of my life again, Leslie.” Sue hung her mask on a coat hook and sat down in a huff at the dining nook. “I have friends. I have other obligations. You can’t expect me to leave it all on whim. It’s not right.”
“I call upon you only as needed, Susan. There is a new mission for which you must soon depart.”
“Yeah, there have been quite a few of those lately. I’m losing touch with my life, Presider. Just tell me what it is this time.”
“Your attitude needs work,” said Folami. She walked into the kitchen and stirred a pot of soup that was simmering on the stovetop. She tasted it, smiled, and turned off the heat. “Where is your passion, Susan? You once believed in these missions, cared for our cause. Now you act as if they are chores.”
“This is work, Presider. Nothing more. I agreed to do whatever you said in order to save my family, my homeworld. And we did that. It’s done.” Sue took a sugar cookie from a plate on the table and bit into it. “Your goals have been met, too, you know. Everything we sought in the beginning has been achieved. Humanity is united as the Cooperation once again. What else do you want, Leslie? It seems like nothing more than a continued draw for power, a stronger standing in the universe. I don’t care for that. So yeah, the passion has faded. The money and perks are about all that’s keeping me interested in being your Enforcer.”
“I see,” said Folami. “You are free to follow your passions, but please consider my own.” She walked over to the dining nook and sat across the table from Sue. “You call what we do a draw for power? Well, you are correct. It is. Not for you or me, but for humanity. Yes, we have accomplished much in recent years, but we are still very small in the scope of the universe. If we are to propagate as a species we must continue to grow, to continue seeking conquest and expansion.
“My seat in the Senate is a form of protection for humanity, but what if the Senate were to collapse? Were to be overthrown? What if one of the greater powers in the verse decided that they did not care for the Senate’s laws and had cause to destroy us? There are many out there who could accomplish this, and some without much backlash from the Senate.
“There are forces around us which we are helpless to defend ourselves against. I want to change that. I strive to empower us all so that we can continue to thrive. Are you too selfish to care for our civilization, Susan? Do you not see that each mission you complete helps push humanity one step closer to becoming self-sufficient, to becoming free of fear?”
“Yes,” said Sue. “I understand all of that, Presider. Of course I want humanity to succeed.”
“Then you will continue to do as I request.”
“Yes, Presider.”
“Leslie.”
“Yes, Leslie.”
There was a silent pause. Folami kept her eyes steady, her gaze focused on her Enforcer. Sue looked down to the floor.
Davi cleared his throat. “Um, is it okay if I grab a bowl of this green soup?”
“You may,” said Folami. She stood from her seat and returned to the kitchen. “But let me finish kneading the amala first.”
* * *
The three of them sat together and shared a meal, the tension of the previous conversation melting away with slurps of the delicious crayfish and ewedu leaf soup. It was moments like this that warmed Sue’s heart, when she was left feeling as if she belonged to a family once again.
But moments were all they were. It never lasted long. Leslie had provided for Sue for as long as she had known the woman, but they had never loved each other. Once the meal was finished Folami rerouted all conversation to the mission at hand.
“The colonization facility on planet Thuun has gone silent,” said Folami. “The Cooperation has decided to send a reinforcement team of terraforming experts aided by an experienced mercenary squad to investigate the facility and assist in bringing it back online.”
“What about the resident scientists of the facility?” asked Sue.
“We have not heard from them in over a week. Because I know you desire the details I have compiled all the mission information on this strikedrive,” said Folami. “Once you load it into your Ocu you will have access to the dossiers of the Krajova crew, as well as all of the facts there are to know about planet Thuun and the colonization facility.”
“Appreciated. You know I don’t like surprises.”
“Look over the files this evening, and I’ll answer any questions you have tomorrow before your departure to Thuun. For now, Davi and I must head out to the Terraforming Studies Institute to meet with the specialists who will be accompanying you on your trip.”
“I don’t
work well with others,” said Sue.
“You have become better about it,” said Folami. “Meet me at the Institute tomorrow afternoon and I will introduce you to your crew.”
Folami and Davi packed their belongings into the Presider’s executive transport and left the cottage. Before the sun sank below the horizon Sue spent some time at the river’s edge, dipping her feet into the brisk water as she scanned through the documents in her Ocu.
The three terraforming specialists each had long histories which were full of prestigious accomplishments. Dr. Ami Fukumura was the acting head of the TSI and would be in charge of the other two: Dr. Bourdain, whose track record showed her to be a wizard when it came to machinery, and Dr. Carter who had created the modern bioforms which ignite the terraforming process.
The mercenary team was less noteworthy. They were a ragtag collection of runaways, dropouts, and other apparent layabouts. These weren’t your ex-military professionals the Cooperation usually hired. Why on Erde would Folami have authorized this crew?
Chapter Three
CONCEALED TRUTHS
SUE SPENT THE REST OF the evening chucking wood into the fireplace as she read through the mission documents, emptying half of a bottle of fresh palm wine before she called it a night.
In the morning, she put on her full shadowsuit and directed her transport to the Terraforming Studies Institute, parking it several blocks away from the university. She stuck to the shadows as she made her way to the campus, slyly maneuvering through the academic grounds unnoticed.
Silhouette used her Ocu to locate Folami by her bio-signature, an identity recording which combined a person’s heat signature with their biophoton emissions, vitals, and more. She found the Presider’s position within the Institute and moved toward the location.
Concealed by her shadowsuit, Silhouette monitored the Presider and the Krajova’s crew throughout the day. Dr. Fukumura and the other specialists conversed with Folami for several hours while the Krajova mercenaries loaded their ship with supplies and ran through a pre-flight inspection list.
The ship itself was a patchwork of previous ships— an abomination, really. It was a chunky thing, boxy in some sections and round in others with a couple of T-rex crane arms poking out of its front. There were four turrets that Silhouette could see, not a one with all of the same components as any other. A smuggler’s old lemon and a few trips to the junkyard gets you a ship on the cheap, I guess, thought Silhouette. The Krajova sure is a site to behold.
Close to departure time, Presider Folami walked out to the loading platform with Dr. Ami Fukumura at her side. Davi followed shortly after and behind him came Doctors Carter and Bourdain, each carrying a backpack and an armload of supplies.
The captain of the Krajova greeted the arriving party, his other crew members falling in line beside him— except for one. Roshni Kapoor pretended to fiddle with something in one of the outer access panels of the ship, staying at a distance from the gathering crowd, but close enough to be within earshot. Silhouette could see, through the zoom of her Ocu, that Kapoor had a hand on the strap of the rifle which was slung across her back. Such behavior was inappropriate in the presence of any politician, but this was the Presider she was disrespecting.
From the ledge above the loading platform Silhouette ran forward and jumped down to where the others stood, flipping through the air and landing next to her brother.
Several of the mercenaries reached for their weapons. “Leave your guns holstered in the presence of the Archon,” shouted Davi. He raised his arm cannon at the Krajova’s tech specialist, Harold Yost. Silhouette kept her eyes on Kapoor. Captain Dominski raised his hands, stepping between his crew and Davi.
“Woah woah,” said Dominski as he turned to face his team. “Lower your weapons, everyone. Now.”
His crew did as he commanded, Kapoor a moment after everyone else.
“Captain,” said the Presider. “I must apologize for my operative’s dramatic entrance. This is Silhouette, the final member of your assembled company for this mission.”
Silhouette put a hand on her brother’s arm, insisting that he, too, lower his weapon. She stepped forward, a dark figure which absorbed the daylight she touched. It was sucked into her suit, and then it vanished, causing wisps of shadow to unfurl from her form like blackened steam.
All members of the Krajova Team, mercenaries and scientists, stood intrigued with their mouths agape, unsure what to make of the fiendish thing that was before them.
Captain Dominski was the first to gather his wits. “You’re smaller than I expected,” he said. “Welcome to the crew.”
Silhouette said nothing.
“I understand that your identity will remain unknown to us at the request of the Archon,” said Dominski, “but I expect you to show respect to myself and my crew while you are on board my ship.”
“Silhouette,” exhorted Folami.
The shadow cleared its throat. “The pleasure is mine, Captain.”
“Jeden,” said Kapoor, stepping forward.
Silhouette turned toward Kapoor. “Excuse me?”
“Jeden is our leader’s title, not Captain. You will address him correctly while on the Krajova.”
Silhouette looked back over to Folami. The Presider held back a smile and nodded.
“Jeden,” said Silhouette as she turned her attention back to Dominski. “Yes, I saw that in your file. What does it mean?”
“One,” he said. “It’s a family tradition. We give język polski names or titles to what we value most in life.”
“Never heard the language before,” said Silhouette. “Must have faded to obscurity long ago.”
“Right.” Dominski stepped aside to properly address Folami. “Looks like we’re all set then, Archon. Anything else you need from us before we depart?”
“Complete your mission, Jeden, and bring my operative home in one piece.”
“The mission is not over until we return home,” said Dominski.
Folami nodded. “Silhouette, a word before you board.”
* * *
Silhouette and Folami walked away from the Krajova while the crew members began to board. Davi stood nearby, but remained outside of the conversation.
“Play their game, Susan,” said Folami. “Once you are planet-side you may leave them behind, but don’t cause any unnecessary trouble on board their ship. Understood?”
“Yes, Presider.”
“Good. And you understand your mission?”
“Yes. Uncover the cause of the colonization facility’s unauthorized shutdown and look into the supposed disappearance of the resident engineers and scientists. Bring back evidence of Daemon interference, if any.”
“The Cooperation proposes that the residents of the facility have disappeared. I believe that they are already dead. The Daemon are responsible for this, Susan. I know it. Bring me the proof so that I can show it to the Senate. That is your mission. Any questions?”
“Yeah. Why send me? This seems like a simple investigation that those knuckleheads can handle.”
“Something is wrong on Thuun, Susan. The Krajova Team and Dr. Fukumura’s specialists are for the public eye, something for the media to put out showing that the Cooperation’s leadership is working on the issue. They are expendable. You are not. Find the evidence I requested and bring it home. Do not fail me.”
Chapter Four
GHOST TROUBLES
DOMINSKI MET SILHOUETTE AT THE top of the Krajova’s boarding ramp.
“Let me show you to your quarters. I’ve put together a spot for you away from the others.”
Silhouette followed Dominski around the circular pattern of the ship. She could hear chatter in an inner layer of the vessel, but Dominski didn’t head that way. They passed by a number of ancillary rooms as they walked— the water hold, regenerative systems, and other starship necessities. Silhouette wasn’t surprised at where Dominski was leading her. She had studied the layout of the ship and had a good guess at wher
e she was going to be put.
“I emptied out this old broom closet and put in a cot for you. Nothing special, but it’s about the only private spot on the ship aside from my own quarters.”
Silhouette stepped into the small space. She hadn’t brought any belongings to unpack, so she just sat on the bed and waited for Dominski to leave.
“You don’t talk much, do you? Why don’t you come out and socialize a bit? You’ve kind of creeped out those doctors and my crew. They’re already talking like there is a ghost on this ship.”
“I’m not here to make friends, Jeden.”
“I’m not asking you to make friends. I’m telling you to get your butt out of that bed and become familiar with the crew of my ship. We’re all here for the same reason and we’re all getting paid by the Cooperation. Same team, miss Silhouette. Now come on, move it.”
“With all due respect, I don’t follow your command, Jeden.”
“On my ship you do.” He stepped forward and grabbed Silhouette by her arm. In response, Silhouette seized Dominski’s wrist and twisted it behind his back as she swung herself around his body. Dominski laughed. “Go ahead, break my arm. Then subdue my crew after they run in here one after another as I yell out in agony. What are you going to do? Kill us all and ruin the mission? I don’t think your Presider would excuse those actions, even from you. Now lighten up.”
Silhouette let go of Dominski’s arm and pushed him forward so that he fell onto the bed. “Fine,” she said as she turned to walk out of the room, “that cot sucks, by the way.”
She left Dominski behind and followed the sounds of the crew to the communal room. It was a large, circular chamber in the middle of the ship that acted as a gathering space and looked like it was used for everything from meals to meetings.
Bourdain and Carter were sitting at a table playing a game of chess. Mercenaries Yost and Nguyen were studying some digital diagrams together over by the data systems. Kapoor stood against a table next to a disassembled rifle: the same one that had been strapped to her back earlier.
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