by M. K. Gibson
Or were they still here?
Eric pulled his concealed sidearm from its holster at the small of his back and readied the weapon. Holding his breath, he listened. Nothing was moving. But the smell was definitely there. A mix of smoke, drugs, gun oil, and blood.
His phone rang. Again, it was Cass. Eric answered the call, switched to speaker phone, and set it on his table.
“Hey there Cass.”
“Oh sweet Christ,” Cass said.
“Uh huh,” Eric said. Something, or rather someone, was moving down the hall, back towards his bedroom. “Something wrong?”
“Both Jessie and I were attacked tonight.”
“That’s nice,” Eric said, peering down the hall.
“Nice?!”
“You called her Jessie. I knew you two would hit it off eventually,” Eric said. In the dark of the hall, he saw a pair of glowing dots. Someone with night vision goggles. But they weren’t moving. They were watching. Then he saw the red flash of a laser sight. Eric sighed.
“Listen idiot, if they came for us, they may come for you too!”
“More than likely,” Eric said, looking slightly over his shoulder. Someone was there, stepping out of the closet by the front door.
“Well, get out of there!”
“Cass?”
“Yeah?”
“They’re here.”
“Hide! We’re on our way!”
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Eric said. The second figure behind him pumped a shotgun.
“Was that a shotgun?”
“Yeah. Cass, I think I’m screwed here. Love you girl. Never change.”
“Arby!”
Eric touched his phone, ending the call. “Okay assholes, let’s do this.”
The shotgun fired.
********
14 May - 10:00 pm
1st Precinct Detention Facility, Interrogation Room 3, District of Axis Mundi
“Yes, I knew that their identities would be discovered,” Messer admitted. “But that’s not the only reason they were selected.”
“Oh?” Vulcan said, sounding skeptical. “I’d love to hear how you justify sending them to their death in the hopes of learning some information for a case.”
“It was necessary.”
“I’m sure it was,” Vulcan said. Again, the prick had a smile plastered to his face.
“My team was picked because of their resilience. Each of them is a survivor.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep,” Vulcan said.
********
14 May - 10:01 pm
Boreas Bungalows, Building #14, Apt. 404, District of Windport
“Arby? Arby!” Cassy yelled into her phone.
“What happened?” Freeman asked as she pulled out her own phone.
“He said someone was there. I heard a shotgun chamber a round. Then he . . . he said he loved me and hung up.”
“DeLeon, you good?” Freeman asked as she tossed something to the injured woman.
“Yeah,” Jessie said, catching the small object. Cassy saw that it was a stim pack. Jessie cracked it and inhaled the vapors. “I’m good.”
“Good. Gabby, you got the juice left?”
Gabby looked at her wand, shook it a few times, then shook her head no.
“Okay, backup plan. Cross, what’s Deacon’s address?”
“What? We’ll never get there in time!”
“Settle your tits,” Freeman said. “Address. Now.”
“1157 Old Oak Drive, over in Brightway,” Cassy said. “But I don’t care who you call, it’ll take too long. He’ll be—”
“Shut up,” Freeman said, tossing the woman a shotgun. She dialed her phone. “Hey, Freeman again. Need a three-person direct transport to 1157 Old Oak Drive, District of Brightway. Authorization: Messer 3-6-36. Roger, standing by.”
“Transport?” Cassy asked.
“J-just hang on,” Freeman said as she limped over to stand next to them. “This feels weird.”
“What does—oh!”
Cassy’s stomach lurched as she felt her entire body dissolve into nothingness.
********
14 May - 10:02 pm
1157 Old Oak Drive, District of Brightway
Eric dove for cover behind his couch as the shotgun went off. He fired off a couple of quick shots at the redcap down the hall, forcing him to dive back into the bedroom. Beside him, the top of the couch was blown off in a spray of buckshot and cushion stuffing.
“Hey! I get that you want to kill me,” Eric said, ducking down further, “but is destroying the furniture necessary?!”
Another section of his couch was blown off.
Eric sighed. “Fucking philistines.”
Getting into a squatting position, Eric turned and got his hands under the edge of the couch. With a grunting heave, he stood up fast, lifting the couch and flipping it towards the redcap with the shotgun. The cheap couch tumbled across the living room and struck the goblin creature, who tried and failed to dive out of the way.
“Just be glad it wasn’t my grandmother’s couch!” Eric taunted. “Gram-Gram’s plastic-covered monstrosity woulda killed ya.”
Eric turned back towards the hall to re-engage the other redcap. But as he turned, he only saw a muzzle flash.
A bullet hit his stomach.
Eric blinked. Stunned, he staggered back a step or two.
A second shot, this one through his right pectoral, forced him to drop to one knee.
A third shot hit his support leg in his outer thigh. The leg went out from under him and Eric fell to the hardwood floors of his home.
This is fate punishing me for running today, Eric mused. I knew exercise would kill me.
But he wasn’t going out on his face. Summoning everything he had left, he forced himself up to his knees. With a shaky hand, Eric tried to raise his own weapon in response. From behind, a strong goblin arm snaked around his throat while a hand grabbed his wrist. The redcap pulled back hard. The multiple gunshot wounds prevented Eric from finding the leverage required to flip the smaller creature over. He was simply held there on display as the redcap from the hall took off his night vision goggles and approached.
“Nothing personal,” the redcap said. “It’s—”
“If you say ‘It’s only business’, I swear I’m going to come back and haunt you,” Eric said. “And I’m not talking slamming doors and moans. No no no, I’ll come for you when you’re on the toilet or when you’re trying to have a phone call. You think you’re ever gonna masturbate in peace? Guess again. Good luck maintaining an erection while I’m ghost-singing ‘Barbie Girl’ for ell eternity, pal.”
The redcap aimed his weapon at Eric’s forehead. “Never mind, it’s personal now.”
“I’m still going to haunt you,” Eric said as he saw a flash of light and closed his eyes.
********
14 May - 10:03 pm
1st Precinct Detention Facility, Interrogation Room 3, District of Axis Mundi
Messer’s phone buzzed. Reading the text, he nodded. “It seems your boss arranged for some redcaps to go after my team.”
“I told you. He always has the last laugh.”
It was Messer’s turn to smile. “Yeah. But hiring redcaps assassins, even through a proxy, to kill cops, well . . . that kind of thing leaves a bigger trail to follow. It means he’s scared. So what do you think he’ll do to you?”
Vulcan’s smiled faded. “I’m in here.”
“I could just let you go,” Messer said. “Let the Laughing Man deal with you.”
“What about your team?”
“What about them?” Messer asked. “We watch each other’s backs. So it’s time for you to start talking about what you do know. Otherwise, you’re no use to me.”
“I . . . I do know a few things,” Vulcan said.
“Go on.”
********
14 May - 10:04 pm
1157 Old Oak Drive, District of Brightway
&
nbsp; When the world re-materialized, Cassy thought she was going to vomit. But then she saw Arby on his knees, shot and bloody. A redcap had him in a choke and was about to execute him. All traces of nausea were washed away in a wave of fury. From Arby’s kitchen, Cassy pumped the shotgun and aimed it at the head of the redcap who dared to hold a gun to her friend’s head.
“Drop the fucking gun,” she growled.
“What the hell?” asked the redcap who had Arby in a choke.
Beside her, Jessie held her own weapon at the ready, keeping it trained on the second goblin. Cassy had to give the younger officer credit. Despite being shot, the girl was tough. Gabby’s wand glowed, ready to fire some sort of spell.
“Hey Cass,” Arby choked. “Did I ever tell you that you’re my hero?”
“Not now, Arby.”
“I mean, not a lot of people come to the rescue in a thong.”
Cassy glanced down. “Yeah . . . that was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
“And I see you didn’t take my advice and go with the laser hair removal. Gross.”
“Drop the guns,” Freeman said, taking point as she walked into the living room. “No way out for you two. One of your teammates is dead, one’s alive. Pick which one you wanna join.”
“Thanks, strange lady,” Arby said. “Very soothing and in no way heightens the tension.”
“That’s Freeman,” Cassy said. “Jessie’s old partner.”
“The one that tried to kill her?” Arby asked.
“We’re past that,” Jessie said, while Gabby waggled her hand in “maybe” fashion.
“Hey there, New Girl,” Arby said. “You’re looking about as bad as me.”
Enough of this shit. Cassy crossed the space between them and put the barrel of the shotgun directly against the head of the redcap who had his gun on Arby.
“You shoot my friend, you die.”
“You—you’re a cop,” the redcap said.
“Technically we’re not,” Arby said. “And now that I have a closer look, yes . . . gross. Seriously girl, waxing doesn’t cut it.”
“Cross, we need them alive,” Freeman said.
“No, we need one alive. Hope the other one is the smart one.”
“Okay, okay!” the redcap said, pulling the gun back and holding his hands up. The second redcap released his hold and Arby slumped back onto the floor.
“Ow,” Arby grunted. “You know in the movies, how the cops shrug off bullet holes? Nope . . . they suck. I’m cold, Cass.”
“Hang in there, bud,” Cassy said, keeping the shotgun on the redcap. Jessie stepped in and removed their weapons. Out of the corner of her eyes, Cassy saw that Freeman had her phone out.
“Need a clean-up crew at this location. I’ll remain behind to guide them and hold the suspects. I also need an emergency medical evac for the three probational agents. Send them straight to Deacon.”
“Deacon?” Arby asked, confused.
Freeman smiled. “Enjoy the reunion.”
Cassy felt the magical energy surround her. She and her two friends blinked out of existence.
********
14 May - 10:05 pm
1st Precinct Detention Facility, Interrogation Room 3, District of Axis Mundi
“The thing about the Laughing Man is, he has reach,” Vulcan said.
“I know that,” Messer said.
“No, not just the lawyers. He has dirt on enough people that he can get them to do whatever he wants. Did you know I have a son?”
“No.”
“I do,” Vulcan said. “We don’t see each other much. But I love him. And the Laughing Man knows that. See, a lot of people are morally flexible when it comes to their families. And they will do things, anything really, to protect them. Even a couple of young cops.”
“My agents wouldn’t.”
“Not them,” Vulcan said as he opened his hand, revealing a vial of Vitae. The vial still had the evidence label on it.
The god quickly popped the top and downed all the drug. Immediately, he began to glow and give off heat.
“Tell my son I loved him.”
Messer gripped his knife just as the god exploded.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
15 May - 6:35 am
MORTAL Headquarters, Spear of Lugh, Medical Branch, District of Axis Mundi
Jessie woke up and felt . . . nothing. No pain, no weariness, nothing. Blinking her eyes open, she saw a soft light all around her. As her eyes adjusted, Jessie saw that she was in some sort of cylindrical tube, similar to a tanning bed. There were several long, looping coils giving off the low light behind some sort of dark plexiglass. But instead of feeling like an oiled slug, she felt . . . good.
Placing a hand on the tube, she pushed, and the top opened. Sitting up, she anticipated pain in her shoulder or leg, but there was nothing. She was wearing only her bra and underwear, and when she checked where she had been shot, there was only pinkish-white scar tissue.
“How the hell?” she said aloud.
“Because I do exceptional work,” a voice said.
Jessie jumped and nearly fell off the tube. In the corner of the dark room, sitting by several computer monitors, was a black man who looked . . . exceptionally familiar.
“Arby?”
The man smiled. “No. He’s in the other room.”
Looking past the dim light of the tube, Jessie could make out that the strange man did look almost exactly like Arby, but with some differences. This man, while just as tall, was thinner, had a shaved head, and had a short beard. He was wearing a lab coat and jeans.
She realized that he wasn’t sitting. He was in a wheelchair.
He glided over to her and extended his hand. “Dr. Derek Deacon. Agent of MORTAL, Science Division. Friends call me Deek.”
Jessie took the man’s hand in her own. “Jessie DeLeon.”
“I know.” Dr. Deacon smiled.
“Sorry for staring, but—”
“Yes, we’re twins,” Dr. Deacon said.
“But you’re so much . . .”
“Shorter?”
Jessie looked away, suddenly embarrassed. “N-no, I—”
“Relax, DeLeon. I’m just messing with you.”
“Yeah, you’re his brother,” she said with a slight laugh. “He’s mentioned you, but not that you’re an agent.”
“That’s because he doesn’t know. We haven’t spoken in years.”
She wanted to ask more, but didn’t pry. Looking over her shoulder at the tube, she inclined her chin. “What is this?”
“Advanced medical tech with just a hint of elvish magic,” Dr. Deacon said with a hint of pride. “Allows for rapid healing. Sadly, the effort to create them is time consuming and exceptionally expensive. But eventually, these will be mass-produced for the world.
“And Arby’s in another one?”
“Yes,” Dr. Deacon said, looking away. “Eric was hurt pretty bad. It will take him a while longer to heal.”
“Can I see him?”
“Of course. There’s a change of clothes there,” he said, pointing at a folded set of APD sweatpants, t-shirt, and hospital slippers. Jessie quickly donned them and Dr. Deacon led her out of the room into the hall.
“We’re in MORTAL HQ,” Jessie said, noticing the familiar large circular hallway made of interlaced weaves of light and dark wood.
“Yes. The medical branch,” Dr. Deacon said as they came to a room with an observation window.
Inside Jessie saw Arby in a similar tube. Cross was curled up in the chair beside him, asleep. “How bad is he?”
“If he’d taken any longer getting here, he’d be dead.”
Jessie looked down at the doctor. He looked at the reflection of himself lying in the tube.
“When he wakes, tell him . . . tell him I’m glad he’s on the team.”
“Why won’t you tell him?” Jessie asked. “I . . . I heard about what happened when you were kids.”
“Just tell him,” the doctor said and then w
heeled further down the hall, leaving Jessie standing there. A moment later, Freeman came to stand next to her. She was holding three to-go cups of coffee and handed two of them to Jessie.
“Morning. One for you and one for Cross when she wakes up. So, how ya feeling, Superstar?”
“I’ve been better,” Jessie said. She accepted the coffee but kept her eyes on Arby.
“You’ve never had to see this, have you?”
“Not this bad,” Jessie said as Arby’s words ran through her head.
We hold the line between chaos and order. We hold it as long as we can. Until either our bodies or our minds break. Then someone else comes along to take our spot. And if we trained them well enough, then we can leave our post knowing the line will hold.
Jessie wiped at her eye.
Freeman slowly nodded. “I think you get it now.”
“Yeah.”
Freeman sipped her coffee. “Messer came to us a while back. He asked us for recommendations. And not to feed your ego, but I had my eye on you.”
“Us?” Jessie asked.
“Me, Ito, and Deek,” Freeman said.
“Recommendations for what?” Jessie asked.
“Our replacements,” Freeman said. “We were his old team. But I’ve been an agent since I was about your age. Deek has his scientific work to attend to, and Ito has a network of narco CI’s to run. It’s time for some fresh blood in the field.”
“So ‘Deek’ recommended Arby? He said they hadn’t spoken in years.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Ito and Cross?”
“More complicated.”
“Ito vouched for his ex-wife?”
“World’s a weird place, kid, full of second chances and old feelings. Don’t burn your bridges and you’ll see that.”
Jessie took the information in. It was funny—just a few days ago she thought her partner had tried to kill her. She had always thought herself destined for bigger things. But after the last couple of days, her perspective had skewed. She . . . she just wanted to be a good cop.
“What about the other agents in the field?”
