The Slip: The Complete First Season

by Herschel K. Stroganoff

  “What's this?”

  “It's for Natsuki,” she said as Wynn pocketed the note. “Well, aren't you going to read it?”

  Wynn scowled. “I thought it was for Natsuki?”

  “It is,” she said. “But I would have read it.”

  “I'm sure you would Akira,” Wynn said, shaking his head. “I'm sure you would.”

  Tshilidzi’s Personal Office, Judiciary, Insularum 1, Lunar

  Tshilidzi furrowed his brow as the Chair of the United Solar Assembly, Akash Tagore, entered his office.

  “Excuse the mess,” he said gesturing to the pile of reports and images strewn out across his desk. Rising from his seat, Tshilidzi extended a hand in greeting. “Please take a seat,” he said nodding to a beaten-up chair opposite.

  “How's the investigation going Mister Dumi?” Akash asked in a disinterested monotone.

  “Frustrating.” Tshilidzi said with a half-smile. “Chaotic is probably a better word. One murder is challenging enough, but twenty-three is—”

  “Unprecedented,” Akash said.

  “It's impossible.”

  “What have you found so far?”

  Tshilidzi fumbled around his desk for several seconds before pulling out a series of scrawled notes. “The details we already know are the twenty-three bodies - all Yao. The bodies were found in the presence of burnt-out mining drones. It was well-planned. We know the deaths occurred simultaneously—”

  “Yes, yes,” said Akash impatiently. “But what have you found out?”

  “The body I saw that was killed on L5 showed evidence of considerable regeneration.” He picked up a pile of images and flicked through to his scans of Yao Chin. He leaned over his desk, handing the images to Akash.

  Sitting back down, he flicked through the images again until he found one of the same body taken at the murder scene. He passed it over for Akash to compare.

  “Is there a possibility that the motive is somehow linked to a desire to obtain their privileged knowledge?”

  “That has crossed my mind. But I'm working with a few questions: who could have done this and who could benefit the most?”

  Akash nodded.

  “Secretary Ozu has suggested Purdah involvement, but I've found no hint whatsoever of that. I'm not ruling them out, but they're low on my list of suspects. Muedin has the most to gain from Yao biotech. If the rumours of the Yao's medical advances are even partially true, then obtaining that knowledge as a motive makes a lot of sense.”

  Akash placed the images on the desk. “The Yao's ships are certainly beyond anything Fune, Boeki or Aghoro has, and they are certainly the longest-lived of our citizens,” he said.

  “What I'm finding most difficult, is that Secretary Ozu appears to be doing everything in his power to hold up - and dare I say, prejudice - this investigation.”

  “How so?”

  “It's just little things, but they all add up. I've requested an interview with the Secretary on no less than six occasions to no avail. The timing of the weapons vote and that whole drama with the former Vice Secretary seems suspect, to say the least.”

  “Be careful not to conflate those issues. Correlation is not the same as causality,” Akash warned.

  Tshilidzi narrowed his eyes at Akash's wording. “I understand that, but he has prejudiced this investigation by alleging Purdah involvement to the Assembly and the media.”

  Akash cracked his knuckles. “Okay,” he said. “I would suggest that you are very careful - very careful - with this line of thinking. Remember, the consequences of this report could have huge repercussions. It would be very unfortunate if your investigation went awry.”

  Tshilidzi glared at Akash for several seconds as the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. “I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying, Mister Tagore.”

  Akash sighed. “All I'm urging is caution, nothing more, nothing less. Please don't add further interpretation to my words.”

  Tshilidzi gave a grim smile as he rose to his feet. “Is that everything?”

  “For now,” Akash said, his expression cold, unreadable.

  Offices of the Lunar Chronicle, Insularum 2, Lunar

  Akira kept her hands held behind her head as Molotok agents swarmed through the newsroom.

  She watched helplessly as Ken blocked the entrance to his private office. “You've got no right to be here,” he said.

  An agent punched Ken hard in the stomach. Akira winced as Ken bend over double, coughing and groaning.

  She shared glances with Osuma while the agents rifled through drawers, overturned terminals and flipped through pages of notes. Her heart pounded as a masked officer squared up to her.

  “Madam Yamamoto?”

  Akira gave a quick nod. “Yes,” she gulped.

  “You'll have to come with us.”

  Tshilidzi’s Personal Office, Judiciary, Insularum 1, Lunar

  Tshilidzi stood paralysed in his office doorway. Wide-eyed and mouth agape, he looked around the room to see files strewn across the floor, draws spilled open and his desk resting on its side. It would take him days, if not weeks to sort through the chaos.

  “What the—?”

  Stepping inside, Tshilidzi noticed his seat slashed open and its stuffing ripped out. He leaned and righted his desk. He was glad he'd kept his final report for the Yao investigation on his person but a rush of adrenaline spread through his body as he surveyed the damage.

  With a grave expression, Tshilidzi stormed out of his office, marched down a series of corridors, then burst through the door of Akash Tagore's office.

  “Why has my office been raided?” Tshilidzi hissed as he banged his fists on Akash's desk.

  “Investigator Dumi, how nice of you to come and see me,” Akash drawled in a deadpan tone.

  “I've just got back to my office and looks like it's been ransacked.”

  “Please calm down Mister Dumi,” Akash said. “Everything is perfectly above board I'm afraid.”

  Tshilidzi breathed a sharp breath as the adrenaline subsided. Pulling up a seat, he regarded Akash with suspicion. “Chair, you need to give me a good explanation for this.”

  “There is no good explanation - only an explanation, I'm afraid,” Akash said. “Your office was searched by the Molotok.”

  Tshilidzi fixed Akash with an unblinking glare. “I'm in the middle of an investigation,” he said. “Who let them in?”

  “I did.” Akash's expression was impassive.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Tshilidzi said, standing as he slapped both hands on the desk.

  “Sit down Mister Dumi,” Akash said.

  “They went through everything - do you know what state my files are in?”

  “I am perfectly aware Mister Dumi, now please sit down or I will have to ask you to leave.”

  Tshilidzi bit his lip, then sat back down.

  “There was nothing I could have done.”

  “No one, not even the Secretary has the legal right to interfere in an investigation. My office should be completely out of bounds.” Tshilidzi expression turned sour. “You of all people should know that.”

  Akash laughed bitterly. “When Secretary Ozu brought in his emergency measures, the Molotok were given absolute privilege - even over the Judiciary.”

  Tshilidzi stared at Akash for several seconds, dumbfounded. Resignedly, he shook his head and sighed. “I should have known.”

  “Has the investigation been compromised?”

  “I'm not sure,” he said, shrugging a shoulder. “Maybe.”

  “Well, make sure it isn't,” Akash said, making a steeple of his fingers. “Remember Tshilidzi, I'm trusting you to come to the right conclusion with this investigation.”

  Tshilidzi inclined his head. “You're behind this, aren't you? You want this investigation to fail.”

  “Mister Dumi, can we please not have this ridiculous conversation.”

  “No, I can see it now. You warned me of certain aspects of this invest
igation before. I thought—”

  “Stop this,” Akash snapped. “I have done no such thing, and would never do such a thing.”

  Tshilidzi flinched. In all his years working as an investigator, he had never once seen Akash raise his voice outside the Assembly.

  “I have always urged caution - urged you to do the right thing,” Akash said with a pained expression. “I want this investigation to find the person or group behind the Yao murders. I don't have any bias as to who the culprit is, but I want the investigation to be conducted fairly and thoroughly. I don't want any insinuations from Assembly members that you conducted this investigation with prejudice.”

  Tshilidzi looked down at his open palms and exhaled.

  “Let me speak personally, Mister Dumi. It grieves me that you suspect I am steering, interfering with, or otherwise compromising your investigation. It also grieves me that the Molotok has been given the powers it has, but it's not up to me to resist them.

  “I do empathise with your paranoia - there is a lot at stake with this investigation - but please be assured I am not working against you on this. If the Secretary is to blame, then I want to see him before the Judiciary as much as anyone else. I have only ever worked to protect our legal process not to play politics. I am not your enemy. Do you understand?”

  Tshilidzi nodded. “I get it. Luckily, I have my report written and on my person.” He saw the small hint of a smile on Akash's face.

  “Good. I would normally ask for a copy before you present it the to the Assembly, but I feel it will be best if I am kept unaware of its contents. That way if there are more attempts to interfere with your investigation, you will be assured that it wasn't as a result of me knowing your findings.”

  “Thank you,” said Tshilidzi rising to his feet. “And sorry about—”

  Akash leaned back in his chair and waved a dismissive hand. “I'm just glad we cleared it up.”

  Holding Cells, Judiciary, Insularum 1, Lunar

  Akira was disorientated without her glasses. She could smell cider on Takeshi's breath as he stood before her, but all she could see was blue and black smudges.

  “You've been an annoyance to me for too long Madam Yamamoto,” Takeshi said.

  “I'm just a reporter,” Akira said, shivering as she felt the hairs on her neck stand on end.

  “Do you know the amount of damage you have done to my reputation with your treasonous words?” Takeshi said. “Do you know what damage your words have done to the security of our Union?”

  Akira shook her head. “I never wrote anything that wasn't true. You know that.”

  Takeshi tutted. “First there was that disgraceful piece you did about Hayao Kurosawa and his traitor wife. I hoped when you learned of Madam Kurosawa's arrest you'd fall in line.”

  “What? Like the rest of the hacks?” Akira spat.

  “You call them hacks - I call them allies. We're at war and you're spreading doubt. Do you not understand how dangerous that is?”

  Akira clenched her jaw and breathed deeply through her nose. “But who are you at war against?”

  Takeshi sniffed. “Second, you wrote a grossly inaccurate piece about the evacuation of V5. And you talk about hacks?”

  “What do you want from me?” Akira asked.

  “To pay. To face trial. You're simply too dangerous to have around.”

  Against her will, Akira could feel her hands tremble as a cold sweat spread across her body. “I can help you,” she said.

  “I doubt anything you could do will be of help to me.”

  Akira sighed. “I can tell you where Natsuki Kurosawa has been hiding.” She waited for a long moment as Takeshi considered this.

  The cell door creaked open at that moment and she heard a new person enter the cell.

  “Secretary, an emergency session of the Assembly has been called. You're wanted immediately.”

  Akira thought she recognised the voice, but could not place it. A male, someone on the Assembly. She shook her head.

  “Give me five more minutes,” Takeshi said.

  “We need to go now.”

  “They can wait.”

  Akira sighed as she heard the footsteps leave and the door click shut.

  “Where were we?” Takeshi asked. “Ah yes, you were trying to make a deal. We'll get Madam Kurosawa, eventually; it's only a matter of time. Tell me something good - tell me something I can use.”

  Akira scratched behind her ear. “What if I gave you Wynn Efans?”

  Akira heard Takeshi pace around the cell as he considered this.

  “If you give me Representative Efans, Madam Kurosawa and you agree to run all of your stories by me before you post them to the feeds, then I'm happy to avoid the messiness of a trial.”

  Akira nodded. “Natsuki has been hiding at Wynn's home until he can help her escape from Lunar.”

  “That's very useful Madam Yamamoto. I'll certainly consider releasing you. But now I must attend an Assembly meeting.”

  “What about releasing me?” Akira asked desperately.

  “I'll certainly be considering it over the next few days. Goodbye, Madam Yamamoto.”

  Akira heard the door close behind Takeshi and regretted her betrayal.

  United Solar Assembly, Insularum 1, Lunar

  Tshilidzi felt an operative dryness prickle his throat. He knew the Representatives would unpack and unpick every word, every detail and every accusation he was about to put forward. He reached for a glass of water with a trembling hand.

  “ I was given the task of investigating the deaths of at least twenty-three members of the Yao,” Tshilidzi said. “It hasn't been an easy task. One assassination - and I am calling these murders assassinations - would be challenging to investigate so I hope the Representatives will be able to appreciate how difficult my task has been.”

  Tshilidzi heard coughs and shuffles echo around the Chamber. He looked up to his left at Akash perched on his platform, regarding the Assembly with an impassive expression.

  “The facts of the case are already known. All the victims were killed using remotely programmed mining drones. It's highly probable the drones would have used the Yao implants to track them and carry out the killings. Because of the closeness of the reported times of death at each location, I've been able to work out that a signal must have originated somewhere in the region of Lunar or Mars.”

  Tshilidzi paused as he took a sip of water. His heartbeat pounded in his chest. “Bodies were found across the Union from the H3 platform near Mercury to the K19 mining platform beyond Neptune. These are the facts of the case.”

  Clearing his throat, Tshilidzi turned to Akash. “Now we go on to my investigation. I was tasked to answer two key questions: who did this and why? Much of the 'why' will be speculations based on the events that followed the assassinations, but hopefully I'll be able to demonstrate a clear motivation and intent.

  “The difficulty has been in finding a single cause - I haven't done that. Instead, what I've tried to do is outline a few different, but equally compelling motivations. Is this acceptable to you Chair?”

  “That is acceptable Investigator Dumi. Please continue.”

  Tshilidzi took a sip from his water. He felt a tremble as he looked across the rows of faces staring at him - so much hung on his words.

  “I've grouped the motivations into political and economic concerns.

  “Politically, as Representatives are no doubt aware, the Yao's default political position was to resist change and development while doing everything in their power to protect and promote their own concerns.” Tshilidzi paused as knowing glances, laughs and nods swept across the Chamber. “But some of us you will also know that historically they were very much in favour of sharing their innovations - this changed, as we know, because of political pressures within the Assembly.

  “We saw sweeping changes to legislation at the first opportunity. Members knew the Yao would vote unanimously against any introduction of ballistic weapons. The timing may
be coincidental - that is unlikely. It may be opportunistic - that seems suspicious, but isn't beyond the realms of possibility

  “What are you saying?” Inge Tomas said, rising to address the Assembly.

  Akash banged his gavel. “Representative Tomas. Please be silent.”

  Inge sat back down with a scowl.

  “The second issue is that the Yao have been pushing for a long to time to be able to have unrestricted access to the surfaces of Lunar and Mars,” Tshilidzi continued. “Although these proposals have been resisted by the rest of the Assembly, it strikes me that there has been a considerable amount of resentment around this issue.

  “A third factor could be linked to the Yao's monopoly on mining and fuels. With license agreements structured the way they are, it makes it impossible for any other individual or group to carry out any speculation or production in these areas. Though this is beyond the scope of my investigation, it seems to me that these licences need reforming for the benefit—”

  Tshilidzi started at the sound of Akash's gavel.

  “Please keep to the investigation Mister Dumi,” Akash said.

  “Sorry Chair.” Tshilidzi cleared his throat. “So, a monopoly of mining,” he said, reminding himself of his train of thought. “It's conceivable then that a group or individual may want to take control of Yao enterprises. If the rumours are to be believed, attempts along this line have already been made.” Tshilidzi looked at Inge for a long moment as she refused to meet his gaze.

  “Finally, we have the Yao themselves. It's no secret that the Yao's technological advancement has surpassed the rest of the Union. They have managed to protect and control their advances while the rest of the Union stagnates.”

  “Please avoid drifting into conjecture Mister Dumi,” Akash said in a flat monotone.

  “Sorry Chair.” Tshilidzi scratched his head and took a sip of water. “So this could be another motivator - a group or individual wanting access to Yao technology.

  “As I've tried to show, there are four key reasons why these assassinations took place. Now in the next part of the report, I want to crystallise some of these motivations into working out who is responsible for these deaths.”