by James Cox
"What is it?"
"All in due time. We tracked a lot of their activity but we might need some help finishing the job."
"I see," said Robin, "Might such help involve burning into data systems and acquiring information?"
"It might. We can always hire another pyro burner."
She nodded. "Or you can hire someone who is already familiar with the way they operate." The Samantha part of herself began calculating. "Is it me you want?"
"Yes. You did a lot for them and you've... recovered your life quite well since then."
"Slib," she said, "but I have a price."
Impossibly his expression cooled. "A price?"
"Y-yes." Though unsteadied by his glare Robin kept her voice even. "I want my Aunt Lilly! She v-vanished and I can't find her."
After a moment Carl nodded. "Agreed. No guarantees but we should be able to find out what happened to her. I can't promise anything past that."
Robin finally returned his nod. "Fair enough. Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"No." He rose and started for the door. "We'll be in touch soon. Be ready."
***
Micah Stone stealthed his way back to his own room. Ferrel waited with his usual grin in place. As soon as Micah sat Ferrel handed him a tube of eye mist and a strong drink.
"Well done, my brother, especially considering... circumstances."
Micah sprayed his eyes thoroughly and sat down gently. "As if. So what do you think?"
"I think she drubbed your duff, no blather," said Ferrel, "You must admit that does not happen often. Is that why you insisted on going instead of me?"
"It is." Micah reached into his pants and pulled out the softpad. He didn't dare wear anything Robin might have detected. "Thank you on behalf of Jenn. It helped a little."
"I am also beginning to lean toward your convictions. She did fight very well and all the while under panic."
"Well I am leaning away from them," said Micah, "She didn't really fight. Those were well-practiced maneuvers, not really technique. Effective, yes, but not ingrained and she didn't adapt at all. What about her net work?"
"High level of expertise," said Ferrel instantly, "That attack she pulled against the CA was no bloody sneeze, my brother. She attacked in waves and in detail. Apparently she took the time to probe the defenses and design her warez specifically to take advantage of them."
"Apparently?"
"I told you I might have missed some of her traces. She was very diligent about avoiding detection!"
"What about Vinsley?"
"No traces since the last one. I'm pretty sure he moved to Landsrey's Refuge. Most of the cargo I traced was bound there, eventually. The other destinations he used are within easy shipping range. Vinsley did drop some bait but the likelies there weren't above four percent."
Micah checked Ferrel's work, more for information than for accuracy.
"What about the stuff you got earlier today?"
"I haven't factored it in yet. I was catching up on our spiders."
Ferrel meant the ones they seeded around Robin's job and apartment.
"Mpf," grunted Micah noncommittally, "Tangential question is still her."
"Take a shower and relax, my brother. I'll try to have some optimals when you're done."
***
Robin picked at the food before her. Maxine wasn't happy with her and neither, for that matter, was Robin. She duffed four orders, upset one of her regulars and let two tables leave without paying.
"'Samatter, hon," asked Jasmine, blowing on her chog to cool it."
"Nothing. Not really."
"Man problems?" When Robin didn't reply Jas lit a 'stick and continued. "Let him go, hon. They're not worth the trouble. Not the whole lot of 'em. It's not like we really need them."
Easy for her to say, thought Robin, since she rarely went more than a week without one. Even when they treated her horribly. She let Jas' words wash over her, desperately wanting to go home. She'd finished her shift half an hour ago and considered skipping this meal but didn't. Samantha always had a meal before she left: Maxine gave her employees a discount.
"So," finished Jasmine, "You see? You can't let 'em worry you, Sammi."
Robin spent most of the day thinking about Carl and what he said. She knew he wanted something but he'd not let slip a particle about it until she agreed to help him. Every rational part of her mind screamed against whatever Carl and Robert planned. Still...
Even with more than sufficient cause to do her harm Carl didn't. Not past her pride, at least. She knew it involved Everett and whatever Thomas did. And Everett was evil. Pure, low, slimy evil, she knew that. If Carl and Robert opposed him didn't that make them non-evil?
"... and whatever they want to get you you can get yourself. Y'know?" Jas finished her 'stick and lit another one. "C'mon, Sammi. You're too sweet to let some spike-nose sonuvawhore get you down like this."
Robin had to smile at that. "I guess you're right."
"That's better, hon." She checked her chrono. "Listen. I'm working Tiffany's shift today but I'll be done by eleven. Wanna go to the Thin Line with me then?"
That was a club located between St. Gore and Wharton. It did not have a good reputation.
"Maybe," said Robin, "but I doubt it."
Jasmine opened her mouth to argue but instead patted Robin's hand.
"Polar. But you ought to, Sammi. It'd do you a galaxy of good!"
Robin smiled and Jasmine went back to work. Robin bussed her table absently, dumped the trash and dishes and went back and cleaned it. Maxine looked up when Robin clocked out but didn't say anything. In the kitchen Reggie scooped a massive order off the grill then pulled out his cleaning scrape.
"You gone? Be careful." Reggie said the same words to her every day when she left.
Jasmine told her Reggie led his gravball team to season victory in the three years before his Academy graduation. Several colleges had scholarships waiting for him, but he liked sinfire, pandream and turbo and the partying that went with them too much. Three years after graduation he was on the street with an impressive felony record and nothing else. The CA, tired of arresting him for vagrancy, finally enrolled him in a rehabilitation school and only culinary training stuck. Now he spent his time working, sleeping or working out at the gym beside...
Stop it! thought Robin furiously.
"Focus," she said, "Focus!"
As Robin walked to the transit station she worked to rid herself of Samantha. Sammi cared about little past going off shift and thought she should take Jasmine up on her offer. Robin considered it before but never this seriously. Besides the Line Jasmine liked to frequent other clubs equally rough. Robin felt good when she locked her door behind her.
"Well?"
Robin jumped but didn't yelp. Carl sat at her table looking at her. She felt the knockdown spray cool in her palm.
"Well what? What do you want?"
"You, of course. We're leaving tonight." His expression took on some annoyance. "If you're not interested I'm gone."
"Wait. Tonight? Now?"
"Tonight now. I don't have time to waste. With you or without, I'm hitting that door." He looked at her hand. "And if you're going to spray me again get it over with."
Robin's brain whirled but with a tight focus now. All the details she mulled started clicking into place. She still had some doubts but...
"I want to clean up. And tidy up the place. And pack."
Carl scowled. "Slib. Message your landlord and employer your termination notice. Package up that shirt and I'll ship it back while you're packing. I don't want any loose details. Not a single one!"
None of her tasks took long but Robin still took her time doing them. She felt uncomfortable stepping into the shower with Carl in her apartment but she did so and nothing happened. She folded her uniforms into a neat package, wrapped it and wrote Burnline's address prominently across it. Then she carefully packed every little thing she had. She didn't particularly
want it all but she did want to see just how far she could press Carl. The Samantha part of her approved and cheered her on. She smiled inwardly when Carl began drumming his fingers impatiently.
When Robin finished Carl took her heaviest bag, now oozing impatience. When she unlocked the door to leave his arm snaked around her waist. She elbowed him hard in the gut.
"Burnit," he said, "Will you phase down and ground? I'm your companion for the evening or the weekend. That's what anybody who sees us needs to think!"
Robin trembled a bit inside but Carl only showed a lot of annoyance at her.
Once they left the apartment and Robin dropped her package and keycard into the mail bin Carl walked her to a large hover parked down the street. She climbed into the back seat while Carl stowed her bags in the boot.
"Hi Robin," came Robert's voice, "Or is is Samantha now?"
"Doesn't matt..."
Robin's words died as she got a look at Robert. He'd attired himself in the most pyro sloppychic he could down to ring pierces and dyed teeth.
"Samantha, then," he said, "I think she'll fit in better, truth?"
Once Robert had the hover under way Carl tossed back a small package. Inside Robin found dye brushes, tooth markers and an assortment of pierces.
"Clothes are in the big package there," said Carl, "You can change after it's full dark."
"Wait. Where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there," replied Carl.
Even though the hover rocked very little Robin had some difficulty. Neither man spoke and Carl had already sloppychiqued himself. He even changed clothes with no undue thrashing.
By full dark Robin wanted desperately to change clothes, if for no other reason than to move around. They left St. Gore-Wharton far behind, heading she knew not where. Her mental map of Echo Bend along with occasional glimpses of road signs gave three or four cities as possibilities but neither Robert nor Carl dropped a clue about their destination. Her cheeks finally quit stinging from applying the ring pierces and sleep started dragging down her eyelids.
"Break time."
Carl's voice jerked Robin out of a nap she didn't mean to take. The hover settled to the ground outside a small restaurant and maintenance station with no other buildings around.
"Just stay cryo," said Carl.
Robin availed herself of the fresher as soon as they got a table. She didn't like the lady staring out the mirror at her but she did do a good sloppychic.
Their waitress had the bleary-eyed look of someone working too long on too little sleep. She took their orders without conversation, even when Carl slipped in a crude innuendo.
"That wasn't nice," said Robin softly as soon as the lady left.
"Fits who we are," replied Carl.
"I'll leave her a good tip," said Robert. Then, to Carl, "She really didn't look happy with you."
Carl turned icily to watch the door. With a wink Robert took out a drugstick and handed Robin the pack.
With the meal a memory - not a pleasant one, Maxine would not have served it - they started back to the hover. Robin reached for the back door when Robert's hand on her arm stopped her.
"You take front," he said, "I'm gonna grab some eyelid."
Robin kept her eyes on Carl. After a few minutes Robert started snoring. Carl remained silent, his eyes and his total concentration focused on the road ahead.
"I can drive, if you like," offered Robin.
"I've got it."
"Would you like some music?"
He shook his head.
"A 'stick?"
Again the head shake.
"Listen," said Robin, "I'm not the enemy. I came along with you. Remember?"
He said nothing.
"Why won't you tell me where we're going?"
"Need to know. You don't."
"What about Everett and the people we're after?"
"They're bad news. We know for sure they're into drug- and data-smuggling along with importing plenty of other stuff that isn't good for people. Maybe worse. Wherever they show up people vanish. Usually young and good-looking. Talented, too."
Robin's mouth dried up at this. "W-what happens to them?"
"Don't know. Whatever it is isn't good. Does it matter past that?"
"I... I guess not." She tried to speak nonchalantly but apparently didn't.
The hover slowed and she felt Carl's eyes on her. "If you want out just say so. I'll drop you in the next small town and you'll never see either of us again."
Robin considered it hard. Thoughts of Everett popped into her mind, then thoughts of him with her Aunt Lilly a captive.
"I said I'm in!"
Carl sped back up. After a while he spoke.
"The people we're after don't play games. They play serious and they play permanent. Stay with us and there's a chance you'll end up dead. There's a chance you'll end up disappeared. We'll try not to let that happen but no promises. You think about that now. We have one more big town and a handful of small ones before we stop. Say the word and I'll let you out."
The offhanded manner with which Carl spoke chilled Robin as much as the words themselves. He simply spelled out the facts with no emotion behind them.
She thought hard as the silence grew. She knew with certainty what happened to some of those disappearances and probably some of the drugs. She knew how the data disappeared from its owners. The thought of Everett's fingers touching her again chilled her. She had no doubt he waited for her, somewhere out there, still alive.
With what she knew Robin could set herself up as anyone, anywhere. A small town offered a lot of potential, especially one large enough for her to disappear but small enough for strangers to stick out. She could make herself safe. She would! Then, once she had that safety she could begin her search in earnest for Aunt Lilly. She didn't know exactly how that would happen but she'd have ample resources for the planning.
"I already told you I'm in," said Robin, though her voice shook a little.
"Slib. Work on being an asset and not a liability."
***
Dawn roused Robin. She had unpleasant dreams, nightmares, but none bad enough to hurl her to wakefulness. She didn't remember any details, only the terror of them. Carl still sat behind the controls, showing no sign of having driven the entire night. By what Robin saw they climbed a mountain range not long ago; now they traveled down the other side with a spectacular view of the plains below spread out before her. At the edge of the horizon she saw a large city and stretching past it an ocean. As she watched a star blossomed within the city and rose slowly to join the others now fading from the sky.
"Port Anemone," she said.
"Good morning," said Robert from the back seat, "Loverly day, truth?"
"Fine day to be alive," ventured Robin. Although Robert was at least as dangerous as Carl, if not more so, she found herself warming to him.
Robert grinned back and produced three self-heating chogs. Robin accepted hers with gratitude and Carl his without a word.
"I don't suppose you'll tell me where we're going," said Robin, to Robert.
"Port Anemone," replied Carl.
By the time the sun climbed twice its size above the horizon traffic began to increase. That continued as they approached the city and soon Carl navigated six lanes of very fast morning go-to-work commuters. The hover's chrono placed the time at 7:30 and Robin thought, with a pang, of her daily routine and that of her chat-friends. Well, she amended, her daily routine before her life ended.
"Don't dwell on it," advised Robert.
Carl pulled into a diner when the traffic peaked and started to slow. Robin stretched her stiff legs on the way in and hit the fresher even before they got a table. When she returned she found Robert reading a newsmod and Carl tucking into his food.
"Anything newsworthy," she asked.
"Government scandal, economic uncertainty and financial profit and loss," he said, "Nothing out of the ordinary."
The waiter brought Robin her me
al and she wasted no time starting on it.
"Last chance," said Carl softly, "From here there's no turning back. Say the word and we'll leave you here. This town's big enough for all of us to vanish and you to make a good start."
Robin chewed her food carefully and swallowed it. Carl by day was no less menacing but at least there were other people about.
"I said I'm in," she said, softly but evenly, "You two might have stolen my life but someone else wrecked it first. In case you forgot I have a score to settle too. You also promised to help me. Do you want to go back on that now?"
"Follow orders," said Carl shortly, "Don't question us. We'll give you the information you need and we'll keep you alive as best we can." He leaned forward and his stare intensified. "But don't hesitate or question or balk when things heat up. One mistake at the wrong time may be the last one you ever make."
Carl's words chilled Robin but only firmed her resolve.
"Then you'll make one before I do!"
Two and a half hours later Robin might have thought to question her stubborn mouth. She, Carl and Robert rode a tram across the starport concourses toward a large interstellar liner. She tried to project Samantha in sloppychic but doubts gnawed her guts. She hadn't considered the possibility of going offplanet. All of her few advantages rested on Echo Bend's surface.
Just before they boarded Robert handed her an ident, a ticket and an exchequer. She thought to glean some information from the latter but it was a standard Federation model. At Carl's insistence she personalized it with her prints and rets, discovering as she did so a credit balance already on it.
"Just in case," said Carl.
The ticket displayed the ship's name and departure time but not her destination. Given time Robin could discover that but the other two gave her none. They hustled first to board and then to their cabins. Between the three of them they had two cabins, neither first class nor steerage. As they walked to the departure lounge she caught Robert's ear.
"I didn't know we'd be leaving the planet," she said, "I really didn't pack enough for a trip."
"It's polar," he whispered back, "I bought you a few things. Besides, we're not supposed to have a lot of money. Wouldn't do to have a lot of luggage."
