by L. Fergus
When Sarin opened them, an Angel leaped at her. She didn’t recognize the Angel with seafoam wings trimmed in gold. The Angel wore a white sneak suit and mask, bracers, and a utility belt. She wielded a pair of daggers.
Sarin sidestepped the Angel and shot her attacker in the hand, knocking a dagger free. Sarin phased and punched the Angel in the face, then grabbed the Angel by the throat, squeezing until her eyes bulged.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re no true Angel,” Sarin snarled. “You’re a disgrace to all those who came before you. There’s only one thing fake Angels deserve.” She slammed her into the concrete floor repeatedly until she’d created a shallow crater. She drew her UEE pistol and pointed it at the Angel’s head.
“Wait, Jane, don’t shoot.”
“Scarlett,” said Sarin, keeping the pistol aimed at the other Angel’s head. She turned as Talon landed in the room.
“Jane, that’s not a false Angel, that’s Talli, Dev’s little girl.”
Sarin shrugged. “Oh.” She pointed the gun away.
Talon swept her hood back, revealing her face and dark red hair. “I…I thought Galina ruined you.”
Sarin grinned wickedly. “That’s what I wanted her to think. Galina’s delusional if she thinks her army of Bureau shrinks can reprogram me. Why in Neptune’s rings is Talli dressed like an assassin? She’s only, what, fifteen?”
“Yes. Galina’s been training her. This mission was supposed to be easy for her to cut her teeth on.”
“So, why are you working for Galina?”
“I didn’t have a choice. She offered citizens of the UEE a conditional surrender. Serve her and live. I don’t know how many people took her up on it. They took Talli. Galina and Rene tried to raise her as you and Kita did with your girls, but they found they’re not cut out to be parents. So, they gave her to me. I’ve been her mom ever since. I’d love to get out of this place. I’ve been waiting for someone to come along to help.”
“Why not just leave on your own?” said Athena.
“Athena, you’re here too?”
“I stowed away on the ship that brought you back to the Sol system. I’ve been with my mom ever since.”
“I couldn’t leave because of Talli,” admitted Talon. “She’s still too green to fight effectively.”
“Yeah, well, she’s going to feel like slag in the morning,” said Sarin. “At least my plan worked.”
“Plan?” said Talon.
“I’ve been trying to draw you out. Someone took a photo of you out at Daddy’s stolen Rio facility. Do you know if Lina is there?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know. I’ve heard Galina has her, but I don’t know where. All I was doing was surviving until an opportunity arose. But, I’ll help you get her back, I promise.”
“I’m not challenging your loyalty, Scarlett, and we’re not out of here yet. Athena, did you find anything?”
“Yes. This facility is not an AI, but a backup storage server of plans for buildings, installations, ships, and similar items. I’m moving as much as I can up to the darknet.”
“Fine. We’re going with success protocol. I just need to kill the female and these two.”
“But I was having fun playing cloak and dagger,” Athena whined playfully.
“You’ll have to settle for the movies.” Sarin knelt next to Talli and ran her finger through some blood trickling from the girl’s ear. “I need your DNA,” she said to Talon.
“No offense, but why?”
“So it looks like you’re dead.” Sarin created a replica of Talli. With the pistol, she fired a magazine worth of bullets into the body putting one in the clone’s forehead.
“How’s that possible? Not even Kita could do that!” exclaimed Talon.
“She could if she wanted. She’s no longer alone in the god department.”
“I…Then maybe Sheppard was right.”
“About?”
“Others becoming gods—Tina, Kylee, Raptor, Leaf, Vee, Nell, Kara, Tenshi, Denver, and others.”
“Kerri?”
“Yes. Sheppard said her name along with some strong expletives.”
Sarin chuckled. “Kerri does bring out the best in people.”
“What exactly are you the god of?”
“I am Edi’rp or just Edi, and I am the God of Pride. DNA?” She held out a hand.
Talon pulled out a strand of hair and handed it over.
A clone of Talon appeared. Sarin loaded a fresh magazine in her pistol and fired until she was empty, hitting the body once in the forehead. A doppelganger of Sarin’s current form appeared. Sarin took one of Talli’s stars and jabbed it into the body’s throat.
“Finished, Athena? We need to leave,” said Sarin.
“Getting the last of it as I head for the door.”
Sarin scooped up Talli and motioned for Talon to follow. In the corridor, she gave the teenager to Talon and stood in the door looking into the room. With a wave of her hand, she created the aftermath of a fight scene that would fool even Galina.
“Athena, contact the hotel and tell them I want dinner.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“To keep up the alibi, I’ve been in my room all day. We’ll stay on schedule to leave tomorrow morning.”
The group appeared in Sarin’s bedroom at the hotel.
“So, this is what excess looks like,” said Talon, looking around the room.
“You never complained about it living on Base Station or at the Angels’ Penthouse,” Sarin scoffed.
“There we had the best of everything, but we took only what we needed. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude or insult you. I came from a lower-middle-class family; this kind of lifestyle was only in the movies or the vid-mags.”
“Sorry, as well. This trip has become more stressful than I’d planned. I need to figure out how to get you from here to my ship and then back to Neptune. You can hide there.”
“I have no intention of hiding me, but Talli must be kept safe.”
“You can put her on the bed. Someone might as well get some use out of it.”
“Are we being recorded?”
“Always, but all they’re seeing is me sleeping.”
“Do we have medical supplies to heal her?” said Talon.
“She won’t heal on her own? I didn’t hit her that hard.”
“Talli doesn’t have the full nanite package you and I have. Kita never had a chance to give them to her. She barely has enough to survive what you did.”
“Neptune’s rings.” Sarin reached into Talli’s belt and pulled out a dagger. She ran the blade over her palm. Sarin aimed the blood drops into Talli’s mouth and contusions. “When we get to Neptune we can fix that. I hope she likes coffee.”
“What does coffee have to do with nanites?” Talon asked sounding confused.
“It’s Kita’s delivery system at the moment. It tastes like sewer water.”
“Kita’s here?”
“In a manner of speaking. She created a VI of herself and snuck it along with me.”
Talon grunted. “Kita can do it all.”
Sarin sighed. “Except keep herself out of trouble.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
“She and I don’t hold anyone responsible. I went without a fight, too.”
“You had a plan. I didn’t know what to do. One second the ISS troops are fighting with me, the next they’re placing me under arrest for treason.”
Sarin raised an eyebrow. “You’re one of the lucky ones. Most girls ate a bullet or worse.”
“Galina said as much. She was very unhappy, so many got away.”
“Who did get away?”
“Sheppard said Snowy was the only one of us to get away that didn’t become a god.”
“Snowy? She’s always been a tough one to kill. She might still be there.”
“She’d be a strong ally.”
“I’ll put that on my list. Anyone else?”
“Besides the three of us, I know they have Megan.”
“How do you know this?”
“Galina used to talk to me when she needed to work something out.”
“Do you know where Lina is? In Rio?”
Talon shook her head. “I wish I did. Galina never brought that problem to me.”
“Mom, is that you?” Talli said with a small moan.
Talon moved to the head of the bed. “Yes, sugar foam, I’m here.”
Talli propped herself on an elbow, but Talon pushed her back down. “Don’t push yourself. You’re still healing. Give it some more time.”
“What happened?”
“You ran into Sarin, an old friend of mine.”
“Sarin. Class one type, do not approach alone. Black wing with red patches. Black and red schoolgirl outfit. Sniper, gunslinger, and sword. Extremely physically strong. Relies on brute strength, power, and intimidation to get what she wants.”
Sarin chuckled. “Someone’s done her homework. Nice to meet you, kid. Keep resting and finish healing.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You seemed oddly relaxed,” Sarin replied, impressed.
Talli sighed. “Mom told me that someday we’d be able to go home to the other Angels.”
“Unfortunately, I only have me, Athena, a VI of Kita, and a new Angel, Kristi or Cinnamon.”
“Cinnamon? Are her wings sticky buns?” Talon said, shaking her head.
“I don’t know, ask Kita. I think it’s a joke. Hopefully, Kita didn’t name Kristi after a cheap prostitute.”
“So, how are we officially getting out of here?”
“I’d love to wave my hand and just put us back on Neptune, but I’m watched constantly. We’ll have to stage something that looks real and believable.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
“When was the last time you went clubbing?”
“Mom, my feet hurt,” Talli whined to Talon.
“I know, sugar foam. It shouldn’t be too much longer.” It had been three hours, and only seven people remained in front of them to get into the club. She leaned into the teenager. “It’s the price we have to pay to get back to our own kind. We just have to do what Jane says. This is her world.”
“Is the makeup supposed to itch so much?”
“Talli, there’s nothing I can do. You’ll just have to grin, laugh, and bear it. You’re here to have fun. Consider this an infiltration mission.”
Talli rolled her eyes. “Who’s going to train me?”
“Talli, that’s enough. Look like you’re having fun and without a care.” Talon smiled and laughed loudly like Talli had told her a joke. A pair of girls came out of the club laughing and giggling. Behind them, four boys trailed looking wolfish.
The line moved forward as the two groups ahead of them made the bouncers’ cut and entered the club with happy cheers.
“Great night, isn’t it?” Talon said trying to strike up a conversation with a bouncer. Instead, she was ignored until a couple exited the club.
“Oh, yeah!” Talon said, poking Talli trying to get her to look enthusiastic.
“Not you two,” said a bouncer pointing at them.
“Why not?” Talon demanded.
“Step aside, please.”
“We’re supposed to meet someone in there.”
“Then meet them someplace else. Please, leave,” said a second bouncer. He tried to guide them back toward the street.
“We’ve waited for hours to get inside,” Talon said trying to keep her temper in check.
“You should have asked,” a third bouncer—this one female—said after coming out from inside. “We won’t ask again.”
“But—”
Talon sighed and bowed her head dejected. She took Talli by the arm and led her back to the sidewalk.
An expensive aircar pulled up to the curb. The driver exited and opened the passenger door. A long leg with a five-inch heel on appeared from inside the vehicle. The simple, yet elegant shoe brought attention to the toenails painted black and tipped with red. Sarin stepped out wearing a chic black dress with red trim. Her floor-length hair and makeup looked like a professional team had spent hours primping her. Her jewelry and accessories accented her perfectly. Taking the driver’s offered hand, she stood and then gave him instructions.
Sarin frowned. The red carpet didn’t come out to the curb. Critics hailed The Gold Nugget Mine as the best club on the Cascade Riviera. After watching for the last two hours, its front door security operation was unacceptable.
She went to the door with her usual swagger, ignoring the looks from the line.
“I’m sorry, miss. You’ll have to wait like everyone else,” said the female bouncer.
Sarin ignored her. “Are you going to get the door?” she asked in a polite voice to the bouncer next to the door.
“Miss, there are no VIPs at Gold Nugget. Everyone is golden here,” said the bouncer.
“Did you think of that yourself?” Sarin said, her politeness conveying her condescension. “And what of them?” she motioned to Talon and Talli. “Are they not golden? Do you girls want to have some fun?”
“We’re not good enough,” said Talon.
“Posh.” Sarin turned up her nose at the bouncers. “You will let us in, or I’ll have you fired.”
“I’ve informed you of the club’s policies, miss. This will be the last time I tell you, get in line,” said the female bouncer.
“Do you know who owns this club?”
“Caesar, call the patrol,” said the female bouncer.
“My daddy owns this club along with five others as part of Gjord Cascade Entertainment. I am Jane Gjord. Do you want to test my DNA to prove it and truly insult me?”
“Ah…Caesar, call the GM.”
Sarin tapped her toe in irritation. When the man showed, he looked at Sarin and pulled the female bouncer aside. She listened in on the conversation with great amusement.
“Who is she?” said the general manager.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her before, here or any other club I’ve worked for,” said the female bouncer.
“We must get her inside and give her the experience she wants.”
Beautiful people come and go, perfect people needed to be regulars. From Sarin’s tiny clutch, she took out a small compact. She opened it and pressed her thumb to it.
“Hello? Jane? Is that you?”
“Hi, Daddy. I’m standing out in front of the Gold Nugget Nightclub, and they won’t let me and some of my new friends in. Can you please tell them who I am?”
Sven sighed. “Put the manager on.” On the bottom half of the compact, a holographic head of Sven appeared.
“He’s here, Daddy.”
“Whom am I speaking with? Is this Daniel or Gorge?”
“Gorge, ah, sir.”
“Ok, Gorge. I commend you for following the business purpose and mission statement, but she is my daughter. I rarely abuse my power as the owner in such ways, but I am this once. This is the first time my daughter has been out since she came home. Let her and her friends in and give them what they want. If you have any problems or questions, I’ve sent you my personal line. Do you have any questions?”
“No, sir,” said Gorge, beads of sweat building on his forehead.
Sarin snatched the communicator back. “Thank you, Daddy. I love you.”
“Have fun and don’t get into trouble.”
Sarin smiled. “I won’t. Goodnight.”
Gorge led the trio inside. They followed the man through the vibrant crowd, up a flight of stairs, to a seating area looking out over the dance floor. Sarin thanked Gorge and put in an order.
“Is it always like this?” Talli yelled over the din of music and voices.
Sarin smiled and sat down. After the drinks arrived, they were served, and she chased the server away with instructions to stay close.
Talli reached for some of the hors d'oeuvres, but Sarin brushed
her away. On the back of her hand, a message appeared, “Never eat club food. We’ll eat at the hotel.” Talli withdrew her hand with a pout. “Remember, fun. Smile, laugh, drinking will help.” A third message appeared, “No discussing anything. Follow my lead.”
“Life is just full of surprises,” Talon said with a smile. “I didn’t expect to be picked up by the great Jane Gjord.”
“Surprises keep life fresh. I meet the most interesting people when I fish them out of the reject bin. No offense but your friend needs to lighten up. We go to clubs to have fun and to be seen.”
“I’m sure all eyes are on you.”
“This is the first time I’ve been out since my rescue.”
“So, why now?” Talli said glumly.
“The Cascade Riviera is big enough to be seen, but not big enough that the sharks will come trolling afterward. Clubbing can be a cutthroat business. An old ghost like me coming back onto the scene is going to create quite a stir. This little outing is a warning shot that I’m back and for them to get out of the way.”
“If they don’t?” said Talon, slipping off her shoes and curling up on the bench seat. She twirled her drink playfully.
“I’m not as ruthless as I was in my younger days. Back then, I would stop at nothing to destroy someone. I remember Casey Bush, who tried to beat me. She carried a lot of clout, being from the Bush family. In the end, she couldn’t keep up. That was before I got the ultimatum from my parents to get a job and go to school. I kept running the night scene until Nell, and I decided we wanted to get aboard the colony ship.”
“What happened to her?” said Talli.
“I understand she went to rehab for addiction and her parents gave her a similar ultimatum. I’m not sure after that.”
“So, do we get to dance?”
Sarin shook her head. “I’m not dressed to dance, nor do I wish to be touched,” She took a sip of her drink and grinned into the glass. “Except by you two.” The declaration caused Talli to stir uncomfortably. Sarin displayed another message, “How else am I getting you back to the hotel?”
“One minor problem,” said Talon.
“Only a minor problem. We’ll work around that. Come, let’s hear about the two of you.”
Sarin guided the pair through the art of small talk. What seemed effortless for her was like pulling teeth for Talli. She began to suspect the years of near isolation had left the teenager socially and emotionally stunted.
