The Bloodlust: (Volume Three of the Virion Series)

by R. L. M. Sanchez

  “I agree,” Windsor said. “We can't confirm his intentions towards us, but he is still wanted for high treason along with his syndicate. Marshal, have you located his base of operations?”

  “He operates out of the Promised Land in the northern grids of Red Sector, a place we can’t just stroll along to,” McKenna said. “But I know where he'll be. He's to have a secret meeting with off-worlders in Yellow Sector. I'd like to plan an operation to apprehend him there. I'll need additional Interpol Enforcers to stage the retrieval—”

  “More information from the brokers, yes?” Krieg said. “We can't approve of any such operation based on unconfirmed sources, let alone the use of additional Interpol personnel.”

  “Councilor, please, I've lost people to him!” McKenna said as Kimmy was continually racing through his mind. The more time he wasted, the further Kimmy was.

  “You've had casualties? Were they Interpol? ISTF?” Krieg said.

  “No.”

  “Then it was non-essential personnel.”

  “You son of a bitch!” McKenna stepped forward, ready to climb the desk and put the hurt on the old man. He was held back by Dill, who was using all his strength to hold him.

  “No, mate, it's not worth it!” Dill said, holding his arm across his chest. “Think, sir!”

  “McKenna, stop!” Alistair shouted as she placed her hand on her holstered handgun. McKenna restrained himself, breathing out his anger frantically and uncontrolled.

  “I'd like to think I didn't hear that outburst, Marshal, but I did,” Krieg said. “It's my recommendation to this council for McKenna to halt his investigation so that his case notes may be properly reviewed by additional authorities.” The Council had heard a lot, some truths they couldn't believe. In their eyes, The Commander was nothing more than a simple criminal, a simple police matter. McKenna looked at the councilors, none of them vouching for him anymore.

  “Councilors, we have to stop this man,” Veena said.

  “Your statements have been noted, Doctor,” Krieg said. “It's this council’s recommendation you be evaluated by human medical crews—”

  “Krieg—” Markal growled.

  “What say this council on my recommendation?” Krieg said. Mahto was the first to raise her hand.

  “I agree,” Mahto said.

  “I agree,” Glazov added.

  “And I agree,” Krieg said.

  “I don't agree,” Markal said, angered. “Your people need to take care of this now!”

  “Your vote carries no weight here, Markal. You’re a simple listener here and can review no evidence, you’ve no obligation or right.”

  “That is a Revente protected under the banner of Nera’Revente! She was captured by an Earth criminal, on your planet!”

  “A planet she chose to come to! Given her traumatic experiences, we cannot trust her accounts in this hearing of yet.” Markal stood up, furious.

  “This is an outrage! When the Emperor hears of this!”

  “When they hear of your tantrum and your bullying to adjust Earth procedure?!” Markal growled and walked down the steps.

  “Markal…” Windsor said. Markal didn’t even bother to turn.

  “Pass your judgments, humans,” Markal said as he stormed out of the Council chambers. Windsor shook his head.

  “His agreement mattered little,” Krieg said.

  “Well, I don't agree either,” Windsor said. “You need to weigh this in, councilors—”

  “A majority ruling, Windsor, I'm sorry,” Krieg said. “We can weigh in the evidence in time and a great deal it is. McKenna, you'll be notified if your services are needed in this case again.”

  “You're a bitter old fool, Krieg!” Windsor barked.

  “I am in agreement with two other councilors. There are no hard feelings here, we only wish to follow procedure. It's you and Markal who are out of line. We need to assess before throwing numerous Interpol squads against this private military, the Golden Bough.” McKenna had heard and seen enough. He was before a council filled with words and no action, just like Dill had said. Even Hasker believed the same. The Commander believed the same.

  “You recruited me to find this man!” McKenna shouted. “I've given you names, locations, motive. A conspiracy between the largest corporations on Earth and you piss it away! Why didn’t you leave me on Mars where I wouldn't have to deal with you fucking politicians?!”

  “Because you're a publicity stunt!” Krieg screamed as he stood up. The old man’s heart was racing, his words coming straight from the heart. “You are nothing more than a name for comfort!” Alistair looked up at Krieg, confused at her uncle's words. McKenna's team had no clue what the councilor was on about. “You want to know why we chose you?!” Krieg growled. “It wasn’t your skill, it wasn’t your esteemed record as a Colonial Detective. It was your traumatic past! Your questionable decisions! It was to prove that awful war was behind us. The Aurorans saw the Mars Solar War as the bloodiest war waged by our species and right they were. We lost billions back then, Earthling and Martian alike! They believed our people to still be broken and segregated, making us a weak species, a dangerous one. They were ready to come to our planet and aid us in yet another reconstruction. Putting a Martian on one of the highest positions of law enforcement on Earth was to be monumental to them, proof that racism was dead and gone, that ideals were eliminated. It was the first step of many for our two sides to finally give consolation for the dead in that war. Police Chief Hardy was aware of all this as well, recommending you to us.”

  McKenna looked to the ground, his morale shattered by the councilor's words. None of the others objected to Krieg’s words and had the obvious look of guilt on their faces. Veena looked at McKenna, surprised by the Council's deception towards the Martian, but Krieg continued still.

  “I'll admit that you got further than we thought possible, getting further than Kazan and Alistair, unforeseen by any of us but we can't trust you just yet to bring a treasonous enemy of Earth to justice. Your priority is still these mutants, as it really was, a simple task and the only we truly trusted you with. There's only one thing you and I have ever agreed on, McKenna. You're just an old killer and you're not ready for the weight of Earth on your shoulders. Not yet ready to be a Marshal. You should take pride in the fact you're an intergalactic peace buffer between the people of Earth and the Revente Empire.”

  McKenna could see a small spec of snow fall in front of him. It was a hallucination in his own mind. He saw the snow on Lily's face, her dying words now vaguer than ever. Be more. But he couldn’t because he realized he was nothing.

  “Councilors…” McKenna said quietly and turned slowly and walked out the door, completely unresponsive. Veena looked to the Council for some type of response, Windsor with his face down shaking his head. She walked out as well. Dill stood in place, furious at his government.

  “You should be asking yourselves how much a man can take,” Dill said. “He's lost everything and he still goes on. How much can you afford to lose?” The Council stared at him with judging eyes. Dill turned around and walked out the room.

  McKenna entered the VTOL with his team shortly behind. As the VTOL headed for ISTF headquarters, Veena felt she needed to break the unhealthy silence.

  “Marshal, nothing has changed,” she said. “The Commander is still out there, and right now you're the only one who can apprehend him.”

  “How did they know what we were doing down there, Dill?” McKenna said quietly.

  “They must have been tracking you somehow since you first met them,” Dill said. “They had you on a leash without you knowing. But sir, the doctor is right. We can still do this, just give the order.” McKenna stayed silent with a thousand-yard stare, not having any incentive left.

  “McKenna, if we find The Commander, we find Kimmy,” Veena said. He looked at her. Kimmy was the only concern now. He soon came to his senses, knowing full well that if The Commander had a plan and the resources, he would start a war and
it was coming.

  “And if she's dead?” McKenna asked.

  “Don't be strange, sir,” Dill said. “Hood didn't kill her, probably for a reason. He must see what she can do and he'll try to use that somehow.” McKenna felt no harm in believing him. When he stared at Hood, his eyes were almost that of a challenge. McKenna was empty, but the doctor gave him a sense of purpose again, if not from Lily this time.

  19

  THEY CALL, YOU ANSWER

  The VTOL landed on the helipad of ISTF headquarters with several ISTF enforcers coming to inspect the damage to McKenna and his team. Roane was roaming a light probe in front of him. He meant well, but McKenna was growing irritated. He exited the VTOL, eager to gain distance from treatment.

  “I want you in the infirmary immediately, McKenna,” Roane said as he tried to keep his pace with McKenna. “I need to take a closer look at that head of yours.” McKenna continued to walk with purpose.

  “I’m fine, Roane, really,” McKenna groaned.

  “You’re not. I think you may have suffered a grade-three concussion. Don’t walk this one off. I’ll see you in the infirmary.” Roane walked ahead of the small crowd ahead. Swan and Johns were waiting, along with several Enforcers.

  “Inspector, glad to have you back!” Swan said. “Great going at The Games, really unbelievable. You really put a lot more bravado into the guys here.”

  “Why is that?” McKenna said.

  “They're just glad to have a Grade-A badass for a commanding officer!” Johns said. As McKenna walked to the building, several Enforcers began smiling as they saluted him. He heard a few Enforcers say great job and glad to be here. McKenna felt his morale restore and the hope of apprehending the Golden Bough. The team walked through the doors and were greeted by clapping and a few whistles, all towards McKenna and Dill.

  “You weren't kidding?” McKenna smirked.

  “They all watched you on a broadcast channel. Me and Swan brought up a questionably legal, but still legal broadcast channel. To them, you were representing Interpol in those games. The Circuit Enforcer showing no one is faster and our very own Marshal untouchable.”

  “Well, they'll need the energy now.”

  “Johns, where's Caine?” Dill asked, looking around the room for his brother.

  “Locker room. Actually, he wanted to speak with you in private when you got back. It seemed serious.”

  “You go ahead, Dill, I'll be at my desk,” McKenna said. Dill disappeared into the busy station as the rest of the team followed McKenna, several whispering and eyeballing the bot and the Auroran.

  “Ah, the law enforcement skinbags of Earth. A notable effort in manpower!” Humphries said. Swan glanced at the clanking bot and was struck with wonder and fear in equal levels.

  “Jeez, sir, you make a nice little trip to the undercity and you bring back a ServoBot, a dog, and an Auroran!” Swan smiled.

  “Crap, Swan, that's the doctor!” Johns whispered, pulling Swan close.

  “What doctor?!”

  “The Auroran doctor! From High Science, you idiot!” Swan gasped as they slowly turned around and looked at the Auroran who was nervous in the presence of so many Enforcers. She saw the two of them staring but they were quick to look the other way.

  “She's pretty hot for an Auroran…” Swan whispered.

  “She's an alien for Christ's sake, Swan!” Johns muttered lowly. Swan turned around and extended his hand.

  “Corporals Swan and Johns, McKenna's intelligence team,” Swan smiled. Veena shook their hands and smiled awkwardly.

  “Hello, Doctor Veena U'ldanta,” Johns said before he turned around again.

  “That's such an awesome grip she's got, dude,” Swan whispered again.

  The five of them walked up the stairs to McKenna's office and Swan-Johns sat in their chairs and Veena followed McKenna to his.

  “So, do we have new orders, sir?” Johns said. McKenna took off his coat, still a bit sore.

  “We have a time and location on where The Commander's going to be. Once everyone has rested for a spell, we'll start an action plan.”

  “No way! That's great! So Hasker paid out then, huh?”

  “Oddly enough, he's the most honorable gang leader down there.” Swan kept staring at the new bot McKenna acquired. Humphries continued to tap the drinking bird toy on Dill’s desk, watching the plastic bird dip its beak in the small cup of water continuously.

  “Say, Inspector, what's up with the ServoBot?” Swan asked. “It seems a little, uh, off. He processin’ okay?”

  “Well, long story short, he's actually a Combat Bot with a full artificial intelligence named Humphries who has a life debt to me.” Swan and Johns rolled in their chairs a bit further away from the bot as they stared at him. “Don't worry, he's a team player. Right Humphries?”

  Humphries was startled and knocked over the bird as he snapped to McKenna. “Why, of course, Master! Any meatsack friend of the master is a meatsack friend of mine!”

  “Uh, yeah,” Johns said. “By the way, McKenna, where's Kimmy? I didn't see her come in with you. Is she dropping a ship out of orbit with a computer virus or something?” He hated bringing it up, but he was going to get her back, he knew it.

  “Guys,” McKenna said, “The Commander has her now.”

  “What?!” Johns said. He and his other half lunged forward in their chairs. McKenna was glad to see the bond they had formed with her, but it made him feel even worse.

  “We're going to get her back, we all are.” Swan and Johns had grief about their faces. McKenna had to keep them focused on their jobs. He opened his OPIaA to retrieve the information from Hasker. “I've got an entire info packet on The Commander, courtesy of Hasker. I suggest we…” He trailed off as he noticed an embedded message in his info packet. He hadn't gotten a chance to view it since he received it. He opened it and reviewed it, a simple text message.

  A final gift from yours truly.

  Rats in Freedom Tower,

  Rats in your team McKenna.

  Eyes on your partner…

  -Hasker-

  Dill walked into the locker room to find it empty except for Caine, tranced by the contents of his locker, his back facing Dillon. After his personal success at the race, he felt empty. There was no satisfaction after Click. But seeing Caine changed that. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he was lifted to new heights after seeing his kid brother again, suddenly the only beam of light he saw in the city.

  “Caine, you little bastard, heard you took a licking. How are you?” Dill smiled but Caine didn't respond, still looking to something in his locker. “Well, you look well, tough as your big brother, yeah?” He saw Caine staring at a picture, old and faded even for a modern one, but only from constant viewing. It was the last photo of the Roberts family. “That's an old one, glad it survived to someone. Our loving parents. You’ve spoken to Mum lately? How is she?” Caine clenched his fist and only shook his head.

  “Only now do you think of them?” Caine said coldly. “To start doing so after ten years?” Dill smiled slightly, surprised to hear the time past had been so great. He had finally reached the surface from his exile only to see how dire things were between them.

  “Has it been ten years?” He tried to sound surprised but he knew it felt like ages. “So, what then, it's been ten years. We're still a family and we always will be. Mum is as tough as any Roberts and we're finally working together. That should make her happy.”

  “Our father has been dead a long time now, Dillon. Our mother died only last night. It’s where I was when you were down there.” Dillon's smile disappeared completely, feeling the weight back on his shoulders. He turned to lean against a locker, feeling his eyes pool. It was hard to breathe for him. “She asked for you to be there, but there was only me, as always. That was the last time I had to hear her ask where Dill was.”

  “If she would have told me…” he mumbled.

  “You haven't answered a call from her in years. What good would it hav
e done?” Caine looked to his brother to see him in grief. He was disappointed in his brother now more than ever. “You speak of us still being a family, but I haven't known my brother for a long time. Other than drowning yourself in Blood Rose, what have you managed to do with your life? I know there were women here and there, but nobody worth keeping I see. Big Bad Dill Roberts, too busy to be bothered by a simple thing like family. And what are you now?”

  “I was an Infiltrator!” Dillon shouted. “You weren't there when Dad died, his expectations, his devotion to us! I heard him scream, Caine. They made me watch as they did it! It was onus, my freedom, my ticket out. After that day, seeing either of you made me think of him. To look at you and Mum while knowing that I was the one that did it, I couldn't…” Dill wiped the tears from his face, trying to keep them under control.

  “And what was Dad even doing down there, Dill?” Caine said. Dill wasn’t ready for the question, as it was something he feared to share with anyone. “He intervened at his own discretion to pull you out after being denied by command? That’s what the report said.” Caine knew full well what had happened. “Dad was a good man, but he was dumb enough to die for us.”

  “How do you expect me to live a normal life after that, pretend to take away what I saw? I was the one who killed Dad. But I killed him, Caine, the ganger who did it. I found him and I shoved a blade through his neck, the man who made me choose.” Caine listened close and he felt some satisfaction after hearing the news. But, like with Dill, it didn’t change anything.

  “And now that your vengeance is done, what now? You're still Dill Roberts.”

  He turned to Caine, quickly turning his tears to anger knowing that Caine couldn't possibly understand his life from such a distance. “And I suppose you're going to tell me how to live my life then, huh?”

  “What good would that be? Just keep on the way you're going. Mum's dead now, the last person alive that kept us brothers. Just keep going and may God watch over you. No one else will.”