by Neal Jones
"No. I've only been here, watching your comings and goings from the hotel."
"Then how did you know about Reldun?"
"Because I know Moru's entire career history, remember? I also hacked into your room's web link, so I was able to follow some of your online research in your investigation. My siblings and I have also been keeping an eye on Korik's former colleagues these last several years. It seemed prudent since none of us have any idea why we were created or why that project ended so suddenly."
Varis turned back to the wall screen and scrolled through the headline stories once more. "Shaundra, I need to find out if M'Harri is still alive, and I also need to talk to Prill." She shut off the screen with a frustrated stab of her finger. "I need to follow this investigation wherever it leads. I need to know why Korik suddenly disappeared five years and why he came to Exxar-One." She paused, frowning again as she sat on the edge of the bed. "That's something else that doesn't make sense. If you've been keeping an eye on Moru these last several years, you must have known immediately when he vanished."
"Yes, we did. I stayed here in Anjisald to monitor the police investigation while some of the others hunted him outside the home system. Quite honestly, we were stunned by his disappearance. It baffled us as much as his colleagues and the local police."
"And none of you found any leads?"
Shaundra winced, her expression turning sad once more. "No." She paused, glancing away. "I knew that something had happened to him," she continued quietly. "We all did. We feared the worst." She wiped her eyes with a sleeve and then turned to the window once more. "You arrival here is the only lead we've had since his disappearance. He hid himself very well."
"I'm sorry," Varis replied after a few moments. "He was the only father any of you ever knew."
Shaundra coughed, nodding. "Yes." Her voice was thick with emotion. She exhaled slowly and wiped her eyes once more. When she faced Varis, her composure was locked firmly in place. "I'm sorry for shooting you earlier. There wasn't time to warn you of the man and woman who were in your hotel. I was certain that they were going to attack you, and I was right. I'm glad that Anteri Prill's condition is stabilized."
"It's all right. I understand. And you were right. I have no idea what I'm doing. Even though I've been trained in covert ops, I've never actually investigated a case for the FCI."
"You mean you don't have authorization to be here?"
"Not exactly, no. I am allowed a certain latitude when it comes to matters pertaining to my job description. However, I'm not supposed to leave my assigned post unless specifically authorized by my regional commander."
"I see," Shaundra nodded. "You're in worse trouble than I thought. The local office here has probably already intercepted the news feeds about Prill."
Varis' gaze swept the surface of the desk. "Where's my commlink?"
Shaundra reached into her pocket and handed it to her. "Sorry. I shut it off."
J'Soran activated it and then linked it to her bio-net. "Yep. I've missed five calls. This is not good."
"Well, actually, if we wait another few hours, the local FCI agents might clear this matter up for you. They won't risk one of their own being exposed in a case like this, right?"
"Probably not. But they're going to want to find out why I'm here first, and then fix the situation once they know the details." She stood and started pacing again. "I wish I had my compad and my notes." She stopped suddenly and turned. "You said you had a visual record of that man and woman who have been trailing me? Let me see it." Shaundra reached out to grasp her palm. Seconds later, in Varis' optical screen, the two faces appeared. "I don't recognize the female, but I do remember seeing him the day I visited Reldun. He was on a park bench in the courtyard across the street, watching the children play." She shook her head, frustrated, dispelling the holo-screen with a finger-press to her left temple. She cursed under her breath as she walked to the window.
Shaundra watched her, waiting. After a minute or two, Varis turned.
"We need to capture them. They're either after the same information I am, or they're trying to prevent me from discovering it. Either way, they have the answers we need."
"I know. I've already thought of that, but setting a trap for them is not going to be easy. In just the few days that I've bee trailing them, I can already tell that they're professionals. I lost them three times, and I was sure the last time that they had either made me or they had gone off-world."
"How have you been following them? The city's sensor feeds?"
"For the most part, yes. Ever since you've arrived I've been stationed outside your hotel. In fact, you probably passed the man in the lobby yesterday afternoon. He went in just before you and Prill came out."
"Then it's a safe assumption that he searched my room and hacked my compad."
Shaundra nodded. "He wasn't in there long, but he returned about an hour before Prill did. That's why I intercepted you."
"But not Prill."
"It was too much of a risk."
Varis scowled as she paced to the dispenser and requested another cup of tea. "They would be expecting me to visit Prill's hospital room; or, like you suggested, getting off world as soon as possible." She returned to the desk and activated the computer screen. "There's a shuttle leaving for the N'nora sector in twelve hours. That would give me enough time to contact Agent Connor – that's my regional commander – and brief him on my investigation."
"And you're sure he'd give his authorization for this?"
"No. But if I don't screen him soon, he's going to start looking for me."
"Varis, you can't tell him about me or anything I've told you about the project!"
"I know. I'll leave you out of it." She glanced up, watching Shaundra pace to the window and open a slit in the privacy screen. "All I will tell him is the truth: that I came to Anjisald to investigate Moru's death and his disappearance five years ago. I'll say that I caught this man and woman following me for the past few days and that I believe they're responsible in some way for Korik's disappearance, as well as the attacks on Prill and M'Harri. And then I'll wait to see his reaction. If he orders me to cease the investigation and return to Exxar-One, then fine. I'll book my ticket, and I'll wait at the terminal to see if this couple appears. You'll be waiting there too."
"And then…"
"Then we capture them and we find someplace to hide near the terminal where we can safely interrogate them. But, if Connor decides to assist me, I'm sure there's an FCI safe house somewhere in the city. He and I will interrogate this couple." J'Soran paused, waiting for Shaundra to turn away from the window. "You're sure that they've never made you? They don't know about you at all?"
Shaundra hesitated. "I can't say for absolute certainty, but I don't think that they know I've been following them. Most of my surveillance has been long distance, using the city's network and visual feeds."
"Okay." J'Soran shut off the screen and stood. "This room isn't registered to any name that can be traced back to you or your siblings, right?"
"No. Is Agent Connor here in Anjisald?"
"I don't think so. But, just in case, this is as good a place as any, and it fits with the story I'm going to tell him. Tonight I saw the man enter my hotel, and I didn't have time to warn Prill. I checked into this hotel because it's close by, and I don't know what to do next."
"How are you going to explain missing the calls from him?"
"I had to shut off my commlink and bio-net. I was afraid that that man and his associate would find me."
Shaundra hesitated, and then nodded. "Okay. I…" She paused, frowning.
"You're still wondering if you can trust me."
"Yes. And…more than that. My siblings and I have known about you and your connection to Moru for over fifteen years now. This isn't how I planned our first face-to-face meeting."
Varis nodded. "You can trust me, Shaundra. In fact, now that I know about you and the project that Moru was involved in, I can start investiga
ting from within FCI. But first things first. You should go now. I'll wait ten minutes and then link to the city's net so Connor can find me."
"Where can we meet after this?"
"Here. After you're done with Connor, screen me." She held out her palm.
Shaundra grasped it, transferred her comm number, and then started for the door. "I'm going to stand guard at the end of the street. There's a café that's still open. If I see either of them, I'll send you a message."
"Thanks."
While she waited, Varis ordered a sandwich from the dispenser and another mug of tea. She switched on the wall screen and searched the headlines in the news feeds for any mention of M'Harri. Still nothing. After only half the sandwich, Varis decided she wasn't hungry and dumped the other half in the reclamator. She opened a slit in the privacy screen and checked the street. It would be dawn in less than three hours, and yet there were still groups of two or three partiers roaming about, searching for an open club or bar. Far above the city's skyline, the hovercar traffic was as busy as ever, hundreds of winking lights zipping along their pre-marked lanes. Varis turned away from the window and checked the ASD on the desk. Its soft blue light blinked in a lazy rhythm, indicating all function was normal.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
"C'mon, Aaron," she muttered. "You were so desperate to get a hold of me earlier, and now you're taking your time?"
After another two minutes of pacing, her bio-net's audio input signaled an incoming call. She pressed her right temple to activate the visual feed from the optical input, and Agent Connor's face appeared in the air in front of her.
"Agent Varis. I'm so pleased that you finally returned my calls. What's your situation on Exxar-One?"
J'Soran cleared her throat. "I'm not on Exxar-One, sir."
"Yes, I know. Why are you on Anjisald? And why is your face in the local news feed?"
Varis explained the situation, starting with the discovery of Moru's body on Exxar-One and ending with a description of the unidentified man and woman. "I need to know who they are, Aaron, and why they're after me. They killed Doctor Reldun and attacked Anteri Prill. They also probably killed M'Harri. All I need is a couple more days –"
"Enough! You're outside your jurisdiction, J'Soran. Doctor Moru's case doesn't concern you. Upload all relevant files to the local office in Anjisald. You will remain where you are until they have cleared up this matter with the local police. I will contact you again when it's safe to leave Anjisald. Understood?"
"Yes, agent."
"I warned you six months ago to be careful, J'Soran. Obviously you didn't take me seriously."
"You didn't tell me why!" Varis snapped. "Doctor Moru wasn't just some obscure scientist working in a backroom somewhere. He was a well known biogeneticist whose disappearance five years ago gained international attention on homeworld. And then he shows up on Exxar-One under a false name and immediately dies?? That doesn't seem like something worth investigating??"
"You have your orders, Agent Varis. I will contact you when it's safe to leave Anjisald."
He terminated the link, and Varis blew through her teeth as she shut off the optical input. She paced for several minutes, her mind racing through options and alternatives, and then she paused to open a link to Shaundra.
"Yes?"
"You were right. He ordered me back to Exxar-One as soon as the local office here clears up the matter of Prill's attack. That'll give us twelve hours at least – maybe eighteen at the most – to find that couple and interrogate them."
"We won't need that long. They're on their way to you. I just spotted them walking past the café. I'm trailing them now. Stay where you are and wait for me."
Before she could respond, the link was severed. J'Soran whirled to face the door, automatically reaching for her weapon. But then she remembered she hadn't brought one with her from Exxar-One, and she cursed under her breath while backing up to the far corner of the room where she had a clear view of both the window and the door. Her entire body tensed, her hands opening and closing as she mentally prepared herself for a fight. She listened to the distant thrum of the hovercar traffic outside the window, as well as the hum of the room's cooling unit inside the nearby wall. After a few seconds it shut off, and Varis cocked her head, listening for any sound beyond the door.
Footsteps. A crisp, quick gait, barely audible because of the carpet in the hallway. Two of them, at least, the second set not as quick or wide as the first. Thanks to her bio-net's audio input Varis could hear every sound, every step. The footsteps paused at her door and then came the sounds of clicks and whirs and chirps, indicating the use of a compad or other such technology. They were hacking her door's panel, decrypting the lock. Varis crouched, even though she knew it wouldn't do any good. She had no weapon, no way of defending herself, but maybe she could take them by surprise. It was a dim option, at best, but better than none.
A loud click reverberated in the room as the door's lock released and it slid open. The Ralorian man entered cautiously, and then smiled as he caught sight of Varis in the corner. Behind him was the Ralorian woman, and they both paused just inside the threshold as the door closed behind them.
"Hello, J'Soran," Avyrem said pleasantly. "Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you. We just need some information."
"Yes, I know. I want some information as well." Varis slowly stood, and then motioned to the desk and its two chairs. "Would you like to sit?"
"No, thank you. We won't be here very long." He glanced around the small room. "An excellent hiding place. It took me quite awhile to locate you."
"I knew as soon as I activated my bio-net you wouldn't have any trouble." She crossed her arms, glancing at the woman. "Who's your companion?"
"Oh, introductions aren't necessary. She'll only be needed if you don't cooperate."
"What do you want to know?"
"Oh, come on, brantar, let's not play this game. You know exactly what I want. All you need to do is give me whatever it was Doctor Moru gave to Doctor M'Harri before he disappeared."
"Really? Just like that? You'll leave, and I'll be free to go?"
"Of course! I have no desire to kill you. Nor will you ever be able to identify me or my companion."
"Are you sure about that? I am a field agent of FCI."
"You're wasting time, brantar."
"I'm sorry. I don't have anything to give you. Doctor M'Harri wasn't very helpful in my investigation. I'm afraid it's at a dead end for now."
Avyrem's smile turned thin, and his eyes narrowed. "You're lying."
"I'm not. I wish I could help you, but…" Varis shrugged, taking another small step backwards, closing the distance between her back and the window.
The man sighed and turned to his companion. "Do it."
Varis tensed, ready to charge, and the woman started forward.
The door slid aside, and Shaundra fired her disruptor at the woman.
Varis charged Avyrem, tackling him just as he turned to see who was behind him. The woman whirled to face Shaundra just as the first two bolts of phased plasma energy struck her square in the chest. Her skin and clothing rippled, turning silvery-gray, but then the wounds closed, and she charged Shaundra.
Shaundra fired again, three more rounds, and this time the woman was knocked backwards with the force of the blows. Her chest and arm rippled, turning to liquid once more, and Shaundra took advantage of the weakness to rush forward. The door closed behind her, and she fired another three rounds.
Varis, meanwhile, had the upper hand against Avyrem. She slammed into him, knocking them both to the ground and out of Shaundra's line of fire. She delivered a punch to his groin with her knee and then another to his jaw with her left fist. She followed this with another blow to his cheek with her right fist, and then she quickly searched him for a concealed weapon while he was too dazed to react. She found the small disruptor in an inner pocket of his coat, and she glanced over her shoulder to see how Shaundra was f
aring with her opponent.
The woman was sprawled on the floor at the foot of the bed, half her torso and most of her face rippling and churning.
"My gods!" Varis stood next to Shaundra, the disruptor pointed down at Avyrem, and she adjusted the setting before firing two rounds at his chest. His eyes rolled back into his head as his entire body went limp. Varis turned back to his companion, pointing the disruptor at her. "What the hell is that?"
"I have no idea."
The woman lifted her head, half of her mouth curled into a snarl. She glared at her attackers with her one eye as she said, "Go ahead. Get it over with already!"
"We're not going to kill you," Varis said, stepping forward just a bit to get a closer look. The silver liquid writhed and flowed like polluted water, yet it wasn't bleeding onto the carpet.
"Who are you?" Shaundra demanded. "Who's he?" She cocked her head in the direction of Avyrem.
"You think…I'm really going…to tell you?" The woman coughed, and some of her face returned to its solid state. But, after a few moments, it began to melt and run again.
"I've heard of aliens like you," Varis said. "Beings who could change their shape and form at will. But I've never heard of them described like this. How are you able to do this?"
The woman didn't respond. She threw her head back and closed her one eye. The rest of her body began to melt and churn, and then the pool of gray liquid started changing, turning black and solidifying into powder. In a matter seconds, there was a humanoid-shaped pile of dust on the floor beside the bed.
Shaundra cursed, lowering her weapon. "I must have shot her one too many times."
"No." Varis shook her head, looking over her shoulder to make sure the man was still unconscious. "She probably killed herself. At least we still have him. You have any cuffs on you?"
