by Cary Caffrey
The man shrugged. "You're free to walk—if you don't mind the extra Gs."
"Twelve-hundred!" Sigrid couldn't believe such an outrageous sum. "We're not paying that! It's only 1.4 Gs. We'll walk, thank you very much."
"Speak for yourself," Karen said, and pressed her thumb to the proffered pad. "I'm not as strong as you." She climbed on board. "Come on. It's on me."
Sigrid shot the driver a disapproving look. "Very well."
Selene smiled lightly at the Lady Hitomi. "Begging your pardon, Milady, but it might be best if you remain on board."
"Oh?"
"We might attract less attention without, well…you."
Hitomi considered her words and nodded. "Very well. Young Rodney and I will stay and guard the ship."
"Call us if you see anyone snooping around," Sigrid said, stepping into the now crowded little vehicle. The man released the locks and the cab lowered itself jerkily back to ground level and lurched off toward the spaceport.
"It's so empty," Sigrid observed as they walked from the port into the gravity-controlled warrens. There was evidence of what used to be a bustling port town, but those days were long gone.
"And quite filthy," Karen said, scraping something dubious from her shoe. "Urghh, what was that?"
Christian negotiated a rental car. It wasn't much more than an electric cart, but the transportation was welcome. The city was small by planetary standards, but the chain of complexes still covered several hectares.
"So, where do we go?" Christian asked, seated at the controls.
Sigrid chewed on her thumbnail. Her plan had been to get here, but after that—she was so desperate, she had to admit she hadn't thought it through. "There must be some kind of registration office—immigration, or something."
Selene barked a laugh. "Not here, sister."
Sigrid slumped. What then—drive around?
"Why not start at the most obvious spots?" Selene suggested. She eyed the man who'd just rented them the transport. "Hey, buddy. Know where a girl can get a drink?"
Once Sigrid had adequately greased the merchant's pad, he directed them to several establishments. They went from pub to pub, each seeming to outdo the previous in seediness and decrepitness as they moved further away from the port. All the while, Sigrid gently charmed or bribed the clientele for information. Her meager funds were growing short and they'd still found no one with any information on the whereabouts of either Tarsus or the girls, but some of the barflies had heard about the girls.
"You! You're one of them," the man Sigrid was currently interviewing said.
"And just how is it that you know about them?" Christian asked; he was losing his patience now. He grabbed the man by the collar.
"Me? I know nothing. I only know what Karl told me." Terror had taken residence in the little man's eyes. He looked at Christian, then at Sigrid. "Please! I'm telling you everything. He was here—but he left weeks ago."
"Weeks?" Sigrid couldn't believe it. They'd been so close…
"Two—maybe three," he wheezed, clutching at Christian's hands.
"Alone?"
"No—there were men. They took him."
"Took him? You mean, he left with them?"
The man gulped. "If by that you mean at gunpoint, then yes."
"What men?" Christian asked. "Where did they go?" He tightened his grip momentarily.
"I—don't know. I never saw them before. They came in on a ship. Please…"
Sigrid put her hand on Christian's. "It's all right. He's telling the truth. He doesn't know." Sigrid cursed silently; she still couldn't believe they'd missed Tarsus by so little time.
Christian frowned. "With all due respect, how can you tell he's not lying?"
Selene chuckled. "Oh—she knows…"
It wasn't much help, but it was their first lead. The frightened little man was also able to direct them to Tarsus' favorite watering hole—a peeler bar out on the farthest edge of the complex. The pink, painted walls of the modular habitat structure stood out like a beacon as they approached, with its gaudy neon postures of women and men in various states of undress glowing above the darkness.
"I should have known," Selene said as they parked.
Sigrid had to give more funds to the doorman. "Welcome to Paradise," he said, handing them over to a bubbly hostess who escorted them to a table.
"Well, at least we know where everyone is," Christian shouted over the din as he looked around the crowded bar. The Paradise was packed with patrons, waitresses, dancers female and male. There had to be close to 400 people there.
Sigrid scanned the room, taking stock of the many patrons. None stood out. She was struck by the dull, complacent looks of the men who sat passively as women, and sometimes men, danced for them at their tables and private booths. The mood was markedly subdued and quite in contrast to the driving music that came from the sound system.
Everything Sigrid heard was seemingly performed by a single, lone woman on a small stage. She was seated before what looked like a piano and surrounded by banks of computers. Sigrid couldn't believe such a powerful voice could come from such a small package; her presence pervaded the room as she sang out, resting one of her heels on the edge of the keyboard. She was clad in little more than a transparent plastic bikini and knee-high boots with preposterous heels. Her long, full hair had to be a wig; a bright yellow affair topped with a tall hat in the shape of a—Sigrid zoomed in to make sure—yes, a unicorn.
"Goodness."
The dancers and hostesses mingled freely, their skimpy outfits providing the patrons with a plethora of exposed flesh. Sigrid wondered how many of them were working under indentured contracts like herself, well, as she had been. She wasn't really sure what her status was anymore.
"Oh, my…" Karen gasped as their waiter approached. He wore no shirt, and the thin fabric of his tight pants highlighted his manly attributes handsomely.
"Ladies—gentleman," he offered in warm greeting. "What will be your pleasure?"
Karen burbled out their drink orders, making a point of stuffing an actual paper credit note in his trousers.
"Where did you get that?" Sigrid said. She'd never seen paper money.
Karen pointed to a dispenser by the door. "They sell them! Here…" she handed a stack to Sigrid, and more to Selene. "You'll want some. Trust me."
Christian frowned. "I thought we were here for information, not to ogle men."
Selene chuckled and leaned close, rasping into his ear over the noise, "In a place like this, who do you think we'll be talking to? If Tarsus was here, it's the dancers who'll know."
"Good point," Christian conceded, taking a stack of bills from Karen.
They had no trouble soliciting attention from the array of dancers who trawled each and every table. Once word got out they were asking about Tarsus—and paying—they all made a point of stopping by.
Sigrid showed a picture of Tarsus to a young dancer who went by the name of Cherry Bomb. She had dark, wavy hair that fell all the way down to the small of her back. Like all the dancers, she wore the flimsiest of outfits, the gossamer material of her bikini left little to the dullest of imaginations. Sigrid stuffed another bill into her bra.
"I remember Karl," Cherry said.
Sigrid felt her cheeks flush hot as Cherry melted onto her lap and wrapped her arms around her neck. The girl's voice was soft and low, and she kept her lips close to Sigrid's ear, taking care not to shout.
"Karl never came in here with anyone, but there were always people here looking for him."
"These people—would he meet with them?"
Nodding to Sigrid's question, her hair fell forward, brushing against her cheek. "From time to time. I don't think he liked them very much though. He was always…tense afterward."
"And you know the names of these men?"
Cherry's only answer was another sway of her hips and a sweet bat of her long lashes. Sigrid sighed and stuffed another credit note into her bra. "No, but I bet I know someo
ne who does."
Sigrid didn't wait, stuffing more credits into her panties this time.
Cherry gestured toward the stage. "Talk to Honey Dew. Tarsus was always hanging out over there. I think he liked her music."
Christian snorted. "I'll bet."
"No, I mean it. I think he really was a fan. Everyone knows Honey. Trust me. Hang out here long enough, and Honey gets to everyone."
The song ended and Cherry extracted herself from Sigrid's lap. "Don't be a stranger," she said, giving her a wink and blowing her a kiss before retreating into the darkened bar.
"Is it wrong that I found that hot?" Christian asked.
Karen swatted him on the shoulder. "Come on," she said, taking Sigrid's hand and leading her through the crowd.
The four of them made their way to the stage just as Honey finished one of her songs. Sigrid waved and called out, "Honey!"
Honey smiled down at them from the stage. "One sec, sweetie." Honey made some quick adjustments to one of her computers, queuing up a particularly raunchy tune. She sat down at the edge of the stage, swinging her legs over the side. "There. That should keep them happy for a while. Now, what can I do for you?"
"We were looking for Karl Tarsus. We heard you knew him."
Honey stiffened at the mention of Tarsus' name; the color drained from her face. She took a quick look around before leaning close. "Karl's gone. You should leave now."
Honey stood up abruptly, but Sigrid reached out and grabbed her hand. "Please. It's very important. We're just trying to find our friends."
"I have to go. My shift is over." Honey pulled at Sigrid's hand, but Sigrid held tight. Seeing the distress on Honey's face, Sigrid suddenly felt a pang of guilt. It wasn't her intention to frighten the girl.
Sigrid felt a meaty hand on her shoulder. She turned to face the large bouncer behind her.
"Don't touch the talent, Miss."
Sigrid let go of Honey and watched her scurry off backstage.
The bouncer folded his thick arms across his chest. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave now, you and your party."
"But—"
Sigrid's protests were greeted by the arrival of two more bouncers.
"We’d better go," Selene cautioned.
Sigrid didn't bother to resist; there was no point in starting a brawl. They had definitely struck a chord with Honey. The question now, was how to get the girl to talk.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Robots
May 17, 2348
Suko and Khepri looked up as the door to their cell rattled open.
"Lei-Fei!" Suko said, scrambling to her feet. She would have given the girl a hug had her hands not still been bound behind her back. Suko sensed something was wrong and stopped cold. Lei-Fei regarded her with a blank stare. There was no warmth in her eyes, no recognition. She was now dressed in a grey coverall and she was armed. "Lei-Fei…?"
Lei-Fei pushed her roughly, making Suko stumble backward against the wall.
"Please stay back. I don't want to hurt you."
Suko looked down in confusion at Khepri.
"They did it to her too," Khepri said, tearfully. "Tara, Christi…they did it to all of them."
"Did what?" She had no idea what Khepri meant.
"Freed them," Riku said as he entered the cell; Riku was followed by his guards in their mechanized armor.
Suko's PCM and some of her sensory modules were functioning again and she scanned Lei-Fei, but it was all wrong. "Lei-Fei? Are you…Lei-Fei!"
But Lei-Fei merely stared back vacantly; the girl she knew was gone. Suko turned to her brother, seething. "I'll kill you for this."
Riku raised his hands in a calming gesture. "It's not what you think. I can explain everything Suko. I'll show you. Come with me."
Suko backed away, looking fearfully at Lei-Fei.
Lei-Fei extended her hand to her. "We mean you no harm."
The voice was hers, but the inflection was all wrong, and her eyes… no way was she going to let them do that to her…
"Suko, it will be all right. I promise."
With her hands bound behind her back, Suko could put up little fight as the two soldiers dragged her out of the cell. They carried her up several levels to a brightly lit room that looked to have been set up as a makeshift medical facility. An operating table was set up in the middle of the room, complete with restraints. Banks of monitors surrounded the table, and several technicians were seated there, making preparations. Suko noticed the older woman sitting on the edge of a table in the corner, observing from lowered eyes. She didn't know who she was, but it was clear—this was the woman in charge.
Suko dug her heels into the ground, struggling against the metal hands that gripped her. "No…" she screamed. The soldiers picked her up bodily and dumped her on the table, face down, while they cut the binders from her. Suko struggled in vain as they flipped her over and fastened her into the restraints.
Riku watched the doctor warily. There was a warning chill in his eyes. "You can't fuck this one up, Farrington. This is my sister."
The woman in the corner stood up. "She's not your sister anymore. She's a drone."
Riku glared at her. "And this will bring her back?"
Dr. Farrington looked at him, not bothering to disguise his anger. "If you don't trust me, then get Doctor Garrett in here. Or can she walk yet?"
Suko felt the panic well up in her. "Riku, don't do this…"
Farrington moved toward her with a long metal wire, reaching toward the access port behind her ear. He smoothed her hair out of the way and moved the wire closer, but Suko jerked her head back.
"Dammit—hold her," Farrington hissed at the guards.
Suko felt the tears on her cheeks. "Riku, please…"
Riku grabbed Farrington by the arm. "I want your assurances this time."
Farrington looked at the hand on his arm and then to the woman in the corner.
Nicola sighed, heavily. "Dammit, Riku. Let him do his job."
Before Riku could respond, the door burst open and a frazzled-looking woman came running in. "Sir—ma'am…!" she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
"What?" Nicola barked, irritated at yet another interruption.
"We're…we're under attack," she said. "It's the CTF."
All of them froze.
"Mother fu…" Nicola was on her feet in an instant, running toward the door. She turned back, shouting a command to the guards. "Take the girl back to her cell. We'll take care of her later."
"I can handle this," Farrington said, annoyed.
"Later, Joseph. Not till I get back. Come on, Riku. We've got work to do."
* * *
"I can't believe it," Sigrid said as she continued pacing around the small hotel room they'd rented.
"She knows something," Karen said. "She's scared."
"Maybe scared of us," Christian suggested.
"We're not done yet," Selene said, leaning forward on her chair. "Trust me. A lot of people saw us asking questions today. This is a small settlement; people will talk."
"So, we wait?" Sigrid asked.
"At least a day or so. Tomorrow, we should split up. We can cover more ground."
"I want to stay on that girl," Sigrid said. "I don't think we should let her out of our sight."
Christian sat up. "I'm happy to go back to the club."
Karen swatted him again.
"I'm just saying…"
"What about the other complexes?" Karen said. "Maybe one of us should take the ship?"
Selene shook her head. "No. Tarsus was here, and this is where the port is. If anyone came for him, this is where they got him."
Sigrid grabbed her coat from the bed and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Karen asked, sitting up.
"Out. You guys stay here and get some rest."
Christian leapt up. "I'm coming with you. You're not going out alone. It's too dangerous."
Sigrid had to smile at his protectiveness but knew
he'd only get in the way. "I'll be all right. I want to make a visit to the port's records office. I want to check the transit logs."
Karen glanced at her watch. "But—they'll be closed!… Oh…right."
"I highly doubt that whoever took Tarsus left an accurate flight plan," Selene said.
Sigrid knew Selene was probably right, but she had to check. She desperately needed a lead. Mostly, she wanted to get out and at least feel like she was doing something. "I won't be long."
Sigrid opened the door—the two girls leaning against it from the other side stumbled forward.
"Honey! Cherry!" Sigrid said, catching both of them in a neat sweep of her arms.
Even in their street clothes, and without the outlandish costumes, Sigrid recognized the women from the Paradise. They were breathing heavily and seemed quite panicked.
"You totally fucked my gig," Honey said, shooting a frightened glance over her shoulder. Sigrid pulled them inside and closed the door.
"It was my fault," Cherry said, clutching Honey's arm. "I never should have said anything. I was scared—"
Honey put a reassuring hand on the girl's cheek. "Don't blame yourself, Cherry. You didn't know."
"What happened?" Sigrid asked.
Honey's eyes darted nervously over the other people in the room before she answered. "Your little question and answer session got quite a bit of attention today. You got us fired."
"Oh, my…I'm so sorry," Sigrid said.
"Save the sympathy," Honey said. "The men you're looking for—the ones who took Karl…they're not nice men."
Sigrid helped them both to a chair and Karen brought glasses of water for the two performers.
"Do you have anything stronger?" Honey asked.
Karen shook her head, but Christian took a hip flask from his pocket and handed it to her. She clutched it in both her hands and took several gulps before handing it to Cherry, who stared at it skeptically.
"Thanks," Honey said, starting to level out.
"The men…?" Sigrid urged.
"I'll tell you what I know, but you have to promise to take me with you."
"And me! We want out of this hellhole," Cherry said.
"Of course," Karen said. "We'll take you anywhere you like." She turned to Sigrid and winked. "We will, won't we?"
