by Ryk Brown
The girl lunged at him, knife first. In a flash, Corporal Vasya blocked the knife to one side, plucked it from her hand, spun her around, and trapped her with one arm around her neck, her knife held at her throat.
“I don’t like being threatened,” Corporal Vasya warned her. “Apologize, and I will not kill you.”
“Fuck you!” she cursed, trying to get free.
The corporal tightened his grip further, forcing her to stop. “Apologize.”
She struggled a bit longer but started to get weak from lack of oxygen. “All right,” she finally squeaked, “I’m sorry.”
Corporal Vasya released her, letting her step back. “You have two options,” he told her. “Answer my questions, or I turn you over to this guy to do with you what he wants.” Vasya looked at the man she had been following. “And if you ask me, he looks pretty shady.”
“You, sir, are an excellent judge of character,” the man declared, his eyes traveling up and down the skinny, young girl’s body.
* * *
Nathan stepped out of the decontamination chamber, stark naked, still wet from the cleansing spray at the end of the cycle. The next compartment was shared by four decon chambers, another of which opened, revealing Jessica, also naked and dripping wet.
“Quit gawking and hand me a towel,” Jessica told him.
Nathan picked up a hand towel from the bench and tossed it over to her.
“Funny,” she replied, throwing it back at him.
Nathan picked up two towels, handing her one. “That was the strangest decon procedure I’ve ever been through,” he commented as he toweled off.
“I’m pretty sure we were scanned in there, as well.”
“Please don your robes and proceed to the next compartment,” a voice prompted.
Nathan handed a robe to Jessica. “After you,” he said, putting on his own robe.
Jessica slipped into her robe and stepped up to the door, which opened automatically. On the other side was a large chamber, surrounded by windows. There was a table and several chairs in the corner, in front of a kitchenette, a few overstuffed sitting chairs, and what appeared to be fold-out beds along one wall.
“I have a feeling this is going to take longer than we thought,” Nathan stated as he followed her into the room.
* * *
“What’s your name?” Corporal Vasya asked the skinny, young lady they had cornered.
She studied each of them, still unsure of what to do.
“Surely it can’t hurt to tell me your name?” the corporal insisted.
“Sila,” she answered reluctantly. “My name is Sila.”
“Nice to meet you, Sila. I’m Kit, that’s Mori, and I don’t actually know this guy,” Corporal Vasya admitted, pointing over his shoulder to her mark.
“People call me Fang.”
Kit turned slowly, looking at Fang. “Seriously?”
“You got a problem with that?” the man asked.
“No problem at all, Fang,” Kit replied, turning back to Sila. “Earlier tonight, you were following an old guy. Heavyset, angry-looking, with black hair, scruffy beard, wearing brown pants and a black jacket…”
“Yeah, I remember him,” Sila replied.
“He went into a business in section two-thirty-five,” Vasya told her, “and he hasn’t come out.”
“How do you know he hasn’t?” she wondered.
“Don’t worry yourself about that; just tell me about that business.”
“It’s not a business,” she told him. “It’s offices.”
“Offices for whom?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were watching someone for them, weren’t you?”
“I don’t work for the vendors,” she explained. “I work for Mama Lewicki.”
“Who?” Kit asked.
“The Lewicki family runs the Jungle,” Fang chimed in. “Mama Lewicki is the matriarch of the family. She is one mean, old witch.”
“Good to know,” Kit said, turning back to Sila. “You spoke to the guy running the vendor booth in front of that office.”
“I just gave him a watch report, that’s all,” she assured him. “That’s my job.”
“All the capis pay a percentage of their profits to Mama Lewicki,” Fang explained. “Watchers are one of the services she provides in exchange for her cut. What section did you say this office was in?”
“Two-thirty-five,” Kit replied.
“A scruffy-looking guy with a bad attitude?”
“Our friend?”
“No, the guy working the booth,” Fang explained.
“Yeah, I believe so,” Mori said. “Skinny, too.”
“That’s Dinesh Koren’s operation,” Fang realized. “The guy’s a real asshole. What was your friend looking to buy?”
“A few thousand guns,” Kit replied.
“Well, Koren’s about the only guy in the Jungle who can handle that kind of volume, but if he doesn’t already know you, he’s more likely to kill you than sell you something.”
“Honestly, I don’t know anything about Koren or your friend,” Sila insisted, suddenly becoming nervous. “All I know is that I followed the old guy around and then reported on where he had been when the vendor asked.”
“Did you see our friend go into Koren’s offices?” Kit asked.
“I saw him go inside an office in section two-thirty-five, but I don’t know whose office it was. I don’t even know who this Koren guy is. I’m just a watcher, I swear.”
“Koren has the entire first level of that section,” Fang told them.
“Does he have any of the upper levels?” Kit asked.
“I don’t know,” Fang replied. “A friend of mine used to work for him a few years back. He told me about the lavish offices they had in there. I don’t remember him ever talking about a second level, but that don’t mean there ain’t one.”
Kit studied Sila. “This guy is more help than you.”
“I told you, I’m just a watcher.”
“She’s lyin’ to you, you know,” Fang told him.
“I am not!”
“I’ve seen her coming and going from Koren’s place,” Fang added.
“That’s not true!” Sila insisted.
“My ass.”
“You lying fuck!” Sila yelled, lunging at Fang.
Kit grabbed her by the throat, pushing her back against the bulkhead, sliding her up a few centimeters until her feet were no longer touching the deck. Sila grabbed at his hand, trying to break free as she struggled to breathe.
“I see no reason for Fang to lie about your association with Koren,” Kit explained calmly, maintaining his stranglehold on the girl. “However, I can see plenty of reasons for you to be lying.”
“She’s probably fucking one of his goons,” Fang told him. “Most of the female watchers hook up with capi muscle to keep regulars from hitting on them all the time. Some of them even get pimped out by them.”
“I can’t breathe,” Sila squeaked.
Kit turned back to look at Sila as she gasped for air. “You will tell me everything I need to know,” he said, his tone taking on great menace, “or I will kill you right here, right now. The choice is yours.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The exit door to their room in the decon facility slid open, and a woman in medical attire entered, carrying two sealed pouches. “Welcome,” she greeted in a pleasant, yet obviously artificial, voice.
Nathan examined her a little more closely, immediately realizing she was not human. “Thank you,” he replied, intrigued by the humanoid robot.
“I am your quarantine assistant,” the woman stated. “You may call me Orana.”
“You’re not real, are you,” Jessica stated rather bluntly.
Nathan shot Jessica a disappro
ving glance.
“What?” Jessica defended. “She isn’t.”
“You are correct, Lieutenant Commander,” Orana confirmed. “I am a medical service android, series one four seven. I am assigned to provide for you both, to make your time in quarantine more comfortable. These are for you to wear. They have been sized according to your physical scans, so they should fit appropriately.”
“How long are we going to be in here?” Nathan asked as he took the pouch handed to him.
“A minimum of twenty-four hours,” Orana replied.
“Why?” Jessica asked, opening her pouch.
“Your scans revealed several organisms within your bodies that are new to us. Our pathologists require time to determine the threat level to the general population, if any.”
“We were both given medical exams prior to departing our ship,” Nathan assured her. “We were both clean.”
“It is merely a precaution,” Orana insisted, “for both the people of SilTek and yourselves.”
“For ourselves?” Nathan wondered.
“There are organisms on our world that could be dangerous to you and the lieutenant commander.”
“We’re willing to take that chance,” Nathan assured her.
“We are not,” Orana replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “Sustenance and water are available in the kitchen area,” Orana continued, walking around the room, pointing out the amenities. “Lavatory facilities are in there. Should you require privacy, use the lavatory or simply touch the windows to obscure them, and touch them again to clear. Lighting controls are near the exit. If you require rest, the beds deploy with a touch,” she added, touching one of the beds, causing it to fold down from the wall. “If you require any assistance, there are call buttons located all about the compartment.” Orana walked back to the exit and turned to face them, striking a preprogrammed pose. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, thank you,” Nathan replied.
“Welcome to SilTek,” Orana stated before exiting.
“Two days in a shuttle, and now a day in here,” Jessica grumbled, opening her pouch. “Great, pajamas,” she added as she examined the bright red attire. “Why red?”
“Probably to identify that we are in quarantine,” Nathan suggested as he pulled on his baggy, red pants. “Not exactly a tailored fit,” he joked as he donned the pullover top. “Comfortable enough, I suppose.”
“Do you think they’ll let us keep them?” Jessica joked as she unabashedly dropped her robe and donned her red pajamas.
Nathan peered out the windows. There were similar quarantine rooms on either side and across the corridor, each of them with multiple occupants. “I guess we’re not the only ones in quarantine,” he said, pointing at the other rooms. “I wonder where they’re all from and why they’re here.”
* * *
“The place is owned by a capi named Dinesh Koren,” Corporal Vasya informed Lieutenant Rezhik. “He’s the only high-volume guns dealer on Sanctuary, but, apparently, he doesn’t like to do business with strangers.”
“Since we’re continuing to receive a signal, Marcus is still alive,” the lieutenant said.
“How do you know that?” Neli inquired.
“Our transponder rings are powered by our bodies,” Lieutenant Rezhik explained. “If Marcus were dead, his signal would be lost. They are probably interrogating him. Did you learn his location within the complex?” he asked the corporal.
“He’s probably being held in a room on the second level,” the corporal explained. “A room they call ‘the box’. If we’re going to rescue him, we need to move quickly. According to our sources, once this Koren fellow has gotten all the information he needs, he’ll most likely kill Marcus.”
“Any idea as to number and armaments?” the lieutenant asked.
“We know he’s got at least a dozen goons working for him as muscle, but there’s no way to know how many will be in the facility at any given time,” Corporal Vasya explained. “As to armaments, Fang told us they probably have, what he called, ‘pop guns’. Some kind of projectile weapons. If someone is hit in the wrong spot, they can be deadly.”
“Maybe we should notify security,” Neli suggested. “After all, Marcus wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“Armed criminals are holding him hostage for merely making an inquiry,” Lieutenant Rezhik stated. “On a station that is supposed to be weapons-free and safe. His best chance of survival is with us.”
“But they’re armed,” Neli reminded him.
“As are we,” the lieutenant replied, moving over to the closet. He reached up onto the shelf and pulled down a large, locked case. After placing it on the table, he opened it and began handing out sidearms to his men.
“Where did you get those?” Neli asked.
“We brought them with us,” the lieutenant explained. “They were in Miri’s stasis chamber.”
“Won’t security detect them?”
“These use extremely high-pressure air to launch select projectiles,” the lieutenant explained. “Since they do not use any energy, they are undetectable by station weapons sensors, and they have the additional advantage of being quiet, in comparison with energy weapons or other projectile weapons. They are precise and can be quite deadly.”
“Then, this is a kill mission?” Corporal Vasya asked.
“If necessary, yes,” the lieutenant replied.
“It’ll piss off security if they catch wind of it.”
“I don’t much care,” the lieutenant stated bluntly. “Neli, get the kids ready to move.”
“Why?”
“This could be a diversion to pull the five of us away from you and the kids. We will escort you to the medical facility where Team Two can guard everyone. Farrish, you will take command of Team Two while Team One and I rescue Mister Taggart.”
“You got enough of those for all of us?” Master Sergeant Farrish asked.
* * *
“Forget room service,” Jessica exclaimed, “this fridge is well stocked. You hungry?” she asked, pulling snacks out of the mini-fridge.
“Not really,” Nathan replied as he opened the door to the lavatory and peeked inside. “Nice head.”
“Leave it to a guy to check the toilet, first,” Jessica joked as she placed a selection of food on the table. “They’ve got all kinds of fruit here, some of which I’ve never seen before.”
“Leave it to you to check out the fridge, first,” Nathan retorted.
“Hello, Captain Scott,” a female voice greeted.
Nathan turned toward the voice and spotted a woman, in what appeared to be a Tekan business suit, standing on the other side of the window next to the exit.
“I am Caitrin Bindi, special assistant to Ariana Batista. On behalf of the leadership of my world, I would like to welcome you both.”
“Thank you,” Nathan replied, walking toward her. “Are we going to meet with Missus Batista?”
“Missus Batista is a busy woman; however, I am certain she will make an effort to speak with you in person. In the meantime, might I inquire as to the nature of your visit?”
“No offense, Miss Bindi, but I would prefer to discuss such things with Missus Batista.”
“I understand,” Miss Bindi replied. “However, the nature of your discussion dictates the type of advisors Missus Batista will need to have on hand. It would be more efficient if she had some idea of your intent prior to meeting.”
“Very well,” Nathan agreed. “I lead an alliance of three worlds attempting to defend against a conquering force and liberate about a dozen worlds they have illegally occupied. I was hoping to add SilTek to that alliance.”
“Then, you believe this invading force is a threat to SilTek, as well?”
“The Dusahn Empire is a threat to everyone,” Nathan insisted. “They are ruthless and well-armed, a
nd they destroy those who reject their rule.”
“We are aware of the Dusahn Empire,” Miss Bindi assured him. “I assume Mister Vout warned you that SilTek does not take sides in the disputes between others.”
“He did,” Nathan admitted. “I am hoping that your leader will make an exception in our case.”
“That is doubtful, I’m afraid.”
“Then, perhaps we can come to a business arrangement?” Nathan suggested. “We have many technologies that would be of advantage to your company.”
“I shall convey this information to Missus Batista,” Miss Bindi promised, turning to depart.
“One more thing,” Nathan called.
“Yes?”
“Orana,” he began, “is she self-aware?”
“If you are asking if she is sentient, then the answer is no. She is aware of her own existence, just as all androids are. She knows what she is and what her purpose is. Her programming, although quite complex, is designed to perform the tasks required for her position; nothing more, nothing less.”
“Then why make her so human, yet obviously not human?” Jessica asked.
“Androids, tasked to interact with humans, are humanoid in design to put those with whom they interact at ease,” Miss Bindi explained. “However, they are given obvious marker-traits to remind us that they are not human. We find this helps our people avoid developing emotional attachments to the android workforce. We believe that simulations and automation should help people, not fool them.”
“I see,” Nathan replied. “What happens after we are released from quarantine?”
“I have arranged transportation and comfortable accommodations for the duration of your stay on SilTek. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must return to my duties.”
“Of course,” Nathan replied.
Jessica watched as Miss Bindi departed, then turned to Nathan. “You think this place has room service?”
* * *
Once again, each Ghatazhak entered the Jungle separately and from different hatches. Dressed differently, their only common trait being their steely, confident look. Luckily, there were many people in the Jungle, both men and women, who had similar looks. Most had killed or witnessed killings and other acts of violence.
