"Keep running!" she yelled to Kim and watched the K-99 that she hit stumble, fall, and wipe out the two behind it, and the three landed in a heap.
Kimberly's view...
I run, thinking it's stupid the way I'm acting and then stop and turn. I'm running like some frightened rabbit. It's like that woman tricked me. She did some how; that woman wants me to owe her my life, and I can't have that. My fear vanishes as resentment replaces it. I'm not going to owe her anything!
I start toward her and shout, "I'm not going to let you save me! I can protect myself!"
"What are you doing?" she asks as she glances at me then turns her attention back to the pack. "Why are you coming this way?" She lays the empty gun down and picks up the screwdriver, holding it like a knife. "I said run! Get out of here! It's useless. There's nothing you can do."
"Shut up!" I aim at the K-99s. "Don't ever say something like that to me! I'm not useless!"
The last two K-99s lift from the heap and slowly stalk that woman as she grips the screwdriver and shouts, "I said it's useless, not that you're useless!"
"Oh..." I utter as my anger lessens but only a bit. "Well..." I notice the pipes running along the ceiling and ask, "Can these things swim?"
"No, they're not waterproof."
"Great! I can finally do something!" I fire, emptying my magazine along the pipes in front of the K-99s. "See," I whisper. "I'm not useless."
The pipes rupture and spray water on them, the K-99s jolt in place as electricity surges through their bodies, and they collapse to the floor.
"That was amazing!" that woman utters as she stands, grabs her things, hurries down the hall, and joins me where I stand as she looks at me with admiration. She's like a little girl looking up at her big sister who has just saved her from an angry stray dog, and that woman reiterates, "Really, that was amazing."
"I know," I say, trying to sound boastful, but instead I slightly blush as I receive the compliment. That woman seems sincere about it as she looks at me with her wonder-filled eyes, and for a few moments, I think I'm looking at a kid. I turn away, so she doesn't see me blush. I don't brush off the compliment since it has come from the Pandora Project who has great skill in her own right, but I also can't let that woman know I appreciate the praise, so I act irritated as I glance at her screwdriver, inquiring, "What were you going to do? Were you going to dismantle the tin mongrels before they chewed your arm off?"
"That's funny–" she chuckles and says, "–but no."
Surprised by her reaction, I speak, "I believe that's the first time I've seen you laugh." I eject my empty magazine and insert the one she tossed to me earlier.
"It has been a long time." She glances over her shoulder, making sure nothing pursues us. "I can't believe you saved me. I thought you only looked out for yourself."
"Well, don't get used to it; it must have been a lapse in judgment. Anyway... I didn't want to owe your dead corpse anything. I might feel bad for a few hours." I start down the hall. "Or a least a few minutes. Come on. Let's go back to my apartment."
Chapter Sixteen
The Request
9:47 P.M...
Thanatos the Dark Half's Regulator clicked on an incoming call, and an image of a man appeared on his hundred foot screen. The man's eyes were shadowed, but Thanatos recognized the mouth and chin.
"Mr. Morta," Thanatos yelled over the loud metal music resonating through his domain. "It has been a while. You should call more often. I miss our chats."
"And I dislike them."
"And here I thought we were friends. I guess I was wrong. What can I do for the Council?"
Mr. Morta scowled as he looked over the nipple pierced punk; he could barely hear Thanatos. He stated, "I wanted to personally confirm that the request for the Pandora Project's Open Closing has been canceled. We have no further need to have a bounty on its head."
Thanatos pulled up the file, opened it on the lower part of the large screen, and replied, " The Closing and the bounty were canceled one minute ten seconds after your request." He scratched his eyebrow as he inquired, "Is there a problem?"
"No," Mr. Morta answered.
"I take it you have a real interest in this Pandora–" Thanatos yelled and glanced over the file. "–woman. Do not worry. Since the forging of the Assassins Guild, mistakes are rare." He typed in a command on the keyboard and turned down his music, and Thanatos stopped yelling. "Once a Closing is canceled, it is canceled. All Closers use H.H.Cs., and they know the moment a cancelation comes through. Pandora has nothing to fear from any Closer. She is free to do whatever projects do."
Mr. Morta tapped his finger on the table, not amused with Thanatos and then spoke, "Perhaps you can help me with another matter. A Closer crossed paths with one of our projects. I would like to know their identity. I believe she performed the Topa Closing."
Thanatos typed across the keyboard and pulled up more files. "Do you know the history of the Assassins Guild?"
"Yes," Mr. Morta replied. "I do not need a lesson. Please give me the answer to my request."
Thanatos gestured a bow with his hand and head as he began, "Great Council member..." A smile slithered across his face as he said, "If you know the history, you should also know I cannot tell you their identity. Part of my job is to protect their anonymity."
Mr. Morta grumbled his irritation. "I have no further need to speak with you then."
He ended the transmission. Thanatos drummed his fingers on the swivel keyboard, pushed it to the side till it aligned with the chair's arm, and leaned forward.
"Phoenix..." He placed his palms together as if praying and questioned out loud, "What have you gotten yourself into?"
* * *
9:53 P.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Business Vicinage...
The twin Closers, Nikolai and Natasha busied themselves as they waited to fulfill the Closing on the Phoenix, and three days remained before the appointed time. After they had closed on Vic the Vulture earlier that morning for the Valhalla Corporation, they returned to their hotel and cleaned up, then they found a nice place for lunch, and enjoyed a meal. As natives of the Light Side of the planet, everyday life in Noir was alien to them.
"I'll never get used to this." Natasha made her way out of Main One Hospital, after visiting its pharmacy. Her internal clock was off without the sun to greet her in the morning, and she felt like she was on an endless all-nighter and wished to be back where the sun caressed her face.
Few people were walking the area she was in. Natasha paused, tried to adjust to the odd way of breathing through the WM-A, and continued outside. She carried a green cloth sack and halted at the edge of a sidewalk as the Cadillac pulled up to the curb. She placed the sack on the floor of the back seat and got in the front. Her brother Nikolai had the wheel and his Fedora lay beside him on the seat along with an open briefcase. An old book titled Draven and Salandra lay inside.
Nikolai held another book titled Blood Harvest that he was nearly done with. He finished the last page of the chapter, placed the novel in the briefcase, and put the briefcase in the back. "Tasha, were you able to get the kits?" He watched as his sister tucked her black hair behind her ear.
She removed her mask, tossed it in the back, and replied, "Yes, we have enough filters and the Liquid Oxygen Sprays to last several weeks, if needed. I for one do not wish to stay a minute longer in this dreadful place."
"Our assignment will be over soon then we can return home." He drove out of the hospital's parking lot and to the main road. "We can see the sun once more."
After a few minutes...
"I almost forgot." Natasha reached into the back seat and removed two boxes from the bag. "I got us upgrades." She handed one to her brother.
He took it, questioning, "Upgrades?"
"Yes, I grew tired of the Winnow Mask we have and bought the next level up." Natasha removed the WM-B from its box. "These have str
aps so that our hands are free."
"Well done, my sister. We may need these if we are to take down the Phoenix. They've also given me an idea." He pulled over and put on the WM-B.
"What are you doing?" Natasha questioned.
"This vehicle is a convertible. I would like to put the top down. Is that all right with you?"
"Only because it is you who is asking, I will bear the discomfort of this place."
He activated the top, it lowered, and Nikolai resumed driving. "I enjoy having the wind in my face. It is not that terrible, is it?"
"No." She grabbed the Fedora, placed it in the back, slid over, and then leaned her head on her brother's shoulder. "It is not that bad."
About ten minutes later...
The onboard computer centered in the console flashed red and then it spoke, "Tainted Rain forecasted to hit in four minutes. For your safety, this rental vehicle will lock out drive control till the storm passes. Please pull over and raise the top. Estimated length of Tainted Rain is fifteen minutes."
"I just placed it down." Nikolai pulled the car over and pressed a button that raised the top. "If we were in Mother Russia, we wouldn't have to worry about this polluted rain." He left the car running. "I should be thankful we didn't get caught in it."
He watched as black droplets speckled the windshield then thousands fell from the sky. The wind howled from the west, whipping the water about along with debris on the road. The drab Dry Clouds thundered as people on the sidewalks rushed for cover.
Natasha leaned forward, turned on the air system, and removed her WM-B. "I wish to be rid of this mask. It is so uncomfortable."
The rental as with all automobiles on the Dark Half had a special filter to provide clean air for its passengers. The Cadillac idled, switching to its electric battery.
"I know, but you do not want to breathe Noir's air. It is foul, smells of petroleum, and look." He pointed to the windshield. "The rain has traces of oil. You do not want it on your delicate skin."
"Promise me, my brother, that we will never return to the Dark Half. Promise me, we will remain on the Light Side once we have returned home."
"This I cannot promise. If Voice has a Closing for us, we must take it. We must never disobey the laws of the Assassins Guild." He looked worried. "We should never incur the Guild's wrath."
"You mean like the Phoenix?"
"Yes." He looked to the black water flowing down the windshield. "We should never incur their wrath like the Phoenix."
In an alley, the pale-white wolf gazed at the siblings as their car sped by, and the Tainted Rain soiled its fur and turned its coat a pale-gray. The raven perched above the wolf on a fire escape and crowed softly. The large bird was never far from the wolf.
Back in the car...
Natasha questioned, "Is there a place we can hide from this gloom? Is there a place we can escape for an hour or two?"
"Here." Nikolai handed her a brochure. "Maybe this place will cheer you up."
"What is this?" She took it and glanced at the picture. "A museum?"
"No." He smiled. "Look and you will see."
She read the front cover, "Come see our large spacious Sun Room mimicking a pine forest of the Light Side of the planet." She excitedly looked over the pamphlet and told her brother, "There are tall ordinary trees, green luscious plants that don't glow, and sunlight, precious sunlight. Do they really have such a place in Noir?" Natasha turned to her brother. "We must go. We must go now. Take me."
"Patience, my sister. We will go Sunday."
Chapter Seventeen
Flagged
October 23...
Saturday...
12:43 A.M...
The Chamber...
Analysts worked in three eight hour shifts, and a file came across an analyst's computer. He scanned the document and flagged the record.
The analyst pressed a button on the side of his earpiece and stated, "I have a problem."
A supervisor approached his workstation, and she questioned, "What's the problem?"
The analyst glanced up at her, then turned back to his computer, and pointed. "I've received a file that a Mr. Pinchbeck has taken over management duties for the Factory."
"All right. What seems to be the problem?" The supervisor looked over the document and adjacent files. "All the paperwork is in order."
"I remember sending out this document yesterday. The new manager wasn't Mr. Pinchbeck, but Mr. Monrow. I believe the documentation has been altered. We should bring it to the attention of the Council."
The supervisor tapped the touch screen of her H.H.C. and pulled up the files in question. "No, you must be mistaken. I have the original file right here. Mr. Pinchbeck is the new manager."
The analyst shook his head. "I could have sworn there was a different name there yesterday."
She insisted, "This is nothing we should concern the Council with. If there was a mix-up, we would have heard about it by now. There can't be two managers at the Factory."
The analyst motioned to his screen and said, "I found something else. Mr. Frank Bygone used his corporate card yesterday to rent a limo." The analyst pointed to a H.H.C. lying on his workstation. "I have the bill from the limo company right here."
"What's your point?" the supervisor a little irritated, questioned.
"Mr. Bygone worked at the Factory." The analyst turned to her again. "He's listed among the dead, so how could he have used his corporate card?"
"Where did the limo take him?"
"Let me see. The driver picked him up from the corner of Limit Street and West 1000 Avenue and took him to the Factory."
"Has the card been used since?"
The analyst looked over the file. "No."
"No worries then. The limo company put down the wrong date, that's all. They aren't as efficient as us. Back date our records to the day before the T-3s attacked the Factory." The supervisor nodded after the analyst complied. "Excellent. Now we can say good-bye to Mr. Bygone."
The analyst snickered. "That's kind of funny."
"Yeah, I know, but don't let the Council hear you laugh." The supervisor motioned to them with her head as they talked among themselves. "Back to work." The supervisor continued down the row of analysts. "There's much to do."
In the center of the Chamber...
Mr. Morta's view...
I review the data we received from Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo and find it most interesting. Ginn's Cipher has appeared, and now we need to discover who has it, and why they were at one of our old labs. I have a feeling this incident has something to do with Pandora. I smirk, amused by the notion. It would be like Pandora; she would become involved in Ginn's Prophecy to spite our efforts. I place my computer in sleep mode, push my chair away from the table, and stand. If it's true, what part will Pandora play? I walk through the areas of the room that are shadowed from prying eyes.
End Mr. Morta's view...
Mr. Decuma stretched his hand forward and scanned the darkness, noting Mr. Morta was smiling. Mr. Decuma asked, "Do we have a team ready to go to Etna Toys Distribution Station Bravo?"
"No," Ms. Nona answered. "All of our S.C.Ms. are busy on other assignments except those stationed here. Should we pull a group from the field or send in our personal guard?"
"Neither," Mr. Morta replied as he returned to his chair. "There is nothing important anyone can find at Etna, so we should not pull any S.C.Ms. off of an assignment to investigate some vandal or junky."
"Do you really believe it was some vandal or junky?" Mr. Decuma inquired. "This vandal has Ginn's Cipher." Suspicious of the oldest member's actions, he questioned, "Why do you delay in sending the S.C.Ms.?"
"Delay?" Slightly offended, Mr. Morta stated, "If you believe this Cipher is more important than any of the assignments the S.C.Ms. are on, by all means, you can go ahead, pull out one of the teams, and send them in. Or better yet, you should se
nd in our personal guards and hope the T-3s do not discover our new base of operations."
Mr. Decuma's view...
Why does he belittle my opinion or is there another reason for the delay? Is Mr. Morta hoping someone will escape before our men arrive at Etna?
End Mr. Decuma's view...
"Mr. Morta is correct in his thinking," Ms. Nona stated. "As great of a find Ginn's Cipher would be, what good is it to us? Ginn's Prophecy is not our department." She paused. "Unless you have a good reason why we should investigate immediately, I say we let our guard dogs take care of the intruder or intruders."
Mr. Decuma straightened his bright orange tie as if it was chafing his neck and said, "We will wait as you implied, most likely the intruder will not survive the K-99s. We can have their corpse examined. There is no rush."
Mr. Decuma's view...
I glance at Mr. Morta. First he delayed Cerberus from killing Pandora, and now he delays us from sending a team to Etna. I believe Mr. Morta is letting his emotions interfere with his judgment, and I may need to step in to rectify the situation.
Chapter Eighteen
Who's In Charge Now?
12:47 A.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Trade Vicinage...
Outside the new manager's office at the Factory...
The stench of dead bodies clung to the air, and it would have been a repulsive odor to any normal person. The Rogue detected the smell and processed it as any other data it acquired; it and the sight of the decaying bodies had no effect on it. For the Rogue, it was business as usual as it dragged a body of a man down a corridor and into a food court and then dropped the body in the center of the room among hundreds of other corpses. It was fortunate that the Council's S.C.Ms. had not cleared the area. It could dispose of the body there. Mr. Monrow's name was no longer on the paperwork. Mr. Pinchbeck's was and there couldn't be two managers. It finished hiding the body among the others and started out. It was fortunate that the Rogue was able to have the limo driver pick him up, that way no one saw Mr. Monrow when he came in. The Rogue merely told the S.C.Ms. at the gate to expect the limo and let the vehicle through without stopping it. The Rogue removed a plastic card from its business suit. It was another good thing it thought to process a corporate card in Mr. Pinchbeck's name; the Rogue didn't need a trail leading to it from Mr. Bygone.
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