Specter Protocol

by Eddie R. Hicks

  “Come meet me here,” Estrella said. “I got a bad feeling about something.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting answers that might get me killed.”

  Estrella felt the air temperature rise as she approached. There were a lot of bodies inside standing and chatting, shooting pool, or watching sports games on the TV screens hanging on the walls as they drank to the loud Reggae music vibrating the walls and bar counter. She tried not to let the marijuana smoke affect her as it lifted high to the ceiling.

  Two men shot her a strange glance as she marched up to Nelson. Facial scans of those men turned up similar results, the men with Nelson were IWs, not that she needed the scans to confirm that. Half the men stood with orange glowing hands; it made their bodies appear as bipedal wolves with fierce dreadlocks.

  They look like werewolves.

  Biokinesis synthesis, Geoffrey explained. These IWs are using their biokinesis powers to alter their appearance and take this form.

  Half-wolf, half-man. Never seen biokinesis used for that.

  An A ranked IW adept at biokinesis can perform this task but are rare because of the complex nature of manipulating DNA.

  She stood and faced up to Nelson who leaned against a pool table. Several members of his group, some Jamaican, others the werewolf looking men with dreadlocks, scowled at Estrella, and their eyes flickered to the NC gauntlet she wore.

  “Yo, hombre,” Estrella said to Nelson. “You the head honcho here?”

  Nelson winced. “Who dis?” He puffed his spliff. THC smoke filled the air between them.

  “Name’s Rodriguez,” Estrella said as the music changed. She grinned to the beat. Geoffrey, what song is this?

  Richie Spice, Youth Dem Cold.

  I like it. Grab me a copy.

  The download took three seconds after he connected to the public Wi-Fi.

  Done.

  “My partner and I caught some wolves chomping on members of the Bald Skulls gang,” she said. “But you and I know ain’t no real wolves got the balls to enter a city like this and do that.”

  Nelson laughed. “Look at you. You t’ink you a big woman now? Comin’ up here, talkin’ dow’ to me like dat!”

  “Just wanted to know why you killed them and left us.”

  “Com’ out my way girl.” Nelson shoved past her, grabbed a pool cue, and moved back to the pool table. “Me gotta play muh game.”

  She grinned facing an idle cue leaning up against the wall. She swiped it. “Yo, ese!” Nelson faced her. Estrella pushed past his men and stood at the opposite side of the pool table. “I’ll play with you.”

  “Rassclaat.” Nelson skinned his teeth. “Me gonna beat you, then you gonna leave.” He pointed at the front door, barely visible with the THC smoke. Piper emerged from the cloud having just arrived. “Me ain’t got time to chat with dem corporate bots like you.”

  Piper stood at her side. It surprised her she got there so fast. Must have been in the area, same with her messenger.

  “Estrella?” Piper said to her. “This your idea of getting answers, love?”

  “Looks like we got to win a game of pool, Piper.” Estrella eyed the cue ball placed on the green surface of the pool table. She held the pool cue steady.

  “Never took you for a pool hustler,” Piper said, her arms crossed across the cloak.

  “Truth be told.” The remaining pool balls got set up ahead. “This is my first time…”

  “Oh my fucking goddess,” Piper groaned as the music changed again. Bob Marley. “If you lose…”

  “Can you play?”

  Piper shook her head. “Uh… not really.”

  Geoffrey?

  Estrella’s HUD updated, various lines appeared when she looked at the table, cue ball, and the rest. Predictive paths her shots could make. I can provide tactical guidance and calculations. With my assistance, your chances of winning will significantly improve.

  And then a black holographic cat leaped onto a stool, stood, and watched as Estrella aimed the pool cue, and commenced the start of the game. She read the graphical overlays appearing on her vision and performed her first shot. The cue ball spun forward with a click and then struck the balls ahead.

  Nelson made his move. Estrella watched the balls move across the lines her HUD predicted. Geoffrey’s scans were on point. The game continued, Estrella leaned across the table, her hand positioned exactly where Geoffrey told them they need to be. Her cleavage hung from the crop top tank top and she wasn’t surprised to see Piper glancing at her ass in the shorts when she bent over to take the shot.

  She heard the murmurs of the Alpha Pack members comments about her skill. Estrella was winning. She was gaining their respect. Or was it her looks? Piper wasn’t the only person getting hot over her figure.

  She sank another ball. Nelson stood, holding his cue, giving an approving glare as Estrella backed away. “Not bad.”

  Nelson made his shot. And then it was Estrella’s turn. She took advantage of her appearance, holding the edge of the table, looking relaxed as she positioned the cue. “I take it your war with the Skulls is recent,” she asked, then took the shot.

  Nelson’s lips twisted, his gaze searching for an opportunity to come back. “Wah mak’ you say so?”

  “I fought ‘em in Buenos Aires. Killed them all, well, so I thought.” She took a shot, stood back and stretched her arms. The eyes of the men fixed on her exposed navel. “Got transferred to LA and found out they followed me.”

  “Yo’ brought ‘em bumbaclaat here?”

  “I didn’t. Those pendejos are being paid by Yoshida to do their dirty work.”

  “Fact?”

  “More or less.” Nelson shot. Estrella made hers, sinking one ball, and making the other roll into its pocket. “That’s why I’m here. I wanna know what got you two fighting in the short time the gang’s been here.”

  He carried out his move next. “Some members of the Pack are—”

  “Unregistered?” Nelson said nothing. He waited for Estrella to finish her shot. “Don’t worry, I ain’t no fucking snitch, yo. I want the Skulls, not you guys.”

  “Aye,” Nelson said setting up for another shot. “Ganja herb. It helps with telepathic powers, yo’ know? It drew the attention of dem Skulls.”

  “The Skulls captured your telepaths, didn’t they? The ones that smoked the ganja?”

  “Aye.” Nelson looked fierce, his face cringing. “Me son included. Don’t know wah dey does do with dem telepaths. Been fightin’ to get ‘em back since.”

  The Skulls fucked with the Alphas and kidnapped their unregistered telepaths. Estrella wasn’t surprised to hear it. She half-smiled as an opportunity emerged. “What if I told you, I could get him back?”

  “You?” Nelson exploded into laughter. He had to use the cue to hold his body steady. “You and who? Dat wanted witch you just brin’ up into dis place?”

  Estrella turned around and looked at Piper. She held an opened beer bottle, and the hood of her cloak wasn’t on. She’d taken it off, trying to get a better look at Estrella, or the humidity was getting to her.

  She pointed her thumb at Piper. “What? Her?”

  “We know who she is,” Nelson grunted. “Me ain’t stupid you know. Seen her face all up in dem TV. She and dat hacka.” He sucked his teeth. “Federation fools. You got bad friends.”

  “Just tell me where the Skulls hang out,” Estrella said.

  “Why? So dem Federation fools to come up mash up the district? Dis place me home! Not gonna put outta fire by lightin’ another.”

  “We’re not with the Federation.” Estrella winced. “Neither is she.”

  “Ya got proof?” She shook her head. “Make me believe dat lie, and I might let you in our inna circle.”

  The game was over. Estrella won, and she left empty-handed. She gave the cue back. “Good game, ese.”

  “Call me if ya got any proof to show me.” Nelson gave her his number and then nodded at the bartender. “
Yo, come bring me shot, nuh?”

  Estrella and Piper left. The muffled sounds of the reggae music dimmed with every step they made back to Estrella’s bike.

  “Well, that went better than I expected,” Piper said.

  “If you’d kept the cloak up, we’d know where the Skulls are,” Estrella said.

  “Sorry, I was getting warm in there and everyone was unregistered IWs. I didn’t think it’d be an issue if I showed my face.”

  “I haven’t noticed.”

  “The IWs? Did you not scan them?”

  “I mean it being too hot to have the cloak on.”

  A Mona Lisa smile. “Because you weren’t noticing the young minx playing pool.”

  Estrella stood near her bike. Before getting on, she pulled out her phone and checked for missed calls or messages. There were none, not even from Ray. She sent him a nudge.

  “Any updates from Ray?” Estrella asked. “I haven’t heard from him since he talked about that Yoshida PMC base.”

  Piper grabbed her phone. “Nope, nothing.” Piper pulled the phone closer to her face, eyes narrowing at the message she received. “So, you free now?”

  “What’s up?”

  “Remember what I said about my messenger and speaking in person?” Piper looked to the left, the right, and then back at Estrella. “They just texted me. They’re in the area and are free for us, now.”

  Piper sat behind Estrella, sharing a ride on the motorcycle, holding her waist while she pressed her womanly curves against her back. The winds kicked up from the high-speed race across the streets had Piper’s cloak rippling, her pixie hair too. Estrella hoped nobody recognized the fugitive sitting behind her, resting her chin on her shoulder… and sensually stroking across Estrella’s lower back.

  Estrella was silent about that but had a hidden grin stretching on her face covered by her helmet. She felt Piper’s fingers glide up her left side. Then stop.

  “Don’t you ignore me,” Piper shouted. “I’m a telepath.”

  Estrella snorted, keeping her eyes forward as she swayed to pass a van moving too slow for her liking. It honked at her. “Are you reading my thoughts?”

  “Emotions. Thoughts are a fucking pain, even for me.” She felt Piper’s fingers again on her side, pressing against the faux leather red biker suit. “I know you liked that.”

  “Cut it out!”

  “What? This?” Both hands stroked her lower left and right sides.

  “That’s creepy you know. I should have Geoffrey block you.”

  I can do it too. Would you like me to?

  “Sorry,” Piper said, keeping her voice loud over the sound of the speeding bike. “I was honestly curious why you… uh… pulled away from me that night.”

  She remembered that evening when Estrella and Piper were at the bar in the Witches Brew. Piper had leaned forward, her lips positioned to meet Estrella’s, ready to deliver her first kiss, then Estrella had moved her lips away.

  Estrella pulled her thoughts out from the flashback. Distracted driving on a motorcycle was dangerous.

  Following Piper’s directions, Estrella pulled over and parked in the lot of a building with the neon Japanese words for sushi, flashing blue and red. She liked the spot already. Estrella had been out all day, the port, the visit to the LAPD, back to her place only to come out here. She had no memory of stopping to eat at all, perhaps the messenger knew that too.

  She and Piper approached the building, nanites made her helmet and suit turn to gray goo. Estrella was back wearing the black crop tank top, shorts, and pentagram choker. The brilliance of her NC gauntlet dimmed as the goo retreated inside her synthetic arm. Piper was behind, adjusting her cloak to cover her face, so she saw only the glow of her irises, then she used nanites to change the cloak. Piper wore a different hooded cloak now, shiny and blue, shaped like a trench coat, and her footwear changed too, heeled boots clicking with each step. The benefits of being an RW, you could morph, or nano print different outfits provided you had the materials and nanites.

  Piper took the lead, Estrella followed, and they entered the sushi bar, moving past its patrons. Soothing electronic music from Japan played, psychedelic holograms danced on the walls and ceiling giving a green and blue glow to those that sat, ate, drank, and ignored Estrella’s cloaked guest. They took a seat near the front windows and placed their orders. Estrella never thought she’d be happy to taste the synthetic fish protein after receiving their requested food.

  “You know why,” Estrella finally spoke.

  “Mmm?”

  “About,” Estrella bit into her meal, “the kissing, ‘n’ shit.”

  Estrella caught the darkened glimpse of a Mona Lisa smile under the cloak’s hood. “I know you’ve never been kissed, and wanted it,” Piper said. “And regret not kissing Yumi.”

  More memories from the past replayed, at least Estrella wasn’t riding her bike this time. She thought back to a kiss she avoided from Yumi, the semi-normal life living in the sprawl of Buenos Aires, and the ability to visit her aunt Anna’s apartment. God, Estrella missed those enchiladas Anna made. She missed everything about being back home. The running around and near-death situations she’d found herself in now better buy her the freedom needed to return.

  “And you miss your home,” Piper added. Estrella scowled. The pixie kiwi’s telepathic powers were showing. “Don’t need to be a telepath to know that. It’s all over your lovely face.”

  A lovely face Estrella noted that Piper was always looking at, even when she was eating. With their meals finished, a young man, sitting alone at a table in the corner, stared at them. He had thin brown hair, sides shaved, and wore a green camo jacket. Estrella and Piper looked back. He got up and joined them at their table, uninvited. Estrella wanted to shove him. Piper held her arm back.

  The man looked at Piper, and she looked at him making direct eye contact. And they held it. No words were spoken, though, if you looked closely, you could see Piper’s hands, hidden on the inside of her cloak, brightened the interior with white light. Same with the man, his hands stuffed in his pockets glowed white. Piper grinned. He winced. She twitched. He twitched. The two turned to face Estrella. She had no idea what the fuck was going on.

  “Relax, Estrella,” Piper said. “You’re making him nervous,”

  Estrella sat. “Didn’t say anything.”

  “Order us some drinks, will you?”

  She raised her hand, catching the eye of the server. Sake for three. The server returned while Piper and the man remained glaring at each other, their faces twitching ever so slightly. Only Estrella drank. The man stood up, bowed to Piper, and walked away.

  “Thanks for the drinks,” he said to Estrella.

  “You didn’t fucking drink it!”

  Piper’s fist crashed against Estrella’s shoulder. “Shush!”

  She watched the man leave and disappear into the neon glow outside. Facing Piper, Estrella asked. “Who the fuck was that?”

  Piper reached for her idle sake. “My messenger.” And drank it.

  An eyebrow lifted. “That was him? Because it didn’t sound like he said anything useful.”

  “Messengers are telepaths, remember? They deliver Nexus’s orders to us by telepathic thoughts.” Piper placed the empty glass on the table. “What we just did was a silent telepathic exchange. No ears to overhear us, and no electronic messages to be hacked or traced.”

  Estrella crossed her arms. “Smart. I take it you got a new mission then?”

  She faintly heard police sirens in the background when new patrons arrived through the front door. They went silent when the door closed.

  “No, that’s the worrying part,” Piper said. “He hasn’t heard from Nexus, neither have the other messengers. Like us, Nexus has left them in the dark for the past month.”

  “That’s it? ‘cause you two were at that for a while. There had to have been more said.”

  “There was. He explained how he knew where the Alpha Pack gathered tonight.
Someone from the dark web contacted him.” Piper looked down. “Someone calling themselves Obsidian.”

  “Ray’s new source.” Estrella’s eyes shot open. “Why did Obsidian chat up your messenger?”

  “He doesn’t know. The message came out of nowhere. Obsidian seems to know he was a messenger, and that he was in the area. They sent him to pass on where to find Nelson. And then after your game of pool, asked him to meet with me again, and pass on a message.”

  “And that message is?”

  “He knows where Malcolm is.”

  “Who the fuck’s Malcolm?”

  “Malcolm Tucker,” Piper said facing Estrella. “He’s Nelson’s telepathic son, kidnapped by the Skulls.”

  “Where Malcolm is, the Bald Skulls are.”

  “There’s a very special set of instructions they gave me to follow. So, listen to me very carefully. We can’t fuck this up. Obsidian knows more than they’re letting on if they can reach my messenger.”

  Estrella stood up, calling for the server. She needed the bill and fast.

  Thirty-Eight

  Miyuki

  One more time.

  The crash site’s inferno raged, bringing heat to the arctic air, turning snow and ice to water, and sending awakened animals fleeing for shelter, and Miyuki, Yanmei, and Serge, fleeing for cover behind trees slightly bent over from explosive blasts the region received. Peeking away from the wreck, Miyuki spoke into her radio after confirming two Specter’s weren’t grouped with the team.

  “Wu and Liu, please respond,” she pleaded, there was no reply. Miyuki faced Yanmei, who looked like a pair of ruby eyes in the darkness, shaking her head grimly. “I think we lost them.”

  Yanmei cursed in Chinese then punched a nearby tree. The blow put a fist-sized dent in its trunk. “Fuck!” she roared in English then faced Miyuki. “And for the others?”