Assassins

March 21 - Al Raqis

-----

The air was hot. The streets deserted.

Most people in Al Raqis avoid venturing out this time of day. Most people are wisely relaxing indoors with a light meal and waiting for the heat of the afternoon to pass before evening activities can begin.

These empty streets served my purposes. I planned an uneventful stroll to the downtown area. Purchase lunch from the local bakery and retire to the guest house where I hear a shipment of fresh oranges had arrived.

But as I stood in the courtyard just outside the Zenobian manor house, I noticed something new.

Something new and out of place.

A sound.

Hissing.

An unnatural sound. Like air escaping from a tank rather than from something reptilian and organic.

It was quick and soon subsided, so I didn't give it much thought beyond that, and began my walk.

However, by the time I reached the courtyard to the old embassy buildings, the hissing had returned.

It was persistent this time but I could not locate its source.

I stepped into the bakery, and took a moment to breathe in the wonderful smell. My plans for a quick meal were now on hold. The odd noise had seen to that.

Leaving the bakery and its soft warm bread, I walked as far as House Orion then stopped suddenly and retraced my steps to Large Vaporator Number Three. I fiddled with it as if I planned to extract water. It gave me a chance to observe the surroundings.

I could see nothing usual.

The hissing sound continued.

Back to the road and into the square where months before I had met Lynx, and first saw Tillery in his wheelchair. CNS and Londinium Gearworks. Passed the courthouse where they tried BriAnna. The tavern where I drank with Brooke.

The hissing followed me.

I walked up the stone steps to the high ridge above the Chapterhouse of the Sinisterhood.

I was exposed here.

When I reached the house of the Lady Bondar, I turned suddenly and looked back the way I came.

And there he was.

Standing on a distant roof. Hands on his hips. Tracking me.

He took to the air, hopping rather than flying, assisted by a jet pack of sorts. He disappeared behind a row of buildings.

I paused for a moment then turned and entered the barracks.

Time to unfurl the flag and see who salutes.

----

The clang of my locker opening.

The click of belts fastening.

The smell of leather. The shine of my boots.

Proud purple.

If I am going to answer for my life this day, let it be in my uniform...

----

I stepped out into the heat of the day.

There was the figure of the man who managed to follow me across town, standing on the roof, his back to the south.

I called out, "Your jet pack is hissing... why don't you come down and talk?"

The man answered, "Actually that's my gas mask and no thanks, I'm fine up here."

"I see. Well, who are you?" I asked.

"I am Drake Portland,"

"How can I help you, Drake?"

"You can't," he replied.

"Oh?" I said tentatively, still waiting for the bullet or the blade, "in some kind of trouble are you?"

"...but I might be able to help you," he continued.

"I'm listening," I said, looking up at him and shielding my eyes from the sun. He was well placed I must give him that.

"I'm a assassin," he announced.

"Go on."

"I am up for hire," he added, "I saw you in town and was wondering if you had any mortal enemies."

I nodded. "Always," I replied, "but right now I'm looking for information."

Drake opened up his arm panel and said, "Look at that..." However, before he could elaborate, he suddenly said, "Sorry, but I must go. If you need someone killed give me a call."

"Thank you Drake," I replied. But he had already disappeared behind the angle of the roof.

"Lady, if you have a moment?"

A woman's voice behind me. I turned. She was well dressed, standing on the steps leading up from the ridge pathway. When did she arrive?

I gave her a warm smile, "Of course," I replied, "and how can I help you?"

She smiled for just a moment, "I know you," she replied, "and I believe you know me, for we are in similar lines of work. I am Sister Kat of the Sinisterhood."

"Hello," I greeted her, "and what line of work would that be?"

"Information gathering and cleaning," she replied, "The cleaning is not as well publicized." she added.

"I'm Major Siamendes, Special Investigations Unit of the Alliance Military."

Sister Kat nodded and grinned.

"Would you care to go indoors?" I invited. It was a short walk to the old embassy buildings.

"I only have a brief message to pass along," she replied. "If the head of your 'House' here will please contact the Reverend Mother. It seems that we must have an official government, in order for the United Federation Spacefleet to take us seriously. Being a member of the Concordat is not sufficient."

"I see... and you would like House Zenobia to act on her behalf?" I paused the briefest of moments, "or the UAP?"

She clarified, "We wish a representative of House Zenobia to be an official part of this 'official government'."

I nodded, "I will see that the message is delivered."

Sister Kat continued, "One of the items it would first tackle would be the call for medical facilities to be neutral. I believe Zenobia has an interest in that."

"That would be in everyone's interests," I replied truthfully.

"I am not the one who must be convinced," she replied.

I nodded in grim agreement. "By the way," I began, "that fellow that was just on my roof...."

"Yes?"

"...do you know him?" I asked.

"He has recently been 'advertising' his abilities."

The unexpected nature of the encounter had made be ungracious. "He will need to get a quieter mask," I said, "if he wants to be successful in that line of work."

Kat disagreed, "I think it is a useful thing to have such a noisy person around. It makes our work easier, and less likely to be attributed correctly."

"Fair enough," I smiled. Point taken.

Even with the hissing mask, Drake was quite successful in following me across town without being seen until the last moment. As far as job interviews went, it was a very reasonable display of his effectiveness.

"It was nice meeting you, Sister Kat," I said in conclusion, "I will see your message is delivered."

"It has been an honor to finally meet such a worthy person, Ma'am," she replied.