Azaadi (Part One)

25 June - Azaadi, Southern Araxes

The wind was picking up.


Stretched out on a small ledge, I pulled my face away from my binoculars and listened. A gust of wind drove sand across the rock surface with a determined hiss. I took one more look at the village in the distance then slowly got to my feet and withdrew to the shelter of a nearby cleft.

Out of view and protected from the rising wind, I began to unbuckle my armour. It had been my protective shell during my drop and in the days since. Now, however, it would draw unwanted attention.

I reached into my pack and lifted out my worn, desert travelling robes.

In the days following my arrival on Araxes, I had stayed clear of the village of Azaadi, familiarizing myself with the surrounding terrain and monitoring traffic in and out of the settlement, as best as I could from a distance.


To the north of the village lay a modest landing pad and beyond that the domed splendour of House Morloch. To the east of the village rose a high rock wall. Somewhere beyond that would be the Evangeline Badlands. To the south, the great southern desert pan, hot and sterile. To the west, the broken terrain at the end of the Wadi Emet where I had made by camp.

Azaadi was laid out in the shape of a letter T, with the top of the letter in the west and marked by a row of adjoined one story offices or residences. The shaft of the letter extended east across a square and terminated at a two story tavern. A scattering of buildings flanked the two sides of the main road. One substantial peak of rock was located at the northeast junction where the main road met the path in front of the adjoined buildings.

I entered the village from the southeast. This offered the best approach for my purposes. The row of attached buildings would block the line of sight from a majority of buildings. The peak of rock would shield me from any observers stationed at the Morloch dome. They would not see me coming. I would simply appear in town.


The walls of the buildings were made from adobe brick. It was an efficient construction. The high thermal mass of this material meant a slow heat transfer, keeping the interior relatively cool during the day. In the right conditions, buildings made from adobe brick could last for hundreds of years. However, they were susceptible to earthquake damage. Any substantial seismic event and the residents here would have to rebuild.


As I passed one of the structures, I glanced through the window. There were no furnishings as one might expect to find in a residence. Rather, there were stacks of boxes and wooden crates. Cargo concealed from orbital surveillance. A smuggler's trick.


A sign on a low building to the north read "Black Dog Inc." It was fairly new looking. The paint was still bright. It had not faded in the light of the twin suns.

File the name for later, I thought.


I made my way to the tavern. I had yet to meet another person. It was as if the village was holding its breath.

The left half of the lower floor of the tavern was open to the village square. One could sit here enjoying a cool beverage and watch the business of the town.

Inside, a sturdy wooden bar rested along the back wall. A door next to it, just to the right, provided a quick exit if necessary. The right half of the lower floor was sheltered from view, but had no exits of its own. A scattering of tables and chairs completed the scene.

-----

A young woman approached from the village square.

"Oh... hello.." she began.

"Greetings," I replied, "Will the tavern be open anytime soon?"


"Uhhhhh... I have no idea," she said. "Maybe. This is my first time here at this little ehh.. settlement."

"I am new here too," I said in an effort to put her at ease.

"Well, we have that much in common," she said and sat down, kicking her leg up on the table.

I removed my breather mask, "May I join you?" I asked.

"Go ahead," she smiled. "My name's Stella. How about you?"

"Hello Stella," I said, "you can call me Shadow."

"Shadow? That's it?" Stella was suitably unimpressed as befit her age.

"Pretty much," I replied cheerfully, "Best to keep things simple out this way. I hear it can get rough."

"Guess so," she shrugged, "I don't go out much."

"Are you here to do business then?" I asked.

"Yeah," she answered, "Guess you could say that. I'm selling my 'services'."

I nodded, but did not inquire further on that point.

"How about you, 'Shadow'?" she asked.

"I am looking for information," I began, "on a group known as the Jade Revolution."

Stella perked up and sat up in her seat a little bit more. "Jade Revolution?" she asked. "What about them?"


I did not reply, but glanced at the empty bar, as if desperate for a drink.

"Want me to get you something?" she offered.

"Water would be fine," I said, then added, "These Jade people have been causing all sorts of mischief in the city."

Stella got up from her chair, looked around quickly then hopped over the bar. She rummaged around and found a bottle of water. She poured it into a glass and slid it over the bar to me.

"Thank you," I said accepting the water, and passing her a credit note. If any were to observe the transaction it would appear as though I was paying for my drink.

With a word of thanks, she pocketed the note then poured herself some tea, before hopping back over the bar.

"So what have you heard?" I asked.

"I've heard the name a couple times," said Stella, "Grandpa mentioned them a few times before he left."

"Grandpa?"

"My grandfather, she explained, "Nick is his name. Doubt you know him. He used to do dealing with groups like that I guess."

I filed away the name for later. "Go on," I said.

"Well, I don't know much," she replied. "He mentioned the name Ming Xao a couple times. Don't know if it means anything."

I shook my head. "That's a name I don't recognize."

Stella shrugged. "Who knows? He never said anything to me directly. I just overheard him talking to people."

"Is your Grandpa from around here?" I asked.

"Noooooooooooo," answered Stella emphatically, "He came here recently. Quick to leave too. I think he found the term 'Starborn' offensive."

"Yet he has heard of the Jade Revolution," I pressed.

"Well," she said, "he's mentioned the name once or twice. I don't know how much he knows."

I nodded slowly, "What was the context? When he mentioned them, what was he talking about?"

"He was yelling at some Asian guy," Stella replied, "He was talking about 'The Jade Revolution is weak' or something like that. Of course, there were many more obscenities."

"Where is your Grandpa now?"

"Where the ______ isn't," she said firmly. She named one of the private militaries that based themselves on Araxes. "I honestly have no idea where he went. He packed up his bags and just like that he was off this planet."

I nodded, "And this militia you mention... are they here in the village?"


"They operate around here I believe," she replied.

I drained my glass. This was a good start, but I wanted to slip away before the crowds began to gather. "Well, thank you for the water," I said, "and the conversation."

"No problem," she said, "Wish I knew more."

"One last question, why did you stay behind? why didn't you leave with your grandpa?"

"Because my mom and dad are here," she explained, "I'm with them at the moment. My aunt raised me then she had to leave here as well, right after Grandpa left. Now I'm with Mom."

I smiled, "Oh, that is nice."

"I miss Grandpa," added Stella.

"Perhaps he will return," I suggested.

"Doubtful," answered Stella.

"It is a harsh land," I said as I prepared to leave. "Take care Stella."

"You too Shadow!" she replied.