<Your guess is as good as mine. Probably better. Should be any second now.>
Just them, Fletcher nodded and smiled, the creases in his forehead relaxing.
<Looks like we’re in business.>
<Yup. Serum is in effect. You may proceed.>
Nerishka sent an eye-roll to Lyra and received a satisfied feeling in return. She faced Fletcher, who by now had relaxed against the sofa and had rested his chin on his upturned palm as if in an attempt to keep his head up. <Hope he didn’t get too much.>
<You’re the one who prefers to use drugs over just hacking his mind,> Lyra replied.
<Because my cover wouldn’t be able to pull that off. You know how we work. Even my cover has to have a cover.>
Nerishka studied the man, wondering where he was taking his attempt at picotech research. How deep were his pockets and how far did his influence reach? Her job had been to terminate the mark, but where pico was involved it wouldn’t hurt to find out a little more about if there were other parties invested in his venture. She didn’t believe for one minute that he was doing this by himself, and Karsin’s absence made her even more curious about what she could learn.
<When can I get the contract to look over?>
<You move fast,> he said, his mental voice almost sounding little slurred.
<Not really. I’m just not sure that any individual person has the kind of money needed for such research. Is this a solo venture or a partnership? And if a partnership, I’d want to know who the players are. I’m risking a lot to take a job like this, so I’d prefer knowing who I’m working with before I consider anything.>
He’d listened and nodded when she fell silent. Then he gave a short shake of his head and frowned. His actions made it clear the serum was doing its work.
Fletcher cleared his throat. <Why do you want to venture into picotech research, Daria? Few people are interested in crossing the kind of lines, moral and legal, that this type of project would entail.>
Nerishka shrugged. <I don’t believe we have an even playing field. Why do some people get to use the tech while others are banned from even researching it? Who is to say we won’t use the tech for something other than taking over systems and destroying worlds? I think that as soon as people begin to hoard a technology for themselves, as soon as they take steps to stop others from getting their hands on the advancements, from researching it, or using it, then we need to consider why.>
Nerishka nodded, impressed with her own argument. She’d have almost believed it herself if she hadn’t seen the vids of what picobombs did to their targets: like devouring dreadnought-class starships in seconds.
<I think it’s because they want the power for themselves,> she continued. <That makes them too dangerous. And all the more validation for breaking their commandments—whoever they really are.>
Fletcher was nodding. <So your reasons are political?>
<No. I’m not interested in politics. I’m not interested in rebellion or being in any way subversive. I’m just fascinated by the tech and it frustrates me that star system after star system has renewed restrictions against researching it.>
Nerishka sat back and rolled her shoulders, making it clear she was rife with frustration. To Lyra she said, <How am I doing?>
<His vitals are on your HUD,> said the AI drily.
<I can see that. I just wanted to know your own opinion. Fluctuations in biofeedback isn’t necessarily enough to tell you if a person has fallen for your act, especially if that person has already mastered the art of subterfuge.>
But before the AI could reply, Fletcher’s voice broke into their conversation. <I believe I can use people like you. You seem to have the kind of passion that I am convinced can be valuable in our efforts.>
Blah blah blah, thought Nerishka. She needed him to tell her details. Sitting forward, she asked, <How soon can I find out more? I still have reservations that you can fund this venture—plus, there’s the concern over personal safety.> Nerishka had intended to needle him a bit, set him mentally off balance, and wondered if she’d perhaps come on too heavy.
His smile wavered, as though he was struggling with something he either wanted to say, or desperately didn’t want to say. He cleared his throat. <I assure you, I do have the kind of capital required. We’re still setting up labs and employing people. I’m working on another project for a partner…well to be honest he’s an employer—and a bit of a dictatorial bastard at that. That other venture has provided the capital for this one, but I have obligations I must fulfill with him. Which leaves me the bare minimum of time to handle my own ventures. That’s why I need people with their own drive.>
<I understand. So you employed Karsin? He’s been good to liaise with.>
Fletcher nodded. <Yes. Using him was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Although…there is something about him…I just…I can’t remember exactly.> The man frowned, as though trying hard to grasp onto fading memories.
<Oh dear.>
Nerishka waited a moment, then let out a mental groan. <Lyra. Don’t ‘oh dear’ me and then keep quiet.>
<Sorry. He's displaying all the signs of someone whose memory has been tampered with. As though certain portions of memory are erased, or merely blocked off—it’s even more insidious than what the lounge here tries to do. Someone must really want to keep what he knows under wraps.>
<If his mind has been tampered with, then he’s just a pawn. If Karsin was onto that, and he’s missing now….>
ESCALATION
STELLAR DATE: 10.05.8948 (Adjusted Gregorian)
LOCATION: Commodore Lounge, Eshnunna
REGION: Anahita, Ayra System (Independent)
Lyra took a few moments to respond. A Hand agent’s life in jeopardy is not something to be taken lightly. <I see how that could be a logical conclusion.>
<Circumstantial too. He’s only been AWOL for two days, but if he was this close to Fletcher, I can’t imagine him working anything else in the system that would keep him away this long.>
<Have you worked with him in the past?> asked Lyra, her tone soft.
<No. But he’s worked with a number of agents I know personally. He’s got a reputation for keeping his word.> Nerishka shook her head. Could be she was just paranoid, as Lyra had observed earlier—deep cover agents like Karsin often had duties that kept them out of communication…but for him not to leave a message at a drop….
Nerishka knew that it would be reckless to ignore the possibility. If Karsin was in danger, she had to help him.
Hand operatives usually worked alone, yes, but if one of them were ever in trouble and another agent was in the vicinity, it only made sense to ensure that operative wasn’t compromised or in danger. Other than the life of that agent, there was also the information they possessed that had to be taken into consideration.
<Do you think he’s gone over to the dark side?> asked Lyra, her tone both curious and concerned.
Nerishka let out a mental laugh, the sound dry and hollow. <I don’t even want to contemplate that. We have way too much at stake here. Picotech research? We need to nip this in the bud before it takes on a life of its own.>
<Nice use of metaphors there.> Lyra chuckled.
<Thanks, but you know what I mean.>
Fletcher let out a soft grunt, alerting Nerishka that he still struggled with his memories. She had to complete this kill and move on to checking up on Karsin.
Nerishka leaned closer to meet her mark’s worried gaze. <How about we get out of here and you can show me the job?> she said softly, her mental tone low and sexy. <I’m still not sure about the financial backing, but if you give me a tour of your lab, show me where I’ll be working? Maybe I’ll be more convinced then.> She topped her suggestion off with a smile to eclipse the seduction in her voice.
Fletcher began to shake his head, shifting forward slightly and raising his hand out toward her as though he intended to stop her, to push her away. But then the movement morphed into a single nod.
<Good id
ea.> The motion was a little uncertain at first, then became firmer as his eyes cleared somewhat. <You won’t be working here on Anahita, though. I’m setting up a secure research facility on Agrab Station and most likely I’ll have you assigned there. But the lab we have here should give you a good idea of expectations…and the job role itself.> He attempted a smile, his lids lowered. If he’d intended it to be sexy, he’d failed.
And the creep factor just went up another notch.
<He’s sounding much more in control now,> Lyra observed.
<Is the serum wearing off? Or is he just displacing his discomfort and lack of control by talking about something he can control?> asked Nerishka almost absently as she got to her feet in one smooth move.
Lyra let out a soft snort. <Again, humans are so confusing.>
As Fletcher got to his feet he tapped his beacon and turned on DND; Nerishka followed suit, keeping pace with him. Once he descended the staircase, he slowed his steps and walked alongside Nerishka as they crossed the floor.
As they passed the bar, Nerishka caught sight of a hooded figure who appeared to be staring at the entrance to the san. She was frowning, but her expression wasn’t what had caught Nerishka’s eye. It was the almost-green tone to the woman’s tattoed skin that had singled her out.
Had her attacker from the san been resurrected somehow? <Lyra? At the bar. See the hooded figure. Looks a lot like our other friend. Tell me I’m being paranoid,> she said, her tone daring the AI.
<Not paranoid. The features and facial characteristics are an uncanny match to your san assassin, but they’re not the same person. Her vitals suggest she is impatient and somewhat stressed.>
<San assassin? Really?> Nerishka rolled her eyes. <She’s watching the san hard. Possibly a partner to the one I killed?>
<Likely. She’s spotted you, though. Just don’t make eye-contact. I guess this means they probably aren’t connected to Fletcher.>
<Not my first job, Lyra.>
Even so, it took a conscious effort to not turn and stare right into the woman’s eyes. Forcing the stalker’s hand would help Nerishka figure out who the woman was but deviating from her mission now would be more than reckless.
But she had to deal with Fletcher first. No sense in bungling this kill because something like a little attempted murder had led her astray.
Fletcher led Nerishka silently down the hallway and out into the all-white reception area. He seemed partially preoccupied with his thoughts but also appeared concerned for Nerishka, ensuring she was right by his side.
<Is paranoia a symptom of your serum?> asked Lyra. <He’s a little edgy.>
<That and the fact that I dropped nano on him when you touched his hand. I’m suppressing his mednano to keep your serum in effect. He’ll be confused and probably a little suspicious sooner or later.> Nerishka kept a close eye on her mark as they approached the reception desk where Andrew waited in his pale cloak.
"I trust you have enjoyed your time at the Commodore Lounge," said the man, his smile wide.
Fletcher removed his tokens and handed them over to the man, Nerishka doing the same, aware that Andrew was most curious at their simultaneous departure.
<You are being scanned for the memory alterations. I have ensured that he will see what he needs to.>
<Thanks, Lyra.>
Nerishka and Fletcher left the Commodore Lounge and headed out to the bay where she’d entered the establishment.
A private skycar was already there, waiting for them with its doors open. Fletcher strode toward it, filled with confidence now, back straight, head high, leading Nerishka to wonder if she was being played after all.
When she admitted her conerns to Lyra, the AI replied, <From his vitals. I don’t believe so. As you said, he’s controlling what he’s able to control. If you had suggested he wasn’t a man of such a superior position then perhaps it would affect his outlook.>
Nerishka agreed. She followed as Fletcher ushered her inside the skycar and slid in beside her.
The silence in the back of the skycar was almost claustrophobic, more on Nerishka’s part considering she’d started out already feeling this whole job was taking too long.
Lyra continued, <But I do agree with your suspicions. We do need to know if there is anyone else involved. Quite pointless cutting down the tree and leaving the entire root system behind.>
<Well said, Lyra.> Nerishka sent her AI a grin as Fletcher reached for the chiller to grab a drink.
He poured a blue alcoholic beverage into a glass, then dropped a still-smoking ice cube inside before offering it to Nerishka. She shook her head, and instead reached for a bottle of water. With both antidotes in her system, she had to be careful in case any alcohol diluted the effects and endangered her ability to resist the toxin when the time came.
Now Nerishka studied the man as he chugged back the first neon blue cocktail and reached for a second. <How long do you wager it will take for that alcohol to dilute the serum?>
<Twenty-five minutes. Maybe thirty if you’re lucky.>
<Great. I’ve hacked his Link. We are headed for Fletcher Technologies.>
<Gives us seven minutes to get there and another thirty-three before the serum fades.>
<I believe we are now in a ‘hurry up and wait’ holding pattern.>
Nerishka sent her AI an amused grin. <Ten points for humor.>
Nerishka was prevented from responding when Fletcher turned to face her. “So…I’ve been looking at your file. Karsin’s approved the application but it appears the details on where you are from isn’t on file.”
She eyed him for a moment, as though judging whether or not he was worthy of hearing her story. Then, with a resigned nod, she said, “I was in Bollam’s World twenty years ago when the Intrepid and its fleet destroyed those AST dreadnoughts. Ate through those starships in minutes. The firm I was with at the time got their hands on a portion of the residue, some of which contained inert picobots. We were making strides, but when the AST came back and took control of the system, they shut us down. Hard.”
Fletcher’s eyes widened as she spoke. “Damn…you’ve seen the tech, then.”
Nerishka nodded. “Yeah, but when I say ‘hard’ I mean few of us survived. Most of those who did are at some AST black site working on the tech.”
The story was partially true. Except the part where the AST black-site was still researching picotech. The Hand had shut that down with extreme prejudice.
“How’d you survive?” Fletcher asked, his eyes narrowing.
“Vacation. I was at the Disknee World when it went down. One of my coworkers got a message out to me. I never went within a hundred light years of Bollam’s World again.”
Fletcher nodded absently as he considered her words but didn’t reply as the skycar slowed on its final approach.
Nerishka’s HUD confirmed the ride over had taken seven minutes and twenty seconds. That gave her just over twenty minutes to get to into the lab and terminate her mark.
Get a move on, she muttered silently as the skycar settled onto its cradle. Fletcher exited as soon as the doors slid open and then waited on the deck for her.
Nerishka hurried out as quickly as her heels allowed and offered him a grateful smile. She felt a little bad for the guy. He’d been completely taken with her ruse, and it felt somewhat like the proverbial taking of candy from a baby. The serum had only made things easier for her, and even though it would have already begun to fade, Fletcher would remain reasonably compliant until she got to his lab.
<Do you have the security protocols for the lab and for the company Link? I can’t use my nano to hack anything. Makes me feel a little inadequate,> Nerishka grumbled to Lyra. <How fast can you get in? Sniff out any important data?>
<Can’t tell until we get inside. Sorry. This system may not have the best Link security, but Fletcher Technology has some sort of dampening field around the building. It renders an external hack well-nigh impossible.>
<I a
ssumed that would be the case. Just wishful thinking, I guess. Still, he must have something big to hide if he’s using tech like that.>
Fletcher slowed his stride, casting her an apologetic glance as they exited the landing bay. “I’m sorry. I feel like I’ve been neglectful of you. I just had a few messages to respond to.”
Nerishka nodded and smiled politely, keeping up with his long stride more so because she was watching the timer count down until the serum dissipated. They headed across an empty reception area—likely a security access point for visitors who used the skycar bay to enter the facility.
Fletcher palmed the panel at the lift, then repeated the process inside, giving him access to a floor that didn’t appear on the level indicators above the doors. Only the numbers on Nerishka HUD gave an idea of how far up they went.
At last, the doors slid open on the fiftieth floor, revealing a long elegant hall that looked nothing at all like what Nerishka had expected.
Glossy black stone floors, walls wavering in a holographic pattern of endlessly twisting gold and silver ladders that resembled a multitude of DNA strands.
A holographic recording began to play as they neared a set of large doors, the woman smiling cheerily and launching into Fletcher Tech’s mission statement and the company’s vision for a better future for all in the Ayra System.
<Nice decor for a research lab,> Nerishka said to Lyra.
<Probably a cover. But I don’t see any sign of hiding the facility behind a fake name. This is Fletcher Technologies, owned, funded and operated by your future employer.>
<So, hiding it in plain sight then?>
<Very much so,> the AI commented as Nerishka was led to a pair of black plas doors emblazoned with ‘Fletcher Industries’ in shiny gold lettering.
The doors opened and Fletcher led her further inside, striding down a long wide corridor. Lyra was keeping track of their location and the route out just in case, which Nerishka could see clearly on her HUD.