Chapter 10
A Task Most Distasteful
The Daichi Kaisu arrives in the Adimshome system. Kai looks at the sensor display. "For once, I'm glad there's no traffic. We've had enough problems to last a lifetime." She looks at Lori, who is piloting, rolling her eyes.
As the Daichi Kaisu enters Adimshome's atmosphere and approaches the 'starport' comm traffic picks up. The sensors show other air traffic.
Kai calls the air traffic control. "This is star ship LSP 25174 Daichi Kaisu KKQM arriving from Devon's Find, request flight data and landing instructions for star port Adimshome."
"LSP 25147 this is Bonhome flight center. Set transponder to 497.454. Turn right ten degrees and continue decent to ten thousand meters. Reduce flight speed to one thousand kph. Continue on that heading and flight level until picked up by Adimshome center."
"Descending to ten thousand, speed one thousand, on heading" Lori replies.
"Copy LSP 25147. Have your transponder on our scope. Welcome to Adimshome."
They are flying through a deep azure sky. Several kilometers below a thick layer of pink tinged clouds floats over a vast ocean.
"Calculate arrival at two hours twenty two minutes at current speed Captain" Lori says.
"Then we should sit back and enjoy the view" Kai replies. "It's nice after the horror of Pokhval'nyy."
Zan and Ikki come onto the bridge.
"How are our passengers?" Kai asks.
"Enjoying the view and having lunch."
"This is a beautiful world" Kai says.
"When do we arrive so I can tell the passengers?" Zan asks.
"Two hours six minutes" Lori replies without taking her eyes of the controls.
Kai looks over at Zan and shrugs, rolling her eyes. "Always great conversation on the bridge."
They catch Lori stick her tongue out a little at Kai.
Kai laughs. "So there is somebody in there."
"I better get back to engineering and make sure everything's running okay." As Ikki turns to leave the comm system comes on using a secure channel.
"This is Gaulighter Valentinan Saxe. I am the head of state of Fontenoy. This is the Daichi Kaisu that was involved in the refugee rescue isn't it?"
Kai and Zan look at each other in surprise.
Ikki, in the passageway outside the bridge hears that. She ducks into the ship's office.
"Yes, it is. I'm Captain Hao. What can we do for you?"
"I have a business proposition for you Captain. If you could arrange to move your ship or meet me at these coordinates (they appear on the comm screen) after you land I would be most appreciative. If you could bring your security officer it would move things along."
Kai chews on her lip. "I'll see what we can arrange. I'll message you sometime after we land if that's acceptable."
"Excellent. Have a nice flight and we'll talk later. Gaulighter Saxe out."
Lori looks at Zan and then Kai.
"What's the matter Lori?" Zan asks.
"He wants to hire us."
"Hire us?" Kai asks. "What for, cargo? To take him somewhere?"
"No. He wants to hire Kasakabe."
Zan gasps audibly, hand on her chest. "You mean he wants Kasakabe to kill someone for him don't you?"
"Yes."
Kai looks alarmed. "You're serious?"
"Of course she's serious." Zan says. "It's obvious. That's exactly what he wants. Why else would he want to meet with you and Kasakabe alone?"
"We will have to meet with him" Lori says.
"What?" Kai says. "He wants you to assassinate someone."
"That is what Kasakabe does. She will go. She will want me to go whether you do or not. That is what the contract I am bound by requires."
"But you're talking about murdering someone." Zan says. "You just can't do that."
Lori turns to look at Zan. "You have known for some time what Kasakabe is. You also know who I am. Why are you shocked that we would want to be involved in an assassination when that is what we do?"
"You are not an assassin Lori" Kai replies.
"It is my duty to assist Kasakabe and help her return home alive to Durne. It is also my duty to help her execute her assassinations. That is what I was designed and made for. I cannot break the contract between Ginshar and Owato. Millions would die in a war if I did."
Zan looks at the deck frowning. "So, you are just as dangerous as Kasakabe?"
"In some ways even more. I have told the Captain as much."
Ikki bites her hand making little whining noises.
"If Kasakabe takes the job it means an incredible amount of money is involved, power for him too. I will do my part however distasteful what Murotsu does may be. That is my duty and I must honor the contract between Ginshar and the Owato Clan. Wars are fought because of men like him. If a single death can avoid that then maybe it is worth the price on our conscience."
Zan glares at Lori. "You're justifying murder."
"Politics by other means. This is not an academic debate. Murotsu will not take a job because somebody wants someone dead. She has rules she follows. The target has to be someone who is important, a politician, business leader, or scientist. This is business and her clan has a very strict code. They find out she is not following it they will come for her and if I do not honor the contract Kasakabe has the right to kill me. She will or her clan will finish us both."
"Kai is Captain and she gets the final say if we are part of the crew. If she says no then Murotsu and I will have to find another way home." Lori looks like she wants to cry. "I hope that will not happen. I love being family with all of you."
Zan looks blankly at Lori. "This is beyond my experience."
Kai looks at Zan. "Beyond mine too. Zan, Lori has proven to me that she knows what she's talking about. If she says the situation is as she described it then it's probably that. I don't think any of us want to be part of it, Lori included."
"This is business for Kasakabe and Lori. I understand that. I also understand that is how my company and this politician see it."
"If we're a crew we work as a crew. That means we do our part and do the job because Kasakabe and Lori would be making a profit for us, as ugly as the job is. We're in business to make a profit. That's the first rule they teach you at the Merchant Academy. You know that as well as I do."
"I still don't have to like it." Zan crosses her arms and turns away from them.
"No, you don't. Lori and I don't have to either. But, she and I understand our duty to the ship and crew. Business first."
Kai turns to the intercom. "Let's get Kasakabe up here. Kasakabe, please report to the bridge."
Kasakabe shows up. "What need Boss Lady?"
"You know anyone on Adimshome?" Kai asks.
Kasakabe shrugs. "No."
"A Gaulighter Saxe contacted us and wants to meet with you and me. Lori thinks that he's going to want to hire you."
"Then meet, see. That all Boss Lady?"
"Yes. Thanks for coming."
Kasakabe looks at Kai seriously. "Going do job?"
"Actually, yes. I discussed that with Zan and Lori. We, this ship, this crew, are a business. We buy and sell goods and services. You have a service to offer and we have a potential buyer; business."
Kasakabe nods. "Change lot. Real Boss Lady."
Kasakabe turns and leaves. As she passes the ship's office she cracks the door open. "Talk Lori. Not nice keep secret." She closes the door.
A shock runs through Ikki.
At the "starport" Kai is directed to land and move to a gate to unload passengers in the international and customs section. The weather is miserable. It begins to snow. This makes being outside a bone chilling experience. The locals say it is typical weather for Adimshome. For the crew it means working in environmental suits.
The press show up wanting to interview the crew. Kai gives a short interview leaving the rest to Zan.
Then there was tomorrow… There is the meeting with the Gaulighter. The air raft could make the trip out to his location in about an hour and a half meaning that Kai, Lori and, Kasakabe would be gone most of the day. Zan's birthday is the day after that.
Kai finds Ikki early the next morning. "Ikki, make sure the ship is refueled. Ask Zan for help getting that done if you need to. Tomorrow evening we're doing something for Zan's birthday. Don't tell her but have an outfit to wear, okay?"
"You're going out Captain?" Ikki asks.
"Yes, Lori and Kasakabe are going too. We should be back by late afternoon."
Ikki bites her lip. "Okay Captain. I'll make sure the ship's fueled."
"Zan, you're in command until I get back. I'm going with Lori and Kasakabe to that meeting. We should be back this afternoon. You and Ikki get the ship fueled and see what you can find in the way of passengers and cargo."
Zan gives Kai a salute. "Right Captain. I'll get right on it. It'll be good to get back to being a merchant ship."
"Yes, that would be good if that was all we had to do wouldn't it?" Kai replies.
Kai meets Lori at the hatch to the air raft compartment. Lori is toting several metal and cloth cases and wearing what she recognizes is thermoptic camouflage.
Kasakabe taps Kai on the shoulder.
Kai jumps back turning towards her. "Don't do that!"
"Captain, can you fly this time?" Lori asks.
"You want me to fly?"
"Yes, Captain." Lori indicates the cases she is carrying. "I have to work this equipment on the way in. Neither you nor Murotsu can do that."
Kasakabe gives Kai a Cheshire cat grin. "Go now?"
Kai nearly jumps out of her skin. "Would you stop doing that?"
Kai takes off. She can hear Lori in the back seat setting up her gear. They head towards open ocean.
"Captain, remain at low altitude" Lori says. "Do not use the vehicle's transponder and ask the controllers to let you fly VFR."
On auto pilot Kai turns to get a look at what Lori is doing. She has a sophisticated array of electronic sensors around her.
"That's some set up."
"Lori work" Kasakabe says.
Kai nearly has a heart attack. "Stop doing that! You are seriously making me nervous now that I know about that trick."
Kasakabe laughs then points her hand at Kai. "You funny. Zan Birthday?"
"I was thinking dinner and maybe a show or something. We could get her a present too" Kai responds.
"Ikki and I will get her one from all of us tomorrow morning" Lori says without looking up.
"So, you have something in mind?"
"Already done, Captain."
They approach the coordinates they were given. A small island shows up on the sensor array.
"Good Lori?" Kasakabe asks.
"Yes. One air raft, four occupants. All human males. Light arms only. Three security and the Gaulighter. No special electronics."
"Know here?"
"No."
"So, what do I do now?" Kai asks.
Lori holds a display where Kai can see it and points to a spot on it. "Land there. Coordinates are on the flight system."
Kai brings the air raft in and lands. Kasakabe gets out and Lori moves to the front seat with a couple of pieces of the sensor equipment.
"Stay here for ten minutes. When we go stay low and land ten meters from their vehicle" Lori says.
"Kasakabe?"
"She will sweep the area before we land. That way there are no surprises."
"You two really take this seriously."
"This is life and death, just like combat."
"Oh…"
Kai lands. Lori checks her pistol re-holstering it. Kai does the same with her Cobra.
"Ready Captain?" Lori asks. "I will do the talking if you do not mind."
"No, that'd probably be best. I'll follow your lead."
They get out of the air raft and walk towards the other vehicle. Four men get out. Three are dressed similarly. None has any obvious weapon on them.
The one man dressed in a suit and fur coat speaks as they approach. "Kasakabe and Lori-Sixteen I presume?"
"I am Lori Sixteen. This is Captain Kai Hao."
"Kasakabe isn't with you?"
"She will be here."
Kasakabe appears behind the Gaulighter's men. She has two swords out. "Sloppy bad security. Kill all. Do nothing."
Lori points at Kasakabe. "There she is."
The security men and Gaulighter are totally surprised. So is Kai.
Kasakabe moves through the security men joining Kai and Lori. "What want?"
"I would like to arrange for one of my rivals to meet with an untimely demise. That way I can acquire his political holdings" the Gaulighter says. "I can see that you're the right person for the job. Your clan's reputation is that you can make that happen with no loose ends. That's what I need here."
"Got info target?" Kasakabe hisses.
The Gaulighter reaches into his coat and hands her an envelope. Kasakabe looks at the papers inside for a moment then hands them to Lori.
Lori looks at them and nods.
" 'Kay, take job. Two million Imperial up front. He dead. Owe clan two when finish. Have one ninety day get Durne. Don't, come for you. Decide."
The Gaulighter goes pale. "That's a pretty steep price you're asking."
"Take or go. Deliver cash ship. Do job. No loose end. Never here."
"Alright. I'll have a diplomatic courier bring it tomorrow. It will be worth far more to me than what I'm paying you, but I want him dead. No loose ends."
"No worry. Calalli job. Owato clan best in 'verse. He dead. Never involve." Kasakabe smiles with an evil malevolence.
Kasakabe turns towards the air raft. "Go. Money tomorrow. Die go back deal."
"Are you sure he'll actually deliver on that?" Kai asks.
"Better or die" Kasakabe says. "Make deal."
"I recorded the transaction" Lori adds.
"I see."
"Captain, this is how this is done. This is not Kasakabe's first time."
"Seventeen" Kasakabe says.
"Even if he reported us to the authorities the worst that would happen is we, along with you and the crew would be deported as spies or terrorists working for another government. Durne, Ginshar, and the Ral Ranta would support that position. Ginshar and the Ral Ranta would give us diplomatic immunity." Lori says.
"Die go back. Die report. Clan come."
Early the next day two vehicles pull up to the Daichi Kaisu. A man gets out with a large case accompanied by two armed guards.
Coming aboard the ship he is met by Zan. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Murotsu Kasakabe. I have a delivery for her."
Zan looks past him and sees several more men with weapons standing by the vehicles.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll get her and the Captain." Zan calls Kai first. "Captain, there's a man here who wants to see Kasakabe. He's with an armed party. It looks serious."
"Be right there Zan."
With Kai, Zan, Kasakabe, and Lori present the man hands Kasakabe the case. "From Gaulighter Saxe with his complements."
Kasakabe takes the case and bows.
Ikki, hearing the commotion on her perscomm is watching from the engineering control station bay window.
The man and his escort leave.
Kasakabe turns and looks straight at the control station window.
Ikki freezes staring back.
Kasakabe surreptitiously points at her and smiles.
"Captain. Go cabin?"
"All of us?" Kai asks.
"All in."
In Kai's cabin Kasakabe opens the case. It is packed full large denomination Imperial credits.
Zan's mouth drops. "Is that real?"
"Real. Half Boss Lady."
"What?" Kai says.
"Half Boss Lady. Bring. Pay crew, fix ship, suffer. Pay back."
"That's a million credits…"
"A million credits?" Zan repeats, staring at the money.
"Earn Boss Lady. Run ship. Not cheap."
Kasakabe turns to Lori. "Ikki know."
She does?"
"Know. Listen Zan, Kai. Watch get paid. Left out. Hurt. Need fix. Lori tell."
"That little sneak. I am going to give her such a spanking." The meeting ends and Lori heads aft to engineering. She finds Ikki in the control room.
Ikki stands looking at Lori. She goes to hug her. "You're my big sister and I love you. Please, don't leave me out of whatever you girls are doing. I want to do my part too. You've been there for me this whole trip. I want to be there for you now."
"How much do you know about what is going on?" Lori asks.
"I listened in on you and the Captain talking to that guy the other day and saw Muro get that suitcase. Can I ask you something? Is Muro really going to kill somebody?"
"Yes. A political leader. That man you saw earlier brought the initial payment."
"Can I ask how much?"
"Yes. He gave us two million Imperial credits."
Ikki's mouth drops open. She stares at Lori. "We got paid two million credits?"
"Yes"
"Shiny!" Ikki starts bouncing up and down. "I bet the Captain will give me a bonus!"
"You are taking this better than I thought you would" Lori says. "You can help me with the tech. I have to set up sensors and support equipment in the Isotta to help Murotsu. You would be good at that."
Ikki hugs Lori again. "Tech? I am so there. When can we start? This'll be so fun doing it with you. You know, you're the first girl I've ever met that likes tech like I do."
"We have something more important to do first."
"What's that?"
"You and I need to get Zan's birthday present. It is a very special one from all of us. Today is her birthday and I learned from you and Zan how those work."
"Zan's birthday! I almost forgot about that with everything going on. So, you have an idea on what to get her?"
Lori smiles. "Yes."
Ikki is waiting by the Isotta for Lori. She shows up in a short taffeta slip dress and has her hair up.
"Wow, you look totally different."
"Is that bad?"
"No, you look totally shiny. You look sophisticated and like ultra-kopa like I've never seen you."
They head out in the gravcoupe.
Skimming over the sea the weather turns poor. There is a low heavy overcast and snow flurries. A stiff wind buffets the vehicle. The sea below is choppy with wisps of white caps on the waves and the water looks freezing cold. They fly over fishing trawlers and see a merchant ship in the distance. Lori flies close enough to a trawler that they can wave to the crew.
"Do you think that will warm them up in their bunks tonight?" Lori asks.
Ikki starts giggling. "Where do you come up with that stuff? That's just so wrong."
"Ikki, could you get the cases in the back and hook up the equipment in them please?" Lori asks.
Ikki starts bringing the cases piled behind the seats forward and taking the devices out.
"What is all this stuff? I recognize some of it but what do we need all this for? I thought we were getting a present for Zan."
"We are. This is also a reconnaissance mission. The seller is Kasakabe's target."
"We're going to meet the person she is going to…?" Ikki asks.
"Yes. You wanted to help so get the sensor equipment up and running, understood? You have to be completely unfazed in his presence. If you cannot do that you need to stay in the coupe."
"Oh… Okay."
"Ikki, this is part of the job. It is purely coincidental that the seller is who he is. We would have to do this anyway. We are finding out about his security measures to ensure Kasakabe can do what she has to. It is critically important we do this right. Understood?"
"Okay Lori. I asked to help. I can do this. I won't let you down."
Lori gives Ikki's arm a squeeze and she winks with a smile.
They approach an island chain and Lori brings the gravcoupe to a halt several kilometers off shore. "Could you hand me those." She points at several disc-like objects in one of the bags.
"What are those?" Ikki asks.
Lori opens the door on her side of the coupe. A rush of cold air enters the gently rocking vehicle. She drops the items out the door and shuts it. They hover a few meters from the vehicle.
"They are Remote Autonomous Target Surveillance drones." Lori takes one of the electronic devices and turns it on. Manipulating the controls, the drones head towards the island. "We will collect them when we leave. They will do most of the reconnaissance."
"Won't somebody see them?"
"No. They have thermoptic camouflage like my suit you saw on Shinan." Lori starts putting the controller away. "You need to put that equipment back in its cases and behind the seats. The people we are meeting do not need to see it."
Lori turns the gravcoupe towards the nearest island.
They fly into a large city. Lori takes the vehicle lower until it is maneuvering among the ground vehicles. They move slowly along the streets of the city in heavy traffic.
The Isotta's lack of wheels, and sleek shape compared to the ubiquitous, boxy, electric cars around them attracts stares from other drivers and people on the street.
"Lori, why are we down here in traffic?"
"The man we are meeting told me that we have to for security reasons. Air traffic is prohibited over the city. We have to act like a ground vehicle."
The girls have to drive through two security checkpoints. The vehicle is searched for weapons. At the second one the electronic equipment gets odd looks.
"It is test equipment for our ship at the starport. This is our ship's engineer, it belongs to her" Lori says.
They accept that answer and after checking Lori's and Ikki's credentials allow them to proceed.
They arrive at the grounds of a large mansion with a security wall around it. The guards at the gate perform another search of the vehicle and check the women's credentials. "The large building directly ahead. Check in with lobby security please."
Lori points at one of the electronic devices. "Ikki, get that unit and turn it on."
"What's it do?"
"It tells the RATS where we are and where to search."
Inside the building they are greeted by an executive assistant who takes them up several floors. She ushers them into a large and nicely appointed office.
The man sitting at the desk rises to greet them. "Well hello. I'm Minister Decius D'Albernon.
Welcome to the island Republic of Anuran. I hope you had a pleasant trip getting here. So, who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
Lori bows. "I am Akemi Fujimi and this is my friend Kyllikki Leppällä. It is our pleasure to meet you." Lori reaches out to shake the minister's hand, taking it in both of hers.
"I apologize for all the security you had to go through. There are rumors that assassination attempts may be made on me and other government officials. I've had to take measures to ensure the safety of everyone. Normally our little nation is far more accessible."
Ikki chokes and squirms.
Decius looks at Ikki, eyebrow raised.
Lori rubs Ikki's shoulder. "I am sorry. We are still nervous after our escape from Pokhval'nyy. Ikki was seriously injured."
Lori has Ikki show her bandaged arm and several places where Zan made surgical repairs on deep cuts.
Decius nods. "I understand. I think I would be too."
He points to a table with food and drink laid out on it. "Before we do the transaction, would either of you care for some refreshments? I'll admit I'd like to hear more about that rescue. It's the hot topic lately."
"Of course" Lori says. "We would be happy to tell you all about it."
She and Ikki each tell their part of the story while they sip hot beverages. Decius sits starry-eyed staring at them.
Lori takes his hand. "I do not mean to be rude, the book?"
Decius shakes himself. "Sorry, I got lost in your story…" He brings out a thick book. It looks very old and is well worn. The cover is made of some natural material dark brown in color and shows signs of being handled a lot.
"Here is the book I told you about. It is a complete set of Cytrialin philosophical and poetic fables in one volume. These are very rare. This one is about three hundred standard years old.
Opening it he shows Lori several pages in the front of hand written words like a list in several different scripts. "This is a complete list, or at least I think it is, of everyone who has owned this book since it was published. These volumes usually stay within the family that originally bought the book. This one came to me from a Cytrialin Lamura Teg who was here when he died. He asked me to take care of the book for him and pass it on to someone deserving of it. I think the person you told me would be receiving this, Zan I think you said…?"
"Yes, Doctor Itzanahohk'u." Lori says. "She is a devout ancestor worshiper and scholar. When I read your advertisement I thought of her and what a wonderful birthday present it would make. If this book is so personal and rare may I ask the reason you are selling it?"
"Because I shouldn't die without passing it on. There are no Cytrialins on Adimshome and they rarely, if ever come here. I hoped I could find someone that practiced similar values to theirs that I could give the book to. I put that price on it to discourage all but the most serious buyer.
From your description of the new owner I knew that I had found the right person. With all the threats on my life I really wanted to make sure this book found a good home."
He hands the book to Lori. "I think it has. You can keep you money. Please tell…"
"Zan."
"…Zan, to put her name on the list, add a passage or story, and ensure that the list remains unbroken as it has for over three centuries."
"I promise." Lori looks in his eyes holding his hands in hers. "I know Zan will be proud to do that and she will be thrilled with the book. Oh my! It is getting late in the day. We still have to get back and get her party ready. I hate to leave so abruptly, but we must be going."
"I understand. Life can be hectic. I'll have one of my assistants to show you out. I'll notify security so you can fly out directly. That will save you some time" Decius says.
Lori heads the gravcoupe out to sea. Off shore several kilometers Lori stops and recovers the drones.
Ikki looks at her teary eyed. "How can you let Kasakabe kill him? He was so nice. And you! You used that love potion on him didn't you?"
Lori looks at her very seriously. In her pilot voice she mechanically says, "He is a target, nothing more." She then closes her eyes for a moment. "I am sorry Ikki. I should not have brought you. You wanted to be part of this, now you are."
"Little sister, I was designed and manufactured to do this. Yes, I used a special version of it on him. He will remember our meeting as if it were a pleasant day dream.
Lori looks down frowning deeply. "I can turn… doll mode on and off at will just as I can to be an intelligence officer or pilot. I was designed to do that. You have to find a way to deal with this.
Murotsu has a job to do. I have to help her do it. She will kill me if I do not. It has not happened yet. Let us go and enjoy Zan's party." Lori hugs Ikki. "I am sorry."
They return to the ship. Everyone still has to get things ready for Zan's party. Kai had gone shopping for the necessary ingredients for the food. She got a cake done at a bakery rather than risk their making one.
One thing is immediately apparent. Lori has zero cooking skills. "It is not part of my design."
"Lori take Zan to the far side of Lerma city to check on some cargo" Kai says. "Keep her there until we're ready."
It falls to Ikki to save things. "I was forced to take cooking classes in school" she says, frowning.
With everything ready Lori and Zan return.
Kai presents the book. "It's from all of us."
Zan looks around smiling. Her mouth moves but nothing comes out.
Kasakabe smacks the table and stares at Zan. "Take care ancestor. Know! Zan do right. Choose Zan."
Zan shakes her head. "You're absolutely right Muro. They chose me and it is my duty to do right by them. Thank you all for such a wonderful gift. I truly love how much thought you put into this."
"It was Lori's idea" Kai says.
"It was a challenge to think like an Alien," Lori adds.
Later that evening Ikki comes to Zan's cabin. "Zan, Lori and me went to get the book. We met him! He's a really nice person." Ikki looks like she is about to cry.
Zan is stone faced.
"Ikki, we took all that money, millions of credits. Kasakabe and the Captain said if we back out all of us will die. Kasakabe's clan will hunt us down and kill us."
"Lori said it best. Politics by other means. While every fiber of my being says this is wrong, we have no choice. Kasakabe and Lori have to do what they, and we, agreed to do."
Ikki starts to say something but Zan cuts her off. "If this book was his then it has even more meaning than ever before for all of us. We are the custodians of his ancestry as much as his own family is. I find it oddly calming knowing that."
Kai and Zan are able to get a full cargo of freight and sixteen passengers. The passengers are part of Schunamann u. Sohn AG (SuSAG) another mega corporation.
Lori has Kai schedule their departure for local twilight so they would leave in darkness. Zan puts a social together for the passengers and keeps the view ports in the passenger section closed.
Kai plans to declare a minor engineering casualty that requires them to stop and remain stationary for about thirty minutes during which Lori and Kasakabe will depart the ship. Once they are on their way Kai will take the ship to orbit of the planet and wait there for them to return.
Lori and Kasakabe, in thermoptic camouflage suits, sit in the Isotta. Kai faces the ship downwind. Ikki opens the cargo bay ramp and the Isotta squeezes out.
Lori immediately turns on the electronic equipment she installed in the vehicle with Ikki's help. The vehicle is invisible to radar and flight control systems. Flying at surface skimming level Lori heads to the location of their target.
Approaching the island, Lori climbs to ten thousand meters putting the Isotta out of sight and out of detection range of sensor systems. She carefully maneuvers it to a precise set of coordinates that she previously recorded placing the vehicle directly over the target's private residence hidden inside a cloud layer.
Lori checks everything one last time. "We are in position. The target is on the third floor, here." She shows Murotsu a video feed. "I will send down RATS to verify."
" 'Kay" Murotsu replies. They put down the visors on their suits locking them in place. Lori depressurizes the vehicle opening the door on her side and drops two drones out.
"RATSs in place." She brings up a holo-display showing what the drones see.
"He is on the third floor in that office."
"Right" Kasakabe says. "Drop balcony, in, done, out."
"Checking security on the balcony doors" Lori replies. "Simple position sensor."
She digs in a cloth case and produces two small items handing them to Murotsu. "Remember to remove these when you leave."
"Right. Go now."
Kasakabe opens the door on her side and half steps, half slides out of the Isotta. She lets herself free fall towards the building. Watching her descent on the display on her helmet visor, at one thousand meters she turns on the grav belt she is wearing slowing her descent. She adjusts her position so she will land on the balcony. In the last hundred meters she does a read on the target and fades. The thermoptic system on her suit makes her invisible.
Kasakabe lands gently on the balcony. She does a quick scan of the surroundings to ensure she has not been detected.
"You have not been detected" Lori says. "Bypass the door alarm."
Setting the bypasses Lori gave her, she opens the balcony door sufficiently to slip inside. She then lets the door swing open as if blown open by the wind.
A middle aged man gets up from his desk and goes to close the door. "I know you're here, even if I can't see you."
He closes the door. "Please, let me look into the eyes of my assassin. Is that too much to ask?"
"What is happening?" Lori asks.
"Target know. Not see yet. Alarm?" Kasakabe replies.
"No change in security. No alarms active."
Kasakabe raises the visor on her suit turning the thermoptics off.
"I won't resist. It'd do no good anyway. Before you kill me, can I ask you something?" He is looking at Kasakabe now.
"Brave man. Die eyes open. Ask, deserve."
"You're with the starship aren't you?"
"Yes."
"The two women who bought that book from me the other day, they're with you?"
"Yes, with. Zan care book like treasure."
He frowns. "It disappoints me but I'm glad to know it found a home. If you could, please give them the envelope on the desk." He points at a yellow paper envelope. "That was the payment and it's unnecessary."
"No" Kasakabe replies. "No touch anything. No worry. Money not important. Ancestors, life important. Ancestor choose Zan."
"I like your philosophy."
"You know, Gaulighter Saxe wasted his money hiring you. My death gains him nothing. My successor is already chosen. It isn't who he thinks it'll be and he won't be able to move in like he thinks either."
Kasakabe smiles. "Double cross. Like. Still die. Contract."
"I know. This is business for you. I'm glad you're doing it personally. My security, thought you'd use a high tech rifle, energy weapon, or something from a distance. No one expected you to walk in and do it like you have. One last question. Can I know the name of my assassin?"
"Murotsu Kasakabe."
"Thank you. You've been more than fair and polite with me Murotsu Kasakabe. You are truly a professional."
He then exhales deeply. "Well, let's get this over with. I won't turn away and know better than to resist. Make it painless if you could."
Kasakabe nicks his cheek with a small dagger. It looks as if he'd cut himself shaving.
"Go sit desk" she says.
"That's it?"
"That it. Go sleep. Meet ancestor. Few minute. Never here."
"I see." He goes to the desk and sits down.
He looks sleepy. "I hope my country and people remain free and prosperous…" His speech is slurred as he nods off into a coma.
Kasakabe faces him and bows. She claps twice, and whispers a prayer.
"Done?" Lori asks.
"Done." Kasakabe puts her visor down and turns on the thermoptics. She steps onto the balcony, removes the bypass devices, and using the grav belt ascends towards the gravcoupe.
They head to the Daichi Kaisu waiting in orbit.
"Brave man, never have target do that" Kasakabe says.
Ikki depressurizes the cargo bay and the Isotta comes aboard. Kai turns the ship and heads to the FTL event horizon. She tries hard not to think about what she was just part of. It was business she keeps thinking over and over. She gets a sick feeling in her stomach.
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