--- Part 6: Final Analysis ---
Sue brooded into her drink. She had tried to play the waiting game since the lock-down nearly a week ago. The tragedy that had befallen the competitors of the Last Survivor had shocked everyone. When Kireek had caused interference with the cameras recording the show, many were secretly glad that they had not witnessed those terrible things. When word had gotten out about Kireek's upgrades and escape, there had been public outcry. Vengeance had been demanded, a contingent of Hunters formed, baying for his blood. Or whatever passed for android blood anyway.
The government were as appalled by Kireek's actions as anyone else, but when it was revealed that Kireek had been sent down to the surface, they decreed that Ragol was off limits to EVERYONE, irrespective of level or experience. This had caused much tension, not helped by the fact that suddenly every android on Pioneer 2 was under suspicion, not officially of course, but there was evidence everywhere and Sue knew that full scale riots might not be far behind.
Outside of those privy to the Hunter's Guild, there was the beginnings of panic. Sue rarely associated with non-hunters, the Hunter community was far more interesting, but she knew those that did and they expressed their concerns to her. The explosion on Ragol had occurred some nine months ago and after several years spent travelling in space only to arrive at a planet they could not visit meant that the people were losing faith in the authorities.
But it was hardly their fault, even with the destruction of Falz, creatures still roamed the forests and outlying areas near the central dome. Despite culling efforts of the top hunters with every passing week they appeared to become more numerous and more stronger. The discovery of a hidden research facility on a island five kilometres off the southern coast had meant that security had to be tightened further. Who knew what other horrors might lie in wait?
Sue stared into her glass, half-empty. It had been that way for sometime, her thoughts moving in a circular fashion like a Farlla chasing its tail. She sighed and inwardly turned her attention to Ash. Poor Ash.
She had known him from the missions they had undertaken on Ragol. Whenever she had checked the Guild boards to find out who was active she almost always saw his name. He seemed to throw himself into his work with a dogged kind of determination that she respected. He had of course tried his luck with her, she could hardly blame him (she smiled) but she insisted that they were nothing more than friends and he had accepted that (he had no choice!).
Since that hunter had saved him in the Ruins from Kireek's near-fatal attack he had withdrawn from active surface duty and focused his attentions on a TV show by the name of Last Survivor. Some guy called Gallon had come up with the bright idea of televising Hunter battle mode competitions. It proved popular, attracting a wide selection of talent, but the best hunters frowned on such transparent glory seeking. They preferred to let their actions speak for them.
She had visited the hospital late last night to see Ash. They were not exactly close but she knew him well enough to be concerned. When she did meet him she was soon given reason for concern. He refused to leave his hospital room, forming a barricade on the door. It had taken several minutes of gentle coaxing before he finally relented and let her in. He had sustained no lasting injuries physically but his mental state was another story entirely. His paranoid delusions well fuelled by an enemy that by all rights should be dead. The nurses confided to her that the mere sight of an android would send him into a psychotic episode.
She had extracted all the information she could from his ramblings before he curled up into a ball, rocking back and forth in a near catatonic state. His words had chilled her though, they pointed to something dark ingrained into the society on Pioneer 2.