Marlena hailed a cab for them but every time they tried to get inside another person would rudely take it from them. By the third time a man in a suit got in front of them Duncan was about to punch his face, but the man's cellphone rang and as soon as he took the call the group got the opportunity and got inside the car. They gave the address to the cab driver who said something in a urdu and drove off.
Planning a crime was strange enough but discussing it openly in front of the cabdriver seemed just senseless, Teela reprimanded the two adults beside her who couldn't keep talking about what kind of weapons they would buy.
-"It's all right dear, the driver is from Pakistan he doesn't understand us"- Marlena said dismissively
-"So what? We understand him, he's been babbling about his wife and children all the way. But he isn't interested in what we say"- Duncan said simply
-"You understand him? How?"- The terran woman was puzzled at first, then she remembered about the incantation of the elders. When she first arrived she was surprised by the fact that a civilization that flourished in a different planet, even another universe would speak in English when on earth a difference of miles led to another language. Randor explained her that ages ago Eternians had many exotic languages, sometimes more than one per race, like on Terra those differences often lead to mishaps in translations that on certain delicate moments led to unnecessary wars. Tired of the misunderstandings the elders created an incantation above the entire planet that made all eternians understand each other and anyone that ever spoke to them; theirs was in fact a universal language. Only a few spells from before that era remained in the intelligible words.
-"Never mind"- the queen said tired. –"We were talking about how to breach Swanson's security system so we could get to the sword"-
-"Swanson? You mean Armand Swanson, the asshole that it's on the news with that creepy sword?"- The cabdriver said now in passable English.
-"We might. Why?"- Teela said suspiciously
-"My cousin worked for his factory years ago, he lost his arm in an accident because of his cheap and flawed machines. Before he could charge the insurance Swanson outsourced his factories to India and left him without a dime. If you wanna rob him I'll be happy to help and I know a lot of people that will want to be part of it as well. That jerk made a lot of enemies you know?"-
What were the odds that anything like this might happen? Just running into someone that would gladly help them on their mission, Duncan could almost sense the influence of the sword around them. He was sure the object wanted to be found.
…..
The cabdriver, his name was Sharif, took them to the Bronx where he introduced them to an old paranoid man who lived in a broke down brownstone. Sharif told them that this man's son was killed in the same accident where his cousin lost his arm.
The old guy was named Warren, he was also what is called a "prepper" not only he stored a lot of weapons for an economic apocalypse that would destroy the occidental civilization but he also had a profound hate for Swanson.
-"If you are crazy enough to rob him maybe you should go all the way and finish him off"- The bitter old man growled.
-"We will offer a reasonable amount for the sword, if he accepts there will be no need for committing a crime but if he refuses… well I guess it's good to be prepared in case we have to take stronger measures. Murder is out of the question for now."- Duncan said evenly, a hint of menace in his eyes.
-"I bet that he'll say no. that kinda man never gives, only takes."- Sharif said angry.
-"I have contacted his enterprise by electronic mail with our offer, we should have an answer soon enough"- Marlena stated.
In the meantime Teela was acting like a kid in a candy store, she had always preferred simple weapons as knives or staffs in the battlefield but these rustic guns, with simple mechanisms and energy that blasted from them, send thrills to her spine. Warren had a basement he transformed into a firing range; she had been playing with an AK47 since they arrived.
-"Even with all the guns at your disposition, you won't get far if you don't pass the security of his building. Among the many things he handles one of the biggest companies he gets money from is private security, the alarm alone will be difficult to pass. But if he pissed us off it's probable that some of his employees in the security company will hate him as well, we could ask for their help"- Warren mused.
At that moment Marlena's smart phone rang, indicating that she received an answer from her previous message. -"Swanson just contacted me, he says he wants to meet me in person"- she informed the group.
-"Let's go then!"- Teela said enthusiastic –"Oh and can I take these rifles? And this 9 mil? And maybe this tiny 22 caliber, just in case?"- She saw at the two adults with the same big adorable eyes she used to charm her father into anything she wanted. It was an unknown fact that the responsible captain of the guard could be very persuasive when she wanted to, even less known was the fact that the serious and stern man at arms was wrapped around her little finger.
-"I think I should go alone, it is only a meeting after all. If he refuses we need to get that sword now and steal it is not gonna be easy, so I'll talk to him while you get ready. I'll be back in a few hours"-
-"I don't like the idea of letting you go alone, I made Randor a promise"- Duncan was weary.
-"We have to split up or we'll never make it in time"- She told him in a tone that admitted no discussion, in USA there were no nobiliary titles but she was commanding him as his queen.
-Very well, I will call you every twenty minutes while de prepare the plan B Even if he sells the sword we don't know if rescuing Adam would need of blunt force, so yes Teela get all the guns you want.- Duncan smiled at his daugther.
…..
She waited for two hours in his office before Swanson made his presence, the receptionist had been overly kind offering her several glasses of water and coffee but she was about to lose her patience, the constant messages and calls from Duncan asking her if she was all right did not help. That man could be obsessive sometimes, but Randor could be a difficult man to disappoint as well. The loyal man made him a promise and was determined to keep it.
At last the entrepreneur greeted her with his smug usual smile and even dared to flirt with her. Marlena had experience dealing with this kind of jerks; she was a diplomat after all.
-"So I understand you have information regarding this sword?"- He tried to sound casual but his curiosity could not be hidden
-"What I have is a very reasonable offer for it"- she said seriously, she could tell just by looking at him that he was too attached to the object to sell it.
-"I must be honest ma'am, I am so intrigued by the sword that parting from it is not really an option"- He said dismissively
-"Mister Swanson…"- Marlena said sternly
-"Please, call me Armand"-
-"Armand"- She corrected using all her will power not to beat the crap out of him until he gave her the one thing that might lead her to her son –"It is rude to make me come here when you did not have the intention to sell, perhaps a more generous offer could…"-
-"No, my lovely Marlena. What I want from you is not money but information; you said you knew the previous owner and I am intrigued by the sword's origins"-
Taking a deep breath she answered –"My son was the owner, but he is now lost and that sword was very important for him, so much that it might help us find him"- maybe getting this resourceful man on their side could help her find Adam.
-"That is terrible"- He feigned sympathy –"Do you have a picture of him"-
She gave him a holographic image portrayed in a small oval device
-"He's a good looking boy, took a lot after you"- He said with all the charm he had.
-"As a matter of fact he is the living image of his father, my husband"- She was tiring of this game.
-"I have analyzed that sword many times; there is a strange fact about it. No matter how many times you clean it a set of fingerprints is always present on the blade, they get clearer every day. A man of my resources can easily access the right database and find who they belong to, there was in fact a coincidence in AFIS to a young delinquent, and he looks like your son."- He relished in the raw hope that illuminated her face.
-"You have to tell me where he is!"-
-"Only if you tell me how do you manage to look so young when you are actually 74 years old, those glasses of water you took are wonderful for retrieving fingerprints as well. According to the military you died in an explosion 54 years ago, yet here you are looking almost the same."- He was excited by the possibility that this woman might have achieved immortality.
-"If I told you the truth you wouldn't believe it, keep the sword but tell me where I can find my son"- Now she was ready for unorthodox means to retrieve information, she would tear him limb by limb if she had to but she wouldn't leave without her answers.
-"I propose a fair trade Marlena, your information in exchange of mine"-
She told him the whole truth, and was shocked when he believed her. The ambition burning in his eyes made her realize that she had just made a huge mistake. Luckily she omitted the part where her husband was a king and two Eternians came with her.
-"So not only you went to another planet but you married an alien and even carried his child, and this boy is now alone in New York."-
-"I made my part of the deal, now is your turn"- She hated the way he seemed to imply her husband was a monster from another species and her son an abnormality of nature.
-"He runs with the name Caleb Archer, he was in jail nine months ago for beating up his foster father. My sources claim that he might be involved with not one but two drug distributors who fight for the same territory; if he keeps this up he won't make it to 21"-
-"My poor baby!"- She wailed on the verge of tears –"I gotta go find him before its too late"-
-"There is no need for that my dear, I will find him for you and bring him by your side. You are invited to stay in my compound for now, when we get the boy we'll do the proper tests and analysis on him, after all a half human- half alien is not something you see every day"- A sadistic smile was on his face.
-"If you touch him I swear I'll kill you!"- Marlena roared
-"I have nothing but the best intentions for you, so much I care for your safety that my personal bodyguard will escort you at every moment"- Armand said coldly.
Right then a man twice the size of Duncan came towards her holding a gun.