Five Star Stories Side Stories 2 Part 2
by Shawn Hagen
Kalamity Goderce
The two men stood in front of the large window that looked into the operating theatre.
One was quite tall, easily over two meters. He had short brown hair and light grey eyes. Not quite handsome, though certainly not plain either. He was heavily built, his pants and shirt tight on him. His large forearms were crossed over his barrel chest. He stared at the scene playing out behind the window.
The other man was also tall, but he was half a head shorter than his companion. His blonde hair was also cut short and his eyes were blue. He had no where near the presence of the other man, his build and appearance average.
He also stared through the window.
In the room a young man was strapped to an operating table. He was screaming in pain. The room was soundproofed but the two men could still hear him.
He strained at his bonds, arching his back, stretching the straps that held him.
"They always scream don't they Doctor Madrin." The larger man turned his attention to the smaller.
"The process is quite painful. It is unfortunate we cannot use sedatives. It would make the process easier on all concerned."
"In the end they choose this."
"True. Kievar-Sama, how is the young woman doing?"
"Well enough. She had adjusted to the treatments like the others."
"I was worried about her. I thought she might have to be destroyed."
"She maintains enough of her sanity to be useful."
"Good, it is such a waste when we loose them prematurely."
"Perhaps we need a better selection process." Kievar turned away from the window and put his back against it.
"That would be helpful." The doctor walked out into the middle of the room then turned to face the other man. "But not really practical all things considered."
"It's too bad we are limited." He shook his head. "Still, they make my skin crawl when they come out of the process. The way their eyes are dead for a time."
"It's the shock. I've been experimenting, trying to find a sedative that will not cause a toxic reaction with the other chemicals but have not had much luck."
"In the end, does it matter?" Kievar pushed himself from the window and walked to the door. "This operation can't go on that much longer."
"Do you think we will be found out?"
"Maybe and maybe our sponsors will just run out of money. Good night Doctor," he exited the room.
Madrin-Hakase walked back to the window and watched the young man for a while. He was always amazed at how long they could keep up their screaming and fighting. Just one more indication of how powerful cyberchem treatments were.
"Hot babe," one of the young men standing around the fountain said. His friends all looked around, more than one asking, "Where?"
"Over there." The first one pointed to a young woman walking across the grass of the North Quad towards them.
"Wow," more than one said, or something similar.
She was a little short but it added something to her. She wore her long brown hair in a ponytail, it bounced as she walked. Her eyes were large, and brown and she was very beautiful. Black, short short skirt, and pink stockings, the tops visible at the hem of the skirt. She had on a dark blue university sweatshirt that was large on her, the collar was slipped over one of her slim shoulders.
As she walked by them she smiled, hesitantly; shyly, moving quickly and gracefully away.
"Hey, miss!" One of them pushed away from the fountain, that much quicker than his fellows.
"What?" Elenoin turned to face him? Her heartbeat was sounding in her ears, she could feel her palms get sweaty. So many people around her, so many looking at her, talking to her. She wanted to hide in her dorm room and never come out. Unfortunately that was not an option. She had to blend in with the rest of the student body and they did not hide in dorm rooms on beautiful days.
"Well, I know I would have noticed anyone as beautiful as you so you have to be a new student here." He flashed her a smile. "My names Osamu Mikami and if you do not think it too forward I'd like to offer to show you around the campus."
Elenoin forced herself not to run and returned his smile. Behind Osamu his friends were making jokes, one cursing him for being so fast. She did not want to be there but she was. He was offering to show her around, give her an insider's view. That could be useful.
"I think you are being forward," she told him.
"A terrible character flaw I'll admit."
"And I do have a class soon."
"Skip it, who will miss you, but your entire class and their loss is my gain."
Elenoin smiled again and this time there was nothing forced to it.
"Elenoin Hashita," she told him, giving the false last name that she had been provided with.
"Well Elenoin-san," he offered his arm.
She hesitated for a moment then slid up close to him, taking his arm. She had only let Sif get that close to her since the night with Tristian. She almost broke down and ran but managed to clam herself. All without any of he inner turmoil showing. Elenoin was proud of that.
"Gentlemen," Osamu said, looking over his shoulder. "Elenoin-san," he turned back to her. "Shall we go?"
"Hai," she said, managing to smile.
"To the gardens then, the best place to start the tour.
After they had walked for a short time Elenoin slipped her arm for him and moved a step away from Osamu. He looked down at her, a little puzzled but he did not try to regain her arm.
As promised the first stop was the gardens. They were beautiful, and a number of other people were out enjoying them. Elenoin was not happy about all the people there but she was glad not to be alone with Osamu.
Next he took her to the art gallery then one of the cafeterias for a quick dinner.
"So why are you here, so late in the term," he asked her?
"I had to leave my old university rather abruptly," she told him, putting her coffee cup down.
"Really," he looked curious.
"The faculty did not appreciate some of my political views."
"Really?"
"Would I lie about that?"
"Wow. Whatever views you held must of been pretty extreme."
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Of course." He nodded.
Elenoin pushed the food around on her plate as Osamu finished his meal. The story about being kicked out of university for political reasons had been part of her cover. Anti establishment views might increase the chances of her being contacted by the people she was seeking.
"What's your major?" he asked, moving onto safer topics.
"Advance Mortarhead construction. What's yours?"
"Medicine, I think. It's been some time since I attended my classes. Mortarhead construction eh. The ultimate combination of engineer and doctor. Pays well as I understand it."
"I guess," Elenoin said. "I just, well like it."
"Love of the work. My father was like that."
"Doctor?"
"Architect. Designed a lot of palaces and fortresses around the cluster. He said it was a challenge to fortify a place to withstand an attack and yet still make it look beautiful."
Elenoin smiled, Osamu was looking off in the distance. She was enjoying herself, she realized. He was fun to be with, and, quite handsome. He was the sort of man that Elenoin had often dreamed of when she had been younger. Of course the man of her dreams had also been a headliner, coming in on a gleaming Mortarhead to save her.
That had been a fairy tail, one she no longer believed.
"What?" Osamu was looking at her.
"Nothing important."
"Do you want to go?" he asked.
"Yes." Elenoin go to her feet.
They carried their trays to the racks and left them there. Osamu led her through several buildings on campus, pointing out various rooms of interest. As they exited the Life Sciences building the sun was beginning to set.
"I think maybe I should go now. I should at least read my textbooks considering I have skipped all my classes for today."
"All of them?"
"I slept in this morning," she said, her face flushing ever so slightly.
He laughed. "Come on, just one more thing then I'll escort you home."
His laugh and grin were infectious. "Okay," she said with an answering smile.
"This way."
"Where are we going?"
"Up to the hill that overlooks the campus. If we get there quickly we can watch all the lights come on. It's really nice."
Elenoin followed as Osamu set a quick pace across the campus then up the hill he had told her about. It was a steep climb and both of them slipped on the grass often. They ascended quickly, the shadows beginning to lengthen.
Osamu reached back and grabbed Elenoin's hand to help her, and just to hold it. The sudden contact took Elenoin by surprise. She yanked back, falling over and rolling down the hill a few meters. Osamu was quickly by her side.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she said, feeling anything but. "Sorry."
"It's alright," he told her, offering his hand.
Elenoin hesitated for a moment then took it. "Thank you," she said.
"Maybe we should head back now."
Elenoin nodded.
They turned around and began down the hill. Elenoin watched the lights come on across the campus. It probably would have looked very beautiful from the top of the hill.
"This is my dorm," Elenoin told Osamu sometime later.
"Brandon Hall, the only female dorm on campus."
"I didn't like any of the co-ed dorms," she explained.
"My loss."
"Thank you for today, it was very kind of you."
"Don't mention it." He smiled.
"Good night Mikami-san." She turned and walked to the front doors.
"Good night to you as well."
She looked over her shoulder and smiled just before she entered the dorm.
Osamu grinned, then turned and headed off towards his dorm, which unfortunately was on the other side of campus. He would have to keep an eye out for Elenoin. He realized that he had not gotten her phone number. Still, he had made some progress he thought.
Elenoin walked up the stairs, not wanting to take the elevator. Too many people in a small space. Her room was on the sixth floor in the east wing of the building.
Before unlocking her door she looked at her watch. She had installed a number of subtle security devices in the room since she had moved in. Her watch showed everything was all clear. She entered the room and flipped on the light switch.
It was not a very large room, enough space for two beds, two desks and two book shelves. There were also two closets. She had a room mate but she had yet to meet the woman. According to her neighbours Liesha Maran currently was sleeping with her current boyfriend. She had been told that Liesha's relationships tended to start and end quickly and that she would have her room mate back sooner rather than later. Elenoin hoped that this time Liesha might have better luck with her relationship.
She crossed the room and dropped onto her bed. She reached over and took one of the text books from the shelf. It had not been a lie when she had told Osamu that she had to study. She had a lot to learn in a short time. While she did not have to get honour roll marks she had to at least appear a competent student.
Elenoin flipped through the materials text, taking note of passages that she had already circled. She just could not believe all the different materials that went into constructing a Mortarhead. Basic skeletal support, other internal structures, reactor shielding, standard covering, armour plates, and everything else. Each had to be considered, everything taken into account when constructing and repairing the huge machines. It was enough to make her head spin.
Tossing the book aside she reached for another one on weapon system integration.
After several minutes she closed the book and placed it to the side. She needed a short break. Getting to her feet she walked to the door, opened it and then locked the door behind her.
Each floor had a residents' lounge. It was centered around an entertainment system and a small kitchenette. As she approached she could hear the sound of laughter and conversation, something sweet was in the air. Someone was cooking.
"Elenoin-chan," Kari called out. She was the floor representative.
"Hi, evening," Elenoin said.
"Come, sit down. They are showing a special about the war on Junoo."
"Another one?" Elenoin asked.
"No, the last one," a girl who Elenoin did not know said.
"Are you going back to Hagooda Killi?" another of the girls, Elenoin thought her name was Tres, asked someone. Elenoin found an empty space and sat down.
"Probably not," Killi said who was sitting right across from Elenoin. "According to my Tousan the country is in shambles, economy is gone, a number of the more wealthy people have left. I think I'll find someplace else to settle once I graduate."
"Assuming you can get a visa," Tres said.
"I don't see that being a problem. I think I could apply for citizenship here actually, I've been here long enough."
"On a student visa. Might not be worth much."
"Quiet," Kari said, snatching up the remote control and increasing the volume. "There's Colus."
On the TV one of the late king's last public appearances was showing. Everyone in the room was watching. The king had been a very charismatic figure and he had also been very handsome.
"It's so terrible," Tres said after the segment had ended and they shifted to shots of the battle Colus had died in. Elenoin watched the grainy images of Mortarheads and other combat units as they fought. She watched as some troops began to screen the camera and an officer ordered the crew to stop filming. There was a scuffle then the shot went dark.
The images played again, this time with a voice over. 'While we were not able to get close enough to the battle to identify all the combatants it seems likely that the A.K.D. was involved directly. These Mortarheads here," a section of picture was blown up. "are likely the A.K.D's new Mortarheads."
"Boring," Kari said, turning the volume down again.
"Elenoin, you're the Mortarhead specialist. What are those?" another girl asked. Elenoin thought her name was Aki.
"No idea," Elenoin said, still looking at the TV screen. "They look powerful though."
"Who cares, it's just headliners battering away at each other," Kari said. "Are those cookies ready?" she called towards the kitchenette.
"Almost," someone answered.
The special continued on for another hour and generated more talk. Elenoin was silent for the most part. She could not help but think on the war and the changes it had wrought in her life.
Elenoin leaned back in her chair, stretching as much as she could in the tight confines of the lecture hall desk.
She flipped over the note covered page of her notebook then scribbled a few sentences down on the clean smart page. Her studying was beginning to pay off. She actually understood most of the lecture. That which she did not understand she made notes of to either look up later or ask the professor about once he finished lecturing.
Someone took a seat beside her but she did not pay any attention until that someone had snatched way her pen.
"What the…." she turned to find Osamu smiling at her.
"Long time no see," he said.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, careful not to speak too loud.
"Visiting you," he told her.
"No one else to annoy?"
"Oh, that was cruel." He smiled.
"Is it possible you actually think I want to see you?" she asked with mock indignation.
"The thought crossed my mind."
"Don't you have classes to attend?" She turned back to her notes.
"Yes, but I pass them all whether I show up or not."
"Damn." She shook her head.
"Come on, let's go play."
"Tell you what, you keep silent for the rest of this class, let me take my notes and I'll let you take me too lunch afterwards."
"You honour me with your demands," he replied, sounding a little put off.
Elenoin began to laugh.
BREAKBREAKBREAK
BREAKBREAKBREAK
"I thought you said you were going to let me take you to lunch," Osamu said?
"I decided I wanted better than greasy burgers."
"You really know how to hurt a guy."
"I try."
"So where are we going?"
"A little café off campus, supposedly has good coffee and a half decent lunch menu. It's called 'Modka' or something like that."
"I know it," he said, sounding a little down. "If you like political rhetoric with your meal it is all right, I guess."
"It could be interesting."
"It sounds like you are trying to get back to your old ways."
"Pardon?"
"Getting kicked out of this university for political views." His tone was sour and so was his expression.
Elenoin looked at him then began to laugh.
"What?" His expression was obviously puzzled.
"I didn't know you cared so much."
"I'll care a lot to get you into bed," he joked, trying to turn the tables.
Elenoin stiffened and stopped walking at the comment.
"What?" He looked back at her.
"Nothing." Elenoin shook her head and started walking again.
"I'm sorry about that comment. It was sort of tactless," he apologized.
"No, it was something else," Elenoin lied. "Though yes, it was sort of tactless."
"Again, I apologize."
"I'll forgive you, this time." Her tone was light.
"Thank you my lady."
"Come on, I want to get a good table before the place fills up." Elenoin lengthened her stride.
The place was filling up when they got there but they managed to grab a table by the window and order before a large crowd poured in. Elenoin sipped her coffee and listened to the young man on the stage.
"That basic problem is one with the way things are ruled in the cluster," he was saying. "All the wars, all the suffering, all the waste, it can be directly traced to the current rulers. There is no need for the wars. We have enough space, enough resources, that if properly managed could give everyone in the cluster a good life."
"Did communism ever work?" Osamu asked softly.
Elenoin shrugged her shoulders.
"The current situation is caused by a minority group of people and their dreams of power."
"He makes it sound so simple."
"Isn't it?" Elenoin looked at him.
"Of course not. The simple fact is any power you put into place will eventually be corrupted in one way or another. History shows it."
"Than what do you suggest?"
"I suggest nothing." He took a drink of his beer. "I'll do my best to live in any society I find myself in. Any changes I were to make would eventually be undone by simple social evolution."
"That is an interesting belief," Elenoin said.
"Everything changes. Nothing can exist in stasis."
"But if everything has to change why so down on those who want to bring it about."
"These people just want the status quo to change to favour them. They want things to change then to stay in stasis. They want to be on top forever. I'm down on them because they are doomed to a useless failure and if they knew what they were talking about they would realize it to."
"I can see why you didn't want to come here." Elenoin smiled. "I think you will get in a fist fight soon."
"Well, this sort of stupid rhetoric does not aid my digestion.
"Next time you choose and pay then," Elenoin told him.
Markus sat near the back of the Café, sipping an expresso, subtly watching everyone in the room. Modka had turned out to be an excellent place to find people unhappy with the political situation in the Cluster. Too good really. Too many people to even try to keep tabs on.
He always had to listen carefully, think everything through and try to decide who was worth keeping an eye on and who he could ignore. It made his head hurt sometimes.
At one of the window tables a young girl sat, deeply engrossed in a conversation with a handsome young man. She's a pretty one, Markus thought. He could not remember having seen her at the café before, or anywhere for that matter.
He took his eyes from the girl, doubting she was of any importance to his mission and returned to looking around the café. He wished there was an easier way to do things, like grabbing anyone he suspected and beating on their heads for a little while. Unfortunately the easy way was not open to him.
On a piece of paper he scribbled down the name of the man just ending his speech. He had not even tried to veil his insults towards Headliners in flowery language. He would be worth checking out.
Having accomplished something of value he placed the money for the bill on the table and headed from the café.
He could only take so many of the boring speeches.
Elenoin hefted her bag's strap over her shoulder as it slid off again. She stared up at the floor lights in the elevator, waiting for it to get to her floor. She did not like the people around her but she was too tired to climb the stairs. It had been a hell of a day. Two surprise tests, a physical education class that she had been wisely skipping until today and dealing with Osamu who had hung around her all day.
She could do with some rest, a few days worth.
The elevator chime sounded as it reached the next floor, Elenoin realized after a moment it was her floor and got out of the elevator just before the doors closed.
Acknowledging the greetings she got with a brief nod or wave Elenoin walked down he hall towards her room. She did not bother checking the alarms before she opened the door. She had quickly grown complacent, sure that her cover was strong. She unlocked the door, pushed it open and found herself face to face with a young woman.
Elenoin leapt back, hitting the opposite wall of the hallway.
"Wow, you surprised me!" the woman said, looking curiously at Elenoin.
"I should be saying that," Elenoin said.
"Sorry." She smiled. "I didn't mean to surprise you. I'm Liesha Maran, your room mate." She was taller than Elenoin by about five or six centimeters and a little heavier as well. She had a pleasant face, friendly. Her eye were a dark shade of blue and she wore her strawberry blonde hair to her shoulders where it curled up slightly.
"Elenoin Hashita."
"I guessed, the girls have been telling me a little about you. I got back this morning, probably just missed you. Going to your morning classes, impressive." She smiled again. "Do you want to come in or are you going to live out in the hall from now on?"
"Yeah, sorry," Elenoin said, feeling foolish. She walked into the room and closed the door behind her.
"Well, looks like we are living together." Liesha walked to her bed and sat on it.
Until you find a new boyfriend, Elenoin thought but had the tact not to say.
"So Ele-chan, where are you from?"
"Addler, Narsten in fact. Ele?"
"Never heard of it, Narsten that is," she told Elenoin, "and Ele-chan is cute and easier to say."
"Not surprising, Narsten is kind of small. Where are you from?"
"This is my home, I was born in the capital. Mother's a civil servant, high up type."
"She got to her feet. "What do you say I treat you to dinner? We can get to know each other."
"I couldn't impose," Elenoin told her.
"Nonsense." Liesha smiled. "I insist."
"Are you sure it is okay?"
"Don't worry about it Ele-chan, let's go." She grabbed up a light jacket.
"Sure," Elenoin said, tossing her bag onto her bed and opening the door.
"I know a nice place just off campus. Good food, cheap as well, good beer and most of the waiters are cute."
"Sounds great." Elenoin could not get any enthusiasm in her voice.
"Relax Ele-chan, I think this will be good for you. Going to all your morning classes, studying late in the library. You could get into a serious rut."
"What's the matter with ruts?"
Liesha turned so she was facing Elenoin and walked backwards, "They are boring." She stressed each syllable.
"I see."
"Come on," Liesha set off down the hall.
"So, what did you say?" Elenoin asked as they made their war across the campus, back towards the dorm.
"I told him," Liesha paused for effect, "that if he wanted out relationship to continue he was going to have to settle for one woman, me."
"What did he say?"
"Get out," Liesha said.
"The bastard," Elenoin exclaimed. She had had more than a few glasses of beer and was feeling a little loose. Not quite drunk but very relaxed.
"Tell me about it. On the plus side when I was packing my stuff I managed to steal some of his more expensive clothing." Liesha laughed.
"Serves him right."
"Oh he was cute, and he looked good in those clothes, but in the end he was pretty shallow."
"Men," Elenoin said, with a lot less venom than she might have thought.
"Well, most of them are all right. I just tend to pick the bad ones. My therapist once told me I had a self destructive streak," she explained.
"What do you think about…whoa," Elenoin tripped on a the edge of the side walk and almost fell.
"You alright?"
"Hai." Elenoin straightened. "Maybe a little too much beer."
"So what do I think about it?"
"Yeah."
"I think I just want to have fun and the bad ones are the best for that."
"I think you're crazy."
"Maybe. What about you, any relationships?"
"No," Elenoin said, which was kind of true. She did not think Liesha meant the kind of relationship she had with Sif.
"Really?" she asked, smiling slightly. "Some of the girls mentioned you hang around with a certain young man a lot."
"Oh, Osamu-san. He's just a friend."
"If he is half as cute as I have been told than I suggest you make him more than a friend before someone steals him away from you," she said the last in a sing song voice.
"I'm not really worried about it."
"Well, plenty of time for everything."
"What's that?" Elenoin pointed to a brightly lit area up ahead.
"That? That's entertainment hollow. Come on, something must be up." Liesha set off at a run. Elenoin watched for a moment then followed after her.
They soon reached the lip of the hollow, a naturally formed half bowl, at it's back a ravine. A number of people stood or sat in or around the hollow watching the scene below which was illuminated by a number of powerful lights.
Two young men, stripped to their waists, were duelling in the hollow, their steel blades ringing off each other. They were moving incredibly fast.
"Headliners," Elenoin said.
"Dull," Liesha said. "I was hoping it was a band, or a play, or free food."
"Who are they?"
"The tall blonde one, he's Damas Niavol-dono, studying economics. The one with the brown hair, he's Takua Sawaguchi-dono, Damas' friend, not a student. They get together about once a month, wander the campus, pick up girls who are overly impressed by Headliners or want to marry them, and stage little bouts like this to impress the easily impressed."
"They're fairly good fighters," Elenoin said, watching their moves. "Of course Damas is using speed and strength to his advantage, makes up for a poor fighting style," Elenoin explained, not really thinking about what she was saying.
"What?" Liesha looked at her.
"Look, he puts too much weight on his forward foot, always going forward. If Takua could just go to the side…" She stopped, realizing she had said too much. "Well, I think."
"What was that?" A young man turned around to face them.
"Nothing," Elenoin said.
"She said Damas is not much of a fighter." Liesha laughed slightly, obviously a little drunk.
"I said his style is poor," Elenoin corrected, beginning to realize she should not have said anything.
He looked at her for a moment, then turned around. Elenoin thought it was all over but she noticed he was talking to his neighbour. After a moment the other young man was walking towards the fighters.
"Let's get out out of here," Elenoin said.
"Not yet, I just want to watch for a moment," Liesha said, oblivious to Elenoin's concern.
"Please," Elenoin almost begged.
"What is it?"
Down near the fighters the young man called out loudly, "Damas, there's someone here who thinks your style is bad."
"Damn it," Elenoin whispered.
"Oh," Liesha finally got it.
"What the hell?" Damas and Takua separated. "Where?"
"Up there." he pointed up to Elenoin.
Damas walked up the side of the bowl towards her. Elenoin considered running but held her place. She had been careless and she was going to have to deal with it.
"You said my style is bad?" He looked at her quizzically, a half smile on his face.
He thinks this is a joke, Elenoin thought. "Yes," she said, for some reason unwilling to back down. "You put too much weight on your front foot, it will get you into trouble against a faster opponent."
The smile was gone from his face. Elenoin realized he had probably been told that before and it was likely he did not like hearing it.
He suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her down into the bowl. Elenoin came very close to breaking his neck, or at least making the attempt. She managed to control herself.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that it was rude to grab people?" Elenoin tried to free her hand but not too hard.
"No," he said, suddenly swinging her forward and into the impromptu fighting circle. "Give her your sword Takua."
"Come on Damas, don't be stupid," he said calmly to his friend.
"Give her your sword!"
Takua shrugged his shoulders then handed Elenoin his blade. It was a long blade, sharp on one edge, straight, with a chisel tip. She took it and found it well balanced, though heavier than she would have preferred.
"Perhaps you can give me a lesson," Damas said, holding his blade ready.
Elenoin swallowed twice to moisten her suddenly dry throat. The last of the good feeling from the beer was gone. She settled into a fighting stance, holding the blade at the ready.
"So you actually know how to use it," Damas said, stabbing at the air in front of him, going through a number of simple attack routines.
"Looks like it," Elenoin said softly.
Damas charged, crossing the space between then in a moment, moving so fast he appeared a blur.
Elenoin knew three ways to disarm him, five ways to wound him and ten to kill him and was ready to do any on them. She held herself though. He was a Headliner. She was pretending to be a human. There was no way she could fight back. Of course he might just kill her.
His sword hit hers, he entrapped it, then flicked it from her hands. Before it embedded itself in the ground he had cut her clothing twice and several stands of her hair. Now he had the blade tip resting gently between her eyes.
"You still put too much weight on your front foot," Elenoin said calmly.
"Shut the hell up!" he ordered. He let his blade drop and with his free hand he pushed her away hard. She stumbled back and then fell heavily to the ground.
"Come on Damas," Takua said as he retrieved his sword. "This is no fun any more."
Damas looked angrily at Elenoin then turned and walked off with Takua. They grabbed their shirts and jackets from the ground then left the bowl. A number of people followed after them. Even more stared after the retreating Headliners, many accusingly.
"I'm sorry." Liesha was suddenly beside Elenoin, helping her to her feet. "I should have realized…"
"No, it was my fault," Elenoin said, getting to her feet. Of course it was not her fault. She looked down at the two long rips in her blouse, tried to pull them closed then gave up on it. "Let's go."
As they walked from the bowl a number of people asked if Elenoin was all right, seeming concerned. Elenoin assured them she was fine. Most of the curious soon fell behind but one stayed up with them.
"That was incredible," A woman said, moving in front of them. "Who's your friend Liesha?"
"Ele-chan, this is Machiko Indelis-san, we were in a lot of the same classes in our freshman year."
"Nice to meet you Ele-san. I really thought you handled yourself well," she fell in beside them.
"I was disarmed, had one of my best blouses cut up and while nothing was bruised but my pride, that took a major bruising. And it is Elenoin."
"Who cares. Who could expect you to beat him. You made him look like the bully all of them basically are."
"All of who?"
"Headliners," Machiko told Elenoin.
"Do you think so?"
"Of course she does." Liesha sounded bored. "Machi-chan is a bit of a crusader for change."
"Really?" Elenoin looked over at the woman.
"Daman right!" she said.
"Ele-chan has done a bit of trouble making in her time as well. Got her kicked out of her last university," Liesha explained.
"And I had to promise my Guardian to be a good girl to get him to lay out the money to send me here."
"Well, he doesn't necessarily have to find out," Machiko said.
"Machi-chan, you are not about to drag my room mate into one of your silly schemes."
"What she said," Elenoin told Machiko.
"Oh come on, someone has to change the world."
"Maybe." Elenoin shrugged her shoulders. "Tonight I just want to get to sleep.
"I'm sure we'll meet on campus," Machiko told her, turning around and running back the way she had come. She quickly disappeared in the darkness.
"Where do you think she is going?" Elenoin asked.
"If I had to guess," Liesha looked over her shoulder, "I'd say she was off to vandalize Damas-san's digg."
Elenoin sat up in her bed, the sheets pulled around her, shaking slightly. She had just woken up from a nightmare. Liesha was still sleeping, her breathing easy. Elenoin was glad she had not woken her.
Sliding from the sweat soaked sheets Elenoin found her clothes and pulled them on, hardly making a noise. She dragged her knapsack from under her bed and slung it over her shoulder. Quietly, she left the room and locked it behind her.
Her misadventure earlier had been very unfortunate, things could have gone very bad. On the other hand she had done well in meeting Machiko. She would likely be a useful contact.
It gave her a reason to check in as well.
She walked off campus, heading several kilometres west. She entered one of the small commuter communities that surrounded the campus. Many of the buildings were apartments, six or seven stories tall, and there were a number of houses in the area. One of the houses, a big three story structure, was her goal.
Even before she reached the door it was open and she stepped in.
"What is it?" Edward Panzer asked.
"No emergencies, I just met someone who might be of importance. She's a student, Indelis Machiko."
"Should we put a tail on her?"
"Not yet, but do a check on her, her attendance records might be of use."
He nodded. "Okay, anything else?"
"Not yet."
"Okay. Be careful when you come here from now on and watch your back. Someone has put a watch on our strike team," he told her, leaning up against the wall.
"Is that going to be a problem?"
"Not yet, whoever it is is just watching, and we don't think they are official."
"The people we are looking for?"
"Maybe," he said. "And maybe just another interested party."
"Do you think there are other intersected parities?"
"I'd be surprised if we were the only ones."
"Where is Sif-san?"
"Upstairs, second floor, third door on your right."
"Thank you." Elenoin headed for the stairs.
Sif was waiting for her at the landing wearing only her silk slip. "Master?"
"Evening," Elenoin said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm lonelly," Sif said.
"That's too bad," Elenoin smiled. "Take me to your room, I'm tired."
Sif led her to the room she was using. It was quite large, perhaps the largest in the house, with a queen sized bed. Elenoin began to take off her clothing, tossing it to the floor. She turned and hugged the Fatima tightly, burying her face against Sif's chest, crying softly.
She released the Fatima after a few minutes, wiped her tears away and smiled up at Sif. "Thank you."
"Master…" Sif said softly.
Elenoin turned, taking Sif's hand and led her to the bed. She and the Fatima were soon under the covers, Elenoin holding the Fatima tight against her. She placed a hesitant kiss against Sif's shoulder, then brushed her lips gently along the skin to the base of her throat. She lifted her head and placed her lips against Sif's for a moment.
"Thank you," she whispered, laying her head on the Fatima's shoulder.
Sif remained awake for a time after Elenoin had fallen asleep, listening to her breathe.
Markus stood as he heard the sound of footsteps, he reached inside his long coat, letting his fingers glide across the cool metal of his spaud. He let his hand fall away from the weapon. The footsteps got closer.
"It's me," someone called out in a thin, reedy voice.
"So I guessed," Markus said.
"Sorry about the late hour, I thought this might be important," Pick said, stepping out from one of the alleys.
"Well?"
"We've not had much luck in checking the list of names you gave us. Too much information and they are all potential candidates."
"Is that what you called me here for." Markus did not sound pleased.
"No." Pick put up his hands to try to reassure the Headliner. "But we did find something else out. A lab, just off campus, in an old tenement building. It was deserted. We found it by following your Doctor Richardson."
"What is it about the lab?"
"It is quite likely that it was used for cyberchem."
"How sure are you?"
"As sure as we can be."
"Thank you." Markus turned and headed towards the street. "This was useful."
Andrew Richardson woke, feeling a pressure on his chest, the room lights were on, Professor Markus Amatri was leaning on him.
"I want you to be very quiet doctor. I have drugged your wife so she will not wake but if anyone else comes into this room I may have to kill them and possibly you. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Andrew kept his voice low, unable to keep a tremor of fear out of it.
"Good. Now Doctor, just why did you never mention to me that you were involved in cyberchem?"
"I don't know…"
Markus pulled out his spaud and held it in front of Andrew's face. "Lie again, I take you hand for starters. Today you visited an old lab, what do you know about it?"
"Nothi…." Andrew stopped, remembering Markus' threat. "I helped to set it up, nearly fifteen years ago. I took payment in cash, I don't know who I was working for," he said quickly.
"Then why did you go there?"
"The place is deserted, but whoever it was left all their equipment. I needed a DNA sequencer, there was one in the lab."
"Do you have anyway of contacting your employers?" Markus asked, running his thumb over the ignition trigger of his weapon.
"No," he said, a drop of sweat running down his face.
"I suggest you forget I was ever here Doctor. It could be very bad for you if you didn't. I will also expect you to be more forthcoming in your information from now on." Markus moved away from the bed. The lights went off suddenly and Doctor Richardson, plunged into darkness, could see nothing. When his eyes adjusted the room was empty.
"Well?" Markus asked Namia.
"Just made a call." she looked up at him, she was wearing a headset. "He used no names, a man answered, he said he had to talk, that is was important. He was told to come to the old meeting place."
"I knew he was lying." Markus smiled.
"Why didn't you cut off his hand then?"
"Then he would have known I knew. Let's go," he said.
Doctor Richardson stepped from his car, looking around the canyon, wondering where his contact was. Dawn was still an hour away, the moon had set, the stars offered little real light. Every little sound caused him to start slightly. He did not like being alone, far from the familiar.
"Doctor," someone said from behind him.
Andrew spun around, finding himself facing a figure a few meters away. He could not tell much about him or her in the dark, the voice was neutral, neither high nor low.
"I need to talk," Andrew said.
"You made that clear in your phone call. What about?"
"Someone has connected me with the old lab, the one I set up for you."
"You should have stayed away from it Doctor," the figure said.
"I know, but what can we do about it?" he almost whined.
"Not much pride," Markus said, tuning the laser mike slightly. He was bouncing the beam of the Doctor's car's windshield. "Anything about who he is talking to?"
"Average height, slim, androgynous," Namia said, peering through a low light telescope.
"Tell me what happened doctor," Markus heard the unknown player ask.
"A man came to me tonight, he had a spaud, asked me what I knew." The doctor's voice was quick, his tone said he was scared.
"What did you tell him?"
"Nothing, just that I helped set it up, that I didn't know who I was working for, that I didn't know how to contact you."
"This is a problem doctor," the figure said.
"Why hasn't he told him it was you?" Namia asked.
"Maybe he's holding it out as an ace card," Markus told her.
"Well what should we do?" Andrew was whining again.
"End the problem," the figure said. Markus heard two soft sounds, like someone coughing. He recognized them just as Namia gasped.
"He's been shot," she said.
"Damn."
"Should we go and get them?"
"No," Markus said after a moment. "They might be trying to make us. Andrew should have said he knew who I was, it would have made him more valuable. That idiot."
"Master, up on the ridge," Namia said quietly.
Markus pulled out a pair of low light binoculars and looked where Namia had indicated. He made out a form, probably looking through field glasses, scanning the area.
"They haven't seen us yet, let's wait them out," he said softly.
"If they have IR?"
"Let's hope there is enough noise that they don't spot us. They can't make an ID with IR anyways."
Fatima and Headliner waited and watched. The figure on the valley floor disappeared into the rocks, Namia thought she might have seen him or her on the ridge but could not say for sure. After an hour the watcher on the ridge left as the sun began to rise. They waited another two hours and saw two more figures leaving.
"Master," Namia asked?
"I don't have any classes to teach today, nothing pressing," Markus was lying in a patch of sunlight, eyes closed. "We'll wait," he told her.
Elenoin walked back towards Campus, moving slowly. She still felt half asleep.
Waking up, pressed tightly against Sif had been nice. A warm body beside her, arms wrapped around each other. She missed it.
She had not been a virgin when Tristan had raped her, though he may have thought differently on the matter. She had enjoyed sex, like other things, and had been fairly good at if her partners were to be believed. She smiled slightly, remembering an enjoyable encounter.
But since the night when Tristan and his men had taken her the thought of sex, of closeness, made her feel sick and terrified at the same time.
She was safe with Sif. With Sif she was completely in control, nothing could happen. Unless Balanche-hakase was right, a small voice in the back of her head said. She pushed that voice back and refused to listen to it.
With Sif though it was empty. The Fatima could be her friend, a life mate in fact, but never a lover. That safety, the very thing she needed now, took away from it. She was sure that sex with Sif would be pleasant, but she doubted it would be special.
Osamu's face appeared before her for a moment, the young, handsome, intelligent, fun man who courted her so diligently with no luck. Even his touch was enough to set her off. It had come to the point where she was anticipating when he might touch her and moving out of the way before it could happen. She wondered if he realized that she was doing it on purpose.
She hated the fact she could not get close to him, hated herself for being raped. She had been so stupid, so weak. She had to ensure that she would never be so weak again, she had to be strong. If being strong meant cutting herself off from others, maybe that was for the best.
Elenoin realized that she had been standing in place on the sidewalk for a few minutes, trembling slightly, with fear or rage she did not know. Letting the tension go from her body, relaxing, she continued on. She had only ten minutes before her first class started. She would probably be late.
"So where were you Ele-chan?" Liesha asked, smiling. She was sitting at her desk, there was an open textbook in front of her.
"No where special," Elenoin told her. "Just couldn't sleep so I went out for a walk early in the morning then went to class."
"So dull." Liesha sighed.
"I'm sorry my life does not meet the high standards of your expectations." Elenoin laughed as she tossed her bag onto her bed.
"Here you are, in university and you are wasting your time studying Ele-chan. I am worried about you."
"There will be time for adventure later," she said, sitting down on her bed.
"But there won't. What do you have to look forward to? The endless drudgery of building and repairing Mortarheads."
"I'm sure there will be more than that," Elenoin told her.
"You hope." She shut her textbook. "There's a party down in the basement, are you coming?" she got to her feet.
Elenoin thought about it for a moment. "Sure." She stood. "It might be fun."
As soon as they reached the basement they were assaulted by noise, heat, the smell of food, alcohol and the scent of perspiration. Liesha smiled, she was obviously in her element. Elenoin saw the mass of people and could only think of escape. Liesha reached back, grabbed her hand, never noticing her friends reaction to the sudden contact, and pulled her into the throng.
Elenoin managed to keep control of herself. She had nothing to fear from anyone in the room. She could protect herself if it came down to that, and she doubted it would.
Liesha pushed a glass into her hands, told her to have fun, then dived into the crowd leaving Elenoin on her own.
She took a sip of the drink, it was a carbonated beverage of some sort mixed with rye, or bourbon, or some similar alcohol. She would have to be careful not to drink too much.
The music was loud with a fast beat, Elenoin found herself moving to it almost not of her own violation. The excitement in the room was contagious, she was caught up in it. The crowd around her did not bother her as much as she thought it would.
"Good to see you are having a little fun," A familiar voice said behind her.
"Osamu." She turned to face him. "How did you get here?"
"The same way as always, through the basement door. I never miss these parties." He flashed her his smile. "Do you want to dance?"
She wanted to say no at the same time she wanted to say yes. Osamu took the choice from her by gently taking her hand and leading her away from the bar.
They were pressed close to each other by the crowd around them.
"Like the music," he was almost yelling.
"It's nice."
"Slow dance next you know."
"What makes you so sure?"
"My friend is the DJ. Told him to shift to something slow once I had you out here."
"You don't take any chances do you?" Elenoin wanted to be angry but could not. It was so flattering.
The music ended, and as Osamu had predicted, the next song was slow. He moved closer to her, sliding his right hand to hers, their fingers woven together. His left encircled her waist, she put hers around his neck. In away Elenoin was functioning without thinking, the moment he had moved close against her she had panicked. Everything she did was reflex as her mind worked to fight the panic down.
He was a very good dancer, Elenoin would later decide, when she could think about the events and remember them clearly. She herself was also very good, years of lessons taking over, moving her through the steps flawlessly. For almost two minutes they danced, Elenoin's heart beating so rapidly, her breathing sharp and shallow, everything balanced so precariously. Then it snapped.
She pushed Osamu away, not too hard but it was enough to surprise him. Then she was running through the crowd, bumping into people, hardly thinking. The still rational part of her sent her into one of the washrooms. She ducked into one of the stalls, locked the door behind her then collapsed to the floor.
Elenoin wrapped her arms around herself as if she was cold and slowly rocked back and forth in the dirty stall, trying to find calm and control where they no longer existed. She felt sick, but hers was a sickness of the spirit.
"Ele-chan?" She heard Liesha calling after some time. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah." Elenoin took a deep, calming breath, got to her feet and opened the door. "A little to much to drink I guess," she lied.
"You look terrible. How much did you drink?"
"Too much I guess."
"Come on, I'll take you up to our room." She moved in close to support Elenoin who was surprised she could tolerate the contact.
"Thank you," Elenoin said, surprised once more at how grateful she was for the contact. With females it seemed she was safe.
"You know, your Osamu is a really nice guy."
"Osamu-san?"
"Some of my dates would have given up on me if I had run into the bathroom to be sick." she pushed open the door and they found Osamu waiting, he looked very worried.
"Sorry." Elenoin dropped her eyes, feeling bad.
"Are you all right?" Osamu asked, sounding truly worried.
"I'll live," she managed to look up at him and smile.
"I think she just needs some sleep, alone." Liesha winked at Osamu.
"I'll call you tomorrow," he said.
"That would be nice," Elenoin told him, a little surprised how much she meant it.
"Come on." Liesha said, leading Elenoin towards the elevators.
"Good night," Elenoin said weakly to Osamu.
"Are you sure you are going to be all right Ele-chan," Liesha said as she pulled the blanket up over her.
"Yeah, thanks. Go and have some fun. Maybe help Osamu enjoy himself."
"I don't think I will be able to steal that one away from you." She placed a hand on Elenoin's forehead.
"You can always try, right?"
"Get some rest." She straightened and headed for the door. "I'll leave the lights on slightly," she told her as she turned the dimmer switch down.
"Thank you Liesha-san."
"Esha-chan," she said.
"Thank you Esha-chan," Elenoin smiled.
"I'll check in on you in about an hour," she said as she left the room and closed the door behind her.
I've made some very good friends in a short time, Elenoin thought, suddenly feeling bad for the lies she was telling. She would like to tell them the truth, as unpractical as that was.
She stared at the ceiling for a time then got out of bed, going to her closet. She opened the door and reached up to the top shelf. She moved boxes and other objects aside until she found what she was looking for.
Other than putting a little encryption on the files she had not touched the data reader that Isben-Hakase had given her only a few months and a lifetime before. It was time to change that, she thought, returning to her bed. She called up the files and began looking for all the entries for Kamality Goderce.
Markus pushed open the back door and then waited for Namia to enter the house. They had waited until dark before leaving the place where Doctor Richardson had been murdered. He was certain that no one had been left, no one had spotted him and even if they had the way back they had taken was so twisted and convoluted that no one could have followed them. As sure as he was he would still have Pick keep an eye out.
"When do you think they will find his body," Namia asked?
"Well, I would guess he's been reported missing by now," Markus kicked off his boots. "The police will probably put trace on his cars locator beacon. Assuming the good doctor never pulled it they should find him in a couple of hours if not sooner."
"Will it be a problem?"
"Eventually no doubt, eventually."
"Not too soon though."
"I just hope that doctor Richardson never left any evidence pointing at me."
"If he did we are in trouble."
"Are you trying to teach the fox how to kill rabbits Namia?" He smiled at her.
"No Master."
"Prepare my notes for tomorrow's lectures will you." He pulled off his jacket.
"Yes," she said.
"I'm going to take a look at everything we know, see if I can make sense of anything."
"They might be closing down after this," Namia said.
"I know, but they might not. They didn't have to kill the doctor if they were planning on running."
"I guess."
"What are tomorrow's lectures on anyway?"
"The two in the morning are an examination of the last war on Junnoo and how it compares to previous conflicts between Trio-de-Colus and Hagooda."
"Well that certainly won't be exciting."
"The one in the afternoon is on the battle of Lymmiers Gorge on Both."
"Hmmm, another Headliners get taken out by mutinous subordinates lecture if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes."
"I'll have a full house for that one."
"When would you like to set up your next appointment," the receptionist asked Elenoin?
"When is the soonest I can?"
"Well, we have an opening tomorrow at about 3 in the afternoon and another at 6."
"How about the next day. Late morning," Elenoin asked, remembering her class schedule.
"Would 10:45 be all right?"
"That would be fine," Elenoin told her.
"Payment as today?"
"Yes."
"Fine," she made a few notes on her computer. "Have a nice day Hashita-san."
"Thank you," Elenoin told the woman. She walked from the office, heading for the short set of stairs that would take her to the lobby and then the exit.
Doctor Crane seemed to be a nice person, for a psychologist. She had not promised any quick cures but Elenoin had not expected any. It was a relief in a way to be completely honest with another person. It had been a very long time since she had been able to, a very long time she had realized.
Once on the street she hailed one of the pedi-cabs. They were relatively cheap and one of the best way to get back on campus where most motor vehicles were restricted.
She sat in the covered cab, lost in thought, thinking of what the doctor had told her. She had made is seem simple in some ways, the first steps to help her recover. In a way it was simple but it was also very hard.
Twenty minutes later the pedi-cab pulled up in front of her dorm. As Elenoin was getting out she noticed Machiko Indelis running towards her.
"Elenoin-san, you got back just in time. I was almost ready to leave."
"What is it Indelis-san?"
"Machiko. Are you free now?"
"I guess."
"Come on then." Machiko pushed her back into the pedi-cab and climbed in after her. "Take us to Togo Salmon Hall, west entrance," she told the man.
"What's up?" Elenoin asked as the cab moved off.
"Have you ever heard Professor Amatri speak before?"
"I don't even know who professor Amatri is," Elenoin told her.
"Then you are in for a treat. He's doing one of his special lectures today."
"Special lectures?"
"Trust me, you'll love this."