Megalodon City, Tundra, Standard Year 404

  “I thought we were going to speak to the assassin I shot.” Samatha Hawk said, following Robert as he headed out of his office. It was late now, past midnight. And she still had not heard from her husband. Which was unusual and deeply suspicious. But Robert was her main priority now. Robert would be integral to ensuring her son’s safe return, and at the moment, he wasn’t looking at all well. Nor was his behavior inspiring much confidence.

  “We are.” Robert said.

  “But you’re headed upwards.” Sam pointed out, motioning her head to the button he pressed on the elevator. “And the assassin is, presumably, in one of the interrogation rooms. Which are below.”

  “Yes.” Robert agreed.

  “Robert.” Samantha took a breath. “Where are we going right now?”

  Robert paused. “To the headquarters of the planetary shields project.” He said slowly.

  “Why?”

  Robert stared at the elevator doors as they opened. It was a good question. “We just are.” He said.

  “Ah.” Samantha Hawk said as she followed Robert to his car. “Good to know.”

  Samantha had never been to the headquarters of the planetary shields project, and the moment they drove into the darkened and deserted garage, her senses went on full alert. “Where’s the security?” She asked.

  “There isn’t any.” Robert replied. “This is normal.”

  “How is that possible? This project is vital to planetary security, Robert. How could there possibly not be a full regiment of security personnel?”

  “Have you ever met Grant? That is, Dr. Grant Pardo?”

  “The giant?” Samantha replied, vaguely recalling seeing him in passing at the university. “Some sort of growth hormone malfunction, wasn’t it?”

  “There was a hormonal imbalance during the gestation.” Robert said out loud, blinking in surprise as the words came out.

  Samantha raised an eyebrow. “You must be quite close.” She observed.

  Robert pulled into one of the empty parking spots and shook his head. “I really don’t feel at all well.” He said out loud.

  “Why isn’t there any security?” Sam repeated, more insistently.

  “Grant does his own security. This place is secure. It should be fine.” Robert hesitated. It should be fine. Only quite obviously, it was not. “But it’s not fine.” He added out loud.

  “Ah. Well thank you for clearing that up. Do you think it’s safe to exit the car?”

  “You stay. I will take a look first.” Robert said, with greater certainty. His eyes were better suited to the dim light of the darkened garage, and there was something he saw, that deepened the sense of dread he had been experiencing for hours now. He walked towards the dark stain by the elevator and knelt down, touching it with his fingers. Enough liquid had spilled that the stain was still glistening with moisture at its deepest point, although the edges were dry and the moisture was ice cold. He brought his wet fingers up to his nose, but he already knew what it was. The scent, was unmistakable. It was blood. Carda’an blood. And there was a great deal of it. But there was no body. To the best of Robert’s knowledge, no one had ever tried to kill Grant. But if they had, they would likely discover that Aghrael, was damn hard to kill. It wasn’t that much blood, Robert reassured himself. He looked up at the sound of a car approaching.

  Samantha had followed his recommendation and remained inside, but she drove closer, rolling down the window from the drivers’ seat. “What is it?” She asked.

  “A crime scene.” Robert said slowly. “Please do not move the car any further. It may disturb the evidence.”

  “I might be able to help you with that.” Samantha said. “There’s a man on the ground in the back corner of the garage. I saw him as I drove over.”

  “Is there now.” Robert murmured, following the direction Samantha pointed.

  “Is there a way to turn up the lights?” Samantha called out as Robert walked off.

  “Lights up.” Robert murmured. And the lights inside the garage brightened considerably.

  “Really?” Samantha Hawk said under her breath. Carefully scanning her surroundings and seeing nothing that could pose a threat, she stepped out of the car and followed Robert. With the greater visibility provided by the brightened lights, she could see that the man was not simply laying in the back corner of a garage. He was inside of what appeared to be a glass box.

  “Do not touch it.” Robert spoke up as she approached.

  “It’s not just glass?” Samantha asked curiously.

  “No. It’s plasma, and it will destroy anything that touches it.

  Samantha pulled her hand back. “Is this what our shields are made of?” She asked, fascinated.

  “Yes.” Robert said.

  “Air vent right above.” Samantha noted, gesturing upwards with her head. “Give me a boost. I’d like to take a look inside.”

  Carefully skirting the plasma box, Robert lowered his hands, giving Sam a step up to climb into the air vent. She did so with ease, shockingly so for a woman of her age. “There’s a rifle up here.” Sam said immediately. “Sniper scope. Professional grade. Looks similar to the one the assassin planned to use in TSS headquarters. Interesting. Two targets. Similar mo. Similar timeline. I wonder who they were going after at TSS?”

  “Yes.” Robert said neutrally. The man in the glass box, was beginning to stir. Robert went back to his car and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

  “I thought the plasma destroyed anything that touched it.” Samantha commented, watching as Robert reached inside the box, handcuffed the passed out assassin, and carried him back to his car. As Robert reached through the plasma wall, it disappeared.

  “It does.” Robert said.

  “But not you.”

  “The security system knows me.” Robert replied.

  “I see. Robert, do you have reason to believe our shields have been compromised?”

  Robert hesitated. “I don’t know.” He said.

  “I see.” Samantha repeated quietly. “And now we’re going to question the assassin from TSS headquarters?”

  “Yes.” Robert replied, pulling out of the garage.

  “Robert.” Samantha said a few minutes later, doing her best to hold on to her patience.

  “Yes?”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Home.” Robert replied.

  Samantha took a very deep breath. “I thought we were going to TSS headquarters.” She said. “To question the assassin. Remember?”

  “Yes.” Robert agreed.

  “But you are not going to headquarters.” Samantha pointed out. “You are in fact going… is this the way to your apartment? I don’t actually know where you live.”

  “This is the way to my apartment.” Robert acknowledged.

  “So you’re going to your apartment and then to TSS headquarters?” Sam clarified.

  “Yes.”

  “Robert?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re really not feeling well, are you?”

  “No.”

  They drove on in silence.

  “Please wait here.” Robert said before getting out of the car and walking off.

  ---

  Robert walked through the door of his apartment and headed directly for the quantum communicator. He didn’t bother going to the garden and getting comfortable, as he usually did. There wasn’t time. He was about to make the call from the kitchen when he received the text from Jim.

  Jim: James has been captured. Alanna Summers provided the information. I’m at the apartment now. Come as soon as you can. Whatever you do, do not let Sam anywhere near this. Throw her in a cell if you need to. Let me be clear Robert, Sam will leave this planet over your dead body, or not at all.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Ignoring the text for the moment, Robert activated the quantum communicator. James, Will, Daren, Grant, and most likely Robert himself, had been targeted within the period of several hours. The chances of that being a coincidence, were astronomical. The cause, was entirely unknown. There were people Robert needed to contact that were closer to home, but before he did, he sent out a report over a much greater distance. There were things that happened that day, that should not have happened. And the emperor, needed to know.

  After completing his report, Robert reached out to the children. Pharel and Starel were on the ship, currently orbiting Titan. To his great and genuine relief, they both responded, appearing to be in perfect health. Robert provided a full update.

  “So dad is missing?” Pharel asked quietly.

  “Yes.” Robert acknowledged.

  “And Grant is hurt.” Starel pointed out. “Someone with medical equipment needs to be on Tundra to provide assistance. You have to let us help, Robert. You all need backup.”

  “Yes.” Robert acknowledged. Starel’s point was undeniable. “It’s time. I will provide you both with the necessary IDs. Land in the usual location and I will pick you up.”

  “We’re on our way.” Pharel said. There was none of the excitement he had expected to feel for their first real trip onto the planet, and their first interaction with the humans. Completely unexpectedly, things had gotten serious. And their father, was missing.

  “I would like the ship moved into Tundran orbit. Keep it cloaked at all times and move it again after your shuttle departs for Tundra.” Robert said before signing off. The targets were being hit at roughly the same time, but the timing was not precise. Some attacks may yet be coming.

  Without pause, Robert switched channels, reaching out to Dzaher. As Starel had correctly noted, they all needed backup. Robert had certainly not foreseen the events of that day, but the need for backup was something he had noted several years back. The timing was fortunate. Backup, was only a few days away. Dzaher was completing the two and a half year long trip from Cannibal Moon to Saraya, following Robert’s decision that more support was needed in this solar system. The emperor would send further support as well, but that would be seventy years away. Robert provided an update to Dzaher, although he received no response. Unsurprising as most carda’ans chose to remain in cryostasis during interstellar travel. And then, with a slight sigh, Robert provided a succinct text update to Daren.

  Robert (quantum comms text): Hide. Dzaher is on his way.

  Finally, he sent a brief message to TSS headquarters. Continuing to ignore the text he received from the president, Robert walked back downstairs towards Sam, who was still waiting in the car. “Let’s go talk to the other assassin.” He said.

  Samantha grabbed the dashboard as Robert peeled out of his parking spot, tires screeching. The drive did not improve from there.

  ---

  Daren looked down as a text finally came through on his wrist comm. Although he remained invisible, his eyes narrowed and the hiss of fury could be heard quite clearly in the steamy Sarayan jungle as Daren read the text.

  Robert (quantum comms text): Hide. Dzaher is on his way.

  At least the damn bastard Robert is still alive, Daren thought. And then, out of sheer annoyance, he turned around and headed back towards the city.

  ---

  “Next time, I’ll drive.” Samantha said shortly, reaching for the door of the car and heading towards the elevator of TSS headquarters. It had not started out as a good day, and it was steadily getting worse. She left it to Robert to carry the now partially conscious assassin they recovered from the Tundran planetary shields project garage, heading directly for the interrogation rooms located in the basement of the building.

  “He’s been relocated.” Robert corrected, pressing a different floor. He was carrying the handcuffed assassin with no apparent strain or discomfort.

  Samantha frowned. She knew every inch of TSS headquarters and she knew exactly what was on the floor Robert had selected, and it made no sense at all. “To the headquarters for political prisoners and VIPs? Why?” She asked

  “I have my reasons.” Robert responded. Time was short, and his options were exceedingly limited. A number of people would be less than thrilled with him that day. It was an unavoidable reality, and Robert did not especially care.

  Samantha frowned in genuine confusion. The assassin she had shot was located inside an oversized and comfortably situated prison cell intended to comfortably hold an extended family. It really was quite luxurious. Sometimes, TSS questioned individuals of the highest stature and sometimes, those people were even released. She understood the purpose of the luxuriously appointed cell. But why in the world would the assassin end up here? She took a step back as Robert dumped the second man unceremoniously next to the first. “Shoot him again, will you?” Robert suggested.

  After only a brief hesitation, Sam did so, ensuring her gun was set to stun. Presumably, they would not want one assassin listening in to the information provided by the other. She supposed that made sense…

  By the time Samantha fulfilled Robert’s request, he had already walked out, shutting the prison cell door firmly behind him. Only his personal access code would unlock that cell. Jim wanted Samantha to remain on the planet after she found out that James had been captured on Saraya. Keeping Samantha secured was a nearly impossible task, and Robert was in no mood to play games. He headed back out, ignoring Sam’s shout of rage. He would certainly pay for that, but as long as James was recovered alive, Sam would not kill him for his actions. If Sam ended up on Saraya, Jim most certainly would try to kill him. That is, Jim would try to prevent him from continuing to breathe, Robert mentally corrected himself. He was already dead, but there was a certain temptation to falling in with the human way of thinking.

  ---

  It was a good while later but the president was still in the kitchen, periodically sending out texts as they planned ahead for the mission. Alanna had finally gotten up and poured him a cup of tea, which he accepted without comment. At least he didn’t say anything about the possibility that it might be poisoned, she thought, trying to put an optimistic spin on things. She offered to make him a sandwich as well, but he had declined, his attention clearly focused on other matters. Whatever he felt over his son’s disappearance was wholly subsumed by his focus on the mission ahead.

  “Captain Arden will be landing within a few hours.” Jim Hawk said, looking up. “The timing is fortuitous. The Gray Serpent was recently retrofitted for maximum speed. It was in preparation for a different mission, but it will suit us well here.”

  “What about the Black Hawk?” Tony asked.

  “I think” Jim Hawk said carefully “that it would benefit this mission to have an entirely separate group of personnel involved in the planning.”

  “And Robert?” Tony asked.

  Alanna looked up. Clearly, that meant something to Tony. It did not mean a whole lot to her.

  “Robert, was one of the people involved in the original mission.” Jim Hawk said with great precision.

  “Yes sir.” Tony nodded in understanding. “What will we tell him when he gets here?”

  “We will give the lieutenant commander” Jim Hawk nodded towards Alanna “an opportunity to provide her update and then Robert and I will depart.”

  It was a while later that a buzz signaling someone was downstairs coincided with a buzz from Jim Hawk’s wrist comm. Robert Nagar, was on his way.

  Tony and Alanna turned to watch Robert walk into the kitchen. Benji the puppy bared his teeth, his ears pressed forward in suspicion. And then he cocked his head.

  Robert nodded down to the dog politely. And then he stood up straighter. For some reason, he suddenly felt a great deal better. “Sam is secured in a cell.” He said, turning to Jim. “Perhaps you meant that figuratively but I assure you, anything short of the best security TSS headquarters has to offer will not keep her on the planet if she believes James is in danger on Saraya.”

  Jim Hawk smiled slightly. “You are a braver man than I am, Robert. But you will not see me disagreeing. Can anyone at TSS let her out?”

  “The lock is secured and can only be opened with my personal authorization.” Robert replied immediately.

  “Very good. Lieutenant commander” Jim Hawk turned to Alanna “you may provide your report.”

  Once again, Alanna repeated the message she received from Clara, watching closely as Robert processed the information.

  “It would certainly appear” Robert said carefully “that the Sarayans were aware of James Hawk’s visit to their planet. And his location, as well.” He added.

  “It does appear that way.” Jim Hawk agreed, watching Robert closely. He made no effort to hide his scrutiny.

  “One moment, please.” Robert held out his hand. “If it was indeed the manhunt of the decade, I will already have information on it in my reports, including the location where the manhunt took place. He activated the holographic function on his wrist comm, and began speed reading. Upon coming to a specific report, Robert paused for what appeared to be an unnecessarily long moment, his eyes no longer scanning the data being provided. “They were captured during their return from the last target.” He said.

  “Really.” Jim Hawk said flatly.

  “Am I under investigation, Jim?” Robert asked bluntly.

  “Should you be?”

  Once again, Robert paused. “Perhaps… I don’t entirely… yes. Yes, I suppose that is the inescapable conclusion, is it not?”

  “It does appear that way.” Jim Hawk agreed.

  “I would do nothing to intentionally place James at risk.” Robert said, his eyes on Jim’s.

  “That was quite carefully worded.” Jim observed.

  “Yes.” Robert agreed. And then he turned to Alanna. “You’ve been employed by Dr. Grant Pardo.” He said abruptly.

  Jim frowned.

  “And you’re Robert.” Alanna said.

  “I am.”

  “You’re a Robert. But are you the Robert?”

  “I don’t know. Am I?”

  “Did you make a bet, Robert?” Alanna asked, connecting certain dots as she sometimes did.

  Jim Hawk raised an eyebrow, looking from Robert to Alanna. “By all means Rob, do not let me detain you from these important matters.” He murmured.

  “I did make a bet.” Robert replied, for all outwards appearances ignoring the president sitting by the kitchen fireplace. His voice should have been grim but to his own surprise, it wasn’t. In spite of everything, Robert was feeling better. Something about this place, or perhaps it was some event that took place at the same time that he set foot into James Hawk’s apartment? Whatever was wrong with the bond, it was getting better. And the relief was overwhelming.

  Alanna looked over at Jim somewhat uncertainly but when he made no further interruption, forged on. “And what was the amount of the bet?” She asked.

  “I foresee a hundred credits coming my way.” Robert responded immediately. No one was better at connecting the dots, than Robert. And he really was feeling better.

  “So you are that Robert. Do you know, I thought you’d be taller.”

  “I believe there is a private matter we need to discuss.”

  “Right.” Alanna nodded. “Yes. I need to speak to this Robert, in private. Step into the bedroom, will you Robert?”

  “Would you like me to shoot someone?” Tony asked as he watched Alanna and Robert leave the kitchen and walk towards the bedroom. “Either one of them, maybe both?”

  “Sometimes it doesn’t help Tony.” Jim Hawk said with a heartfelt sigh. “Sometimes, it does not help.”

  “She took what looked like an eight foot tall dead body into that bedroom.” Tony said glumly.

  “Did she now?”

  “Sure did. Covered by a sheet.”

  “How did she transport it?”

  “On an antigrav platform on top of the car.”

  “And the car came from the outside?”

  “Yeah.” Tony said, looking over at Jim curiously. He got the distinct sense Jim was making connections that he was not.

  “Well that, is quite interesting.” Jim Hawk said quietly. “That is very interesting indeed.” And then he looked off into space and thought about the fact that it was possible that right then, at that very moment, Lorelai had control of his son.

  ---

  Robert observed Grant’s motionless form on the bed. Stepping forward, he placed two fingers at the base of his throat, not to the side where someone would check for a human pulse, Alanna noted, but straight in the middle. “He is alive.” Robert said a short while later. “And stable. Thank you. I believe you may have saved his life.” He leaned forward, picking up a small item from the pillow next to Grant’s face. Robert held it up curiously. “Is there a reason you gave him a… is this a dog biscuit?”

  “Sorry! That’s not… I didn’t… that wasn’t me.” Alanna snatched back the biscuit.

  “The dog left it?” Robert asked mildly.

  “Yes.” Alanna nodded emphatically.

  “Very thoughtful, I’m sure. Grant has a way with animals. Can he remain here for a few days?”

  “Um.” Alanna thought about the mission she was departing for, likely within the hour. The one Robert wasn’t supposed to know about. “I can’t stay here right now.” She blurted out. “It’s too… it’s too painful. I’m going to… to stay with friends.”

  “I see. And the dog?”

  “Oh. I hadn’t thought about it.” Alanna said out loud. And internally she thought, he definitely knows. Robert looked down at her patiently. Oh yeah, there was literally zero chance he did not know.

  “Perhaps some of my friends can help watch over Grant and the dog, while you are away.” Robert said politely.

  “That… that could be ok. Are they responsible enough to take care of the dog? And Grant?”

  Robert winced quite noticeably. “With heavy supervision.” He said firmly. “And Ms Summers?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do not go to Saraya. Not for any reason. It is not a safe place for you.”

  “Noted.”