Crusade For Vengeance

By Adrian D Roberts

Two people have died in Valerie’s crusade. She knows she must return to Olympus, the capital of the Pantheon, to find her next target. There she may face the one thing she fears in the galaxy, those she turned her back on, the survivors of her family and her Company.

Hanna and Deni have promised to aid their friend, but can they survive on a hostile world and prevent Valerie’s wanton destruction of Furioso from repeating?

The forces of the Pantheon are moving against Valerie and the Rebellion is hunting her. Can she avoid them and get vengeance for her family?

All the while, in the darkened corners of the Pantheon, a name is being whispered as a beacon of hope for the Manuals - Battleborn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adrian D Roberts
• Release date: Jan 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310402838

Adrian D Roberts

Adrian D Roberts was raised in Essex, England until relocating to Northamptonshire in his thirties. When growing up he dreamt of being a Police Officer and managed to realise that dream straight from School. Dreams don’t always work out so after two years as a Constable he joined a Paper Merchant and begun to sell paper for a living. After fifteen years in sales and buying he decided to accept voluntary redundancy to work on his new dream of writing.With a daughter that he dotes on, he is a keen cyclist and reluctant runner. An avid reader of just about everything but majoring in Science Fiction and Fantasy his other hobbies include Karate, indoor climbing and arguing alternative points of view.

Book preview

The air was crisp and clean. Valerie sucked in deep lungfuls and exhaled them out in a steady rhythm. The sun shone down from high in the sky. Sweat to ran down her face. She felt it trickle down her back and between her breasts. She pushed herself harder and faster. Her breath rasped in and out, combat boots pounding the dirt trail. Dark hair flowed out behind her and with her arms pumping, she kept increasing her pace.

The track she followed led through the Mishizen national park with Red Bark trees to either side. Set in the foot hills of the Ginormican Mountains, the park was one of the few areas open to all the citizens of Blaze, no matter if they were Privileged or Manual. The park stretched for over twelve thousand square kilometres of tranquil beauty. Through it, Valerie set herself a marathon distance run.

Twenty-five kilometres and over an hour in, she checked her chrono. With a curse Valerie tried to further increase her pace. She was behind her best time by quite a way and was even off her cruising pace. The last two years of inactivity took their toll on her body and she knew it. Her current speed would still beat the official Galactic record, but for what she needed to do, she must to be better. She needed to be at her peak.

In the pounding monotony of the run, Valerie’s mind cast itself back to the day before and the very difficult conversation with Hanna. The girl had just agreed to go to Olympus with Valerie when she raised a difficult subject.

What happened on Furioso? Hanna asked.

Valerie felt the bottom of her stomach drop out of her at those words. She looked up at Hanna from the picture drawn by her daughter. Those bright blue eyes were staring back at her with no give in them. Valerie felt the walls coming up inside her, to close her off from the world. Taking a deep breath Valerie forced them back. She knew she had to tell Hanna the truth.

Hours after my family were murdered I arrived at Furioso. The base was my only way out of the Olympus system. Valerie couldn’t bear to see those eyes any longer and looked away to the floor. I’d been running on instinct and muscle memory. I don’t remember much after I left my home. It wasn’t until I sat on the shuttle heading to Furioso my mind began working again. She paused as the memories assaulted her. Something came over me. Anger, hate, rage. I needed to lash out. To hurt someone as I’d been hurt. As my family had.

Telling this to someone for the first time was harder than anything Valerie did before in her life. She could not look at Hanna and the need for a drink was too powerful to resist. Walking over to her desk, she re-opened the whisky bottle left undrunk only minutes before. The glass sat empty in front of her and she poured a generous serving.

Sitting in her chair she took a large swig before continuing, her gaze staring into the amber liquid.

I needed to hurt them and I knew exactly how I could do it. I had the means and the opportunity. The people didn’t mean anything to me. Soldiers and sailors I worked with for decades. Her voice sounded distant, even to her own ears. They just didn’t matter. I wanted to show them they weren’t invulnerable. There are consequences to their actions.

Who are they? Hanna asked in a calm, quiet voice

The Families! The vehemence and venom in her voice surprised Valerie. Those bastards and bitches who milk everyone dry, so they can keep their power and Privilege. They kill whoever gets in their way and I showed them what can happen. I’ll keep showing them until they’ve paid my price!

No, Hanna stood up from her chair opposite Valerie. She stepped forward, placed her hands on the desk and leaned towards Valerie, who still dare not raise her eyes from her glass.

No more puppets and tools. If I’m going to be there beside you, we go after the masters and not the slaves.

Don’t be naïve, Valerie laughed harshly. Burning hazel eyes met blue. Who do you think those bodyguards were yesterday or the Safelife security personnel? If you go after the Privileged, you go through their Manual defenders.

The fifteen year old’s jaw tightened as she thought it through. She may be young, but she was certainly not stupid. She was probably the smartest person Valerie had met in over a century of life.

Fine. No mass explosions then. If they get caught in the crossfire, I can live with that.

An agreement was reached and it was strange to Valerie, as she pounded the route through the park, she now had a partner. Wherever Hanna went, Valerie knew Deni would be right beside her. Deni and Hanna’s partnership may not have been forged in actual combat, but the Ghettos of Blaze were a crucible capable of forging a relationship just as intense.

There was no way those two friends would be parted.

With Hanna and Deni beside her, there was a real chance of succeeding. More importantly, for the first time in two years, she had something to live for. It would no longer be only her training and experience keeping her alive. Now she had a reason. She would kill those behind the deaths of her family. She was going to bring a war to the Families doorstep. It would be a fight they would not know how to counter. Valerie was the best soldier in the Legion and she was going to show them exactly what that meant.

She needed to be at her physical peak. With her legs burning and heart pounding, she saw the aircar two hundred metres ahead in the clearing. Hanna and Deni were already back, from their much shorter route, and relaxing on the red grass. They turned when they saw her approach. She pushed herself even harder. Her whole body felt like it was on fire and every part of her was flaring with pain. Valerie knew her body, there more to give. She sprinted for the aircar.

Knowing, without looking at her wristcomp’s chrono, she was behind her average time, she still eked out everything her body had left. The looks the girls gave her was not a surprise to Valerie. Hanna only saw her at full speed during the firefight in Safelife’s global headquarters, when she would have had other things on her mind and Deni had never witnessed it. Along with her strength, it was not something Valerie showed to people, but they needed to know.

Crossing the imaginary line Valerie set for herself, she slowed to a walk. The girls were staring at her as she went round in circles, giving her breathing and heart time to slow down to a more normal pace.

That was the marathon route, Deni said, her voice filled with wonder. We didn’t expect you back for at least another hour.

Sitting up, Hanna checked her own wristcomp. That’s not possible, no one can run that fast. Did you take a short cut?

Shaking her head, Valerie started stretching her legs to cool her muscles down.

No. There’s something I need to tell you both, she said, still breathless from the run. Do either of you know anything about genetic engineering?

Both of the girls shook their heads and it did not surprise Valerie in the slightest. While Deni wasn’t as smart as Hanna, no one would ever accuse her of being stupid. The problem was, neither had been through even the basic education system available to the Manuals. They grew up on the streets of Inferno and what they knew was very much specialised in that area.

OK, Valerie continued as she stretched. There are many things the Privileged medical system can do by manipulating human DNA, the building blocks of our bodies, as long as you can afford it. They can remove almost any disease or physical affliction. What they haven’t been able to do is change the basic parameters of the human body. No matter how much the Privileged spend, they really are no different from the rest of humanity. There are two exceptions to this. The Life X drug, which I’m sure you are aware of. With it I’ll live to be around five hundred years old.

Who would want to live that long? questioned Deni with a bitter undertone and Hanna nodded in agreement.

Valerie could only shrug in response. There was nothing she could say.

The second exception is something you wouldn’t have heard about. As far as I know, only nineteen people have this information and will now include the two of you. The girls sat up a bit straighter, their attention obvious. I didn’t come from a normal family and didn’t have a mother or a father. I was bred in a laboratory as part of a super soldier program called Prometheus. It was a complete failure. Out of the thousands upon thousands of children they created, only I survived. They don’t even know why.

Finished with her stretches, Valerie crouched down on the grass by the girls. I’m stronger and faster than any other person on the planet. It’s why I can do what I do. When you couple that with the best training the Legion could give me, for over a hundred years, and more real combat experience than anyone twice my age. It gives me a real edge.

It explains a lot, Hanna said. Everyone has noticed little things that don’t add up.

Yeah, agreed Deni. They were just too scared to say anything. Even Troll.

Did you know any of the other kids? Hanna asked. As usual she got to the heart of the matter.

Nodding, Valerie took a deep breath and composed herself. It wasn’t an easy subject to go into. That seemed to be the way a lot of her conversations went with Hanna.

Yes. They kept us together. I was in a crèche with forty other kids. I only know that because I was able to read some of the reports on my upbringing later on. What I actually remember is there being lots of other children about, Valerie paused for a moment. This was not something she had spoken about for decades and then, only to the psychiatrist that the commanding officer of the Prometheus program insisted she attend, prior to joining the Legion officially.

The other kids would get sick and disappear one by one. I remember on our fifth birthday there were only six of us left. The next year, it was just me. I knew then my time was up and I would follow my sisters and brothers. Valerie’s mind took her back to those days, over a hundred years before, and the memories were vividly distinct.

As each day passed, I was sure I would die, but days became weeks, weeks became months and finally years. They poked, prodded and tested me. I lost count of how many scans I went through and how much blood they took from me. They did everything they could to find out why I lived and no one else did. They never found the reason.

Hanna and Deni sat there, not saying anything. Valerie could see them considering what they had been through and her life. They always presumed Valerie grew up in the wealth and luxury, born to the life of the Privileged. Now they saw her in a somewhat different light.

What about your children? Surely you would have passed on your enhancements to them, pointed out Hanna a bit hesitantly.

Valerie smiled slightly. "Biologically they weren’t mine. We used my husband Tom’s sperm and an anonymous donor’s eggs. They were then carried to term in an artificial womb. I can’t have children. My body doesn’t produce eggs. It was felt safer to not expose them to my unique physiology.

Tom didn’t know why and he respected my request to not ask questions. The smile came back to her. He was a good man.

Deni handed a bottle of water to Valerie. So that’s your story.

A small part of it, yes. It’s important you don’t tell anyone this and that includes the Crew. As you said, they have their suspicions, but they can’t know the truth.

Hanna nodded. Alright, I can see why.

It won’t make much difference, Deni said with a shrug. We’re going to Olympus soon.

True, but you never know what the future may hold and you could come back later. She didn’t need to say what was on all of their minds. It was very unlikely Valerie would survive her crusade.

CHAPTER TWO

Hanna sat with her feet up on the comfy sofa. She took in the living area of the flat she now lived in with Deni. This one room could have fit their previous place in three or four times. With the money they earned on Sneaker’s Crew, it was a no brainer to move out. They left moving for six months after joining, so they could concentrate on the work and save the cash.

They then bought this place outright. It helped of course, Sneaker originally buying it as part of his purchase of the Dawning Sun. He sold it to them without adding the appreciation his opening of the casino caused. It wasn’t completely out of the goodness of his heart and Hanna knew it. It was in Sneaker’s interest to have two of his main Crew living above their base.

The girls could have even afforded to have their own places, but neither broached the idea and Hanna was sure she didn’t want to live alone. She knew her best friend very well and recognised neither did Deni. The two of them had been through too much to split up now. It was nice to have their own rooms and especially their own beds.

Hanna struggled to sleep at first, in her massive and very comfortable bed. It was so strange, not to be forced to lie still all night, so she would not wake her friend. There was also the chance of bashing her arm against the wall or falling off their former narrow bed, depending on whose turn it was to sleep by the edge. It took over a month of sleepless nights for Hanna to get over it. Now she luxuriated in the extra space, often waking to find she turned during the night and she was lengthways across its expanse.

Life had been good for the last year, the best Hanna could remember, even before her parents died. Now they would be heading off planet, to another star system completely. Hanna had only left the city of Inferno a couple of times and never Blaze itself. It was with those thoughts she contemplated the Mag pistol in her hand. It was unloaded with the magazine on a table, in easy reach off to one side, just as Valerie taught her.

She’d never needed to fire the weapon at an actual person. On the Crew’s Jobs, it was down to Valerie and the Enforcers. Hanna was a Hacker and a Thief, but Valerie made sure she and Deni knew how to fight. They were included in the woman’s strict training regime, mandatory for all of Sneaker’s Enforcers. Hanna lost count of the amount of rounds she fired in the target range, on the practise floor below, with its moving virtual targets, and in the simulator. If they weren’t actively on a Job, then Valerie insisted on an hour weapons training every day.

Hanna knew she was a good shot and on any other Crew, she would be counted amongst the best. In Sneaker’s, she was only one of the best, if you discounted the Enforcers. The question on Hanna’s mind was, could she actually do it? Could she kill someone?

Hey, Hanna. You here? Deni called from the front door.

Yeah. In the lounge, Hanna called back and Deni came in with numerous bags in her arms.

What’ve you been up to? Hanna asked.

Let me think, Deni replied in a distinctly sarcastic tone. I’ve been painting the outside of the building. Sneaker moaned it’s too shabby outside. He wants to attract better clientele to the bar and casino.

Ha. Alright, fair enough. You’ve been shopping. What’ve you got? Hanna loaded the magazine into the pistol, set the safety and placed it on the table before swinging her legs off the sofa.

Clothes for Olympus, dumping half of the bags in Hanna’s lap. I pulled holos from the datanet of what people are wearing in the Ghettos and Towers. The high end stuff I got Trovare to get her hands on. The rest I picked up from around here. Trovare was Sneaker’s Procurer and specialised in getting hold of whatever the gang needed. Often including clothes the Privileged would wear for Jobs and Heists.

Good idea. Hanna looked though the various bags and pulled some of the clothes out to have a look. It’ll be easier if we’re ready to go as soon Sneaker manages to get a ride together for us. I don’t think Valerie will want to wait around.

True, and besides, I wasn’t busy sitting and staring at my gun. Deni said as she sat down on a comfy chair matching the sofa.

You caught that, eh?

Yep, and the other three times you’ve been doing it. What’s on your mind?

It’s five actually.

Deni just raised her eyebrows. Fine, it’s five, don’t try and divert me. What’s up?

Sighing, Hanna knew she would not be able to get round it, without asking Deni flat out to drop the subject, and she didn’t think she wanted to. If she couldn’t talk about it to Deni, who else was there?

It’s leaving Blaze. There’s a real possibility we won’t be coming back, even if we do survive Valerie’s crusade. She got me thinking I have unfinished business.

Ah. Cest, Deni said with an understanding nod.

Got it in one. Hanna picked up the pistol again, automatically ejected the magazine, which went straight back onto the table. How can I leave after what he did to my Mum? Hanna could feel the tears at the edges of her eyes.

I hate to say this, Hanna, but is it worth it? Is she worth it?

Hanna shrugged. "I don’t know. It was never like Valerie’s family. We lived in a tiny flat. Dad was a Whore who got killed by one of his Jane’s. Mum was so high she didn’t even notice the body for a week. I tried to move him, but he was too heavy and I was too small. Mum wouldn’t listen to me.

Life was shit. I know. I’d never say otherwise, but you know sometimes, just sometimes, Mum would be clean and she’d hug me, call me beautiful. Everything would be right for a day or even an hour. He took that away. Cest didn’t have to kill her. So she puked on his car? What does that matter? It’s because of him I ended up with Tern. Why shouldn’t he pay for it?

I can’t argue with you, Hanna. If there was a chance to do something about my people, I’d take it, but Granddad couldn’t tell me who it was, so there’s nothing I can do. I will say this. Ask Valerie. She’d do it without a thought and Cest would be dead within an hour. If not her, then Troll and Barney, you know they’d take the contract and only charge you a night’s beer in the Sun.

I can’t ask Valerie. After the last month, if a dark haired woman Enforcer leaves another pile of bodies, particularly this close to home, we’ll have the Police breathing down our necks. As for Troll and Barney, Sneaker would never go for it. The last thing he wants is a Gang war, certainly not with Valerie about to leave. They’re too high profile and everyone knows they’re on Sneaker’s Crew. Cest’s Boss would have to declare war.

So what then? Deni demanded. You can’t just walk in there and shoot him. They’d see you coming a klick off. You’d be dead before you were anywhere near him.

Don’t you think I know that? Hanna ran both of her hands through her long, light brown hair in exasperation. It’s why I’ve been sitting here this whole time. I’ve been trying to come up with some sort of plan. Some way in and I can’t think of anything. I can’t leave with this still undone!

Sitting forward, Deni rubbed her face with her hands. Alright then, she chewed her lip as she always did while she was thinking. We run this like any other Job. Valerie wants us to step up, so we step up. I’ll case Cest’s joint. You Hack whatever system he has. We get our info, then we plan the Job. Do you think we can get into the Ops room while Valerie’s not about?

The Operations room was right next to Valerie’s office, but she was off doing her marathon runs every day.

Yeah. Valerie keeps Sneaker and me in the loop on her movements. That’ll be easy.

Deni stood. OK, I’ll head out now. Cest doesn’t know me and I haven’t been over to the Incesu estate for years. It should be safe enough. I’ll do an over-night and crash in one of the squats nearby. Meet back in the morning?

Yeah, thanks, Hanna said as she got up. I’ll get down to my office and start my systems running.

Nodding Deni headed to her room. Don’t mention it. I need to get changed into street clothes and get my gear. Make sure you have the coffee ready when I get back.

No fear there. Deni?

The auburn haired girl turned back to her friend. Yeah?

Be careful.

Smiling, Deni nodded seriously. I will.

***

Leaning back in her chair, Hanna rubbed her eyes and looked at her screen’s chrono. It read 5.34 am and she knew she needed sleep. Her programs and worms were busy all night, teasing information out of any system in and around Cest’s building. Stretching her arms above her head, Hanna couldn’t stifle the yawn engulfing her.

For probably the hundredth time, her eyes strayed to the icon set at the top left hand corner, a heart with a time stamp next to it. Unable to make a com call, in case she blew her cover, Deni was instead inputting a code into her wristcomp. It triggered a simple signal, disguised as a data check, to Hanna’s system and told her, her friend was still alive.

The time currently read 3.46 am and it was the longest interval Deni hadn’t checked in. Hanna hoped it was because she decided to get some sleep and for no other reason. The sun was due to come up any minute and wake Deni. If she didn’t hear by 6.00 am Hanna would send Valerie and to blazes with the consequences.

Trying to put it out of her mind, Hanna reviewed what she found. There was a true wealth of information and, if the Inferno PD gave a Tofu’s ass what happened in the Ghettos, Hanna had enough to put Cest away for life. Stuff like financial information on his operation, who his suppliers were and even a list of clients. The idiot went as far as recording some of the beatings he gave those customers who didn’t pay.

So much information, but Hanna wasn’t sure if there was anything she could use to kill him. There he was more circumspect. He never dealt directly with the actual customers, unless it was to enforce his will. All the deals were done by the runners and holders watched over by Enforcers. Cest didn’t come out of his building very often and Hanna could see no pattern to it.

Something tickled her brain and she wasn’t sure what. There was something in what she had just been considering and her brain, in its tired state, was trying to tell her. The Enforcers. That was it. Hanna pulled the names she obtained from Cest’s files, cross referencing them with their own people. There. Shade worked with two of Cest’s people previously, Barclay and Twilight. It was a very good idea of Sneaker’s to get full back ground information from everyone, particularly who they ran with in the past.

Checking the roster, Hanna smiled when she saw the wily old fox was on duty upstairs, watching over the Dawning Sun. Glancing again at the heart icon, it still had not changed from 3.46 am. Tightening her jaw in worry, Hanna was about to head upstairs, when it blinked once and changed to 5.46 am.

Hanna let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding. Now things seemed to heading in the right direction she left her office. A glance across the hall confirmed Valerie was not in. She was probably at her small flat across the road, in bed. Hurrying up the stairs from the basement, Hanna went through the security door and into the dark and dingy bar.

Tatiana had the overnight shift and the bartender nodded to Hanna as she approached the bar.

Early or late today, Hanna? she asked pleasantly.

Late one. I’ve been up all night checking over some programs. Can I have two coffees please? Deni’s been up as well and should be back soon.

No problem. To take away or staying in?

In. We’ll be downstairs. Tatiana nodded and turned away to the coffee machine. Hanna looked around. Shade sat in the booth reserved for whichever Enforcer was on duty. The slight grey haired man, saw her looking at him and cocked his head inquisitively.

Trying for a mildly surprised expression, as though she had not expected him to be there, but glad he was, Hanna went over.

Hi Shade. I’m glad I bumped into you. There was something I wanted to talk to you about.

Of course. Anything for the Bosses. He waved her to the seat opposite and Hanna blushed slightly as she sat down. She was widely regarded as the number three in the gang, after Sneaker and Valerie. It was not something she was really comfortable with.

Erm, well... Sneaker asked me to do some background checks for the recruitment drive. Your name came up against a couple of people. What can you tell me about Twilight and Barclay? They were currently trying to expand their pool of Enforcers and it seemed a good cover story.

Really? Shade leaned back and rubbed his stubbled grey chin. Twilight and Barclay? his eyes clearly said he wasn’t buying it. Hanna tried to keep her expression to one of an earnest worker doing what her Boss told her. Not that she really had any experience of earnest work, so she could see why it wasn’t working.

Weellll. I couldn’t recommend either of them. A twinkle in the man’s eyes told Hanna he was willing to play along. There’s no way Carter would sign them off, that’s for sure.

They’re no good then? It was difficult to keep the hope out of her voice.

I didn’t say that, Shade shook his head. They get the job done, but Twilight’s too brutal and will often go too far. Barclay just doesn’t have any discipline. Both can shoot and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. It’s been a while, but when I ran with them, they both weren’t shy about using Fuzz either. Neither Coca or Poppy plants could grow on Blaze, but the original colonists soon found native plants that worked just as well. The two most common drugs were Blank and Fuzz.

You’re right, Valerie wouldn’t go for them. Thanks, Shade. He smiled back at her as she left the booth. Picking up the coffees from the bar, she thanked to Tatiana and headed downstairs.

Placing Deni’s coffee to one side, Hanna got back to work with renewed vigour, to see if she could find any other bit of useful information. She was so engrossed, the time went by without her realising. She almost jumped out of her chair when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

Whoa, Hanna. How many have you had?

Blazes, Deni! Hanna practically shouted. Don’t sneak up on me like that! Deni stood there with her coffee in hand. Fortunately the mug was still sealed and didn’t spill everywhere.

Yeah I was sneaking. Hah. You were in your zone. A bomb would‘ve gone off without you noticing.

Alright, alright and it’s my first if you must know.

Deni dropped into one of the other chairs and propped her feet up on the desk.

You and your worries. Caffeine isn’t Fuzz you know. It’s perfectly safe to drink a whole three or four cups a day.

You can talk, Hanna shot back. I know you’re still sleeping on the roof at least one night a week. Did you find a nice comfy spot?

I like to sleep outdoors on occasion, replied Deni with a shrug. So what? That’s something I like about our new place. Windows.

You have yours open all the time don’t you, Hanna said smiling.

I love the breeze as I sleep. How did you get on? Find anything we can use?

I found lots of things, but I don’t know if any of it’s useful yet. What about you?

The same, I think, Deni stretched and yawned loudly. How about we type up our notes and get some sleep. After we’re rested, and our brains are back up to speed, we can go over each other’s stuff and see what we can come up with.

That’s a good plan. I’ve set the maps, holopics and names I’ve found, on that terminal. You can tag whatever you saw for your report.

Excellent, Deni dropped her feet back onto the floor and swung round to the terminal. The girls got to work.

***

Six hours later, they were back in Hanna’s office, reading through what the other found. The remains of a thirty centimetre long bacon, egg and sausage baguette, sat in front of each of them. Hanna finished Deni’s report and leaned back. She thought through what she read and compared it to her own findings.

He’s good, Deni said from the other chair.

Yeah. No way would he have been able to survive for over twenty years if he wasn’t.

He’s stayed as a Dealer though. Hasn’t moved up to a Boss. Most people his age are either dead or running things, like Sneaker.

He must have done something wrong or he isn’t trusted enough, Hanna mused. If we were going after his territory, whatever it was would be useful, but it’s too long term for me.

Yeah.

Drumming her fingernails on the desk, Hanna stared at the blank wall in front of her.

OK. Let’s look at what we do know. Entering a couple of commands, she projected a map of the Incesu estate onto the wall. Here’s the estate, housing only and Cest has full control of the drug trade inside. It backs onto the Workhardt mega factory, where most of the residents work, and has the speedway buffering it on one side with the power relay on the other.

Deni leaned forward in her chair. Right, so it only has three access points for wheelies and they’re all on the one side. There’s a pedestrian entrance to the factory, but with their security, he wouldn’t be getting them involved. Can you put the Stash and Bank houses up?

Yep, here we go. There they are, at opposite ends of the estate. Product goes into the Stash once a week. Money leaves the Bank just as regularly, but on a different day.

From what I saw, the holders would get the drugs from the Stash. Junkies gave their money to the runners before going to the holders to pick up their fix. Enforcers collected the cash from the runners regularly. At the end to the day, it was all deposited at the Bank. I didn’t see Cest come out at any point. He didn’t need to.

We can’t go in. He’ll be too heavily protected, Hanna said shaking her head. We need to draw him out. What’s most important to him?

Stash house and the Bank. It’s where most of his unsecured cash is.

Again too heavily protected. Even if we had the full Crew, we’d be spotted as soon as we entered the estate. One or two can get around there disguised, but more newcomers than that will get noticed.

You’re right. What about the shipments? Do you know when they would be coming in or leaving?

Both are logged on Cest’s systems as historical records, Hanna said. But the drugs delivery days and times are randomised. He didn’t leave it on his computer.

Could you crack whatever sequence he was using?

I ran it through and with these babies, Hanna waved at the powerful servers lining the walls. They would have been able to find it, but nothing came up. I think he’s using a true randomiser and if he holds enough product in his Stash, he could work with deliveries right next to each other or two weeks apart.

And the cash? I bet his Boss doesn’t like it on such a loose schedule.

Smiling, Hanna nodded. Yep, that was using an alternating algorithm. I had it cracked in an hour. What’re you thinking? We still don’t have the bodies to hit that.

I heard a little rumour while I was out and about?

And the rumour was? Hanna was forced to ask when Deni paused.

Gutshot is back in town.

Hanna frowned. Gutshot was a lone operator. A rare breed, who specialised in robbing from the gangs, the Dealers and Pimps in particular. The price on his head was huge, but no one dared go after him. His rep was even worse than Valerie’s. She was undoubtedly better, but Gutshot had been in the Blaze underworld for much longer and covered more ground.

He would move from city to city, hitting the most disreputable Dealers and Pimps, and be gone before he pushed the Bosses too far. There were stories of him walking up to Banks or Stash houses and the Enforcers handing over the goods without a fight. They preferred to take their chances with their Boss, rather than go up against Gutshot.

Damn, he is one confident bastard. I guess he heard about Tumbler and Gaunt then. Tumbler was Gutshot’s last hit before getting out of Inferno. Even he didn’t wanted Gaunt tracking him. What’s your plan, Deni? Ask him to go after Cest?

No. I was thinking more of a distraction. One of Gutshot’s main plays is to rob the shipments with a ram raid, right?

Hanna nodded.

What if I hit the cash delivery, but that’s all I do. A straight hit and run. Cest will have to respond. Nothing’s been taken, but he can’t afford to take any chances. He’ll have to send his best Enforcers, who he normal keeps with him as guards, to sort it out while he explains the late delivery to his boss. I saw Barclay and Twilight at Cest’s building and if they’re the best he has. Deni knew what Shade told Hanna and she didn’t keep the scorn out of her voice. He’ll have to send them. The others wouldn’t stand a chance against Gutshot.

I see where you’re going with this. Cest will have heard the rumours, just as you have, and think it’s a botched raid. It does happen. He won’t want to expose himself to someone with that reputation. Not without much better Enforcers.

Exactly. Do you think you can get close enough to him, before I hit their shipment, to take advantage when the shit hits the fan?

Hanna nodded. That, I think I can do. I’m a Thief after all

CHAPTER THREE

The cold of the night was biting Hanna sat curled up in front of a building on the street. The clothes she wore, to blend in with the homeless of Incesu, were not up to the task of keeping her warm. It took Deni and Hanna an hour to create her disguise. She smiled behind the limp greasy hair hanging over her face.

She was getting soft. After only three hours, she was already regretting it and wondering how Deni did it on a regular basis as the Crew’s Scout. A year ago, Hanna considered the narrow bed they shared as the lap of luxury. She would not have thought twice about sleeping rough. Many times, when scouting the Jobs Tern gave her, she had done just that.

Despite her numb arse, and having to concentrate on her teeth not chattering, Hanna’s gaze never wavered from the building across the road. It was identical to all the other permacrete blocks on this estate, three floors high and made up of dozens of flats. Several lights were on, spread across the different floors, and Hanna already knew her entrance point.

Cest had not bothered with cameras here. There was nothing to steal and, if anyone was coming after him directly, he relied on the residents of the estate to warn him. He was a bastard but he was their bastard, without which they would have their different fixes of drugs interrupted, so they protected him. Such was human nature.

In the back of Hanna’s mind, she was keeping a count. This close to Cest, she didn’t dare wear her wristcomp. She relied on the rhythm of the street with her own internal clock to pick the right time. The time was now. In a slow stuttering movement, she stumbled to her feet.

Using what she learned from watching her mother and countless other junkies, she shambled seemingly aimlessly across the street. An Enforcer stepped out of the doorway of the building. The woman didn’t draw her weapon. They might not be very good, but they were alert. Hanna didn’t give any indication she saw the woman, nor did she change her pace or course towards the alley in front of her.

At three metres distance, Hanna started to hike up the skirt she was wearing, in the imitation of someone about to go for a piss in the dark alley. Out of the corner of her eye, Hanna saw the Enforcer step back inside, hopefully happy Hanna wasn’t a threat. It was her third visit to the alley. The previous two times she did exactly as the Enforcer expected, so Hanna knew it was a dead end. More importantly, she knew it was also her way in.

As her earlier visits, the windows facing the alley were all dark and sealed shut. Crouching down, Hanna reached underneath as though she was going to pull down her underwear, but instead unhooked her equipment. Strapped to the small of her back and to her thighs, were her Mag pistol, wristcomp, equipment pouch and grappling gun. The Mag pistol, in its holster, attached itself to her innocent looking, but expensive belt with the pouch. The wristcomp went on her wrist and she stood up with the grappling gun in hand.

Much easier to use than her old hook and line, she didn’t need to worry about tech sensors. Hanna targeted the roof of the building. The gun automatically scanned a four square metre area in the direction she was aiming, calculating the best place to attach itself. A small green light blinked twice on the sight to tell her it was ready.

With a gentle squeeze of the trigger, the gun fired its grapple up into the dark. A second green light confirmed it found a secure hold and Hanna attached it to her belt. Another pull of the trigger started it reeling in slowly and Hanna walked up the wall. A grav-belt would have been easier and faster, but they were all in the main armoury. Sneaker and Valerie were notified whenever it was accessed. It would have caused embarrassing questions.

Keeping an eye on the windows she passed in case someone looked out, Hanna crept up the wall. Near the top, she stopped the grapple and stepped sideways to a window. Like the others, it was closed and locked. It was not going to stop a professional thief. In her pouch was a set of glass cutters and she slipped them out. The window wasn’t technically made of glass, but another silicone derivative and wasn’t nearly so fragile. Everyone still referred to it by the age old name.

The laser cutter sliced easily through and a small tool attached the glass to her hand, stopping the large piece from falling in as she completed her cut. Putting the cutter away, she lowered the glass to the floor inside using the tool’s wire extension. Deactivating it, she wound it in and slipped the tool back into her pouch.

Using the grappling gun, she swung gently into the room and lowered herself softly to the floor. With the gun safely stowed away, she drew her pistol and checked the wristcomp’s chrono. She was a little early, but hopefully not too much. Deni would be doing her part in a little under thirty minutes. Now she had to check out the building as best she could, find Cest and, more importantly, somewhere to hide until it was time.

With only the light leaking in from outside, Hanna could barely see the room. Cursing in her head she wasn’t able to bring the combat goggles enabling her to see, Hanna moved carefully. The dark shape of a bed loomed out of the darkness. Hanna sighed in relief to find it was unoccupied.

Edging her way around the bed, she made it to the door. Like much of the Ghetto, it was a swing version with hinges and a mechanical handle. The door was closed, but not locked and Hanna eased it open. Outside was a corridor only dimly lit by a couple of faint lights. Hanna stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Moving on the balls of her feet, she tested each step carefully, checking for the slightest creak that may give her away. A door was ajar just ahead with a light on inside. Cautiously, Hanna looked in to see Twilight on her bed reading a datapad. Slowly, so as not to attract attention, she moved out of sight before slipping past. Doors led off down the corridor to, what Hanna presumed were more bedrooms.

This was not where Hanna wanted to be. Cest could well be in one of these rooms, but it was much too dangerous to try and search them all. A stairwell sat at the end and Hanna went towards it. She was just passing a door, when she heard a sound and it began to open. With nowhere to hide in the open corridor, Hanna ducked into the room opposite.

As she closed the door, she briefly caught sight of a man exiting the room. He was still in the process of doing up his trousers. Some sort of communal toilet or bathroom she supposed. The room she found herself in was pitch black, the only light, a faint glow from under the door. A loud noise behind her caused Hanna’s heart to race, but she was too experienced to let it show. There was no sense of movement and she calmed slightly, realising it was someone snoring.

Whoever was in the bed behind her, sounded massive and she dare not move. Listening, in what felt like the hardest she ever had in her life, Hanna tried to get the rhythm. It took a few seconds, but it was there. She waited until it went to the full chainsaw of inhalation and cracked the door open.

The corridor was empty and she slipped out. Closing the door silently behind her, she made it to the stairs without incident. There were sounds of voices and music coming up from the ground floor. Whoever was on the night shift of Cest’s Enforcers, must be down there