The Venality Effect: Voidline

By James E Taris

Following a trail of bodies from world to world, Anti-Corruption Commission investigator Ellie Reece continues to try and track down the mysterious, nameless Faceless Men.

Ellie’s investigation leads her to tracking down the survivors of the fallen Dé Oesté family from Iredi to the Ghio Biworld—an immense stellar-scale megastructure that is home to billions of people descended from gengineered human ancestors.

The continuing attacks from the Faceless Men and their One Fang Skull Gang have opened rifts within the largest criminal organizations.

Opportunistic subordinates have taken to challenging the rightful successors, defying traditions and unwritten laws that had ensured stability for decades. The power plays begin, and cracks appear.

The Faceless Men seize upon the divisions.

Fallen gangsters scheme with one another as they try to hunt down one of the most dangerous assassins of the One Fang Skull Gang. They are in turn hunted.

Drawn into the underworld conflict, Ellie uncovers the suspected financial backer of the One Fang Skull Gang. Thinking this alleged backer might know the identities of the gang’s dual leaders, she heads for the world of Beremacia at the edge of the starless Scorpii Void. On Beremacia, the investigation reveals more interested parties who have become involved and now have complicated matters.

Chased across Beremacia and diverted by those who have an ulterior interest in the outcome of the underworld war, Ellie is eventually led to Voidline Station deep inside the empty Scorpii Void. Here she is forced to contend with information brokers, who all have their own agendas. Inevitably, the fractured leaders of the underworld finally decide to settle their disputes permanently.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Feb 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796000177

Book preview

Chapter One

THE FIRST HIDEOUT

I appreciate the lift, Ellie Reece said as she looked out the window of the front passenger seat. The car cruised westwards through the medium–sized coastal city of Karocrídos. Located less than five hundred kilometres north of the equator this city was within the dangerous equatorial rainforest belt.

I figured you hadn’t fully mastered the left–hand steering, right–hand traffic configuration on this planet, James de Falco said.

I’m sort of getting use to it, Ellie replied. This comment was factual, although on her homeworld the traffic configuration and steering controls were opposite to the configuration on Iredi, she really didn’t want to drive, considering she did not know the destination.

The police commissioner back in Araunás announced the formation of a special task force to investigate the Dé Oesté murders, de Falco said conversationally.

As they would after a massacre, Ellie muttered. She had missed the news during her brief stay in hospital.

The local media are calling it a gang war, de Falco said.

They need to call it something to grab the headlines.

They’ve been saying the trans–galactic One Fang Skull Cartel is waging war against rival syndicates.

Fascinating. I assumed you had left Iredi before the Faceless Man wiped out Dé Oesté, Ellie said.

I changed my mind.

When?

When I was sitting in the spaceport terminal café watching the news, de Falco replied.

How circumstances change suddenly and unexpectedly, Ellie thought.

I heard your injuries were the result of a fight, de Falco said.

Car accident actually, Ellie lied. She knew he would have tracked her to the hospital and sniffed around for details. However, medical records are confidential so whatever snooping he did would have resulted in nothing more than speculative rumours.

Car accident? De Falco asked sceptically. I suppose that explains the two different types of enhancement nano they pumped out of your body.

Ellie recalled the experience. She had stolen a batch of Alvardo Dé Oesté’s illegal enhancement nano when she fled his skyscraper board room after the Faceless Man had set fire to it. At the time she felt the nano might suppress the pain from the injuries she had sustained in her fight with the Faceless Man. The enhancers did assist in her failed pursuit of him (or her, or it, Ellie was still unsure).

I get the impression there is something you are not telling me, Elektra, de Falco said.

Please, just Ellie, She collected an energy drink can from the small portable car fridge.

That crap is not good for you, Elektra. In this climate you should be drinking water, de Falco chided.

Where are we going anyway? Ellie asked. She found the six hundred kilometre drive south to the equator both unusual and pointless. The Faceless Man and his gang of murderous thugs had left Iredi over a week ago.

You’ll see, it’s not far now, de Falco said.

They drove to the edge of the city and into an industrial estate. Lining the road huge biochemical and pharmacology plants processed the lethal rainforest plants and animals into various products.

Ellie looked at the surrounding buildings as de Falco turned northwards onto another busy arterial road. She noticed this part of Iredi had it’s own distinctive culture. The result of the local inhabitants living for millennia in an extremely hot climate. All the buildings had air conditioning systems and internal piping that pumped coolant through every level. Windows with glass were generally small as glass tended to trap heat. Mesh and force fields were in common use for covering open areas and for repelling rain, which fell frequently.

As for the people, it was clear their clothing was also designed for the oppressive heat with many fabrics sporting nanotubes filled with coolant inside their fibres. Some people literally wore nothing other than skimpy coverings for the genital regions and holographic attire for the rest of the body. Both Ellie and de Falco wore the standard tropical attire worn by people back in the capital. Consequently they both sweated heavily and reeked of sweat induced body odour. Ellie reasoned, too late, that she was feeling overheated in just a short mini skirt, bare legs and a simple red shirt. She should have paid more attention to the section on climate in Captain D’Ambra’s starship database.

It must have been worse for de Falco in his trousers and sweat–soaked business shirt. The man did not seem to care either way, yet he had worked on Boraydis, and that world was hotter than Iredi.

At the next intersection Ellie saw a large flatbed truck pass carrying the tan coloured body of some gigantic, bloated reptilian creature on it. The slabs of armour covering the dead beast were lined randomly with stubby tubes that came up out of the armour, the face had a long snout with upward tusks over three meters in height. Standing around holding onto the safety railings were several armed men and women, all dressed in pink, purple and red camouflage clothing.

Hunters, Ellie mumbled as the vehicle carrying the kill drove past.

A very dangerous occupation in this part of the world, de Falco replied.

What is that thing they’re carrying?

Its called a Marácapá, a very dangerous beast that lives in rivers and lakes deep inside the rainforest. I’d say they’d lost a few bringing it down, de Falco replied.

Wildlife control? Ellie asked.

Strictly set hunting quotas, de Falco replied. The tubes on its armour are filled with some type of natural anti–carcinogenic narcotic.

The hunters look like they’ve returned from a war.

Down here the cities and towns are surrounded by walls with the freeways and railways linking them either underground or elevated above the tree–line. The rainforests around here are extremely dangerous. The plants and animals are generally carnivorous and universally hostile. Yet, many useful products are produced by them. Hence the reason for the exploitation of the rainforest. It is extremely profitable, despite the high cost in lives, de Falco said.

I’m sure we won’t need to go into the rainforest, Ellie muttered. The thought of even approaching the edge of the forest without serious fire–power made her feel uneasy.

No we won’t…I hope, de Falco said. He turned westward at the next intersection and continued towards an area of docks lining the broad slow flowing river. Turning south at the next T–intersection he drove past rows of warehouses and small factories until the next intersection.

Far to go? Ellie asked.

Just around the corner, de Falco replied. He turned west again and pulled up out the front of one of the four warehouses next to one of the docks along the river. On the opposite bank of the river was the thick pink and purple coloured rainforest.

We’re here, de Falco said as he parked the car out the front of the closed loading dock door of the second warehouse.

They both got out of the car together and Ellie followed de Falco to the office door on the right of the loading dock access. She waited patiently for him to unlock the door and deactivate the alarm system.

The first hiding place of the Faceless Man when he arrived on this planet, de Falco said. He unlocked the door and opened it. This way.

And you know this little fact…how? Ellie asked as she followed him inside the dark musty smelling office.

Do you remember when we had our meeting in that museum back on Usinnia?

Yes, that was when you first told me you were working for Carys Murdoch, Ellie replied.

Do you recall asking me if I had received a tip–off from an unknown caller who went to great lengths to remain anonymous?

Yes, you said this caller had spoken to an associate of yours, Ellie replied.

Well, the caller called again, de Falco said.

I find that very convenient, Ellie said.

So do I.

Ellie looked around the office and noticed it was nothing special. One black glass desk with orange and yellow lights and interfaces from optronic circuitry. An old black leather chair and a wall unit filled with orange coloured optronic datatubes. Even the pictures on the wall appeared to be on the cheap side of decorations. Bland and utilitarian, it was typical of any factory manager’s office.

The caller said to come to this address and to only bring you.

Strange, why this place? Ellie muttered back. And why me?

This warehouse is owned by one of Alvardo Dé Oesté’s front companies.

Go on.

This was the first place where the Faceless Man attacked Dé Oesté’s people right after landing on Iredi, de Falco replied.

How did the caller find you? Ellie asked.

That I don’t know, de Falco replied, his tone sounding outright concerned.

Back at the museum when we discussed this I thought another interested party might be involved, Ellie said.

You might be right, de Falco muttered. He then tapped his finger on several optronic interfaces in the surface of the desk to activate the holographic computer system.

Ellie walked over to the wall and leaned up against it with her arms folded over her chest. I take it the anonymous caller provided you with instructions on what to do when we arrived?

Just what I’m doing now, de Falco replied. He tapped out a sequence of letters and numbers on the holographic interface floating above the desk.

This is all very convenient. He gets a call telling him to bring me to this dump, Ellie thought as she watched him. Now he has security codes for something already in the computer…or placed in it after the Faceless Man had finished with the local Dé Oesté people…

Nearly done, I’ve just got to access the right file… de Falco muttered.

Let me guess—he’s hidden it for some stupid reason, Ellie thought. I do recall this anonymous caller, if its the same one, claimed people in the I.C.A were backing the Faceless Man, although he sent no proof to back up his accusations, Ellie said.

He told the people who passed on the message to me the same thing, de Falco said.

Ah, yes, your associates. Do they have names? Ellie asked.

Narti Eynan and Yeli Sile, de Falco replied. You’ve never met them.

Smugglers?

No, de Falco answered. The yellow holographic computer screen’s border changed to orange. Ah, here it is.

What? Ellie asked.

Seems to be taking its time, de Falco said as he examined the floating screen. Transmission, he finally said.

Transmission? Ellie asked as she walked over and examined the holographic computer display, Its in Iõasyo, do you understand it?

No, I don’t, de Falco said.

Ellie read the words on the screen, Its says you’ve sent a confirmation signal and now it is waiting for an incoming transmission from orbit.

So, he’s here, the mysterious caller who likes to send messages through third parties, de Falco said.

Much like Montoya and Seedy Jones, Ellie added.

The screen activated and like the previous messages it was jet black and the voice distorted. So, you two survived. I am surprised.

We’re hard to kill, de Falco replied dryly.

Especially when you avoid direct confrontation, the anonymous contact replied.

You can’t fight what you can’t find, Ellie said to the caller.

You confronted him, and lost, but that was to be expected, the caller said.

I did not lose, Ellie snapped back.

So where is he then, Elektra Reece?

I was hoping you might know, Mr Nameless.

You appear to have a vested interest in the Faceless Man, de Falco said in a suspicious tone.

The first one has just eradicated the Dé Oesté Family and will soon move on to attack Silas Murdoch. The second Faceless Man will soon move against Harrison Carver and finally Alexander Cartier, the nameless caller replied confidently.

He might have trouble against Carver, Ellie said.

Only because you warned him.

Two Faceless Men? De Falco asked.

I did try and tell you that, Ellie said to de Falco.

Two—one with the orange visor and the other with the blue, the caller replied.

So, who are they? Ellie asked.

Speculate, Elektra Reece, after all, you did fight one of them, or at least you tried to.

You seem well informed of recent events, Ellie said accusingly.

Dé Oesté was intelligent enough to have his building security system constructed with a back–up recording system, but not intelligent enough to have adequate computer security programs. Instead, the fool put too much faith in the artificial intelligence system running the building, assuming it was like the computer cores aboard starships. Access was laughably easy, the images very entertaining.

He, or she bleeds red blood, Ellie said.

Yes I know, I saw the Faceless Man limping after you had stabbed him in the leg.

Bastard was going to throw me out a fifty story window, Ellie replied dryly.

Of course, but in the end he beat you up pretty quickly. He would have killed you with that sword of his, but decided to do it by fire, probably out of his need to be vindictive.

The latter, Ellie replied.

What is your interest in all this? De Falco asked, I am really curious to know.

Take a look at the broader implications of the Faceless Men’s activities, the caller suggested.

You are being evasive, Ellie said. You or your employer must have some vested interest in the activities of the Faceless Man, or Men, otherwise you would not have called the Anti–Corruption Commission to drip feed bits of vague information…like you are doing right now.

The caller responded by playing back the audio recording of the brief discussion Ellie had with the Faceless Man back in Dé Oesté’s board room.

Well since you’re the private eye how about you tell me

Nice audio, but it still fails to explain your interest in this, de Falco said.

Perhaps, then again, you should look closer at your own client, Mr de Falco, the caller replied.

Carys scheming behind Daddy’s back, I can’t say I’m surprised, Ellie commented dryly.

De Falco gave Ellie a rather nasty look of disapproval.

She is not the only one plotting and scheming, the caller sneered. As we speak, Captain Pendleton and Robert Salt had been gathering up all the smaller smuggling gangs and independent captains in secret.

It is no longer a secret, Ellie said.

Needless to say, Murdoch, Cartier and Carver are not too pleased about this, and I’d dare say, neither are the Carina Corsairs.

Well boo–hoo, as if I care, Ellie muttered sarcastically.

Such a move would alter the dynamics of the relationship between them and thus affect the functionality of the black market throughout the Carina Region, de Falco said.

Big deal, Ellie muttered. She thought all these groups were in constant flux anyway due to their own greed–driven instability.

Carys Murdoch will assume total control of the Carina Borderworlds Syndicate after the Faceless Man eliminates her father, the caller said.

Assuming the Faceless Man doesn’t eliminate her as well, Ellie said.

The caller ignored her comment and continued, That might not go down too well with some of the senior figures within the syndicate.

As Murdoch’s eldest offspring, Carys would automatically assume her father’s position. The members of the Borderworlds Syndicate would follow her just as they did her father, de Falco said.

I’m sure James Eldred won’t object, Ellie said.

I’m sure Alicía D’Ambra and Nathan Hunt’s opinions on James Eldred have clouded your judgement, Elektra Reece, the caller said dryly.

Remember, Elektra, they are both Pendleton–Salt Gang members who’d put their own organisation’s interests first when providing information, de Falco said.

Irrelevant, it is common knowledge that Eldred dislikes Carys Murdoch, Ellie replied while thinking, It wasn’t Hunt or D’Ambra who told me, it was Calvin Davis. Looks like your knowledge, Mr Hidden Caller, is not as vast as you like to think.

I will reveal some facts to both of you that should assist in your stalled investigation efforts…along with some helpful advice, the caller said.

That would be appreciated, Ellie muttered.

The caller ignored her and continued. Look into Elliott Richter of the Colonial Taxation and Revenue Administration. You can find him on his homeworld of Beremacia, which is also conveniently the homeworld of Alexander Cartier.

His name has come up a few times, Ellie said.

The second individual you should investigate is Marcus Brennan. He is Territorial Administrator Maxwell Decker’s ‘Mr Fix It’ man.

What about Brennan’s friend, the Draconian information broker on Voidline Station? Ellie asked dryly.

Harley the Dealmaker, de Falco added.

There seems to be inconsistencies regarding Harley the Dealmaker. First, he was working for Pendleton, then Brennan and now he is involved with the Faceless Man. Talk about being flexible, Ellie said.

He is duplicitous, the caller replied. His relationships prove the term ‘The Dealmaker’ is accurate. He holds information you two would find very useful.

"So, he is the Keeper of Dirt Files then?" Ellie asked.

Probably explains all the threats made against him, de Falco said.

Threats to have him deported back to his homeworld are just that, threats. None of those making these threats can act on them as they all need his information and facilitation services, the caller replied.

Interesting, what do you know about an individual named Seth Dietrich? He was the third person involved in Harley and Brennan’s corrupt deals, Ellie asked.

Seth Dietrich? Where did you first hear that name mentioned? The caller asked.

Quite a few people have mentioned his name. Who is he? Ellie asked.

That, Elektra Reece, is a question you need to ask Elliot Richter, the caller replied coolly.

Since you’ve gone to all the trouble of arranging this meeting, I assume you’ve done so for a reason? Asked de Falco. He sounded deeply suspicious.

You both face a dilemma, the caller said. "As I clearly stated earlier—the first Faceless Man is now on his way to destroy Silas Murdoch. The second Faceless Man is on his way to Usinnia to destroy Harrison Carver. Once Carver has been eliminated, the second Faceless Man shall proceed to Beremacia and eliminate Cartier. I see problems for you both should they succeed."

Beremacia is closer to Usinnia than Boraydis, de Falco said, so that makes sense, strategically.

So who do you choose to save—Murdoch or Carver? The caller asked.

If we split up— Ellie suggested.

Then you’ll both die, the caller said flatly.

I’ve managed to survive so far, Ellie shot back.

Only because you were not seen as a credible threat. Now that has changed, the caller replied.

Murdoch has a sizable force protecting him, and as you’ve already pointed out, Carver has been warned and would certainly be taking defensive measures, de Falco said.

Irrelevant, both shall fall, the caller said with clear finality in his tone.

You seem so sure, de Falco said.

You both are at a severe disadvantage when it comes to dealing with the Faceless Men, the caller said.

I don’t wish to sound impolite by questioning your assessment, but could you be a little clearer on what ‘disadvantage’ you speak of? De Falco asked.

Ellie scowled at him. Bow–wow barks Master’s obedient pet terrier.

Transportation, for one thing, the caller answered.

Ellie turned to de Falco, That’s no problem, I can get a starliner to Beremacia from Iredi, but I’d have to go to the spaceport near the capital.

Obviously you do not have a starship, Elektra Reece, the caller said.

No I don’t, Ellie replied.

That, I’m afraid, is one fatal disadvantage, my dear, the caller said ominously. How about you, Mr de Falco, do you have a starship?

My client had provided both a ship and crew, de Falco answered.

"Another stupid, and dare I say it again, fatal mistake waiting to happen," the caller said, clearly noticing the tone of deceit in his voice.

Don’t you think you’re being a little presumptuous?

"No, Mr de Falco I am not. The Faceless Man knows all syndicate starships, and their weaknesses," the caller said flatly.

I needed a starship for this case and—

The caller cut him off. "If you foolishly choose to fly around aboard a Borderworlds Syndicate ship then you will be flying around with a massive bullseye on your back.

As for you, Elektra Reece, starliners are just as dangerous given the fact the Faceless Man will have people aboard all the major starliners looking out for his enemies. You would be assassinated before the ship reached your destination.

Well, it’s not as though I have a choice, now is it, Mr Black Screen, Ellie snapped.

You do now, the caller said.

Explain? De Falco demanded.

Xámara Dé Oesté took one starship, there are others in Gènesis Marucarío’s hangars, and I don’t think she or anyone else will be needing them now, the caller replied.

We’ll need crew, supplies and equipment… de Falco muttered.

Again, Gènesis Marucarío’s hangars have these, as for crew, you will have to hire them. I strongly advise employing anyone associated with the Borderworlds Syndicate or the Pendleton–Salt Gang.

I’ll take it under consideration, de Falco muttered.

Ellie nodded her head in agreement with him. Crew costs money, and then—

Your whiny excuses don’t interest me, Elektra. If you wish to solve your case then you will have to outlay the necessary expenditure, the caller snapped.

Easier said than done, Ellie snapped back.

More pitiful excuses, the caller snapped, You have a valid captain’s licence and you are familiar with all the rules and regulations of operating a starship, including command and costs.

I am not playing starship captain, Ellie said. One full–time job is enough.

"You have no choice. Continue using starliners and you will end up in the morgue. I don’t think that is something Commissioner Rathau wants to see in a police report or on the news. I think he would prefer to see results, after all, that is what you are being paid to produce," the caller said.

Point taken, Ellie muttered. Failure at a job leads to no job.

I can change the crew roster, de Falco said.

The starship you arrived aboard was known to Alvardo Dé Oesté, and now it is known to the Faceless Man, who had accessed the information from Dé Oesté’s secret files, the caller snapped.

So, what do you suggest? Ellie asked.

You take a ship from one of Marucarío’s hangars, like I suggested before, the caller replied.

Marucarío’s hangar is not likely to be the easiest place to access, plus her starships would also be known to the Faceless Man since they’d be on file in Dé Oesté’s A.I, Ellie said.

No they are not. I don’t know where she held her starship records, but they were not in either Dé Oesté’s files or in his A.I database. If Marucarío held them in the A.I at her factory complex then it might have been possible the Faceless Man retrieved those details, but I doubt it. He destroyed everyone there and the A.I system in less than ten minutes.

Are you sure about that? Ellie asked.

Even the best A.I hacker would take more than ten minutes.

If they were not using military intelligence issued hacking equipment, Ellie said.

More conspiracy theorising, Elektra? De Falco muttered.

Even with military intelligence issued equipment they would still take time, the caller said.

Sounds like you’ve been observing things from up high, Ellie said.

The caller ignored her assertion. You two rely too much on other people to give you information. I suggest you investigate like real detectives, the caller said.

Unwanted advice noted, Ellie muttered. But, back to what we we’re discussing. All the access cards and starship registry programs are still likely to be back in Marucarío’s office, which will be crawling with cops by now.

Marucarío was first and foremost a smuggler, and like many smugglers she would have taken precautions just in case her offices and hangars were to come under police scrutiny, the caller said.

Like they are now, Ellie said.

The hangars have been sealed off for evidence gathering, but since no bodies were found the police have simply sealed them off, the caller said.

Her factory looked like a war zone. There were bodies strewn all over the car park and through out the offices, even Marucarío–what was left of her–was strung up in her office like a cow’s carcass at the meat works, Ellie said. She remembered the sight vividly in her mind.

Her records are irrelevent, it is her starships that you need access to, the caller said.

The hanger would be sealed off for the police investigation, just like all of Dé Oesté and Marucarío’s assets, Ellie said.

The police have already concluded their investigation of Marucarío’s hangars. However, they are still difficult to access, the caller said.

Why? De Falco asked.

Standard legal formalities. The ships and hangars are being held for Alvardo Dé Oesté’s heir, the caller said.

The only surviving member of his immediate family is his daughter, Xámara, Ellie told de Falco.

Unless the Faceless Men end up killing her too, de Falco replied.

Xámara Dé Oesté is not currently on Iredi, so discussion about her is irrelevant, the caller said.

I wonder if any other of Alvardo Dé Oesté’s children survived… Ellie muttered half to herself.

Perhaps, Elektra Reece, you could find out, the caller advised.

If the place is sealed up, then how do we get in there, and how do we leave with one of Marucarío’s starships? Ellie asked.

Inside the office you are standing in is a picture on the wall depicting an old country house, the caller said.

Ellie found the picture he was referring to on the wall directly in front of her. She walked over to it.

Move the picture out of the way and you’ll find a wall safe, the caller said.

How do you know this? Ellie asked.

The caller ignored her question. Don’t attempt to open the safe yet.

Ellie slid the picture aside to reveal the wall safe, What now?

Which ever one of you is closest to the desk? The caller instructed.

That would be me, de Falco replied.

Open the top drawer and remove the small metal cigarette case inside it and place it on the table. Open it.

Okay, de Falco muttered. He opened the drawer and took out the small black metal case and opened it. He tipped the contents onto the table.

The small plastic card, pick it up without touching the shiny strip, the caller said.

Is the safe rigged? Ellie asked.

Over a hundred thousand volts for anyone stupid enough to even touch it without authorisation, the caller replied.

Marucarío took her security seriously, de Falco said.

And yet she ended up in several pieces down at the morgue, the caller said. Now, go over to the safe and place the sticky DNA strip on the face of the reader and hold it there until the light turns green.

Ellie moved out of the way so de Falco could walk up and place the strip on the card containing Marucarío’s DNA on the reader. She wondered just how this mysterious caller obtained the sample and information about the safe, let alone organise for the card to be placed conveniently inside the desk drawer. Lots of uncomfortable questions that desperately needed answering raced through her mind.

Done, de Falco said. The indicator light turned from red to green.

Open the safe and remove the contents. You should find Gènesis Marucarío’s master key to the hangars, the caller said.

How about accessing the starships once we’re inside? Ellie asked.

You can use the starship access codes on the fleet access card, it should be amongst the safe’s contents, the caller replied.

Found it, de Falco said. He placed the items on the table and spread them out.

Ellie walked over and examined what he had uncovered. She found the fleet access card. Typically this was something an owner possessed instead of an employee like Gènesis Marucarío. The presence of this card indicated that Alvardo had placed a lot of trust in her to run his small fleet of starships.

Amongst the other contents was the hangar access master key, along with a bundle of Carina Union Dollars in one hundred dollar notes. Ellie noticed an optronic scroll and another key card.

The safe should have a small scroll that lists an inventory of supplies and equipment. There should also be a key card for opening doors and containers. I suggest you take whatever supplies that you can, along with any money you find in the safe, you will need it, the caller said.

Appreciated, Ellie muttered.

Indeed, de Falco said, Now, I’d like to discuss—

The caller interrupted him with a firm tone. You now have access to starships, weapons and equipment, all curtsey of the late Alvardo Dé Oesté, I suggest you two make better use of them than he did.

One small problem, Ellie said, We don’t know where those hangars are located.

The holographic screen suddenly displayed an address.

That’s at the spaceport near Uriça, a city on Asoía, Ellie said.

Take a moon shuttle, the caller said.

Yeah, already considered, Ellie replied.

Good, the caller said, he then abruptly terminated the transmission.

I don’t like this, Ellie muttered as she shook her head. This seedy bastard sitting up there in orbit. I bet he’s been watching the whole damn slaughter from the bridge of his starship laughing at us all.

Agreed, de Falco said as he crossed his arms. All of this seem just a little too convenient.

He knows far more than what he’s prepared to tell us.

That’s what worries me, de Falco said.

Chapter Two

DÉ OESTÉ’S INHERITANCE

The anonymous caller from orbit certainly knew all the secrets inside Dé Oesté’s warehouse. He had downloaded floor plans, secret storage rooms and the security systems. He also provided the codes that enabled de Falco to deactivate the lethal laser grid in the small corridor between the secret door and the hidden storage room.

That should be the last of these security traps, de Falco muttered as he examined the screen.

Be doubly sure, Ellie muttered as she leaned against the wall with her arms folded over her chest.

"Wait here, I shouldn’t be too long," de Falco said as he walked out of the office and into the main hallway.

How did Mr Blank Screen manage to get into Marucarío’s computer system? Ellie thought. She walked over to the computer and examined it. Thinking it would be full of bugs and deliberately corrupted files she took out her autohacker and inserted it into the port on the side of the table.

Now, let’s see the truth, she mumbled under her breath as she activated the autohacker.

The screen displayed files for the security system, access codes and a full inventory of the late Gènesis Marucarío’s hangar complex. Another file contained maps and starship deck plans. According to the file titled Primary Operations Hangar Complex the Dé Oesté Family’s main spacecraft hangar was still located on Asoía, the largest of Iredi’s two moons. She then examined the security systems for the main hangar complex and the starships stored there. Xámara must have taken a ship from this moon based hangar.

Elektra, can you come in here for a moment, de Falco shouted out.

Now what? Ellie removed the autohacker and tapped the icon to download the files remotely into her arm–computer before she headed out to see what de Falco wanted.

Outside the office was the main storage area for the warehouse. Ellie saw numerous large rectangular C–type shipping containers stacked against the eastern wall. Suspended from the ceiling was the folded up arms of the robotic cargo crane. On the opposite wall next to the loading dock were rows of deactivated cargo handler robots. Seven of them covered by tarpaulins with three more sitting on standby. The loading dock bay was empty. Along the north–western wall Ellie spotted stacked hexagonal shaped I–type cargo containers. Looking south she found an open section of the wall that revealed an entrance.

Down here, Elektra, de Falco shouted from within the dark recess of the secret access way.

Ellie walked through the doorway and along the corridor into the secret room. When she walked inside she found it dimly lit. There was enough light for her to discover the reason for his surprise.

Stacked on shelves along the western and eastern walls were containers filled with starship crew supplies from across the coreward half of the Galactican Federate. Ellie walked over and examined some of the crates. She saw medical supplies, feedstock for nanofabricators, maintenance tools and weapons.

They stocked up pretty well, de Falco said, Looks like this room is one of many scattered about the Family’s assets.

Ellie looked over the datachips for an optronic starship computer core. Looks like they’ve been buying up and retrofitting starships.

Yeah, it looks like that, de Falco muttered slowly.

Perhaps Dé Oesté was building up his own fleet of smuggling ships, Ellie said.

Question is why?

Simple, he wanted to circumvent the Pendleton–Salt Gang monopoly, Ellie replied.

Hmm, it looks like that, de Falco said as he nodded his head in agreement.

Changes things doesn’t it.

Meaning? De Falco asked darkly.

I think you can speculate on that, given your experience in working with these criminal gangs on Boraydis.

I can’t see the Faceless Man being an agent of David Pendleton.

Well…perhaps, but then again…

For one thing, the One Fang Skull Gang has attacked his organisation more than any other.

He has attacked smugglers who were both independent and Pendleton–Salt Gang members, attacks that could be disguised house cleaning, Ellie said.

Really, de Falco said. He leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest with the inventory pad still in his left hand.

This kind of thing is not new, just look at the mysterious deaths occurring amongst I.C.A employees deemed corrupt.

That is a conspiracy theory, de Falco said.

A woman named Cherry Foley, who had been doing Harrison Carver favours for money was killed by a car bomb, Ellie said.

Yes, and if I recall, she had been murdered by the Carina Corsairs in retaliation for the executions of captured corsairs, de Falco said.

According to the censored news reports cleared by the Communications and Media Administration of the I.C.A, Ellie said.

Censorship of the media in the Territories is restricted under the Interstellar Colonial Charter. Besides, the logistics of imposing censorship out there is insurmountable and beyond the capabilities of the I.C.A, de Falco said.

Ellie nodded slowly. His argument was logical. Given the logistics of trying to impose controls over the press on far flung colony worlds was formidable, and expensive. Censorship costs jobs! Some colonial politician said on the holovision news. Restricting freedom of speech and freedom of expression would result in biased and unreliable news reporting. This in turn results in a decline in quality for the entertainment industry, and the arts, in turn audiences would stop paying and ratings would plummet. Hence, lost jobs and declining tax revenue. Two things no politician with a brain would want, especially out in the Colonies where people tend to revolt a lot quicker when pissed off. Still, politicians do lie. Venal politicians can, and do, manipulate news reports to push an agenda.

Your expression suggests doubt. Perhaps you can check the legal database or ask a lawyer versed in Colonial Law for verification, de Falco suggested.

You are ignoring the corruption factor. Money and political influence can have just as much power as any legal statutes.

That brings us back to the original investigation request asked by your client. Are corrupt officials within the I.C.A supporting the One Fang Skull Gang?

Ellie gave the subject some thought and de Falco was content to remain silent to allow her to do so.

The guns, the starships and the sizable force goons the Faceless Men have at their disposal would require extensive logistics and financing, far more than what could be provided by corrupt deals between Marcus Brennan and Harley the Dealmaker.

A deduction or even speculation? De Falco asked.

Ellie turned around and leaned against the shelf and looked directly at him. Honestly?

At this stage it can’t hurt. All we know is he has people motivated by vigilantism within his ranks, as for his own motivations we have nothing. I certainly think he is being supported by some powerful group, the logistics alone suggest that, but I don’t have any proof. Personally, I would not rule out our black screen friend up there, de Falco said as he pointed at the ceiling.

Agreed, Ellie said.

Then all we need to do is gather that evidence, which I’ll admit is easier said than done, de Falco said.

According to the anonymous caller the Faceless Men are going after Murdoch and Carver at the same time, I reckon Carver would have been attacked well before either of us arrive on Usinnia. So that will leave Cartier on Beremacia, Ellie said.

For now let’s assume there are two of them as our orbital friend claims, de Falco said.

Ellie nodded her agreement.

The Faceless Man who is targeting Murdoch would know the capabilities of the Carina Borderworlds Syndicate, he’d prepare adequate forces to take on Silas and his people, and that will take time.

Hopefully the second Faceless Man will be weakened by fighting Carver. I can chase him and at the same time I can look into Elliott Richter, Ellie said.

I don’t mean to offend your ego, but running off alone to face him and his associates is dangerous, de Falco said.

Ego has nothing to do with it. There are two and they are going after different targets, besides, what makes Murdoch more worthy of ‘saving’ than Cartier, who is at least a mobster that has some ethics, Ellie replied.

Alone you will likely be killed.

With an entourage I’d be easily detected and then killed, I’d rather go alone for this part of the investigation, that way I can get about unnoticed. Perhaps if the investigation moves to the more dangerous Carina Colonies, then I’d rethink my strategy, Ellie said.

Since Murdoch’s organisation is larger than Cartier’s, its likely the strongest Faceless Man would go to Boraydis…

If that is so, then the Faceless Man who intends to attack Cartier might be easier to deal with, especially if he takes heavy casualties fighting Carver, Ellie said.

So, which world are you going to?

Beremacia, Ellie replied. She pointed at the supplies, But if you go to Boraydis, you’ll need a starship more than me, I can get to Beremacia by starliner, but you have other people with you, not to mention the people Carys assigned to help you.

Remember what the hidden caller said. If you take a starliner you’d be targeted for assassination, de Falco warned.

Ellie decided to actually give the warning some serious thought, especially from a tactical standpoint. He might have a point. Starliners are big and full of people that would make sniffing out an assassin much harder, especially when I have no idea what most of the Faceless Men’s thugs look like. By the same token, large numbers means lots of witnesses for the prosecution…a fact not unlikely to be ignored by even the stupidest thug. Taking one of Marucarío’s smuggling ships would get me around quicker than a starliner, and I can use the ship as a mobile base of operations, plus store all my equipment and weapons. The downside is the ship is likely to be known to the Faceless Man and even the authorities, but there are ways around that problem.

Where on Beremacia will you begin?

Melandria, its the city where both Cartier and Richter live, Ellie replied.

I’ll take note of that. If you need to reach me, use this, de Falco said. He took out his silver business card and handed it to her.

Ellie took the card and put it away. We should take what we can from here and leave as soon as possible.

We have to find the right hangar that houses Marucarío’s starships. Hopefully the forensic teams would have finished by now, de Falco said.

According to the computer in the office the main hangar is on Asoía. We will need to take a moon shuttle to get there, Ellie said.

Odd that our secret informant failed to mention the exact address, de Falco muttered dryly.

I bet he’s failed to mention a lot more than that.

I’ll let the others know as soon as we get back to Araunás, de Falco said.

Bring one or two people and nobody already know to police, if possible. I want to avoid attention while the cops are investigating the Dé Oesté murders, and your Borderworlds friends are certain to be viewed as potential suspects, Ellie said.

I’ll tell them to wait on Iredi Orbital Gateway, de Falco said.

Ellie nodded, Just tell them to avoid getting into trouble while we collect the starship.

I’ll tell them, de Falco said.

Ellie walked over and activated the anti–gravity hand truck and pulled it out of its charge rack. Those medical supplies, we’ll need them so stock up this trolley, I’ll find another hand trolley so we can load up on nanofabricator feedstock, make sure you grab a nanofabricator from that shelf, you’ll need it.

What else?

Start loading the medical supplies first, I’ll head back to the computer and compile a list. How many of you are going to Boraydis? Ellie asked.

Nine, myself included, de Falco replied.

Ellie nodded once as she stood in the doorway with her right hand resting on the frame.

What about you? De Falco asked as he began stacking the trolley. Have you finally decided to take a ship, or go with your initial idea of taking a starliner?

I’ll think about it while we pack, Ellie replied.

We’ll pack for two ships, just to be on the safe side.

Sure…a surplus can’t hurt, Ellie said, she headed back to the office.

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Which one? Ellie thought as she viewed the six starships on the optronic computer scroll.

Still deciding? De Falco shouted out.

Ellie grabbed the optronic scroll and returned to loading dock. The hangar is full of small courier, free trader and executive transports, all manufactured on Iredi. Marucarío had set aside these six ships for her own personal use. There were seven but one of them had been taken by Xámara Dé Oesté. She handed the scroll over to him.

Looks like these six are listed as being ‘active’ while the other vessels are scheduled for extensive maintenance and refitting, de Falco said as he read through the scroll.

You mean they are undergoing modifications for use in smuggling operations. The six listed as active have already been modified.

A starship fitted out for smuggling operations would be advantageous in our line of work, de Falco said.

Assuming the job was done properly, Ellie said.

So what’s the plan, de Falco said. He handed back the scroll and closed the rear door of the fully loaded SUV. He then went and checked the connection to the trailer.

Ellie put the scroll away. Simple, we drive back to the capital and get a shuttle up to Asoía. Once we arrive, we head over to Marucarío’s hangar, pick the best ship or ships and fly away.

You make it sound so simple, de Falco said as he checked the tarpaulin clips on the trailer.

I won’t deny it, we’ll have to come up with some convincing bullshit in order to get all this stuff offworld, then we need to get into the hangar and finally take the ships. I suggest you speak with any of your Borderworlds Syndicate friends who have skills in computer and A.I hacking, forgery and fraud.

Well…I might have a few on hand who can do all these things, however, we will need to come up with a detailed plan to make this work, de Falco said.

Ellie opened the passenger side door, We have a six hundred kilometre journey ahead of us, so I suggest we make the best of that by making a solid plan.

Before we do anything, you need to make a decision. Are you taking a ship or are you coming with me? De Falco asked as he turned back onto the main arterial road.

"I’ll take a small ship. Either this Oríanáco–class executive or the Còrovadá–class courier," Ellie replied.

So, you’ve finally decided that taking starliners was not such an advantage. Very wise.

Not from a financial sense, but I can avoid turning up late at the next killing spree, Ellie muttered back. In her mind were the memories of what she saw at Marucarío’s factory and Dé Oesté’s estate.

If you do, then you’re either going to need numbers or some serious fire–power.

The latter is next on my list, Ellie replied. She reached into the portable travel refrigerator and took out an energy drink can.

That stuff will kill you… de Falco muttered.

Chapter Three

THE ASOÍA SCHEME

The most frequent flights to the orbiting space stations and Iredi’s two moons were made from Araunás Catilõsa Spáciticíapátía, Iredi’s primary spaceport. This facilitated the return to Araunás and a meeting with de Falco’s Borderworlds Syndicate associates.

Ellie was not looking forward to explaining the complex plan to what she believed were people with limited intelligence. One idea was to keep the words monosyllabic and her speech slow, drawing simple pictures was another idea she considered. Brainless thugs who walk around grunting and scraping their knuckles along the pavement should be able to comprehend stick figures and simple diagrams.

I’ve assembled everyone at our base of operations, de Falco said as he stood in the doorway to Ellie’s room.

Great, I won’t be long, Ellie replied as she put on her black long coat. Base of operations. Nice term Secret Agent de Falco. I thought hideout would be more accurate, but hey!

Tea and cucumber sandwiches in the dingy, dust–filled abandoned warehouse along the docks facilitated the need for special clothing. Black shirt, black sleeveless vest with the inner pocket occupied by the MA–15 trench sword. The black skirt and stockings and ankle boots completed the business look. The long coat was selected due to the fact that is was waterproof and self drying, and the inside pocket was big enough to hide her MP–29 green beam laser pistol without any noticeable bulge.

They are waiting, Elektra… de Falco said impatiently.

Stop badgering me, I’m nearly ready, Ellie snapped back.

No guns, de Falco said, You won’t really need one anyway.

Friendly chaps these Borderworlds Syndicate people?

They won’t cause you any trouble, so long as you don’t be condescending to them, de Falco said.

I’ll take it under consideration, Ellie said as she walked towards the door.

Let’s go, de Falco muttered.

Ellie followed de Falco back down to the street where it was raining. The rental car they had driven back from Karocrídos still had the trailer stocked with all the equipment and supplies they had taken from Dé Oesté’s warehouse.

Is your base of operations far from here? Ellie asked as she got in the front passenger’s seat.

Down at the waterfront, de Falco replied.

An abandoned warehouse?

We moved into one of Dé Oesté’s warehouses after the cops had finished going through it.

I see.

I’d better lay down some rules before we get there, de Falco said. He started the car and pulled out onto the busy street.

Rules?

Let’s just call it social etiquette, de Falco replied.

I’ll do my best to keep the briefing simple, Ellie said.

Don’t talk down to them as though they are toddlers and do not refer to them as thugs, goons, henchmen, minions or flunkies. They’d take offence.

Hatchetmen?

No.

Muscle?

Actually…they do use that term, but not to infer they are stupid.

I’ll bear that in mind, Ellie said. Do they have proper names that I can use?

Of curse they do.

Do I have to remember all those underworld tough guy names like Five Fingers Frankie, although he’s now dead?

Probably best to not bring up Frank’s death at the meeting. You know, social etiquette.

Bob the Biffer? Safecracker Sam and Johnny the Jailbird?

Nobody with silly cartoon show bad guy names, Elektra, de Falco muttered as he turned eastwards towards the river front.

Bugsy, Mugsy and Thugsy?

Arthur Tarrant, Brett Dodman and Ann–Marie Dean. All normal sounding names.

Well, they do sound better than Snake, Scorpion or any other name derived from dangerous wildlife.

Let me guess, you’re assuming they call themselves the same names that baddies on gangster movies use, de Falco said.

From files I’ve read it seems many of these syndicate foot soldiers tend to call themselves tough sounding nicknames.

"Files from what? Episodes of Crime Squad?"

Don’t get too carried away with these Borderworlds Syndicate tough guys. They haven’t had any success against the Faceless Men, just look at what happened to Five Fingers Frank. I bet he didn’t even see them drive up along side him before they blew his head off, Ellie said.

Then it’ll be up to us to inform them on how to deal with the Faceless Men.

I don’t baby sit underworld goons.

Look at it as advising then, besides, you can’t take on the entire One Fang Skull Gang on your own.

That is not my job, I’m simply trying to find out who is backing them, not taking them on. That is something your client has hired you to do.

Let’s just stick to the plan. I will handle the Borderworlds people since you’re not coming with me to Boraydis, de Falco said. He turned onto the main river front road and continued south.

Ellie looked at the scenery of this industrial suburb. Lining the edge of the broad Ría Maracarías were docks and wharfs. Cargo ships docked along the waterfront appeared to be ocean going vessels. The Ría Maracarías was wide and deep enough this far inland to allow such vessels to dock at Araunás. Further south de Falco drove over the long bridge built above extensive railway tracks, to the west was the railway marshalling yards that serviced the waterfront. Most of these tracks headed through the city and out to the spaceport’s vast marshalling yards.

Our base of operations is just ahead, de Falco said as the car left the bridge. He turned left and continued eastwards along a road lined with truck depots, warehouses and cold storage plants.

You said there were nine people with you, you’ve mentioned three, Ellie said.

Myself, Jessica and Maya.

Who else, who are the other three?

The names I’ve mentioned, do you know them or have heard about them?

Only Arthur Tarrant. He was one of the Borderworlds flunkies at a couple of hostage exchange deals I did out in the Colonies. We didn’t talk so I don’t know him personally other than the fact he was just another hired gun, Ellie replied.

The other Borderworlds people on site are Jed, Solaij and a woman named Alexis Klass. She’s a little…rough…

Ellie nodded once, I see, you mean, she’s a brainless, knuckle–dragging thug. Pure Borderworlds Syndicate muscle…and probably the ship’s science officer.

Capable people for the job, de Falco muttered.

The starship you came to Iredi on? Ellie asked.

I sent it back to Boraydis after Dé Oesté’s murder. I don’t want to return to Boraydis aboard a know Syndicate ship.

The ships in Marucarío’s hangar are likely to be known to the Faceless Men, regardless of what the orbiting informant claims, Ellie said.

True, but I’m taking a risk that the six ships on the retrofitting dock were missed.

Possibly, but only if the Faceless Man’s killers concentrated on murdering the staff and crews, Ellie said as the car entered the yard of a truck depot.

Big risk, Ellie said. I’m assuming the other six are employed as starship crew for Boss Murdoch?

Well…ah, we’re here, de Falco said. He parked the car.

Do you wish to discuss your little industrial relations problem? Ellie asked.

I’ve had to make ad–hoc plans after Dé Oesté’s murder, de Falco said. He got out of the car, I’ll fill you in when I give the briefing to the others.

Right, so you’ve been keeping secrets from your goo…I mean, friends, Ellie said as she exited the vehicle.

Be nice, Elektra. People, colleagues or just their names, not goons or thugs, de Falco said.

Better reveal everything, Ellie said.

I intend to, now come this way, de Falco said.

Ellie followed him from the staff parking bay to the main depot building. This structure was a seamless nanofabricated cube with windows along the upper parts near the roof. At the base along the western wall were numerous loading dock access for the parked semi–trailers. The northern wall contained the main entrance doors for the reception area. The glass doors parted as de Falco walked towards them, surprisingly Ellie saw no armed guards. He must have upgraded the security system, or he’s running on faith in Dé Oesté’s old security system. Something I can’t share with him.

Ellie looked around at the reception area. She found it typical of reception areas on Iredi. The long curved counter, light gold walls adorned with the wire–stick–mesh combination metallic art on the walls. No signs of damage could be seen.

A woman armed with a ballistic sub–machine gun stepped out of the office and glared at both Ellie and de Falco. This human female appeared Terran by background with a pale complexion, medium length light brown hair and grey eyes. Ellie noticed the civilian style of dress for the tropical climate. The woman was dressed in tight black hotpants and sleeveless top, on her right arm was an irodophoric tattoo and a small ruby stud on her right nostril.

Is that your concierge? Ellie whispered to de Falco.

Where are the others? De Falco asked the woman.

Out back, the woman replied, she then looked at Ellie with suspicion. Who’s your friend?

Alexis, this is Elektra, de Falco introduced rather blandly, Elektra, this is Alexis.

Alexis snorted, turned around and waved for de Falco and Ellie to follow her.

Ellie shrugged her shoulders when de Falco looked at her. IQ of about fifty, so the grunt was meathead for ‘hello’.

Rather than explain the flexibility of the rules of etiquette, de Falco simply waved for Ellie to follow him into the meeting room at the end of the corridor. Here she was introduced to the four remaining unfamiliar faces, and to the already familiar Arthur Tarrant.

Tarrant looked at Ellie as she followed de Falco into the meeting room. He had changed little since the last time she had seen him. For one change he had his light brown hair at medium length, previously it had been cropped short in a military style. He was still lean and toned with his arrogant swagger still intact. He looked at Ellie with sky blue eyes.

Ellie noticed that Tarrant now had his own sidekick, which was something he lacked during the hostage exchange deals.

Elektra, this is Arthur Tarrant and Brett Dodman, de Falco said, clearly forgetting that Ellie had already told him she meet Tarrant. However, she surmised he did so to give the impression that Ellie was a new colleague.

Dodman was dressed in simple streetwear. He was a lean Terran human with short light brown hair that was wavy at the back, and steel grey eyes.

I remember you, Tarrant said to Ellie as he shook his finger at her. You were with the Organisation for the Location of Missing Persons on Minida, the last time I saw you.

A charitable group dedicated to finding missing people, Ellie replied with obvious false sincerity.

A front for paying ransom money, said a sneering female voice from behind Ellie. This voice spoke with the same accent as Dodman, thus indicating she was from Boraydis, Overboss Silas Murdoch’s homeworld.

The Terran woman walked around Ellie’s right and looked her over from the viewpoint of a threat assessment. She was petite in build with fine facial features, sky blue eyes and short sleek platinum blonde hair parted in the centre and covering her ears. The woman’s dress was corporate in style similar to Ellie’s own attire, except the woman’s shirt was blue.

The politicians will never, ever admit the fact they do pay ransom money to the Carina Corsairs, the woman said as she stepped around and turned to face Ellie directly.

No shit, Ellie replied, Especially when they tell the media that they don’t.

Elektra, this is Ann–Marie Dean, de Falco said as he introduced the annoying woman.

Two more figures emerged from the doorway to the adjacent kitchenette and tea room.

And this is Jed and Solaij, de Falco said indicating the newcomers with his hand.

Jed nodded his greeting without uttering a word. Tall and thin, Jed was dressed in bland black pants and dirty grey shirt. He looked down at Ellie with dark brown eyes as he rubbed the three day growth on his chin, his mid–length dark brown hair was unbrushed.

No he must be the gang’s hacking expert and starship chief engineer, Ellie thought…or she hoped.

Solaij was the only non–human amongst the group. She was a Rosetta Aerii with smooth rose red coloured skin and emerald green eyes. Like all Areii, Solaij had no body or head hair and her feet were an extra set of hands. She was dressed in a tight black bodysuit with thin white markings on the sides. Jessica Spinks and Maya walked into the meeting room behind Solaij.

Elektra, you’re alive, Jessica said.

Yes I am, thanks for noticing, Ellie replied.

Let’s just get on with it, Tarrant snapped impatiently. He walked over to the table and sat down.

Yes, let’s, Ann–Marie Dean said in agreement. She sat down at the table, the others followed except for Ellie and de Falco. Maya leaned against the window with her arms folded over her chest.

We have laid out a plan— de Falco said.

Just tell us when we’re heading back to the Boss, Dodman interrupted. He sounded exasperated, even annoyed at some issue.

I was just going to do that, de Falco snapped at Dodman.

Ellie rolled her eyes, here we go again. Conversation with mindless thugs about topics any elementary school student could comprehend.

We need less yapping and more head cracking, Jed mumbled. He took out his switch–blade knife and began carving skull motifs on the table.

I want Frank’s killers found, Tarrant said firmly. I don’t give a fuck how you find them, Mr Private Eye, but I want them found. I’ll do the rest.

We have to get back to Boraydis…by the direct route, Ann–Marie Dean said. She looked directly at de Falco.

We need to hunt down that dog who hides his face, Dodman said.

You’ll find him on Boraydis, Ellie said.

She walked over and sat down at the table as everyone looked in her direction. The Faceless Man with the orange goggles is on his way there now.

And how do you know that? Tarrant asked.

He told me, Ellie said.

"He told you?" Ann–Marie asked sceptically.

Which one of you can hack into computers? Ellie asked.

I can, Tarrant replied.

What about A.I?

With the right tools, I can get into a supermind, what’s your point? Tarrant replied.

"We can stay here and wait until the Faceless Man kills your boss, or we can fly to Boraydis and try and stop him. It’s up to