Syndicate Files: The Relic - Part 3

The Order of the Squirrel's church, such as it was, was located in a ventilation shaft. It was accessed via stairs that spiraled down the side of the Rifter-wide cylindrical space. The church itself wasn't more than a large shack, perched precariously on a suspended platform made of scrap, with the curved side of the shaft serving as the structure's back wall. As we approached, air being pushed through the ventilation system below tugged at the robes and whistled through the tangle of cables that kept the anti-technologist's church from being swallowed by the vast metal gullet that disappeared into darkness beneath.

Good symbolism, plus the rent was probably really low.

We stepped onto the gently swaying platform and made our way inside. Noone seemed to notice a couple more people in robes. Most of the interior was one large room, smoky with incense and filled with the mutter of the Squirrel's low chanting. The alter up front had what looked like a piece of a real tree propped against the corrugated tin wall, and a crude painting of some animal's huge, vaguely triangular head in browns and tans masked behind its bare, bleached-white branches. Maybe it was just the smoke, but the thing's eyes seemed to gleam blackly. Creepy.

There was also a briefcase, its sleek contours not really fitting in with the scrap-metal, ropes, and tarps motif the rest of the place had going. It looked like the kind of metal case you see money or drugs delivered in, in holos.

Auvy nudged me and I nodded, and whispered, "Pretty sure that's it. We can wait and come back when-"

Just then the chanting stopped abruptly. I coughed to cover the talking and an emaciated guy with a big beard in the front gave me a glare, and cleared his throat. His voice, surprisingly rich, rolled across the room as he addressed his flock, "Today is a day to celebrate! The gods have put into our hands one of the great works, one of the great tools of the evil spirits. For them, a vital wedge in their vile designs to see us separated from the great whole with walls of metal and cocoons of meaningless noise. A machine that mocks nature's creations in its bastardized mimicry!"

I thought it would be a bad time to point out that walls of metal were separating him from space, too. He went on.

"We will see this horror destroyed, so that the gods will know there are still some who are righteous!"

His beard bristling righteously, he opened a trap-door and held the case over the abyss. This had to be Fortune kicking me in the ribs and laughing.

I tugged on Auvy's sleeve, and we started edging around the crowd as the priest kept talking. And talking. Mocking nature, abomination, more walls of metal.

As we got closer, Auvy whispered, "You distract 'em, I'll grab it."

I nodded and she sidled into striking distance. I waited till she was set, then got out my stun stick and gave a solid looking guy near me a good dose. He went down with a shriek, and I yelled, "Behold! He's having a vision! The gods are visiting him!"

Everyone looked.

Auvy snatched the case from the priest, who fell through the trap door with a squawk of outrage. It's okay, I'm pretty sure he caught the side. There was a rickety door in the back wall, to the right of the alter. I bulled through it and motioned Auvy over frantically. We got inside and I closed it and tipped a handy bookcase in front of it. It was a storeroom, spare chairs and piles of posters here and there. The back was the grey of the shaft's wall.

Outside, sounds of confused outrage built as the Squirrels figured out what had happened.

Auvy put down the case and looked around, "What now?"

"I thought through to the roof..." I looked up, and realized that the roof for this room was a single piece of - no doubt thin - metal. For our purposes it might as well have been a 1600mm rolled tungsten plate. None of the hodgepodge of the front, no visible way through. I could hear thumps against the door, now.

"Have a plan B, Rory?"

"There." I pointed, "We go through there."

"A duct?" She gave it an accusing glare, which she turned on me, "Do I look like Airki Bautiste or Vival Airette? Is this Goullain's latest action flick we're in? Or maybe I look like Ydet?"

"You look better than all of them, Auvy. You see another way out? Where we don't have to go through an angry fish-cult?"

"I thought it was a sort of bird. Fine. I go first." She produced a thin stiletto from her robes and used it to pry the vent cover off. Behind us, the door was starting to give, and angry shouting was more and more audible. Auvy pulled herself up into the vent, and I pushed the case in after her, then climbed up myself. Auvy called back, "I'll try and find a way out. Don't think I'm helping you if you get stuck."

It was slow going. Auvy wasn't having many problems, but I was certainly no Ydet. The duct was barely wide enough for my shoulders. There were a couple times I thought I'd gotten wedged for sure, but I always squeezed through. I could hear Auvy on the other side of the case in front of me, no doubt squirming right along with no trouble.

My head came level with a narrower side-vent and I heard an angry hiss. I turned my head slowly to stare into glittering, beady black eyes. It had to be the biggest fedo I'd ever seen. It held its stinger poised.

"Nice fedo, good fedo." I whispered. I could barely even move my arms, "I'm just moving through, don't wanna bother you. There's a nice girl."

It hissed again, and Auvy called from ahead, "Rory? What was that? Who're you talking to?"

"Noone, don't worry about it!" I'd never hear the end of it, being stared down by a fedo, "You just keep going."

"Okay, think I see a way out."

I moved very slowly, feeling my skin crawl as I had to drag my torso and legs in front of the creature. I hadn't smelled it, which meant it hadn't eaten well in a while, which meant it was probably cranky. The case I was pushing ahead of me with one awkwardly-held arm seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, and the duct just kept going.

Then I was past, no fedo stings, and not much further ahead I could see light filtering in. I got the case by the handle, dangled it as low as I could, and let it drop, then pulled myself out. I ended up in a heap, luckily the floor wasn't too far down.

I lay on my back for a minute, catching my breath, then sat up.

I was in a warehouse, looked like it didn't see much traffic. Gently mouldering piles of merchandise here and there. Auvy was nowhere in sight. The AI had landed within arms' reach of me. A double pace away was Lieutenant-Inspector Tybak Simaaka of the DED, with a pistol trained on my chest.

"Good to see you again, Tarva," he said. He sounded a little out of breath.

"Simaaka." I didn't see Auvy anywhere. If he'd hurt her...

"I know you're armed. Take it out and slide it over, please. Slowly."

I complied, carefully sliding my slug thrower across the floor toward him, "How'd you-?"

"The coffee. Now, slide the case over."

I saw movement behind him, but kept my face carefully still. "Putting trackers in a man's coffee. That's low, even for DED." I slid the case over.

"Well, this isn't entirely an official thing." He shrugged and did something odd: He addressed the case, "And sorry babe, but I got an offer to big to refuse. I know I owe you, but that's the way the omber breaks. You aren't the only one, and you weren't paying."

Then Auvy was behind him, and he stiffened as she pressed something against the base of his skull. She reached forward with her other hand, "Gun."

He handed it to her carefully, "I wasn't gonna-"

"Don't wanna hear it." She backed up a couple steps, training his own gun on him, "Kick Rory's gun back to him. And the case, or it's your brains on the walls."

Her voice sounded different. Harder. Simaaka did what she told him to do. I picked up the gun and trained it on him. Picked up the case. He looked calm, "Just a matter of time till I get her back. Me or one of the cults. Least my interest is business."

He had a look, when he said that, like maybe that last part made him unhappy. I didn't have time to try and sort out his issues, though. We needed to get going.

I made my way over to Auvy's side, and we left him there. Locked the hatch behind us, when we left the compartment, to slow him down.

We ditched the robes, tucked the pistols away, and walked like we didn't have a care in the world, "Auvy, you must have fallen out of the vent right on top of him. How - ?"

"He wasn't there, yet. I heard him coming, got out of sight. Must have taken him a minute to figure out what was going on, when the trackers started going through walls. Since everyone knows that only works in holos."

"Yeah, yeah. What about the gun? I didn't know you carried."

"I don't, this is his."

"I meant before. If you don't carry, what'd you use to make him drop his?"

"Lipgloss."

"But you carry a knife."

She shook her head and looked at me with disdain, "Everyone knows you don't bring a knife to a gun fight, Rory."

"So you brought lipgloss?"

"Yeah, worked didn't it?" Couldn't argue that one. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere that should be safe for a bit, to plan."

******

Kalorr's Delight is a bar and lounge that caters to those that enjoy a pipe and a good drink. The atmosphere is casual, relaxed. The quasi-Amarr decoration seems antique and comfortable, rather than imperious.

Kalorr's Delight is also the headquarters for the Blood Raiders on the station. I'd done their high priest and boss, Aruvasa Dun, a good turn a while back. Figured he wouldn't mind me holing up there for a bit. It was my fondest wish that I wouldn't need to see him while I was there either. He might owe me a favour, but he was still a Blooder high priest.

We got a private booth and set the case on the table. A young woman I recognized from my last visit came over almost as soon as we were settled. She had only a few of the mobile Rak'esme facial tattoos that marked rank among the blooders on the station. "His Eminence would like you to know that he extends his hospitality to you. Drinks and herbs," She indicated the water pipe in the middle of the table, "On the house."

I'd bet on that fedo I met earlier in a fight against a slavers hound before I woulda bet that Dun didn't know plenty about what was going on. Not just cause it was a damn mean looking fedo, either.

The blooder girl left us alone, and we ordered coffee. It was right after the waiter left that the case spoke up, "Didn't know that bastard'd double cross me. Sorry about that."

Syndicate Files: The Relic - Part 2

I didn't lower the gun. He looked like an Obelisk-load of bad news.

"Think you're lost, Officer Simaaka. This is my office."

"I'm in the right place. You are Rordon Tarva." It wasn't a question. I gave him a slight nod anyway, and got a little closer, eyeballed the ID. It showed a younger version of the guy in front of me. Hair a little less iron and a little more black, fewer lines around the eyes. Looked legit, but then I could get some pretty convincing papers saying I was the Empress herself, down below-decks.

Course, even if he was DED, he was probably still bent as a paper clip. Cops.

"You know this is Syndicate, right? Surprised you haven't ended up outside, or slaver hound food, yet." There were some that held a grudge against CONCORD: for some of Syndicate's lovable quirks, or just for being cops. I lowered the gun. Didn't feel like I'd need it, or it'd help if I did. Wasn't that kind of bad, not yet. I circled around him and took a seat behind my desk, made a show of turning my back on him and getting a coffee on the way.

"It's Lieutenant-Inspector, and I've managed to keep my head down. Contrary to popular belief, there are matters where the DED has jurisdiction outside of the Empires." He folded his tall frame into one of the chairs in front of the desk. Lonetrek was still heavy on his tongue, "Ever hear of Directive omega-one-five?"

I shook my head.

"Well, it's the directive that says that strong AIs are a big no-no for anyone with any empire ties whatsoever - which is everyone. No matter where you are. I'm here investigating reports of an AI on this station."

"And they sent you alone?"

His expression was impassive as a Tovil-Toba temple statue (yeah, he has worshipers too), and he didn't say anything, but he had that air. DED weren't real popular in Syndicate, but I had a feeling he'd fit in okay.

He just kept looking with flinty eyes, and I found myself talking again, filling the space. Old trick, but not many could pull it on me, "I'm afraid there isn't much I can tell you. Don't know anything about any AI. I know they're prohibited tech, and that's about all."

"Well." he tossed a business card on my desk and stood, "You find anything out, you gimme a call. Sometimes a local perspective can be a real help."

"Always eager to cooperate with the DED. We're known for that, here in Syndicate."

"Of course. Fortune smile on you, Mr Tarva."

As soon as the door shut behind him, I was comming Auvy. No answer so I left a message, "Hey kiddo, need to see what you can get on a Leiutenant-Inspector Tybak Simaaka, DED."

I told her voicemail the rest of what happened, flipping Simaaka's business card back and forth. There was something written on the back in neat, square letters, "And Auvy, anything you can find on a group called the..." I squinted, "Order of the Squirrel?"

I cut the connection. It wasn't an accident he'd given me this card. 'Local perspective.' I don't think 'Fortune smile on you' is a real common way of saying bye, for a Caldari, either. He knew a lot more than that there might be an AI (Was it possible the Minders really did get their hands on one?) and he was hoping I'd get some of the footwork done for him.

Course, position I was in, I'd do it. If this 'Order of the Squirrel' was a tip, I'd be happy to take it, too.

I'd sort out what to do with him, the Minders, and maybe the Dronies and this 'Order of the Squirrel' all wanting the 'AI' once I found it. What's a squirrel, anyway? Sounds like a sort of fish.

******

It didn't take Auvy long to com me back. She wanted a meet.

She's got a favorite cafe on the edge of one of the big, open markets. She beat me there, as usual. Her hair was darker this week, with a hint of deep blue where the light hit it, a hint matched by the subtly reflective thread woven through the fabric of her blue suit. She looked like she was running her own personal shield booster, although I knew Auvy didn't need any high-tech assistance to make unwanted admirers keep their distance. She waved when she saw me, "Rory!"

"Hey kiddo. What've you got?"

She indicated two steaming cups in front of her, "Alusen's Tea of the Week. It's good, he knows his tea."

"Not really what I was asking about." I took a seat, "I'm more of a coffee man, anyway." She threatened me with a frown, so I sipped.

"Keep on this way, Rory, might make a girl think you only call when there's something you need," She put a slender hand protectively over the folder she'd brought with her, "And not in a good way. Anyway, I thought you didn't do religious."

"They aren't leaving me a lotta options, this time. I like my brain where it is."

"Really?" She arched an eyebrow, "Even with all the trouble it gets you into?"

"Luckily I have looks to get me out of trouble."

She snorted and slid the folder over to me, "Simaaka is really DED. Arrived there by way of NOH. Pretty decorated, not into the heavy stuff - no disappearing people or anything, at least in the files I saw. He is assigned to the division that enforces the laws about prohibited tech, including AIs. It is unusual he would be here by himself, but that's the way it looks. Doesn't even look like he bothered contacting the CONCORD already on the station - couldn't guarantee that one though."

I nodded, "So we might have a real AI, here. What about the Minders?"

"Usual wackos. Think that man will create the gods - AIs. Rumor is that they're gonna hit the Dronies for stealing this 'Mind'. Another tiny below-decks religious war. I guess where them and the Dronies don't see eye to eye is the Dronies think that the intelligence has to leave man and evolve - like drones - and the Minders think it'll be created directly.

"Couldn't get anything on where the Minders coulda got something heavy-weight enough to draw a DED Lieutenant-Inspector, though. Dronies have been going around trying to get people to steal the thing, by the way. When that priest tried to hire you, he didn't know the thing had already been stolen."

"So, I probably don't need to worry too much about the Dronies." I took another sip of tea. Alusen really did know his tea. "Just the Minders and the DED, and maybe this 'Order of the Squirrel'."

"Well, that's where it gets weird."

"That's where it gets weird?"

"Yeah." She tapped the folder with one immaculately painted nail, "It's all in there, but there's nothing unusual about these Squirrel people: Anti-technology, but strictly peaceful. Not much money, not really popular." Yeah, the anti-tech types usually weren't, on space stations - like Ardishapur speaking at a Brutor Tribe rally. Auvy went on, "Nothing like those Dronie and Minder crazies. Then, about a month ago, they do a bunch of fund raising, and then all that money goes through a lawyer hired by a shell corporation and disappears. When I heard you visited Ydet, I did a little checking."

She sniffed with disapproval. She and Ydet don't get along, "Turns out it is pretty likely the money went to her fee."

"So, at least that tells me who hired her to steal the thing. Just need to find out why."

"About that..." Auvy bit her lip, but looked at me with steel in her eyes, "The Squirrels hold open services. I thought a couple of curious new-comers wouldn't raise too much suspicion."

"Auvy..."

She patted a package on the chair next to her, "I brought robes."

"Auvy, I really don't think-"

"I know you don't, Rory, but that's why you have me. For thinking. For example, I think I know where the place is and you don't. I did the research, I know what we're walking into. I'm going, you can come with me."

"Fine. Just a look around, Auvy."

"Course Rory." She stood up, the movement doing complicated things to the shimmer of her suit and uncomplicated things to me. "You forget I'm not a little girl anymore."

Not much chance of that.