In the Shadows

It was dark. Shouldn’t have been that dark, where are the buildings lights? Kurtis’ got a call saying to check the custom’s warehouse tonight. That was it, no details. With so little to go on he came alone to investigate. One of the blessings of living on an orbital platform above a luminescent gas giant was that there was always some light. Even filtered through the platform’s protective dome the orange glow from the planet swirled and threw strange shadows all around him. Between the gas giant glow and his enhanced eyes he was able to see some details. To avoid attention he had left his solo skimmer down the block.

As soon as he got close he noticed the door to the warehouse was wide open.

“Shit” he muttered under his breath.

He pulled out his little snazzer©. He hoped that its beam would be enough since it was more of a stunner than a real fighting weapon. He hadn’t prepared properly and his heavy weapons were still in the skimmer. He peeked into the building but the gas giants light didn’t help inside. He popped back out and tapped his temple to toggle up the strength of his night vision. He popped his head back in, he could see but not so well. He crouched down and started to duck walk into the building.

“This is Detective Kurtis Feleni of the Tanthalus Orbital Platform Defense Corps. I need any and all occupants of this building to identify themselves at once!” he shouted into the darkened building.

As he shouted his scanners finally cycled through their automatic search for life forms. Something about the walls most have been blocking them. Whatever the reason for the delay, his eyes and the sensors agreed nobody was here. He took out the big flashlight he always carried on his belt, dialing down his night vision in the process. As soon as he powered on the flashlight he was confronted by his visage reflected off the crate. He looked tired, his gold green eyes listless. His skin which had been a healthy gold now looked pallid. The only lively part of his face were his distinctive Siamis whiskers. Eight black, steel strong, wires which stuck out of his cheeks and waved about giving him a sense of the air directly around him. Maybe I should cut them off so I could just look human. It sure would be nice. He moved his flashlight and his face disappeared as he continued to search the warehouse.

The warehouse was crammed with ten by ten plastisteel crates. They were stacked floor to ceiling leaving only a few ways to navigate the dark aisles of the warehouse. He continued to walk cautiously through the warehouse until out of the corner of his eye he spotted a body. He headed towards it, shining his beam all around to make sure nobody was lurking. As he got closer he was able to determine that the body was a Derkin lying face down, each of his four arms sprawled, spastically around him. The Derkin’s characteristic too-short legs lay still, almost comically frozen in the bend of a runner’s pose. His grey-green skin ashen as it contrasted his traditional rose colored bachelor robe. His robe showed none of his lilac blood but there was a scorch mark marring the robe right in the middle of his back.  A matching scorch mark marred the shiny surface of the nearest plastisteel crate. Tanis looked around to see if there were any other scorch marks but as he suspected there was just the one, a simple kill shot fired at a victim running away.

He tapped a small tab of skin behind his ear to start his comm and then thought out a message. “Sophia and Tas, I need you to come down to the spaceport Customs storage area. We have a situation.” He knew better than to elaborate since the media was always monitoring, even the channels headquarters’ claimed to be secure.

“On our way,” Sophia responded.

He itched to call it in to headquarters. To call in some regular cops to secure the area but in these times it was better to handle everything within his team and then let everybody in. Leaks seemed to come from everywhere, everywhere that is but his team. He couldn’t risk a detective like that rat Marxon coming in to sell the case to whichever gangster or politician owned him this week.  Plus the body was a Derkin which meant that this could be a hate crime. The Derkins may have been Earth’s first alien contact and their biggest allies but that didn’t mean that all Human’s liked them. Specieism survived in all places even way out here.

He prowled around the area while he waited for the others, maybe the weapon had been dumped somewhere around. He slipped between the plastisteel crates behind the body. Immediately he saw that they had been hiding another trio of crates. These crates had been messily broken open and now lay on their sides completely empty. He touched the tip of his left pinky to the tip of his left ring finger to activate his scanner and checked one of the crate’s manifests. The manifest quickly appeared on a pop-up display mentally projected in front of his left eye. The manifest read:

Contents:

·         20 bundles of burgundy semi-steel cloth.

·         20 bundles of Silver semi-steel cloth.

·         15 Neavaue Steel© sewing machines with diamanium needles.

·         Pattern for Elite Security Uniforms©

Destination:

·         Sirius Solar uniform makers.

“You know that the new software makes using all your body apps purely mental right?” Sophia asked him.

“Yes Sophia, I realize that but I don’t want it to be all mental. I like having to physically activate them.” Kurtis turned as he spoke and for the thousandth time had his breath taken away. It was embarrassing that because she was foot and a half taller than him every time he faced her he was exactly eye level with her breasts. He liked to think that if he was taller he wouldn’t stare at them so much but in reality it was a lie. They were perfect, just like the rest of her. She was the result of at least seven generations of genetic massage. Each generation tweaked in an attempt to create the perfect representation of human beauty.

“Efficiency is more important than comfort.”

“Sophia…” Kurtis paused and decided to just move on. “Sophia take a look at the wound and try and figure out what kind of weapon was used.”

“Yes sir,” She responded with a seriousness that Kurtis always found disconcerting since they had been working together for almost three years.

As she squeezed between the crates Kurtis heard her say, “Welcome to our crime scene, Tas.” Again in that strange formal tone of hers this time tinged with discomfort.

“Hi Sophia, smile,” Came the buoyant high voice of the youngest, happiest member of the team his voice slightly distorted by the translator device he always used. Tas was a Derkin and Derkins simply couldn’t make the same sounds as earth humans. Their voices were much higher pitched and to a human ear sounded like squeaks. Tas also wore customary rose hued bachelor robe but his was obviously customized. Adorned with synthetic rose gemstones stitched into the hem and LED lights creating a rainbow with their blinking on the collar. Even more striking was the difference between Tas’ vibrant emerald skin and the victim’s ashen skin.

“What is there to smile at? All I see is a dead Derkin,” responded Sophia her voice cold .

Tas didn’t even look at Sophia as he approached Tanis, walking comfortably hunched so that he could use the lower set of his four arms as legs. The Derkins actually had what Humans’ would consider three sets of arms because each set was equipped with the same finger like appendages which could be used like a defter version of the human hand. It was never a surprise to see a Derkin running through the settlement on all six limbs or to see one walking about on two just like a Human. Kurtis had been around Tas long enough to realize that the four legged approach was the most comfortable. As he arrived at Kurtis, Tas stood up straight and tall, well as tall as his five feet would ever allow him to be.

“Bossman, what do you need?”

“What can you tell me about the scene?”

Tas’ small face scrunched with concentration his three gold eyes almost closed he said. “So far I have determined that the power is not just off. It has been completely cut from the power grid. Except for the power, those crates and the body everything seems to be normal.”

“I thought these buildings were all given a complete solar power system so that they could function autonomously of the power grid?” Kurtis said pointing towards the roof.

“As far as I can tell the solar power system just stopped working and when the power grid tried to fill the void it was blocked. Most likely there is no physical damage to the system it looks like someone stopped the grid using the buildings own AI. Then when the power was gone the AI crashed leaving the power off and the security reduced to whatever physical guards were here.”

“Shit. This isn’t some rip and run outfit then. These are professionals.”

Kurtis didn’t want state the obvious out loud. This was just the latest in a string of robberies which targeted Derkins and always needed someone with clearance to make it go smooth. Hopefully this time he would find some evidence.

“Tas, I know the Derkin community here is small, do you know the victim?” Kurtis tried to ask this with as much compassion as he could.

“Without seeing his face I can’t be sure but by the robe I believe it is Kander. He recently arrived from the home planet after leaving the military.” Tas responded his voice still holding its usual happy bounce.

“His dying doesn’t seem to bother you much?”

“He was not of my clan or my class. He was a commoner. I mourn the death but in the same way I would any of our other cases.”

“Okay.  Try to figure out exactly how they hacked the system and try to get it back on line.”

“Sophia, any word on the murder weapon?” Kurtis shouted towards where the body was.

“It was definitely a beam weapon but nothing I have seen before. I scanned the wound both for visual identifiers and for the radioactive spectrum but so far neither is registering in my database. We may have more success once I can officially access the much larger Habitat database.”

“Keep at it. I think it’s time we called this into the station. Tas and Sophia be ready for the media, they will definitely be here first.” Kurtis spoke loudly to make sure they both could hear him. Next he tapped the knob of skin behind his ear, “Headquarter this is Detective Kurtis Feleni calling in a crime at the spaceport Custom’s warehouse. Be advised a wagon is needed.” Even though he knew the media could read between the lines and figure out the message Kurtis said it anyway. 

“Tas, Sophia try and finish it up so we can leave as soon as the other officers arrive. I really don’t want to deal with the media Jackals. Oh and Tas how much longer before you can get us a secure personal comm Line? My throat is starting to hurt from all this shouting.”

“Well boss I have something ready now. Not as sophisticated as what we have now but it will allow secure communications. The only downside is that you will have to actually speak because it is an external devise.”

“Doesn’t bother me at all Tas, good work.”

“Actually have to speak, how twentieth century.” The disgust in Sophia’s voice was obvious but even her revulsion sounded formal.

The first vehicle to land was a dinged up old solo skimmer. As soon as it touched down an older human popped out shouting questions at them. “Detective Feleni, Bob Cratwizz reporting for Tanthalus news, what kind of crime is it? Is that Derkin behind you a suspect? Why aren’t there more troopers here?” Kurtis stared at him trying to figure out how to get rid of him.

Before he got a chance to speak the roar of jets drowned out everything. Kurtis looked up to see half a dozen squad cruisers burning their landing jets above him. The ships were deceptively simple, just iron grey squares of metal with a rockets attached. Their windowless exteriors were plain except for the bright glowing green police logo of a sword superimposed over a gaseous orb. Kurtis loved the way the material seemed to absorb the orange glow of the gas giant making the ships look like they were fiery chariots. As he watched the nearest side of each of the vehicles swiveled up revealing four troopers per ship in full combat gear. Bodies covered head to toe in a dull, metallic material. Each had an insignia on the shoulder, most a simple single bar. Half the troopers set-up a laser perimeter while most of the rest spread out to check the area. Kurtis was thankful to see two troopers jog over and escort Mr. Cratwizz outside the perimeter. Kurtis looked up to see a trooper approaching him that had an elaborate set of bars surrounded by a glowing green star.

“Captain Sedrick Janson.” Kurtis said with a smile while giving him the traditional trooper greeting of a fist over his heart.

The captain’s visor slid up to reveal an answering smile as his arm mirrored the gesture. Kurtis watched how the massive scar that ran down the left side of his face from eyebrow to jaw line moved as the smile turned serious. “Kurtis, it’s good to see you but people are starting to talk about your secretive methods. They wonder if you don’t trust them. I try to protect you but even my influence has limits.” By the end of his speech his creased tan skin had blanched slightly giving him the appearance of the dying. That change revealed more about the situation than the words themselves. People, important people, wanted Kurtis’ blood. 

“I appreciate the help Cap but I can’t ask you to put yourself or your career at risk for me. My methods may be secretive but they also get results and as long as I make big arrests they will keep me around no matter how much they may dislike me. Now me and my team are getting out of here to let you handle the media.” Kurtis said as he saluted and walked away.

As he walked Kurtis thought about the situation. In the last week there had been seven Derkins killed in apparent robberies. As far as they could tell the only two details that linked the case were that the victims were Derkins and that the perpetrator seemed to have each been helped by a Government official.

“Get the hell away from that, alien.” Kurtis’ head turned towards the shouting and spotted a trooper looming over Tas.

Kurtis ran the the twenty-five feet to where the trooper stood slamming into his side sending him sprawling to the ground. “What’s your name trooper?” Kurtis snarled down at him.

“Mike Williams, Sir,” The trooper responded as he slowly got to his feet.

“Well Williams, consider yourself on notice. Return to the barracks at once,” Kurtis said while at the same time transferring the official complaint and reprimand to William’s personnel file. “That ‘Alien’ is a damn fine officer who deserves your respect. Dismissed.”

The trooper scurried away as Kurtis turned to Tas, “We’re getting out of here. Head down to K town to get dinner and figure this case out. Call Sophia and let her know that we will all be meeting there.”

Kurtis couldn’t stop his mind from flashing back to when he was the young alien officer being bullied. The two human troopers loomed over him their sneering faces only a foot above his bloody nose.

“I wonder how much the little kitty would squeal if we pulled out his whiskers?” the bigger of the two troopers asked his friend laughing. “Not sure. Let’s try.” Replied the other trooper in a serious voice, his fingers flexing in a plucking motion.  

         “Whoa Marxon, I was just trying to scare him. This is just hazing the new guy.”

         “I know. I know. I can’t help being a good actor.” Marxon replied laughing a cold hard laugh while still staring down at Kurtis with a icy, serious stare. “I think we’re done here.”

As they walked away Kurtis vowed to himself that he would never quit, never give them the satisfaction.

***

Being the only squad on the force with two aliens meant that they were constantly getting the short shrift. Despite their exemplary arrest record they were still waiting for an official squad room. But in truth it didn’t really bother Kurtis much; he didn’t really want to be around all those other cops anyway. So for them, their squad room was a booth at a Derkin restaurant, where they knew no other officers would ever go. The restaurant, Kanderhome, was in what the rest of the platform called the A district. The A obviously stood for Alien which was why most of the people who actually spent time there called it K town for Kandar town instead. It was a small district but it housed several restaurants and stores which stocked non-earth centric goods.

Kurtis walked into Kanderhome and headed straight to the back. Their booth was the last one, bordered by the back wall and the inside wall with views of the door. The décor was typical of Derkins with bright green and rose flowing fabrics dominating but the turquoise and lime which were the official color scheme of single females fighting for attention. The colors made sense since the restaurant was owned by a single male Derkin, Kastor. But the chef was a single female named, Rashanti. The booths were made of a synthetic version of the Derkin equivalent of Earth wood and they were remarkably similar to an Earth booth consisting simply of two benches with a table in between. The differences were that they were shorter than an earth booth by nearly half a foot and that they had a shelf under the table where a Derkin could rest his middle appendages.

Tas and Sophia were already at the table, glaring at each other when Tanis strolled up. He listened as they argued.

“Why can’t we just order the plain food for once?” Sophia was asking Tas.

“The roarerit is the plain food. Listen to the description. A filet of flangerhall-that is similar to Earth fish- poached in a redwine reduction sauce and served with jilst- a mixed green salad- and Earth rice. What is scary about that?”

“It’s not scary I just prefer this one: Hot dog and rice with broccoli.”

“That is from the Earth kid’s menu. Are you an Earth kid? We have been coming here for meetings for six months and you still haven’t tried any real Derkin dishes. Kurtis eats them.”

Just then they were interrupted by Kastor’s daughter. “Hey guys what can I get you tonight?” she asked with a flirty twinkle in her attractive platinum eyes.

“I will have the roarerit” Tas replied.

“And I will have the hot dog” Sophia added in an irritated voice.

“Another roarerit,” Kurtis added from the walkway where he was standing, “Also two Derkin’s finest and a sapporo.” The beer hopefully would smooth out the conflict that Sophia and Tas always seemed to be embroiled in.

Kurtis sat down at the booth next to Sophia who slid in towards the wall to accommodate him. “Let’s get back to the case. Tas any new ideas about how they hacked the facility?”

“The only way is if they are already on the secure network. It’s possible to get in from outside but if anybody that good was in system I would have heard about it.”

Tas was the top software expert on the force and possibly on the entire platform. He was also an ex hacker who knew how to maintain his black market contacts. If he hadn’t heard about a hacker then the hacker probably didn’t exist. “So you are saying somebody shut down the systems from a secure platform building?”

“Yes, but more than that. In order to have that kind of access it needed to be an executive terminal of which there are only twenty-five total on the whole platform.”

Shit, that meant somebody high up in the platform bureaucracy was involved. “Sophia, any luck on the weapon?”

Her perfect features stretched as her face showed her irritation. “Nothing in the system. Simulations show that it is twice as powerful as any beam weapon or tool currently available on platform. The only other detail I found is that the radiation spectrum matches Derkin tech.”

Some sort of Derkin super weapon was not what he wanted to hear about. “Okay, last question. What was so important about the cargo in those two crates?”

“Well the manifest showed uniforms in one and the second crate had thirty six police service weapons, five rifles and one hundred anti-personnel mines.” Tas replied clearly reading from his pop-up screen.

“Both crates were shipped to Sirius Solar uniform makers who recently took over the contract for both the police and two of the major private security forces on platform. It seems they were to outfit a security team for a special event at the Derkin embassy. They were the third and final shipment.” Sophia added.

“So somebody now has the capability to impersonate the guards at a Derkin embassy event and they are very well armed.  Does that about cover it?” Kurtis asked sarcastically.

“We contacted Sirius and asked if it would be possible to alter the uniforms in order to make the stolen ones distinctive but they refused saying that once you sewed up a uniform it is almost impossible to alter.” Tas said seemingly unaware of Kurtis’ sarcasm.

Sophia looked at Tas exasperation clear on her face. “Alright sir, what’s the plan? Do we stake out the embassy or try to find the guys who broke into the warehouse?”

Kurtis sat perfectly still his gold green eyes closed softly. “We do both. Tas, you are going to work your systems magic to find chatter about a possible attack at the embassy. Also try to look for anyone talking about the new beam weapon. Sophia, I need you to go and case the embassy to try and find how the fake guards will get in and out. We know they can’t just show up with the other guards because somebody would figure it out. Tas as soon as you are done link back up with Sophia at the Embassy.”

“What are you going to do sir?” Sophia asked.

“I am going to liaison with Captain Janson to find some troopers we trust to work the embassy once Sophia has the info we need. If anything comes up call me on the secure line Tas rigged for us.”

            Captain Janson’s office followed the style of old Earth, dark faux wood paneling and synthetic leather chairs. Not a surprise since the Captain was one of the few residents of the platform who had actually been born on Earth. His face was creased and pale, bags omnipresent below his steel grey eyes but the eyes themselves still twinkled with life. That twinkle transformed him, once you gazed into his eyes you forgot his age. He had hired Kurtis so many years ago despite kurtis’ status as the only mixed species resident on the platform. Now many years later kurtis was counting on those instincts to find a few decent men to help him stop the plot against the Derkins.

            “Cap, all I need is a half dozen good officers. People you can trust. People who aren’t bought and paid for.”

            “You know I’m not the beloved Captain in the department anymore. My stance, like yours, against the corruption and specieism has taken me out of touch with the rank and file. I can probably find you two or three but that’s it.” The flutter in his deep, gravelly voice betrayed the emotion that his formal words tried to cover.

            “Three good officers could do the job. How can you be sure they are trustworthy?”

            Kurtis watched the Janson’s face as he considered how to answer and saw the pain leaking out from behind his eyes. What could cause that pain?

            “My nephew, Jervis, made detective last year and is in charge of a three person squad. I can vouch for him.”

             He trusted his nephew but not his son. Kurtis could never truly understand what Janson was going through but he knew it was horrible. He remembered seeing Janson’s face at the ceremony where Kane Janson had earned his detective badge. How the Cap had had to leave before Marxon pinned the bars on his son’s shoulder. Kane hadn’t even told his father that he was going to serve with Marxon. Captain Janson found out through the office rumor mill when he overheard his secretary telling a friend. “I guess his dad’s honor wasn’t enough, he wanted to get paid.”

“Okay Cap, can you message him to meet my team over at the Derkin embassy in an hour?” Kurtis asked without giving a hint that he had put two and two together about his son.

            Janson nodded as Kurtis got up. “And Cap,” He paused watching Janson, and then continued, his voice thick with emotion, “Thank you for trusting me.”

            He went through the door quickly.

            The Derkin Embassy always reminded Kurtis of a fortress from a faerie tale. It was easily the most distinguishable building on the entire platform with its high, fluted towers almost scraping the inside of the platform’s dome. It was made of some native Derkin stone which glowed a faint pink no matter how bright the day was.

            “This building is a nightmare to defend with all those doors.” Announced Sophia as soon as she saw him walking towards her, “Why do they need a dozen doors on each side of the building?”

            “Because, Sophia, it is customary in Derkin society to have separate entrances for males and females of each of the four classes. That is why there are eight doors on each side.” Tas replied as he to arrived at the embassy, his voice lacking its normal happy note. “You might have known that if you had read the briefing I sent you.”

            Kurtis looked at the eerily beautiful wall of the embassy trying to figure out why it felt eerie and what about it was beautiful. In many ways it was just a wall but it wasn’t quite what a wall usually was. The color a deep rose pink twinkled at him but that wasn’t it. Maybe it was the slight curve or the irregularity of the border on top. Maybe it was the doors that Sophis was so discouraged by: each one different, half rose colored and half turquoise. Finally he decided that the beauty of the wall was impossible to pinpoint that perhaps its beauty was in its utter difference. A difference that only a Derkin would understand.

“Tas, what door would the security use?”     

“Well bossman, as non-Derkins they would enter through the door of the lowest class which is always located on the far right of a building.”

“Sophia, we have a three-person squad coming in to back us up can you create a plan of action for guarding the entrances and transmit it to them?”

“No problem. Are we sure they are trustworthy?”

“As far as we can trust anyone anymore we can trust them,” Kurtis responded, sounding weary.

As Sophia walked off to her skimmer to develop the plan Kurtis turned to Tas. “Any luck with the hacker?”

“As far as I can tell from the public web there are no new hackers on platform. I hate to say it but this must have been an inside job, bossman.” Tas’ usual buoyant voice sounding subdued.

“How are you handling all this Tas? I know it must be hard since these are your people.”

Tas stood perfectly still, maybe the first time Kurtis had ever seen him still, his mouth opened but nothing came out. Finally he said, “It’s not the threat to the embassy that is bothering me. It is the attitude of the people. Kurtis, do you realize that you are the only person looking out for Derkins as a people? Sophia is just doing her job, she doesn’t care about Derkins. She can barely stand me. I don’t feel like the Earthlings will be to upset if this attack is successful.”

Tas’ speech hit Kurtis like a meteor. Tas had always been so happy and bouncy. He had never thought how the tensions between the species might be affecting Tas. In truth even though Kurtis was mixed species he never really thought of himself as anything but human. He had been raised by his human mom and never even known his Simias dad. The only legacy of his dad really was his little nub of a tail and his sensory whiskers. But Tas couldn’t hide his heritage and being Derkin on the platform was difficult in the best of times.

“Tas, I don’t know what to tell you. I hope our actions can show our worth but I also know that people like Marxon will never change their opinion. Right now we need to concentrate on the case and after maybe we can work on public perceptions.”

 “Bossman, I never doubt that you will be there for us but how much can one person do? We need people like Sophia to accept us as being people just like her, not alien freaks. But you’re right, now is the time for work. What do you need me to do?”

Kurtis contemplated for a little while and then said, “Just take care of yourself. I know its hard but if we just do our job maybe we can make it better.”

“I hope so, bossman.  How about I liaise with the embassy to try and figure out a way to spot the fakes? While I’m in there I will take a look at the floor plans just in case they do get inside.”

“Sounds good. Oh and Tas, be careful.”

“You too, bossman.” Tas responded as he saluted.

“Everything is in place.” Sophia said through her device, “Tas is inside and I’m covering the East wall. Detective Janson spread his squad out so that between the four of us we have each side covered. I also got devices from Tas so that they can contact us.” Sophia explained to Kurtis twenty minutes before the security groups were to arrive. “We have agreed to have the devices constantly transmitting just in case they are able to sneak up on us.”

“Hopefully we have it covered. Tas just contacted me and the embassy has agreed to allow the regular security troops in through the doors on the left hand side of the wall so we should be able to spot the fakes by which door they use. Even with those precautions I think it best to meet and question each group as they arrive just to be sure,” Kurtis replied.

Kurtis sat back in skimmer to wait for the action.

“Can I see your papers for the event?” came Dective Janson’s voice out of Tas’ device.

“We are the security. Please move to the side so we can do our job.” Came another voice, a hard, cold sounding voice.

“Why are you using this entrance not the one on the left side?”

Kurtis jumped, realizing that Janson just signaled that these were the imposters.

“These were the doors indicated in our orders. We really must enter now,” said the cold voice again.

I really must…” then no voices only a sizzling sound and boots thumping close to the mic of the device.

“Everyone we have a breach on the Westside, Dectective Janson is in trouble,” Kurtis hollered into the device. Tapping his temple frantically to magnify his vision he searched the doorway hoping to see the attackers but all he could see was a figure crumpled on the ground.

“I’m two minutes away,” Sophia responded her breathing ragged as she obviously was running towards that entrance.

“Janson’s down. Everyone converge on the Westside entrance. Tas alert the Derkins to block off that entrance from the inside,” Kurtis said as he slammed the accelerator on his skimmer.

He sped towards the embassy, as he arrived he hit the emergency stop and leaped out of the skimmer before the door had even opened all the way up. He drew his heavy duty Blaster© and surveyed the scene. He tapped behind his ear and saying it out loud even though he didn’t have to, “Officer down, I need immediate med-evac at the Derkin embassy. Detective Victor Janson has been shot.”

Even as part of Kurtis worried about the Cap’s nephew the bigger part continued to work. He ducked in low through the doorway checking for hostiles. The hallway he found himself in was empty but it was also short. In front of him was a T intersection.

“Tas, I’m in the entryway of the Westside door and I’m trying to track the attackers. Any idea where they might have gone?”

“Kurtis, they disabled the cameras throughout but we think thy would have had to go left at that t-intersection. We’re sure they can’t get into the inner part of the Embassy and we have guards posted at the interior doors.”

“Thanks Tas. Keep me informed if they pop back up on the grid.”

He walked quickly but cautiously up to the corner. He breathed deep six times dropped to the ground and ducked his head out into the hall. Just as he hit the ground a blast of light flew by above him, right where his head would have been. He spotted the shooter and returned fire. Unlike the attacker he could see his target and the beam hit him right in the knee. The assailant went down. Kurtis scurried over watching to make sure no other shots came his way.

“You shot me. You fucking shot my leg off,” The man shrieked through his mask, while he frantically tried to shove his lower leg back into his knee.

“Who are you? Where are the rest of your men? Talk to me or I will put a beam through your other knee!” Kurtis shouted down at him the muzzle of his Blaster poking into his knee.

“I’m nobody just a grunt from the academy. The others went ahead. Please don’t shoot me!” The boy wailed, sounding terrified.

“Who’s in charge? What are you doing here?” Kurtis was baffled at why a police academy grunt would be assaulting the Derkin embassy.

“Detective….” The boy’s voice was cut off by a beam hitting him square in the side of his head and popping out the other side.

How the hell did that happen? Kurtis thought as he dove to the ground trying to use the boy as cover. Those helmets are designed to stop any known Beam weapon. That’s why I shot him in the knee. His thoughts were cut short by more beams flying over his head followed by the beat of boots going the other direction.

“Kurtis, are you hit?” Sophia asked from the corner while covering the hallway with her Blaster©.

“No, cover me and start to advance, we need to stop this now,” Kurtis said as he heaved himself up and away from the now hollow headed boy.

“Follow me, they’re that way.” Kurtis said as he pointed down and to the right.

They walked quickly, leaning their heads to the side as they tried to see around the bend.

“Sophia, throw your backpack out into the hall.”

She immediately stripped the bag off and tossed it. Nothing happened.

“I’ll go first you follow.” Sophia said as she ducked into the hallway.

“No Sophia, wait!” Kurtis yelled after her.

But it was too late. Before the last word was even out, a beam struck and went through Sophia’s right leg. 

Kurtis charged around the corner shooting multiple beams down the hall. Thankfully his third shot was a lucky one, taking the hostile right in the neck. Kurtis barely noticed as he turned towards Sophia.

“How bad is it?” he asked in an anguished voice.

“It hurts but I’ll live. Kurtis, are the Derkins really worth all this death?” Sophia responded through gritted teeth.

Kurtis looked down at her. “You know, Tas just told me that you didn’t give a damn about Derkins and I didn’t believe him,” the anguish was gone from his voice replaced by cold anger, “If the Derkins aren’t worth protecting then what the hell are you an officer for? Why not go back to your perfect, rich parents and quit pretending to care about justice.”

“I do…” Sophia started to say.

“Whatever Sophia, right now I have real people to protect,” Kurtis said cutting her off and then turning on his heel, he continued on his way.

Kurtis fought with his thoughts forcing Sophia to the back of his brain while he refocused his thoughts on the mission. That’s two assailants down but there were twenty uniforms in that crate. Maybe they didn’t use all of them.

His thoughts were interrupted by another shot. He ducked instinctively before realizing that the shot had actually been aimed at the hostile he had shot in the neck. Seems they really didn’t want anybody talking.

“Bossman, we have an idea where they are and a short cut for you.” Tas’ voice shouted into his ear.

Kurtis jumped at the sound feeling guilty even though it had been Sophia not him who questioned the worth of the Derkins.

“Where and how? Quickly Tas I have a feeling they have something real bad planned,” he responded trying to keep his voice businesslike.

“Just take the next left and push on the wall. It will open up a service corridor into the main antechamber. Motion detectors in that room just activated and it has to be them.”

Kurtis did as Tas said and found himself in a cramped dark tunnel. He had to admit it was the first time he had ever been happy to be in small quarters bumping his head with every step. It took him five minutes to traverse the length of the corridor.

“Tas does this door open up the same as at the other end? How exposed will I be?” Kurtis asked.

“This is another door designed to be “invisible” so they shouldn’t be expecting it to open but a lot of it depends on luck because it’s right in the middle of the chamber.”

Kurtis pushed the door open slowly just far enough to poke his head out expecting a beam to hit him at any time. He allowed a small sigh to escape as he got his head around without getting shot. His relief was short lived as he saw the intruders huddled around something, while others handed them bricks of nano-explosives.

He ducked his head back into the corridor. “Tas, is there anything in this room worth blowing up?”

“No not really.” Tas replied sounding puzzled.

“Wait,” Tas continued, “there’s nothing in the room but conceivably you could place an explosive onto the airshaft which could trigger and explosion down to the power core. The embassy uses its own antimatter reactor for power needs. That would create an explosion that would completely destroy the embassy.”

“Can the Derkins send any troops through to disperse them and stop this?” Kurtis asked quietly as he peeked his head back out through the door. “Actually never mind, they have four soldiers watching the door to the interior of the embassy.”

Suddenly to his left he saw beams arcing towards the would be snipers. Half the group in front of Kurtis bounded off towards the fight leaving him facing only five opponents. He came out shooting taking down two of the fake guards with shots to the neck.

“This is Detective Kurtis Feleni lay down your weapons now!” He shouted forcing every ounce of authority into his voice.

Kurtis threw himself to the ground to avoid the two beams that were the only responses to his orders. Rising up to a shooters crouch he concentrated his fire on the nearest of the two, hitting him twice in the chest. He would live but he was out of the fight. Then he felt an incredible jolt of searing pain as a shot got him right in the hip. He fell but managed to hold onto his gun. Just breathe, just breathe, he thought. Looking up he saw the fourth man advancing towards him. Kurtis fired, catching him right in inner thigh stopping him from moving forward for the kill shot. He felt for the little tab on the inside of his elbow. The pain made it so hard to think, but he finally found pushed releasing endorphjins into his body that gave him enough adrenaline to quickly jog to the downed men. He kicked each of their weapons away, giving the last man a kick in the head too for shooting him.

“Give it up Kane!” Kurtis yelled at the man rigging the explosives.

At the words the man jerked up and spun around to stare at him. “How could you know?”

“I wasn’t sure until just now but I knew it was a detective and Marxon’s too smart to get his hands dirty.  That left you as the best suspect,” Kurtis didn’t even try to hide the disgust in his voice. “You know, that was your cousin you killed at the entry, don’t you. You’re a scumbag.”

“Whatever, just because I don’t love aliens like you and dad doesn’t make me a bad person,” Kane said with the fervor of a religious nut. “This station was made by humans for humans. After this bomb,” he gestured at the column he had almost completely covered in putty, “goes boom the station will be pure again!”

Kurtis couldn’t stand it anymore, Captain Janson was his mentor, the man who taught him everyone deserved protection and here was his son a raving bigot.

The first shot hit Kane directly in throat, the second and third hit mere inched to the right and left. Kane stood there for a second his face showing his shock that Kurtis had shot him. Finally after what felt like centuries Kane’s body fell backwards hitting the column which dislodged his head. The head bounced a few times and then rolled over to come to a stop at Kurtis’ feet.

“There was no way I could take you in and have your father tarnished by this,” Kurtis said quietly to the head resting on the toes of his shiny black boots. “It’s better this way.”

Well case closed, Kurtis thought, the Derkins are safe and the bad guys are all dead. The connections to the department will be covered-up and no one will even try to connect this to Marxon. But for the squad Marxon is the next target and what he did to the Jansons is just extra incentive.