Cosmosis

Calm Before

(Starspeak)

“I feel compelled to apologize again," Peudra said. “It was my fault we wasted two days.”

“We were prepared for more than a few false leads,” I said. “Quit worrying about it so much.”

Our train ride into the mountains had been utterly boring and unfruitful—sorry, ‘mountain’ wasn’t accurate. Tarrasin didn’t have a word for mountain. Most Vorak languages didn’t. Calling the planet’s third highest peak a ‘hill’ just didn’t sit right with me…even if it was mostly accurate.

The little hamlet our rumors led to did not yield a human corpse. A day and a half of chatting up local shop owners, small town Vorak cops, and taking the local tours finally saw us arrive at a photograph of a human.

It wasn’t even a picture of someone we were looking for. No, the worst part was it was me.

Some kid had a close-up photo of me. It was from years ago now, from my time at High Harbor. There was a very fanciful tale of the photograph’s trip from one moon to another, until a Vorak whelp bought the photo at yard sale for pennies.

The rumor of a human being in the town was little more than a bad game of telephone started by a kid.

But dang, if you could see that kid’s face when the alien from their photograph turned up in person?

Even if the detour was ultimately pointless, that had been fun.

“This city, Pudiligsto, right?” I asked. “The Missionary Marines made it sound dangerous, but I wanted to get your input. What are we in for?”

Peudra contemplated their answer thoughtfully before speaking.

“They…are not incorrect,” they said. “Given that our goals will inevitably cross our path with law enforcement, we will likely see some of the systemic corruption they described.”

I’d taken that for a given. I especially didn’t like the sound of this ‘Cadrune’ that our living abductee was tied up with.

“So this isn’t just some moral panic from a couple particularly devout Vorak?”

“No,” Peudra confirmed. “However, their description makes it sound much more lawless than it actually is. Make no mistake, the city has more than earned its reputation for corruption. But it’s also earned recognition for stability. It isn’t that crimes don’t have consequences there, they simply are far less likely to come from strictly legal sources. Criminal enterprises are still, above all else, enterprises. Gruesome and alarming crimes like murder or kidnapping actually have much lower incidences here, I understand.”

“Extralegal consequences,” I nodded. “Kingpins don’t wait for due process.”

“No they do not,” Peudra agreed. “We should stick to highly public areas and stay in groups. Given that? I don’t think any Flotilla personnel will be in any danger.”

That would have to be good enough for the munchkins, maybe Nemuleki’s contribution to our crew too. They were fresh off actual military assignments, so it would be wise to steer them clear of any seedier Vorak elements.

As for the rest of us? Well someone was going to have to turn over stones. Failing that, there was always the last resort of kicking the hornets’ nest.

“The two of them intimated that a human corpse would be something of a morbidly fascinating trophy for people with too much money for their own good,” I said. “Think you can put together a list of people who fill that category? My instinct is that someone very rich has our corpse, even if the corpse isn’t here in ‘Sin City’.”

“Sin City?” Peudra laughed. “I like that. But your instincts are sound, though I have the opposite interpretation. Pudiligsto is central to the region and our search area. Additionally, by virtue of sheer size, it has more money flowing through it than the next six cities on list combined.”

“I figure we can base ourselves here for a week or two,” I said. “Like you said; it’s central. So if we have to split up, we can check out the outlying areas

I gazed out the window as our train glided down a hill overlooking the city in question. Tall hills surrounded the city on three sides with the slopes steepening into leafy covered plateaus at the north end of the city. Glass skyscrapers rose in two clusters near the ocean to the west.

The afternoon sky was overcast, with dark storm clouds a few hundred miles out to sea, but the grey just made the glow of the city stand out more. Even from miles away, outside the city, you could see the neon and fanfare that made the coastline and downtown core hum.

Casinos. Theaters. Galleries. Spas. Did the Vorak have amusement parks? If so, they’d be here. It was a tourist trap, through and through.

This place really was Vegas.

The south half of the city was nominally more industrial than the rest, but my eyes couldn’t pick out any delineation. The city stretched wider than I’d expected. With the exception of a few hours on Cammo-Caddo, all my exposure to alien architecture and metropolitan geography had been reminiscent of Europe. Build up, not out.

But looking at the Vorak homeworld’s layout, I was pretty sure I was seeing classic American suburban sprawl.

The one distinctly alien feature that stood out to me were the canals. Gulf City had been too narrow and pressed up against the coastline to have them, but Pudiligsto was crisscrossed with veins of wide canals. Not a single point in the city was more than a few hundred meters from water.

I’d have to ask Peudra about whether it was a regional quirk or something common across the planet.

“This train line can take us all the way to our port, right?”

“Yes. The Jack is parked at Tylag Maiozi Aerospace-port, wet dock seventeen. You can see the spaceport from here, see the water?”

I squinted at the spot they were pointing toward.

There was a large body of water a few miles east of downtown. I’d seen it, but on a second glance I realized it was huge.

“That’s not a reservoir?” I asked. “It has to be three miles across.”

“It’s a spaceport,” Peudra said. “There’s a smaller one on the coast, on the far south end of the city, but that one is more dedicated for landings—ocean splashdowns. Tylag Maiozi is where most of the foreign traffic comes through, both by airplane or spaceship.”

“Hence the train lines running right through it, and the connections to the hotels, casinos, and all other attractions,” I noted.

“Does this city truly resemble one from Earth so much?” Peudra asked. “Las Vegas?”

“It’s uncanny,” I confirmed. “Who’s Tylag Maiozi?”

“Infamous figurehead of the city from a century ago. They murdered someone and got away with it. Acquitted by a jury, never to be retried, so when they publicly confessed afterward, they became something of a local legend. Equally reviled and revered.”

“Enough they named an airport after them?” I asked, incredulous.

“I think I read their money built it,” Peudra said. “It can’t hurt that their victim was infamous in their own right. I think many saw the murder as heroism. Most stories in this city have some scandal like that to them.”

“[Good grief,]” I muttered. Finding an alien corpse here might not even make the news.

·····

“Hey, Sid. How’s the place treated you so far?” I asked.

“Not bad, but we haven’t exactly gone anywhere except the spaceport’s concourse yet.”

“That’s not too surprising, is it? You were only, what, twenty-four hours ahead of us?”

“Kraknor day cycle is twenty-one and a half,” Sid nitpicked. “But I take your point.”

“We keeping a low profile at least?”

“Not sure. The press swarmed the fence line when we touched down,” Sid said. He nodded out the Jack’s window. “But they didn’t stay long.”

“We’ve got name recognition,” I said. “See if you can’t plug into whatever passes for the internet around here and see if the news has anything to say about us or if it’s just fluff—actually, forget that. Not your job. Nemuleki can do that.”

“Getting a feel for the water?”

“I just want a little forewarning in case this place turns sour on us,” I said. “Peudra got a message—I guess it was a telegram of some kind? Doesn’t matter—Peudra got a message from city hall. They want the big bad Lightbringer to pay a visit, kiss the ring I guess.”

“Never figured you for ring kissing,” Sid chuckled.

“I’m not above a little brown nosing if it earns a little goodwill,” I said. “We’re not finding our corpse without some local cooperation. Criminals or not, it pays to be nice sometimes.”

“I think a few of us should go with you,” he said, tone utterly serious.

I almost dismissed him out of hand. Nai was all the backup I needed…but, no. I’d tried to kill someone just a few days ago. Best to keep my good influences close.

“You and Jordan, how about?” I said. “They want to see some humans, let’s show some. Johnny and Donnie can help Deg while you’re gone.”

“Daylight’s burning then,” Sid said.

We grabbed Jordan once she was done with her pearl meditation—communicating with the rest of the Flotilla no doubt. She looked like she’d got some big news, but when I asked her, she brushed me off.

“[Something big?]”

“[Yes, but not pressing. Serral said he can handle it, and that you’re on vacation.]”

Fine.

On our way out the Jack Nai and Tasser didn’t even ask where we were going. They just fell in, and three became five.

There were another three people in the Jack’s cargo bay, near the doors. Peudra, Tox, and Halax were catching up on details of the last few days and going over strategy for our time in Pudiligsto.

“…We should probably bring a Vorak with us,” I reluctantly admitted before we disembarked.

“Peudra’s the easy first pick,” Tasser said.

“What’s that?” they said, hearing their name.

“Not Peudra, I gave them too much to do already,” I said.

“We’re going to that thing with the mayor,” Jordan answered the question. “We’re thinking it might be wise to bring a rak face with us.”

“I’ll volunteer,” Halax said, beginning to rise from his seat.

“Not you,” I vetoed. I locked eyes with Tox instead. “I’d rather bring you.”

Warily, he hopped to his feet, beaming a final psionic file to Peudra.

“Now hang on, that seemed eerily close to a compliment there. No insult? No calling me a [fleabag], [furball], or any other assortment of [fish] related digs?” he asked as our little party filed out.

I ignored him.

Once we were sufficient distance from the Jack and waiting at one of the spaceport’s tram platforms, Tox spoke up. “He played you, you know?” he said. “He started to volunteer because he knew you’d shoot him down.”

Had he?

No. Whatever. It didn’t matter, but I kept my face still just to make sure I didn’t give Tox the satisfaction.

“Aren’t you something like forty years old?” I asked. “Isn’t trying to pick my brain a little beneath you?”

“My paychecks are signed by a human only two years older than you,” Tox said. “Anything being ‘beneath me’ has nothing to do with it. I’m just always curious to know why you nurse certain grudges over others. I mean, it makes sense why you don’t like me.”

“You’re right, I don’t like you,” I said. “It’s not a mystery. Everyone does know it.”

“I know. I almost had you killed. So it’s all the more surprising to find out you don’t like Halax even more! I thought you were just having a bad couple days at first. But it’s been two weeks and you’re still gnawing on poor Halax like a bone.”

“If you’re looking for an explanation, you can go chug saltwater,” I said. “I don’t like you. I don’t like Halax. But I also can’t justify not cooperating. So shut up, and let’s just go see a mayor.”

·····

A police escort met us on the tram switchover from the spaceport’s network to the municipal city one. There must have been four armed rak on the tram for every one of us. But they couldn’t be more obviously nervous.

Nai said.

Jordan pointed out.

Nai agreed.

We swapped out of the tram into a small motorcade which ultimately delivered us to…

“This is just an office building,” I frowned.

“What’s the problem?” Tox asked.

The building itself was so plain. Just from this street, I could see skyscrapers and casinos with dazzling glass facades and ornate metalwork. That kind of fancy architecture jumped out at you after years of prefabricated modular buildings that filled lunar colonies.

I think this building was actually stucco…

Four walls and regularly spaced windows clashed with my expectation of a more ‘capitol’ building. Columns. A cool dome somewhere, surely.

As it was, the only interesting sight the building offered was the thickening clouds over the ocean.

But, sure enough…a humble plaque hung above the main pair of doors. ‘Seat of the City Counselor’s’ was etched into the metal in Tarassin.

“Really. What’s the problem?” Tox asked.

“Just bemoaning your home planet’s lack of decorum,” I mocked. “Where’s this planet’s civic pride?”

“It’s not my home planet,” Tox scoffed. “I was born on Zesistov. And you’re in the wrong city for civic pride.”

“Can you believe this guy?” Tasser joked to one of our police escorts. “Insulting your city like that?”

“No speak Starspeak,” the rak said innocently. But another one mumbled under their breath. “They are right. Wrong city.”

Entering the town hall, it really was shockingly like an office building—no balding carpet though. The place was all tile. A number of Vorak portraits hung in the halls, but other than that, there was strangely little decoration.

The mayors personal office at least had some more interesting paint.

The Vorak themselves seemed almost bored, much to the translator’s chagrin. The poor kid seemed like they were forcing more enthusiasm into the words than the mayor actually had.

“Seems like we didn’t need to bring you along after all, Tox,” I said.

“Just make sure you love every minute of satisfaction,” he said. “Gods know the feeling can’t come along for you often.”

I resisted the urge to flip him off.

We were in a mayor’s office. Be polite.

“So which one of you is Caleb Hane?”

“I am.”

“Many fortunes upon you,” they said. “Welcome to the free and fair city of Pudiligsto. How have you found it so far?”

“Spectacular,” I said, laying it on thick. “This is the first time I’ve gotten to see buildings this tall since home.”

“What about these other two Humans?”

“Jordan Mazur and Sid Lesher,” I introduced.

“City’s been great so far,” Sid said. “I like the canals—always loved the water.”

“An alien after my own heart,” the mayor chuckled tiredly.

I had trouble telling if he was affecting his warm demeanor, or if they really were just exhausted. It was late afternoon…

“I’m curious which are the city’s best museums,” Jordan said.

“We’ll get you a list!” the mayor said, coming a bit more to life. “Though, you might have to wait a few days. Some of the most popular are near the waterfront, and they’re going to be shut down for the storm.”

“The hurricane?” Sid asked. “I saw it from orbit before we landed. It’s enormous.”

“Nothing to worry about,” the mayor dismissed. “It’s going to land several hundred miles south of here. We’ll see heavy rains, so flood preparations have been made, but these storms happen every year—Cloha, put together a list of museums for our guests with summaries.”

The mayor nodded to a secretary who nodded and ducked out of the room.

I glanced at them leaving, noticing a pair of Vorak walk by the mayor’s open door. They paused for just a second too long, peering at us inside.

Returning my attention to the mayor, I aimed a few of my psionic senses behind me to see how many other people walked by.

Almost a dozen in as many minutes of small talk with the mayor.

I informed my friends.

Jordan asked.

I frowned.

Tasser pointed out.

I snorted.

Hopefully we’d only really be searching for the corpse. We had the name of Ingrid’s benefactor already. She couldn’t be that hard to track down. Asking the mayor about this ‘Cadrune’ painted the mayor’s face with surprise, but not shock.

“Harpe Cadrune owns the Kaleidoscope Tower,” the mayor informed me. “It’s their primary place of business.”

“Then I’ll tell you what,” I said, “I rode on a train for nine hours today, so I’m already exhausted, but the day’s itinerary is not done yet; Cadrune is the last one on the ticket. So can I say it was a pleasure and get out of your way?”

“Of course, of course,” the mayor said. “Talk to the security detail for transportation. Just promise to ring again—one of my secretaries has psionics if you prefer that method of communication.”

I did, and the secretary—actually intern—was even talented. The encryption on the line they gave me was above average.

Piling into the motorcade again, we set off for the so-called Kaleidoscope Tower. Harpe Cadrune had plenty to answer for.

The first splatters of rain were starting to come down as we pulled under the building’s veranda. True to the name, the tower was mesmerizing, again in sharp contrast to the mayor’s own building. Long ridges spiraled from the ground level all the way to the point, scattering light in colorful patterns with every step, even without the sun shining. It was like someone built a skyscraper looking at a unicorn’s horn the whole time.

Approaching the building, I saw that our police escort was allowing us to enter alone.

“You all aren’t coming with?” I asked them in Tarassin.

“Privacy. No?” the lead Vorak replied.

My grasp of the language wasn’t good enough to dissect that more. But possibilities did float through my head.

They might just be being polite, not interposing themselves into my business with Cadrune. But it was equally possible this might be some of the corruption we’d been warned about. Could they have been bribed to steer clear? Let Cadrune do what they like in their building?

These rak were nominally a protective detail, but they couldn’t protect me if I was inside a billionaire’s skyscraper—Cadrune had their own security for the place, no doubt. And even if they weren’t likely to succeed, the whole point of security was ‘just in case’.

The real problem was I had no idea how to gauge which possibility was more likely.

Tox mocked.

I said.