Evers sat at his desk once more, his fingers idly tapping at the butts of both pistols shoved in his holsters. His father’s guns—the things his father loved as much as or more than he had loved his own firstborn. The things Evers had decided would take the most from his father, along with the lack of work around the farm that his absence left. They were a very reliable pair of guns, not very powerful but always accurate, and Evers had used them on each of his missions.
But this time, he wasn’t alone. Ferus stood at the other end of the room from him, which was only about two meters due to the restrictive size of the apartment. Bounty hunters might have a lot of money from their missions, a lot of fine weapons, but they certainly had their restrictions…at least, when in the service of Damidh Kash. Evers had just heard about the power of Kash, and had simply signed up as soon as he found bounty hunter recruiters in one of the local bars.
“Listen, Evers,” the big man grunted. “You have to get over this. You are trying to be a bounty hunter. This could be the test which defines if you truly are worthy.”
“I can be worthy,” Evers growled. “It’s just a dozen people in this big world I’m not ready to kill…and they turn out to be the dozen people I have to kill to be worthy.”
“That’s probably why Kash is giving you this assignment,” Ferus said hopefully.
“More than that: it’s definitely why he’s giving me this assignment!”
Ferus narrowed his eyes. “Don’t say anything against Damidh Kash. He’s probably got hidden cameras in here that are recording everything you and I are saying.”
“Right…” Evers bowed his head. “I need to do this.”
“Not only because you need to prove yourself, but also ‘cause Kash is going to kill you if you don’t do it.”
“Yeah,” Evers remembered. “He doesn’t take too kindly to failure in his organization, does he?”
The huge bounty hunter shrugged. “Probably because if you fail your test, he thinks you’re too weak to stay in his organization. It would be bad to have a group of weaklings as the Bounty Hunter League, wouldn’t it? Full of weak twerps.”
Evers held up one clenched fist. “Are you trying to say that I’m a weak twerp?”
“If you don’t just straighten up about this whole thing,” Ferus grunted. “I’ve tolerated you these past months just because Damidh Kash shoved you on me. Not because I like you, not because I saw something in you. It’s just because the boss told me to work with you, and because I’m not going to go against the boss’s orders.”
The younger man nodded slowly. “Got it.”
Evers returned his attention to the computer screen in front of him, and said, “Bring up that information on Metropolita again, ExEff.”
“As you wish, master.”
The holoscreen faded away into the air, and the XF computer projected a new display. He looked at the lines of information more curiously than he had done earlier that day, because this information could be crucial to this all-important mission.
Metropolita: Metropolita, pronounced Mehh-trow-poll-it-uh, formerly Polis Archaia (name changed 4566) is an enormous city completely covering the island of the same name. The population covers between 5 and 6 million; the last federal survey in 4671 established the population at 5,657,091, and with the current rate of population growth the expected approximate population is at 5,901,677.
The established leadership on Metropolita is a series of elected families who make joint decisions based upon what will be the best for the citizens in the long run. The election of these citizens is decided by the people as to the simplest folk who have need of the prestige and wealth, who are also capable of making logical decisions. The terms of these Leading Families last a span of ten years, but the prestige from being one of the ruling families lasts a lifetime. The same families are not allowed to rule twice. Up to five Leading Families may rule at one time. If the decisions of one Leading Family grows contrary to the expectations and benefit of the people, the people may chose to impeach that family, and have them removed from office.
Evers stared at the screen incredulously. The simplest folk who have need of the prestige and wealth, who are also capable of making logical decisions. His family had been poor, of course, and they probably could use the wealth also, but the thought of them being responsible for the fate of almost six million people was staggering. Evers had thought, back when he left his home for this remote sanctuary, he had thought becoming one of the hunters would bring him power, but simply by being simple, his family had gained a huge island to rule!
And I could’ve had it all if I hadn’t taken my father’s words so deeply, he growled to himself. Well, at least he isn’t one of the Leading Family…I hope he’s dead by now.
Ferus glanced at the screen. “So…the best way to get inside would be to go via the UltraRefine Air Taxi, to, uh…lemme see…to Colva Station. A huge port area on the western coast.”
Evers nodded. “If this information is correct, the—”
The monotonic voice of XF replied, “I am absolutely certain that this information is correct, master. I am programmed not to bring information to your hearing if it is any less than 75% probable.”
The bounty hunter grinned; the mechanical reply, which he had heard so many times before, seemed to relieve some of the tension he felt after the past year of hearing it whenever he said something that questioned the truth of XF’s information. He needed something to get the tension off his mind in such a questioning time for him.
The small bleeping noises from the doorway alerted him to someone’s presence, and he turned. “Unlock the door.”
“As you wish, master.”
Evers motioned to the door. “Ferus, let him in.”
The big man slapped carelessly on the opening mechanism, and the tiny door slid aside. Demen stood in the doorway, a derisive smile on his face as he said, “It’s time to go.”
The youngest of the bounty hunters nodded slowly. “Time to go…fine, then.”
Demen swept a hand toward the hallway. “I’m glad you’re so prepared to shoot some loving siblings.”
Ferus chuckled darkly. “Demen, let me be frank with you. If you were not part of our team, I would bash your head in.”
The irritating man just shrugged. “But I am one of the team, aren’t I? I can shoot practically anyone, can’t I? You won’t find a quicker draw in the world than I am.”
“If I had the money, and if you weren’t part of the team, I’d take that bet,” Evers said.
Demen shrugged. “Fine. Your sentiments are your own…and, by the way, Venin says to come now, not tomorrow.”
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