Listras was concerned about her new instructions.
Pick up a Novan citizen in Illint Plaza. Known as Kolob, he is seated in the main gallery, northern portion, with an agent.
She was given a detailed physical and mental description of Kolob so identification would be brief and accurate, but no good reason why to take him into custody. Rarely did she ever receive orders as vague as these, and when she did, she knew better than to question them, for it usually meant something extremely sensitive and classified.
Listras and her four team members glided on a private RailMover to Illint Plaza. Tall and muscular, with short cut red hair and light bronze skin, she was an imposing sight to behold. Dressed in the gold and brown representative of TELREC, her long robes covered the sinuous outline of her female form. One could see the familiar shape of a woman, but could also see that it was pushed to a limit unknown before. She knew a thousand ways to kill with her body and her mind, a mind as close to perfection as was her body. Alone, she could handle almost any assignment, but was still glad to have the company of her current crew on missions. Trained in numerous forms of mental combat, each member could manipulate a crowd of hundreds — alone. Of course, few in general Novan society or government knew of the extent of TELREC powers.
Which is as it should be.
The Leviathan was a particular sore point for Listras. Lately, she had read the reports of increasing scrutiny by the Leviathan of TELREC interests and future plans. She knew this was to be expected with the Ascension of the Cuhli-pra, but it was still unwelcome and bothersome. She was familiar with the new majority leader, Iant Cou from the Enlightened Party, and Fros Ksilte, a less public but more powerful second. Listras knew both wouldn’t stop until they found what they needed, or were killed. She had done extensive investigation of Fros Ksilte, finding him to be one of the few in power who could not be easily bought with pleasures sexual or violent.
One who really cares, she laughed to herself.
But he had been troublesome. She had been given intelligence that he was a leader in SC-1, a secret agency of the Leviathan formed to gather information on the Cuhli-pra and monitor TELREC activities. His wife was strong, and focused, though not directly involved in SC-1 activities. Listras knew as the Ascension grew nearer, groups like the SC-1 would be pressured into action.
The Iganinagi, SC-1, the Rell, are but the tip of a very large iceberg of those desiring influence over the Cuhli-pra. Thanks to our involvement, most of the weaker ones have been neutralized. But this Ksilte has too many friends in the Leviathan, is too persuasive with his arguments. I long for the roa when I receive termination orders with his name on them.
The RM slid gracefully through the network of tunnels leading through Foundation. Darkness was punctuated by random gleams of light that made its way through the labyrinth of stone and steel that was Novan, yet the inside of the cabin felt as if it was bathed in sunlight, with technology recently stolen from Rell by a trainee of Listras herself. Listras always had a fondness for traveling in the RailMovers, but these lights were the final, perfect addition.
Perfection in motion — that is what I like best. This machine, speeding at a hundred til a term, balanced perfectly on mag-tech, slicing through stone with a beauty rarely seen. No wonder this is one of the few places I feel I can relax. So much of our world seems to have fallen into disrepair, with malfunctions and breakdowns now an expected occurrence. Malhrer is a paradise of perfection compared to Novan.
Listras was one of the most creative, most thoughtful of TELREC operatives. Though usually keen analytical skills were sought in their operatives, occasionally they would try to harness the talents of an actual thinker, an independent soul. More often than not it failed, with the recruit questioning endlessly the purpose of this or that mission, eventually resulting in the recruit’s termination. But not Listras. Married to her deductive and imaginative powers was a fervent belief in the Novan way of life, and in the necessity for TELREC guidance. At an early age she was recruited, and at that early age she matured with that belief as her core, the one axiom that served as her strength and comfort. While she noticed other TELREC came to believe in the sentient computer Mal as a Holis, worshiping its limitless knowledge, she merely believed in the spirit of the TELREC; that they were directly appointed from Holis to watch over and care for his most promising creation, the Novan people.
She proved herself quickly to her superiors, by being able to both synthesize large amounts of data and able to deduce radically new approaches to seemingly static amounts of information. The most difficult assignments were handled easily by her; for she had a keen understanding of the souman condition, and was able to predict, with uncanny accuracy, the patterns of movement in an individual as well as a group. It was thanks to her and two others like her that the TELREC were able to foil all blatant attempts by the Rell to infect or compromise Novan society. On an assignment in particular, seven cas ago, Rell operatives tried to seize control of a cast network broadcast point, and had programming ready that would discredit the Cuhli-pra and the TELREC. The operatives had gone so far as to have been planted in their infancy on Novan, to go to schools for broadcasting, advertising and management. These operatives married into the families that owned the stations, participated in their community, and were always diligent in attending a derasar and casting to Holis.
That should have been a prime warning — few Novans are that diligent.
Listras caught them using that very trail; researching chronicles, finding groups of individuals that did not engage in the same amount of pleasure as other Novans. It was difficult, for the operatives indulged in some pleasure, but had no extremes, no fetishes being played out in some back-street fleshival. Listras caught them within two troas of their planned conception for the plan. It was a major victory for the TELREC, for many high ranking agents were caught, and the populous were none the wiser. But Listras always believed that the Rell had some base here, some way of teaching those children in the Rell way, for when their bodies were probed and scanned, their memories were full of images of Rell faith. Still she searched for that base, she could feel it was somewhere.
And when I find it, I’ll not let them suicide themselves. I’ll keep them alive, and make them suffer.
Listras had just come back off a two cas assignment in the sewers and the underbelly of Novan, infiltrating and hunting down groups of people who refused to chronicle — new recruits for the Iganinagi. These were people TELREC ignored before, only occasionally arrested when they were too demonstrative about their beliefs. But now they engaged in a total sweep of all who refused, part of the advance planning for the Ascension of the Cuhli-pra. Iganinagi elements fought back by orchestrating anti-TELREC demonstrations, sabotaging power and cast-net facilities, abductions, live cast-net executions. Increasingly they grew bolder and bolder, becoming brazen in their actions, their terrorism drawing world-wide attention. CRODAM officers were almost useless, as they were not used to the level of physical or mental discipline all TELREC practiced. Listras brought a halt to Iganinagi terrorism. She had been disguised as men, as women, as prostitutes and apathets. She mingled with their leaders, and in one final motion, crippled some of their hierarchy by killing twenty of their most powerful, destroying several large caches of weapons and explosives. Though she was unable to reach the Iganinagi Coss — the leaders of the various cells, or Aiella, the leader of the Iganinagi — she knew they were dealt a crippling blow, one that made them rethink any overt acts of terrorism. Listras could listen to their most persuasive arguments, and dismiss them all with unshakable faith in the righteousness of her path. She took joy in the more difficult, the more hopeless of a situation.
And it’s just because I’m used to those situations, that the simplicity of this one worries me so.
She distinguished herself among the anti-TELREC elements as an agent with great strength and intelligence, incorruptible. She was one of the few TELREC to be interviewed on the cast-net, and proved t
o be an eloquent spokesman for TELREC concerns. She was unflappable in the face of criticism, unshakeable in her determination to bring honor and glory to TELREC of past and future. She held others to a standard of perfection that she herself lived up to. Pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears, excuses and castings of blame were irrelevant to her.
The RM pulled into Illint station soundlessly — Listras could hear the clamps settle on the ground as its anti-grav motor slowed down. Her team disembarked, and boarded the lift to lower side. Her crew was silent, their thoughts null — one could barely hear them breathe. A stern countenance was chiseled in their faces.
They must be preparing, Listras thought. I wish I knew what to prepare for. Lately though, I feel an urgency, a tension whenever I receive a cast from Malhrer. I know something is coming, maybe the Ascension of the Cuhli-pra, but they feel we are best left ignorant of it . . . I must trust in their decisions, and cannot let my concerns trouble me further.
She closed her mind to the doubts that were beginning to surface, and refocused on the mission at hand.
Suddenly, a new download appeared in Listras’ mind — an update concerning the mission. She cast its contents to the crew.
^We are to detain him for failing to chronicle. When he resists and maintains innocence, we are to bring him in for questioning. He is unarmed, and of little threat.^
Then why send us in? Failing to chronicle is a serious offence, and I’ve handled enough of it lately, but a single man? And only a twenty-cas old boy at that? It only requires our direct attention if it persists and threatens timeline continuity. Why can’t CRODAM officers handle this? I wish I could have more information. She mentally readied herself for battle, flexing and tensing each of her muscles, reading her muscular perfection of a body for, if need be, lethal combat. She then focused her mind. All I do must be right. The Cuhli-pra’s Ascension is now in sight!
The TELREC entered the mall at a service entrance, and soon were among the common folk. At the sight of Listras and her crew, people gasped, and moved as quickly as possible to the exits. TELREC were known to be seen on the streets, but their presence in numbers in close quarters was always a harbinger of things to come. Listras emanated a broad wave of fear that influenced those around her. She could mentally manipulate both the mentally strongest of people, and the largest of crowds.
How pathetic, Listras thought. She always held most Novans is some degree of contempt. They don’t have our discipline, our guiding principles. She remembered back to when she first was training at the TELREC center, how most of her other recruits didn’t make it. They just couldn’t stand to be denied their pleasure. One roa without the pleasure channels, without their favorite meals, and most Novans whine like the smallest of children. She watched as grown men and women scurried away, knocking over tables, spilling drinks and meals.
Run! Be afraid of us! she thought. Why do they still even practice their ‘religion?’ Most of them couldn’t remember the full set of dictions, much less the books in the correct order. Sometimes, I truly do respect the Rell sense of order. At least, they are a worthy adversary. Evil, but worthy.
^He is at the far table,^ Ghinia cast.
^What’s that I hear?^ Listras cast
^Someone is speaking!^ cast Xhudsa.
^It is irrelevant,^ replied Ghinia. ^Our goal is almost in reach.^
^Wait! This is no ordinary fool speaking gibberish,^ cast Listras, as she concentrated on his features, his mind open, revealing his identity. ^I’m getting a download . . . it is a Rellcist. I don’t have any specifics on his identity, but it cannot be accidental that he is here at this precise moment.^
Hmm . . . thought Listras. Obviously I was right, this is no ordinary mission. For a Rell operative to be here must mean there is something larger involved.
The party hardly broke stride as all assimilated and reflected on this new development. Listras scanned her crew, Ghinia, Xhudsa, Hgis and Cufscon, and found only strength and determination. For Xhudsa, this would be his first encounter with a high ranking Rell agent, and Listras was certain she could detect no fear in him. They were now a few til from Martel, and Listras brought her mind and body to the highest level of preparedness that she could.
^He must be questioned and detained,^ Listras cast to her team.
^But what of our objective, this ‘Kolob?’^ cast Hgis.
A new download consumed her thoughts for a moment. It was a simple one, but it confused Listras even further.
^He is to wait, as per orders. They say he always has, and always will.^
Chapter 10