her.”
“Indeed.”
A robed Mystic overheard the conversation. When Nefarious was alone, the stranger of his own kind approached him with hands open. He asked Nefarious, “Is your interest in the robbery of the Concubine more than mere curiosity?”
“What if it is?”
“I am Malicious Virtue. I am a merchant come to do business with the human Simon Fink. I have done so before and he has never cheated me.”
“I am Nefarious Good.”
“I know who you are. Have you come to this outpost to cause trouble?”
“I have come to find my fortune. I have been hired to right a wrong.”
“You cannot help this Concubine of the Seen Unseen. Her people have no clout on this world.”
“She has me.”
“Nefarious Good, you do not know Simon Fink. He has a way of making troublemakers disappear.”
“Malicious Virtue, he does not know Nefarious Good. I have a way of killing people sent to make me disappear.”
“Nefarious, these ‘Concubines of the Seen Unseen’ are unnatural. They are to be loathed, not pitied. I shall pay you what she offered if you desist.”
It pained Nefarious to hear one of his own people implore him to betray a covenant. He asked the merchant, “Do you know that Simon Fink invited the woman to this world? Do you know his thugs robbed her when she met where they agreed to meet for a transaction? My brother, I hope you are disgusted by his treachery.”
“My brother,” Malicious responded but not in kind, “Simon Fink is a friend to our people. This unnatural creature you now serve is our enemy.”
Nefarious Good snickered. He remarked, “I would never count a thief among my friends.”
Malicious Virtue whispered, “I am a merchant of the Arcane Artisans Guild. I represent more than my personal interests. My brother, our people profit from my dealings with Simon Fink. It would be unseemly for a war hero of our own people to act against him.”
Nefarious responded, loudly and clearly, “Denounce me if you must, greedy merchant of my otherwise honorable people. I shall do what is right.”
“Nefarious Good is now the hired killer yet he rebukes me as a greedy merchant? I shall denounce you, my brother. Should you act against Simon Fink, he shall have our blessing to do with you as he will.”
Nefarious nodded. Malicious left him but the tension remained. Nefarious knew the merchant would warn Simon Fink. The thief and murderer would be ready for the hired killer. Nefarious Good smirked, afraid but excited by the fear. He was finding what he sought.
For Now City was a mix of posh and makeshift. Nefarious kept to the shanty towns for his nightly lodgings, so as to avoid the scrutiny and observation of private security forces. He never slept in the same place two nights in a row, so as to avoid being easily found. This night he spent in a small, grungy room owned by a human keeper. The bed was small because it was made for human use but Nefarious was able to make himself comfortable lying at an angle. Besides: he had often slept on hard ground while serving in the Confederate Army. He held the grip of his sheathed short sword as he nestled to sleep.
A seeking presence entered the hotel… but it did not feel unfriendly. The warmth of it came upstairs and neared the door. Nefarious opened his eyes, now wide awake. He looked at the door before the hand outside it knocked. Hearing the knock, he rose from the bed. His right hand holding his sheathed short sword, his left hand unlocked and opened the door. A female of his kind was on the other side. “Come in,” he invited. When she was in the room, he closed and locked the door.
“Nefarious Good,” she addressed him.
He responded, “I know who I am, as do you. I do not know who you are.”
She nodded her apology, introducing herself, “I am Aloof Amity. I am the one who suggested you unto Gertrude Yellow the Frugal.”
“Why?”
“She needs your help.”
“What is that to you?”
“I feel her pain.” This female of the Mystic race wore the charms of a soothsayer. She was a diviner and female. Yes, she felt the pain of another. Aloof Amity mentioned, “Gertrude Yellow is warm and soft. She deserves better than the harsh coldness of indifference.”
“Indeed.”
Miss Amity smiled, “You are a hero. It is your way to defend the weak and avenge the wronged.”
Embarrassed, Mr. Good explained, “I am a soldier of fortune come seeking my fortune. I shall honor my contract with Miss Yellow.”
“You would honor it even if she could not pay you.”
Nefarious arched an eyebrow. He claimed, “I would not have accepted this arrangement if she were unable to pay.”
Miss Amity smiled, insisting, “You would refuse her but as you left her presence your heart would ache. In the morning you would set out to do what you refused to do.”
“Miss Amity, to know my name is not enough to know me.”
“I knew you before I knew your name.”
The certainty in the female’s voice was beyond subjective opinion. What did she know about Nefarious that he did not? He asked her, “Are you acting with the authority of our representative in the Administrative Triad?”
“Our administrator’s sympathies are in the interest of our merchants. I have come as a being of heart, mind and spirit.”
“You are sentimental. Miss Amity, I have experienced reality to its fullest. Please understand that I know idealism to be naïve. I must be true to reality if I am to do what is best.”
“You shall do what is best.”
“Miss Amity, I am already helping the Concubine Merchant. Why have you come here?”
“To tell you things you do not know. To provide for you things that may help. Mr. Good, you are in the camp of many enemies. They shall hate you and seek your destruction if you do what is right. Allow me to help you.” Aloof Amity handed Nefarious Good a scroll.
The male read the document. He smirked, “A license of arbitration signed by our administrator himself. Yes, this shall prove quite useful. Thank you.”
Crates labeled with the logo of the Arcane Artisans Guild were loaded onto a truck owned by Simon Fink. The driver was nearly ready to depart when startled by the sounds of thumping, grunts and groans. He suddenly glimpsed a Mystic in the driver’s side mirror. The door opened and the alien grabbed the driver and plucked him out of the vehicle! “Please!” the human cringed, fearing for his life.
The towering alien told him, “Tell them that Nefarious Good has confiscated this vehicle and its content. I am taking them as partial reimbursement for the loss of Miss Yellow’s property.” Mr. Good then climbed into the driver’s seat and drove off!
Mystics were head-and-shoulders taller than most humans: It surprised Nefarious to fit so comfortably behind the steering wheel of this human machine. During his service in the Confederate Army, Nefarious was trained in the operation of such vehicles. The things were loud and vibrated but were delightfully fast. Nefarious enjoyed driving them. He whistled as he sped his way to where he intended to hide his acquisition.
That evening: Nefarious Good was in a restaurant that catered to his race. He sat at a table in a corner with his back to the wall. He watched as a robed merchant and a group of armored swordsmen, all of them fellow Mystics, entered the establishment and approached him. Nefarious could feel that this group had come for him. The logo of the Arcane Artisans Guild was emblazoned on their attire, so he knew the merchant Malicious Virtue had sent them. Nefarious rose from his seat and stepped away from his table but he kept his hands away from the hilts of his swords. The robed one stopped and held out empty hands, assuring, “We have not come to assail you.”
“Then why do you come with an armed band?”
“For Now City is a dangerous place. I do not venture into its streets without bodyguards.”
Nefarious smirked, knowing the merchant told his lie by telling a truth. “You have c
ome for me?”
The robed one bowed with arms outstretched. He introduced, “I am Insidious Candor, merchant of the Arcane Artisans Guild and a deputy of Mr. Malicious Virtue.”
“I am Nefarious Good, private soldier in the employ of Miss Yellow the Frugal. I am also her licensed arbiter.”
“Arbiter? The human clone is not a citizen of our Confederacy.”
“No, but I am. I have made her grievance my own, thus, it is subject to arbitration in a Confederate court of law. The property I have confiscated shall remain in my custody until this issue has been legally resolved.”
“She hired you. Mr. Good, you cannot legally claim impartiality.”
“Indeed: that is why I petitioned for this matter to be resolved in Confederate court.”
“Your grievance is within the jurisdiction of the colonial magistrate.”
“Yes, but I have accused the local magistrate of being partial to the Arcane Artisans Guild. I have submitted evidence to support my claim.”
Insidious Candor gulped. He voiced, “This is unseemly.”
“Perhaps, but it is legal.”
“Mr. Good, would you please come with me?”
“Perhaps: Where are we going?”
“Prominent residents of this city wish to meet with you. Please accept their invitation and come with me.”
Nefarious insisted, “I shall remain armed and unconditionally. I shall depart at will.”
“Yes, of course.”
Nefarious could feel the cold, sickening malice. He knew he was being brought into a trap. He smirked, anxious to surprise those who intended