~
It was the day after he had met Sue, and it was getting late. Dave was thinking of her as he moved among the files, cloaking his movements from anyone tracking him, while rummaging around for traces that would lead to the files he was searching for. He had donned the VR headset, which made it easier to see unlikely traces, which deleted and moved files often left behind. Especially when the programmer was an amateur or in a hurry. Dave suspected the killer would be both.
He was following a particularly interesting trail when a purple sphere appeared in his peripheral vision. It looked insubstantial, but there was something inside it. He couldn’t tell what it was, though.
The sphere moved closer, and Dave cursed silently. He must have set off some kind of trap, drawing security protocols toward his location. He waited, hoping it would pass him by, that it was just some random algorithm or a disconnected program of sorts. When it kept moving straight toward him, he began to remove the VR headset.
“Please don’t,” a booming voice said. He stopped.
“Wagner, is it?” the sphere said, its voice softer now.
“Who is this?” Dave asked, curious and concerned at the same time. He had the perfect explanation for being here, with his Tech training and all, but he also knew the killer might be around. Or someone who’d react to his searching through files he wasn’t supposed to know of, instead of performing tasks set by Hasle, his superior.
“Wait just a second… There,” the voice said. What was that about? Dave thought. Then he noticed the transparent, almost invisible shimmer surrounding both him and the sphere.
“What the hell did you just do? Who are you? What do you want?” Dave rattled off the questions, angry now. Mostly because he didn’t understand how it was done. He looked at the sphere, and a figure slowly appeared inside it. A man. A face. A familiar face. A face he’d seen so many times, but always on screen, never for real.
“Counselor,” he said, still not moving. Too perplexed to move.
Counselor Mark Novak smiled briefly, but he didn’t waste time.
“So, have you found what you are looking for?” he asked. Dave shook his head, taken aback and unable to come up with a rational explanation. He realized Counselor Novak knew something.
“Perhaps I can help?” Novak continued, then shook his head.
“Horrible thing, what happened. Do you have a suspect?” he asked. Dave’s jaw dropped.
“How do you know?”
The counselor just smiled.
“All right… I believe it must have been Kirilov, or one of the other seniors…” he said, and Novak cut him off.
“Moon people. So, you are accusing Moon people of murder. That’s a serious accusation, Wagner.” The counselor let it hang in the air. This was too much. If Novak knew this much, he must know…
“Sir, how come you know so much? How do you know they were all Moon people? Kirilov, sure, the name gives him up. I never gave you the names of the others, though,” he said, a chill running down his spine.
Novak still smiled.
“Yes, how did I know…” Novak became completely solid, as if he was really there.
“A few days ago, something happened. You see, a common friend of ours has learned something not many people know. And I have really high hopes for this person, so much that I had to look for ways to save her, but gently, so as not to put myself in harm’s way.”
Sue, Dave thought. Who else?
“So I had someone look for a file with you in it, since I knew you were her friend. I knew you would be willing to help her, especially when I found out about how she helped you once. And since I know more about the Wardens, more about the Covenant in fact, than most people alive, I knew where to find you. And I knew what else I would find…”
Dave waited for Novak to finish up and saw his face change from a smile into something else.
Outrage, Dave realized.
“For too many years, unimaginable crimes have been committed. I mean to see the end of it, and once you see what I have to show you, you will help me. And you will help Miss Atlas, lest she ends up like Greer.”
It was like a blow to the head. Someone wanted Sue dead—but why? And could he trust this man? He mustered up the courage to ask one question.
“Who would want to kill Sue?” he asked. The counselor grimaced.
“Who did she insult when she saved you from being sent to the Corpus?” Of course, Dave thought. The First Janissary seemed the type to bear a grudge. Sue must have given him an excuse, and he had seized the opportunity. He dared another question.
“How do you know about Greer? Have you seen the drone footage?” Novak shook his head.
“No, I haven’t seen it. Greer’s name is in the report. I saw that,” he said. Dave felt a pang of irritation.
What does he really know? Dave wondered. Is he playing me?
“Sir, I’m getting confused. What is happening here? Please don’t play games with me,” he said. He didn’t care if he insulted the man. He needed answers. He needed the truth.
Mark Novak nodded, as if he understood Dave’s confusion. He sighed.
“Susan Atlas has become a problem in Legacy. She has discovered things… Things that are considered a serious threat to the security and integrity of the Covenant. So now, they want her dead. And not just Ivanov,” he said. Dave nodding gravely, waiting for him to continue.
“But she has become a symbol, a hero, in the eyes of the public. So they can’t just execute her. They need her to maintain the image of heroism, while at the same time, they need to get rid of her. Before she becomes too dangerous. So I nudged them along, helped them come to the only possible solution, one that would actually benefit them more than if she had just been a good Janissary. A good martyr.” He chuckled, without mirth.
“A transfer. The hero from the northern border goes south to perform heroic deeds on the western border, as well, keeping the Covenant safe, guarding the Rift,” he said.
“So you sent her here?” Dave asked. Novak smiled.
“Yes, in a way. By order of Head Servant Lunde himself, fulfilling the wishes of a young patriotic soldier, and sending her to the next frontline.” The old man shook his head slightly, and closed his eyes.
“Where she is to be killed on her first mission,” Dave said, now clearly seeing the logic. “The heroine dies in combat, while protecting the Covenant against its enemies. It is the perfect way.” Novak produced a small sphere. Inside, letters and numbers danced.
“This is the key code and the location of the video file you’ve been looking for. The one that reveals the truth. When you are finished with it, you will know what to do to save her. And yourself,” Novak said. Dave touched the sphere, instantly copying its contents to his secure folder, hidden behind another file. It would be safe, at least until someone did a thorough search.
“And you’re still saying you haven’t seen it?” Dave said.
“I haven’t. But I know what’s there. I’ve seen dozens like it. Just remember, once you use the key, it might trigger an alert. So don’t do it until you’re absolutely certain you are ready. And be prepared to face the consequences.”