Different Paths (7 page)

Old Town was one of the few sections of New
Atlanta that still had buildings standing from before the war; some even before
the Great Meteor Strike of 2012. Five Points, the section of Old Town Iaido
found himself in, was the oldest part of New Atlanta. Many of the buildings
were from the late 1900s, originally kept up as a historic district with
antique shops and restaurants for tourists.

However the tourist industry changed greatly over
the last century.

First, the Great Meteor Strike; then the Arabic
Wars with the United Islamic Nations and finally, the Galactic Civil War put an
end to mass tourism. The average citizen of the twenty-second century worked
six ten-hour days to fuel the war effort, not counting the time spent shuttling
between the larger cities or one of the five orbiting space platforms. Even
after the war, this became the norm. So, without the credits of tourists to
upkeep the area, Old Town had reverted to its natural state. Not particularly a
slum but run down. With the local university only four blocks away, Five Points
had become the home to artists, druggies and many other underground activities
that take place in large cities. Most gangs of New Atlanta had a representative
or club in the area which actually acted as a stabilizer. No one gang
controlled the area and if any one gang pushed too much, the others worked
together to rein them in, making Five Points a sort of sanctuary to all.

Iaido knew this section of New Atlanta well.

This area was one of his best for snitches. Since
it was early evening and most of the bars were just opening up for business it
was a good time to make contact with some of his informants. The average
citizen would still be at work for at least another hour or two, so foot
traffic in the area was light. Rounding a familiar corner, Iaido located one of
his best informants sitting in a high chair. Like a king overlooking his
subjects, he was surrounded by five hookers in varying degrees of revealing
clothes with two hulking bodyguards on either side of his throne. This was
Ledrix, the midget gay pimp.

Standing only four foot tall with broad shoulders,
black spiked hair, numerous body piercings and tattoos; he wore purple spandex
shorts and a lime green vest and was the undisputed king of this particular
block. Technically Ledrix was a Jovian; which meant that he was a descendant
from the first settlers of the moons around Jupiter. The increase in gravity on
the settlers combined with the radiation leaks in the early life-domes caused
the genetic mutation of dwarfism in their kids. Even though living conditions
on Jupiter and her moons had improved, the rates of dwarfism are still one in
four but the lure of jobs and a lower cost of living still drew a steady supply
of settlers every year.

Ledrix looked up from his girls, expecting to see
his first ‘John’ of the night only to spy Spartan and the smile froze on his
face. It lost the inviting warmth it was meant to have; instead it became the
grin of the guilty, like the kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“Spar...Spartan, my old friend.” 

“Ledrix.”

Hearing one of his bodyguards growl slightly, the
Jovian gestured at his bodyguards to stand fast. “What can I do for you this
evening?”

Iaido barely glanced at the bodyguard. “Ledrix,
you better train your watchdogs better.” The hulking brute flexed his muscles a
bit more and took a small step forward. He didn’t take his eyes off of the
Jovian. “If he takes another step forward, I’ll kill him.”

Ledrix hopped out of his throne and moved in front
of his latest boyfriend. “Please Spartan, don’t. He’s new. I’m not finished
with him.”

“I’ll let it slide this time but you better train
him better before someone does kill him.”

The relief that flushed over Ledrix’s face was obvious.

“I need some information.”

Ledrix swallowed hard before asking, “What can I
do for you?”

“A friend of mine was killed last night. I want
your employees to keep an ear out for anything out of the ordinary. Someone
knows something and there is bound to be talk.”

“Sure…sure thing,” Ledrix said. “If they learn
anything I’ll contact Diana.”

With a silent nod, Iaido turned his back on the
Pimp King and moved further along the streets of Five Points.

Finding the store wasn’t hard. A large tarot card
with flashing purple neon broadcasting ‘Fortunes Told’ hung above the door.
Entering the shop was like stepping back in time. There wasn’t a single piece
of modern equipment in sight, just rows of wooden shelves crammed full of
knickknacks and stuff that Iaido didn’t recognize. The air was full of the
scent of jasmine and cloves which gave the area a wholesome feel. Moving
through the shelves, Iaido couldn’t help but caress the wooden shelves; wood
being so rare in this modern era. He couldn’t be sure but it felt real. If it
was, the furniture alone in this room was worth a small fortune.

Moving up to the counter, Iaido paused as a large
black bird landed a few feet from him with a loud squawk.

A soft voice came from beyond a green beaded
curtain. “Greetings warrior.”

Sliding the curtain aside, Madam Aleksandra
entered the room. She was tall, fair of skin with jet black hair that hung down
to her waist and was pulled back off her brow by a beautifully crafted silver
tiara with a red gem that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Her lacy
black dress was elegant and she seemed to glide across the floor instead of
walking. Only two features marked her heritage as a Sylvan, the pointed ears
and her red eyes. Sylvan eyes were shaped much like humans, having the slight
slant common to those of oriental heritage but no human could have the ruby red
pupils of a Sylvan.

Iaido paused for a second as her eyes seemed to
peer into his soul. Remembering his manners, he bowed low. “Greetings Madam
Aleksandra, my name is Iaido Spartan. I seek an audience with the Lady Talia.”

Returning the bow with a nod of her head, Madam
Aleksandra gestured to a nearby table. “Your name is not unknown to me.”
Gliding to her seat, she pointed at the cards lying on the table. “The cards
foretold your coming.”

Iaido glanced at the tarot cards. Only three cards
were face up: the Hermit, the Knight of Swords and the Wheel of Fortune.

Madam Aleksandra pointed at each card as she
explained, “He that searches for truth shall take up the blade of honor and be
the instrument of change.”

“I’m not sure you are talking about me.” Iaido
pulled out the printout of the business card and set it on the table in front
of the Madam. “This was found on the body of a friend. I would like to ask her
about it.”

Madam Aleksandra gestured to the seat across from
her. “Are you working for the government?”

Taking the offered seat Iaido said, “No. My
interests are purely personal.”

With a quick flutter of its wings, the huge raven
landed on his shoulder. Iaido looked sideways at the bird. The raven paid no
attention to his glare and looked away. As soon as he turned his attention back
to Madam Aleksandra, the raven squawked loudly before taking a nip out of his
right ear.

Iaido lurched aside. “Ouch! That damn bird bit me!”

Madam Aleksandra’s laughter filled the room. It
was a wholesome sound, like raindrops hitting a pond.

“Edgar was just giving you a kiss. According to
the ancient race that inhabited this region of Terra several centuries ago, I
believe they were called the Cherokee, any warrior that was kissed by a raven
is destined for greatness.”

Iaido rubbed his ear. “Thanks but I could’ve lived
without his blessing. Is he real?”

“Who Edgar? Yes, he is real.” Madam Aleksandra
said. “You thought him to be a simulacrum? There are still ravens native to
this land, rare though they be. When I assumed this post on Terra, I called
him. Edgar is my familiar, a helper of sorts.”

Before Iaido could ask what she meant by that, the
curtain of beads separated again. Judging from the Feds’ description he knew
this was Talia Stargleam. However their notes didn’t do her beauty justice.
There were striking similarities between the two Sylvan women. Talia had the
same fair skin and waist long hair which was also pulled back with a silver
tiara. However, Talia’s hair was so white that is almost seemed silver and her
eyes were emerald green. She wore a lacy green dress but where Madam
Aleksandra’s was conservative and formal, Talia’s was low cut and enticing.

Talia glided over to the table and curtsied low to
her senior. “You called Madam?”

“This is Iaido Spartan, the warrior foretold. He
has questions for you. Aid him to the best of your ability.”

Turning toward Iaido, Talia once again curtsied.
“Greetings warrior. How may I be of service to thee?”

Iaido stood and returned the greeting with a bow.
“Lady Talia, I would like to ask you a few questions concerning Sgt. Major Spenton.”

“His fate is known to me. I will mourn his loss.”

Iaido gestured at the printout of the business
card on the table. “I understand you have been on earth only a short time but
you sent the Sgt. Major a business card with a note asking ‘Any Leads’ may I
ask why?”

“It is nothing sinister.” Talia cast a wary glance
at the Madam. “I hired the retired Sgt. Major to locate my sister. She was a
military attaché assigned by the Empire to assist Omega Squadron and I thought
he would be the best person for the job considering his past.”

“Your sister?” Iaido rubbed his chin as he thought
back. “I remember several Sylvans working with us but I don’t recall any
females.”

Talia giggled slightly. “You might have met her
and not realized she was a female.”

Shaking his head in disbelief Iaido gestured at
the two women, “Don’t take this the wrong way but I am very well-travelled and
I have met many sylvan women in my time. Few look as radiant as you two but
they are all lookers, if you get my meaning. There is no way I would not have
noticed her.”

With a slight smile Madam Aleksandra said, “Thank
you for your kind words but the Sylvan women who serve the Empire in the
military shave their heads and dress just like the men. To a Terran, there
would be no noticeable difference.”

“Okay, I’ll buy that. But why would the Sgt. Major
know the whereabouts of your sister?”

Talia glanced nervously at Madam Aleksandra who
nodded briefly, “According to the last communication with my sister Medea, she
had developed a special friendship with Sgt. Major Spenton.”

Iaido nodded his understanding and let the
unspoken relationship drop but asked, “And when was this communication?”

“Two days prior to the battle of Gilese.”

“That was over ten years ago.”

“Yes.”

“Why now? Why start searching now?”

Once again Talia glanced at the Madam who shook
her head slightly. Biting her lip, she cast her gaze downward and said, “I am
sorry Mr. Spartan but I cannot discuss my reasons at this time.”

Iaido stood up. “Well ladies, my thanks for your
help.”

Talia grabbed his arm briefly before remembering
her manners and releasing her hold. “Will you take the case?”

“If you mean will I search for the cause of Sgt.
Major Spenton’s death? Yes. Will I hunt for your sister? No. But if I run
across information about her, I will inform you.” Turning back to the door,
Iaido walked out. Just before the door closed, Madam Aleksandra’s musical voice
reached him.

“Beware of shadows. They are moving against you.”

*   *   *   *   *

Talia stared at the door for several minutes before
turning to her mentor. “Is he the one Madam?”

Madam Aleksandra didn’t answer but gestured toward
Edgar, the raven, as the huge bird hopped onto the table. Edgar looked at the
two women before turning his attention to the tarot deck. Fishing through the
unturned cards, he pulled out a card with his beak.

Reaching out, Talia gently placed it next to the
other upturned cards. It was the Tower Card, emblazoned with the image of a
lightning blasted tower which is aflame and two figures falling from its
heights; the card which symbolized sudden change, ruin, revelations and hard
times ahead.

Talia glanced up at her mentor. “Should we have
told him everything?”

“Patience my child,” Madam Aleksandra said. “Great
events are unfolding even as we speak. Some we can influence some we cannot but
either way, time moves ahead slowly. To rush is to ignore the details.” 

*   *   *   *   *

Leaving the shop, Iaido scanned his surroundings
before walking across the street to a pub.

The Crooked Creek Saloon had a sign advertising
the ‘coldest beer in town’ in red and white neon in the front window. Moving
into the darkened room, Iaido wasn’t surprised to see synthetic sawdust on the
floor, an old fashion jukebox in the corner playing country songs and even a
mechanical bull sitting in the corner. Taking a seat at the bar, Iaido ordered
a beer from the service bot bartender.

Service bots are the simplest form of androids. They
only run a very limited series of programs but are extremely cost effective for
businesses.

Taking a drink from his beer, Iaido turned his
attention to the vid-screens behind the bar. The Galactic News was on and
displayed over numerous channels.

One channel showed a reporter stating that there
was trouble brewing with the JDL over trade routes through their sector which
will cause prices of all imported goods to rise. Another channel was reporting
that two colonies in the Orion cluster were reporting mass riots. The Galactic
Marshals had advised the local governments to declare martial law on both
planets and many feared that the riots would be the foreshadowing of another
war.

Regionally, there were numerous protests about the
upcoming visit of the Coalition President and the NAPD were reporting a rise in
violent crimes over the last two weeks. However a police spokesman was reported
as saying ‘the violence seems to be random and unrelated’ and they point to the
recent capture of the notorious thief and murderer Jagger Jax as proof that
they were making headway during these troubled times.