Bloodlines

Bloodlines

Chapter 5: Power behind the Throne



I’m not sure what I expected Port Lowell to be like; probably a lot like Armstrong City or the other, smaller Luna colonies. What I found was something that looked half finished: ducts and conduits hung exposed from the ceiling and walls, areas of the floor nothing more than metal grating.



There were a lot less people: just over two hundred people had passed the tests required to join the expedition, and about fifty of them were in orbit, operating Ares Station. The rest were mainly scientists and engineers, building up the colony as fast as they could. I could see half completed domes through occasional brakes in the storm, all work halted until the weather changed.



Kowalski led the way through to the central hub, the part of the colony built out of parts of the Ares. This area was mainly used for administrate and support purposes, freeing up the larger, more open domes for housing and recreation. An elevator took us up to what had once been the Ares’ bridge, which now served as central operations.



“Guten Tag, Herr Drake. It is good to see you again.” Dr Witwer was stood up from behind the desk that had been placed around the old captain’s chair, “I only wish it was under better circumstances.”



“As do I, Herr Doctor, as do I.” I shook the hand he offered. I’d met Witwer during the lead up to the Ares mission: a former professor of geology at the University of Munich, he’d jumped at the chance to head up the hard-science side of the mission. Where as before he’d seemed the perpetual absent-minded professor, he now looked like he literally had the weight of the world on his shoulders.



“I am afraid that the search for Miss Guptah has been postponed by the storm.” Witwer led the way over to a large-scale map that centres on the colony, “We have already covered the rout her rover took to the outpost, but this storm system keeps growing: our meteorologists don’t know when it’s going to die down.”



“And no one’s reported any telepathic disturbances? Any possible messages from Kay?”



“Nein: we have two other telepaths here, but both are very low-grade, of no use to search and rescue operations. They’re keeping a psychic ear out for her, as it were, but they have not reported anything as of yet.”



“What do your security people say?”



“What security people? You have to understand, Herr Drake, this is a scientific outpost: we have no real security force as you would understand it. We have a couple of Marshals provided by the Luna authorities, but they mainly deal with people who’ve had too much to drink on a Saturday night...”



“With your permission, I’d like to personally take over the investigation: my S.I.U. training qualifies me, and I’m more experienced than anyone else you have here.”



“That may not be true.”



“Excuse me?”



“We had a visitor arrive on the last ship from earth: Deputy-Director Goodheart of the Federal Bureau of Superhuman Security.”



“Director Goodheart?” I blinked, taken aback, “Columbia Goodheart is here?”



“I am afraid so, yes.”



The Federal Bureau of Superhuman Security was founded in the late 1970’s, when it became clear that the whole post-human situation wasn’t going to just go away. It opened the floodgates leading to the creation of other such agencies, including the Special Intervention Unit. As an offshoot of the older FBI, and an agency of the American government, the FBSS was better funded and resourced than anyone else. The offer of high pay and American citizenship (with amnesty for any past crimes) loured a lot of post-humans to their employ.



But there was a darker side: the FBSS’ main task was to identify and track every single post-human in North America, including Mexico and Canada. As with S.I.U., their highest ranks were made up of regular humans: for some reason, homo-sapiens have never fully trusted homo-superior, no matter how much good we do.



Those who fight against the system cast the shadow of doubt over us all.



Deputy-Director Columbia Eleanor Goodheart was the highest ranked post-human in America, a personal friend and advisor two several presidents since her meteoric rise to fame and influence. The eldest daughter of a prominent New England family, she had the old-money connections and social skills to play Washington DC like a pro, making her even more powerful than her superiors.



It was an open secret that she effectively ran the entire FBSS, and had personally fired Jackson Smith after what happened in Venice Beach. She was also, without a doubt, a high ranking member of the Conspiracy, but no one had been able to link her to the events of two years before.



“Well then.” I smiled weakly, “I suppose I’d best go say hello.”



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



The main dome was packed: the storm had shut down most of the projects, and the colonists were taking the time off to relax and let their hair down. Music was playing from speakers hidden about the arboretum, drifting between the trees and plants added to try and make the area seem more earth-like. A poster on the wall showed what it would look like when it was finished, complete with a small stream leading down from a waterfall to a small pond.



Despite the size of the dome; it was almost a kilometer across, I could tell where Columbia was the crowed that followed her. It sickened me to think that someone with the morality of a puppy on a new carpet could become the centre of attention so quickly.



“So the Ice Queen holds court, even out here.” A voice whispered in my ear, and I almost tripped over in surprise.



“Please stop doing that.” I turned to face Charlotte, “What do you want now?”



“Same as last time: you.”



“Do you really think it’s a good idea to be seen in public?”



“Why not? It’s going to come out that I’m here sooner or later, so why hide?”



“Well, because you’re a wanted for a list of charges as long as your arm?”



“Only on Earth and Luna: the warrants are void here on Mars. And if you’re so sure I should be arrested, maybe you should detain me, personally...”



“Stop playing your little mind-games: I am not leaving Ren, especially not to go back to you. I’m willing to be friends with you, but that is all.”



“I can exsept that, for now.” Charlotte smiled, “Now, let’s go give the Ice Queen a fright.” Not giving me a chance to object, she took my hand and led the way over to where Columbia stood with her entourage.



In a way, I was glad that Charlotte had taken that moment to reappear: I’ve always felt slightly ill at ease around Columbia. I can’t tell you what it was about her that set me on edge, but it probably had something to do with the way she talked down to everyone, no matter who you were. Charlotte, however, could face her as an equal, having been a senior member of the FBSS’ Canadian counter part, the Institute for Superhuman Studies. The two of them had met several times, and it was Charlotte who had first introduced me to Columbia, shortly after we had gotten engaged.



“Deputy-Director Goodheart, what a pleasant surprise.” Charlotte kept her voice calm and level, but I could hear the ice that dripped off of every world, “I never expected to see you this far from the Pontiac.”



“My, my, my: Charlotte Drake.” Columbia replyed with the same tone of voice, and an equal amount of venom, “Or is it Moreno again. I see you found your ex-husband again. Do put him down: you know exactly where he’s been.”



“A pleasure, as ever.” I pulled my hand away from Charlotte, not even trying to hide my contempt, “What brings you to this far-flung outpost?”



“I am here in my official capacity as special advisor to the President on all maters perturbing to meta-human activity.” Columbia looked at me like I was something she’d just scraped off her shoe, “And now to make sure that American intrests are not put at risk by Dr Guptah’s disappearance.”



“Well I can understand the first part.” I crossed my arms, “But not the second: Kay is not, nor has she ever been, an American citizen. And this colony has nothing to do with America: I was fully funded by the Armstrong City Ruling Council and the United Nations. You have no authority here.”



“Where as you do?” Columbia rolled her eyes, doing her best to dismiss me, “Nathan my dear, you are notting but a jumped-up fool who could only get a job as a prison guard at a prison where all of the inmates are kept in suspended animation. It’s a pity job, something Anastasius gave you to keep you out of trouble.”



“Listen.” I stepped forward, “Kay Guptah is a very good friend of mine, and if I find that you have anything to do with her disappearance...”



“You’ll kill me?” Columbia chuckled, “Please, try: I could use the entertainment. Lord knows, there’s nothing else to do around here.”



I could feel my hands growing warm as they started to charge with power, the strange tingerling feeling slowly running arm my arm towards my elbow. My eyes narrowed, zeroing in on Columbia as I clenched my fists.



“Nathan!” Charlotte’s yell made me look round; the movement migrating some of the force of the blow. It still lifted me up off my feet and sent me flying into a nearby pillar before I could respond. The metal support beam shook as I hit it, leaving a deep dent.



“You really think I’d come here alone?” Columbia threw back her head and laughed louder than before, “I belive you’ve met my new bodygard.”



I looked round untill I saw the one member of the crowd who hadn’t run for safety.



“Oh my god...” I felt my blood run cold, “Legion.”



To Be Continued...