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Chapter 3. Entertainment
Elijah was bored.
Even though he owned Essara and had the best spots to have his vacation, there was nothing that excited him there any longer. He grew bored with the women that hung themselves onto him. He felt the drinks becoming sour. He no longer wanted to bask in the sun or gamble his money away in the casinos around the planet.
It was, of course, a great investment, but not a single establishment offered the necessary excitement any more.
Elijah wandered the streets of the Entertainment Centre – the city he build especially for the people on vacation, so that they could find every possible way to spend their money and lift their spirits before returning to whatever dull lives they had outside of their vacations.
He glanced back at the couple of bodyguards following him inconspicuously, but closely, and thought if he could ever escape them to find some kind of excitement in the simple attempt to keep them elsewhere.
The man sighed, realising that he couldn’t do that – the tracking chip, implanted into his body, would signal them his location.
A couple of beautiful women passed him and Elijah suddenly froze in awe – he was looking at a strange sight in this expensive place. It was a woman – a beautiful silver-haired young woman, who was wearing an eyepatch. He studied her lean, well-trained body and wandered who she was and what she was doing on Essara.
She was obviously on vacation – with her friend, or partner, and a child walking by her side – but he never thought someone, who could afford a vacation on Essara, wouldn’t be able to afford a cybernetic eye or a specially grown replacement.
Intrigued, Elijah slipped into the crowd, following the woman and feeling his heart filling with excitement for the first time in a long time.
He followed them from one establishment to another, watching them purchasing things with ease, as if they didn’t have to bother themselves about money, and this made him even more intrigued to see them there – something didn’t add up.
When Elijah saw the amount they spent in one of the clothes shops, he was beginning to feel himself a hunter out on a prowl. He watched the women and the child, and at some point began to question his first impression about the trio. The women did not, in fact, act like a couple. Instead, they seemed to be good friends – at least, that’s how it looked from his perspective.
Even stranger was the girl – if before Elijah thought the women adopted her, now his thoughts turned to them being either her nannies or, perhaps, distant relatives?
Elijah had too many questions and so little answers.
And then he began noticing some details that made him shiver from excitement even more.
The white-silver haired woman kept glancing around – inconspicuously, but definitely for a reason. And though she was smiling, he knew – she was attentive to her surroundings.
She acted like she was a bodyguard of sorts.
But she definitely didn’t earn like the bodyguards he ever encountered – even his own.
Even more intriguing was the patch that covered her eye – if she had so much money to spend, why hadn’t she acquired services of a surgeon to grow herself a new eye? Or make a cybernetic implant she could definitely afford?
When the women sat down at an open-space cafeteria to enjoy some drinks, Elijah was already eager to approach them. He spent a bit of time contemplating how to do that without raising suspicion.
Finally, he ran his fingers through his neatly-styled hair and walked up, watching them all closely, noting how cheerful the little girl was. The man caught himself on a thought that in her age he was already denied being a child and was forced to be a young man, who was always taught and never allowed to be carefree.
«I am so sorry to intrude, ladies…» Elijah bowed gracefully to the trio. «But I couldn’t help it. Allow me to introduce myself. Elijah Winchester.»
«Good day to you sir. What brings you to our little table?» Serena twitched her brow, noting the expensive fabric of his clothes and a few tastefully chosen pieces of jewellery that adorned this handsome man.
«I beg your pardon, miss, for the rude inquiry… But I couldn’t help notice your eye…» Elijah touched his left cheekbone. «Can I ask what happened?»
«A job related injury.» Serena smirked.
«If you are looking to fix it, allow me to recommend a medical facility right here on Essara. The doctors there can take care of it within a day, I promise you.»
«Thank you, but we’re fine.» Kayla answered instead.
The man glanced at the girl, then looked at the silent, but attentive olive-skinned woman, and returned his eyes to Serena.
«I’m sorry if I overstepped.» he said.
«Don’t worry, Mister Winchester. My eye will be fine in just a couple of days. Nothing to worry about.» Serena smirked again and sent a very harsh gaze to Kayla.
«Please, call me Elijah.» the man bowed again. «I am sorry, if I only knew how to call you…»
«Serena.»
«Captain Serena to you!» Kayla said.
Serena glanced her way again, tilting her head.
«Captain? Are you, by any chance, a captain of a space ship?» Elijah asked.
«What of it? I’m on vacation with my crew.» Serena replied, meeting the man’s gaze again.
«Can I ask what kind of a captain are you? Of a passenger ship?»
«We’re mercenaries.» Kayla intruded again.
Laneth grabbed the girl’s wrist and hissed at her. Serena took a very deep breath:
«I am terribly sorry, Mister Winchester. We are here on vacation.»
«Please, Serena, I must ask you…» Elijah stepped closer. «Would you be willing to take a contract? Not immediately, by any means, have your vacation and start after you’ve done resting. If you are mercenaries and can afford Essara, then you must be good mercenaries. I am looking for someone trustworthy to take a contract to find someone. I will pay handsomely for this job.»
Serena slowly stood from her seat, crossing her arms on her chest:
«I don’t like discussing business on vacation, Mister Winchester.» she said.
«I assure you, it will be worth your while.» Elijah said with a charming smile. «I own this vacation planet. I can pay handsomely for your time and skills.»
Serena scoffed:
«Then as an owner you’ll be able to find where I’m staying on the planet and send me a proper invitation with the time and place where we could meet to discuss business. But for the moment, farewell, Mister Winchester.» she turned to Laneth and Kayla and nodded aside. «We’re leaving, girls.»
Both stood and hurried after the woman as she headed elsewhere.
Elijah smiled. Finally, he met someone intriguing and worth his time.
Perhaps, his vacation won’t be as dull and boring as he thought. Plus, if Serena really was a mercenary – and a good one at that! – he’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone.
Chapter 4. Business
When they returned to the rented mansion, Kayla kept quiet, seeing how tense Serena was. Laneth scolded the girl for speaking too much, and they both knew that Serena could reprimand her as well – the woman looked very dissatisfied by the girl’s behaviour. However, she was silent all the way back to the mansion.
The men were still deep in their poker game – with Cipher, Pher and Taliesin joined in the fun, although playing a simpler kind of poker, being humans and not capable of withstanding punches of Veluthian men and a cyborg. Instead, the three were heavily drunk – as each time they stayed in game they received a hefty shot of alcohol instead of a punch.
Laneth took Kayla to her room and stayed with her to have a serious talk, while Serena headed to cool off on the beach, sitting on one of the seats there.
Only an hour passed before one of the helper bots flew up to the woman and reported that there was a visitor at the door asking for her. Serena scowled and went to see who it was, wondering if the setting sun would help make this interaction as brief as possible.
But when she approached and opened the door, she saw a handsome, tall, muscular and intimidating-looking man with cybernetic eyes aimed at her. She already saw him once before – when Elijah approached them earlier in the Entertainment Centre, he was lingering behind the man. She studied his kind expression and the honey-blond short hair, and then lowered her gaze, noting his well-trained body.
«Miss Serena, Mister Elijah Winchester is inviting you to a business meeting.» the man stepped aside, half-turning and gesturing to a hover vehicle waiting at the road.
«Right now?» Serena frowned.
«If you need to change, you can, but I would advise you not to make Mister Winchester wait.»
Taking a deep breath, Serena realised that if she were to get rid of the man, she would need to do it face to face. Looking down at her simple trousers and cropped top, she sighed and shook her head:
«Give me five minutes to change into something more appropriate.»
«Of course.» the man replied with a polite smile.
She closed the door and went to her room, where she had a couple of clothing options at the ready, including her usual Captain’s outfit that she kept there just because she was always ready to leave the place at any moment. It took her less than five minutes to get ready.
But as she was passing her crew, who still played cards, Hunter noticed her attire and stopped her:
«Is anything wrong?»
«It’s fine. I have a… business meeting, I guess. A man was inquiring if we could take a job after our vacation.» Serena answered calmly. «It won’t take long, don’t worry.»
«Do you want any of us to come with you?» Lindon asked, seeing how tense the woman was.
«Nah, enjoy your evening. I’ll be back soon.»
She walked off, leaving them a little puzzled to her composure.
When she walked out of the mansion, she noted the man bowing slightly, his eyes sliding down her body, and gesturing to the vehicle again. They approached the car that opened its doors, welcoming the two passengers. Once airborne, Serena glanced at her companion:
«So Mister Winchester is really the owner of this planet?»
«And some others.» the man replied. «He’s a very wealthy businessman and leads a number of profitable locations.»
«Interesting. When I met him, he didn’t seem like it…»
«He’s…» the man frowned, looking for a proper word. «Not as uptight as other people in similar position in the Company.»
Serena tensed up. She didn’t know the Company purchased Essara.
For the remainder of their short trip she stayed silent, watching the road they took.
«You’re remembering the way?» the man smirked. «Is that because you don’t trust me?»
«That, and a matter of habit. Being a mercenary, you tend to keep your eyes open and be ready for anything.» Serena replied, seeing the vehicle descending onto a private landing pod on top of a skyscraper.
«Don’t worry, you’ll be transported back when your meeting will be over.» the man smiled. «I will make sure of it personally, as per Mister Winchester’s orders.»
Serena smirked:
«Got a name, big guy? Or should I just call you Eyes for those awesome implants you have?»
The man chuckled, opening the doors:
«John. Call me John.»
«Nice to meet you, John.» Serena stepped out of the hover car and saw Elijah waiting by the doors that led inside the building.
The man was dressed just as fine as before, only this time his trousers were black and the shirt he was wearing was made of black silk and half-unbuttoned, showing a fairly muscular chest and a simple orichum chain that seemed to change colours in the light. The metal was extremely rare and expensive, and one such trinket could easily buy a spacious house in most places of the Human Universe.
«Mister Winchester.» Serena bowed slightly to the man.
«Miss Serena.» he replied with a bow and smiling wide. «I am so happy to see you again.»
He gestured her inside and the woman followed him, while John stayed back at the vehicle.
«Straight to business?» Serena asked. «Or are you one of those who prefer to chat before discussing matters?»
«I would prefer a drink first. And a bit of conversation won’t hurt as well, as I am quite intrigued to a Veluthian woman being on this lowly vacation planet.»
Serena twitched her brow, entering a lavishly decorated hall, adorned with all kinds of areas that could be used for several types of things. There was a bar in the corner and a large empty space that could be used as a dance floor – with a small stage on one side and some tables on the other. A rounded sofa big enough for at least fifteen people stood in the middle of the hall, and around it were scattered several nooks and crannies with instruments, statues, trinkets and memorabilia that seemed though tastefully combined with the overall look of the hall, not very welcoming and spoke extremely little about the owner of these rooms.
«What’s your poison?» Elijah asked, stepping behind the bar and gesturing to the wide variety of alcoholic beverages he had. «I have almost every drink in the Human Universe. Including those Veluthians have on their home planet.»
Serena leaned over the bar and squinted:
«And if I would ask you what would you prefer yourself?»
The man smirked and leaned down, opening a small refrigeration unit and taking out two chilled bottles of beer. He offered one to Serena and she took it, glancing at the label.
«Stargaze…» she read. «Never had one of these yet.»
She flicked the cap off and took a sip, immediately surprised by the thick and pleasant taste this beverage offered.
«A nostalgic drink. Guilty pleasure.» Elijah smiled, raising his bottle before taking a sip. «I grew up where it’s made. I take it… you grew up on Velutha?»
«Yes. Though, I am still wondering how you got any of this information…» Serena tilted her head.
«Ah, that would be because the Company’s reach is far beyond our borders. We collect information. Even on the far parts of the Human Universe. Your name has come up a number of times in some of the reports. Daughter of a prominent family, excellent warrior, great captain, very reliable mercenary…» Elijah squinted. «And all that together with having been imprisoned on your own planet… I would love to know what happened.»
«I got sucked into some… unsavoury business I had to deal with. My imprisonment was short lived and I was acquitted of all charges. That’s all I can and willing to say.» the woman took a sip of beer.
«Perhaps… you would be willing to share some information about the mercenary group that took contract for your head and never returned?»
«Are you asking me if I was the one to kill Latch and his gang?»
Elijah smiled wider, already understanding her answer:
«Ah, so it was you. It was a pity when I heard they were… no longer available. But I was wondering who disposed of them. I always search out people with potential.»
«Veluthians make better mercenaries, Mister Winchester.» Serena smirked. «Latch and his gang were… mad dogs, to say the least.»
Elijah chuckled at such a remark, noting how the woman kept herself around him.
«Still, he was the best in his field of work… for the time being.» he said with a pleased smile. «I guess he was happy to go out by the hand of such a… beautiful woman such as yourself.»
«I don’t mix business and pleasure, Mister Winchester.» Serena forced a smile on her face. «So please, don’t use that charm of yours, trying to get me into your bed. You won’t be able to.»
«Am I that obvious?» Elijah chuckled.
«Yes.» the woman smirked. «No offence.»
«None taken.»
«So about that contract… what is it you wanted me to help you with? Who are you looking for?»
«A woman.» Elijah smirked.
«I’m not a pimp, Mister Winchester. Don’t play games with me.»
«Not that kind of woman.» Elijah chuckled again. «We’ve been doing business. She disappeared after getting a significant advance and never delivered her part of the deal.»
«Ah! Now that is more my type of game.» Serena smiled. «How much do you know for us to start with?»
«I’ll have John download everything we know. If you agree to take the contract that is.»
«Mister Winchester…»
«Please, call me Elijah. Mister Winchester sounds so… formal.» Elijah winced. «Never liked that.»
«Fine…» Serena took a sip of beer, finishing her bottle. «Elijah, I would need to know some more details about this job. For instance… would you like her captured? Killed? We do both. Each instance costs differently. Though, circumstances sometimes make it extremely difficult to capture the target… unscathed. But we are well versed in all sorts of jobs. If you need your advance retrieved, then I would need to know the full sum and some documents to have as proof of this amount. However, if you need us to find whatever it is she was to deliver… we need details – the more, the better.»
«I love it when a woman knows exactly what to ask for.» the man smiled wide. «I’ve dealt with male mercenaries less versed in all the intricacies of this sort of work.»
«Then you have never dealt with a true professional. We pride ourselves in our work.»
«One more drink, Serena?»
The woman glanced at the empty bottle and weighed her options, then leaned onto the bar, meeting his gaze:
«Thanks, but I’d rather discuss payment for the job you offered.»
Elijah chuckled and tilted his head:
«Let’s make a deal…» he said. «Meet me again, and I will provide you with all the information that we know, and prepare a contract and an appropriate advance for you and your team.»
«You’re in no rush, I see.»
«Why would I be? You’ve rented one of our mansions for two weeks with a possibility to lengthen your stay. I don’t want to force you to cut your vacation short.» Elijah set aside his bottle. «See me again. I’d love to discuss more business with you. And I would also like to offer you a separate invitation to get some drinks at any time. I’d love to know a bit more about your people.»
«Don’t push your luck, Elijah.» Serena smiled back at him.
«It’s a friendly invitation, Serena. Not a sexual one.» the man twisted his brow. «Please, at least consider it possible.»
«Alright.» the woman smirked. «So how do I contact you then? Or should I wait for you to call?»
Elijah walked around the bar and approached her. Looking into her eyes and smiling, he connected their watches and pressed something on his.
«There. You now have access to my direct number. Call me any time.» he said. «Any time at all.»
«Of course.» Serena nodded.
«I’ll walk you to the car. John will take you back.»
«Interesting bodyguard, by the way. I’ve never seen eyes like that.» Serena walked beside the man, feeling relaxed, even though at first he invoked some tension in her. «Custom order?»
«He’s got them since an injury he received in one of the hot spots on Terra. His eyes were burnt out and the doctors were unable to help him restore vision by usual means. So I offered to have his eyes upgraded if he would work for me. He’s quite the capable man. I spared no expense in giving him eyes that fit his new position.»
«A business proposal he couldn’t refuse, huh?»
«I mean… he’s safer being my bodyguard and enjoys a life of luxury by simply being my babysitter. Who would refuse? I pay handsomely to everyone who works for me.»
«What about the other guy? The one who was with you two when you approached me with my friends?»
«Ah, so you’ve noticed.»
«I have keen eyes, Elijah. A matter of habit.»
«That was Fisk. He’s John’s brother, actually. Both served in the same regiment, so I offered him the job as well, as they performed better when paired.»
Serena stepped out in the chilly evening air and saw John straightening by the hover car, gesturing to the doors that opened.
«It was a pleasure, Serena.» Elijah bowed slightly. «Until next time.»
«Good night, Elijah.» the woman returned the polite bow and headed to John.
Elijah watched the woman leaving and felt a deep hunger. Something dark rose up and he grunted, walking back into the apartment. He stopped at the inconspicuous looking wardrobe and opened the doors, looking at the robot standing there and charging.
«I hate that I have to do this… but you will suffice today…» he said, snapping his fingers.
The robot came alive and looked at him – a perfect copy of Serena, the sex bot was ready for use and at the man’s disposal for whatever lowly wishes he had on his mind.
