Warhawk's Amnesty - Ch. 15 - The Red Hotel - Beta (Patreon)

“What do you mean you can’t find him?” Seb yelled.

“I’m sorry sir, but there is no one on Pyrus Station with initials that contain B.D.D.,” the virtual operator said.

“Big Dick Darryl. Stop using the initials.”

“I’m sorry sir, but profanity is not permitted. Please try again.”

“Ugh, you stupid fucking machine,” Seb said, throwing himself back into his chair.

“I’m sorry sir, but profanity is not permitted. Please try again.”

“Yes I know, but I already gave you twenty other names, and it’s the same thing every time.”

“I’m detecting that you are stressed. Shall I plot the nearest path to a medical or recreational facility?”

“No! I just need a name!”

There’s got to be someone on the outside besides HER that owes me. I’m not ready to play that card yet. I need more leverage if I’m going to go that route. That’s a future problem. What about the others? How many times did I stop Crax from getting jumped in the can? Or that time Yuri wanted to get a letter to his girl outside. All of that shit can’t be for nothing. Someone’s got to know someone.

“Hello, sir?” a separate voice called over the room’s intercom. “Your time is almost up. Would you like to reserve the room for another thirty minutes?”

“Yeah, go ahead. I’m not finished,” Seb grabbed another bottle of beer from the nearby table, and slung his head over the back of the couch.

After station security took Nalla away, his priority became her rescue. He felt sick for contemplating whether or not she was worth it. He was at a personal crossroads. He was finally free, yet felt trapped by the very system that locked him away. He could have left at any time, visited the closest brothel and tried spending all of his money trying to forget about it. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t. As scared as the prison system had left him, he just didn’t have it in himself to stand around doing nothing. He had to keep his word.

He had hailed the first taxi he saw and had them drop him off at the closest holonet cafe, located in the second ring of Pyrus Station. While the exterior ring of the station was reserved for more industrial purposes, the second ring was where most of the residential areas were. Each block was its own mini city with all the amenities needed for its inhabitants. The buildings were stacked as tall as the skybox allowed, slowly rising to the station’s center, which opened up for the elite. Corporate plaza wasn’t as jam-packed as the rest of the facility. It had space dedicated to skyscrapers that rose from the streets like the hand of a dead android.

The conversations he was going to have weren’t for prying ears, and so he splurged on a private room that was furnished with three lounge sofas and the fastest speed package the cafe offered. Unfortunately, all of his searches had so far come up empty.

Finishing off another beer, Seb let out a belch and looked back up at the holographic operator whose dead eyes and green body left him feeling a bit unsettled. “What if we expand beyond Pyrus Station? I guess I don’t need them here if they have someone they can connect me with.”

“Shall I expand the query to include all United Human Coalition controlled space?”

“Can we do galactic?”

“Yes, but the query will take days to complete.”

“I don’t have days. Can you focus on Marcum Penitentiary and search the closest systems nearby?”

“I have a suggestion for improvement.”

“I’m listening.”

“I can cross reference the list along with known aliases of the prisons at Marcum Penitentiary to find their full names. Then search beyond that system as requested.”

“Wait, you can do that?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you suggest that earlier?”

“I am progressively learning your needs. When we started, you just asked me to search for individual names.”

“Fair enough,” Seb said, twisting the top off of another beer. “Go ahead and start the query.”

“Searching now.”

Seb watched as the virtual assistance’s eyes darted back and forth as if searching through thousands of files. He leaned forward, clutching the plastic beer bottle in his hand. I should be feeling ecstatic right now, he thought, swirling the brown liquid. I should be out there partying. Instead of sitting here waiting for a fucking machine to try to look up old contacts in the hopes I can convince them to lend me some money. Fucking pathetic.

After a few minutes passed, Seb jerked his head up after hearing a happy jingle coming from the hologram.

“I’ve completed a search and found one alias I was able to cross reference,” the hologram said.

“Who is it?” Seb asked.

“Kevin Reynolds, also known as Baby Face. Do you want me to put the call through?”

“Oh, thank the Maker. Yes, put me through.” Seb felt his blood pressure rise as the ring continued beyond a few seconds. “Come on… pick up.” When the hologram shifted, there was a shirtless man standing there, built like a battlecruiser. His muscles had muscles. His face was smooth and pale, painted with rosy cheeks. It was a stark contrast from the bestial physique attached.

“Seb, is that you?” Baby Face asked, his eye pitched voice bringing a smile to Seb.

“Hey man, it’s been a long time,” Seb said.

“Yeah, what’s it been? Three, four years?”

“Something like that.”

“You got out, it looks like.”

“Just this last week.”

“That’s good man. Real good. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. How’s your uncle doing?”

“My uncle? Give me a sec.” Seb watched Baby Face look over his shoulder and move into another room, closing the door behind him. His tone shifted almost to that of a whisper. “How… uh… how did you get this number?”

“Just looked you up, man. Why, what’s the big deal?”

“It’s just… I did a lot of work burying that side of my life Seb, and seeing you, well… it’s bringing back times I’d rather forget about.”

“Trust me, I know what you mean. I wouldn’t be calling you unless I was desperate. I just need a little help.”

“Whatever is, I can’t help you.”

Seb tightened his fist. “Look Baby—”

“Not so loud, man!” Baby Face said, hunching over. “I’m not Baby anymore. It’s Kevin on the outside.”

“All right, Kevin. Look, I get it. I’m blindsiding you. But I think you owe it to me to hear me out.”

“Come on man, don’t try to bring up old shit and hold it over my head. What happened inside is ancient history. I haven’t even thought about prison in months.”

“No… Kevin, you owe me. Don’t you forget about how I saved your ass, literally, from that gang of foobidigas. They were going to turn your insides out if I hadn’t stepped in with Tiny. So don’t you tell me that’s ancient history because it’s still fresh with me.”

“All right, all right man, fuck.” Baby Face shook his head and leaned up against the wall. “What do you need? Money? I can lend you a few chips, but it’s not like being an ex-con gives you a lot of options.”

“I do but not enough you can provide me.”

“You in some kind of debt?”

“Not me, a… friend of mine. She’s under an indentured contract that’s coming up. If I don’t buy it out, I’m going to lose her.”

“Fuck… man… that shit is bad news. I’ve heard some of those girls have it worse than being inside.”

“Yeah, and I am not going to allow her to be taken advantage of like that. I gotta get her out of there.”

“I mean, I can put you in touch with a guy who issues loans, but he’s bad news Seb. If you don’t pay him on time, he’ll start coming for your fingers if you get my meaning.”

“Nah, nothing like that. I’ve got some information that would be worth it in the right hands.”

“That’s why you asked about my uncle. If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, that’s a dangerous game, man. You sure you want to go down this path?”

“Yeah, she’s worth it.”

“Okay man, what do you want me to ask him?”

“I just need a broker, preferably someone on Pyrus Station.”

“If I do this for you, we’re square, right? No more random calls out of the blue. You fucking forget my name. I’ve got important people close to me. People who I don’t want involved in any of this shit. You hear me?”

“You do this for me, we’re even. You’ll never hear from me again.”

Baby Face took in a huge breath. “All right, I’ll give you a call back in five.”

The screen shifted back to the green-eyed assistant. “Call terminated by remote party. Shall I call again?”

“No, wait for his call and put him through as soon as he does.”

“Understood.”

Seb twisted on the couch and sprawled his body across the sofa. He stared at the ceiling, praying that his friend would come through. When five minutes turned into ten, he couldn’t lay down any longer. He jumped up to his feet and paced around the room. “Come on, man. Where the fuck are you.” Just when he was about to give up, the screen shifted and Baby Face was standing in what looked like a garage.

“Seb, you there?” he asked.

“I’m here. I can hear you,” Seb said. “Did you hear back from your uncle?”

“Sure did. I spoke with him a bit. He’s doing this as a favor for me, so don’t worry about it coming back. He made a few calls and got you a seat with the owner of the Red Hotel.”

“Red Hotel?”

“Yeah, it’s a nightclub on Pyrus Station. Owner is one of those knife-eared sectorums. Those guys are always bad news. So be careful.”

“Did your uncle give you a name?”

“No, just said to tell them yours. He’ll be expecting you in the next hour.”

“Didn’t leave me much time to prepare.”

“Yeah… well… you know how these guys are.”

“Yeah, I do. Hey… uh… thanks for everything. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t sweat it. And Seb?”

“Yeah?”

“I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I don’t ever want to see your face ever again,” Baby said, smiling.

Seb laughed. “Good luck to you. It sounds like you’ve got a lot going for you.”

“I think I’m finally happy.”

“That’s great, man. Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

When the call ended, Seb picked up his bag and marched out of the room, picking up his unspent credit chip on his way out. As he exited the front door of the cafe, he walked to the edge of the nearby street. Crowded, thin roads weaved in between buildings and alleyways while traffic moved at a snail’s pace. The artificial skybox above cast an orange glow from the image of a descending sun, only to be interrupted by electrical surges that plummeted the entire facility into temporary darkness if it weren’t for the dozens of holographic neon signs scattered throughout.

As Seb walked with the nearby traffic, his eyes were enamored by all the people. Dozens of different species, both small and large, weaved in between one another, marching to their various destinations. Most of all, he recognized, but there were a few he did not. Ten years was an eternity at the pace of the rest of the galaxy. There was so much he had to learn and discover. It filled him with both excitement and dread.

Prior to making his way to the Red Hotel, Seb stopped at an electronics boutique. Since he dropped on Inoi 3, he realized the handiness of having an all in one device that could handle this communication, computation, and holonet access. His ear-mounted comm device just wasn’t cutting it. He needed a WICI.

After listening to the sales associate’s feeble attempt at upselling, Seb settled on a basic model that provided basic holonet access, location based communication services with the ability to integrate into long-distance calls, and integration into his skinsleeve. With the purchase completed, Seb tested it by plotting his route to the Red Hotel. His fastest route was on foot before taking the station’s subway. He quickly determined it was his list favorite method of travel. Not only did it remind him of prison, he was certain the smell was worse.

The ride gave him time to think. He contemplated on the approach he was going to take and guessed how much the information would be worth. He’d never negotiated with a broker before, but he knew anything involving the corps was big business. The manipulation they could do with this kind of information has to be worth… a lot, he guessed.

By the time he climbed the stairs exiting the subway, the sky box above displayed a video feed of the station’s exterior. The nearby planet cast all the nearby buildings in a soft blue. It was only another five-minute trek before Seb saw his destination.

The Red Hotel stood out like a beacon of depravity, enticing lost souls wandering the streets with false promises of solving all of their problems. The three-story exterior was a culmination of exaggerated shapes, giving the impression the building was upside down. The faux windows projected nude holographic displays of professional dancers. Loud bass of heavy music roared from the entrance, shaking the glass of the nearby windows. If Seb wasn’t visiting for business, he most certainly wanted to visit for pleasure.

The line to get in was wrapped around the nearby block. Two horned bouncers dressed in expensive white suits were only letting those they deemed worth in. Seb looked down at his clothes. He was still wearing the same pants and jacket he got from Inoi 3. Wonder if they’ll even let me in, he mused. He contemplated searching for the nearest store, but decided against it, given the time limit he was on. The last thing he wanted to do was piss off his contact by showing up late.

Seb sprinted across the grid locked street and caught the eyes of the bouncer as he approached. The red tower of a man approached him with his hand up and shook his head before Seb could even get a word in.

“No way you’re getting in here looking like that,” the bouncer said. “Go put something else on and then head to the back of the line. If you’re lucky, you’ll get in before we close.”

“The name is Seb, and I’ve got an appointment with the big guy upstairs.”

The bouncer cocked a brow and touched the side of his ear before he spoke. “I’ve got a guy outside saying he’s got an appointment. Uh huh, said his name was Seb.” The bouncer nodded a few times before dropping the finger from his ear. He turned and pointed to a nearby alleyway. “Go to the side entrance. There will be someone waiting for you to take you upstairs. Don’t make any trouble. Got it?”

“Trust me, I don’t plan on it.”

When Seb rounded the corner of the alleyway, he could see two robots standing near a frame-lit door. They were bipedal, coated in black paint, and had cameras for heads. It wasn’t until he was just a few feet from them that he saw their weapons. From what he knew before going to prison, death bots, as they were known, were illegal in UHC space. Maybe things have changed, Seb wondered.

When he stopped in front of them, their monocular viewport turned to face him with unsettling speed. A green laser projected from their head, scanning Seb from head to toe. After they finished, their arms and legs flexed from their petrified stance.

“Francis Reeves,” the robot said in a harsh, distorted voice. “Prior to entry, you will hand over your Wayne & Connors Lawbringer. Your weapon will be returned to you upon your departure.”

Seb winced at hearing the sound of his full name. He figured the broker would have looked into everything about him prior to his arrival. Even so, he didn’t like to hear it.

“Okay, no problem,” Seb said, reaching down for his revolver.

When he pulled his weapon from its holster, both robots retrieved their back mounted rifles that unfolded into their full length, placing two red lasers upon Seb’s forehead. He froze.

“Uh… I’m just handing it over like you asked.”

The robot on his right snatched his weapon from his hand before they both relaxed, mounting their weapons onto their backs. Seb let out the breath he was holding when the one on his left opened the door.

“Please follow me,” the death bot said. Seb followed him into the building. The walls and ceiling were painted a crimson red velvet. The flooring matched with a paisley pattern woven in the carpet. The wall mounted lights were gold and only produced enough light to not cast the hall in complete darkness.

Seb could feel the weighty thud of the robot behind him as they walked down the hallway. It was like being pursued by a merciless killer. As they walked, all Seb could think about was what he could do if they turned aggressive. He came to the quick conclusion he wouldn’t stand a chance.

The group passed an open changing room where the club’s dancers prepared for their next shift. Men and females from every species sat in front of floor to ceiling mirrors shifting through various clothes, makeup, and cybernetics. Seb wanted nothing more than to gawk. However, his chauffeurs kept him moving forward at a steady pace. They led him up two flights of stairs before stopping at two twin doors with a large ‘R’ and ‘H’ engraved on each. The robots opened both doors and followed Seb in.

The room was quiet compared to the rest of the building, no doubt because of thorough sound proofing, given the back wall overlooked the club’s bottom two levels and dance floor. The entire left wall was an exotic aquarium that traveled down the middle of the structure. On his right was a lounge area complete with several couches and a bar. Three women sat on the sofa. Two were red horned women wearing slim fitting dresses that cut at the hips. The third was a short purple woman with large ears of that of a pracovi, who was leaning back slack jawed inside of a virtual helmet. Near the back wall sat a black stone desk that sparkled in the soft rainbow light of the fish tank. The man sitting behind the table smiled and stood when Seb entered the room.

“Mr. Reeves, what a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance,” the pointed ear man said, walking across the room. He shook Seb’s hand when he approached. He was wearing a red slim-fit suit jacket drawn with a floral pattern paired with black slacks. His dark purple skin contrasted with the bright white light of his glowing eyes. When they shook hands, his larger-than-life smile highlighted his long canine teeth. “Or should I call you Seb?”

“Seb’s fine.”

“Seb it is, then. Since we’re on a first name basis, you may call me Vlad.”

“It’s a pleasure, Vlad.”

“Ooh, that’s a mighty fine grip you’ve got there. Reminds me of the onigaram’s I’ve got outside. It exudes power. Care for a drink?”

“I’d love one.”

“Any preference?”

“Dealer’s choice.”

The smile grew on Vlad’s face. “I like that.”

Seb followed his host to the nearby bar area, looking over his shoulder at the robots who stood motionless at the door. He turned when he heard giggling at the sofa. The two horned beauties had their arms wrapped around each other, eyeing Seb as they draped their fingers across each other’s exposed skin. Vlad extended a crystal glass in front of him, pulling his attention.

“They’re quite something, aren’t they?”

“Huh?”

“No reason to be modest. The girls. They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

Seb suddenly felt his mouth getting dry. “Yeah. There’s no denying that.”

“I couldn’t get enough of Reana’s beauty, so I paid to have her cloned.”

Seb nearly choked on his drink. He knew that was highly illegal in UHC space. “I’m sorry?”

“Oh, no reason to be concerned. The paperwork is all legitimate. According to her birth records, they are fraternal twins.”

“How do you tell them apart?” Seb asked.

“Easy, the one on the right is Reana and the one on the left is Leana.”

Seb looked over at the two women, who frowned and shook their heads.

“Ah, well, I can’t be right all the time,” Vlad sighed, smiling. “Come, let’s move to my desk and talk business. I heard you’ve got something for me.”

Seb unshouldered his bag as the two men walked to the stone desk. He pulled out the datapad and set it on the shiny surface. He sat on the edge of one of the two chairs in front of the desk, explaining the importance as Vlad started to work.

“It’s black box data from the WCC Redeemer,” Seb began. “The crew of the Andalusiantook the job to rescue survivors and destroy the data on its drives. I was sent in to do it.”

“And instead of destroying it, you copied the contents,” Vlad said, clicking his tongue. “You’re a naughty naughty boy Seb. How did you manage to get integrated with the crew of the Andalusian?”

“Through sheer luck. I came down with one of the crew when it crashed. He and several of the other crew believed it to be an inside job. The Williams Correctional Corp all pretty much confirmed that when the crew got hired to kill the crew member.”

“Benjamin Dover, I believe,” Vlad said, tapping his finger on his cheek. “I saw the holovids when they announced that the ship crashed. The campaign they pushed out was clearly propaganda. It was on every major network across the entire galaxy.”

Seb watched as Vlad went through the footage in its entirety. The proprietor of the Red Hotel instructed Reana and Leana to serve the two men food and drinks while Vlad finished. Seb spent the rest of the time moping about the room, looking at the hundreds of exotic fish, sampling the various drinks from the bar, and examining the pracovi in the virtual helmet. At times, he wondered if she was still breathing, but her random twitching was enough for him to assume she wasn’t dead.

Seb returned to Vlad’s desk when the club owner turned off the hologram. Vlad sat and stared at the aquarium, tapping his fingers on the bridge of his nose. His solid white eyes focused, unmoving. After a few minutes of contemplation, Vlad stood and walked to the floor to ceiling window. The amount of time he was taking before speaking started making Seb nervous.

“Everything all right?” Seb asked.

Vlad turned and walked over to the stone desk. He sat down on the corner and looked toward the back door. He nodded behind Seb, triggering the sound of robotic footsteps. Seb turned in his seat and jumped to his feet.

“What the fuck is going on.”

Vlad held up his hand and smiled. “No reason to be alarmed. I’ve been contemplating on what you have. However, before I make a decision, I need to ask you a question.” The robot stood on Vlad’s side, facing toward Seb. “I need you to be honest with me. Did you make any copies of the data before bringing it here?”

“Of course I did,” Seb said, his eyes darting between Vlad and the robot.

Vlad let out a sigh and slowly nodded. “As would I have expected. Unfortunately, that puts me in a rather unfavorable position.” Vlad waved off the robot and sat in the chair next to Seb. “This information is indeed quite valuable to the right party. However, any time you’re going against a corp, extra precautions must be taken to ensure all parties are safe and in the clear. Given that this is our first working relationship, it’s honestly too big of a gamble I’m willing to take.”

“What about someone else? Do you think you could find me someone else who would be willing to buy it?”

Vlad let out a small laugh. “I’m sure I could, but I’d rather not be associated with this transaction at all. I’m also not in the habit of sending work to my competitors.”

“What if I delete the copies?”

“I’m sorry, Seb, but my decision is final,” Vlad said, standing from his desk, leading Seb to the double doors. “I appreciate you coming. I’ll open a free tab at the bar as a token of appreciation for your time. In the future, if you have something that you feel would benefit the both of us, please think of me. I guarantee we’ll be doing business together in the future.”

Seb shouldered his bag and shook Vlad’s hand before walking out the door. He watched the keeper of secrets return to the graceful arms of two companions before the doors shut behind him. Seb followed the robots down to the main floor, down a separate hallway before opening up to the dance floor.

The heart pounding music was more of an aggravation now after the failed deal. Seb turned to see the robots retreat into the backroom before stomping over to the bar. He ordered two hellfire shots, downing them in quick succession while he tried to figure out what his next steps were. When the alcohol ensured his worries faded away, Seb felt a tug on his jacket. When he looked down, there was a familiar purple skinned, white-haired girl looking up at him with her big blue and green, heterochromia eyes.

“Hey, we need to talk.”