Mercenary Blade
"You okay?"
Roque glanced down at Lije in his arms, his right hand still extending his Aura Blade into empty air. Her round eyes stared blankly ahead. The white silk threads that had been hurtling toward her were gone without a trace. Only his gray lightsaber gleamed.
She nodded.
"Good. Glad you're alright."
Confirming Lije was unharmed, Roque set her down gently and stood. His Aura Blade retracted smoothly into the hilt on his belt.
His eyes took in the mansion's interior—a total wreck, fitting the term perfectly. Hugo Russell, the owner, along with the elf whose name he didn't even know properly, were mangled beyond recognition.
Kaylee approached, brushing back her sweat-matted silver-gray hair.
"What the hell was that thing earlier?"
"Later. Take Lije and head to the car."
"Yeah, alright. Time to bail anyway."
She rolled her cybernetic left shoulder a few times before scooping up Lije. The girl was still gazing at the empty air.
"Lije?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
But after a couple steps, Lije wobbled. Kaylee sighed and picked her up fully.
"...Lije can walk."
"We're in a hurry. Gotta clear out fast before the cops swarm. Especially around here—rich folks' neighborhood means they'll be extra quick. You get it?"
"...Got it."
"Good."
Kaylee turned with Lije in her arms. But she halted after three or four steps. A quadruped robot was clambering awkwardly over the windowsill ahead.
"That your toy?"
"That's Bini."
The robot Bini perched on the sill, scanned beyond, spotted Lije's face, and beeped happily—as if relieved she was safe.
Lije reached out to it.
"Come here."
Bini tumbled down from the sill and rolled on its wheels to catch up beside Kaylee. Its camera lens tilted up at her with a beep. Kaylee chuckled.
"Alright. Let's roll."
But she hadn't gone far when she realized Roque wasn't following. Glancing back, she saw him standing in the center of the debris-strewn parlor.
"Roque?"
"Go on ahead."
"Why? What's left? That snake-eyes freak's toast too."
Roque shook his head slowly.
"I'll catch up soon. You first."
"...Fine. Whatever it is, I'll warm up the engine. Hurry."
Kaylee hesitated a moment, then turned away. Lije, cradled in her arms, peered over her shoulder at Roque. He looked back, their eyes meeting.
Lije mouthed the words.
'Hurry up.'
Roque gave a faint smile in reply. Kaylee and Lije slipped out of the mansion quickly, Bini trundling after them. Roque stood alone amid the wreckage.
He scanned the room, then spoke abruptly.
"Not the host, so can't offer proper hospitality."
"No need. Wasn't here for coffee."
A woman had appeared at the window sometime during that. Backlit by moonlight, she stepped inside, her heels crunching over shattered glass.
Her neatly swept-back blonde hair and black sunglasses stood out. Tall and slender in tailored pants and a coat, the wide coat flared dramatically with her slightest movement. A short metal rod hung from her belt beneath it—an Aura Blade.
She stopped six paces from Roque, tilting her head curiously.
"Something off?"
"...No."
She stepped back casually and removed her sunglasses. Clear blue eyes met his.
"Dorothy."
"Roque."
She narrowed her eyes.
"It's you. Midland's mercenary legend—the Mercenary Blade. Ronin."
"And you're with the mayor's office."
Dorothy nodded readily.
"Heard the rumors. Wanted to meet you someday."
"Me? Why?"
"Word is you've been taking jobs these past few years. Why not aim bigger? Like me."
Roque stared silently. His gaze was answer enough. Dorothy sighed softly.
"Didn't expect it'd be easy. Nice meeting you anyway, Roque."
"...That's it?"
Her sudden farewell threw him off. Dorothy slipped her sunglasses back on and surveyed the trashed mansion.
"What else? You got docs proving the mayor blackmailed or offed his election rivals?"
Roque hesitated uncharacteristically.
"...What if I did?"
"Hypothetically? Whoever has them should shred 'em. Key witnesses—Hugo Russell, his top dozen team members, assorted goons—all missing. Or soon to be. Paper trails alone won't stick."
Roque let out a dry laugh. Soon to be missing. He'd half-expected it, but the mayor's office seemed downright pleased with Hugo's demise.
"Then why not clean house sooner?"
"Hugo and crew handled odd jobs post-election. Big political donations yearly, beyond campaign cash. All they wanted was free rein for relic hunting. If he'd still been around, I'd have tried keeping him breathing. But he's gone."
She glanced afar, a faint glow flickering in her sunglasses—likely her terminal.
"Anyway, with Hugo vanished, no need to stir more shit. Don't know what went down between you two, but one's gone. Not our problem."
"Then what's the issue?"
"That mage."
"...Mage?"
Dorothy's sunglasses turned to him.
"The one who breached Midland government's firewall. That's the problem."
"Ah. Right."
Roque couldn't exactly admit he was the culprit, so he clammed up. Dorothy eyed him a moment, then shook her head lightly.
"Tell that mage to watch their back. No idea how they pinpointed those files amid the data flood, but touch core security or hit defense servers same way? Reverse trace leads straight to missiles. Not gentle warnings like this."
"...I'll pass it on."
Distant police sirens wailed. Faint to normal ears, but clear to their sharpened senses.
Roque turned to leave; Dorothy wouldn't stop him. She watched his retreating back.
As distance grew, she called out.
"Eight years ago—where were you?"
Roque halted, back still to her.
"Why curious?"
"Nothing big. Just reminds me of someone."
No answer. He stood silent, then walked away. Dorothy watched until he exited the mansion.
Alone, she murmured to the empty space.
"...Salmun Master. One survivor."
"Cops got here fast, huh?"
Kaylee opened the car door from inside as she spoke. Roque slid into the driver's seat. Kaylee took shotgun; Lije watched from the back.
"What?"
"...Not gonna spill what that was?"
"Mayor's office."
Kaylee's face tightened.
"...Bad to tangle with them."
"Let's clear out first."
Roque fired up the engine. Black Knight roared to life and peeled onto the road. Sirens swelled in the distance.
Escaping Little River took little time. Dodging the noise, they wove through upscale homes into tangled downtown, then out to the outskirts. Lije recognized the route.
Soon, Black Knight crested a hill overlooking Midland, pulling into a lot.
Kaylee, slumped in the passenger seat with eyes closed, lifted her head as it stopped.
"...Dragon Hills? Why here?"
Roque got out without a word. Kaylee glanced at Lije clambering forward from the back, then followed suit.
Roque stood ahead, hands in pockets, drinking in Midland's glittering sprawl below.
Kaylee sidled up.
"Nice view. Come here often?"
"Sometimes."
Lije joined them. The three stood shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the city's brilliant nightscape.
Kaylee spoke first.
"...Well, we wiped out a whole outfit by accident. My rep's gonna spike. Wonder what they owe me."
"Sticking with X-Techno contracts?"
She sighed at his question.
"Dunno... They did try to sell me out, sure. But that's merc life, right? And they pay fat stacks."
"Use a middleman next renewal."
"Hahaha! I'm not that dumb. Gonna lock in a real deal this time."
She laughed heartily, her tank top straining. Roque gazed indifferently at the city, but Lije stared blankly at the jiggle beside him.
Kaylee caught Lije's eyes and knelt to match her level.
"How you holding up?"
"...Majestic."
"Huh?"
Lije snapped out of her daze at Bini's beep from below.
"Lije's fine."
"Good. No hurts from earlier?"
"Nope. You okay, Kaylee?"
Kaylee wiggled her cyber left hand, flexed a mock bicep.
"Sis is golden. Might need a software patch, though."
"Lije fix?"
Kaylee blinked, then pinched Lije's cheek with a grin.
"Don't go offering that anywhere, kid. Especially you."
"Lije trusts Kaylee."
"I trust you too. And that ice-cold uncle over there. That's why I'm saying it."
She ruffled Lije's hair instead. Gazing into the girl's sparkling eyes, she smiled.
"Next time, sis'll bring a real gift. Gotta make good on that promise—something proper. Look forward to it."
"...Yeah."
Kaylee stood, glanced at Roque—still city-fixed.
"Alright. I'm off."
"...Must have questions."
"Tons. Hugo gunning for Lije—fine, thought she was dragon-relic bait. But snake-eyes? Post-head-explosion silk snakes? Mayor's crew letting us walk? Last one's obvious: witnesses handled, works for them."
Roque turned. She met his eyes with a smirk.
"But merc life's taught me: no need digging every secret. Just paints a target. Anyway, I stay in the game; dragon cult whackjobs gunning for you and Lije? Gone. Good enough for a gunhand like me."
Kaylee grabbed her jacket and shotgun from Black Knight, slung the jacket over her shoulder. Tweaked her goggles; they darkened from translucent to black.
"Catch you later."
Short nod, and she walked off. Her boots thudded steadily away.
Lije waved; Kaylee flicked a hand back without turning.
"...Kaylee gone."
"Yeah. She left."
Lije looked up at Roque. His face was unreadable.
"...Roque mad?"
"No."
His curt reply left her hesitating. Roque spoke first.
"Let's head out too."
"...Where?"
"Home."
Lije blinked, speechless.
"Roque no questions?"
"Can you explain it all clean in three sentences now?"
Her mouth gaped. Blank stare—he seemed to weigh if it was possible. Finally, dead serious:
"...Takes time."
Roque sighed tiredly, nodded at the car door.
"Yeah. Ask when it's sorted. Get in now. Home, shower, bed."
His face screamed exhaustion and hassle, but Lije's lit up with unmistakable energy, despite her blankness.
She nodded.
"Yeah."
Bini beeped in echo. Roque shook his head, opened the door, pointed inside. Girl and bot hopped in.
Before sliding into the driver's seat, Roque took one last look at Midland's night glow. Glorious, cold—another night, someone dies in those lights.
But what caught his eye wasn't the distant sparkle—it was Black Knight's hood right there. Bullet holes riddling it. Roque's face soured worst all night.
"...Damn it."
Thunk—the door shut. Black Knight rumbled to life.
Destination: apartment, warm shower and bed waiting.