Chrono Inquisitor (Gods Be Damned) (15 page)

I nodded my head acknowledging the fact.

The guard looked like he didn’t want to let me enter his fine country. At least not with Paxton accompanying me. But after a few seconds he continued with standard protocols.

“I’m sure you’re already aware, but it’s my duty to inform you, your deputy only has a thirty day visa. If your assignment requires more time you will need to apply for an extension for his continued stay. Welcome back to the
Lonestar Republic. Being an Inquisitor I’m sure you’re already armed, but legally I’m required to ask; do you or your deputy require any weapons?”

It was Texas law that every citizen
and
civilian was required to be armed, except where noted, which was basically nowhere.

“Thank you,” I said. “I have all the firepower I need. As a matter of fact, I still carry my Shooting Star.” I reached to the side of the door and took hold of the official handgun of Texas.

Seeing my weapon the guard resumed his friendly nature and said with a smile, “It’s the best piece of metal a man can possess.” Then he brushed aside his own jacket and lovingly placed his hand on his own Shooting Star. “Had this little piece of heaven since I was six. It’s never let me down.”

Everything in order, the guard tilted his hat and waved me on my way. I wasn’t wearing a hat at the moment so I gave a simple but respectful nod in return.

I’d been gone so long I’d forgotten how prideful Texans were.

I wanted to continue my conversation with Kali, but I was really tired and was going to need my rest. I followed her recommendation, took a sedative, climbed back into my hammock and before I knew it I was sound asleep.

I awoke, rolled out my hammock, and like a feline, stretched my entire body to its furthest limits. A series of snaps, crackles, and pops emanated from my spine while a giant yawn escaped me. I shuddered slightly as my body finished rebooting itself, making sure that everything was in fine working order.

Kali, having detected that I was coming out of sleep state a few minutes prior, had turned on the coffee brewer and slowly began to increase illumination. The sweet aroma hooked me by the nose and beckoned me to that liquid of a privileged life.

Behind me, I heard Paxton moan, stirring awake.

“I suppose I should be gentlemanly enough to offer you a cup,” I said.

“Wouldn’t complain if ya did,” he replied. He stood and stretched but not to the extent I had. “Where are we?” he asked.

I didn’t think he was asking me, since he could find out from his own CerA, but several seconds later he asked again.

I hated answering questions I didn’t need to. If people would simply take some time and think, generally they could figure it out themselves. So I ignored him and finished pouring the cups.

“Are you a man, or do you bastardize a good brew?” I asked.

“Come again?” he returned.

“Never mind, I don’t have cream and sugar anyway, so it’s either straight black or spiked with fire.”

“Black is fine,” he said, realizing what I’d meant.

Time and powers of deduction can solve almost anything.

“You gonna answer my question?” he asked.

I handed him a mug. “Why do I need to answer? Ask your own bitch. All I’d do is ask mine and then relay the message, and I hate playing echo.”

“I just thought that-”

“Because you were cut off back in my pip, that you wouldn’t be able to determine where we are in my pad?” I finished.

“Yeah.”

“Here’s a little piece of advice; don’t rely on others for information when you can get it yourself. Don’t assume you’re incapable of getting information if you haven’t even tried.”

Paxton looked like he was analyzing what I said and then nodded as if he understood and wouldn’t repeat himself.

He raised the cup to his lips and took a sip. His eyes rolled back into his head. “This is some good shit.”

“Give it back,” I said with complete seriousness, reaching for the cup.

“What the fuck?” Paxton turned slightly sideways and took a step backwards, keeping his cup out of reach, not wanting to surrender it.

“You ever tasted shit?” I asked with a hint of animosity.

He looked at me like he didn’t know what to really say, but then he said, “Well, no, but-”

“Do you have any idea how much this stuff costs? This isn’t low-grade, mixed-root shit. This is 100% pure premium coffee bean. If you’re going to drink my private stock, don’t ever compare it to excrement. Especially, if you haven’t ever actually tasted shit. Trust me, shit doesn’t taste good no matter how you prepare it.”

His eyes were wide and he was sort of crouching into himself. “Geez man, sorry, my apologies, I meant no disrespect.”

I dropped my false façade, my mean demeanor, and replaced it with a smile and a laugh. “I’m just fucking with you.” I took a drink from my cup. “It is some mighty fine shit.”

Paxton smiled uneasily and took another sip. Then he cocked his head. “Wait a second. Didn’t you just say to trust you about eating shit? Does that mean you have?”

“And that right there is exactly why I’ve chosen you to be my deputy,” I said. “Anyone else might have missed what I implied, or said nothing about it. You’re observant. I guess it must come from being a pick-pocket or something. Either way, it suits my requirements.”

“About that, my mother used to tell me stories about reapers when I was a kid.”

“Was that yesterday, or are you trying to tell me you aren’t still one?”

“
Harty har har. Do you want to hear what I have to say?”

I gave him a gesture of ‘after you’, refilled my mug, and then relaxed back down into my woven womb.

“As I was saying,” he continued. “My mother used to tell stories about reapers.” He paused and pointed to the coffee pot and then to his mug. I nodded okay. He continued talking as he refilled his cup and got into his swing. “She said you guys were the first ones to receive mytes. She said that the ones you fellas got were special. They gave you superpowers of a sort. Techno magic she said. Made you all more than human. You’re all supposed to be above the law. At least man made ones anyhow. But you still serve a higher purpose. You all pretend to be working for justice, but what you’re really doing is recruiting.”

Now it was my time to be confused. “Recruiting? Recruiting for what?” I asked. I was genuinely curious where he was going with this.

“For Armageddon. The Apocalypse. The end of the earth as we know it. She said that the scientists who made the tech were agents of Satan. She said reapers were made to be the devils hounds. That you all go around collecting the worst of the worst to rage war against the righteous.”

Hen
looked over at me. I brought my mug up to my nose to conceal my smile and pretended that I hadn’t paid attention.

“You listening to me?”

I didn’t move my mug. “I’m listening, and I got a question before you say anymore crazy ass shit.”

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“If the tech is supposed to be demonically inspired, why are you integrated? Did you succumb to temptation? Or, are you a simply a sheep who’s lost its way?”

“Don’t you know? Or maybe you do.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged and took a sip.

“Then let’s hear it hound,” he said. “Did the devil whisper my secrets in your ear?”

I laughed. “Might make my life easier if that were the case, but no, the only voice I hear in my head is my CerA.” I laughed even harder. “But then I guess your mother would say that she is the devil, and sometimes I’d have to agree with her. Maybe I do know your secrets, and then maybe I don’t. Maybe I want to hear them from your lips, as if you were confessing. Let’s hear it choir boy, sing to your preacher.”

Paxton shook his head. “Nothing to confess.”

“Good, because I’m not a priest, and I really don’t give a shit, unless you’re a Corruptor of course. Did you have a point telling me about your mother’s twisted bed time tales?”

“You know about the exodus to Mars?” he asked. Like I’d been living under a rock for the last four years.

“Good riddance,” I said. “Though, it is amazing what an ass load of money and divine inspiration can achieve. I’m actually surprised that all the religious nuts aren’t trying to deport us heathens instead.”

“Guess there’s just too many of us,” Paxton said.

“Well the sooner they’re gone the better. I just wish all the nut cases would go with them.”

He bowed his head a little. “I shouldn’t have let things end like that with
Maddie. Everyone I love and care about are going on those ships. Chances are I’ll never see them again. I’ll never see my son.”

Ah, fuck. Me and my big mouth.

“Hey, the next wave isn’t leaving for three more months. Remember, you help me, and I’ll help you. If you decide you want to go with them, I’ll make it happen.”

He lifted his head and gave a little nod.

I didn’t know how the hell I could help. I didn’t have any connections with
The Church
. Me and my big mouth.

‹We are entering Denton-Dallas, the closest major
arcologyto the Regency. I suggest you switch vehicles and prepare Paxton for his intended purpose.
›
Kali interrupted.

I quickly finished what was left in my cup. I was surprised to find I hadn’t spiked it. Maybe this time around I’d actually kick some of my horrible habits. I got up from my swing, rinsed out my mug, and put it away. Paxton, having a modicum of manners, did the same.

“Think you can be civilized for a few days?” I asked, while rummaging through my closest for the things I’d need for the assignment.

“Do you mean, can I pucker up and kiss rich ass?” he said.

I turned and looked at him. “Call it what you will, but I suggest you don’t lick your lips after doing so.”

“Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t make me your bitch. We’re partners. Like you said, I help you, you help me.”

“You were my little bitch the moment I bought you from Van Horne.”

He gave me a look like he was serious.

“I’m just messing with you, partner,” I said.

I made a mental note to not jab Paxton too often, or too hard. A man can only be pushed around so many times before he snaps and fights back. I told him to get dressed. When he was finished I grabbed my least favorite hat off the rack and tossed it to him. “Here, for starters you can have this. A respectable man needs a hat.”

He caught it and put it on. It looked better on him than it did on me.

“Not too shabby,” I said. “I think we might just be able to pull this off.”

We picked up a few new suits in Dallas-proper to go with our false personas. Frank thought I should go as myself, but I knew Sam better. She wouldn’t buy it. No way would she accept that I was there to reconcile. Besides, I wouldn’t have been sincere and she would have easily seen through the lie on my face. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it from her that I was there, but maybe if she knew I was on assignment, she’d leave me alone.

Kali notified me the second we entered the Regency Resort Complex.

Paxton having never been in a limo before, wanted to approach the hotel while standing through the dome like some clichéd kid in Strip City. I couldn’t blame him, but doing so would have been out of character for his alias, besides, we weren’t in that type of limo. Ours didn’t have a moonroof.

We were in a fully armored, sensory emergence limo. Much better than one of those cheap ones you could rent by the hour. Our limo served three purposes, anonymity, security, and luxury. I decided to show off the luxury aspect.

“Kali, give us the full sensory package.”

The domed roof had been black with bands of neon light, but with my command it changed, disappeared as if there wasn’t anything surrounding us.

A gentle breeze arose inside. It wasn’t as strong as it should have been with how fast we were going, but then if it had our eyes would have been watering so bad we wouldn’t really have been able to see. It was just enough to make it feel like we were truly exposed to the outside world. The breeze even carried the smells of the outdoors, mostly mesquite, but then that was to be expected. The surprising scent though, was that of citrus blossoms. It was overwhelming.

Paxton wasn’t sure what the smell was. Colorado didn’t have citrus. With Florida underwater, Eden refusing to export, and with tensions between Texas and Colorado being what they were, who could blame him.

The Regency wasn’t just a resort, it was an entertainment oasis. A self-sustained small city dedicated to the pleasures of humanity.

Fuck Strip City, that place is a mausoleum.

Paxton’s eyes were wide with wonder, and we hadn’t even entered the real interior of the complex. We were only in the food production quadrant. I’m sure Paxton felt like he’d died and gone to heaven. I kinda felt the same. Lucky for us, I had the keys to the kingdom.

The place wasn’t as big as a modern
arcology, but it was big. It wasn’t tall. Couldn’t be more than a hundred meters high at the apex, but it was just as wide as a small one. Say as wide as Pueblo. The beauty though was that it had a quarter of the population and everything a person could want.

Beyond the citrus groves we could see the rollercoasters of the amusement park reaching toward the clouds. I hadn’t been on one in decades, and so long as I had my way, it would be many, many more before such a thing would come to pass, if ever at all.

I felt my eyes begin to water with the memories of Mikey coming on. I breathed deep and held my eyes closed tight, keeping the tears at bay. Would they ever cease flowing for something which happened so long ago? They say time heals all wounds. It doesn’t. Not properly. Ones that run deep leave scar tissue, no matter how many baptisms you get. Even if the sight of the scar is removed, you can still feel it.