The Elevator jostled and rose. A hypnotic tune played over the speakers. Callie tapped her foot, matching the beat.
A monotone voice came over the speakers, blocking out the calming beat.
" Dockmasters terminal. Please exit elevator."
The polished metal doors hissed and opened to a sprawling terminal. Hundreds of people walked through the terminal, passing through dozens of different booths that scanned them as they passed through. She scanned the area, counting the twenty security in her area. Judging by the fit men and women on duty, the Zrixians were taking security seriously. She glanced up at the cameras. Callie smiled and moved towards the closest terminal.
She stood at the back of the line and waited. Ahead of her, the workers efficiently scanned each person, scanning their bags and their comms devices before allowing the people to pass.
Callie's line quickly shortened until it was her turn. The man scanned her comms device and back pack, giving Callie a warm smile.
" Investigator Sally, please step through the scanner." Said the Terminal worker, the handsome man gesturing her to the side. Underneath his white shirt, she could see toned muscle and an athletic physique.
Callie, or in this case, investigator Sally, stepped through the scanner.
"Any other weapons on your person other than your issued sidearm and knife?" asked the terminal worker.
" I have four boxes of bullets, and a surpressor along with three spare magazines." Said Callie.
The terminal workers' eyebrows rose.
"Your credentials are all here. So just pay the fifty crown fee and you are free to go." said the terminal worker. He took a step away from her, gesturing her to pass.
Callie mumbled in protest.
" Damned rates, why are they always going up?" said Callie, tapping her comm on the scanner and paying the amount.
She wasn't struggling for crowns, but it would look weird if she didn't grumble at the price.
" I would have preferred to buy you a drink instead." Said Callie, bobbing her eyebrows at the man suggestively. Her comm beeped as fifty crowns transferred of her device.
Callie hefted her bag and strode towards one of the many elevators on the other side of the terminals. The one she walked towards was the only one in the line of ten elevators labeled surface. She glanced over her shoulder, catching the guy staring at her butt as she walked away.
Callie winked at him and exaggerated the sway in her walk. She wasn't usually such a tease, but after catching the man staring, she just felt like it. In her training, Instructor Milan thrived at seduction. It was her style of infiltration and assassination. Callie was hesitant to use such methods, as she didn't trust anyone enough to get intimate with them.
Well, that was a lie. Maybe if the man volunteered to be tied up? She might be able to indulge herself if someone agreed? The man behind her blushed a deep red and timidly looked away. Callie turned towards the surface elevator. It's too bad she couldn't tie that one up, he was kind of handsome. She would need to get some rope or some art draining cuffs. Because after the past several days, she really was itching for some stress relief.
Callie entered the elevator and went to shut the door. A woman in a tight Zrixian navy jumpsuit rushed towards the open door, waving.
" Hey! Wait for me! I need to go to the surface as well!" shouted the woman, rapidly closing the gap.
Callie pressed on the surface button several times, hoping the doors would close quicker. The approaching woman in the army uniform scowled and her jog turned into a sprint. The doors closed and Callie winked slyly at the woman. Callie sighed in relief as the elevator rose with only her in it. She had no desire to allow a stranger to stand that close to her. Especially one who was armed with their service pistol and knife like that navy soldier.
The doors opened with a ping. Dry air washed over Callie, and she took in a deep breath. She scrunched up her face in displeasure. The air wasn't stale exactly, but it lacked the usual smells Callie was used to. She grumbled and walked towards the glass doors to the street. She could see shuttles on the street blurring past. Some turned off and stopped picking up passengers and then weaving back into the bustling traffic. The metal of the city's towering buildings glinted in a green tinge as the green barrier far overhead shed light on the city.
She continued on casually observing her surroundings and keeping an eye for any suspicious behaviour. Back across the landing to the elevators, a woman exited. She had a distinctly displeased look on her sharp jaw and full lips.
Callie waved towards one shuttle. It was cube shaped and hovered over the ground. The shuttle broke from traffic and maneuvered to stop at the edge of the street. The traffic moved with surprising speed and made very little noise. This was a stark contrast to what Callie was used to in Etria. Etrias had a habit of pressing on their horns loudly at the most minor of delays.
"Where too?" Asked the driver, his window unrolling.
"The imperial naval base." Said Callie.
" Which one?" Asked the young man, typing into his console.
" What are my choices?" asked Callie, opening the rear door and getting in the back seat. The shuttle hovered above the road perfectly still as it just hung there.
" The naval base or the administrative branch?" asked the Driver.
" Administrative branch." said Callie, shutting the shuttle door.
"Hey! Wait up!" shouted a woman, her voice drifting through the front open window.
The woman in the dark black jump suit with short red hair peeked her head in the passenger's side door.
" We are going to the administrative branch of the naval base." said the Driver.
"That's close enough." Said the woman, opening the rear door and sliding in the back next to Callie.
Sliding to the other side of the back seat, Callie casually rested her hand next to her knife hilt. She smiled at the woman with what she hoped was a disarming smile. The shuttle jostled and Callie leaned away from the woman to allow herself room to maneuver in case of attack.
" Why didn't you let me in the elevator? That was a jerk move." said the Woman her face scrunching in confusion.
" Sorry about that, I didn't see you there." said Callie, shrugging her shoulders like she really hadn't seen the woman running to catch the elevator.
" That is a lie, you looked right at me." said the woman, scowling at Callie.
Callie smiled sheepishly at the woman's frustrated look.
" Dont be such a badger, we are on our way now." said Callie, waving down the street as the shuttle drove along the road.
" Whats a badger?" asked the woman, confusion crossing her face.
" It's an animal from my home planet." said Callie.
" You're not from Proxima?" asked the woman. Callie smiled at the slip, but quickly salvaged the mess.
" I am from Saleia. The animal is something we have in nature preserves." said Callie quickly.
" Oh, I don't think I have ever seen one." said the woman, her toned face scrunching into an inquisitive frown. The woman, who was several inches shorter than Callie, glanced over her posture, her kempt eyebrows raising at Callie's defensive posture.
" Easy, their. I will not attack you. I'm Ferra, its nice to meet you. " Said the woman, holding out her hand to shake.
Callie grasped the hilt of her knife at the women's sudden movement. The woman leaned away, making sure her hands didn't move towards her own weapons.
" I'm Callie, it's nice to meet you." said Callie, not liking this one bit. The Shuttle jostled as it turned but it never slowed. Vehicles rushed passed on either side as the Shuttle driver expertly drove through the city. Callie noticed that Ferra's hand was still held out and realized she was being far too suspicious. She glanced at the driver and he was eying their confrontation with wide eyes through the rear-view mirror.
" I'm sorry about that. You startled me." said Callie gingerly, taking the woman's hand and shaking it. Ferras' grip was firm and her hands were heavily callused. The Shake was surprisingly pleasant. The woman didn't grip tight and only shook for a second. Callie sighed in relief as she made an arm's length of space between them again.
Callie assessed Ferra's weapons, and her eyes widened at the woman's pistol. The weapon was a custom make armour piercing pulse firearm. The grip was slick black metal with a display on the rear of the action, displaying the amount of rounds in the magazine.
" Is that a fifth addition nine millimeter? It looks like it's integrated to fire art laced bullets." asked Callie. The knife on the woman's nylon belt was nothing special, just a standard issue combat knife with a thick blade and rear serrated edge.
" Yes, but it's actually five millimeter. It packs far less punch than your standard issue nine milimeter, but when I focus my art into the weapon, it does much more damage. If a hit hard shelled armour square on, it can penetrate. " Said Ferra, puffing out her chest proudly.
"What are you packing?" asked Ferra, cocking her head at Callie's silver backed pistol.
" A 223." said Callie, trying not to get to exited. Ferra whistled.
" Those are not standard issue. I knew you were some kind of undercover investigator."said Ferra cracking a smile.
Callie laughed and scratched the back of her head nervously.
"You caught me. Back home I was an investigator, now I'm going to sign up to the administrative branch of the navy. Maybe I can find something more interesting to do than bust drug dealers." said Callie.
Callie relaxed slightly, and she sat far more casually, as though she were used to Ferra so close.
" Thats a horrible place to go looking for excitement. If you can fly a ship, then you should try to join the Navy." said Ferra, her soft voice calming to Callie's ears. The woman's pronunciations were softer than standard Zrixian, and that calmed Callie somehow..
" I would, but I left my home planet Saliea to be free and travel the stars. I couldn't do that in the navy, they would just post me at some base or on a battleship to patrol." said Callie distastefully.
" There is the special division of the navy. The division is tasked with scouting enemy borders and keeping our own air space safe." said Ferra, cracking a pleasant smile that lit up the back of the taxi. Callie couldn't help herself, the woman's enthusiasm was just too much, forcing a genuine smile from Callie.
" How do I join that branch of the navy?" asked Callie, her interest peaked.
" Well, they are actually a private organization. They take retired navy pilots and contract them to rich politicians and dignitaries. It's their job to deliver the people safely and quickly to foreign empires. I heard if you make the cut, you will get nearly ten times the pay the military gives their pilots." said Ferra, waving her hands excitedly..
Callie let out a long whistle. That was sounding more like what she was looking for.
" How do I go take this test?" asked Callie.
" Easy, just come with me. I am working for the company indirectly as a contract from the navy. The private organization pays pilots very well. Once my term with the navy is up in two months, I already have a job waiting for me. With the battle to retake Etria over, the navy doesn't need so many active soldiers. Some of us are being discharged from duty early." said Ferra. Callie smiled at that, trying not to show the anger simmering in her chest. Once she found out who was responsible for the fall of her country, she would make them pay.
" Well, that explains the flight uniform. But it doesn't explain why it looks so good on you. When I wear my flight suit, I look like a garbage container with a plastic bag draped over it. "Said Callie, gesturing towards her chest.
Ferra laughed and adjusted her flight suit to hide her flush. The shuttle came to a halt outside of a large building painted in sleek black.
" Thirty crowns each." said the driver.
Callie reached forwards with her left hand, proffering her comm device to the shuttle driver. She paid, all the while keeping her right hand free to grab a weapon if Ferra attacked. Ferra paid with her own sleek black comms device and stepped from the shuttle to the sidewalk. Callie waited for the woman to give her some space before stepping out of the vehicle.
Ferra gestured down the street to the front door of the tall, sleek, black building. Callie glanced up at the eyesore of an image on the front of the skyscraper.
Callie burst out laughing. The rendition of a raven looked almost exactly like a seagull. The painting had a hooked beak, a long neck and a plump body. Its feet also looked webbed from some smearing of the golden paint between the claws..
Ferra paused, glancing from Callie to the golden symbol painted on the front of the building.
"What are you laughing about?" asked Ferra.
" Dont you see it? It looks like a seagull." said Callie, unable to hide her amusement.
Ravens were known as predators and hunters in the empire. Whereas seagulls were known as little shits that always steal tourists' food right from their hands. In Callie's opinion, they should change all the images of the raven to look like this painting of a seagull.
" Several of my flight squad have been to your home planet. They told me anyone visiting Saleia's costal cities always runs into the flying rats." said Ferra.
Callie pulled up her comm device and searched the seagull. She turned the screen of her hand sized device to Ferra. Ferra burst out laughing as she glanced from the white grey and black seagull to the golden image of a raven.
" I can't believe you are associating something as majestic as the raven to a rat, like a seagull? Wait until I tell the commander about this. He is going to lose his shit." said Ferra, grinning.
" Why would your commander care?" asked Callie. Ferra smirked and walked down the street, gesturing for Callie to follow.
" The commander is the one that paid that charlatan of an artist to paint that up their." said Ferra, a wide grin splitting her face.
Ferra saunter away, her hips swaying effortlessly. The tight black flight suit outlined Ferra's body, all muscle and elegant curves. Damn, that woman had a fineee. Callie shook herself. She needed to focus. No time for that. Callie jogged to catch up, weaving between the thick press of bodies.
Ferra pushed through the foot traffic and entered the administrative building. The air was slightly cooler inside, but not by much from the outside.
Ferra confidently strode through the front of the administrative room towards the booth at the back. The middle-aged man behind the desk was dressed in a dark black suit with a stylish gold raven embroidered on his chest.
" Hey Ernest, is the Colonel in?" Asked Ferra, sidling up next to the man's desk.
"lieutenant Ferra, I'm glad to see you made it back." said Ernest.
" I'm glad to be back. They had us escorting some Etrian politician to the capital city. I dont know why they needed an escort, but they paid really well." said Ferra. Callie stood a respectful distance away, but she listened intently.
" Who is that over there? Is she one of those private contractors?" asked Ernest, eying Callie up and down.
" No, but I promised to introduce her to the commander of the private firm." said Ferra.
" Ahh, very good. I can give her a visitor's pass. However, you will need to escort her throughout the building. If you go right now, you might catch the Colonel on his lunch break. He is in his office." Said Ernest, pulling a plastic card with one word stamped into the plastic. In bright gold letters, the pass read Visitor. Callie tensed as Ferra took the plastic on a nylon cord and held out her hand to Callie.
Holding back her instincts to defend herself, Callie took the Visitors pass.
After they entered into the restricted area behind Ernest, Callie cocked an eyebrow at Ferra.
" Why are you helping me? I mean, I appreciate the help, but why?" asked Callie.
" You seem nice enough. And it's an excuse to stretch my legs. Besides, it will be the perfect revenge on Martin if I dump you on him." said Ferra, smiling evilly.
" What is that supposed to mean? I'm not that bad." said Callie.
"This is his office right here." said Ferra, ignoring Callie's question and knocking on the whitewashed door with the label colonel Herbert MacNair.
"Come in!" shouted a male voice.
Ferra opened the door and entered, saluting stiffly to the man sitting behind a composite desk painted brown like wood. Callie still couldn't get her head around the idea of making furniture out of such a material. She was used to people having wood furniture.
"Oh lieutenant Ferra, I'm glad to see your back." said Herbert.
" Yes Colonel, I decided to personally report the missions succes." said Ferra.
" I appreciate it. But you could have just sent me a comm message. What can I do for you? And who is that with you?" asked Herbert..
" I wanted to introduce you to Callie. I was hoping you can give her a recommendation. She is looking to sign up for Reagan's crew." said Ferra.
Colonel Herbert glanced Callie up and down. He eyed her pistol and the way she stood at the door facing both the hallway and the room inside.
" Callie, was it? Link your device to my own and let me see your credentials. I will not be giving a recommendation if you don't have the skills." said Herbert, gesturing Callie to step forward. Callie glanced behind the Colonel, noting the opaque window. She glanced to each side of him, analyzing the pictures of a woman with two children on the white-washed walls.
Calle pulled her device from her pocket and swiped through several of her settings on menus before typing in a passcode. The comm device did not make any sound, but she had just disabled the malware attached to her new identification. This was an id that couldn't be so easily tossed away as it was tied to Zrixian and Salian databases.
Herbert linked his device to hers, and she could tell he was looking at a holographic image with her credentials.
The Colonel leaned back in his chair and swiped the air. His dark, bushy eyebrows rose as he read.
" That is rather impressive. You have a complete list of skills. From flying fighter jets to fighting with a knife. Not to mention you are fluent in Salian, Zrixian and Etrian." said Herbert.
"Yes sir," said Callie.
" How did you learn Etrian? They are a long distance from your home planet of Salia." asked Herbert.
" My father was Etrian. He moved to Salia over thirty years ago and met my mother. He taught me Etrian at home. I learned Salian from my mom and Zrixian in school. But I have never actually been to Etria. My father said i speak good Etrian, but who knows," said Callie, scratching her head in embarrassment at Ferras inquisitive look.
" Now that is useful, few who can speak all three languages. Most only bother to speak Zrixian after school. It's required to learn as the empire's primary language, but most don't bother with the others." said Herbert. He stroked his clean-shaven face and jostled in his seat. The colonel furrowed his dark bushy brows, the man's leathery skin scrunched as he pondered for several long seconds.
" What exactly are you looking for? If you don't mind high risk, I think I know someone who might hire you on." Asked Herbert cautiously.
" Will that allow me to travel around the stars and do interesting stuff?" asked Callie, genuinely excited at the thought.
" Yes, I can give them your contact information and your list of skills. I'm not sure they will accept, but after seeing your credentials, I will put in the request." Said Herbert, leaning back in his seat.
Callie paused. She wasn't sure who the colonel was talking about, and he didn't appear like he was going to tell her.
" Alright, I agree." said Callie.
" Good, I will send them your file. Wait, a few days. If they haven't contacted you, then return here. I will leave a message with Ernest to let you in. Dont look for a job until then." said Colonel Herbert.
" Thank you Colonel, I appreciate your kindness." said Callie, genuine in her thanks.
" It's no matter, a friend of Ferra is always welcome. Now please leave me. I need to get back to work." order the Colonel, pulling a sandwich from a small container he had tucked in his desk. Callie blanched as the man took a large bite of the thick tomatoes. Tomatoes always made her shudder. Their texture was just awful after she took a bite.
Callie waved as she exited the door and strode back down the brightly lit hallway towards the front of the building. From behind her, Ferra followed.
" I didn't expect that. I don't think I have seen the colonel so impressed before." said Ferra, walking an arm's reach away.
" It's nothing, I have met dozens of people who speak multiple languages." said Callie, waving away her compliment.
" Yeah, but that is uncommon here. They only teach Zrixian here in the cities of Proxima. And all the people who visit also speak the language. It's rare to find someone who speaks all three of the empire's languages." said Ferra.
" Well, you are not counting the Slax." said Callie, referring to the language Slaxen empire.
" Wait, you speak Slax?" said Ferra, lightly punching Callie's shoulder. With a monumental force of will, Callie did not stab Ferra. The punch was soft and playful. It was clearly a friendly gesture. Callie took in a deep breath. She could do this. There was no need to go about stabbing people for touching her.
" Sorry, I forgot you really don't like people touching you." said Ferra, flushing in embarrassment.
" Its alright, just try to avoid that in the future. One of these times I might accidentally stab your arm on reflex." said Callie seriously.
" Sheesh, that is intense. You need some stress relief. How are you going to get intimate with someone if you cannot touch them?" said Ferra, gesturing down the street to the corner. Callie furrowed her brow. Was that an offer?
" Well, I was thinking of rope or maybe some cuffs. But that is only if you don't mind being tied up?" said Callie furrowing her brow in thought. Sure, Ferra was good looking. Ferra wasn't really Callie's type, but then again, Callie had only been with a guy two times, so who knew? And that had been at the compound. Nijel had simply disappeared after the instructors had caught them having sex. Ever since then, Callie had been too worried about the price for defying the instructors.
Ferra flushed a deep red.
" That is not what I was meaning. I am talking about going to the bar. We can get some drinks to help you loosen up. Maybe you can find a guy to tie up there." said Ferra, laughing and sauntering down the street. Callie glanced up at the green barrier overhead. There was no sun and so she couldn't tell what time it was. Was it morning or afternoon? Callie checked her comm and shrugged 5:03pm. She decided she didn't care. Villus wasn't here to tell her she couldn't go drinking. Excitement slowly bubbled in her chest as she raced after Ferra towards the bar several blocks away from the navy administrative building.