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In Babylon, the city of skyscrapers, the Golden Mile stood apart.<\/p>\n
In the heart of Downtown, in the business district named after itself, the Golden Mile was the city\u2019s earliest arcology. From afar, the tower was a rounded column of pure golden light, looming high above the offices and commercial buildings around it. The first twenty floors were shopping, commercial and light industrial spaces. The next twenty stories were residential apartments. The top twenty floors were luxury housing for the elite of the Void Collective. In between each section was a sky lobby, partitioning the tower into equal thirds. It was a city within a city, a tower whose three thousand residents could live and work and play without ever stepping outside.<\/p>\n
Designed by the Guild of the Maker, filled with cutting-edge tech from the Singularity Network, owned by the Void Collective, it was a testimony to the power of the New Gods and a statement of religious harmony.<\/p>\n
It was also an abomination.<\/p>\n
Five blocks away, in a small public park, six people gathered in a pavilion under the cover of night. Sited far from the streetlights that illuminated the running trail that cut through the park, the pavilion was shrouded in shadows, sheltered by the canopy of a copse of evergreen trees.<\/p>\n
Even so, it couldn\u2019t escape the glare of the Golden Mile.<\/p>\n
Zen Tan sat alone on a rounded concrete bench. The rest of the team\u2014his team\u2014fanned out around him. In the darkness he could barely make out their faces. Only shadows and silhouettes. But he had served with them so long, he knew immediately who was who. He felt the weight of their gaze on him, heavy with anticipation.<\/p>\n
He nodded. And spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for coming. I appreciate you going out of way for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo problem,\u201d Yuri Yamamoto said. \u201cYour message sounded urgent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is. But it\u2019s a personal job. You don\u2019t have to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt involves the New Gods, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Kayla Fox asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it\u2019s professional.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPersonal\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0professional.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it have anything to do the phones you recovered?\u201d<\/p>\n In their last mission, Tan had surreptitiously cloned a half-dozen phones belonging to members of the Court of Shadows. Including one from a Speaker of the Court, a cross between an ambassador, aristocrat and high priest.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it\u2019s got nothing to do with this,\u201d Tan said.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get anything out of them?\u201d Fox asked.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of them\u2014the ones belonging to the sicarios\u2014were burners. Nothing in the emails, and they were only used to call each other. They\u2019re useless to us. The last one, the one belonging to DeMille, has military-grade encryption. I\u2019m still trying to crack it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you\u2019re a wizard with computers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have access to government supercomputers. I\u2019m using a cloud of virtual machines to brute-force images of the phone\u2019s memory. It\u2019s slow, but that\u2019s all I can afford. And anyway this job doesn\u2019t have anything to do with that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell me: it involves a woman,\u201d James Wood said.<\/p>\n Tan sighed. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Karim Mustafa gently nudged Wood. \u201cTold you so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s more than just a woman,\u201d Tan said. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 it\u2019s big.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuit beating around the bush, ZT,\u201d Will Connor said. \u201cJust tell us what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n Tan clasped his callused fingers together and glanced about. His companions carried themselves with the loose, casual demeanor of alpha wolves. They were all relaxed, but they were also vigilant, constantly looking over each other\u2019s shoulders, trusting everyone else to do the same for them.<\/p>\n The six of them were Team Black Watch of the Special Tasks Section. The finest collection of gunfighters and law enforcers in Babylon, arguably the world. When insane Husks preyed on the innocent, when magic-toting criminals stalked the streets, when the New Gods schemed in the night, they were there to stop them and set things right. The New Gods might be the true rulers of the world, but the Special Tasks Section held them to the law, and the Black Watch was the tip of the spear.<\/p>\n Up until six weeks ago, anyway.<\/p>\n After the three-way gang war in Riveria, the Black Watch was suspended until the Office of Professional Standards investigated their shootings and cleared them. The suspension was political and everyone knew it. Where the STS were concerned, Professional Standards rubber-stamped post-shooting investigations and let the STS continue to do its thing. They had to. The STS was the thin blue line preventing the New Gods from preying on the nation, and with so few operators and a demanding operational tempo, STS operators could not be benched for the weeks and months needed for a proper post-shoot investigation. The kind of monsters the STS dealt with regularly were too much for the regular cops. Even the Enhanced SWAT teams of the Public Security Bureau\u2014the STS\u2019 parent agency only on organization charts\u2014could barely cope. Every STS operator was essential to the continued life of the nation.<\/p>\n But here they were now.<\/p>\n The Black Watch hadn\u2019t done anything wrong. They\u2019d merely carved a bloody swathe through the ranks of the Court of Shadows and, to a lesser extent, the Pantheon and the Liberated. But in the process, they had learned the true mission of the STS. It wasn\u2019t to protect and serve the public. It was to play the New Gods off against each other, to serve as a cat\u2019s paw to all sides, and protect the balance of power among them all. Executive Assistant Director Pearce himself had admitted to that. And if\u2014or when\u2014Tan finally cracked DeMille\u2019s phone, he might even find hard evidence of that.<\/p>\n But their crime wasn\u2019t learning the truth. It was disagreeing with the mission. Strenuously.<\/p>\n For their sins, the Black Watch was removed from the field. Maybe even permanently. But that was out of their hands. Every operator was supposed to be sequestered from each other, officially disallowed from making contact. Officially. There were ways around that, and Professional Standards hadn\u2019t exactly gone out of their way to enforce the rules. They might not have badges, uniforms or legal authority any more, but if anyone could do this job, it was them.<\/p>\n \u201cI have\u2026 a friend. Marcie Ngo. Public Security, Criminal Investigations, assigned to the Babylon Field Office. We were close, once, but after I joined the STS she drifted away. A couple of years back, she signed up with the Void Collective. She paid her dues, attended the rituals, even got herself a place in the Golden Mile. But three hours ago, she emailed me and said she wants out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe wants to quit the Collective?\u201d Fox asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t heard of anyone quitting the Collective,\u201d Wood said. \u201cNot while they\u2019re still breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe neither. But she\u2019s not initiated as a full member, not yet. She told me she\u2019s learned the truth about the Void, and it scares her. She wants to leave. But they won\u2019t let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did she learn?\u201d Yamamoto asked.<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t say. But whatever it is, it shook her up, bad. And it\u2019s something the VC don\u2019t want the rest of the world to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like they\u2019ll initiate her against her will,\u201d Wood mused.<\/p>\n \u201cCount on it,\u201d Yamamoto said.<\/p>\n \u201cDid she try contacting the police?\u201d Mustafa asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Golden Mile is ecclesiastical property,\u201d Tan said. \u201cAbove the twentieth floor, the VC enjoys extraterritorial authority. They have their own bylaws, their own security force, and from what I hear even their own courts and jails. Babylon PD can\u2019t go in without VC permission.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnlawful containment is a federal crime,\u201d Mustafa argued. \u201cIf Babylon PD won\u2019t act, the STS will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cY\u2019know, two months ago, I might have agreed with you,\u201d Fox said. \u201cBut now? After Riveria? Why would they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Golden Mile is the heart of the Collective,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cWithout evidence, without an invitation, a raid would trigger a war between the PSB and the Collective. And we all know what the PSB feels about that.\u201d<\/p>\n The STS\u2019 vaunted independence only went so far. Ultimately, even the Commandant of the STS had to answer to the Directors of the PSB.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got neither,\u201d Tan said. \u201cOnly an email.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know this is legit?\u201d Wood asked. \u201cThis could be a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t done anything lately to offend them,\u201d Mustafa said.<\/p>\n Among the New Gods, the Void Collective was the most well-behaved. They didn\u2019t go out of their way to seize more turf and followers the way the more aggressive factions did. Which didn\u2019t necessarily mean they weren\u2019t up to no good, only that the STS hadn\u2019t had cause to crack down on them recently.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2026 she called me \u2018Z\u2019. No one calls me that.\u201d<\/p>\n Connor snorted. \u201cBig deal. Pet names don\u2019t count for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just that,\u201d he sputtered. \u201cThe email she sent? It was cut off. Look.\u201d<\/p>\n Tan held out his phone, opening his email and selecting the second-last mail she had sent.<\/p>\n Hi Z,<\/em><\/p>\n I know it\u2019s been years since we last talked, but I\u2019m in deep shit and I need your help.<\/em><\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve heard, but I joined the Void Collective two years ago. Last week, I finished my probation, and earned a place in the Golden Mile. They told me I was ready for initiation. One of the elders sat me down and explained to me what to expect.<\/em><\/p>\n He told me about the initiation ritual. I pressed him for answers, worked him over, used all my charms, and got him to divulge everything. Including what was in the Void. And what I had to give.<\/em><\/p>\n I didn\u2019t sign up for this. I was looking for faith, but this\u2026 this is demonic. Pure evil. The VC lied to everyone about their teachings. The Void isn\u2019t empty. It is<\/em>\u00a0full.<\/em><\/p>\n I told the elders I wanted to quit. They told me I\u2019m committed and it\u2019s too late to back out. Security confined me to my apartment and won\u2019t let me leave.<\/em><\/p>\n I need help. Come to apartment\u00a0#37-89<\/a>. Please<\/em><\/p>\n The rest of the email was empty space. Tan gave the team two minutes to read the mail, then retrieved his phone.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the only message she sent,\u201d Tan said. \u201cI received this ten minutes after the mail.\u201d<\/p>\n He scrolled to the last email. Also from her.<\/p>\n Dear Zen Tan,<\/em><\/p>\n *All is well. I was under a significant amount of stress and suffered a mild psychological disorder. I have been treated by the finest doctors in the Void Collective and I am well again. *<\/p>\n Ignore my last email. I am able, ready and willing to participate in the Initiation. Do not come for me, unless you also wish to embrace the Void.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cCreepy,\u201d Fox said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat mail is not convincing anyone,\u201d Connor said.<\/p>\n \u201cAgreed,\u201d Tan said. \u201cSomething is up. At the very least, someone doesn\u2019t want us going in.\u201d \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething terrible is going on inside the Golden Mile. We have to save her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe made her bed, she can lie in it,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n Heat crept into Tan\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, in her previous email, she already said the VC lied to her. She didn\u2019t ask for this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI feel you, but there\u2019s thousands of people in the Golden Mile, and just six of us. If we do this, it will piss off the VC big time. Is it worth it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur job is to protect the people from the New Gods.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not STS any more,\u201d Yamamoto said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the mission remains.\u201d<\/p>\n Tan stared at Yamamoto. Yamamoto stared back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re committed to this job?\u201d Yamamoto asked, finally.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I\u2019m going in, no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying I can\u2019t do this,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cOnly that it\u2019s ultra-high-risk. There\u2019s no margin for error, we could incur the wrath of the VC, and this time, the STS isn\u2019t going to back us up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd inside the tower, there\u2019s a woman who needs us to save her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean she needs\u00a0you<\/em>,\u201d Fox said.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yes. If you\u2019re not on board with this, it\u2019s fine. Just let me know and I\u2019ll do it myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Fox glanced at Yamamoto. Yamamoto looked around at the assembled operators.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s your take, guys? You in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs this gonna piss off the Void Collective?\u201d Connor asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Tan said.<\/p>\n Connor teeth gleamed in the light.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCount on you to make war on the gods when you can,\u201d Mustafa said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe VC don\u2019t worship any gods. Just the Void, whatever the hell that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA lie,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cOnly a lie, nothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound sure about that,\u201d Mustafa said.<\/p>\n \u201cI know what my god has to say about the Void. What about yours?\u201d<\/p>\n Mustafa closed his eyes, silently communing with the minor god he had contracted with.<\/p>\n And sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in,\u201d Mustafa said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Wood asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the nature of my contract with Galen the Wolf,\u201d Mustafa said. \u201cHe grants me power, I do his will. And it is his will to defend the innocent and destroy the evil at every turn. I can\u2019t disobey.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound reluctant,\u201d Tan probed.<\/p>\n Mustafa shrugged. \u201cI have my duty. Thus, I shall go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have my duty too,\u201d Wood said. \u201cThey might have taken our badges, but not the mission. I\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m coming too,\u201d Fox said. \u201cCan\u2019t exactly leave my spotter hanging in the breeze now, can I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then,\u201d Yamamoto said. \u201cWe\u2019re all in this together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Tan said. \u201cI owe you. All of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t mention it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the timeline for this op?\u201d Wood asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sooner we do this, the better,\u201d Tan replied. \u201cTonight, if we can.\u201d<\/p>\n Connor folded his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAn op like this, on such short notice? You got any ideas how to do this?\u201d<\/p>\n Tan smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cA few.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n If action, adventure and horror are right up your alley, check out my latest novel\u00a0DUNGEON SAMURAI VOL. 1: KAMIKAZE<\/a>!<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut you want to,\u201d Yamamoto said.<\/p>\n![\"Cheah](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/0x0\/https:\/\/files.steempeak.com\/file\/steempeak\/cheah\/QXWM86GW-Cheah20Git20San20Red.jpg\")
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