Jupiter's Halo Book Two: The Fall

Chapter 31

The quality of the food presented a moment of confusion between Red's personas. For one it was a comparative luxury, an eye-opening change from the poor fare she'd always known that brought with it the startling realisation that it could be repeated any time in this new, amazing place. For the other it was muck. Barely a step above waste and despite its advertising, clearly not containing a single trace of real, grown ingredients. She let her novice palette enjoy it in wonder while the other part of herself sneered in disgust.

The eatery Arto had led her to was a fifteen-minute stroll into the social quarter from their initial entrance. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but he’d said he wouldn’t countenance her first proper visit to the Halo starting with the low-grade street food or one of the cantinas that used ingredients it was better not to try to identify.

The place was called Shi'Zi's. She noticed the old man pronounced it differently each time he said the name and this little detail brought a genuine smile to her face. Despite herself, he was continuing to grow on her.

He’d picked the place, he said, for the view. The tables were arranged on a wide plinth of faux stone that extended out from a straight serving area. There was no ceiling, but for the distant roof of this level, making every table enjoy the Jupiter’s Halo equivalent of alfresco dining. The ‘view’ Arto had mentioned was fairly pleasant. Set on a lower plane before the restaurant was a square of grass that even from this distance she could see was fake. It didn’t matter though. The greenery was punctuated with occasional seating areas, a central fountain that dribbled lazily and a solitary tree.

She found her eyes wandering over the inhabitants as they sat alone or in small groups, eating, talking and somehow completely ignoring the small slice of constructed nature around them. It was a funny if somewhat disheartening observation on the human condition.

Beyond the park area, she could see the wide elevator platforms dotting the distance. They rose and fell in a ballet of conflicting movement, giving an ever-moving aspect to the scene as citizens of the Halo rose or descended.

None of them knew, going about their daily lives, worrying about the same problems they always did. There was a threat on the metaphorical horizon that should terrify them all. And yet, here they were, just getting on with things in the blissful ignorance.

After they finished their meal, Red made an effort to excuse herself. Somehow Arto managed not only to avoid her leaving his company, but did so in a way that left her wondering, several minutes later, how she still came to be walking with him. His narrative had moved on to the internal architecture of the quadrant, pointing out ‘interesting’ features and giving her comparisons on how the other quadrants differed in design.

Arto’s monologue was becoming just another part of the background noise; a gentle, regular harmony that lulled and distracted her as he followed idly in her footsteps.

Something caught the attention of her old self. Something her new self and Arto would be entirely unaware of. She should have seen it sooner, but that voice had been pulling her new persona to the fore, blinding her to the dangers it hadn’t been trained its whole life to see.

She cursed under her breath. It was already too late to direct the old man away. She knew by now they were too close. They wouldn’t let him just wander off unmolested. She made a choice.

“Arto. Stop talking.” Her voice was hard, abrupt.

The old man pulled up short, shock painting every line in his face and looked at her as if she’d struck him.

“I beg your pardon?”

"There isn't time to explain, but we're both in danger and you're about to see things I wish you didn't have to."

His look of perplexion deepened and she nodded over his shoulder to where they had left the main thoroughfare behind and taken a narrower boulevard that led between high residential blocks, toward the nearest elevator platform. Arto followed her eyes and from the face he turned back to her, she could see he didn’t understand.

“What is going—” He started to ask, but Red hooked her arm through his and dragged him on before he could finish.

“We’re being followed,” she hissed, keeping her head bent close to his shoulder. “Three men, probably preying on new visitors. They’re armed and my guess is we’ll meet more the deeper we go through this warren.”

Arto made to turn around again but she pulled him against her.

“Don’t make it worse.”

She risked a glance over her shoulder. They were still there, following about fifteen metres behind. One walked on either side, close to the black, featureless walls, while the third sauntered along in the middle as if every step he took was on property he owned. They were dropping the pretence now, speeding up casually to close the gap.

“I don’t understand,” Arto blustered. “Why can’t we just explain. We’re not newcomers. I’ve been to this station dozens of times.”

“That’s not really the point,” she said, scanning ahead for the other members of the group she knew would be lurking somewhere near.

“But if there are more of them, why are we carrying on?”

It was a valid question. Red wasn’t sure she had time to explain it properly without encouraging questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

“Look, we can’t go back. They’ve got us hemmed in. The only option is forward,” she slowed her steps as, on cue, two more men stepped from the shadows and stood in their way with that ‘we all know what’s going on here so just stop pretending’ kind of smirk. Red hated looks like that. She subtly rolled her shoulders.

“Now see here,” Arto started in what she supposed he considered a firm voice. “We are peaceful citizens, simply making our way to the platform. We don’t want any trouble so please kindly step aside to let the lady and myself pass.”

The two men ahead both smiled unpleasantly. Behind they heard a deep chuckle.

Red and Arto turned, shuffling around, still arm in arm, to see the three followers now arrayed across the narrow passage to block any thoughts of escape.

“That ain’t how it works here old’un,” the central man said and Red could read the deferential body language of his colleagues.

He was in charge, in whatever manner of group this was. Probably a small part of a larger gang, working this level for the easy pickings they could make from fresh-off-the-boat travellers who didn’t know any better. She saw the bulge at his hip breaking the smooth line of his long duster-style coat.

Red made a show of looking around in panic, giving her eyes a moment to survey each of the men. The leader had a gun, a pistol judging from the size and shape of it. The others were armed too, although his was the only projectile weapon she could see.

It made sense. Carrying unlicensed firearms was a serious crime in Jovian space; the kind of crime that to criminals carried a certain kudos. Only the more senior members would be allowed to commit it. That meant she was only dealing with one gun. That meant she knew who had to go down first.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Red said.

She let go of Arto's arm, fending off his hand as he tried to stop her from stepping forward. Once clear of him, she shrugged the small carry-bag she'd brought from the cruiser and made a show of kneeling to open and go through it. The leader stepped forward, placing his hands on his hips and pushing his pelvis forward.

“You catch on quick, sweet thing.” He sounded like he thought he sounded charming. “Maybe there’s more lessons you wanna learn from a real man,” he finished with a wink, which was a mistake.

Red was sure he wouldn’t have seen the blow coming, but with one eye closed he’d handicapped his own reactions and didn’t even move as she rose and struck hard at his throat with the tips of her outstretched fingers. The man’s eyes bulged and he opened his mouth with a strangled, wet choking sound. As his hands came up to clasp at his damaged neck Red was already moving on.

She swept left, ducking past the leader as he tottered and fired her left fist into the next man’s genitals. He folded, predictably. Red continued, her movements coming with the flow of experience and practice. Always keep moving. Disable one target before assigning the next. Aim for maximum damage with every strike. When facing a group, surprise and speed are the best weapons.

She slid back, extending a leg behind her and dragging the other to meet it as she swivelled to face one of the two men who had emerged from the shadows. He looked shocked, too much to react as she delivered a vicious shot to his chest with her palm. The impact rocked him back and she saw him gasp for a half-second as the air escaped his lungs. She was already heading for the fourth of their group before he made a noise.

The next man had been watching long enough to bring a knife around from his back. Its blade was serrated and tinged with signs of age, use and poor care. He hadn't gotten it clear of his waistband before she was on him. This one was big, easily a head taller than Arto and she knew his size would cause problems if she let him use it.

Red stepped in close, preventing him from raising a guard and hammered her fist against the underside of his chin. She felt and heard his teeth meet. She turned, facing the last standing would-be mugger on the far side of where Arto stood, statue still with wide eyes.

Her hand throbbed from the last punch she'd thrown, but she kept the pain from showing on her face. Behind her, she heard the slump of a large body falling unconscious to the ground. She gave the last man a beaming smile.

He glanced around, seeing the state of his friends. She watched him think through his chances of facing her one-on-one and arrive at the decision she'd been banking on. She didn't want to have to kill anyone in front of Arto.

The last mugger took a hesitant step backwards, then another. After the third he turned and ran, haring back the way they’d come as if every demon in hell was chasing him.

Arto still stood motionless where she'd left him. His lips were moving as if he was trying to form words, but his eyes seemed to stare without seeing. He was in shock, that was understandable. He wasn't hurt though. No one had come near him. It was a cruel thing to do, but he would be okay in a little while, so, for now, she left him to it. She had other matters to deal with and though they might not know it, the men who'd tried to attack her could be exactly what she was looking for.

She walked back to the fallen leader, now lying prostrate with both hands around his neck and shaking as he tried to breathe through the bruising she'd given his larynx. Red knelt, taking his chin between her fingers to direct his eyes to her. He looked scared. That was a good start.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," she shook her head in embarrassment at the cliche about to leave her mouth and sighed. "Take me to your leader."