Wanderer

Chapter 2-4

As they continued on, the station lived up to Kaira’s initial impressions. While there was no obvious threat at any point she felt far from safe. Too many people turned to watch intently as Tarkus and she passed, though none took any action.

Tarkus seemed to take it all in his stride, moving confidently and occasionally locking gaze with one of the watchers for long seconds. Kaira envied him that composure, and wondered whether it was real or fake.

When Tarkus turned around and said “Here we are,” Kaira stopped in surprise.

“Here?” she said.

On one side of the wide but rubbish strewn corridor were two bars, both shining brightly with lights and adverts designed to draw people in. On the other side was a large building displaying images of a dozen men and women wearing only enough clothing to cover two of them.

“Yes here,” said Tarkus.

Much to Kaira’s relief he turned to the side away from the pleasure house and walked towards one of the bars. Kaira followed, and noticed there was a dark, narrow corridor running between the two bars. It was so poorly lit it was almost invisible at any distance, hidden by the glare of the bars on either side.

As they reached the narrow alleyway she saw the sign of the Church of Unity subtly displayed on one wall.

“They aren’t exactly going out of their way to advertise!” she said.

“The Church walks a fine line in places like this,” said Tarkus. “They’re tolerated at best, but never welcome, and it’s very easy for that grudging tolerance to give way to outright aggression. The Church makes sure they’re here for those who seek them out, they spend time in the community making their presence known, but they don’t push their luck too far.”

“But how can a Church be opposite a place like that!” Kaira said, gesturing behind them towards the pleasure house. “How can they stand being so close to it?”

“I don’t think the Church has ever had any problem with the idea of s*x. In fact it’s one way to bring people closer to each other. As long as no one is being hurt or abused I don’t think the Church would have any strong opinions on the subject.”

“You can’t tell me the people who work in there aren’t being abused!”

Tarkus stopped and smiled at her. She could only just see his face now they were in the narrow corridor.

“You’ve never been in a place like that, have you?” he asked.

“No! Why would I want to? There were a few back on Kadayek station, but they were much more discreet. Even so, I would never enter a place like that! Not as a customer and especially not as a worker.”

Tarkus actually laughed, so much that he couldn’t speak. Kaira stood there, her anger building, not sure whether he was laughing at the thought she wouldn’t work there or because he somehow thought she wouldn’t be good enough to be allowed to.

“I’m sorry,” Tarkus said finally. “You wouldn’t know. Like you said, you’ve never been in one.”

“And you have, I suppose?”

“No, actually, but I do know there’s no way you’d ever be able to work in one. Or me for that matter. Or anyone.”

“What do you mean? Clearly someone works there.”

“Well yes, there will be some people working, but not as the… how shall I put it… not as the subjects of the customer’s attention. None of those are humans. They’d all be s*x robots.”

“Robots?”

“Yeah. It’s not the case absolutely everywhere, but I’d say almost all places like that exclusively use robots. It just makes sense from an economic point of view. Robots can work twenty-four hours a day. They don’t eat food. They don’t get sick. They don’t ask for pay rises. And they can easily cater for clients with more unusual tastes.”

“Still… it’s… it feels wrong! But I can’t explain why.”

Tarkus smiled again.

“Yeah, it hit me that way when I first heard about it. It’s hard to shake the feeling that something untoward must be going on.”

“But… robots? Are they able to… do they… no! Don’t say anything! I don’t want to know!”

Tarkus smiled again, and nodded his head down the narrow alleyway.

“Now we’ve established that the Church’s religious sensibilities won’t be being offended by their location, it’s time to find the information we need.”

It was dark in the alley, but after the first few steps Kaira noticed that the rubbish which had been visible everywhere else was missing. The side corridor was also longer than she’d expected. It kept on going, surely further than the two buildings it split, before finally ending in a plain door with a small symbol for the Church of Unity on one side.

“They really take not advertising themselves seriously,” she said.

“The Church has been around for a long time,” said Tarkus. “They’ve learnt to adapt to their surroundings. Let’s see if anyone’s home.”

Tarkus reached for the door, but it opened before he could touch it, revealing a short entrance corridor and then another door. Tarkus moved into the entrance corridor and Kaira edged in after. She jumped at the sound of the door softly closing behind them. Automatically, it seemed. There was no one else in the corridor with them.

Tarkus moved toward the far door, which also opened as he drew near. Kaira was surprised to see a pleasantly lit warm-feeling room beyond. It still wasn’t large, five metres on a side, but it easily housed several comfortable looking chairs, all turned to face each other. In front of the chairs stood an elderly woman dressed in flowing robes. She was smiling warmly.

“Welcome,” she said. “In the name of everyone, and for the benefit of all, we offer you shelter and safety.”

“And as one who would see peace and kindness spread through the universe, I welcome your offer,” replied Tarkus.

Kaira was sure that was the same response he’d given back at Solace Retreat. Once again it prompted an even warmer smile.

“We get few believers here that aren’t already known to us,” said the woman.

“I’m not exactly a believer, more an admirer.”

“Ah! Even then, we get few who know our ways and see good in them. We have more visitors than you might expect, but most request help while scorning our beliefs.”

“I hate to disappoint you, but we have come looking for help.”

The woman chuckled.

“Of course you have! As you are not believers there would be no other reason for you to come, but knowing you are an admirer still gladdens my heart. Admirers can still spread our message and help others come to belief.

“Now, where are my manners? I am sister Marshat. Please, take a seat and we will bring you refreshments. What would you like?”

“If you have a coffee, that would be perfect,” said Tarkus, taking one of the comfortable chairs.

“Coffee it is. And for you my dear?”

“Just a water,” said Kaira. “Thank you.”

She felt awkward as she took a seat next to Tarkus, as if she was trespassing somewhere she had no right to be. Tarkus might be an admirer of the Church, but she… well, she’d rarely given it any thought, but when she had she hadn’t been charitable.

Then she remembered her time with sister Alacias, and just how welcoming the devotee had been. That let her relax slightly in her surroundings.

Before they had been able to do more than exchange a few more pleasantries with sister Marshat, a previously-hidden door opened in the side wall and a much younger man entered carrying their drinks. He smiled at both of them but said nothing as they thanked him, then he slipped away through the same doorway. When it closed Kaira found it impossible to make out exactly where it had been on the wall.

“Now,” said sister Marshat. “What brings you here?”

“We are looking for something,” said Tarkus. “Something we can’t ask about openly. It is essential we find the right person. Of all the people on the station the Church is the only one I can think of to come and ask to ensure we at least begin in the right area.”

“I will certainly help if I can. I’m sure you know the station trades in many, many things. Not all of them entirely legal in most locations, and some which we certainly do not approve of.”

“I have heard of the station’s reputation. What we are seeking is very specific, I think it’s likely only one or two people in the entire station will be selling it.”

“So something niche. Most likely something expensive too. Tell me what it is you seek, and if we are able to help you we will.”

“Thank you,” said Tarkus. “We are seeking special devices which can be injected into someone’s body. Devices which will be programmed to trigger in a couple of months, maybe faster, and then launch an attack on that person’s body. Killing them, and in a most unpleasant way.”

For a moment sister Marshat sat there, her face shocked then she exploded in fury.

“How dare you? You come into our temple. You claim to admire our faith. And then you dare to ask us to help you find something that evil? I should turn you over to the authorities right now. Even they won’t stand for that type of abomination.

“If we were not as peaceful as Sal intended I might ensure you never left here. But we can certainly put the word out about you, make certain you have to get off this station immediately. And we will. Now go! Leave! And don’t you ever dare come back here again!”