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PRELUDE

of TWENTY EIGHT CHAPTERS

 

Rev Lover fumbled with his seat for the countless time unable to find a comfortable position. He was just one hour away from the Mars landing port in New Sardonia and it was time to start his ritual to acclimate his self to the job at hand.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath tried to squirm in his seat but still could not get settled in. Nothing about this job was "comfortable". It felt wrong from the time he got the SPM (Secure Personal Message). It was too rushed, and he always liked to have plenty of time to prepare, but his employers wanted it done quick and clean.
He usually passed these kind of jobs up, but the credits were too good this time to pass up. So lucrative, in fact, he would not have to do another job for months. Still, that was not enough to dispel his uneasiness.
He adjusted the seat one more time, to no avail, and logged in. His monitor sprung to life within the space before him and even though he knew no one else within the shuttle cabin could see the image of the screen, he still found himself turning his head slightly away from the man that seated next to him.
'You fool,' he scalded to himself, 'get yourself focused!'
The scene before him flashed the words SECURE LINK BEING SCANNNED FOR... TRANSITION FROM MOTHER EARTH TO BROTHER MARS DATABASE IN 1.5 MINUTES scrolled before his eyes. He nervously looked around one more time and then caught himself again and cursed under his breath.
The cabin began taking on a rouge glow and he knew they were nearing the Martian atmosphere entry. Again he was awash with the uneasiness he was unfamiliar with as the excitement of finally arriving at his destination charged his mood.
‘Why am I feeling so?’ He asked himself. Rev had never felt so unconfident before a job before.
'Is it the credits?' he asked himself.
'no.' he answered his own question,’ there was the prime president of the Italian Empire, that job paid almost twice as much. Rev recalled only feeling excitement, not unconfidence when landing at Paradise Alpha on the moon.'
This job just felt all...wrong to him.
Rev had already dismissed the location as the source of his uneasiness. He had done several jobs on Mars before, there was always somebody pissed off on this miserable rock. His anxiety had to originate from insecurity.
Was he being setup? He could not think of anyone who would for he had always been very thorough in covering his tracks and making a clean getaway had always his M.O. His employer found him too valuable to lose so Rev was completely convinced that he was not being set up for none of his earlier jobs could be traced to him.
His INPUT (Individual personal uplink transmitter) came to life, "Good afternoon Rev, you are now being transferred to the Brother Mars Database."
He waited through the pause and braced himself for the scathing personality of the Mars Database. Rev could not ever get used to it’s colorful mannerisms. The Mother Earth Database was so kind and comforting in its almost nurturing demeanor.
Rev knew that the Mars Database was originally developed for Miners and had taken on their personality. Still, he could not dismiss his hatred for dealing with it.
"Mr. Rev," the voice boomed in his head, "Welcome back to Mars. It has been way too fucking long since your last visit...lets see, two years. Where the hell have you been buddy?"
"Brother Mars," he thought to himself, “I need the location of
Dr. Brandon Jordan."
"What! No 'so how have you been or-'"
"Brother Mars!" he almost screamed it out aloud this time.
"Gotcha asswipe! Accessing...you putz!"
Rev sighed. Shrugging his shoulders he thought to himself 'Where is my composure? I can't seem to keep it together. What is the matter with me?' He glanced nervously around the cabin, 'I hate brother Mars,' he thought to himself.
"I heard that," he heard the Bother Mars voice reply in his head, "still accessing your information asshole, it may take me a few minutes more than usual because you are such a dick!"
"Great!" Rev said under his breath and turned his attention to the porthole to his right. The inside of the cabin now glowed red from the rusty atmosphere that loomed below them now. He thought how much it looked like he was descending into hell.
"Folks we are starting our Martian approach," the shuttle captains voice filled his head trough his INPUT, "Please make sure you are seated and secure. We have a 63% Earth atmosphere at New Sardonia, there will be OTanks available at the terminal for those of you who are not acclimated to Mars Indoor High Oxygen Atmosphere. Once we land you will have approximately four solhours left before curfew.
“Just in case you are interested Mars newly elected President is speaking in the Central Square, we are arriving just in time to take in the speech. Thank you and have a pleasant stay on Mars."
"Yeah right," Rev shrugged.
The area around the shuttle began to glow red and then white as they entered the Martian upper ionosphere. The uneasiness began creeping into Revs heart and he flashed back to three months before and the SPM that started this whole endeavor.
Dr. Brandon Jordan. Why? Everyone else he had done was high profile. This guy was an everyday civilian. Everyone had killed, raped or robbed the wrong people. He must have really done something to piss somebody important off to have this kind of price attached to him. Still Rev could not help feeling this job was way out of the ordinary.
He felt the first bit of turbulence in two weeks of travel and he
suddenly wished he had paid extra for a Bear chamber and slept through this whole trip. Rev was feeling worn and tired. This was just all wrong.
The nervousness was almost overwhelming and he began becoming short of breath as he cursed himself quietly, ' you spineless wimp! Get yourself together Rev!'
"My thoughts exactly pansy," Brother Mars' voice came back in an almost joyful tone. "Your request for Dr. Brandon Jordan's location is coming through. You also have a message awaiting you coding Red priority secure."
"That's odd," he said aloud,” I have never had contact within mission operation."
"Excuse me?" The man seated beside him asked.
"Uh, nothing," Rev then cursed himself, 'damn fool!!'

"I was just reading aloud," he followed up to the gentleman trying to sound calm. He turned to the porthole and tried to gather his composure.
"Your message assface?" Brother Mars barked. "Would you like me to relay it now?"
"No Brother Mars," he answered subconsciously,” let us wait until we land."
"INPUT, sleep mode," Rev ordered. The screen before him winked out and again he turned his attention to the porthole.
They were over RECYCLE CITY.
“A joke of a name,’ He thought. He watched as the giant garbage dump stretched to the visible horizon even from this height above the surface. Rev could almost smell the stench through the thick skin of the shuttle even though he knew this was impossible.
‘Humanities great solution to get rid of the human waste product,’ Rev thought idly to himself,’ send it to Mars. REAL GENIUS. Now we are here where will RecyCity end up?’
'Focus Rev,' he reprimanded himself, 'we have a job to do.'
He knew he should already be in focus mode for the job at hand but
there were too many variables that just did not fit. And with the last
thought the uncomfortable feeling came rushing back and he began to feel that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach
He felt the landing clamps lower beneath them and the captains voice came over the auditory intercom, "Ladies and Gentlemen we are now in final approach to New Sardonia, please make sure you and all your belongings are secure."
Rev thought to himself,” into the depths of Hell."
The shuttle slowly lowered onto the landing Platform and the hydraulic clamps snapped shut with a loud metallic clank.

Within the Terminal Rev found a quiet corner and sat down.
He activated his INPUT and called for Brother Mars.
"Hello Rev," Brother Mars’ brackish voice answered,” so we meet again. Do you want that message now dickface?"
"Yes brother Mars," he said with a sigh. He was now better now that he was on solid ground. His confidence was slowly returning.
He just told himself this guy must have slept with the Martian President's wife or something of that nature.
Brother Mars wasn't aggravating him the way he was earlier on the shuttle. Also, the decreased gravity on Mars was always uplifting to Rev’s spirits as was it to the lightness of his step.

SCANNING FOR SECURE FEQUENCY....4 USERS MONITORING...REROUTING, The words scrolled across the air in front of his eyes.
_CHANGING TO ***.* FREQUENCY....1 USER MONITORING
_CHANGING TO ***.* FREQUENCY....
_FREQUENCY SECURE...MESSAGE RED PRIORITY SECURE INCOMING...
_TARGET URGENCY UPDATED. USE ANY MEANS TO DESTROY AS SOON AS HUMANLY
POSSIBLE. YOU NOW HAVE CLEARANCE LEVEL ALPHA ONE. MAKE _TARGET
DISSAPPEAR WITHOUT A TRACE. ADDITION FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED UPON
COMPLETION.
_END PRIORITY MESSAGE RED PRIORITY SECURE*
Rev gave a low whistle. He had just been given a clearance level reserved for only Presidents, Prime Ministers and Heads of State. Never had it been given to one in his station in life.
"Holy shit," Mars then suddenly changed tone, “ I mean...wow...sir. Congratulations. How may I be of service?"
Rev just stared past the last words that still hung in the air before him and out into empty space. He was awestruck. Rev was utterly convinced Dr. Brandon Jordan must have messed with the wrong person.
This had never happened on any assignment he, or anyone else, had ever had. Even though he was nervous, he suddenly felt an air of importance. As he rented transport, free of charge, he began to feel like his old self. He donned the mask to his OTank and stepped into the crisp Martian afternoon.

A couple hours later he found himself in the civilian area on the
outskirts of New Sardonia. The sun had just set and the sky was a
flaming red just on the limb of the planet. If it were not for the
feeling he was half his weight he would swear he was back on Earth on his farm back in the United States of North America.
"How far now Brother Mars," he asked subconsciously.
"Three blocks up then two on the right sir."
"Display map and target location." Rev was now in work mode and all of his earlier reservations had melted away as years of training and experience had taken over.
The map appeared before him visible only to him. Rev glanced around one time and stepped into the deserted street. The wind began to blow harder and he tried to bundle up in his heavy coat as he adjusted his mask.
He still had several hours of Oxygen left so he had plenty of time to finish the job and get back to the transport. He felt that old excitement in the pit of his stomach knowing the job would be done very soon and Rev thought to himself his earlier reservations were all in vain. He was beginning to believe this was going to be one of the easier assignments he had ever taken on.
The halogen lights on the side walks leapt to life as he cautiously made his way down the street. He caught movement out of the corner of his left eye as he rounded the corner onto Dr. Jordan’s street.
He glanced over and saw no one.
'Don't get spooked,' he said under his breath reassuringly, 'there is nobody there.'
Suddenly he spied a shadow across the wall in the alley on the opposite site of the street. He grabbed the handle of his tazergun underneath his coat and eased it slowly out of its holster. He ducked into the next alleyway and decided to conceal himself for a moment to allow who ever has followed to pass by.
He had the sinking feeling someone was watching him. He tried to control the excited breaths that made his head momentarily swim. He felt his hair damp and matted against his skull underneath his OMask and resisted the urge to wipe his brow.
"Brother Mars," he prompted, "scan area for life signs showing my position center."
A map materialized before him showing the only himself within the immediate area. Everyone else was now inside because the imposed curfew.
Suddenly Rev saw it again, movement almost behind him. He pulled the gun out from under his coat and held it to his breast.
"Brother Mars," scan directly behind me. His heart suddenly felt as if it were about to pound out of his chest. "Jesus, he's close!"
"Sir there is nothing there," came the reply.
"Are you sure?" He asked in disbelief.
"Absolutely." Brother Mars answered.
"Could there be a malfunction in your scanning equipment?"
"I am insulted sir," Brother Mars replied, "there is nothing there."
"Could there be a rodent or cat?"
"Nothing sir."
He took in a deep breath and holstered his tazer. I must be getting spooked. Another thing he was unfamiliar with. Rev was usually fearless at this point, but he found nothing could be further from the truth. He stepped out onto the street and under the street light twenty yards ahead of him he saw a cloaked figure quickly cross the street.
"God dammit," he threw himself back up against he wall in the alley so hard he almost knocked the breath from his lungs.
"I thought you said there was nothing out there!?!" Immediately he had his tazer gun drawn and his body was in a defensive crouch, ready to react.
"I still read no life forms outside of the surrounding buildings,"
Brother Mars said defensively.
"And I am telling you are full of shit Mars!"
"I am accessing all digital definition cameras on this street for ten blocks. Would you like me to patch it into your INPUT?"
"Hell yes!" He was now beginning to feel fear for the first time since his first year in the business.
A table of live images appeared before him of the ten cameras. He intently studied the camera that was mounted under the street light he just saw the figure under. Then he focused his attention to the
surrounding cameras. Nothing.
There was no way whoever it was could have gotten out of the area that fast. The cameras before him covered a four block area.
"Brother Mars, enhance and go to infrared on the selected cameras. Maybe our target is hiding in the shadows."
"Okay sir, but I assure you there is nothing there."
"We shall see," Rev replied sure the culprit would be revealed. He scanned over all the camera images. Still there wasn’t anything to be seen. Very peculiar. The job was starting to become less worth the credits with each moment that passed.
He took another deep breath and urged himself to continue. He thought this job was going to be a cake walk, his hopes in that had been quelled and his earlier confidence eroded away replaced by a very unfamiliar fear. A fear usually HIS victims felt for their very lives
seconds before he pounced on them. Now it seems rolls were reversed, he had become the hunted. And he did not like it one bit.
'Don't become restless,' he encouraged himself. He grasped the butt of his tazergun under his coat and stepped to the street.
Without taking his hand off of his weapon he quickly pace down the sidewalk. Rev was determined to get this over as quick as possible and get the hell off this miserable planet.
"Mars," he whispered, "display original map for first target.
The image leapt to life before his OMask faceplate.
Display distance to target."
Despite the rapidly dropping temperature he felt beads of sweat rolling down the small of his back and his face. He rounded the last corner and slowly approached the building that housed the Brandon Jordan’s apartment.
Rev crept around to the side of the apartment building and underneath a window light poured out into the darkness of the alleyway lighting a small area just underneath. He slowly peered over the edge of the window into the room just inside. He recognized his target sitting at a computer terminal.
“Odd," he thought to himself, but quickly brushed off his confusion, "Let's get this over with.”
Just then he heard rustling in the trash inside the alleyway diverting his attention away from the window. He instinctively drew his weapon with lightning reflexes, pointing it in the general direction of the noise.
'Too late,' he flashed across Rev’s mind he immediately sensed a presence behind him. He tried in vain to wheel around but was suddenly caught with a forceful shove sending him into the wall of the apartment building violently knocking the air from his chest. The mask was then ripped from his face and he felt the sting of the frigid Martian air burning his lungs. His head began to swim from the lack of oxygen and he felt his consciousness slipping. He weakly turned himself over to spy his attacker. A cloaked figure stood over him in silence.
He could not discern any features under the cloak. His vision became tinged with red and black spots. Right before he blacked out he heard inside of his head the sound of his own voice softly say,”Into the depths of Hell."
Then Rev felt as if his neck was ripped open and he felt his life's blood leak out of him. He was so disconnected he didn't even feel the pain as he closed his eyes and let the darkness wash over him.

 

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