Free Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty by Mark E. Cooper Page B

world go by without taking too much of an interest in any one thing, besides, the people interested him the most. He watched them as if they were some alien species just discovered. The children walking with their parents always perked him up. It was good to know that the cycle of life was unending. All the death he had seen was offset by new life. Not erased of course, his memories would never fade, but it did make him feel better seeing the children. They didn’t know he existed and were better off not knowing the things he did. Their lives went on separate from him and unconnected.
    Eric frowned as the taxi ventured away from the areas tourists were normally interested in. The buildings were less flashy, more utilitarian. A quick check of his map told Eric they were heading away from the city centre toward the industrial zone.
    “Hey, I said I wanted a tour. I’m not interested in factories,” Eric said in annoyance.
    The driver ignored him.
    What the hell? Eric used his sensors and sighed in annoyance. They were being escorted in front and behind by armed men driving identical cars. Government maybe. He could rip the door off and bail, but really, what was the point? It would only draw more attention to him. He could force the driver to pull over and let him out... no he decided, he would wait and see where this leads. Maybe it would be interesting.
    Interesting was one word for it, he mused as the taxi pulled into a compound. Another word for it was surprising. The compound was part of Zhang’s factory complex, and was full of loading and unloading trucks. Eric watched as one lifted off and flew low over the city as it clawed for altitude. Heavy bugger that one. He wondered about the cargo. He decided after a moment that his escort wasn’t government. Bringing him here didn’t make sense for that to be true. These were Zhang’s men probably... or maybe his brother’s. Eric readied himself for action when the taxi stopped and his door popped open.
    He wondered briefly if they would try to disarm him. If they did, it would at least give him a point of reference. He needed to move the mission along. If they were hostile, he could at least take out this part of the Freedom Movement’s operation. He would keep one or two alive for interrogation, and use the answers to target another cell. With luck, he would learn about their base of operations. There must be one if they really planned to overthrow the government. There was no way urban terrorism alone could do it; not now the marines were here with air support. No, they needed to field a proper force, and that would take logistical support—equipment and personnel. If they didn’t have that, the Freedom Movement would be nothing more than an annoyance to any government, but Eric didn’t get that sense from them.
    “No tip for you,” Eric muttered to the driver as he climbed out of the taxi. Or fare either, he thought.
    The driver shrugged and grinned. He drove away leaving Eric facing the escort cars waiting for them to make a move. The car windscreens were dialled to black. The occupants might have weapons trained on him and he wouldn’t know. His sensors detected four men in each car, and they were armed with pulsers by the emissions he was receiving, but that didn’t tell him if they were out and pointed. Eric turned to watch as the security gate slid shut and locked him in. It couldn’t hold him of course. He could climb it or the wall if need be. He turned on the spot letting his sensors do the work for now. He had three exit strategies mapped by the time a welcoming committee came out to join him.
    “Mister Martell, forgive the manner in which you were brought here,” Yi Zhang said. Beside him walked another man. His brother. Eric had his picture in his database. Both men were wearing high-collared business suits that befitted their corporate status. “Unavoidable I’m afraid. There have been developments.”
    Eric glanced at Zhang’s outstretched