Hello patrons! This short piece of fiction was written for the Deadzone game setting by Mantic. It’s amongst the shorter pieces of fiction I’ve ever written, but I don’t think it is bad, and you guys get to see it here… since I don’t think it’s getting published by Mantic. 🙂

***

Ithaca station had only one worthwhile bar on the habitat ring, so that’s where Kel Wagner arranged the meet.

The location was a sports-themed pub named “Harv’s,” and Kel had seen a dozen dives just like it. He was tired of the routine; journey to another star system, find someone the Council of Seven wanted dead, and eliminate the target.

The assassin was about to leave when an older, bearded man slid into the booth opposite him. Kel’s cybernetics searched for threat signals, finding none, but he did not relax.

“This isn’t protocol,” He stated flatly.

“There’s no time for the standard intel,” The other man replied, glancing around at the bar’s décor. “Picked a good spot for the meet.”

Holo-screens on all four walls broadcast the latest Void Sirens dreadball victory, capturing the crowd’s attention. Kel’s booth was in a secluded corner, and the waitress had been tipped generously to leave him alone.

“Echo,” he challenged.

“Checkmate.” The other man supplied the correct code-word. He seemed amused.

“I heard you were a stickler for the rules. Call me Chambers.”

Kel knew that the name he’d been given was an alias. In Corporate space, agents of the elite Enforcers were often targets for anyone looking to strike back at Corporation Central.

Chambers slid a data-pack across the table.

Kel half-smiled, slipping it into his pocket. “Funny. ‘An old man meets you in a tavern with a quest.’ Never thought I’d live the cliché.”

“This isn’t a game. Make it happen.” The Corporate agent’s eyes were cold.

Kel nodded. “Understood.”

The other man slid out of the booth and was swallowed by the crowds of travelers on the habitat ring. It was good tradecraft, Kel had to admit.

The assassin sighed and downed his drink.

“Once more into the breach.”

***

Chambers had given him a complete profile on the target. He was a young VP of a pharmaceutical company. The target had developed a new process for extracting a valuable drug, and that process threatened certain Corporate interests. In turn, those interests cashed in favors and pulled strings until the Council of Seven took notice.

And now, it was Kel’s task to remove this nuisance.

The assassin tracked the target into Ithaca Station’s upper region, a showcase for the wealthy and influential. The Heaven Cent ballroom contained dozens of men and women—almost exclusively human—all wearing fine clothing of exceptional style and even more exceptional price.

“So what is it you do, Mister Kel?” The woman dancing with him was achingly beautiful, with flowing dark hair and sparkling eyes. Her name was Marta, and she provided Kel with a suitable social camouflage. Loners were often given far more attention than couples at an event such as this.

“I’m in accounting,” He answered.

Marta was charming, in her way. To his surprise, Kel realized that he was enjoying spending time with her. She was funny, smart, and seemed up-to-date on interstellar politics. Most of the other agents he spoke with during his travels were well-informed, but no one would accuse them of being… pleasant.

Sensing his scrutiny, Marta raised an eyebrow. “What specialty? I minored in economics.” Her smile was brilliant, and she was an excellent dancer. Kel returned the smile, relieved that he did not have to fake the expression.

The moment was fleeting. Over Marta’s shoulder, Kel spotted his target moving into the library. The VP would be alone there—vulnerable. Kent had already spoofed that room’s security measures. It was time.

Kel smoothly brought the dance to an end, lifting Marta’s hand for a brief kiss of farewell.

“Nothing exciting, I fear. I help settle debts.”

***

The assassin moved quickly from the main ballroom to a balcony overlooking the event. His sniper rifle was where he had placed it earlier. It was a matter of moments for Kel to activate the weapon’s silenced mode and take aim.

Killing like this has lost its appeal, Kel thought. The trigger felt natural beneath his finger—taking the shot was no different than the hundreds of rounds he’d fired, both as an assassin and on the battlefield with other Enforcers. Yet, there was no sense of victory, of achievement.

As the young man fell, his chest blossoming red, Kel felt only a profound weariness.

***

The assassin stopped to pick up an extra glass of champagne as he rejoined Marta. He calculated that he had a few minutes before the body was found—enough time to establish an alibi.

Marta forestalled his offer of the drink with a raised hand. “I’m sorry, Kel.” She sighed. “I should be honest with you, something’s just not right about all this.”

Kel stiffened with surprise. Had she seen him? Would he need to eliminate her as a witness?

The brunette touched Kel’s shoulder with a sad smile. “I’ve dated many executives. You’re all the same.”

“I need someone adventurous, someone who travels…”

She looked into his eyes. “Someone who takes risks.”

Marta stepped back. “Goodbye, Kel.”

The assassin took a deep breath, resisting the urge to break out in bitter laughter as Marta walked away. The woman’s words had struck home in a way he hadn’t anticipated. Kel hadn’t been able to describe it until just this moment, but he’d been feeling unsatisfied with his work for some time now. He needed to do more than to simply kill whoever the corporation pointed him towards.

It was time to reconsider his assignment. He’d been too long away from battles that truly mattered. The assassin called up data on his neural implant for the next available assignment: a mission to Nexus Psi. Kel didn’t hesitate to accept. A deadzone planet definitely fit the definition of “adventurous.”

***
Editor’s note: Thanks to the wonderful Carolyn Kemp, I’ve made a few minor changes to the story that should improve it.