Fan Fiction ❯ Backdrifts ❯ Desired Apathy ( Chapter 4 )

Part 4

"Detective Vkul Mack. Detective Patrick Kowl."

Mack looked up at the monotone announcer, slightly surprised at hearing her own name coming from the speakers.

"Please report to Chief Hardy's office."

She let out a choice swear in her own native tongue and stood from the computer terminal rapidly. Kowl had gone off somewhere with very little indication he was planning on coming back anytime soon, leaving her to sift through the mountains of data he had somehow obtained in a highly illegal manner.

Her partner never ceased to infuriate her. But she trusted him, and knew he trusted her - it was all that mattered really. And anyway, she couldn't rightly ignore what was in front of her. However his methods, Kowl had brought her some astounding Pirate reports.

Of course, now she had to see Hardy, who would no doubt question her investigation on the planet. Mack wasn't young, three hundred and seventy four years of life in Earth terms had taught her a few things about society and the hierarchy of the Federation systems. She herself only become a cop eleven years ago- before then, her planet had been involved with a never ending civil war. She had fought valiantly for her people- and now there was a brittle peace. She knew the meaning of tact, and she had to be careful when speaking to her superior.

Tapping the door before letting herself in, she took in the sight of an overweight humanoid male in his sixties. Finishing off a last bite of his lunch, he waved her in, a bushy eyebrow raised at seeing the absence of her partner.

It was almost a legend around the offices - Chief Hardy and Kowl's never ending feud. Hardy would yell, and Kowl would find it funny, trying to find more ways of making him mad. It was almost sad that a human male of Kowl's age could still act like an adolescent boy.

"Why am I not surprised to see the absence of your partner?"

"Detective Kowl is, if anything, a creature of habit. Sir." She added after a moments delay, her own deep resonating voice an intimidating feature she always used to her advantage in situations like these.

Hardy snorted in annoyance. "Yes, I do seem to understand that about him. Well, I want to know your progress on the Federation Base attack."

Mack thought furiously quick, not a change of expression on her distinctly alien face. "We have been tracking the Pirate group, sir, trying to detect any pattern in their attacks. So far they seem to be very random- we.. I believe it was just a vengeance attack, a way to spit in our faces as it were."

"Right right, of course it was. I just wanted to know if you figured that out yet," he replied with a glazed expression. Mack let out a snort of laughter that sounded like a creaking noise, which Hardy failed to recognize.

"I want your report on this, we've got another incoming case I'd like to put you two on. But I'll wait for Kowl before I do."

Damn. Any pretense of investigating the Pirates would look out of place if they were given another case. "With all due respect sir, we are far from finished."

"How's that?" Hardy said with his eyebrow raised.

Mack hesitated, though it did not show up in her voice. "While I myself think the theory of a random attack is sufficient, my partner thinks it may be deeper than that. He thinks the Federation cops may still be alive."

"We both know, Detective, that what Kowl thinks is invariably wrong." Hardy huffed in dismissal. "But I'll give you a few more days to wear him down. If you two don't reach a consensus, I'm forcibly pulling you off the case and leaving it inconclusive."

Mack nodded, glad to have bought them a little more time.

"Be sure to send Kowl my way when you see him."

Mack made an affirmative noise, though she had no intention of doing so. It would only lead up to Kowl blowing up and being an imbecile with suspensions as a lovely gift for them both.

~*~

"Tolricians."

Samus didn't respond, but waited for Peco to continue, his voice tired on the other side of the line. "What, is that all you got? Tolricians? What the hell is that?"

"Patience. Really, you hunters need to watch your blood pressure."

Samus didn't choose to be amused. "And you'll need to watch your neck if you don't get to the fucking point."

A disgruntled noise came from the other end, and Peco started again. "It's the name of the race you wanted me to look into. And let me tell you, it took me a very long time to find it. There wasn't much I could go on since all you told me was a vague description of what they looked like."

"So very sorry. Now, what did you find out?"

"Well, nothing at first. But then I checked around the space pirate base coordinates you contacted me from, and found a very small description of one planet in that system on the official Federation files. Almost got caught too, not that you'd be concerned any."

"You're perceptive."

"Never do fail to amuse me, Samus." She allowed herself a small grin, longing to leave the ship and breathe a bit. She needed to get out of this suit, blend into a crowd somewhere and get absolutely drunk enough to not have to think for one night. But she couldn't, not when she was getting closer than she'd ever been.

"So, you got coordinates?"

"Yes, but unfortunately the planet is barren. The Pirates had desolated all of the planets in that system, none sustain any sign of life."

Samus felt her forehead crease. "You mean they're extinct?"

"In a manner of speaking. But you tell me you've seen live ones. I'm thinking the pirates took them back to wherever they're housed now, at least what's left of them. Maybe even breeding them there to keep a continued supply of genetic material to work with."

There was a disgust in Peco's voice and Samus felt it mirrored in hers. "A species whose only existence is in pain."

Peco didn't respond, but there really wasn't a need to. She sighed, hands rubbing at her tired eyes. "Thanks Peco. That's good enough for now."

"I'm sure I'll hear your lovely voice soon enough." A slight edge of sarcasm was inlayed well into the voice, but Samus let it slide, well aware of the irony of the statement. She sounded like a crude motor forming syllables when she wore the mouth piece of her helmet. The transmission ended, and Samus thought hard. She had a name, but she needed more. And the only place she knew that could help her was one she wasn't looking forward to returning to.

~*~

Melissa Price was a petite woman, a face that was still beautiful in a simple way. She had a tired look about her, something world weary in her eyes, but her smile was pleasant and shy. Dark hair was loose about her shoulders in a particularly fetching way. At least, Timothy Gable thought so.

He was a scientist, one of the best that BSL could hire, and one of the most intelligent people Melissa knew. His face had a boyishly handsome look to it, even as he approached middle age, and she was hard pressed to deny the attraction. If only physical.

Bending down over her work, Melissa studied the data chart of a strain of cells belonging to one of the potential rookie Federation officers. It was her job, if a slightly boring one, to look over all physical attributes of the patient. The Federation was made up of a number of different intelligent species - it wouldn't do to hire one that could be lethal to another simply by standing next to them. She seriously thought working at BSL stations would give her more interesting projects, but she seemed to have gotten the luck her husband had and was stuck with the grunt work. She tossed the file on her desk and clicked away on her computer about the negative results.

Which was a why she was immediately thankful when Timothy sat lightly on her desk, interrupting the tedium. That was the only reason, she assured herself.

"Hey Mel. Lets get some lunch." He smiled winningly at her, and she smiled back. Non flirtatiously of course, she thought. Only to be polite. And even though that tiny voice in the back of her mind reminded her about that little ring on her finger, she seriously considered the offer.

But sense won out in the end. "Not today, thanks. A bit busy, and I'm thinking about getting home early today."

His smile faltered slightly. "To Andrew's waiting indifference?"

She frowned. "Really now. I don't think that's any of your concern." He has really nice eyes... "Andrew and I are quite happy together."And they were, really. Andrew was beginning to mature, once again becoming the man she first fell in love with. She felt slightly guilty about the way her thoughts were going, and turned back to the screen of her computer. "Go on Tim, I'll take a raincheck."

Obviously miffed, he slipped off from the edge of her desk, turning to leave. She snuck a last glance at his retreating form before she looked up at the clock. Almost everyone was at lunch now. It seemed as good a time as any.

Melissa had to admit to a slight thrill as she walked over to Tim's desk, logging onto his computer. He had much higher security clearance than she did, and to do what Andrew asked of her could only be done from here. It was also nice to know Tim trusted her enough with his password. "Oh Tim, my computer is being a total jerk. Mind if I use yours?" She knew he wouldn't say no.

Immediately she went to work

~*~

"You do know she's married."

Tim ignored the voice.

"And you do realize her husband will not simply murder you, but most likely cut you up into little chunks, but only after he pulls your lower intestines out of your ass.."

That was decidedly harder to ignore, so Tim glared at Craig as he leaned back in his chair in the lunchroom. "You're sick, you know that?"

"Hey, I only report what I know."

Tim did not like to think of Craig as his friend, his co-worker, or even his complete stranger. In fact, he wanted to avoid the man as much as he could. Mostly because of his absolutely annoying logic.

Melissa Price was a woman above her husband. She could do so much better... "Like me," he thought bitterly. And he knew he saw her interest. It wasn't hard to spot, most women had the same expression when he talked to them. But there was something about Mel that was different, a glint of humor in her eyes and a mischievous grin.

"Stop smiling, you look like a goober."

"A what?"

"One of those things that smiles like that."

"Thanks. That helped." Tim went on to ignore Craig from then on, eating his lunch before he felt a tap at his shoulder. Preparing to growl angrily at Craig to get him to just leave, he instead turned to find Dr. Lavenski, the head of the research department at BSL. His boss. And he looked pensive.

Not good.

"Mind if I have a word with you, Tim?"

He nodded, standing as Craig spared him a curious glance, following the older man as he led him away from the cafeteria, into the offices.

The BSL building was one of the largest branches, save the original still on earth. Tim always thought he was lucky to have a job of so much prestige, a place to let his knowledge and intelligence reign among people just like him. Dr. Lavenski was an old man, one of the most experienced BSL member alive today, and Tim had to admit a slight hero worship for the man. He had single handedly found cures to numerous infections and diseases, new power sources and weaponry to aid the Federation. He was why this building existed.

But the old scraggly man with white tufts of hair around his ears and small spectacles on his nose had a harsh expression on his face. He led Tim to his office, having a seat at his desk before gesturing for Tim to do the same.

"Tim, you're a bright young man. One of our brightest."

Tim smiled politely, wondering just how bad this was going to get.

"But we've had a few alarms set off recently, all of them from your computer terminal. You are a high man in this place Tim, well on your way to further promotions if the cards fall right. But you have been downloading highly classified data, that though you may have access to, is completely irrelevant to your current projects."

In all his intelligence and charm, Tim managed to only stare in befuddlement.

Lavenski took off his glass, small beady brown eyes as cold as Tim had ever seen them. "Why have you been accessing these files, Tim?"

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're speaking of." Tim finally found his voice, his jaw working slightly before the words came out.

Lavenski let his face twist slightly as he stood rapidly from the desk. "So you had no idea Melissa Price has been using your computer?"

"Well.. yes. Hers wasn't working properly, so I've let her work on mine a few times." He shook his head. "What are you getting at?"

"What I'm getting at, Timothy, is your little bit on the side is accessing files that she should not be accessing."

"Just one second now!" Tim's voice raised at the insult, clearly not used to seeing Lavenski in such a state. "You have no right to make such accusations without proof."

Lavenski calmed some as he sat again. "Fine then. Bring Melissa here, so that I may talk to her. She is not in the building. I expect you can do this much?"

Tim frowned, but nodded anyway. He was more than a little curious himself about what she had to say.

"And Timothy." Tim turned back as he was about to leave. "You understand your future at BSL is at stake. It was your ignorance that let this happen. Make sure you remedy it." Tim frowned, then turned to leave.

~*~

The planet was a dirty and dusty place that pretty much signified everything Samus knew about it. But it was a place she had frequented often enough for her to have gotten over the state of it. She remembered her first time here on the surface of Naragneha in search of work, her name was not known and to all concerned she was some newcomer wanting to steal work from more talented and experienced bounty hunters. The place was disgusting, she couldn't help but think she had made a mistake to do this. That perhaps she wouldn't be able to succeed, to be the warrior that her Chozo family had made her out to be. There was death, greed and lust on every corner from the worst of every species But her first job was done with flourish and style, and soon her name and legend spread among the planets. Morals were something Samus had to ignore long ago. The jobs she took were not all of a noble nature.

It had been some time since she had returned here. Work was not the foremost thing in her mind in recent days. As her ship docked in the large landing bay, she turned on her security locks before leaving the comfort of her ship, stepping onto the cool metallic interior of the hanger. It was not long before she was recognized, and whispers trailed wherever she went.

Usually her first stop was at the bar, mostly to pick up customers or threaten a Hunter that thought himself big enough to challenge her. It was not until now that she went directly to her informant on this planet, wanting to know all she could. Her boots crunched the rotten food and alien excrement that lined the streets, moving from the main district into the worse streets if there could even be as such. Women and men began to fall into her view, lining up in front of broken and looming buildings. All different species, all different kinds, anyone with the mind for a quick fuck had no further to go. And most of the Hunters did come by here, not to mention the employers.

Yet not one called to her as she walked down the street, they only looked on in curiosity at the gold and rust figure that stalked through the grime. They knew her here as well, and they knew they shouldn't bother. Samus had only ever said one thing to a hooker, just when she was becoming renowned on this planet.

A young male, not experienced enough to have that look of defeat most of the people had here. "Care for a trick?"

Samus had stopped, staring at him in a very intimidating manner but he had not backed down. "Why?"

"Have fun. Relax. All work and no play makes a Hunter cranky."

"I like cranky."

"Too bad."

"Maybe I wouldn't be if I didn't have to see your type here all the time. Maybe if all of you lived like you should, with homes and family. But that's all just cosmic bullshit isn't it?"

He looked like he understood, but shrugged. "Hey, that's life."

Samus tossed a few credits at the boy before moving on. "Tell everyone here that if I see any of you try what you just did with me, I'll be a lot less happy and I wont be responsible if they don't manage to turn up after that. Better to just kill you all then let you live like you do."

He looked in surprise, clearly shocked at the threat. And for some reason, he didn't doubt it. "I'd say a lot of them would want that."

"I wouldn't mind doing them the favor."

But there had never been another after that. As much as they claimed to want death, they were too busy scrambling to survive, the instinct to live was too deep within them all. She couldn't remember seeing that young man after that. Perhaps he had left, perhaps he had died. She hadn't bothered to find out, but suspected he was better off whichever was true.

The filth of the streets began to lessen some as she approached a tall building, this one built solid and straight. She frowned at the sight, sighing slightly as she forced the door open through the lock, stepping inside.

It was hot and sticky within and Samus could see it, the slick sheen of sweat that hung in the air and dripped off the walls. There was no one here now, closed for the day. Samus hated this place more than anything- always the thought of what would she do if it was her in here. Would she be as silent and dead as they were? A huff caused her to look up into the tense face of the owner, and Samus let herself grin a bit at the irritation on the other woman's face.

Lady Vivine, and Samus snorted to herself that the woman could ever be a lady, swooped down the stairs in poised stature, dark eyes burning and dark colored lips pressed together.

"We are closed, if you did not notice. Come back in a few hours, I'm sure you can relieve yourself some other way until then."

Samus resisted the urge to laugh out loud at that. "I'm not here for that. I'm looking for a girl you... employ here."

Vivine looked hard, trying to decipher the tall bounty hunter that stood before her. "Why?"

"Because I need to talk to her." Sometimes it was too hard to be vague, and Vivine was not a woman to be taken lightly. Her dark black hair streaked with silver strands fell loose over her shoulders. She was a beautiful woman, but Samus could see how tired she was. It left her cold inside.

"I don't indulge information about my girls to anyone." Her tone clearly thought her word was final.

"Her name is Natalia." Samus said, as if not hearing.

There seemed to be a flicker of emotion in Lady Vivine's somber eyes. "Tell me why I should let her see you."

"Tell her Samus is asking for her."

Vivine frowned, not pleased at the mention of that particular name and thought a moment before replying. "Very well. But you may only speak with her for a few minutes, she needs her rest."

Samus frowned herself, not visible to the other woman. She sighed, knowing there would be no way she could get the girl away from this place.

There were a few minutes as Samus waited, thinking perhaps Vivine intended to just leave her here. She wouldn't put it past the old witch, and wondered if she should leave. There were surely other places she could go.

A sleepy-eyed girl in her teens descended the stairs, and Samus looked on with overwhelming pity. She was almost like a younger sister- one of the few people Samus could admit to caring about. And every time she saw her, she told herself she wouldn't care, that this girl chose what she was doing to herself. It didn't help.

Her brown eyes widened upon seeing Samus' tall figure, and a touch of a seductive smile came upon the girl's face as she descended down the stairs rapidly. Lady Vivine stood atop, clear disapproval on her face. She hated any threat of one of her girls leaving.

"So, decided you couldn't live without me, eh lover?" She had purposely pitched down her voice as if to appear older than she was, and Samus shook her head in exasperation. The situation had been more than awkward when she had first met the girl. Seeing her abused viciously by a man on the side street, bloody and broken and about to be raped. It wasn't a terribly uncommon thing on this planet, but something in Samus clenched at the sight. Maybe it was the sight of broken innocence, but she couldn't ignore it. She had to intervene.

The man had yelped as Samus lifted him by his shirt, throwing him off of the girl. "If I ever see you near her again, I will break your spine." Her voice was low and dark, and with his face a pasty white, the man nodded and ran. Bounty Hunters were not to be taken lightly here- and any threat by one was held in the highest regard.

The young girl sat, her knees pulled up close to her chest as tears tracked down her face, staring up at Samus in absolute awe. She couldn't have been older than twelve. Only a child really.

"Are you all right?" Samus felt odd at the concern she heard in her own warped voice. The skinny girl had only nodded, shaking. "You should get home, where do you live?"

The girl didn't say anything, and stared up at Samus with the same expression. Slight impatience leaked through, "Do you have a home?"

She shook her head.

Pulling her up by the arm, trying not to notice the flinch, Samus took her to the first place that came to mind - the foundling home. It wasn't a good place for children, but it was safe. Samus had promised herself to come back and check on the girl every once in a while, just to make sure. She also had refused to think of herself as attached to the child. She was a bit more realistic now.

When she had come back a month later, the girl had launched at her in a crushing hug she could feel through her armor, talking a mile a minute. The girl revealed her name to be Natalia, and there was an adoration in her eyes that was tinged with something else. Desire. Samus felt an uncomfortable understanding that Natalie never even considered Samus could be anything other than her prince charming. Never considered she could be a woman. To Natalie, Samus was a handsome rogue under the suit, the mystery even more compelling. And she had never ceased to stop throwing herself at the hunter since then

After a while, the situation only became amusing. The only problem with Natalia was she either didn't understand authority, or didn't acknowledge it. Only Samus could get her to listen to anyone, always dragging her away from the brothels she would go to for money, back to the foundling home.

Now Natalia had filled out some, her form on the path to that of a woman. But to Samus, she was still the scared skinny child she had saved.

"Need I remind you we have never made love?" Samus' voice was amused.

"Well you could always take that suit off and we could fix that little problem." Her smile was wide, "Besides, we have spiritual love."

Samus snorted, but gestured her to follow to another room away from prying ears. " I can't say I didn't expect you to be here" Samus frowned, she hadn't even bothered to check the foundling home for Natalia. "Why did you come back?"

The smirk on the girl's face faded in hearing the disappointment in Samus' voice. "Doing my job."

"If I knew you'd become another disease spreading whore, I never would have saved you." Anger began to rise up white hot within the pit of Samus' stomach, and instantly she regretted the words as she saw Natalia's expression of hurt. But the girl rapidly became angry herself.

"What do you care? You only show up every few months, drag me back to that fucking awful place where they starve children and leave again. Its been almost a year since I last saw you, don't make it seem like you fucking care. Shit! I don't even know who you are!" The outburst was followed by a thick silence and eventually the rage across the girl's face lessened to hopelessness.

"No, you don't." Samus had turned away slightly. She knew long ago she would never reveal herself to Natalia. It would be putting forth too much trust, and Samus wasn't ready to give it. She still had a mission to fulfil.

"And I never will, will I?" Natalia's voice had calmed, a sad knowing tone. Samus shook her head. Natalia wiped at her nose discreetly, changing the subject before it became any worse. "What did you want to see me for?"

It was usually another thing Samus went to the girl for - she had knowledge of everything that happened on the streets on this planet. Sometimes it would be from customers, other times just things she'd pick up from passing conversations where they would pay no mind to a meaningless prostitute. And she always tried her best to listen for Samus.

"Besides to drag you back?" Her voice was teasing and Natalia smiled slightly.

"Yeah."

"I want to know if you've heard anything. Specifically anything that has to do with a race called Tolricians."

Natalia looked at her blankly, and Samus tried not to be disappointed. "They're like fish people, aquatic creatures."

She screwed her face in thought, then her eyes lit as she smiled. Samus tried not to feel her stomach hurt at the sight. "Yeah, actually, I remember something. Just the other day, I was working near the bar when I hear these two tough looking fuckers talk about some kind of abductions with fishes"

It was a start, and the news was welcome. Of course, it could turn out to actually have been fishes, but somehow Samus felt she was on the right track. Unseen to the girl, Samus smiled at her. "Happen to catch one of their names?"

"Well, I picked one of `em up, even though I wanted his friend since he was much hotter. I remember him calling the guy Rus, but I don't know the John's name."

Samus felt torn between laughing and giving the girl a good verbal thrashing being at this business so casually. "Rus? You sure that's what he called him?"

She nodded, a neatly plucked brow raised. "What, you know him? Blonde, stubbly, really hot?"

Samus smirked to herself, and decided not to comment on the repeated `hot' remarks. "I know him." Her tone turned serious as she laid a hand on Natalia's shoulder. "Why do you keep doing it? Is it because you know it pisses me off?"

"Partly." Her own voice had no teasing in it. As Samus looked into the young girl's face, she realized there was an oldness to her, an experience gained. "I want you to be so fucking mad you'll just haul my ass back with you so I wont do it again." So frank, so monotone, Samus unconsciously tightened the grip on the girl's shoulder. "Anyway, there's nothing else I can do on this planet. The women become whores or convenient fucks that don't charge. I need money to survive here, in case you don't know. Plus, Vivine makes sure the Johns are clean so we don't get sick like the others do. This place is high end, I'm lucky I'm here."

There wasn't much Samus could say. How could she convince her if she knew this was the truth herself? What could she possibly do? She didn't need to deal with this shit, she shouldn't have to. Yet here she stood..

"You're right." Samus removed her hand and saw the small frown on the girl's face at the loss of contact. "But I know you can be better than that. And fuck, I swore after the first day I'd maybe drop in to see if you were getting along ok. And leave it at that. But I didn't, and now its obvious I've screwed myself because of it."

Natalia smiled wanly.

"Fine. You say Vivine takes good care of you? Keeps you clean and fed?" The girl nodded. "Then stay. I can't force you to do anything, you're right. I'm nothing to you. And you're nothing to me." Samus saw the flinch, and averted her eyes. She wanted to turn, to leave and let this girl just be who she would have been anyway. Samus hadn't prevented anything. But Natalia reached out, her hand resting on the metal breastplate of the suit. There was no seduction in her move, only an empathy and wisdom that shouldn't have been in one so young. Her fingers trailed the carved grooves, trailing slightly to lay against the cool steel.

"I'll still help you, whenever you need me. Just don't think I'm going to change."

Samus felt a sudden sadness, and she nodded.