Chapter Three



   It started as an annoying tickle at the back of his throat which quickly spread to his sinus. Yugo turned his head to one side and wretched a violent sneeze that caused his whole body to shake.
   Just fine, he thought. All I need now is a cold.
   Yugo wiped his nose against his sleeve, which like the rest of his clothing was soaking wet. It had been uvavoidable, he had spent the last hour on a roof cleaning the soot from a clogged chimney. Not the most respectable of jobs, but it had paid three hundred credits, and Yugo would do anything to further his goal of reaching Tiphares. It had rained hard, the water driven into his clothes by a fierce wind that left a thin film of moisture against his skin.
   Yugo rolled his shoulders back and forth to loosen the shirt that had become stuck to his flesh. Slogging his way through oily puddles as he made his way home, Yugo was never one to be conscientious of his appearance, but at this moment he was well aware of how dishevelled he must look. His face was caked with black grime as were his hands, and he smelled bad, even to himself.
   If not for his wretched appearance and the annoying cold, Yugo would have been outwardly happy. The last two months had been quite successful, he and Tanji had claimed five spines for which Euphorian had paid fifty thousand credits each. The two boys had agreed to split the profits down the middle, though in truth it was Yugo who did most of the work. He had taken upon himself the task of scouting out new locations to ensnare their victims, and was always the one to do the actual deed of tearing out the spine. Tanji's role was to be lookout, and Yugo knew how invaluable his friend's assistance was. Tanji had proved his worth that first time out and a potential disaster had been avoided.
   Euphorian had told them that the stunner was to be held firmly against the base of the neck for as long as possible. Yugo had been unaware of this and had removed it too soon before paralysis set in. Subsequent outings had gone smoothly once the boys had worked out a routine. Even Euphorian had been impressed by their professionalism and suggested that they hunt more often and deliver spines on a regular basis, stating he had orders to fill and the boys could earn more money. Yugo had disagreed to this, knowing that the key to remaining unidentified was to avoid establishing a pattern, to hunt at random intervals and always in different locations. So far it had worked. Yugo was sure that based on eye witness accounts by the victims the hunter-warriors must be aware of their activities, but they had little information to go on other than the suspects being two boys about fourteen years of age.
   He felt little compassion for those he stole from, to him it was simply a means to an end. It was strictly business, and with the exception of that first time it had been unnecessary to kill anyone else.
   Yugo hung his head low and stared at his feet. He had found a new location yesterday and it had been three weeks since last he and Tanji had gone hunting. It was time, and he would inform his friend when next they crossed paths, perhaps at the arcade.
   Suddenly Yugo heard a familiar laugh. It was carried to him by the howling wind which stung his ears and made the sound seem painful.
   He looked up and saw Susie, the girl from the arcade. She was perhaps a block away, but even from a distance Yugo could tell that she seemed different. She was wearing a smart black coat cut at waist height and her hair was pulled back from her face revealing sculpted cheekbones and a blush of blue above her eyes. Yugo was surprised at how attractive she looked, seeming a few years older than her given age of fifteen. But he was even more surprised to see Tanji at her side.
   The two were walking slowly toward him, Tanji with his right arm wrapped around Susie's waist. Occasionally he would lean over and whisper something in her ear and Susie would respond with a polite giggle. Yugo was familiar with all of Tanji's best lines, and his friend was not gifted with a sense of comedic timing.
   Yugo stood still and waited for them to notice him. It was fortunate that he should meet Tanji, but he wished his appearance was a little more respectable.
   Susie had just finished laughing at one of Tanji's jokes when she looked up and spotted Yugo, Tanji noticed the change in her demeanor and stared also. They stopped half a block away and Yugo hear could hear the two whispering. He could discern a few words here and there and heard his name mentioned several times.
   After a moment Tanji left Susie's side and strolled over to his friend, putting on his best smile.
   "Hey Yugo, how have you been?"
   Yugo seemed not to acknowledge Tanji's presence, instead looking past his friend at Susie who stood some distance away, arms folded and wearing an expression of impatience.
   "I'm fine Tanji," sniffled Yugo. "But I think I'm coming down with a cold."
   "Serves you right buddy," answered Tanji. "That's what you get for spending so much time outdoors. Why don't you stop working those petty jobs Yugo? It's not as if you need the money anymore."
   Yugo stepped forward and brought his face close to Tanji's, lowering his voice so that Susie wouldn't overhear.
   "What I do to make money is my business," murmered Yugo. "And judging from that coat Susie has on you seem to be in a hurry to spend your share."
   Tanji glared at Yugo and spoke in a low voice.
   "And what's wrong with that," he answered. "Unlike you some of us like to have a good time, all you ever think about is going to Tiphares. You might as well enjoy life while you can, considering what we do to make money we might not be around for long."
   "Well you'll see to that," answered Yugo angrily. "How many times have I told you not to throw your money around? People might become suspicious of a kid having the chips to afford expensive things like that coat."
   "Ah hell, who's going to know?" dismissed Tanji with a wave of his hand.
   "Susie will," replied Yugo quickly. "And if you don't think that word will get around then you're a bigger fool than I thought you were."
   "To hell with you." said Tanji. "You worry too much Yugo, sometimes you sound like my father, and I didn't like him very much either."
   "You don't have to like me Tanji, you just have to work with me. Speaking of which I've found a new location for us to set up business. I'd like to talk to you about it and show you the place, it's perfect for what we have in mind."
   "Can it wait?" replied Tanji. "Me and Susie have plans for tonight. Her mom works evenings and we're going over to her place to watch a little TV. If you're not busy you can hang out with us."
   "What do you mean?" inquired Yugo.
   "Well, Susie told me she has a friend that's dying to meet you. Her names Kelly and she's around the arcade sometimes. Black hair, wears a gray coat down about here."
   Tanji bent slightly forward and placed a hand against his right knee.
   "Naw, don't know her," said Yugo.
   "Well she knows you pal, and I can tell you that she's pretty cute, though not as much as Susie."
   "Thanks Tanji but all I want is to get home, clean myself up and hit the sack. Besides, I get the feeling that you'd rather be alone with Susie than have a couple of other people hanging around."
   Tanji grinned and looked back at Susie.
   "Yeah your right buddy, I can always count on you to do the right thing. But to tell you the truth it was Susie's idea to ask you to join us."
   Tanji turned around and started back toward the impatient girl. Yugo looked for a moment then shouted after him.
   "We'll get together tomorrow at the usual place!"
   Tanji rejoined Susie and took her hand in his.
   "What's wrong with your friend?" she asked. "Doesn't he want to come along?"
   Tanji shook his head and started back the way they had come with Susie in tow.
   "I asked him but he has other plans. Yugo's like that sometimes, he's the best friend a guy could have but he's a little strange."
   Susie glanced back at Yugo who stood in the street watching the pair walk away from him.
   "Too bad," she murmered.
   Yugo coughed and ran his tongue over dry lips. He was thirsty and could already taste the clear water he kept in glass jars beneath his bed.
   It was best to wait a few days anyway, he thought. Yugo could understand Tanji wanting to be alone with the attractive girl, and it would take him at least that long to get over this cold.
   Yugo reached over his shoulder and rubbed the base of his neck. A throbbing pain was working it's way up from his spine to his skull, a sure sign that he was getting a headache as well as the wretched sniffles.
   "Just great," he thought aloud. "Another thing I need right now."
***

   To look at Amerlis one would immediately notice the stark contrast between her and the background which framed her lithe figure. The scrapyard did not provide the most flattering setting for a woman so beautiul, and thus made her seem more so. One might also assume that she was sleeping, but in fact she was wide awake, her eyes shut tight to block any obtrusive stimuli that might interfere with her concentration. She couldn't however remove the ambient street noise several blocks away, and let herself take in snippets of conversation that most people were unable to discern.
   The scrapyard was a dangerous place at anytime of the day, especially so at night. But Amerlis feared not at all for her personal safety. None were able to approach her undetected, and if they were foolish enough to make the attempt their lives would end in the blink of an eye.
   Amerlis placed her hands behind her head to serve as a pillow. She was stretched out on a stairwell landing two stories above the street. She preferred to hunt from on high, better to track her unsuspecting prey then attack suddenly, catching the target off guard.
   She rolled over on her left side and ignored the harsh grating that dug into her hip. Amerlis had spent most of her life sleeping in such uncomfortable surroundings. Abandoned at the age of twelve by a mother who didn't want her, Amerlis had grown up on the street, surviving by any means possible with the exception of selling her body. She had seen her mother do this and had vowed never to kneel herself before anyone.
   She had lived on the avails of petty theft and violent robbery. And unlike other young girls she had not been the slightest bit intimidated by boys or their superior physical strengh. What she lacked in size she made up for in sheer ruthlessness and an indomitable spirit. She had been feared as a child and as a result had developed no genuine friendships. It was just as well, she knew. For Amerlis was unwilling to share herself with anyone.
   At the age of nineteen she had made an extraordinary decision that changed her life. Unlike most people that became cyborgs through unfortunate circumstance, Amerlis had asked that her arms and legs be removed and replaced with cybernetic limbs. It was the beginning of a new life for her, one as a hunter-warrior. Amerlis had realized that she couldn't continue life as a criminal, and the only legitimate profession for which she was suited was as one of the scrapyard's enforcers.
   Throwing away part of her humanity had been easy, she was lacking of any paternal instinct and considered her flesh to be little more than a nuisance that inhibited her potential. She had gained considerable skills and could handle the sharp knife tucked in her belt as if it were an extension of her arm.
   Amerlis opened her eyes and looked across the alley at a window veiled by a thin curtain. She heard loud voices and could discern two shadows against a harsh light. She saw a large man holding a woman by the arm and slapping her violently across the face.
   Though outwardly Amerlis appeared calm a violent rage seethed within her. It was a matter of personal pride really, and she was determined that she would be the one to put an end to it. For two months a pair of young boys had been trapping unsuspecting victims and ripping their spines out. There was little to go on, the description being of two boys who lured their prey with the offer of cheap maintance. The incidents had been at random locations, making it impossible for her to determine where they would strike next. And lacking any positive identification the factory hadn't even posted warrants for their capture.
   Amerlis was infuriated at the idea of two street punks having alluded her. She had been like them not so long ago and found it easy to imagine the pair laughing and turning their noses up at the law.
   She sat up and dangled her legs over the edge of the iron grate. Amerlis had once had dark hair but now wore it cut short over her ears and dyed red. It matched perfectly with her pale skin and sculpted features, and despite the heavy coat and leggings most men could tell that she had an alluring physique. Amerlis lifted her face to the sky and breathed deeply, succumbing to the intoxicating mix of sweat, perfume and decadence that hung over the scrapyard. It was the perfect place for someone such as herself., and she often imagined that if there were a god, he had created this city especially for her.
   Suddenly Amerlis heard a cough and spun her head to the right. Her sharp eyes could make out three forms coming down the alley from the direction of the street. Two were obviously boys, the third was an adult. Amerlis instinctively pulled her legs up and adjusted her body so that she was lying flat on her stomach, her chin resting on her hands. She watched the three approach her position and could now clearly hear every word of their conversation.
   "I hope you boys are as good as you say," inquired the adult.
   "Oh we are sir," answered one of the boys. "Just you wait, we'll have you up and feeling as good as new in no time."
   The group stopped just below the hunter-warrior and she watched the proceedings intently. It was clear that a ruse was in progress, and Amerlis felt a rush of adrenaline that pounded her temples and caused her to reflexively move her hand to the knife at her waist.
   It was them, she realized. All these weeks she had been hunting for the pair and now they had just presented themselves to her. It was all she could do to prevent herself from pouncing on them and cutting their throats. But experience had taught Amerlis that it was best to be patient and observe the drama below. She would watch them tear out the man's spine first, then she would kill them at her leisure.
   "Have a seat sir," said Tanji pointing to a wooden crate.
   The man seated himself and Tanji produced a rag with which he began to wipe the cyborg's shoes.Yugo slipped behind their intended victim and immediately produced the stunner. He pushed it hard against the man's neck and Amerlis heard an agonizing cry. The man fell forward on the ground and the boys set about their task. One produced a crowbar from his coat and thrust it at the base of the spine, while the other ran to a trashcan, removing the lid and pulling out a canister of clear liquid.
   "I got it!" exclaimed Yugo as the spine tore free of the glue-like substance that held it firm.
   "Hurry up, put it in," said Tanji as he held out the opened canister.
   Amerlis was fascinated. She grudgingly admired how efficient the two were. If fate hadn't brought them to her this night there was no guessing how many more months they could have continued with their crime spree. But they had been discovered, and Amerlis grinned wickedly as she envisioned how they were to die.
   Should I kill them quickly, or should I let them run a little, she thought. It might be nice to inflict a little terror, they deserved it. And nothing was more horrible than to know one's own death was imminent.
   Amerlis steeled herself and braced her hands against the grating. She almost pushed herself off the landing when the realization came to her.
   She was a hunter-warrior, a professional. It would be easy to kill the two boys but what reward was there? Personal satisfaction perhaps, but Amerlis considered all those weeks she had scoured the city in search of them. It had been hard work, time unpaid. She had even ignored opportunities at easier bounties, instead devoting her time in search of the two thieves.
   Amerlis relaxed her arms and steadied her breathing. It stood to reason that the boys had the support of others in their activities. Perhaps someone who was sought by the factory? Why not follow them and see where they lead her. She was no hurry, they were hers now and she could kill them anytime she desired.
   Yugo and Tanji gathered their items and then ran for the busy street. Amerlis watched them go then lept soundlessly from her perch and landed a few meters away from the violated body that lay in a pool of blood. She smiled, knowing that once the boys were in the company of others they would slow to a walk to avoid attracting attention to themselves. They would be easy enough to track from above.
   She heard moaning and looked at the prostrate form on the ground.
   "Someone, please help me," she heard the furtive plea.
   Amerlis walked over to the cyborg and unleashed a savage kick against his skull, severing several tubes that ran from the man's throat to his chest. Dead silence fell over the alley as Amerlis spun and ran toward the street in pursuit of the spine thieves.
   Just as Amerlis had predicted, once Yugo and Tanji found themselves amongst the teeming throng that crowded the streets they slowed to a walk. The two boys strode casually past a netman maintaining surveillance at a street corner, refusing to even glance at it.
   Yugo remained silent, lost in thought as usual after a theft. But Tanji grinned from ear to ear, staring into store windows at merchandise that months ago he could never hope to afford.
   "Man, this is too easy," he said. "We should take Euphorian's advice and hunt more often."
   Yugo looked at his companion and shook his head in disagreement.
   "Forget it Tanji," he answered firmly. "The more spines we steal the greater chance there is that we'll be caught. It's best not to get greedy and leave things as they are."
   Tanji felt as if he should put up an argument but reconsidered. He was content to let Yugo make the decisions, and a heated exchange between the two now would only serve to spoil the good mood he was in.
   The two boys continued on their way, taking a practiced route to Euphorian's place of business, all the while completely unaware of the shadow that leaped between adjacent rooftops several paces behind them.
   Eventually the crowd thinned out and they found themselves on the quiet street leading to the blackmarketeer's home. Amerlis had arrived before them and dropped to street level. She pushed her back against a wall and waited. The boys would soon pass by and she would continue to shadow them on foot. After trailing them for forty five minutes she was sure they were near their destination.
   Yugo and Tanji strode into view and passed within a meter of her, hidden as she was in the surrounding shadows. The boys had removed their masks sometime during the pursuit and she now had a good look at their faces. Even if the unlikely were to happen and she were to lose them they would be easy enough to find again. The two spine thieves were as good as dead, they just didn't know it.
   Amerlis watched them descend a flight of stairs a block away. Their heads vanished from view and she crept forward, taking up a position on the opposite side of the street. A fire escape ran up the wall and Amerlis ducked underneath it, setting herself down on the hard ground and staring out between the steps at the building Yugo and Tanji had disappeared into.
   Ten minutes passed and never once did Amerlis look away. In that time six people had passed her by and she hadn't glanced at any of them, nor had any suspected that she was there.
   Amerlis saw a ray of light as a door opened and the boys climbed the stairs to the street. She could hear them laughing as they approached her, boisterous and confident in their prowess as spine thieves and their pockets laden with chips.
   Amerlis let them pass, unharmed. During the time she had been observing the dwelling she had formulated a plan of action. Realizing that she had let pride and emotion cloud her professional judgement, she decided it was best to let to boys go, for the moment. With little effort she would be able to find them again, and she knew that the real culprit was in that building. With a little persuasion she could force whoever was inside to reveal the names of more spine thieves. The potential gains were worth the risk of temporarily losing track of the boys.
***

   Euphorian sat hunched over his desk, his surroundings completely dark with the exception of a small lamp over his left shoulder that bathed his desktop in yellow light. To his right was a sheaf of papers, and on the left was was a plain dial telephone. The fingers of his left hand danced over the worn buttons of a calculator and he occasionally paused to scribble furiously in a notebook.
   The two little bastards had made good on their word and delivered another spine to him. If only they could do it on a regular basis his profits would increase and his employer would reward him with bonuses. But that kid Yugo had steadfastly refused and Euphorian would have to settle for the occasional delivery.
   "Better than nothing," he thought aloud.
   Suddenly Euphorian saw a shadow cast over his desk and realized that someone was in the room with him, so close as to block out the light over his shoulder. He leaped back against a wall and held his hands defensively in front of him, his heart pounding as he searched the darkness for whomever had invaded his home.
   "Come out!" he shouted angrily. "If you want to steal from me you're going to have to work for it!"
   There was no reply, only an unnerving silence that pushed in on him and made his muscles seem heavy and useless.
   "If you call yourself a man then try me! Only a coward would hide in the dark like this."
   "I'm neither," said a soothing feminine voice from directly in front of him.
   The words startled Euphorian and he stared hard at the blackness. He could see now, the outline of a human form, obviously a woman.
   Amerlis stepped forward and presented herself in the strong light. She smiled warmly and her eyes held a look of amorous intent, as if she were inviting Euphorian to make love to her.
   Euphorian gulped and put his hands down, running his eyes over her body and gazing at Amerlis' full lips and crimson hair. He had no idea of who she was of what she wanted, but in his mind it was decided that he was going to have her, regardless if she agreed to it or not.
   "Well well," said Euphorian confidently. "I was going to wait until later to buy myself a little skin, but it looks like you came to me first."
   "Oh really," smiled Amerlis. "And what makes you think that's the reason I'm here?"
   Euphorian walked around the desk and stood directly in front of Amerlis, shrugging his shoulders and looking down on her.
   "What other reason could there be?" he asked. "I don't know why you broke in here but you don't have a prayer in hell of stealing from me."
   Amerlis turned up the corners of her mouth and her voice become low and serious.
   "If you ask me, it seems that you're the one who's been doing all the stealing," she answered.
   Euphorian made an attempt to encircle Amerlis with his huge arms and felt something strike him in the chest. The resultant blow sent him flying back against a wall, knocking over the lamp which came crashing to the floor.
   He sank to his knees and screamed in sheer agony. Every breath he took was unbearably painful and he was sure several of his ribs had broken and penetrated his lungs. He fought against the reflexive action to cough but failed, a loud rasp of air escaping from his mouth accompanied by a spittle of blood that ran down his chin.
   "You whore!" he shouted. "I'll kill you for what you've done to me!"
   Despite the severity of his injury Euphorian was a hard man familiar with brutality. He pushed his back against the wall and straightened his legs, rising to a standing position. The lamp was still on but was totally useless lying on the floor. He held his left hand against his chest and spat out a mouthful of thick blood.
   "You'll never leave here alive woman. After I've screwed you I'm going to tear out your spine and give it the the first slut that I meet."
   Euphorian swung his right arm in the air, hoping to get lucky and perhaps strike Amerlis. He felt strong fingers grab his wrist and twist hard, forcing him to lean forward and receive a knee that came up and smashed him in the nose.
   Again Euphorian screamed and sank to the floor. Amerlis maintained hold of his wrist and forced him into a kneeling position with his back toward her. He realized he was in a postion of helplessness. She could do what she wanted to him and he was unable to resist.
   Amerlis dug the sharp heel of her left boot into the small of his back, pulling up on Euphorian's arm at the same time.
   "Now you're going to answer some questions," she said simply. "And if I think that you're lying to me I'm going to hurt you even more."
   Euphorian grit his teeth and fought against the pain in his shoulder.
   "Go to hell bitch," he replied. "I know you're going to kill me anyway so why should I talk?"
   Amerlis twisted his wrist slightly and Euphorian sank lower to the floor.
   "Of course I'm going to kill you," she answered. "It's my job, but it's up to you to decide if you die painlessly or suffer for several more hours. Either way it makes no difference to me."
   Amerlis waited for a reply but there was none. If he had defied her again she would have known that further persuasion was useless and have killed him this instant. His silence was an admission of fear, for like anyone in his positon the prospect of enduring torture to protect individuals to whom his only tie was money was not worth it.
   "'What are the names of those two brats that just left here?" she asked.
   "Yugo and Tanji," spat Euphorian.
   "And who do you work for?"
   "Huh, what do you mean?" he replied.
   Amerlis twisted Euphorian's arm and he was sure that it was going to pop out of his shoulder at any moment.
   "An ass like you is too stupid to run an organization like this," she stated. "You're just a middle man, I want the name of the person in charge."
   "You don't wanna know!" he shouted to her. "He's got connections in high places and could have a whore like you killed in an instant."
   Amerlis shook her head and twisted harder, pushing her heel deeper into his back.
   "That's not what I want to hear," she said cooly. "I want the name of the guy you take orders from, and you have two seconds to answer me before I break your arm."
   "You're in over your head," shot back Euphorian. "This guy could have us both killed. If you're going to finish me then do it, it's just too bad I won't be around to see what happens to you."
   Amerlis knew the interrogation had come to an end and that further questions were pointless. Whoever Euphorian's superior was he was a man of importance, and Euphorian was deathly afraid of him. He had answered her first question though, and considered that to be reasonable in granting him a relatively painless death.
   She pulled her left fist behind her ear and punched Euphorian hard on the back of his head, crushing his skull and driving fragments of bone into his brain. He died instantly as she released hold of his arm, letting his lifeless body slump forward to the floor.
   Amerlis leaned over Euphorian's desk and picked up the notebook he had been writing in. She rippled the pages and saw nothing but numbers and coded words, it was completely useless.
   She tossed the book aside and noticed the square outline of a wallet in Euphorian's back pocket. She knelt down and pulled it out, rummaging through it's contents. There were several pieces of identification that told her the name of the man she had just killed, as well a small dog-eared photograph of a woman who appeared to be in her forties.
   Amerlis frowned, there appeared to be nothing in here to aid her in identifying Euphorian's employer. She almost threw the billfold across the room in disgust when she caught sight of a slip of yellow paper tucked neatly into the corner of the rearmost section. She pulled it out and opened it, staring for a moment at the words written in faded ink. Then a smile spread across her face and she let out a gleeful laugh.
   Amerlis tucked the paper neatly into the fold of her coat and stood. It was already late in the evening and she decided to retire. A good night's sleep was what she needed now, for tomorrow she had an appointment with an important man and wanted desperately to make a favourable impression.
***

   Vector had been hard at work for two hours and already he was behind. On his desk sat two stacks of documents. The one on the right was of requisitions and forms that he had read and signed, while the larger one on the left was of papers that awaited his approval.
   Paperwork was a mundane but necessary part of his legitimate business, and Vector resisted the temptation to simply sign them all and be done with it. He had to read every line, every word, for if something should be amiss he would be held responsible.
   Vector pulled back the sheet he had been reading and scanned down the last page. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, he laid the sheaf of pages on his desk and picked up a pen in his right hand. He had just started to sign his name when he heard a lould thud from the outer office.
   Vector laid the pen aside and looked at the door on the far side of the room. He heard a woman scream, it was obviously Myra.
   He pushed back his chair and started to rise when the door burst open with a loud crash. Vector stared in disbelief. Myra stood in the doorway, blood streaming down her face from a sharp cut on her right cheek. The top of her dress had been torn and her left shoulder exposed. Behind her was a woman holding a knife to Myra's throat.
   "What the hell is this!?" screamed Vector. "Tell me what's going on here?"
   "I'm sorry," said Myra faintly. "I tried to stop her but I couldn't."
   "Shut up!" said Amerlis sternly into Myra's ear.
   Vector sat down and placed his hands on his lap, beneath his desk was a red button that when pushed would notify security that there was an intruder in his office. He slid his right hand forward until it was just scant inches away from the switch.
   "Who are you and what do you want?" asked Vector calmly. "Do you have any idea who I am? Nobody comes in here unless I invite them to."
   In the space of a heartbeat Amerlis had left Myra's side and closed the distance between herself and Vector. She leaned across his desk and held his necktie firmly in her left hand, pulling his face close to hers. Vector instinctively braced his hands against the desk in a futile attempt to push himself away, but it only made matters worse as the tie tightened around his throat and burned into his skin. He could feel the constriction against his windpipe and fought hard to take a full breath.
   "Get rid of the bitch," said Amerlis nodding her head in Myra's direction. "And if either of you notify security you'll both be dead before they get here."
   Vector knew that the woman was serious and he looked past her towards his assistant.
   "It's okay Myra," he said reassuringly. "This person and myself have some business to discuss, everything is under control."
   "But Mr Vector!" exclaimed Myra.
   Vector frowned and spoke again to the frightened woman.
   "I've told you that everything is okay Myra, return to your desk and continue with your duties."
   Myra looked into Vector's desperate eyes for a moment then backed out of the office, pulling the door closed behind her.
   Myra staggered back to her desk and sat down. She breathed deeply, fighting to regain her composure. When the woman had burst into the waiting room unnannounced Myra had tried to restrain her, but the intruder had grabbed her clothing and pushed her hard against a wall, tearing Myra's dress. Then the woman had pounced on her and slapped her hard against her face, leaving the sharp cut on her cheek.
   She tugged a drawer open and reached in, pulling out several tissues from a dispensing box. Myra dabbed the thin paper against the cut and winced. The wound was superficial, nothing that a little touch up surgery couldn't fix. But at this moment she was more concerned with what was taking place in Vector's office. Myra had full knowledge of the activities her employer was involved in, and right now he appeared to be in deep trouble. She had no idea who the woman was or what had happened, but knew it was necessary that she find out. It could have serious implications for both Vector and herself.
   Myra looked at the intercom on her desk. With the push of a button she could open a line to his office and be privy to every word of their conversation. But she also knew that in doing so a red light would glow on Vector's speakerphone and he would know that Myra was listening.
   Should she risk it, she wondered. If Vector found out he was sure to punish her, but perhaps he would be so engrossed in conversation that he wouldn't notice?
   Myra held her breath and reached over, pressing her finger firmly down of the intercom button.


   As soon as Myra had closed the door Amerlis released her grip on Vector's tie. She stood defiantly in front of his desk with her hands tucked into the deep pockets of her coat. Vector loosened the tie about his neck and rubbed the soreness from his throat. He looked the woman over and knew immediately that she was a hunter-warrior. Her clothing indicated as much, as well the violent manner in which she had assaulted he and Myra.
   "Well?" asked Vector. "Are you going to tell me what this is about, or are you just going to stand there?"
   Amerlis ignored the question, instead of answering she pulled her right hand from her pocket and threw a slip of yellow paper onto Vector's desk.
   "I believe this is yours," she said.
   Vector stared at the note for several seconds, trying to recall where he had seen it before. He picked it up and opened it, instantly recognizing his own handwriting.
   "Where did you get this?" he asked.
   Amerlis raised her right hand and caressed a tiny jewel in her left ear.
   "I took this off a corpse named Euphorian," she answered. "I found my way to his home by trailing a pair of spine thieves named Yugo and Tanji, I'm sure you know of them."
   Vector could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had to remain calm and gain control of the situation. He wasn't sure how much this woman knew, but if she had wanted him dead she could have killed him a moment ago. She desired something of him, and he was sure she would tell him soon enough.
   "I suppose you're the one who killed Euphorian?" Vector asked.
   Amerlis said nothing, the grin on her face told him what he needed to know.
   Vector frowned as he thought of the down-time in deliveries as a result of Euphorian's death. There were several candidates that could assume his duties, but Euphorian had been an excellent source for contacts in the blackmarket. Vector estimated it would take a week to ten days to get the network up and running again.
   From the corner of his right eye Vector noticed a glowing red light on his intercom. He knew what it meant but ignored it. Without missing a beat he looked up at Amerlis and crumpled the slip of paper in his right hand, throwing it defiantly on his desk.
   "This means nothing," he said, waving his hand at her as if to chase away an annoying fly.
   "It means that you're connected to the blackmarket trade of human body parts," said Amerlis calmly.
   "So what if I am?" said Vector defiantly. "Do you really think the factory cares about such things? As a hunter-warrior your job is to kill spine thieves, a task for which you and your kind are rewarded handsomely. It is not your business to interfere in the blackmarket or harass people such as myself. You've overstepped your authority, and I'm going to see to it that you're suitably punished."
   "Spare me the lecture and the empty threats," replied Amerlis. "I can do as I please. Euphorian was a criminal and he deserved to die. You're no different than he was, as are those two little brats Yugo and Tanji."
   "And I suppose you killed them as well?" asked Vector.
   Amerlis didn't answer, instead she frowned and looked away as if she hadn't heard him.
   Vector was puzzled by Amerlis' demeanor, something wasn't right here. If Amerlis had killed Yugo and Tanji she would have confirmed it, if for no other reason than to frighten him.
   Suddenly Vector realized the meaning of her silence. He leaned back in his chair and sniggered at the angry woman before him. For the first time since the conversation began he felt that he had the upper hand.
   "Oh, I see," he grinned. "Yugo and Tanji are still alive, aren't they?"
   Amerlis glared at him and clenched her fists tightly.
   "I can kill them anytime I want," she said angrily. "I've seen their faces and I know their names. It's not hard to track down a couple of punks with money to spend, their kind can always be found in the usual places where kids gather."
   "Then eliminate them," prodded Vector. "I could care less what happens to those two."
   Again Vector was greeted with silence.
   "Well, go on kill the little bastards," taunted Vector. "There's more where they came from, and as a hunter-warrior it's you duty to execute spine thieves isn't it?"
   Vector laughed out loud and slammed his hands on his desk. He had Amerlis figured out, and he was going to play her for all it was worth.
   "It's because they're worthless to you, I'm right aren't I? Wanted bulletins on those two haven't been posted so there's no reward offered. Oh sure you might pick up a few thousand chips in compensation but that's not enough is it?"
   Vector leaned forward and rested his chin on his fists.
   "You're really in a tough spot," he continued. "You know the two of them are spine thieves and that they deserve to die, but there's no profit to be had from killing them. Well I can fix that soon enough."
   "What do you mean?" inquired Amerlis.
   "It's simple," replied Vector. "I'll just place a call to the factory and report them, as is the duty of any good citizen. Their faces should appear in the wanted bulletins by tomorrow morning."
   Vector moved his right hand toward the telephone on his desk, in the outer office Myra fought the wave of panic that engulfed her.
   "Take your hand off that phone," said Amerlis sternly. "If you so much as lift the receiver you're dead."
   Vector paused for a moment then took his hand away, looking up at her.
   "That wouldn't fit with your plans at all, would it?" he said. "If their identities were made known to the general populance then every hunter-warrior in the city would be looking for them as well. And there's the very real possibility that one of your fellow mercenaries might beat you to them."
   Vector made that annoying clicking sound with his tongue and teeth.
   "This entire conversation has been a waste of my time," he said with disgust. "What happens in the world outside these walls is of no concern to me. I employ others to do the necessary dirty work. My job is to make sure that things run smoothly, and I'm very good at it."
   Vector leaned back in his chair and regarded Amerlis with a bemused look. She was indeed a brutal hunter-warrior, but Amerlis was no different from any other street trash he had encountered. She was stupid, impulsive, certainly no match for an intelligent man like himself.
   "Why don't you do me the courtesy of getting the hell out of here." he said calmly. "And I'd appreciate it if you would close the door quietly behind you."
   Vector looked away and picked up a document from his desk. He ran his eyes over the text under the pretense of ignoring the angry woman who stood in front of him.
   Suddenly the page in his hand split neatly in two and Vector felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder. He stared into Amerlis hateful eyes just inches away from his. The hunter-warrior had grabbed his shoulder with her left hand and dug her strong fingers deep into his flesh. With her right hand she simultaneously brought her knife underneath his chin and pushed it against his throat.
   Vector was terrified. He was accustomed to manipulating others and getting his own way, and had never found himself in a situation he couldn't control. Amerlis was an unknown quantity, someone who didn't play by the rules of discourse. He had little doubt that his life was about to end because of a flippant remark he had made.
   "You said that the factory doesn't care if you're involved in the blackmarket." Amerlis sneered.
   Vector nodded his head slightly, feeling the edge of the knife cut into his flesh.
   "Well how irreplacable are you Mister Vector?" she continued. "You know the factory better than anyone. Do you really think they would give a shit if I was to slit your throat right now?"
   Vector felt as if he were going to faint. He wished it with all his heart, for he could envision his body slumped over his desk lying in a pool of blood.
   Amerlis chuckled and pushed the knife a little deeper into his neck, with a flick of her wrist Vector's life would end.
   "I have a proposal," she said simply. "And if you want to live you had better agree to it."
   Vector waited to hear what she had to say.
   "I've spent considerable time and effort in finding those two punks Yugo and Tanji. They're mine, they belong to me and I'll be the one to kill them. But like any professional I expect to be paid, and if not by the factory then by you. So how much is your life worth to you Mr Vector? I'll bring you their heads and you'll give me sixty thousand credits. In exchange I'll let you live, but if you refuse my offer then I'll kill you right now. Either way the boys are dead, but as you said there are more where they came from. And I know that a man in your position can afford the money, you can just write it off as a necessary expense of doing business."
   Amerlis paused, allowing Vector a moment to consider her words.
   "Well, I'm waiting," she said. "Do you want to live or die? The choice is yours but don't take too long, I have business to take care of."
   Vector knew that he was in no position to argue or negotiate. If he wanted to keep living he had to agree, as for keeping his part of the arrangement that was a different matter.
   "All right," he muttered. "If you kill the boys I'll pay you what you've asked."
   Amerlis removed the knife from Vector's throat and released him. She straightened up and slid the weapon smoothly into her belt.
   Vector rubbed out the pain in his shoulder and could still feel the sensation of the cold blade against his neck.
   "Good," said Amerlis. "You've made the right decision."
   "I didn't have a choice, did I?" replied Vector. "What you're doing is no different than committing an act of common theft."
   "Just remember to have the money ready," said Amerlis, ignoring his remark. "I'll contact you in a few days after I've killed them. And don't try to double cross me, locating the boys may take a little time but I can always find you easily enough."
   "I bet you can," said Vector sarcastically.
   Amerlis turned and strode to the office door, she pulled it back and paused for a moment.
   "And we'll meet at a place of my choosing, somewhere we can be alone."
   "I hope so," said Vector angrily. "Who would want to be seen in public with trash like you?"
   "You know something Vector, I almost wish you had refused my offer. Yugo and that other punk may be spine thieves and deserving of what I'll do to them, but it's easy to guess who put them up to it."
   Amerlis slammed the door behind her and Vector noticed the red light on his phone console go dim.
   He frowned and closed his eyes, trying to make sense of all that had just happened. He had no intention of paying, of course. But at the moment there was little else he could do. Then Vector thought of Myra, who he knew had been listening the whole time. He would make no mention of her indiscretion and business in the office would continue as usual.
   "A rather interesting development," he said under his breath.
   Vector picked up his pen and twirled it in his fingers with practiced ease. He decided to let the situation run it's course without any interference from him.

Chapter Four