Chapter 13: Running a Gauntlet

I glanced at the commander when she peeked in the doorway to my office. I had removed the door the third time it malfunctioned and locked me in the office. She grinned, “Safe to come in?”

I sat back and returned her smile, “Unless you are bringing me more paperwork.”

She laughed as she walked in and sat in one of the two chairs in front of the desk, “Amanda is still out bringing those escaped prisoners in and everyone else is on assignment.”

I nodded and she glanced at Dragon sleeping on the edge of the desk, “I wish I had another marshal to go with you but...”

She sighed, “The world is Cage and we finally have Christian Delcruise sighted.”

I brought up the name, “Material witness?”

She nodded, “A lot of people want him dead and there are going to be people hunting him.”

I bent to grab the ready bag I had not used in over a month, “Dragon.”

Her head lifted and she glanced at the commander before looking at me as she came to her feet. The commander chuckled as she stood and tossed a data chip, “I think she was ready to go.”

I headed for the door and Dragon leaped and flew after me. All the way to the starport I was remembering the case and Ser Delcruise. Cage was mostly an ocean world and either the cities were on floating islands connected together or underwater. I was hoping it would be on the surface because I knew people would just have to shoot at him and me.

The liner was nice and not to crowded, Dragon even captivated two little girls that played with her each day. I was the first off the shuttle and walked out with Dragon on my shoulder. The first person I saw was a large man that was frowning as he looked at Dragon and making gestures to several guards. He cleared his throat as I started past and I glanced at him, “Yes?”

He nodded to my shoulder and Dragon, “No foreign animals allowed.”

I smiled, “She is a synth and my partner.”

The other men moved to surround me as he shook his head, “We do not care what she is, no foreign animals allowed.”

I shifted and moved my coat to show my badge, “My name is Morpheus, marshal Morpheus and Dragon is my partner. I really do not care what you allow or do not allow, get in my way and I will shoot you.”

He froze and licked his lips and he glanced at the others, “It is not allowed marshal.”

I stepped close, “It is against imperial law to stop or hinder a marshal, are you trying to hinder me?”

He backed up and held his hands up, “No!”

I looked at the other men, “Fade.”

They backed away and I looked at him, “You would do well to learn to recognize Dragon’s species. Many marshals are using them and the emperor himself has one.”

I pushed past him and Dragon shifted to keep watching him as I strode away. I walked out of the starport and used a slid walk to another octagon where I picked up a vehicle. While I was flying towards the small floating town above the underwater city called Abyss I called the constables. Of course they did not have anything and were not looking for Ser Delcruise since it was not something involving their planet.

I set down and parked close to the underwater lifts. I hesitated before pulling extra magazines out for my weapon and then leaving the bag. I walked to the lifts with Dragon on my shoulder and crowded on with people returning to the underwater city. I got off on the upper level and started walking and looking around. The shop I was looking for was a crowded stim shop.

I slipped through the crowd to a tiny table in the back. The black clad fem that stopped at the table looked at Dragon before grinning, “What can I get you?”

I had my comp out and turned it so she could see the vid image, “Him.”

She looked and then glanced around, “He is a bottom feeder.”

I frowned, “Bottom feeder?”

She leaned over to whisper, “Try the dives across town in the slums and on the dome floor.”

I nodded and then smiled, “How about tea with a piece of raw fish?”

She looked at Dragon, “For your friend?”

I nodded and she grinned, “The tea will cost but the fish is on the house.”

It was several hours before I saw Delcruise and I was not the only one. A hit squad was already moving in as I as stood looking across the room in the bar. Dragon leaped into the air as I started moving and pushing people out of my way. That would create a disturbance which is what I wanted. One of the assassins turned to see me heading towards their target and stepped in my way as he pulled his weapon.

I did not even slow, these were amateurs and wanted people to know who or what they were. I stuck a needle in his wrist as I shoved into him and knocked him out of the way. His scream caused everyone to freeze and turn to look. He was down and convulsing as I struck another with a needle. I stepped out of the crowd and close to Delcruise as he started to turn and run.

Dragon landed on his shoulder as I pulled my weapon and turned, “Do not move.”

He froze with Dragon’s teeth against his throat as I aimed at one of the killers. He was lifting a weapon when I shot him in the throat. That created the panic and the crowd surged towards the door. When one of the other killers was free of the crowd he started to lift his weapon as I flicked a dart. He screamed when it struck and went down causing more panic.

The last man in the team had been knocked down and ran over by people trying to escape and I shook my head as I tossed another dart. I turned to Delcruise as he began to scream, “I am marshal Morpheus and you are my prisoner.”

He swallowed as he slowly turned his head, “I will not testify.”

I smiled, “I do not care if you testify. My job is just to return you to Gable.”

He opened his mouth and froze as Dragon growled and I gestured, “Time to go.”

I ignored the still screaming men as I led him out. I held my weapon when I stepped out the door and lifted it as two men moved out of the shadows to lift their pistols. I shot each and shook my head, they should have been spread out. I glanced around before pulling Delcruise after me as I headed towards the lifts. I stopped when I saw the blank public vid display.

I sighed and pulled my comm, “Constables.”

“How may we...”

The comm signal vanished and I growled, “Hard it is.”

I put my comm away and pulled my prisoner after me, “Listen close, you are marked and there are people here that are trying to kill you. Do what I tell you and you might live.”

I glanced at Dragon and she leaped into the air and flew ahead. I watched her until she swerved and landed on an exposed beam. I looked through her eyes as I continued to walk and as I went under her I lifted my weapon to shoot a woman aiming a rifle. I shot a man that spun out of a corridor and Dragon flew ahead again. When she landed I looked through her eyes and shook my head, “Come back.”