Deadly Truths

[Erlind]

Exhausted, but none of the splitting headache he’d expected. Seibert was just waking up when he felt cuffs being snapped into place on his writs over his head. Finally opening one eye he saw the woman from the night before sitting patiently waiting for him. She had been too good to be true. Give him a night he’d have as much trouble forgetting as he was having remembering it, and then steal his stuff. It wasn’t the most coherent con especially considering she was still here, but Seibert was struggling to come up with another explanation.

“I will pay you so much to just leave my stuff alone. I’m here on business and I don’t want to have to take up the time buying new gear. You won’t get any ransom and I’m too much trouble to keep if that’s what you’re thinking. Let me out and I’ll pay you off for your trouble, little girl. You wear worth it.”

Seibert was a little impressed that she had the balls to fuck with somebody like him. He wasn’t sure if he’d let her off without any trouble yet, but he was open to the idea is she didn’t cause him too much more. Part of him did feel a little vulnerable being naked and cuffed to the bed like this. These beds were built to be sturdy if nothing else, so freeing himself would happen too slow to defend himself if she did decide to put a bolt through his heart or something.

 

[zydrate]

Rylen could only laugh. Not a humorous laugh, one more...sadistic? Cold?

"You think I want to rob you? Then you insult me by wanting to pay for what we did last night? You fucking shit!" She picked up her comm and threw it hard toward him, intentionally missing his head by a hair!

"Who the hell sent you?! How much are they paying you?!"

Rylen sensed a flicker of confusion in his mind, not by much since the drug seemed to dull her senses a bit. She then opened up his comm and walked up to him, showing him what she found... "So, let me see..." she cleared her throat for dramatics, "Subject: Waterbird. Kills to date: 47. Dead or Alive: 1.9 kilos!? S.E."

"47 kills?! Goddamnit!! I'm pretty sure it's more than 47, I'll guarantee you that! Now, give me your name!!!" Rylen demanded as she stood over him, her anger getting the better of her.

 

[Erlind]

Seibert dodged the thrown comm, but kept his cool. She had the upper hand, but it was clear she was pretty sloppy too. She had some obvious skill and instincts, but lacked the experience of someone who did things professionally.
“Waterbird. At least I have some kind of name to go with last night. Payment rendered shouldn’t matter to you in this kind of situation unless it’s a pride thing, and anybody willing to pay for me isn’t just someone you can go out and kill, so that shouldn’t make a difference either. You told somebody no, Waterbird. And until this moment I didn’t know a damn thing about you.”

As he talked the soldier assessed his situation. She seemed angry and off her game, which was a good start. He was pretty sure these were his cuffs, but that only meant they’d be a bitch to cut off until he could get S.E. to unlock them remotely.

“And that’s 47 confirmed kills. Are you new to this, little girl? If you survive whatever my clients decide to do with you, I’d love to show you a few tricks of the trade. If any of what I remember of last night is accurate you could make it to the big leagues if you wanted.” Taunting her probably wasn’t the smartest tactic, but the words flowed naturally.

 

[zydrate]

She had to get a hold of herself...she was acting childish and it was taking up time, one thing she couldn't afford right now.

A few quick deep breathes, Rylen got control of her emotions and of the situation...she then heard him, 'If you survive whatever my clients decide to do with you. I’d love to show you a few tricks of the trade.' Rylen turned toward the man, the expression on her face placid...

"If I survive?" She echoed him, her face showing nothing...she had to remain calm. Looking at the cuffs and then back at the man, she walked over to him, careful to stay away from his legs, "Name." She asked quietly, almost shyly. "Just give me your name and I promise to leave peacefully...please? Don't make me beat it out of you."

To emphasize her point, she slowly raised her hand and placed it against his temple..."Name." With her mind, she gave him a pushed...

 

[Erlind]

Did she really think he was going to give up his name? It was a rookie mistake that even she hadn’t made. Then the Waterbird placed her fingers on his temple and asked again.

“Master Sergeant Raxin Seibert.” It had been like a kneejerk reaction. Regardless of how much he knew it was a bad idea when she asked he told her, and told her more than he normally told anyone. After a moment he the stunning young woman a quizzical look.

“Maybe you have something to teach me, little girl.” Seibert wondered if she’d stick to her word now that he’d given up his name to her, however unintentionally.

 

[zydrate]

Rylen smiled. Her eyes were locked with his as she backed away, "See, that wasn't so difficult, right?" She didn't wait for an answer as she picked up her comm that she threw at him earlier...she was also still holding his.

There was no time for a data transfer of the comms and much as she wanted to, she didn't have time. Holding up this Seibert's comm, Rylen placed it on the small rickety table by the door, "Technically, you don't have a price on your head so I'm not going to hurt you...good for you right?"

She looked around to make sure nothing of hers was around, "Well, good or not, you can consider this S.E. gone." Rylen said as she grabbed the door knob, "I'm sure I'll see you around Mr. Seibert, Master Sergeant."

And with that, she was gone. By the time he would get free of his 'situation', she would be miles away and already hiding in plain sight.

 

[Erlind]

Maybe he could have gotten free on his own, but Seibert wasn’t in the mood to rip apart his wrists trying. Besides, it sounded like she hadn’t been off the planet before, so she wasn’t likely to start now. That also made the threat against Sky Eyes an empty one. Seibert wasn’t certain where S.E. actually lived, but he doubted it was on this particular rock.

It was several hours before a maid showed up and even then the woman hurried out and it was another thirty minutes before a manager showed up and got the keys out of his bag for him. Seibert tipped the man well for his troubles and then got on the comm with S.E. to fill her in.

“Glad to get a confirmation that it’s her. I’m sending you directions to a club she’s done a lot of work out of. Try to find somebody she’s worked with.”
“I know the drill S.E., but thanks. And be careful. I doubt she could find you, but this girl is pissed you found her. It can’t hurt to keep your eyes peeled.” As usual though, the conversation ended when the line went dead. She was brilliant, but if Seibert had to guess he’d say that people made her uncomfortable.

The rest of the day was spent double checking his gear and getting ready for the night. When it finally came Seibert went out to a club named “The Last Stand”. He knew he wouldn’t find his Waterbird, but knowing where to look for her would be enough for now.

 

[zydrate]

Two days had passed and Rylen kept a low profile. She knew better than to make any appearances anywhere. So she stayed holed up in hotel room.

If one were to ask Rylen where was her home, she'd have to say, she didn't have any. Most of the times, she could stay in a hotel for days...sometimes months. Other times, she'd be content to stay in the outskirts of town in the smaller villages OR camping out in the woods out of town...

The thing with Rylen also was that she was very adaptable to any situation. Sometimes she would hide out in plain view, her tattoo on her face covered, if only temporary, her hair pulled back...dressed in the finest clothes, one would never know...which was why she was the perfect killer...

That was another thing, why didn't she kill that man...Seibert? He was after all sent to kill her... What if he had succeeded? What if--

Rylen's comm beeped, it was a different comm, different signal. She knew better than to keep one line of communication. She opened it and saw her next target.

The same message on the bottom as her previous kills.

Nagosato Ylym.
Spouse of Senator Ylym.
Successful Termination=1.0 kilos.
Transfer of funds as per usual.​

Well, seems her jobs were still intact. It was time to move.

 

[Erlind]

Two straight days of searching had come up with nothing. S.E. had found him several leads and those had led to more leads. Seibert had greased more palms than he was happy with, but everything came to starkly dead ends. It was like the girl had fallen off the map. Several had “heard” of Waterbird, but even the ones that admitted to knowing her didn’t know how to get in touch with her much less where she was now.

After a long day of threatening punks and paying off thugs Seibert flopped back on his temporary bed. He’d changed hotels just in case, but didn’t feel worried. She hadn’t killed him the first time for a reason. He didn’t really know why yet, but he had a feeling it still held. The beeping of his comm disrupted his moment to think.

“We have a bite. Don’t know that it’s her for sure yet, but there’s only one way to find out. The senator and his wife will be attending a fundraiser for the city’s orphans tonight. I know you packed your suit. I’ll just send you the directions.”

“You made it something black tie on purpose didn’t you?”

“Just be on time. We wouldn’t want miss Ylym to die in vain would we?”

* * *

“You look handsome just leave your tie alone.” Sky Eyes could see him because she could see almost the entire party. She was running photo comparisons of everyone at the party via security cameras against the one photo they had of their Waterbird.

“You know I hate these things. You just like to watch me squirm.”

“Just stop it with the tie and mingle.” Seibert didn’t really mingle, but he did move out into the crowd and kept his eyes open. He doubted she’d look identical, but he had a trained it, it was worth the effort. Seibert melted into the sea of well-dressed men and women in dresses that ranged from ornate and conservative to slinky and bordering inappropriate for the event. Young socialites mixed with the old money on the dance floor. Even with his dance with the Waterbird everyone at this party was trying to get something from somebody else. It was one big treachery fest that just happened to serve crab cakes.

 

[zydrate]

The people.

There were so many of them, Rylen hated it. Sure, she could deal with a crowd in a bar but she was familiar with them..to a point. These people here, they were...well, the enemy.

These people thought of themselves as so damn high and mighty that only a gala like this was held to remember those under them...below them...

It really made Rylen sick.

This was the mentality she used to justify her killing. Well, that and the money...

This fund raiser was for children, thankfully there were no children present. The theme involved a circus...animals, performers and the like..and Rylen blended in with the rest of the freaks...

Well, they would all soon forget that theme for what Rylen had planned, tonight's show, the death of a certain Senator's wife...it was going to be breathtaking!

 

[Erlind]

“I see her.”

“Are you sure? The facial recognition software hasn’t gotten any hits.”

“It’s her. Not a face I’m going to forget S.E.” Seibert stuck the crowds of over and under dressed people. Once or twice he brushed against someone he would have been tempted to stop for, but only if this had been another night. Tonight, only one woman was in his sights. He knew why she was here, where she would be going, and had the element of surprise so far.

If nothing else he was going to get this girl’s name. She had his, so he was going to take hers. This had become a little more personal than he’d meant it too, but with the events of the other night, it was hardly surprising.

 

[zydrate]

Rylen was dressed in the skimpiest outfit she had ever worn in public, her face half covered by a mask that all the performers wore. She had been mingling among the crowd that had gathered around, one of them was the Senator's wife....

Perfect.

It only took one second. One flash of her hands...one touch of the other woman's temple...

And one thought..Jump off the balcony...give them all a show!

As if on automatic, the other woman walked to the railing of the balcony and looked back, her eyes finding Rylen's own yellow one's piercing her gaze...Rylen threw the wife a kiss...

Then the woman jumped. No word, no scream. Just the audible gasp of the crowd...

Rylen took that opportunity to make her exit, she walked backwards as the crowd pushed forward...then she felt someone grab her!

 

[Erlind]

As the girl neared her target Seibert was closing in on her. His Waterbird hadn’t wasted any time at all. Before he knew it she was upon the senator’s wife, but then she backed off. Seibert watched as the mysterious woman hardly wearing anything at all watched her handiwork. The target jumped off a balcony. Who the hell was this? There was no time to figure that out now.

Seibert grabbed her from behind and pressed a Chloroform soaked rag to her face. A few people had filtration systems for their respiratory systems, but they were expensive and invasive. As the mercenary suspected Waterbird didn’t have one.

She went limp and fell back into his arms. On his way out a concerned couple stopped him to ask if she was alright. Seibert flashed them a smile and laughed a bit before answering.

“Oh yeah, she’s fine. She had a bit much to drink and when that woman jumped she just passed out. I just need to get her away from these crowds and she’ll be fine.” The couple wished them luck and Seibert dragged his captive into the elevator.

“Cuff her and I’ll contact them for our drop off point.”

“Not yet, Sky,” Seibert told her absent partner once inside the safety of the elevator. “She’s got some questions I need answered.”

“Just because she was a good fuck that doesn’t mean you need to give her a chance to get away from you, Sergeant.” S.E. only ever addressed him by rank when she was mad.

“It’s about that and I’d hope you knew me better than that by now. She can do things that don’t make any sense. I want to know how. I want her name too. You don’t have to understand S.E., don’t worry you’ll get your cut when the time comes.” With that Seibert cut the link and turned off his comm. The elevator door opened into the basement and the soldier dragged his mysterious quarry into the back where he’d left his stuff.

First, he tied her hands up above her head to a pipe, leaving her sitting on the grimy floor with her hands suspended above her. Next, he swabbed a place on her arm and stuck her with a needle. Pushing its contents into her body. If she didn’t have an air filter she wouldn’t have one for her blood either. The truth serum would work its way through her unimpeded. Then Seibert squatted down next to her and waited for her to wake up. The dim lights from overhead cast the strangest shadows, they really made this hunter he'd caught beautiful in the strangest way.

 

[zydrate]

Everything happened so quickly that Rylen didn't have time to fight as her world went dark despite her efforts to fight it...
****

Quiet.

That's what Rylen heard she tried to open her eyes, but it was so heavy, it took several seconds as she tried to blink and survey her surroundings... she didn't feel so good..there was strange heat radiating through her body, everything felt so... not right...

She realized her hands were tied over her head before she had fully woken up so she didn't struggle...someone got the upper hand on her...

Then she saw him..HIM! That Seibert from the bar and hotel... she didn't bother to try to get away since she was tied up, she could only smile weakly at him as she groaned and let her head fall to one side...

"Master Sergeant..." she said, her mouth extremely dry...

 

[Erlind]

When she called him that Seibert grimaced, it was just another reminder that she had gotten the drop on him first, but it was time to fix that.

“I don’t normally bother with it, but you’ve got a pretty powerful truth serum coursing through your body right now, Waterbird. I should have just turned you over, but you’ve got me curious. Sorry if it messes with your head a little, but I didn’t want to risk you overcoming its effects.” Other than the situation itself, Seibert tried to stay pretty polite with her. She couldn’t get away like this, so she didn’t pose any risk, he figured the least he could do was treat her with the respect he owed someone of her caliber.

“So please, what’s your name?” He was going to unravel this little enigma before he turned her over.

 

[zydrate]

His voice was echoing in her mind. Everything seemed hazy but Rylen couldn't fight it, no matter how hard she tried.

She understood everything he had said but she couldn't argue even if she wanted to..then he asked her name.

Rylen closed her eyes, turning her head away and shaking slowly...part of her said not to say anything but she couldn't...then she heard herself tell him, "Rylen..my name is Rylen.."

 

[Erlind]

“Rylen,” the older soldier said trying, the name out. It fit her. She was clearly fighting it, but he was glad to still be getting results.

“I think you did it to me the other night,” he started knowing she would understand, “and you did it tonight to your mark. What are you doing Rylen? How does it work?” It was easy for him to believe that telling her his name had been a slip up or the effects of that drink she’d gotten him, but after tonight he knew there was more to it than that.

Maybe it was a mistake, but Seibert ran his fingertips over the part of her tattoo that covered her face. Rylen fascinated him and he wasn’t sure how, but he knew that her next answer would only draw him in further.

 

[zydrate]

“I think you did it to me the other night and you did it tonight to your mark. What are you doing Rylen? How does it work?”

"How does it work?" She echoed his question. The feel of his fingers running down the side of her face caused Rylen to shake her head away from him, her eyes closing as she struggled to speak, "I-...I'm Kezani... it's...in our blood..."

Her eyes opened and she looked at him, her pupils dialated, "I could've killed you that night...do you know that? Just like I've done so many times to others... but damn...how you fucked me so hard...I think that was your life saver Master Sergeant..." she finished with a laugh.

 

[Erlind]

Kezani? He’d thought those people were a modern day myth. Supposedly their race had psychic powers, but even if you believed they once existed the story was they’d all been wiped out. Seibert stared hard at her as she continued to speak. Her eyes betrayed the effects of the drug and her words made him believe she was telling the truth, about everything.

“Did you look inside of me?” The question was demanding, angry. He was ignoring everything else she’d told him, because he had to know. There were things he didn’t want her finding.

“Can you see inside people’s minds or just force them to do things?”

 

[zydrate]

There was silence for a long time before Rylen finally focused on Seibert again, "No, I did not look inside you...but I did see bits and pieces that didn't make sense...but I could've if I wanted."

“Can you see inside people’s minds or just force them to do things?”

"....any thing I want..." she said in a cryptic answer. Then again, she laughed, "I can see into people...not all people...but a good majority...why do you think I'm so good at my job?"

"I need something to drink...please...it takes a lot to make others do things...and it hurts..."

 

[Erlind]

Her words made him shiver involuntarily. He wasn’t sure if it was out of fear or lust though.

Seibert went to the black duffle bag he’d left down here. It was packed with the assumption he’d get stranded or trapped so there was a large bottle of water and some dehydrated food among his other tools. It was good to know Rylen’s powers had their limits, but it was still a frightening concept. He unscrewed the cap and brought the bottle to her lips. She had been thirsty, because while he knew Rylen must have hated be fed like this she drank eagerly. When he pulled the bottle away from her lips water spilled from it and splashed across her chest.

“It sounds like you spend a lot of your life in complete control, Rylen. How do you feel now that you’re the one caught and someone else is in control?” Maybe it shouldn’t have been, but his curiosity had been satisfied and something else was demanding his attention. She was dangerous, but hardly surprising where his thoughts were going next considering this woman had spent a long passionate night with him and was now barely dressed and tied up, at his mercy.

 

[zydrate]

Her answer was simple, "I hate it."

She pulled at the ties on her wrists, testing them, it made her squirm and when she took a deep breath, her breasts heaved with the intake of air... "But if you really think about it...I never was in control. They tell me what to do and I do it. Just like you." She let her head fall back as she looked at a flicking light overhead, "Face it, we're both alike, in more ways than one..."

Rylen never talked to anyone as much as she was talking to Seibert. She had no friends, no family...the kills had always been arranged via comm... and it didn't help to hear this Seibert tell her like it was...

"Can you let me go now?"

 

[Erlind]

“You know I can’t let you go as much as I’d like to. You know why too. You said it yourself. We’re a lot alike and you know I can’t let you go. I took a bounty on you and now I’m going to finish it. I don’t doubt we’ll meet again though.”

Another hypodermic needle filled with a dull blue fluid was produced from a case in the bag. It wasn’t the one he’d planned on using. It wasn’t the one that would keep her knocked out for the next solid twenty-four hours. Instead, it was something he used on himself on rare occasion, usually to fake his death.

“Sleep well, little girl.” She struggled against him, but he was a little stronger than her even if she hadn’t been tied up. It didn’t take long to get a good place to stick her. Seibert could see the hate in her eyes as she looked up at him fighting off the drug induced sleep with everything she had.
When she had finally passed out Seibert called Sky Eyes back up.

“Tell our buyers they have twenty minutes to pick her up at my location or I’m selling her off to another buyer.”

“You can’t double cross them like that.”

“I’m not, it’s a bluff. I just want her out of my hair, now.”

“Got it. I’ll send it along. I told you she wasn’t worth the time.”

 

[zydrate]

Another drug in her system...Rylen did try hard to fight it but it was no use..there was so many things she wanted to scream at the man that had caught her...but before she could think of anything good to say, the darkness enveloped her.

The drug adminstered worked fast...it quickly brought Rylen's heart beat done to nothing, but kept her blood pumping through her body, her breathing was extremely shallow, her body limp.

How long the drug lasted differed from person to person but on average, it was enough to presume the body dead and discarded...

But the thing was, Rylen didn't know she was given this particular drug...the last thought was that, all she worked for was gone and now she was finally going to get what she deserved.

 

[Erlind]

Seibert hit the unconscious Rylen hard twice across the face. He broke the skin just above her eyebrow opposite her tattoo. That would be convincing enough. It didn’t take long for the gray haired suit he’d met with the first time to appear. He was nervous and accompanied by a large orcan in a suit as well that clearly was not there to do any talking. Even silent and dressed in the latest style he still seemed pretty beastlike just like the rest of his species. Curved horns and coarse hair across the body would do that to a person.

“What other buyer?” The man was nervous, but the idea of Rylen being sold off to someone else had pissed him off.

“Doesn’t matter, since you’re here. She’s almost dead from the toxin and I hope you don’t mind, but I thrashed her up a little. She had a nasty lip on her.”

“None of this was like in the agreement. I’ll have to cut your fee.”

“No. I had to improvise. You’re not cutting my fee, but I will get rid of the body for free.” The suit grimaced and knelt down next to Rylen. He checked her pulse and pulled out a reader showing him the unstable little blips of brain activity.

“You’ll take care of the body and we won’t have any trouble about it?”

“You know me reputation, don’t insult me by asking.”

“The funds will be transferred within the hour, Mr. Seibert.” Then the suit and his guard were gone. Seibert wrote a short note and left at Rylen’s feet. Then he cut her down from the rope. She was starting to stir when the soldier was getting on the elevator to leave. He’d see her again, he had no doubt.

The note read, “You’ve got twelve hours to get off this rock. Short, but find a way. Find me if you want to pay me back, Waterbird.” He didn’t know if she’d be angry or grateful, but it didn’t matter too much. She’d find him.