Bane

The next morning I wake up but Elena is gone, her side of the bed is cold. I jump up and grab my clothes, cursing myself for being so foolish. As I pull on my pants, I grab the device that Phantom gave me out of my pocket. It is what we’ve been using to communicate with each other. Yes he can track my location, but ever since I found out that Elena is pregnant, this mission became so much more. I had to find a way to come to an agreement with Phantom in order to save her life.

I was supposed to turn her over yesterday when we reached the facility. But I stood at that door and I just couldn’t do it. I knew what was waiting behind it and instead of pulling the trigger, I left with her. But she’s smart and she must have sensed that something was wrong. Now she’s on the run and if I don’t find her there’s a chance I could lose her forever. I’ve been a fool to get this involved knowing how things would end for us. But I still wouldn’t change it for anything. She is the first bright spot I’ve had in my life. I know I don’t deserve her, but it doesn’t change the fact that I want her anyway.

And I’m going to want her for the rest of my miserable life.

The only thing I can do now is hope that I can get to her before Phantom does. My time is up, he let me know. Because I didn’t deliver her yesterday, he’s actively looking for her now too and I can’t guarantee her safety if he finds her first.

I grab all of my things and pack them into my bag, double checking to make sure I haven’t left anything behind. When I was an active bounty hunter, I had many more resources available to me. After so many years out of the game, I’m forced to survive on my skill and resourcefulness alone. But there is one friend that would be immensely helpful if he’s still operating on Kosmora, and if he’s still willing to help an old friend. In order to save Elena, I’ll take my chances.

Vruzzark knows the ins and outs of all of the security systems and safety systems on the colonies of Kosmora. If he’s still operating on Dune or Nox, and if I can find him, I might have a chance at finding Elena before she slips out of my grasp. I can’t ask Phantom if he knows of Vruzzy’s whereabouts because then he’ll know something is going on. He’ll know I don’t have her. Once I’m in the lobby of the hotel, I use their computers to send the same code that I used to send him back in the day. It was a signal to meet and he never disappointed. Sure, it might not work but it’s worth a chance.

I sit at the computer and wait for a response. All the while I can’t stop thinking about Elena and where she might be, where she’s headed. I wonder what it is that made her go in the first place. I wouldn’t blame her if she decided having a child with a man like myself isn’t a good idea. I haven’t done anything in my life to show that I deserve her or this baby.

I’m busy wallowing in my self-destructive guilt when I see the screen shift in front of me. There’s a response. It must be from Vruzzy. He wants to meet at Shroudcliff, a colony built in the mountains not far from Nox. I message him that I’m on my way and then I don’t waste anytime starting my journey.

The high-speed train arrives at the base of the Shroudcliff colony an hour later. Even though it’s an incredibly fast train, it was the longest trip of my life. Until I get a valid lead on Elena’s whereabouts, I won’t be able to rest easy.

The train stops and everyone disembarks. There are multiple roads that lead off in different directions. I take the main trail that will lead me into the heart of Shroudcliff. I’ve memorized the coordinates that Vruzzy sent me, and from what I can tell, it’s somewhere in the center of the colony.

When I reach my destination, I’m standing in front of a high-end tavern built right into the side of the mountain. At this time of day, it doesn’t even look to be open. I step up and yank on the front door, but it’s locked. I’m standing in front of the tavern, thoroughly confused, when I notice a second door, further to my right and not connected at all to the tavern. When I try this door, it opens easily. At first I’m following a narrow corridor that leads me further and further into the mountain. I’ve just convinced myself that I’m in the wrong place when I reach a set of metal doors. Without hesitating, I pull on the doors only to find these locked as well. I stand in front of them with my hands on my hips, wondering what I should do now. Seconds later I hear a click. When I reach over and try the door again, it opens.

I step into a dark room. And then before I can wonder what’s going to happen, a bright light is shining in my face making me raise my hand to cover my eyes. I wonder if this is some sort of trap when I hear my name.

“Bane? Is that really you?”

Vruzzy sounds exactly the same as he did all of those years ago. “The one and only,” I say.

“Unbelievable. I thought that was the end of you all those years ago. And now look at you, standing here in the flesh. If I couldn’t see you with my own eyes I wouldn’t believe it.”

“Do you think you could dim that light?” I ask.

A second later the lights are moved out of my face and I can focus on my friend Vruzzark.

“I hate to tell you this, my friend, but the years have not been kind.”

He laughs and steps forward, embracing me. I laugh too. It has been a long time but I’m happy to see my friend.

“I have a feeling the years haven’t been kind to you either.” He steps back with his hands on my shoulders and looks me in the face. Then, with a slap on my shoulder he says, “Come.”

I follow him into another room, a room full of screens and computers, wires, modems, and thousands of blinking lights.

“I was hoping you were still in the business, I guess I have my answer.”

“Not working for Phantom anymore though. I’m my own boss now. We parted ways after he screwed you. Just so you know.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“So what brings you here after all these years, Bane?”

“I’m looking for a girl and I thought you could search the footage from the security cameras in the area. Tell me where she went.”

Vruzzy walks over to his desk behind all of the screens and flashing lights. His fingers begin to fly over the panel and the screen above him comes alive. “That won’t be difficult. Where were you when you lost her?”

“We were in Nox, one of the main hotels…”

“Scibesh or Nimbus?” he asks before I can finish.

“The Scibesh. She would have left in the early morning hours wearing a brown cloak and moving fast.”

The screen is changing constantly as he searches for the digital files that can help us. “Why is she running?”

“It’s complicated,” I say, leaving it as simple as possible. “But I need to find her. I’m not the only one looking for her.”

“Okay, here it is, the footage from the Scibesh. This is the main entrance but we can also search the other exits if we don’t find her here. Is she traveling on foot? Or would she have made her way to the train station?”

“She had a ticket from our travels earlier. It was an unlimited ride ticket that won’t expire for a few more hours. If I had to guess, she’s going to try to find a way to get back home.”

Vruzzy pauses for a minute, his fingers going still on the board. “And where is her home exactly?”

“Earth.”

He looks at me for a moment before refocusing his search. “Then I would assume she’s making her way toward the space station at Dune.”

“That’s what I would assume as well. She came here by way of Dune’s space station, she’ll go where she’s familiar.”

I see the outside of the Scibesh on the screen now. Even in the early hours, there are people coming and going. But eventually I spot her. “There,” I say, pointing to the screen. Vruzzy freezes the frame so I can get a better look.

“That’s her?” he asks.

“Yeah, that’s her.” I know her inside and out and there’s no mistaking those beautiful curves, even hidden under a cloak.

He follows her movements as far as he can with one camera and then switches when she moves out of range. We follow her all the way until she reaches the train station and boards. “That’s the train bound for Dune Colony,” Vruzzy says.

“Do you have access to cameras at the space station in Dune? We might be able to see if she’s there.”

“Do I have access,” he says, sarcastically. “I have access to anything I want access to, my friend.”

It takes another few minutes but eventually, the streets of Dune appear on the large screen in front of us. “Give me another few seconds and I’ll be inside the station. They have loads of cameras in there. If she’s inside, we’ll find her.”

I watch the screen, eagerly waiting for an image of Elena to appear. If she’s already there, I don’t know if I can get to her before she slips through my fingers. But then, maybe it would be best if she went back to Earth. She’d be safe from Phantom and from becoming a science experiment throughout her pregnancy. It would probably be best for her.

Then as if through fate, I spot her again on the screen. “Stop!” I shout to Vruzzy. “I saw her.”

He slowly goes back frame by frame. This time he freezes the screen on his own.

Elena’s sitting in one of the terminals waiting to board a ship and return home. Where she’ll probably be safe from all of the perils of this planet.

But, I won’t deny that I’m selfish.

“Thank you, Vruzzy, I owe you.”

I turn to leave when he says, “I’m coming with you.”

He’s on my heels as we walk through the door.