A Poor Drink

The crowd erupted in a cacophony, voices overlapping one another as Evelyn sat in stunned silence. The director gave the crowd time to settle before continuing.

“This is no small decision, and a poll among some of the officers has been conducted to help yield the best candidates for the position.”

Horace grinned up at Evelyn in a way that sent shivers down her spine, fearing he had done the worst possible thing for her.

“The trials will be held in a Facility that has historically bred the strongest warriors to represent justice and peace in our struggle against the undercity. Decades ago, when the calamity struck our Earth, this city of London was nearly buried beneath the quakes and rubble. We fell into chaos. It was the neophyte program so long ago that saved us from an extinction. A program that has outlived memories of those olden days. Times may seem bad now, but I have no doubt that in the coming weeks with your support and the neophytes,” he paused for effect, “We will stamp out the undercity blight and return to peace, security, and harmony. Neos London will never fall to those who wish to tear us back down when we have come so far!”

The crowd erupted in cheer, the directors words stoking a flame of vigor under them. Evelyn didn’t hear the rest of what he said, or any of the rest of the meeting after that moment.

“I can’t go back there. Never again. Please Horace, please don't have put my name into this.”

Evelyn's mind screamed at her to beat the answer out of Horace but she held her composure, hands curled tightly into fists.

“Those who have patrol tonight, I suggest you make the appropriate arrangements. Until next time I bid you all farewell.”

Evelyn numbly walked out of the building, following the throngs of people.

“Must be more serious than he will admit,” she overheard a nearby officer huff, “There's plenty of neophytes already. If you ask me, it sounds like our best of the best are struggling to contain the director's mistakes.”

“Best of the best.” Evelyn thought bitterly.

The cold night air hit Evelyn as she walked through the bay doors, stepping onto the landing bay.

“You alright E? If I’d known it was about this I would’ve ‘forgotten’ to tell you.” Grant said with worry emanating from his voice.

“I’m fine, just shocked is all. Don’t worry, I'm not the same girl I used to be.”

“Yeah Grant, back off she’s been offered the opportunity of a lifetime.” Horace said, smiling wickedly.

“What do you mean she’s been ‘offered’?” Grant said.

“Grant, just, let it go. I’ll talk to you later… in more privacy.” she said, breaking the two of them up from a certain fight.

“Call me if you need, I have to go take my patrol shift.” Grant said, running off to call in a transport pod.

“What a joke of a soldier.” Horace scoffed, eyeing Evelyn as she briskly walked off towards the light rail docking station.

With rapid efficiency she boarded the rail car before Horace could catch up. In a flash of light, the train was gone. The light rail was an interconnected set of tracks that spanned from Neos London all the way through the last remnants of humanity. The near light speed travel made Neo London a commerce, tourism, and cultural hub for everyone across the planet. The rise in population had led to a rise in the need for defense so there Evelyn was.

As the city's equivalent for dusk of a grayish haze due to the pollution and light fell, the city sprang to life. The vibrancy of the daytime was no match for Neos London’s glory in the night. The sprawling entertainment districts danced with colors, holographic displays that sold the latest trends blurred the vision and overwhelmed anyone walking through the shopping district. The sky was filled with drones, flashing messages or shilling products. The blinks of the light rail quickened in frequency, bringing in tourists from all the other cities.

Evelyn knew all too well that the splendor was paid for with a high price by the officers. She thought of Grant in the undercity now, on patrol and possibly dead. Or of a revolution could be being planned. Evelyn shivered in anticipation.

“Pointless worry.” she told herself, then continued on towards the city center.

Above her she caught a shiny glint and relaxed her shoulders at the thought of a neophyte observing the scene, holding the fragile peace together. Without much of a thought she wandered into a nearby bar, one of her favorites.

“Hey Eve!” A man called from behind the counter, walking lightly to shake her hand.

“Chazz.” She greeted formally with a slight nod.

“How may I assist you this evening?” He said politely with a bow.

“Just looking for a bar seat, if you don’t mind.”

“Anything for you my dear.” He replied happily, spinning on his toes and guiding her to a chair at the end of the bar.

“Thanks Chazz, have a nice night.”

“Anytime, always a pleasure to see you.” Chazz laughed gently before whirling away in a hurry.

“Something strong please?” Evelyn called to a burly man behind the bar.

“On it!” he called over, his gruff voice caught in juxtaposition with his warm demeanor.

A glass filled with a bluish clear liquid slid down to Evelyn and she gave him thanks, pressing an assortment of buttons on the holo display from her pad. A small chime came from Yipp’s own pad and he thanked her for the tip. As she sipped on her drink, its rich, sweet flavor coating her throat and drowning out the shock of earlier, she glanced around the room. A few of the patrons were recognizable, even a few officers that were off duty had gathered for some revelry, as was custom. Despite the soul-crushing news she’d received earlier, she smiled at the joy in the room, honored to take part in it. Suddenly, a loud crash came from outside, jolting all the patrons to stare at the door.

“A fight maybe?”  Evelyn wondered.

As she set her glass back down, the building exploded in a horrifying blast. The shockwave sent her flying against the bar, flipping her over its edge and behind the counter. Yipp fell at her side, his head a mess of burned flesh and agony. Evelyn quickly turned away to not vomit. She peeked around the corner of the bar, peering through the smokey, ablaze room. Through her blurry vision she saw what looked like a person, however, protruding from their spine was a massive tail with a barbed stinger.

“Augmented.” She said, tucking back behind the counter.

She reached in vain for her weapons, which she had stashed at the HQ. She cursed herself and began scanning the room for anything she could use. The augmented also searched, dragging burning bodies from the wreckage and checking their faces before snarling and throwing them away.

“Freeze!” yelled an officer, multiple filling the room.

The augmented growled and jumped through a gaping hole in the side wall, running off into the night. A small, red and yellow robot came through next, spraying a thick foam around the room and within moments the fire had been doused.

“Right here in the city center,” she said, trying to figure out how it got so close.

“Ma’am are you okay?” a sergeant asked.

Evelyn straightened herself. Her shoulder screaming in pain she opened her ID, showing the officer.

“Officer Mays," the sergeant corrected, “What happened?”

“No time to talk,” she said, accepting a biotic pad from a nearby medic and holding it to her shoulder, “I need to get to defense force HQ and report this. Do you have any transportation outside?”

The bones in her shoulder began snapping back into place, bonds reforming under the nano-technology of the biotic pad.

“We do, there's a support shuttle that can take you there now.”

“Thank you, sergeant.” She said as the biotic pad fully dissolved, its work done..

She flexed and rolled her shoulder. Once satisfied with the repair she made her way to the shuttle.

The shuttle ride wasn’t long and she was soon headed down the quick walk from the tarmac back to HQ, this time at the augmentation response divisions area. She burst through the automatic doors, not letting them fully open for her and nearly ran head first into the director.

“Director." She said, snapping a salute.

“Evelyn!” Horace said, pausing his conversation with the Director.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, a bit harsher than she intended.

“Horace was just telling me about you actually. Your impressive record in the field.” The Director said, his tone was leading, roping Evelyn into the conversation with no hope for escape.

She froze, and Horace took advantage of the silence.

“Yes, yes I was telling him all about how many patrols you lead, your division's success record. All of that!”

He was grinning ear to ear and the Director fed him an obviously fake smile, his eyes not leaving Evelyn.

“Yes, he seems convinced you would make an amazing neophyte candidate.”

“Director, sorry, but I'm really not so sure I would be.”

The Director’s eyes were hard but his face was still warm and inviting, “Why were you here to begin with?” He asked, dropping the original subject.

“Augmented attack,” Evelyn said, “city center.”

“I see. The attacker escaped?”

“Yes sir. But it wasn’t just an attack, he was looking for someone. Or something.” Evelyn said, her mind beginning to wander to places she didn’t want it to go.

“I will relate that to Agent Striker. He is on his way from New Tokyo now. Our plight has drawn neophytes back to their birthplace it seems.” the Director said, musing to himself.

“Sir, I would like to be assigned to this case.”

The Director's rapier vibrated slightly beside him. It had been so still Evelyn had forgotten it was there.

“Your neophyte candidacy window may clash with this mission's timing.” The Director said, leading the conversation again.

Evelyn knew she wasn’t going to escape this topic, “Sir, I think working with a neophyte before I aim to become one would prove prudent.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, as though she had made a good chess move and he was planning his next set of plays.

“Very well. I’ll see to it that Striker and you meet as soon as possible.”

“Good day, Director, I’ll see my way out.” Evelyn said, turning to leave.

“I’ll make sure she gets home safe!” Horace said, following her with a brisk step.

The Director watched the two disappear through the doors, his rapier floating beside him still twitching as he took a separate call, walking into a less populated area of the atrium.