The Liberal Assassin

By the time I got back to the run-down apartment, Khronos was back in his chair. "You're finally back! I have good news and bad news. Which would you prefer to hear first?"

I paused. Just when things were finally progressing I had to deal with bad news?

"Alright, let's hear the bad one first."

Khronos brought on his most serious expression and I tensed a little in preparation for the worst. Is Nash not found yet? No, is he… dead? It can't be. Nash can't die like that.

"Titus, I'm sorry. I couldn't track down Nash's location in time…"

"What? What do you mean by in time?" My throat felt dry at the thought of losing the old man for good. This isn't happening!

"The good news is that… he found his way here without being tracked down by anyone!"

My thoughts got derailed at the complete change of demeanour in the crazy immortal. The grim expression, heavy eyes and tightly pressed lips from before was now a cheerful one with sparkling pupils and a very wide toothy smile. It took a while for the thoughts and information to connect.

Nash wasn't dead and Khronos was a bag of turd.

Before I launched myself over to wring the pathetic neck of the mega-jerk, Nash beat me to it by swatting the back of his head that cut the mad chuckle midway. When familiar grey hair and forest green eyes came into view, I couldn't help myself. Despite his twitching moustache that signified annoyance, I ran over to crush him in a body locking hug. It took everything in me to not break down into tears there and then.

Khronos was so silent I almost forgot he was in the room. Nash allowed me to crush him in my hug until I felt like he was real and alive enough to release him. Then it was question and answer time and the local mad scientist offered to start.

"Where have you been? Seriously, I tried to track you with the network but not even the six thousand, five hundred and eighty-four cameras could get any news of you for days!"

Nash raised an eyebrow as if to ask if that was supposed to be something surprising. "I was hiding and travelling through the sewers. You don't have cameras there do you?"

It was hard to hold it in when the expression on the mad genius' face was priceless. I exploded in spontaneous laughter and Nash joined in at some point because Khronos left the room red-faced, spluttering nonsensical gibberish in anger and humiliation. I'm sure he will now plot to plant cameras in the sewer system too.

When the door slammed shut, I calmed down a little. Nash was right there beside me without a single scratch.

"It's good to see you," I told him.

"Same here brat. How is everyone else? I heard from the sulking loser that you were checking up on our spy?"

Well, I did but Nash didn't have to know I let him go. "I got a chip he managed to smuggle before getting caught. It has information about Kalifa and that reminds me, I need to hand it to Khronos. We finally have a lead! I'm thinking she might lead us to where the laboratory is and then we can finally obtain the remaining evidence required for the operation's success!"

Nash looked a little uncertain because the creases on his forehead increased. He looked at me as if trying to search for the right words. When he finally did, I couldn't look him in the eye.

"You'll still visit from time to time after everything is over, right?"

"Yes," I lied. "Of course, I will."

I threw Nash one of those practised smiles but he didn't call my bluff.

"Good, it's enough for today. You should get some rest so we can figure out our next step."

I didn't answer as I watched him leave before pulling out the small chip from before. It was still bloody but the blood had frozen over from the frigid climate. It'll be nice to steal from the corrupted rich left in the Inner City and help rebuild Luna while living with Nash once everything is over. However, there was no telling what could happen in the future.

"I'm not afraid to die," I whispered. "I'm afraid to fail."

My heart felt a little lighter after the mini confession to no one in particular. For now, thinking about anything was useless. I'll hit the bed after Khronos gets the chip and a hot bath doesn't sound bad. The only tragedy was how Marie and Allen couldn't join me for baths anymore. I will pray for them together with Mia, Janon and Alice.