The Liberal Assassin

"Io, meet the brain behind my operations – Khronos Sinclair. Khronos, this is Alastair and his sister Io Campbell. They are writers."

The scientist bowed courteously and smiled. "I would love to offer tea but duty calls. I'll make it brief. We have two members trapped in the Slums from Rion's lockdown and a trump card under that same person's thumb. We have all the evidence but our hands are tied. In short, we require your help."

Io nodded and adjusted her glasses. She scrutinised the doc.u.ments Khronos handed to her with practised professionalism. Alastair got a briefing on the plan to create waves with the romance scandal from Khronos while I stood beside Nash. The man was giving me dirty looks and I knew we were going to talk about what I just did.

The meeting proceeded smoothly with Io asking questions to confirm her points with Khronos. Alastair glanced between Nash and me, trying to understand the tension.

"Who is he?" the teen finally asked.

I grimaced. To call him my teacher was inaccurate, but to tell Alastair about an ex-hitman would be asking for it. The teen couldn't keep his mouth shut when it mattered. Introducing Nash as my dad would be awkward for we looked nothing alike. I had blue eyes while Nash's was green. It didn't help that he was sturdily built and I had a slightly effeminate physique. Before I could answer, Nash beat me to it.

"I'm just the muscle person, don't mind me."

The cold reply Nash gave Alastair seemed to please the boy but I felt differently. While the loud-mouthed teen seemed to bounce around the stoic man for answers, I had to cope with the churning in my c.h.e.s.t. It felt as if the guilt was choked up and I had no way of expressing it because I didn't deserve it.

Khronos' voice broke through my thoughts and Alastair's questioning session. Nash gathered for the meeting.

"The plan would proceed as such," Khronos adjusted the glasses sitting on his nose. "Alastair will write to all the publishing companies with this photo evidence of the star-crossed romance between pop idol Sable Vogel and gang leader of Red Rumble from the Slums, Rush Rhodes. The story goes along the lines of Sable being saved by Rush when she ran into some hoodlums. Any questions?"

Alastair grinned. "Am I given the freedom to write any sort of detail I want?"

The scientist chortled. "The juicier it is, the better for us. We need the media to flood to Sable's apartment and make Luna Security unable to keep her in their possession. Sable will help divert Luna's attention while we prepare for the actual revelation."

Io nodded. "According to all the evidence you have given me, it's unlikely that any publishing companies would accept the story. It's too far-fetched. Also, they might not publish it in fear of the Parliament coming after them."

Khronos nodded. "That is where I come in. You are a journalist with a credible name and face. I'll need you to read out and report to Luna the facts in a video. Once the video is ready, I'll do the broadcasting. Everyone will see it."

The lady grinned. "You mean everyone will have no choice but to see it."

Now, this is why I loved Io more than Alastair. She had the brains and was able to see the big picture, unlike her gossip obsessed brother.

"Well, that's what it is. Luna will be under my control but only for a while before Rion interferes. They will definitely be looking for you and your brother so the both of you remain in Area Forty-One until everything blows over."

The snowy-haired woman bit her bottom lip. "I still don't think this is good enough. What if the people choose not to buy it?"

"Then we'll move back to the original plan of getting Arvin out of hiding. Sable knows the plan. Also, who do you think the people of Luna would rather believe? The pop idol, the wealthiest man on Luna, the genius who created Luna Services, the one who worked with the late genius researcher on Pantiumite Efficiency or the reporter who had never been wrong."

Io glanced at me with her emerald eyes. "You think too highly of the citizens. No one can defy the Parliament."

Alastair's jaw dropped at that statement. "What do you mean? The Night Walker has been defying the Parliament!"

All eyes were suddenly on me and I felt uneasy. If Khronos and Io didn't look frightening enough with their devious smirks, Nash's certainly did. Alastair only beamed expectantly with bright eyes. I knew I was going to regret it.

"They won't all believe me. I've been a murderer more than anything."

The moment Io dr.a.p.ed her arm over my shoulder I felt the chill of death touch me. "Don't say that Titus, we're not telling you to announce it. We just need you to put on a show to prove that it's the truth. After all, everybody wants some kind of hero."

"That's not part of the plan or agreement."

Nash scoffed. "Nothing is. Not when you broke the agreement and ran away when Rion was closing in on us. You don't have the right to choose."

Resigning myself to fate, I allowed them to formulate a plan while Alastair dragged me out of the room, insisting on a tour of Khronos' run-down apartment.