to do this investigation because you
used to work with a couple of the people that we have apprehended lately. From
what Aemon tells me, you’ve been here since the beginning,” Saskia said to
Lucius.
Alerik looked at the man, then back to Saskia. He must
have been right around Alerik’s age. The beginning? Huh?
“Yes, that is true. While I have worked with a great
many people, less of them are around nowadays. I suppose that is your boss’
doing?” Lucius asked.
“I just do what I am told. My job is to eliminate
threats to humanity, nothing more, and I will be asking the questions. Is that
clear?” Saskia raised her brows.
“Crystal clear, Miss. Go on. However, I have to point
out something. If being affiliated with people I was forced to work with brands
me a terrorist, you should just put me away right now instead of wasting your
time,” Lucius was completely rigid in his chair.
“Not all of the people you worked with, just Aloron
and Tolthar. They have since been executed, but since Alerik’s discovery in the
mines, our group has been working diligently to help take all of these scumbags
into custody. We looked through our records and found that the only thing
linking the two men was this building, and you,” she said.
“Yes, and it’s quite possible we even used the same
railway to get to work. I don’t understand your point,” Lucius said with a
condescending smirk.
“Did either of the men I mentioned say anything to
you, at any point, about Liberty’s Hammer? Liberty’s Flame? Any type of
revolutionary talk?” she asked.
“Let me check,” he scratched his head in an
exaggerated gesture, “Nope.”
“Did either of them leave at odd hours, or meet with
anyone suspicious?” her voice was dripping with annoyance.
“Not that I can recall. If I had seen anything
suspicious, I would have reported it right away.”
Alerik grabbed Saskia’s arm, leading her away, “We
aren’t going to get anything from him. Honestly, he’s weird but I don’t think
he is involved.”
“I have to agree at this point. He seems to be a dead
end. The guy doesn’t even seem phased. Did you have any questions for him?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” He said as he walked back
over to the man. “Have you heard of a woman named Velar?”
“No. Can’t say that I have,” the man said cheerfully,
“Another rebel on your radar?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just know that if you are lying
and I find out later, I will kill you myself,” Alerik growled before pulling
the metal with the etchings from his pocket. “What can you tell me about this?”
Lucius took the scrap from Alerik and inspected it for
about half a second before tossing it back. He shrugged, “It is a blueprint for
a massive transceiver.”
“A trans—What is that exactly?” Alerik asked.
“It is a radio used to communicate. It receives and
transmits.”
Alerik contemplated for a moment. At least the guy was
finally useful. “What would someone use such a device for?” he asked.
“I assume to speak to someone over long distances,”
Lucius smiled.
“How far would this device reach?”
“Theoretically, anywhere. Given enough time,” he said.
“Am I free to go?”
“No, you will be sticking with us. I may find more use
for you,” Alerik said. Saskia gave him a strange look.
“You sure about that? Can we trust him?” she asked.
“Can we trust anyone?” Alerik shot back before heading
out of the room.
***
On the ride through the city, Alerik had a lot to
think about. He wondered who had left that scrap of metal for him to find. Only
a few people knew where he lived, but with him on broadcast for The Union’s
campaign, surely more than a few people had their eyes on him. His thoughts
always seemed to meander to Velar. He missed her so much, and she was the only
person he could truly trust. Now, he was in a vehicle with a driver that ratted
him out, A Union lackey, and a suspect. It was just peachy.
The
used to work with a couple of the people that we have apprehended lately. From
what Aemon tells me, you’ve been here since the beginning,” Saskia said to
Lucius.
Alerik looked at the man, then back to Saskia. He must
have been right around Alerik’s age. The beginning? Huh?
“Yes, that is true. While I have worked with a great
many people, less of them are around nowadays. I suppose that is your boss’
doing?” Lucius asked.
“I just do what I am told. My job is to eliminate
threats to humanity, nothing more, and I will be asking the questions. Is that
clear?” Saskia raised her brows.
“Crystal clear, Miss. Go on. However, I have to point
out something. If being affiliated with people I was forced to work with brands
me a terrorist, you should just put me away right now instead of wasting your
time,” Lucius was completely rigid in his chair.
“Not all of the people you worked with, just Aloron
and Tolthar. They have since been executed, but since Alerik’s discovery in the
mines, our group has been working diligently to help take all of these scumbags
into custody. We looked through our records and found that the only thing
linking the two men was this building, and you,” she said.
“Yes, and it’s quite possible we even used the same
railway to get to work. I don’t understand your point,” Lucius said with a
condescending smirk.
“Did either of the men I mentioned say anything to
you, at any point, about Liberty’s Hammer? Liberty’s Flame? Any type of
revolutionary talk?” she asked.
“Let me check,” he scratched his head in an
exaggerated gesture, “Nope.”
“Did either of them leave at odd hours, or meet with
anyone suspicious?” her voice was dripping with annoyance.
“Not that I can recall. If I had seen anything
suspicious, I would have reported it right away.”
Alerik grabbed Saskia’s arm, leading her away, “We
aren’t going to get anything from him. Honestly, he’s weird but I don’t think
he is involved.”
“I have to agree at this point. He seems to be a dead
end. The guy doesn’t even seem phased. Did you have any questions for him?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” He said as he walked back
over to the man. “Have you heard of a woman named Velar?”
“No. Can’t say that I have,” the man said cheerfully,
“Another rebel on your radar?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just know that if you are lying
and I find out later, I will kill you myself,” Alerik growled before pulling
the metal with the etchings from his pocket. “What can you tell me about this?”
Lucius took the scrap from Alerik and inspected it for
about half a second before tossing it back. He shrugged, “It is a blueprint for
a massive transceiver.”
“A trans—What is that exactly?” Alerik asked.
“It is a radio used to communicate. It receives and
transmits.”
Alerik contemplated for a moment. At least the guy was
finally useful. “What would someone use such a device for?” he asked.
“I assume to speak to someone over long distances,”
Lucius smiled.
“How far would this device reach?”
“Theoretically, anywhere. Given enough time,” he said.
“Am I free to go?”
“No, you will be sticking with us. I may find more use
for you,” Alerik said. Saskia gave him a strange look.
“You sure about that? Can we trust him?” she asked.
“Can we trust anyone?” Alerik shot back before heading
out of the room.
***
On the ride through the city, Alerik had a lot to
think about. He wondered who had left that scrap of metal for him to find. Only
a few people knew where he lived, but with him on broadcast for The Union’s
campaign, surely more than a few people had their eyes on him. His thoughts
always seemed to meander to Velar. He missed her so much, and she was the only
person he could truly trust. Now, he was in a vehicle with a driver that ratted
him out, A Union lackey, and a suspect. It was just peachy.
The
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