Superego by Frank J. Fleming

Dip.”
    Fear—the slight, nagging feeling that I didn’t want to continue onward—was not an emotion I had ever found useful. I knew logically the danger of my actions, so I didn’t need my subconscious piping up. But this time it seemed like it had information I didn’t.
    So what was I afraid of? Not death. Not pain. Not loss. What else was there to fear? I felt like I was losing touch with myself, but I hoped that if I found the terrorists, dispatched them quickly, and finally found out what the syndicate wanted me for, things might fall back into their proper places.
    â€œAre you all right, Rico?”
    If my feelings had leaked to my demeanor, then I was losing control of myself. “Just thinking about yesterday.” The detective motioned me into the passenger seat of her car. “So what’s the plan?”
    â€œStill working on that.” She took the vehicle into the air. “We’ll need to stop by the station first so you can fill out some paperwork.”
    The place every hitman wants to be. In the middle of a police station. Filling out paperwork. “Is that really necessary?”
    â€œI plan to push the rules a little today, so I might as well comply where I can.”
    I could see the layout of the city again. We were in the nice, modern downtown area, but farther out, things didn’t look as good. I guessed I could get away with more out there. “This won’t take long?”
    â€œI won’t let it. We’ve gotten a notice from the terrorist group that they will keep attacking until the conference is canceled and we give up our ‘imperialist ways.’ I don’t think they’re bluffing.”
    â€œCould this affect the conference?” I assumed the conference was central to why I was here, but maybe the syndicate wanted it disrupted.
    â€œI really don’t care, Rico. I just want to make sure no one else gets killed.”
    I hoped she meant “other than the terrorists” or she was going to be seriously disappointed.
    The station was new, spacious, and filled with armed cops. I didn’t think I’d need to, but it was fun imagining having to shoot my way out. The gunpowder-based firearms would quickly run out of ammo, so I’d want to move first toward the nearest armed person to appropriate his or her weapon. That would probably be the detective herself, but I hadn’t seen her pistol so I didn’t know if it would be adequate to fight my way to the parking lot.
    â€œWhat are you smiling about?” the detective asked.
    â€œIt’s a nice station. I wish we had a place like this on Rikar.”
    She nodded. “You have kind of a creepy smile, you know that?”
    That statement was somewhere between playful and genuinely insulting. I gathered she was still making up her mind about me.
    â€œSo this is the hero?” Two officers were approaching us, a human male and a Corridian female.
    â€œThis is Rico,” the detective told them, nodding. She turned to me. “These are officers Randall and Meela.”
    â€œI guess you’re pretty good with a gun,” Meela said.
    â€œIt wasn’t my first shootout. I’m a police officer on a planet called Rikar. It gets a bit rough there. I was hoping to get an idea of how things are done on a more civilized planet.”
    Randall laughed. “I’m not sure Tommy-gun is the way to go with that.”
    â€œTime is of the essence here.” The detective ladled the annoyance on thickly.
    â€œOkay, then,” Meela said. “The chief may be loosening your leash today, but you know he’ll use anything he can against you when it’s all done.”
    Randall asked, “Will you have any backup today? I doubt they’ll let Rico have a gun.”
    â€œI’m just going to be asking a few people some questions.”
    â€œWell, don’t be stupid, Diane.” Meela sounded a little concerned. The