Chapter 28: Benn

“If you fancy me so much why did you like that Moroccan model’s pictures?” The virtually projected lady seated opposite Benn’s desk asked with legs crossed, arms folded and eyebrows creased.

‘Dammit you saw that but how else was I supposed to get her attention.’

“That wasn’t me.” Benn shrugged helplessly. “I got hacked.”

He had but one policy on predicaments of this nature.

‘Deny, Deny, Deny.’

She snorted. “I’m supposed to believe the governor’s account was hacked.”

“It’s the truth.” He stared at her with soft blue eyes, a look that craved sympathy and understanding. “My enemies are just as powerful I. Why do you think I’ve remained single so long? They’re always trying to wreck my relationships. Ruin my every chance at happiness.”

‘Nope, I just mess around a lot.’

But had anyone ever sounded so sincere, so genuine?

The virtual lady remained silent. Her legs crossed, gently wagging a foot. She squinted, examined him as if trying to discern fact from fiction.

‘Is she buying it? Press on.’

“You have to bel—” Benn paused. Considered the incoming communication flashing over his smart desk.

‘I told her I didn’t want to be disturbed. It must be important.’

“Babe, duty calls,” Benn said and rubbed he two peaks on his bald head. “Let me take you out to the moon. It’s great this time of year and we can continue this talk over dinner. What do you say?”

The moon was the same the whole year round but it was still a luxury many could not afford.

She wore a struggling expression.

“C’mon it’ll be fun.”

‘And we can fuck in low gravity.’

“I’ll think about it,” she said before her projection flickered out. He accepted the request from the secretary. A young lady popped up.

‘I keep half expecting to see, Bravo.’

The girl had recently come into his employment because Bravo his usual secretary was out sick, indefinitely.

“What is it Debra?”

Her head jerked back. “My name isn’t De—”

“Whatever, what is it?” Benn cut her off. He could care less to learn her real name. He’d keep throwing random names at her until one stuck. Bravo had come into his name the same way.

She frowned. “Commissioner Saar is on the emergency line.”

“Patch her through.”

Adella’s virtual projection took her place.

“Sir.” She saluted.

“At ease. What’s the matter?”

“Riot at the tomb. We’ve lost communication with the warden and believe the inmates have taken control. The tomb is heavily fortified and to reclaim it I fear will cost us more mages than we have in Gau City. So I’d like to request the mobilization of mages from our neighbouring free cities.”

Benn creased his forehead. “You mean to breach the lockdown?”

Besides he disliked the idea of asking for help from their neighbours. Although all the free cities fell under the banner of the United Federation each city had a certain degree of independence and to rely on others was inviting trouble.

“Yes sir but we’d be careful.”

“No, there is too much at stake. What if these two incidents are related and the AoF predicated our reactions and will use this as a chance to flee the city with the relic.”

“It’s possible.”

“Just send out an aerial strike, flatten the whole place.”

“The outer shell of the tomb is made from reinforced blatinum.”

A nuke would’ve been ideal but they were banned after the nuclear holocausts.

“Shit, can’t you use siege machines?”

“The tomb has railguns. Large machinery would be a sitting duck.”

“Shit, who the hell authorized that?”

“You sir,” Adella muttered under her breath.

“Well, fuck me.” Benn sat back and clapped his gut playfully. “In any case I won’t lift the lockdown until we recover the stolen astra. You’ll have to make do with the mages we have but I’ll send Murakami to assist you.”

Adella’s eyes lit up but quickly dimmed. “With one astra missing is it okay to put another one in play. Especially since it’s the only one we’ve gotten to work.”

Benn bent his arms over the smart desk, rested his chin on interlocked fingers. “There’s been too much unrest lately. Our enemies need reminding to where the power truly lies. Murakami will purge every convict in that shithole as a reminder to all who’d oppose federation rule.”