Tally Road Original Story- Chapter 2

"I don't see why we have to ask at an employment office." said Boodins. "She doesn't have to work- she's Relf. Her credit would be good even here."

"But she might not be able to use it- her captor might not be foolish enough to use it- and we are looking for him, not for her." replied Rairate. "Finn worked as a chef. That implies he might be traceable through similar employment on this world."

"Why do we know he's here?"

"We don't." said Rairate. "But for a kidnapper, Runge worlds are perfect because they're so uncontrolled- or, rather, the controlling factors are so ill-defined that almost anything is possible here."

"Can I help you?" said the pretty Runge behind the desk. She was leaner than the current Runge fashion, almost as skinny as a fashionable Nerre, a culture where the females led the dance and prized an appearance of predatory agility. The Runge preferred a female to look like one of the guys, got a sense of unity when everyone looked and dressed similarly, and 'the guys' often showed wolfish appetites. This one either preferred to be different, or simply worked such long hours she didn't find time to eat. The name-plate on her desk read "Dene Tieschtet".

"I hope so." he said politely. "We'd like to know what job openings are available for a chef."

"Any specialty? Estrai, Nerre, short order?"

"It would have been for Estrai." said Rairate politely, and the Runge raised an eyebrow with interest.

"If you're looking for information on our clients, sir, may I see some form of identification?"

Boodins looked curiously at Rairate- he wasn't entirely up to speed and wondered if the little cat ninja would produce some mysterious papers, or hypnotize the wolfess, or do something even more unexpected and dramatic. Disappointingly, Rai did none of this- he only purred, "We do not use such things where I come from, but I have a passport- will that suffice?"

"If you're not a licensed investigator, or police, or corporate security, then what are you?" asked the pretty Runge.

"I didn't say that." said Rairate, with that unshakable politeness. "We're trying to track down a relative of Boodins, the Resten here..."

This was a stretch, unless you were willing to accept 'son of the princess's family's gardener' as a relation. Even so, it was a misstep- Dene's ears showed full alertness, and she leaned on the desk and said again, "What are you?" Cleverly, and playing off Nerre culture, she added, "Do me the courtesy of fully informing me so I may help you better, vraonse."

Rairate blinked. "You use the term appropriately, Miss Tieschtet." He thought for a moment, and replied truthfully, "I am Rairate Tais, and I am Hse-Nerre. You may be familiar with this job description. I have been hired by a Resten not to kill, but to find a lost relative. This is Boodins Earncy, who is here to assist me."

The wolfess was taken aback, but concealed her alarm well- the only sign was that her ears laid back visibly upon being politely informed that a trained Nerre assassin was standing before her. It was much like being confronted with a Tompar Mued- such as the one which had invaded the hotel room. Hse-Nerre did not only kill, of course- they guarded, and they served as couriers, especially those who had fallen from grace, changed from True to False Nerre through no fault of their own. It was difficult for True Nerre to serve offworld at all, because the pressure of uncomprehending interaction inevitably led to lapses of protocol and to impossible situations.

Dene Tieschtet did not sneer at the likelihood that the Nerre before her was almost certainly False- she was too impressed by what he was to be concerned about what he wasn't, and the Runge had never put much stock in protocol anyhow. She regarded him warily, not deceived by his small stature for a moment, and said, "I need more than that. Give me something I can reference- if I don't have a data trail backing you up, the company can hold me personally liable if there's trouble."

Rairate was taken aback. "Surely not? I don't remember this in my briefing, or I would not have made an approach that exposed you to shame."

The Runge curled her lip. "Not your fault you haven't heard of the Loyalty To Employees act. It only went into effect last week. I'm ashamed we ever had such a thing signed into law, but with any luck it'll be overturned in the next election- we're due for a backswing."

"Wait," said Boodins, "I don't understand. The company holds you liable in order to be loyal to you?"

Dene barked briefly in laughter. "You're new here, aren't you? A lot of legislation goes through with backwards names. It's like they think we're idiots. It doesn't really matter, it just sort of reminds people that nobody's in control of anything very much. In this case, the act exempts rank-and-file workers from the protection of the corporate veil. It's no big deal- formerly they couldn't fire you for giving out information beyond what's allowed, now they can. Check back in a week and it may be different again."

Both Nerre and Resten looked a bit perplexed. Where Rairate came from, you were born to your role and any role was as honorable as any other- if you maintained protocol. Where Boodins came from, the social contract was old and ossified, and things trundled along inefficiently but familiarly, with nobody shirking much, questioning much, or getting fired for random infractions of an ever-changing set of rules. Runge certainly made progress, but particularly to Rairate, the cost seemed horrific.

"I apologize." he said. "We shall leave without prying further."

"Wait!" said Dene. "You give up awful easy. Way too easy- you can't possibly be up to no good if you give up that easy. What do you want to know, anyhow? Maybe I can tell you something. Please, don't go, you're the least boring thing to hit this office in a week, honey."

"What happened a week ago?" asked Boodins.

"Air raid. Xarnax was supposed to be chasing some Tompar all the way out here. It was a false alarm anyway. C'mon, tell Denenke what you need to know, let me help."

"Denenke?"

"I know, isn't it too annoyingly motherly? That's why I go by Dene. I'm serious, talk to me. What do you need?"

Rairate reluctantly turned, tailtip twitching. "I'm not sure it's fair to involve you if your rules forbid..."

"Humor me. ...vraonse."

The Nerre hesitated, and relented. "We are looking for a kidnapped Resten aristocrat. Elistary Brinmont Doestral Evensring. She is a 'Relf' of their world..."

Boodins interrupted. "Not 'a' Relf- she IS Relf!"

"Sorry," corrected Rai. "She is Relf on that world. She was last seen with a Runge cook who worked for the family, a 'Finn Blenstrom' who has also vanished." Rai considered for a moment the irony of Boodins' objection. The young pup had proved to be sensitive about any reference to his own class- he was a Scruff-class Resten, with very limited prospects short of going out into space and leaving his society entirely- but he still was quick to correct anything that seemed like disrespect to the nobility. 'Relf' actually translated as something like 'Best', but it was so associated with the upper class that it had lost any other colloquial use.

Dene Tieschtet looked skeptical. "Uh- you do realize that Resten run off with Runge guys all the time? Just for a tryst?"

"Elistary was very capable, ambitious and strongminded," explained Rai, "and her family feels she would not bother to conceal such a tryst. They suspect foul play- and some say that Finn had a police record on the Runge worlds, that he was looking for work on Restred because he'd had to flee his homeworld to avoid arrest. This was his homeworld."

"Is that all?" said Dene. "That's Blenstrom with an O? Just a moment."

Rairate watched. Dene typed, read, typed more, and remarked "Gimme a second here. What house are you associated with?"

"Taistronn." said Rairate. "Why do you ask?"

"I just have to make something up to... there! Got you into the shared database by claiming diplomatic privilege. We don't have any records of him here, but I'll bet that- hah! There we go. Finn Blenstrom, educated Zuserscht Commercial University, bit of a history from when he lived in Zuserscht... I've got an arrest record here. It's not kidnapping, it's trespass, in a private abode, but there's no claim of burglary or anything..."

Rairate was appalled. "Thank you, but do not look any more, please! This cannot be proper. I am not a diplomat!"

"You're no data-miner either. Relax- you wanted to find out about this fellow, well you found out. I know my way around these systems."

"What else does it say about the guy?" asked Boodins.

"Just a minute... there you are, Rairate Taistronn, now you're a cop as well... and your compatriot here who wrote the report, fellow named Anzende, calls it a simple domestic disturbance... hmm, Finn wasn't booked, but there's a restraining order on him over a Lisends Thinstand- sounds Resten, but not the one you wanted..."

Rairate was dismayed. "Wait, 'aons. I'm a what, now?"

Dene was just getting rolling. She typed faster and faster, her eyes glued hungrily to the data-screen. "I know, you're a cop lawyer and you're going over that case to check out whether the arresting officer was outside his jurisdiction. That makes you grade B7 but you can't use the data without a court statement, but we don't care..."

"We don't?" asked Boodins, while Rai was momentarily speechless with astonishment.

"No way, honey, all we have to do is see if your Elistary turns up- that did it, we're in! Okay, I don't see her name but hey, this ought to do you some good! It says that Finn was employed right here in Kiesens at the time of the incident, at Hallos! That's a pretty fancy place, he must be a very good cook." Dene thought for a moment, then lit up with another wave of enthusiasm. "I know! I wonder if I can use your cop lawyer proxy to get into the Hallos internal records and..."

"STOP!" cried Rai desperately, leaping to his feet. He backed away in alarm as if waves of dishonor were emanating from the lady wolf. "Miss Tieschtet, you must not do this! You will surely come to harm, pretending such things!"

Dene blinked, taken aback. "...see?" she managed, making vague typing motions.

"No! Boodins, come with me, 'yonce. Miss Dene, we thank you for your assistance and beg you not to help us any more- please! Come along, Boodins!"

And with that, the two visitors were gone, closing the door decorously behind them and departing with a sound of puppyish arguing and feline stubbornness. Dene stared after them, disappointed, heaved a sigh, began to clear her workstation of the information she'd dug up, and then at the last minute, didn't bother, and simply went for coffee- or, rather, the Estrai equivalent, which was delicious but required a special machine to make.

The door had come open again. Dene walked over to shut it.

It was such a brief flicker of movement, a flash of jewel-like green unfolding from low in front of her desk where she couldn't see it right away, and she was slammed physically against the wall, a cool reptilian hand holding her muzzle shut and pushing it up irresistibly until Dene was looking at the ceiling, her throat exposed.

She let out a little whimper, and waited for the fangs, just like in the movies. It hurt, but you died very, very quickly.

"Open your eyes." The voice was curiously resigned.

Dene opened her eyes, to see the Tompar staring straight at her unblinkingly.

"I don't think I have hurt you. If you call the police later, you die. Your eyes don't show fight, so I will release your jaws now. Answer some questions." The Tompar released Dene's muzzle.

"Who are you?" stammered Dene, before she could think.

The Tompar rolled her eyes, and said "Is!" as if it were something between a curse and a prayer.

"Is?"

"You don't have sense, Dene Tieschtet. No, my name is Siertes, and you don't ask the questions..."

"How do you know my name?"

Siertes rolled her eyes again, and delicately shut Dene's muzzle again, just with thumb and forefinger, while Dene gulped and proceeded to panic. "It is written on an object on your desk. In letters so large I could read them from across the street, I might add. None of you furry things can see worth a damn. Is! Anyhow, you've asked enough. Tell me now what you know about the two offworlders who just left here."

She regarded Dene with great skepticism, and then released her finger and thumb with a flourish. Dene immediately cowered and ducked her head, which got her an "Uh! uh!" from Siertes, and a very strong finger under the chin. "You do not shield your throat when being questioned! It wouldn't help much anyway! Now, speak!"

"I don't know anything about them! Not much, anyway! I should still have the searches open on my computer..."

"I have seen them." said Siertes. "They confirm my suspicions. I asked who the two offworlders were. Is this Rairate Taistronn really a Runge cop? I'm not sure I believe that. Who is the other one?"

"Don't hurt them! They aren't going to do anybody any mph!"

The Tompar thumb and forefinger shut Dene's muzzle again. Siertes gazed levelly at the terrified wolfess for a moment. "You are amusing, Dene Tieschtet. Be less amusing. Tell me, now, why you say that. Let's pretend that I may not be targetting them, you don't know that, but your own throat is, oh..." and with that she pressed her carefully closed snakelike mouth against Dene's furry throat, "about half an inch from instant death. But it would be a shame to waste such a wonderful example of Is, so how about answering my questions right away before anyone comes in and alters the situation?"

She released Dene's muzzle again, decorously.

"...wonderful example of Is?" stammered the Runge.

"You are! Gah! Is! All I'm trying to do is get some information," snapped the Tompar, "and you're telling me what to do and asking about religion, of all things! Don't you understand I could kill you in a heartbeat?"

Dene yelped, "But I can't think!", and was silent again, waiting to be killed. When this continued not to happen, she licked her lips and hazarded, "Let me go? I can talk better behind my desk. You can kill me later. When it fits into your busy schedule."

Siertes considered this. "You can also turn back on the video cameras from behind your desk. I might not want you to do that. How else are you supposed to question somebody?"

"Over coffee?" hazarded Dene. "What did you mean about religion, anyway?"

The Tompar narrowed her eyes, and then laughed a dry little laugh. "You're mad! All right, go sit behind your desk, and I'll sit in front of it as if I was a job seeker. I could kill you in an instant, blah blah blah, and so on. Now, will you answer my questions? You're crazier than a Xarnax scout craft hit by lightning."

She released Dene, who hesitantly moved to her usual seat, tail between her legs and flattened ears betraying her terror.

"...hit by lightning?"

"Best kind." said Siertes. "It's a pity they're AI so we can't torture them. I don't suppose you know of a way to do that, do you, crazy wolf?"

"Um. Hit them with lightning?" replied Dene.

"Is! Well, it was worth a shot..."

"Why do you keep saying 'is'?"

Siertes smirked, and her tongue flickered out to taste the air. "You inspire it, crazy wolf. That which is, is. Good, bad, annoying, it just IS. Even when it's your own doom, it is. Even when it's crazy wolfesses who still haven't answered my questions, now why is that?"

"Uh!" said Dene, startled. "I'm sorry! What was the question again?"

"I should sell tickets."

"I'm sorry." said Dene. "Don't hurt me?"

Siertes sighed heavily and tasted the air again, taking a moment to check the data on the computer screen, reflected in Dene's eyes. It was nominal- nothing was happening. The Tompar assassin relaxed a bit.

"Okay," she said, "let's try this again, from the beginning. Settle down. Look, I'm not hurting you. Now- who were the two offworlders who just left here?

Dene gulped. "Rairate Tais. He's Hse-Nerre. The other one- Boodins? Young puppyish sort of Resten..."

"What did they want?"

"They're looking for somebody, I don't know why..."

"They're looking for, ah, Elistary Brinmont Doestral Evensring. Isn't that right?"

"Relf." said the wolfess quietly.

Siertes' eyes narrowed. "Is that a joke? Don't you bark at me, Dene."

"It's a title! She's some sort of aristocrat..."

"Oh, that!" said the Tompar. "Of course. Yes, she certainly is. It would amaze you to know just what... but no, naughty Dene, you aren't getting information out of me. That fits with the information on your computer. That's all you know? Do you know where they are staying?"

"No!"

Siertes smirked, tasting the air. "I'm one up on you, then. In fact, I'm going to let you live, you've told me what I need to know. I'm going now. You tell anyone about me, well- it would be bad, Dene, let's not consider that at all. You will find that the video monitors have a neat gap missing from their records, up to about five minutes from now- I've talked too long already. Don't draw anyone's attention to the missing footage, please, they'll never know it's gone if they don't ask. Goodbye, Dene Tieschtet."

With that, the assassin slipped backwards, covering both Dene and the exit in her field of vision, and was gone just as quickly, a green-scaled elegant shadow vanishing down the corridor. Dene could not hear the outside door close, even though she was listening. There was a hint of spice in the air, barely noticable.

She collapsed onto her desk, head in arms, and gave vent to a case of the shakes. Within a half an hour, Dene Tieschtet began to get a grip and feel ready to cope with applicants again, or her filing work, at which point she heard the outside door open- and along came her supervisor, Berz, typically late, wandering in and expecting her to be as bright and industrious as he wasn't.

"Geez, Dene, what'd you do, have a lot of fun last night? You look wiped out. What've you got on your plate this fine morning, huh?"

He froze, looking at her screen, even though she thought the information on Elistary looked harmless enough, and he surely couldn't tell she'd broken the law just by the fact the reports were there...

"Denenke, it isn't nine in the morning. That timestamp is wrong. Move your hands away from the keyboard, honey, I need to check a few things."

Dene's ears slowly drooped. This was not her day.