Dear Stranger,
The first phase of testing of the Inhuman Project had been set and there was simply nothing that I could do about it. I felt uneasy with each passing day. Zone VI was going into lockdown and the people had been sent the summons. The government approvals had been taken. Apparently, the government itself sucked at providing livelihood and was happily giving over the responsibility to anyone who bothered to ask. Dissent was prohibited. Anyone who would raise their voice against the laws was asked to relocate to the nearby kingdom of Whateveristan, with whom this kingdom had had strained relations since forever.
Now what could I do but wait? Kylo was ready for D-day, enthusiastically taking over my area and spearheading the project. I felt like the biggest loser now.
“Now, now,” Alpha soothed me. “Why are you letting your nerves take over? Shit happens. Get over it.”
“I don’t know who should I be angrier at – Kylo or that dratted Martian.” I fumed, thinking of what had happened last time.
“It was an honest mistake, you know.” Alpha, as his given name suggested, was the first one who had joined the pack. He had been here for over 14 years, was the least cruel among everyone I knew and used logic before implementing anything. His tall extravagant build might seem intimidating at first but his kind brown eyes, and an open fun way of speech was actually reassuring. He was more forgiving and understanding than most. I felt closer to him than to anyone here. “This was your first such assignment. He should have guided you well.”
“Well, of course, the man wouldn’t admit something like that.” I sulked. “I want to desperately catch hold of that stupid Martian and give him the old one two. Show him what I am made of.”
“Well,” Alpha crinkled his forehead thoughtfully. “You might do that but be careful. You might not know who you are dealing with. Better send your troops instead.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I smiled tiredly, my head buzzing with revenge plans to get back at both Kylo and the Martian. The sad part was I kept collecting enemies with each passing day.
*
“When is it scheduled?” I inquired of the operation guys sitting in the chambers below.
“What, My Lady?”
“Phase 1 of IHP?” IHP was short for the Inhuman Project.
“They were discussing it for this week itself.”
“Give me a date.”
“In three days.”
Three days. I had about three days to make that Martian pay and I think I knew how.
*
Every equipment we sell has a tracker which only the zone’s regent has access to. Once the order reaches and is disassembled, the regent responsible for the order gets an update notification which enables us to formalize the payment and close the transaction. This transaction with the Martian had not been closed till now. That means I could still track him down if I tried.
“I need the location of this order,” I ordered Troop YNS.
“Aye aye captain,” he began when he checked the order and his enthusiasm waned. “Err…my lady…this…this seems to be the failed order?” he looked nervous.
“Yeah, so?”
“Lord Kylo had ordered me to keep the details of this transaction a secret because…because of the…the…the”
“The disaster, I know.” My voice was steel. “But this is my order and you report to me.”
I know I had put poor YNS in a spot. But I had no choice. I had to get back at Kylo. Any-effing-how.
“Sure, m-my lady,” he stammered.
*
I could have taken my troops with me but now the project was out of my hands and I didn’t want to put the poor troops in a spot. I would do my own stuff. I packed my lightsaber pistol and mounted my wheelbike.
Martian, here I come.
The location was showing in the middle of a crowded marketplace which looked suspicious to me, like the guy might have abandoned the goods there. Perhaps, I will just find the stranded tag and this would be a wild goose chase. But I was willing to undergo that as well. I could go to any lengths now just to apprehend and punch him, if nothing else. I was seeing red all over.
I was aware that the Dark Lord had access to everything. Sooner or later, he would come to know that I had gone against his order but I didn’t care. What if I manage to reaccess the equipment? That would help me redeem myself. In my heart of hearts, I was hoping to god that the Martian was stupid enough (which he didn’t seem to be, though) to keep the tracker tag on.
*
People were jostling each other like the olden pre-virus days. The virus had become commonplace now. They were moving about like millions of ants, the concept of social distancing blasted to smithereens. Humans are real weird beings.
“Humans are just so weird.” It was as if my thoughts had come alive. I think I froze for a moment before recovering my composure. It was him speaking and echoing my thoughts. Him. The infernal red-eyed Martian.
“You!” I almost spluttered in fury.
“Yeah hi.” He smiled, speaking like we were old friends.
I took out my lightsaber pistol, switching off the glare in the process so that no one would see.
“Come with me unless you want to die.” I cocked my pistol at his head.
“I knew you would come, sweetie.” He kept grinning as if at some private joke.
And before I knew it, I felt a sharp stitch in the side of my stomach.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Irate and helpless, I could feel my limbs going lazy. And then, like they say in detective novels, everything went black.
Kidnapped,
The Rogue Stormtrooper
