The sun was just beginning to set as Mikol, Chan and Tech approached the city. It occupied a peninsula that jutted out into the ocean. Centuries past it had been a immense fortress that was easily guarded by the small bit of land that connected it to the mainland. The peninsula had steep cliffs on all sides, that led strait into the water. There where no beaches to speak of. All of the rations and strange brown cubes had been eaten in the long run to the city. They had no possessions except the clothes they where wearing and a ball of Numenite each. But it wasn't what they had that was the problem, it was what they didn't have, money.
"Good thing we live on such a peaceful planet. We can probably find someone that will spare us a room for the night." Mikol said as they walked under the big arch at the entrance to the city. He had heard people saying how much the city resembled a roman city from ancient earth. Now he could understand why. Everything seemed so white and pure. There where arches everywhere and smooth cobblestone roads. Everything looked truly beautiful in the light of the setting sun. It was amazing how much effort the people had gone through so that there was no technology clearly visible. All the power generators and cables where hidden in the walls. Even the public vidphones where behind panels barely distinguishable from the rest of the wall. Suddenly a man appeared in front of them. He was wearing a military uniform.
"Stop."
"What is this about officer?" There where never security checks at the gate before. In fact any kind of security was practically unheard of. Could they be looking for them?
"Now that the planet has been closed to the U.E. Confederation we have stepped up security to keep from being caught unaware." He held out a scanner. "Any city you go to now you must submit to a retinal scan so that we can track your movements. It's also a way to keep criminals out of sensitive areas." Mikol heard Chan in his mind.
<I can have him out and on the ground in two seconds.> What was Chan thinking?
<No. We have to find a peacful alternative.> He sent his next thought to Tech as well. <Let's just convince him that there's nothing suspicious about us. No violence.>
"Mister? Excuse me, you still with us?" Mikol had forgotten that he was still talking with the security officer. He'd have to get used to this telepathy thing.
"Um. . .yah, I'm here. I was just lost in thought for a second, you where saying?"
"I'll need a name to attach to the retinal I.D. It seems that you haven't been scanned yet."
"My name is Mikoleth Arklelle."
<Should you have told him your real neame?>
<They aren't allied with the U.E. Confederation remember? To these people we're just some native kids.>
"And you Miss? What's your name?" He asked as he scanned Chan's eye.
"Chan Ecosse."
"And finally you Sir."
"Daeron Quenya."
"Thank you for your cooperation. Enjoy your stay in Saduklari." As they walked away Mikol turned to Chan.
"Violence is not a option. That guy didn't even flinch at our names. What if we had attacked him? We would have been criminals. They would have hunted us down as a gang of violent kids that, for no reason, knocked a officer unconscious."
"He could have just as easily been with the U.E."
"But he wasn't, end of story."
"Listen, you guys can argue about this all you want but one thing remains. What are we going to do know?"
"I guess the first thing we need to do is find somewhere to spend the night." As the three of them walked the streets they noticed something odd. There was absolutely no one on the streets. No children playing, nobody out walking. Nothing. This sudden crack down of security must have everyone spooked pretty bad. Mikol walked up to the first house that he saw. As he knocked on the door Chan and Tech formed up behind him. He heard someone approach the door from the other side followed by a mechanical sound that he had never heard before. He couldn't quite figure out what it was until the door opened and he noticed a hole in it at about the same height as the doorknob. A deadbolt. There was a lock on this door. Why would anyone need to lock a door?
"What do you want?" Not the most friendly voice Mikol had ever been greeted by before.
"We are simply a group of travelers that would like shelter and nourishment for the night."
"Go away. Go back to your homes, I've got nothing worth stealing in here."
"But. . ." The door slammed in his face ". . .we just want a place to stay for the night."
"You sure we're on the right planet?"
"Pretty sure. Must be an eccentric old fool. There's one in every city."
"Probably. Let's try another house." And they went on like that for the better part of an hour before they finally found someone that would give them shelter for the night. She was a middle aged woman with short curly brown hair. Upon seeing them she just stood their staring. It seemed as though she wasn't hearing a word they where saying. But once Mikol had explained their situation she lead them inside. Despite the neat outside of the house, the interior was a mess. As she walked ahead of them she picked up some of the clothing that was strewn across the floor and the furniture. There was food and sketch pads piled on the tables and counters. Given the time of day they went strait into the meal. If it could be called a meal. It consisted of leftovers from past meals and some kind of pre-cooked yellow pasta that came from a bright blue box. During the meal they talked a lot about their host. Her name was Onica and she lived alone in the house. She was a writer, or at least that was her excuse for all the sketch pads. She spent a lot of time watching the viewscreen. She watched it even as they spoke and ate. She was watching some kind of local news program that contained mostly arguments about all the new security precautions. Mikol was quite happy to spend the evening talking about her and her life. He figured that the less time spent talking about him and his friends the better. Surprisingly she had little interest in the strangers that had appeared at her door. She seemed content with Mikol's explanation that they where simply a group of travailing friends. As the evening drew to a close Onica removed three air mattresses from a storage room and placed them on the floor alongside some blankets.
"Now, the 'fresher is just down the hall on the right. My room is right across from it if you need anything."
"Thank you but I think we'll be fine." And so the trio settle down for the night. They slept side by side, with Mikol closest to the 'fresher and the bedroom. Tech was beside Mikol and had Chan on his other side. Beyond Chan was the entrance hallway and the house's front door. After deciding that they would wait until morning to plan their next move they went to sleep.
"They're asleep." Said Onica. The shadowy figure on the other side of the vidscreen nodded.
"You've done well. Now you must vacate the structure before we commence the operation."
"Understood." She shut off the screen and gathered a few items that she would need for a few nights in the local Travelers Inn. She opened the window of her room to the cool night air and was off. Thoughts of the immense reward filled her head as she walked the empty streets.
Pain. A sudden sharp pain filled Mikol's left arm. He didn't have enough tome to cry out, only to reach out and try to wake Tech before he fell back asleep. Tech never felt a thing.