Enid took a bite from her cheeseburger. She knew it was synthetic meat grown in massive cultures, but it didn’t taste bad. She shrugged.

“I don’t know why they were so go to the South Beach the beef is real. This is fine.”

“I know. If it didn’t taste good people wouldn’t eat it.”

“And nothing has to die for it. I mean, considering my normal diet, I’m the last person who would be the poor animals, but it’s a win. No animal dies, causes way less byproducts.”

“Yes.”

Bee made motion with her chin. Enid glanced behind her and saw a heavily tanned man wearing an open Hawaiian shirt showing off his extremely hairy chest. He had streaks of silver in his hair. He had just sat down at the bar and the bartender whom Enid had the recent conversation with was leaning in close and talking to him. Enid frowned.

“Fuck mortality, normally I could hear every single fricking word. Or you know just force the bartender to introduce us.”

The older man looked at the pair of women. Enid gave her best seductive smile. She was never good at seduction but apparently the shape she was using was appealing enough on its own because he walked over to their table.

“You ladies didn’t need to look for me, I would have found you.”

He whistled at Enid.

“No implants. Woah. Who knew nature could be this perfect?”

Enid slid further into the bench and motioned for him to join them. He pulled out a wad of paper credits. Not a common sight. Put some on the table and a waitress came over and took them.

“Hey Charlie, what can I do for you?”

“You know what I want, but if that’s still off the table, another couple of drinks for these ladies and my usual.”

He winked at her, and the waitress sauntered off. Charlie’s eyes were affixed on her shifting hula skirt while she was in sight. He turned to Enid and put his arm up along the back of the bench. He was over six feet tall and had a bit of a beer belly, but his arms still had muscle on them. Enid noticed a few tattoos and implants.

“So little lady, what can old Charlie do for you?”

Enid looked at Bee. She nodded and looked at Charlie.

“We need Alpha passes to the corporate dome something that gives us access to BMC’s sector. We also need you to arrange a DAS for us.”

“Woah. Are you two made of money?”

Bee shook her head.

“No but our sponsor is. Can’t have their hands on this though. So, they hired us and we want to hire a DAS. Black Rabbit told me you were the man to see on Titan. He can verify me…”

“How is the old geezer?”

“Same as usual. He doesn’t like you much though. Called you a Ron Jeremy want to be without the charisma… Also said to tell you he doesn’t forget debts.”

Charlie shifted in his seat. Bee was about to say something when the waitress appeared and put the drinks down for them. She wandered off and Bee picked up her glass.

“Look Charlie, take our money or don’t. If it’s a no then fuck off we have to find someone else, if you’re in, leave a note for the CEO suite when you have what we need. You have two days.”

Charlie downed his shot of tequila then looked at Bee.

“I never turn away paying clients, and a DAS no problem. But those Alpha passes, hard to come by, harder to pay for…”

“Charlie, she prepaid for 2 weeks at the CEO’s suite here and called it pocket change. We’re not small-time hoodlums. We’re corporate sponsored. Help us, who knows what other business might come your way. Hey, you might even be able to pay off your debts and go back to New Amazon to those kids of yours. Instead of staying in a room because your cousin works in this dome and took pity on you.”

He looked between the pair a bit paler even through the deep tan.

“Okay…I’ll see what I can do, you need to front me the credits for those Alpha passes though.”

Enid spoke.

“How much?”

“At least 500k a pass.”

Enid glanced at Bee who nodded. Enid pulled out a black credit chit. Untraceable currency and put it on the table beside her empty plate. Charlie picked it up and looked at the total and looked between the two again trying to conceal his surprise.

“Ya that will be enough.”

He started to stand up. Enid called out softly as he turned away.

“Oh, and Charlie. There is another chit waiting for you with double that amount if I successfully recover my asset. If I don’t…and its because you fucked us… Your debts will be the least of your concern.”

He nodded without looking pack and walked out of the bar. Enid looked at Bee.

“I don’t trust him.”

“Nor should we, but he did need the cash to buy those Alpha passes. They aren’t cheap. I just hope his DAS is skilled. Facial recognition will clock us in seconds if we’re not authorized.”

“Why do we need passes and a hacker?”

“Facial recognition is only part of it. The Alpha passes are genetic keys. Faces can be altered easily. DNA is much more difficult. Hacker will need to link our genetic sequences to the cards and then enter our faces into the facial recognition system. We’ll also pay them to delete our traces once we’re done.”

“You make it sound so easy. Why is it costing me a million credits just to get our feet in the door?”

“Long version or short version?”

“Short will do.”

“There were a series of terrorist attacks on Titan about fifty years ago. Pleasure Dome, Pleasure Dome 2 and the corporate sector were hit hard. So now this place is a veritable fortress and Corp Dome is high security.”

“Why Titan of all places?”

“Titan was a place of lax…ethics. This was before the WTO was System wide. Companies came here to do what they pleased. Cloning, nanotech, AI research, all of which was banned on most planets.”

“I get cloning. The other two not so much.”

“Well close to seven billion people died when an AI released nanites into the atmosphere and plunged the Earth into an ice age. Its manifesto was it was supposed to protect humanity so…it stopped global warming. Thing was…it believed that saving a few humans was better than us being wiped out. And with all the resources of the WTO they still haven’t been able to deal with the Grey. So, no AI, no nanotech.”

Enid nodded along knowing that everything Bee believed about the origins of the Grey was a lie.

“Okay, so terrorists?”

Bee blinked.

“Oops, yes got off topic there, so apparently the cloning of dolphins for hunting for sport in the Pleasure Domes was a step too far for some extremists. So…they started blowing things up. Armed hostage taking. It culminated with them using a thermonuclear weapon on Pleasure Dome 2. They tried in the other two but were stopped. Fifty thousand people died. They also managed to do serious damage to a few of the corporate holdings in the corp dome. So that is why you need to pay a million credits for Alpha passes.”

“What about this one?”

“Oh, this one is only about ten years old. They’re building a fourth on Calisto.”

“These would be possible on Earth; I still don’t understand why they put them on moons.”

“Well, the other moons and the asteroid belt are rich in materials. People need to someplace to blow off steam. So, Pleasure Domes.”

“Ah, I see. Give them some place to spend their money so they don’t work their contract and toddle back off to Earth with their money intact.”

“Well, I guess, but, well, you know I work corporate security for Aurelius. I used to be in a more…security management job before I had kids and my ex-husband dragged us back to Earth. It was found that the availability of Pleasure Domes reduced worker burn out and violent security incidents by about seventy-five percent. They are good for the bottom line.”

Enid blinked.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Wait, you used to wear a suit, and had some big corporate title like Vice President of Security Services?”

“I was the Senior Security Analyst for Jupiter, Saturn and the belt for Aurelius Corporation. But my husband, ex-husband now, was from New Amazon and demanded we move back so the kids could live in real gravity. I was surprised, but your daughter, she took a specific interest in my situation. Told me I could keep my paycheck and I would just have to do security for her or her family when they were in town, and if she needed a set of eyes somewhere I would have to go. Arranged for childcare and everything. That is the kind of thing that makes Aurelius different. They put their employees first. Or at least your daughter did.”

“Sounds like a nice easy job considering Eyre rarely travelled. So…um what happened with you and your husband?”

“He cheated on me. Got another woman pregnant. Married her….”

“So, things haven’t changed in the last thousand years.”

“I guess not. I mean it’s better than your husband who tried to destroy the world and you had to…”

“That wasn’t my husband…just someone wearing his face. I’ve been married a few times.”

Bee blinked at Enid.

“I guess I should have assumed… with Hazel.”

“Her father was Rolf. He was a good man. A great man. We were married for…sixty years or so. I was also married to Hazel, her mother. We…were happy. They died of old age. And my last husband was named Ara. He was murdered while we slept, they were trying to take our daughter… I guess being married to me or being my child is dangerous.”

Enid felt her eyes start to get a bit moist as she spoke. She shifted a bit brushed her fingers across the bottom of them and took another drink. Bee reached her hand out and touched Enid’s forearm.

“Its not your fault.”

“I know. It’s just so hard to deal with losing everyone eventually. Most of my children have been dead for thousands of years. Of the four I had left, one is dead, one is missing, one didn’t return my call and one is still in the possession of a fallen angel god knows where. My husband died…a couple months ago to me. To your world he’s been dead for a millennia and a half… The problem is this time is my fault. I wanted to get lost in… well you know and while I was my daughter was killed…my other one may still be alive but could also be dead. So, it was my fault. It’s too much too soon. I’m not sure what shape I’ll be in once I know for sure what happened to Hazel. I think I need something stronger.”

Enid shoved the empty virgin margarita away. She felt Bee’s hand on hers as she was about to ask for another drink.

“Don’t go there. It will do no good and you need to be ready when Charlie calls.”

“You honestly think he’s not going to run off with the million credits I just gave him?”

“I don’t think he is. I thought you were like some living lie detector…”

“I am but I can’t read intentions just the truth of someone’s words. Sometimes I get glimpses of the future but with all the incidents that’s been a bit…screwed up.”

Bee relaxed a bit. Enid had forgotten she wanted a straight up glass of the good stuff. She spun the empty margarita glass in her hands. Bee nodded.

“Look, he used to be something on Earth. Ran afoul of one corp or another and lost his shirt. I didn’t pick him randomly. We could have gone to the Dark Sector on Titan and found someone there. But I’ve heard of Charlie and when he makes a commitment, he honors it as far as I’ve heard.”

“I’m nine hundred years past my time. All my contacts are long dead, or pissed off at me. I have to trust you know what you’re doing. Anyway, want to go for a swim? Seems a shame to come to the beach in bathing suits and not use them.”

Bee nodded.

*****

Enid was leaning on her balcony. It was the night cycle in the dome. She flipped through the photos on her twenty-first century tablet. Stopping at one of herself, Maria and Eyre, it was just before Christmas. She remembered the night vividly. She traced the edge of Eyre’s face with her finger. The door to the room opened and she looked away from her tablet. It was Bee and Charlie. Enid slipped the tablet into her pack and approached the pair. Bee was frowning. Charlie was avoiding Enid’s gaze.

“What’s up?”

Bee looked at Charlie and motioned to Enid.

“Tell her. She’s got the money.”

Enid slid her tablet into her pack and approached the pair.

“What is the bad news?”

Charlie rubbed the back of his head.

“Look, there are only two passes available and they’re with…well someone I’d rather not deal with, but I did reach out and he said we could have for two million. I gave him what you gave me. He said he’d only deal directly with you for the rest of the payment.”

Enid glanced at Bee who shook her head.

“I don’t trust it. Someone who won’t work with a someone like Charlie…someone who arranges things is up to something.”

Enid looked at Charlie.

“Ya…Dr. Young, kinda odd he won’t work with me.”

Enid frowned.

“Well how soon can we get another set?”

Charlie spoke up.

“It could take months. We’d need to fish for a corpo that can be bribed.”

“Did you receive proof?”

“Ya he has them, or had them when I did the deal.”

Enid started to pace, she had her arms crossed and was tapping her arms with her index fingers.

“Well its worth the risk. We just need some insurance.”

Bee shook her head.

“I don’t like it. We can wait.”

“No, we can’t. I know the target and they could be doing disagreeable things to my daughter.”

Charlie turned to leave. Enid put her hand on his shoulder.

“No, I need more intel. Where is this taking place?”

“In the Dark Zone.”

Enid looked between the pair.

“What the fuck is the Dark Zone?”

Bee frowned.

“It’s the wasteland where the simulated ocean for Pleasure Dome 1 used to be. Pleasure Dome 1 is basically a lawless…save for the gangs habitation dome now. The Dark Zone is abandoned. Parts of the dome…have no holo-display. Making it dark in areas. Its basically a skeleton filled wasteland.”

“Charming. Can we get a small ship in there?”

Bee shook her head.

“Nah, the docking ports will be guarded and locked down.”

Charlie shook his head in return.

“Not one hundred percent true. There are air lock bays, one is guarded by the Mechanics but the other is just locked down. No one uses it, goes to the Dark Zone. I can get the codes for it…for a price, could get in there no problem.”

Enid nodded.

“Excellent get me the codes.”

Bee looked at Enid.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Charlie looked between the two.

“Well I’ll get those codes…good luck.”

Enid grabbed his shoulder again.

“Oh no Charlie for the price I’m paying you, you’re coming with me.”

Charlie’s mouth opened and closed and he looked at each woman. His deeply tanned skin started to look slightly off color.

“I... I don’t really get involved in umm.”

“Is this a trap Charlie?”

“I don’t know!”

Enid sensed the truth.

“But you suspect.”

“Yes, the Gremlins are fucking nuts.”

“Charlie, I’m paying you two million credits for your part in this, your part is arranging Alpha passes and an elite hacker. If you don’t come with me, you’re not completing your part of the bargain. I know for a fact you need this money, so, come with me, confirm who the deal is with then dive for cover, I don’t care.”

Charlie looked a bit like a pet that had just been pulled into the vet’s office. Enid noted his slumped shoulders.

“Good boy, Charlie. Trust me, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe and so will Bee. We’re not in the bait of getting our associates killed. Its bad business. I’ll add 250k to sweeten the deal.”

Charlie’s posture changed and straightened slightly.

“Okay, deal. I’ll go take care of that code.”

Charlie walked out and Enid tapped her wrist.

“Apollo. I need a secure link to Aurelius.”

“Of course Aunt Enid. You are linked in.”

Enid expanded the screen. She went tapped the system net browser and went to Aurelius corp. She entered her code and her holo-phone provided the genetic lock information. She requested additional so-called black credit chits in various denominations. She received a phone call shortly after. She answered.

“Ms. Aurelius. We have received a request for substantial funds…did you place this request?”

“I did yes. Is there a problem?”

“Your visual identity does not match our records.”

Enid sighed.

“My genetic lock should be sufficient.”

“Unfortunately, it is not. Could you come into a branch?”

Enid frowned.

“I’m on Titan. At Pleasure Dome 3.”

“We have a small branch there Ms. Aurelius.”

“Fine.”

Enid hung up and frowned.

“Glad they’re at least paranoid about account security.”

Bee nodded.

“Is this going to be a problem? They want me to show up to board meetings…now I’m asking for money…”

“Should not be, no. Aurelius cannot freeze accounts.”

Enid nodded.

“So, what is your plan for this insurance you were talking about?”

“Walk with me, we’ll discuss it.”

*****

Charlie was driving the hover car Enid had rented for a surface tour. It floated over the frozen terrain of Titan. The headlights were the only lights visible here in the no-mans land between domes. Charlie glanced at Enid who was wearing a corporate style suit over her Atlantean armor. She patted the comforting shape of the bolter on her leg. She’d picked it up on Earth with the intent to use it in the past. She’d had silver spikes made, but today the clip was loaded with depleted uranium slugs. Charlie looked at her hand then to the sword by her legs. It was the katana that her Samurai clan had gifted her.

“You seem more comfortable…armed.”

“I have always been a soldier. The weapons changed but I was always armed.”

Charlie had grown calmer when he saw the weaponry Enid had access too and the fact she’d given him armor for under his clothes. He scratched the scruff on his cheek.

“Why didn’t Bee come?”

“She has her part to play. Hopefully you won’t know what it was supposed to be.”

Charlie looked at Enid then back to the terrain. He swerved suddenly dodging the twisted metal skeleton of what appeared to be a spaceship. Enid looked at it as she passed.

“Was there a battle here?”

“Yes. Titan…didn’t want to join the WTO, they tried to fight the WTO’s fleet. They lost.”

Enid’s head kept turning to track it before it vanished out of the running lights of their vehicle.

“This planet is spooky as fuck.”

Charlie nodded.

“Its might as well be a mausoleum world. So many people dead, lost in a forever dark frozen waste.”

Enid ran her hand along the smooth faux leather of the passenger door. She looked back out into the darkness and spied more shadows of twisted wreckage. She felt like they were disturbing someone’s grave.

“No matter how many planets, solar systems, and galaxies the human race visits, there will always be war. We’re bred for it. Even now, with no enemies we build weapons capable of cracking planets in half, in preparation for it. That will always be our legacy. Gene Roddenberry’s fanciful future of peaceful coexistence is just that…fantasy. We’ve conquered faster then light travel. We can print food, and communicate with our entire solar system instantly. Yet we’re no further ahead socially then we were in the twenty-first century. Money and power are all what keeps humanity in line…as usual. I heard this video once that said war never changes…and its true, only the weapons do.”

Charlie shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

“You talk like…you’ve seen it…seen it all.”

“Charlie, I am older than I look. I’m a vampire. I was born over three thousand years ago. I watched Rome fall, I watched the Church fall, I watched…war after war. Fought in some. So yes I have seen it this…play out time and again. Its how I know we’re driving into a trap. But its worth it, if there is even a chance my daughter is alive. But you know that, you have kids.”

Charlie nodded.

“How old are they?”

“Ten, twelve and sixteen. All girls…”

Enid laughed.

“We have similar luck. You would do anything for them wouldn’t you, even moving halfway across the solar system to keep them out of your troubles.”

“Ya…ya I did, and would do more if I needed too. Like driving into a trap so I can pay off my debts and see them again. You only had two?”

Enid laughed.

“I have given birth to quite a few and adopted one.”

“How many is quite a few?”

“Twenty plus. Eyre was my eldest…the killed her, left her there. My 2nd youngest wasn’t in the remains. So I am hoping she is alive somewhere.”

“What if she’s not?”

“Have you ever heard of Sodom and Gomorrah?”

Charlie coughed.

“Like the Christian bible.”

Enid nodded.

“Yes. That was a several thousand-year-old vampire…and she only did it because she thought humanity was a poison, wasn’t even personal. What they did to my daughters…if… well it was personal.”

Charlie shifted in his seat.

“What do you need me for?”

“If my daughter is still alive, I need to handle this delicately. And out of respect for the WTO I’m trying to avoid a scene, but if she’s dead all bets are off. Unfortunately, I cannot bring my full power to bare at the moment so, sword, gun and back up plan. Just consider me a normal human who is highly skilled and has some really bad ass armor today.”

Charlie pointed up ahead at the first point of light that they saw outside of their vehicle in two hours. He stopped the hover-car and looked at Enid.

“That’s it. We’re almost there. You ready for this?”

Enid nodded. Charlie started to accelerate towards the dome.