The Power Array Saga - Season Two - Part X

Part X – Crimson Secrets

 

Threa’s setting sun cast deep shadows across the land thanks to the jagged dwarven mountains and the sun elf floating city, whose own shadow extended out to the North Mizuki Ocean. The sky was painted in shades of dark blue and orange. The twin moons circling the planet were pale crescents suspended above the heads of the two police officers. Sergeant Hoplow and Major Rufap stood on the doorstep of the sun elf royal family estate. They had no trouble getting past the front gate after flashing their badges. Now a butler stood blocking the entrance into the home.

               “I’m sorry but the lord and lady of the manor are not here at the moment,” said the butler.

               “We’re not here for them,” said Sergeant Hoplow. “We’re here to see the princess.”

               “What possible reason could you have to visit Princess Clairal?”

               “That’s confidential,” said Sergeant Hoplow. “Just let us in so we can talk to her.”

               “I’m afraid I can’t--”

               “It’s okay Jarvis,” interrupted a soft voice from within the home. “Let them in.”

               With a nod, the butler stepped away from the door as he eyed the two police officers up and down. Stepping inside the lobby of the home, they followed the princess into a side room where they sat across from her on a large, plush leather sofa.

               “To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from our fine sun elf police force?” asked the sun elf princess.

               Despite the two sun elves sitting next to each other who were each well over five hundred years old, the princess was less than half that age yet they were uncomfortable addressing the woman that would one day rule over the entire United Elven Kingdom. The princess had dark golden skin that sparkled with a luxurious sheen. She wore a skin tight black dress with long sleeves and a long flowing hem that obscured the high-heeled shoes.

               “I’m not sure exactly how to say this your highness but…” Sergeant Hoplow paused with a nervous energy that he tried to contain.

               Major Rufap spoke into the uncomfortable silence. “We’re searching for a killer,” she said.

               “And how could I possibly help in this search?” asked Princess Clairal.  

               “We have rumor to believe that you may know someone named Momotaru,” said Seargent Hoplow. “He’s believed to be a highly skilled martial artist and might be the illegitimate son of the human chancellor.”

               The small, polite smile that the princess wore quickly turned to a frown.

               “According to some of the info we’ve found,” said Major Rufap. “We believe that you may know how to contact him.”

               “And what info did you find that makes you think that?” asked the princess.

               “Look,” said Major Rufap. “I’m just going to come out with it… we believe that this man is half human and half elf… is he your son?”

               Before anyone could respond, the butler came into the room with a tray of drinks that he set on the coffee table between the two parties.

               The princess shook her head slowly and giggled to herself. “How many other people think that they know the truth of this information?”

               The two police officers looked at each other and swallowed a huge lump in their throats.

               “If we don’t report back people will come looking--”

               The princess let out a deep throated laugh and held up a hand to forestall the panicked response from the officer. “Don’t worry,” said the princess. “I have no intention of killing you. I would just like to know how many people know about our dirty little family secret.” She laughed again, throwing her head back as she looked off into the distance once she completed her laugh. “Oh man, Father was so upset when he found out. I wasn’t allowed to leave the house for the entire nine months. Then when he found out who the father was…” she laughed again. “He nearly went to war with the humans.”

               “So…” Sergeant Hoplow leaned forward from the edge of the sofa. “You know where he is?”

               “If you think I’m the kind of mother who would turn on her son,” said the princess, suddenly growing deadly serious, eyes narrowing to dangerous slits, “then you’re sadly mistaken. But I will tell you this. I’ve had very little to do with the raising of my own son. I had to give him up for adoption after only a few years in order to keep his royal blood a secret. You can imagine how many people would strike at my family through him if they found out who he really was. Anyway, if you want to find him then find another martial artist known as the Butterfly Samurai.”

               The two officers gasped as they briefly looked to one another and then back at the princess.

               The princess continued speaking. “She was a friend of his when they were younger. They trained under the same martial arts master. If there’s anyone that can find my son it’s her. Trust me, if Momo doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be.”

The Power Array Saga - Season Two - Part IX

Part IX – Meeting Eye to Eye

“I had no idea anyone could do something like that to another person,” said Major Rufap.

“Luckily, she doesn’t know how many are in on this investigation,” Sergeant Hoplow. “Or else she would run. I think we need to find her before she finds us and then go in with las-guns on rapid fire.”

“I agree,” said Major Rufap. “But first we have to find her.”

“Another reason why I called you,” said Sergeant Hoplow, “is so that you could travel to the private investigators’ office with me so we can search it and see what info we can find.”

“Well then why didn’t you start with that,” said Major Rufap.

Sergeant Hoplow wore a sheepish smile as he rose from his desk. Stepping over to the small weapons locker in his office, he put on an arsenal that would fit a tank. He strapped on a bullet-proof vest and tossed one to his major. Retrieving several different las-gun handles, he strapped two to his waist, two he placed into the brown leather holsters dangling underneath his shoulders, and on his ankle he placed a miniature las-gun handle. 

If I didn’t know any better,” said Major Rufap wearing a wide grin, “I’d say you look a little nervous.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being prepared,” said Sergeant Hoplow. “This… lady just slaughtered a good friend of mine and turned him into…”

“It’s okay,” interrupted Major Rufap. “I understand. Remember we need to try and capture this woman alive. She may have information on who the culprit is that attacked the Mage Monolith.”

“Understood major,” said Sergeant Hoplow. He wore a grim expression as he looked out of his office window.

The sun was rising above the dwarven mountains to the east. The sergeant steeled his resolve and spun away from the window to face his comrade. With a nod they both exited the office and entered the basement of the precinct where the hover crafts were stored. After entering a four door hovercraft they drove through the rarely used tunnels that made up the interior of the floating cities internal base. Access was restricted and the elven civilians were mostly unaware that the tunnels even existed. After traveling a few kilometers they exited through an elevator that extended out of the bottom of the elven floating city. The two police officers zoomed out of the elevator and soared above the heads of the under-city residents just as the UV lights were beginning to shine. In only a matter of minutes, the pair had reached the apartment of the private investigator.

Sergeant Hoplow punched in the password on his friend’s touchpad lock and the door swung open. As they stepped inside the apartment, to their surprise, their eyes swept across the apartment’s tiny living room and met with those of the person that they were seeking, the Butterfly Samurai. She stood frozen where she had been rifling through the papers on the desk in the corner.

Letting out a growl, Sergeant Hoplow drew his las-gun. He fired off a few laser blasts.

Isis instantly drew her sword and, with a twirl, blocked the laser bolts flying in her direction. “Wait!” she shouted while holding a hand out. “Don’t shoot.”

“You’re a wicked monster that needs to be put down,” said Sergeant Hoplow through gritted teeth.

Before he could fire off another round of laser fire, his major placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t shoot,” said Major Rufap. “Let’s see what she has to say for herself. Maybe she’ll turn herself over to us so this encounter doesn’t have to get messy.”

“Fat chance that I’ll let you cops take me alive,” said Iris.

“That can be arranged,” said Sergeant Hoplow growling through clenched teeth.

“What’re you doing here?” asked Major Rufap. “And how did you find this place?”

“My Acro Eyes can do wonderful things,” said Iris with a small smile. She reached toward the glasses that she wore but before she could remove them she froze in place as Sergeant Hoplow locked onto her with his las-guns, ready to shoot at the slightest movement. Major Rufap also went for her las-gun and in a matter of seconds the weapon was out of the holster but not pointed at the woman. Iris slowly lowered her hand as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Leave those glasses on,” said Major Rufap. “I’ve read reports from people that have survived meeting you. They’ve said that as long as she keeps those glasses on, you still have a chance to walk away alive but once they come off…”

Iris let out a little giggle. “Seems like you’ve done your homework,” she said. “And here I am all unprepared.”

“Why did you do that to my friend?” asked the sergeant.

“Oh, he was your friend now was he,” said Iris with a widening smile. “Well then why did you send him after me to terrorize my roommate?”

“Look,” said the major interrupting. “I can’t speak for who my subordinates hire and for those that work outside of the law but with me in charge I can guarantee that from this point forward, if you work with us, we’ll make sure you and those you love aren’t injured.”

“What!” shouted Sergeant Hoplow. “You can’t be serious!”

“Why would I work alongside you?” asked Iris. “And why would I even trust you?”

“Because we both have the same goal in mind,” said Major Rufap. “We want to find who’s responsible for the Mage Monolith Massacre.”

Iris let out a giggle. “So you don’t know who’s responsible, do you?” she teased. “You don’t even have a name yet do you?” She let out raucous laughter, throwing her head back and slapping her thigh. “It looks like you need me more than you know.”

“Don’t get it twisted you wicked little woman,” said Sergeant Hoplow. “You’ll pay for the murders of those two private investigators.”

“You mean those two ruthless bounty hunters,” said Iris with a furrowed brow. The Acro Eyes flared underneath the dark shades that she wore and red smoke rose from her eyes to drift out of the open window that she had used to enter the apartment.

The two sun elves watched in disbelief.

“Look,” said Major Rufap shaking herself back to reality. “We can get you a deal if you promise to give us the information we want… we’ll be able to work out something, I’m sure of it.”

“I’ll tell you one thing right now… as a show of good faith,” said Iris. “After I say this, you’ll understand that I should be the least of your worries. When you see me again, you still won’t be able to shoot me. Because when I tell my friend Momotaru that two sun elf police are looking for him… not only will he come to find answers he’ll find you two. You’ll be lucky if you can dig yourselves out of a mountain of paperwork that will last a career. So expect a call from the human chancellor and your very own sun elf princess.”

The two sun elf police officers looked at each other with eyes wide. When they turned back, they caught a glimpse of Iris’ rear as she slipped out the open window.