The Euclidian: Alien Hitman Page 15

  “Cobalt, I don’t know if you have been tracking my mission here, but I have been working on hunting down three Cheoili who killed several people in the Alpha system and then escaped to Earth.” Cobalt was able to detect the anxiety Adar felt in his voice.

  “Yes, Adar, but only tangentially. How can I help you?” Cobalt asked, his tone calm and comforting.

  “I tracked them to Chicago and killed one of them, and I believe the other two escaped by train. What do you think their destination might be?”

  “Considering the distance to similar cities, I would suggest that they might go to Baltimore, Detroit, Philadelphia, or New York, with New York being my first choice.”

  “Okay, I will go to New York. Any other tips?” Adar asked, hoping to improve his chances of finding the escapees.

  “New York is an enormous city, much like our own Occum. I propose that you focus on Manhattan initially. I have an operative there who can set you up with an apartment. Meanwhile, you should check all the trains headed east to see if they boarded any of them. You could get lucky,” Cobalt said, trying to sound upbeat.

  “Good idea. Cobalt, I have one more bit of business I need you to take care of, if you are agreeable. It has to do with the house where I lived before it was blown up.”

  Adar explained what he needed done to Cobalt, who found the request completely out of character for Adar, and even touching.

  “I’m sure with my connections I will be able to execute your request,” Cobalt said, smiling.

  “Great. That is all I need for now,” said Adar, ending the communications with Cobalt. “Wylyy, let’s go down the list of trains headed east. I want you to place me on each one, starting with the last one that left the station for New York.”

  Adar and Wylyy worked together to search more than a dozen trains, but came up with nothing. Not one trace of Cheoili DNA could be found anywhere outside of the station itself. Adar eventually gave up and had Wylyy transport him to Chicago to deal with one piece of unfinished business.

  “Adar!” Malcolm cried, answering the door and finding Adar. He flung his arms around the alien’s shoulders in a hug before inviting him into the apartment. “I saw your house blown up and I was worried you had been killed.”

  “Malcolm, I’m not one for pleasantries, but because of you, I’m learning,” Adar said, patting Malcolm on the back. “I have to leave for New York to continue my search for the escapees. That means I probably won’t see you again. I set up a couple of things for you though. First, Yolanda will train you to be a fighter, so you will no longer have to be afraid. Pay attention to her lessons. You could learn a lot from her.”

  “Yes, yes, yes,” Malcolm broke in, hugging Adar again.

  “Try to be less emotional,” Adar said, pushing Malcolm away though he looked pleased.

  “Sorry, Adar,” Malcolm said, stepping back and trying unsuccessfully to rein in his smile.

  “Second, I am having the house I lived in rebuilt. Ownership of the house will be signed over to your mother.” Hearing this, Malcolm gave up fighting his grin and started to do a little dance around Adar.

  “A colleague will be dropping off the paperwork. Don’t let his appearance scare you,” Adar added.

  “I won’t. I promise. I won’t,” Malcolm squealed, while he bounced on the balls of feet and clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides.

  “Goodbye, Malcolm. Thank you for helping me find my way around Chicago and improving my English.” Adar extended his hand towards Malcolm, which the teen ignored.

  Instead, Malcolm grabbed Adar with both hands to his upper back and pulled the alien into a rib-bruising hug, which he held for a full minute.

  “Oh my goodness, you said ‘thank you’. I’m never going to forget you or our adventures,” Malcolm said, finally releasing Adar from a surprisingly strong grip and swiping a hand negligently at the moisture gleaming in his eyes.

  “I won’t forget you either, Malcolm,” said Adar, who paused to stare at the youth before turning away.

  Adar looked back once as he walked out of the apartment, giving Malcolm a little wave. Moments later, he stepped into the shadows of an alley and had Wylyy transport him to Manhattan.

  ***

  Daloi and Dholi arrived in Times Square on a bus from Montreal with new disguises after a long day of travel. Mesmerized by all the lights and video billboards, they stood for a moment, taking it all in.

  “We selected a bus that took us on a roundabout path to get here, but I feel we chose the safest approach,” said Daloi. “Now I can do what I’ve been waiting to do since I got on that damn bus.” Daloi clinched her fists and let out a blood-curdling scream. “Arghh, that bastard is going to pay for whatever he did to Tatan!” Daloi let out a small whimper and fell to a knee as Dholi hugged her.

  “I’m okay, Dholi. No more sadness. What do you think of these crazy lights and billboards?” Daloi asked, standing and wiping her eyes. She turned around slowly on the sidewalk, trying to see everything at once.

  “They’re pretty exhilarating,” said Dholi, fighting to regain her composure as well. “Look at all the damn people. I thought Chicago was big. This place is crazy. You see the people dressed in costumes? You know, I’d enjoy all this more if Tatan were here with us. We should have left sooner. Tatan might still be around. We underestimated Adar’s support system. The Euclidian have been infiltrating planets like this for decades. There’s no way that we could take them on. Even if we kill Adar, they’ll send someone else, maybe even a dozen people.”

  “Right you are, sister. Let’s take what we learned in Chicago and build a life for ourselves here.” Daloi’s dark eyes shone as she relished the challenges that lay ahead.

  ***

  Wylyy dropped Adar off in the heart of Manhattan. Night had already fallen, but bright lights shining down from buildings and street lamps gave Adar a clear view of his surroundings. He found the bright lights and tall buildings odd. If you like your surroundings well lit, why block the natural light from the sun with tall buildings, he wondered. What a crazy planet.

  What is permissible depends on the city, state, or country you are in. Of course, skin color and income determine how harshly a law will be applied to a person. Then there is me. I am an alien. Their laws don’t apply to me unless they catch me, and I will not make that easy for them, he vowed.

  Adar walked the streets of Manhattan to familiarize himself with the city and install the few sensors he had left. He also continued his internal musings.

  Finding the Cheoili in this city would be like finding a needle in a very large haystack, blindfolded. This city reminds me of the Gut in Occum, without the alien life. People here are always up doing something, and a lot of it illegal. In every city, though, there is that person who has a finger on the pulse of everything that is happening. If I could find that person, it would make my job a lot easier.

  “Wylyy, I need to recharge my synapses. Did Cobalt find me a home to inhabit?”

  “You do sound exhausted. I’ll contact Cobalt and get back to you.” Wylyy replied, alarmed by the weariness he heard in Adar’s voice.

  Adar walked to the waterfront and watched the boats going by. The water calmed him and helped him focus, though some things still annoyed him. This place is smelly. Look at all the rats. These people only care about their space, as if what happens outside that space doesn’t impact them. They spend many resources on constructing tall buildings but nothing on cleaning up the areas around them. It doesn’t matter if a pleasure craft has gold-plated suites, a rotten hull will still sink the ship.

  “Adar, I spoke with Cobalt. You are to meet with his contact, Li Xiao, at the west entrance to the United Nations building tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. local time.”

  “What does local time mean?” Adar asked, not up on colloquialisms.

  “Get a chronometer or timepiece or ask someone. Most humans carry one,” Wylyy suggested.

  “Okay. How do I recognize Cobalt’s contact?”

/>   “She’ll be wearing a red scarf.”

  “Got it.” I know where I can get a timepiece. I just need to find an alley. Adar walked down a few alleys until someone approached him.

  “Hey, buddy, what are you looking for?” a strange human approached him, stepping out of the shadows.

  “I need a timepiece,” replied Adar.

  “You’re not from around here, are you?” the stranger asked.

  “No, I just came in from Chicago,” Adar responded, unaware that the stranger was sizing him up.

  “Chi-town. You got any money?”

  “Sure,” said Adar, pulling out a wad of cash from his coat pocket. “How much is it?”

  “Great, we’ll take all that off your hands.” Two men now stood behind Adar carrying nightsticks.

  “Do I get the timepiece?” Adar asked, even as he realized the trio wanted to mug him.

  “No, but you get to watch us beat the crap out of you, if you don’t hand over the money.” The stranger nodded at his two friends, who immediately began beating on Adar with their nightsticks.

  Adar’s face crinkled into a wicked smile as he started to snicker. This is fun. I will have to make this part of my nightly routine, he thought. The alien then punched one assailant in the chest hard enough to knock him into the wall behind him. He grabbed the other one and threw him over the head of the dark stranger and into the opposite alley wall. “I’ll take that timepiece now, unless you would like me to rip your arm off and take it myself.”

  The stranger rubbed his chin, sizing Adar up and wondering if he could take him. In the end, he decided to give Adar his wristwatch.

  “Another thing, if I wanted to find the mobsters that run this city, where would I go?”

  “Talk to Luigi over at Max’s in Tribeca. The guy began sidling away, eager to get far away from Adar as soon as possible. Pausing in his stealthy departure, he peered at Adar’s dark glasses. “Say, where can I learn those awesome skills you have?”

  “I was born this way,” said Adar, walking away. He had barely reached the end of the alley when the stranger caught up with him.

  “Hey, I can show you where Max’s is and give you an introduction, if you like. You can call me Ahmed,” he said, holding out his hand, which Adar ignored.

  “Why are you trying to help me, Ed?” the alien asked, suspiciously.

  “No, my name is AHmed,” he said, annoyed that Americans kept making that mistake. “Those two back there have been getting me into trouble since I got here. I only met them since moving here a few weeks ago.”

  Adar merely eyed the strange human, wondering if he made a mistake letting him live. “Look, I can introduce you to Luigi and other bosses here. I’m a runner for them.”

  “I’m Adar,” the alien said, grabbing Ahmed’s hand and shaking it. “Lead the way.” Ahmed nodded and the two began to walk across Tribeca.

  “Ahmed, you help me get what I need, and I will take care of you. You cross me, and I will kill you in a painful way,” Adar informed the human, his voice matter-of-fact.

  “You won’t have to worry about that,” Ahmed assured him. “Max’s is in the next block.”

  “Won’t, is that ‘would not’?”

  “No, it means ‘will not’. ‘Wouldn’t’ is would not.”

  “What a stupid language.” Adar snorted.

  The two continued their walk across Tribeca in silence. This southern part of Manhattan was darker and devoid of the giant skyscrapers one would find in other parts of the city. Few people were on the street, but Adar noticed the odd rat here and there.

  “Here it is, but it looks like they’re closed. Meet me here tomorrow around 5:00 in the evening, and I’ll show you around.” Ahmed waited for Adar’s nod before sauntering off in a different direction.

  Adar continued his stroll around Manhattan, taking in all he could. He noticed that the foot and car traffic led him towards midtown and Times Square. What is with these food trucks everywhere selling old meat? Why would they take perfectly good meat and cook the flavor out of it or mix it with grain? Too many lights, too many people here. I need to see water. Adar walked to the East River and looked across the water to more lights, those of Jersey City. He noticed the disparity between the two waterfronts. Why is it cleaner and better groomed over there, but people come here to enjoy themselves? Is it indicative of their nature, preferring more ignoble surroundings as a reflection of their inner selves? Time to move on.

  Adar eventually found a quiet spot to sit and nap while he waited for the sun to come up.

  ***

  Dholi looked around the apartment that she and Daloi had just scored. They had reverted back to the twin disguises that they used in Chicago in hopes of leveraging the work they did there with a new boss. We are so lucky to be on a planet where the people value looks so much, and the males harbor a lust for twins. I’m willing to forget trying to take over the crime world and just enjoy being pampered here. It’s just hard getting used to this primitive lifestyle.

  “Dholi, what do you think of this place that Sonny put us up in?” Daloi asked, placing her hands on her hips and taking a slow turn around the expansive living room, which included a commanding view of Manhattan’s upper west side.

  “I love it. It’s even nicer than the penthouse in Chicago,” Dholi stated, walking out to the balcony, which extended across the entire width of the building.

  “It’s funny that he calls himself a businessman and politician with family values, but is happy to share a bed with us. Why does he have to pretend at all? It seems this is only the land of the free and home of the brave as long as you follow their rules,” Daloi said, perplexed at the duplicity of the situation.

  “I enjoy promiscuity, fine clothes, and jewelry,” said Dholi, twisting a strand of lustrous, black, Tahitian pearls between her thumb and forefinger. “I wonder if he has a sailboat. I would love to be out on the water feeling the breeze in my face. Even if the water is salty. Could you live here forever?” asked Dholi, with a positive ring in her voice, hoping to get Daloi to consider a permanent move to Earth.

  “I know it might be safer to stay here and remain hidden,” replied Daloi. “I just don’t know if I can live without all the conveniences we had back home. But I also don’t want to wind up captured like Tatan. I’m sure whatever they did to him, it wasn’t pleasant.” Daloi grabbed her face and looked at Dholi with an air of sadness. But then, she looked up with confidence, knowing what she had to do.

  “Let’s just be careful. We can lay low for a while and enjoy ourselves. If things get dicey, we can look for a way out of this place,” said Dholi, trying to sound hopeful.

  “I want to be careful, but I am not interested in laying low. We are highly evolved compared to these humans, and we should show it!” Daloi said.

  Chapter 8

  Moving Into the Big Apple

  Adar arrived at the United Nations building at the appointed time, and scanned the area for Cobalt’s contact. He approached the west entrance where he saw a woman wearing a red scarf. That must be her. She looks pensive. I wonder if she understands who Cobalt really is?

  “Hello, I believe you are Cobalt’s contact,” said Adar, walking up to the woman.

  “Yes, I am Li Xiao,” she said, extending a hand and looking Adar up and down.

  “I am Adar,” he responded, shaking her hand. “I believe you have something for me.”

  “Yes, here are the keys to an apartment in Gramercy Park. This note explains where the building is and how to get into the apartment.” Xiao handed him the items. She wondered why the man wore gloves and a long coat in such warm weather.

  “Got it,” said Adar, taking the items and walking off without another word.

  He’s a strange one, thought Li Xiao. He does not look or act normal at all. Another strange incident that Cobalt will have to explain if he wants me to keep working with him.

  ***

  Adar arrived at the apartment building, which sat across the st
reet from a large park in the middle of the Gramercy Park Historic District. He noticed that the area was cleaner and better maintained than other areas he had walked through. When he entered the apartment, he took time to acquaint himself with the layout of the two-bedroom place. He liked the view of the park but wished he could see the water. Wylyy helped him obtain additional supplies to keep him fed and help him get around. New location, same lack of inspiration. How do these people get anything done or connect efficiently with such outdated technology?

  No digital wall, no voice activated system to control the apartment, and I’ll bet the stove doesn’t create food for you. Devices here get power from a cord that is plugged into the wall. Adar laughed at his antiquated surroundings.

  A knock at the door stirred him from his thoughts. “What do you want?” Adar asked, after opening the door. Two men stood before him dressed in shabby grey suits. One was tall and slender, while the other was medium height with a stocky body.

  “We’re the welcoming committee. We want to welcome you to the building,” said the stocky gentleman, holding his hands out to him in a convivial manner, while the tall man watched Adar with a stoic look on his face.

  “Beat it!” said Adar, attempting to slam the door on them.

  “Wait a minute, buddy,” said the tall man, with his foot in the door to block it from closing. “We also want to give you an opportunity to buy some renter’s insurance.”

  “I do not need insurance, but I do need you to move your foot before I break it off and shove it up your butt,” Adar retorted.

  “Without insurance, something unfortunate could occur to you or your apartment. I would hate to see that happen, my friend.” The tall man sneered.

  “I’m not your friend,” said Adar, shoving the man back into the hall. “Move away from my door, or I’m going to give you flying lessons, right out that window at the end of the hall.”