The Liberal Assassin

The half-crazed man leapt at me, fingers missing my retinas by millimetres. Almost immediately, I thanked Khronos for the good job when Cass yelped in pain as electricity coursed through him. Being his partner in crime planning the booby trap defence system, I knew exactly what Cass did wrong but the manager simply cussed colourfully, bewildered at what had transpired.

"You've been a marked man ever since you set foot in our territory. This whole place is bugged so unless you know where the traps are, you won't be able to do anything. The materials chosen for this place was tested to withstand great pressure, courtesy of Nash. You can't force your way out of here."

Before he could make a second attempt at destroying my face, someone knocked on the door and Cass snapped his neck towards the sound. Nash opened it and the manager nearly growled until he saw familiar black hair peeking out from behind.

"Sable!"

At the voice of her beloved manager, the idol ran over with a smile and lunged at him for an uncomfortable looking hug. Sable shoved the equipment away like it offended her and bent down to gently touch the broken arm.

Nash gave me a thumbs-up from the door while the raven-haired manager fired a volley of questions at his charge. I couldn't catch more than half of what was said but from some keywords, I got the gist of it. Cass was just an overprotective mother beneath that tough exterior.

"It's alright. I'm alright. What about you? Is your arm okay? Does it still hurt?"

Her concern reminded me of someone else and my eyes landed on Nash for longer than I thought. The ex-hitman caught my gaze and frowned. "What?"

It's no good. I sighed and shook my head. The action seemed to shorten Nash's tolerance meter. "If you have something to say, spit it out."

I gave him a lazy side stare. Even if I wanted to, it would be futile. Nash isn't some weak old man who needed the care and concern over a broken bone or two. In fact, I would be scolded for dedicating brain cells over some unworthy cause of worry.

"Does it hurt?" The words left before I could stop it. That's it. I'm just going to be called dumb for some needless worrying.

Nash blinked as expected. Letting out a throaty sigh, I steeled myself for the harsh words.

Only they never came.

There was a gentle pat on my head that made me jump in surprise. Before I could get swept away in the moment the old man ruffled my hair roughly, destroying my carefully styled hair. This is why I can't take him anywhere!

"Hey! Cut it out!" I yelled when Nash continued to mess my hair. They were definitely tangled now if they weren't before.

"Silly brat. Who do you think I am? You got many more years to come if you think a brawl like that will take me out."

I growled but didn't pursue the subject when Sable giggled.

"You really do act like father and son. I'm jealous!"

Cass glared at me when Sable showered her attention our way. That was definitely misguided hate and I deserved none of those glares.

"Stop that! I saw it. Titus doesn't deserve it. In fact, I've decided to help Team Night Walker after hearing them out. You're going to have to help me help them too, okay? Everybody should be friends."

The scandalised expression on Cass' face was worth all the earlier mistreatment. Sable is my one and only angel, even more so now. If it weren't for Nash slapping me hard on the back, I would have proposed to her. The look he gave me clearly meant 'wipe that disgusting expression off your face'.

"Why? They tried to kidnap you!"

"But Cass, I can't just ignore what is happening. My father is doing wrong and even though he means well, I can't let innocent people be harmed because of me. Mother left him because of his ways too. You know it!"

Cass' shattered expression had my heart going out to him. Nothing was deadlier than the tears from a woman you loved.

"Please, Cass? You've always been with me. I don't want to choose a side against you. Luna is sick, the people are divided. Night Walker or not, Titus Crowley is the only man attempting to bridge that gap. I didn't know the difference between life in the Inner City and the Slums until I did the concerts. I just want to help make life better for people on Luna. The system is wrong to judge a person's worth by the credits he can earn or his family's background, it's just not right."

"The system is here for a reason, Sable," the manager tried but failed.

"If it weren't for my father's influence I wouldn't be an idol. You never said it but I know my father sent you. Mom and I weren't from families with strong influences. Father only meant well for me but he sacrificed too many innocent people for the cause. Those supplements you gave me were a product of father's work, aren't they? Nash told me about it. Human lives were used to perfect the formula!"

"Sable…"

"No! I won't look the other way… I can help make things right…"

"You may see the Night Walker as a hero but his sins are no less than your father's. He is a murderer. Even if he only killed corrupted people of the Inner City, it doesn't change the fact that he has taken lives for his cause. It's no different from what your father has done. Every empire is built upon a mountain of corpses. There is no light without its shadow, Sable."

Sable fumbled for words and Cass knew he had sealed the last nail in the coffin about their discussion. There was nothing she had that could refute his logic.

"It's true, Sable. I'm not any different from any of the Parliament members. In fact, my sin should be greater. I killed my biological father in cold blood."

Her feminine gasp echoed. Cass studied me and I decided to indulge his curiosity. "I don't expect to live happily after what I have done and I'm willing to take responsibility for my actions after I have finished what I came for. My goal is to reveal the truth of the human experimentation project and take the corrupted Parliament down from power. I want to give Luna a chance for a new start."

"A new start by becoming the new power? That's hypocritical. In the end, you're no different from Arvin."

I smiled at Cass. "Who said anything about seizing power? I don't have what it takes to become a leader. I just want to pave that way for someone better to do it. Besides, if I'm going to go through with the plan, I don't think my chances of surviving are that high. Rion is not an easy opponent and he's backing Arvin."

Cass searched my eyes and nobody spoke for a full minute. Somehow he reached a conclusion and nodded.

"I'll believe you for now. However, I want to know who you intend to support as the new power in Luna after you succeed. Depending on your answer, I will choose to collaborate with you or kill you on the spot. My interest is still about Sable's safety."

The room fell into silence once more and even Nash was interested in what I have to say although he tensed for a bit, ready to jump to my defence if needed.

"Spencer Creed."

For a moment I thought I had only announced it mentally and was about to repeat it when Nash gave that deep frown of his. Cass raised an eyebrow and Sable blinked as if she had heard it wrong.

"That's…" Cass struggled to find the word.

"Unexpected," Nash finished for him.

Sable nodded in agreement.

Well, not quite the reaction I was hoping to get but it could have been a lot worse. "He's the only one who cares for the people. Nash is an old acquaintance of his. I've also had enough time to understand how that man works. He's the only good candidate for Neo Luna."

Sable eyed Cass while the man remained silent, brooding over the information.

"Can you promise me if anything goes awry, Sable will not be harmed and involved in any way?"

Nodding, I gave him my word. "I won't involve her in anything direct. However, I'll need your cooperation."

"What's the plan?"

Nash stood up and opened the door. "Khronos will share the plan. This way."