Andrew Saxon: Finding keepers

Jake ran out, carried Robby inside, and put pieces of his tunic over the open blaster burns. Eighteen days later, Robby walked out on the bridge over the Seachim River, deliberately fell over the rail, and died.

Jake touched the large round object that was hanging under his shirt. He had pulled Robby’s lifeless body from the water and carried it up the bank to the street. He stayed beside him through the night, rocking back and forth on his knees until the next morning, when the body burners came by and forcibly took Robby’s body to be burned. Jake stayed in the street next to the river for two days, in shock for what he had caused to happen to the only brother he ever knew. At nine years old, he didn’t think about what would happen if he, or Robby, tried to use those gold coins. Now Robby was gone.

Jake raised his head and looked at the teleport field just thirty feet in front of him. He looked at the frame above the field and saw Robby sitting on top of it swinging his legs; he still looked ten years old. He could tell Robby wanted to see what he was going to do about the current situation. Jake had prayed countless times to relive those events that lead to Robby’s death, and had sworn that he would come to take Robby’s place if given the chance again. He prayed for years to be taken back to that time to save his brother. Now, a young woman was being blamed for his actions.

Jake sighed heavily and looked up at Robby, who nodded and smiled at him. He wondered why Robby never spoke to him when he appeared, but he sensed that Robby knew what he was thinking. Jake stood, took a deep breath, then turned and walked back into the casino.

Two big men that were standing off to the side of the teleport screen looked at each other, and one began talking furiously on his com. They followed Jake back into the casino.

Jake didn’t see them and wasn’t thinking about any danger. He knew what he had to do and what the consequences would probably be. He walked to the office where he had seen Cynthia taken and knocked on the door. One of the agents that had forcibly removed Cynthia from the casino opened the door.

“You’ve arrested the wrong person. I’m the one you’re trying to find.”

The agent looked him in the eyes and said, “Come in.”

Jake entered the room as the agent stepped aside and closed the door behind him. That’s when he saw Cynthia sitting with her feet up on a desk leaning back in a chair with her hands behind her head. She smiled and said, “Well, Bravo! You’ve actually surprised us all. We never dreamed you would do the right thing.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed. He looked quickly around at the three agents, who were all shaking their heads. One of them said, “I wish I had taken the bet.”

Cynthia smirked and said, “Who would have thunk it?”

Jake took a deep breath and asked, “What’s going on?”

Cynthia put her feet down and stood up, “I am a Stars Realm Searcher and these men are part of a team put together to catch psychics that are taking advantage of the Realm’s casinos. Right now we have teams in more than eight hundred casinos in this quadrant alone, trying to catch you and others like you. The casino management helped bait the trap by only having one gamer set up to pay out tonight. We know your pattern has been to arrive during the evening, and we hoped one of us would get lucky and catch you.”

“How did you know it was me?”

Cynthia tilted her head to the side and smiled, “We didn’t. Anyone who approached that machine tonight was followed. Incidentally, you were not the first one to sit down close to me. However, you were the only one that tried to get me to leave.” Jake looked back at the men barring the exit as Cynthia continued, “Yes, we saw you buy the flowers. By the way, that was a very nice card you wrote, and by not signing it one could assume it came from anyone.”

“Then why didn’t you just arrest me? Why this charade?”

Cynthia came around the desk and sat down on it, “Whenever we go after someone with psychic abilities, we give them a chance to show their character. The punishment for what you’ve done is determined by whether or not you are a hardened criminal. Quite frankly, every one of my teammates refused to bet that you would turn yourself in to prevent a miscarriage of justice. To us, you didn’t seem like one that possessed any character. I had my doubts when you agreed to split the winnings, but we just assumed you sensed the agents approaching.”

“I could have escaped.”

Cynthia stood up smiling, “No you couldn’t have, Jake. While you were collecting your winnings the pit boss put a microdot on the back of your shirt. The teleport field would have refused to allow you to enter. Now we have to determine what to do with you; but first things first.” She turned to the agent at the door and said, “Scan him.”

The agent pulled a small device out of his pocket and held it next to Jake. He moved it around Jake’s head and down his back, “Minimal reading; that’s probably why we haven’t caught him. I’m surprised he could win anything with this limited reading.” The agent started to put the device back in his pocket when Cynthia snapped, “We do this by the book. Complete the process.”

The agent gave a scowl, “With such a minimal reading, a passive scan is just a waste of time.” Cynthia just stared at him as he pushed a button on the device and then pushed another red button on top. The device exploded, sending four pieces out at high velocity and causing everyone in the room to duck for cover.

Cynthia got up from behind the desk she had dove over and looked at the agent, “What just happened?!?”

The agent shook his head as he looked at one of the pieces he picked up, “I don’t know, but the needle is stuck on the maximum number.”

Jake had hit the floor just before the device exploded. He had somehow sensed the danger before it happened. He looked around at the people in the room getting up from the floor and immediately noticed they were stunned at what had they had just witnessed.

Cynthia moved from around the desk and put electronic shackles on Jakes legs. One of the agents left the room saying, “Cynthia, I’m closing the casino.”

She quickly nodded and looked at Jake with fear in her eyes. “Have a three block area around us cleared.” She raised her com and said, “I have a Red Flag emergency. I repeat; a Red Flag emergency. Respond immediately.”

Jake looked around the room and saw the agents all talking on their coms. He looked at Cynthia, “What’s going on? What just happened?”

Cynthia looked at Jake, “I hope your character is as good as you just demonstrated. Jake, you are probably the most dangerous person in this universe; however, we need to make sure before we make a huge mistake.” She pressed her com again, “I repeat, I have a Red Flag Emergency. I need directions for what to do now.”

“I’ll be there momentarily, Searcher.”

A large spider appeared out of a teleport screen in the middle of the room. “Where is he?”

Cynthia nodded toward Jake and the spider moved forward with a device. He held it close to Jake and pressed the handle. It immediately burst into flame and melted. An Algean appeared a moment later out of another silver screen and the spider said, “Don’t scan him!”

“Why not?”

“I just used a proxirose scanner and it melted. You need to move far enough away to make sure you don’t destroy the scanner.”

The Algean nodded and teleported out of the room. Jake heard over the spider’s com, “I’m outside the building; beginning scan.”

There was silence and the Spider looked at Cynthia who had a furrowed brow. After a long moment the spider asked, “Well, what does the scanner read?”