Paragon

Chapter 12:

Several hours later we were circling over Cairo, Egypt. It was a large, rather dust yet beautiful city with a river running through it. We landed at an airport near the edge of the city. When the door opened no one was there, as it was rather early in the morning. We disembarked, then walked out of the airport without incident. We entered the busy city, weaving through the streets, which were teeming with people and vehicles.

"You know, this was strangely easy." Nikara said. "I thought sneaking onto a Master Kontrol plane would be harder."

"Falcom was acting strange." Mahlika said abruptly.

"What?" Weska asked.

"He was hiding something from us."

"You think he told Master Kontrol we were coming?" Leela asked.

"Never." I snapped. "He's my brother. He wouldn't betray us. He must have been hiding something else."

"I don't know what it was." Mahlika replied. "I'm just telling you what I sensed. it was probably nothing."

"Well, we can't worry about that now." I said. "We need to save these people."

"What's our first move, Commander?" Weska asked.

"We need to find a hotel." I stopped abruptly. "That looks like a good one."

"Are you sure?" Leela looks uncertain.

The hotel is had seen better days, certainly. It was only three stories, the brick walls covered with graffiti of all kinds. When I opened it a large dog barked at me threateningly. The man at the desk put his magazine down.

"Tourists?" He asked.

"Sort of." I set my Prime Order badge down on the desk.

His eyes widened. "You need a room?"

"Two of them. For up to a week."

"Can do. If you'll just sign the guest book-"

"I'd prefer not to."

He nodded. "Very well. Miss, please don't touch the dog." He pointed at Weska. "He bites."

"It's alright." She replied, going over to the dog. He stopped barking and wagged his tail as she pet him.

"What, can you talk to dogs now?" Leela asked jokingly.

"Always been able to do it." Weska replied seriously.

The clerk appeared surprised, but didn't comment. "Rooms 12 and 13." He handed me the key.

"Thanks." I put a hundred credit bill on the desk. "I want no one to know we're here. Got it?"

"Of course." He took the credit with a smile. "Always happy to help the Prime Order."

We went up to our rooms, which were unsurprisingly no better than the rest of the hotel. The mattresses felt like cardboard and the covers had concerning stains on them.

"There's amazing hotels in Cairo." Leela said as we gathered in room 12. "And you pick this one. Why would anyone want to stay here?"

"They don't." Nikara replied. "That means there's very little chance we'll run into Master Kontrol or the Prime Order here."

I took out the envelope given to me by Falcom. I opened it and dump the documents onto a bed.

"This is going to be a special mission." I said. "No using powers unless absolutely necessary. Leela, you're our best weapon."