Wolf Heart

Chapter 52

Planet: Kestra, Odaport

First Insurgency War

MERYN

I already miss the chill.

Odaport's suffocating, hot air blew into his face when he departed the shipyard after failed contact with General Falae the past few days. It was Beckett who contacted him in the end. The fact that they both want to see me makes me uneasy... what is going on? He checked the out of the way shipyard in the middle of the giant metropolis. Ava longed to view it in all its splendour, but time sullied it.

I don't know if you can see this place. Meryn shook his head at the winding solar highways. In their shadow, the lower districts shone with neon light. But... it's a bit of a shithole. He stretched and made his way through the rustic underbelly of the Sanctum. Spare parts littered the shipyard entrance, locked with hasty edevic weights though no one sought to 'reclaim' them. A couple of Elites sat at their posts on the sides of apartment blocks or over the roof bridges which connected stores.

It was difficult to not be intimidated by their crimson gazes.

He walked through the District Merger to reach the Sanctum HQ, where an eagle-eyed shadow stood at the post with their hands on their rifle. Meryn tapped them on the shoulder, which caused them to turn.

"Hi," he said. "Is Beckett in the city? Name is Meryn Matthey. He wanted to talk to me. He sent me this ID to verify." He held up the infopod, but lowered his hand when the Elite stared at him. "Hello?" He frowned when it took a moment of movement to break the tension, and they sent their thumb over their shoulder to the Sanctum HQ.

"Cool," Meryn said, then the Elite detached themselves from their post and shouldered their rifle. "You'll take me?"

He followed them at their nod. Nervous prickles swept down his spine. He frowned when they eyed him. "Something on my face?"

They turned.

Meryn hesitated when they entered the clean-cut courtyard of the Sanctum sector. Next to the rustic charm of the lower levels, the place was impossibly clean. Massive skyscrapers spread shadows over the refurbished streets, where business projections spun at the tops. Another Elite waited for them at the concrete fencing which surrounded the Strike Force base of the sector.

A Guardian. He peeked at their tag. A-3. I wouldn't want to fight these two.

"So." Meryn rehashed his introduction. "Beckett wanted me to come here. I have his signature if you require it. Meryn Matthey." Everything out of order, he ignored his lapse in brainpower. "Do you need me to undergo a scan?"

The Guardian opened the energy gate and left Meryn alone with the sniper. Meryn adjusted his shirt, but jolted when the Elite jumped. "Hey," he said and raised his hand in submission. "I'm not looking for trouble." He brushed it through his hair with a wince, but frowned when the Elite placed their hand against their heart, digging their fingers into their uniform. "You alright?"

"Meryn Matthey!"

The Guardian brought Beckett to him, where a wide grin plastered on the older man's face. "Been keeping yourself busy?" he asked. "Come in. I want to have a talk with you."

Paraded into the compound, Meryn cut to the chase, "What is it you want to talk to me about?"

"It's not something that is safe to talk about in the open around here."

Several soldiers stomped around the compound, but Beckett took him through the next security gate where the HQ lay. Into the dome, many people waited for their turn. Numbers flashed on the I-Screen's over the receptionist desks. Beckett moved around them and headed to the glass elevator.