Mack's hovercycle slowed in view of Duffy's domed mining settlement. Mack raced ahead to the airlock. At the bulkhead, he produced a small device to hack his way past the electronics. The airlock opened.
Mack crept inside Fife toward the soft voices. It was Duffy's son and his wife alone. The two spoke in the living room, just around the corner.
The boy had questions. "But, what's a traitor?"
Mack silently listened for Duffy's wife, as she fumbled to explain.
"A traitor is someone who takes up arms against a legitimate government."
"So, what's legitimate?"
"Uhhh. Umm. Ha? Well. It's complicated."
"Okay?"
Mack peeked around the corner. The kid looked no older than ten, and the woman's features were plain, ordinary.
She waved her hands dismissively. "Why don't you look it up? Tell me what you find out."
"All right." The boy grabbed for his pad.
Mack depressurized his helmet, and he popped it off. Duffy's wife and son leaned back in amazement.
"Prime Minister!" said the woman. She smiled innocently.
Duffy's son ran over in awe. "You're the Prime Minister?"
Mack's gloved hand petted the boy's hair. "Yes, in the flesh. And you? Are you a top student in your class?"
"I, almost?"
"Hmm. Almost. Well, onto the matter at hand."
"Yes, Minister?"
The lady stepped up, smoothing her fabric and preening her hair. "Would you like anything to drink? Anything to eat? Minister. Honestly, we were not expecting you."
Mack grinned. "Well that's how I travel these days. It's a tense security situation you know."
"Of course."
Mack spied back behind him.
"Won't you sit, sir?"
"I prefer to stand. This won't take long."
The boy flopped onto the couch, gazing up at Mack.
"I'm inquiring on the whereabouts of your husband. Is he at home?"
"No, no sir. The General's on a mission. You didn't know?"
Mack shook his head.
"Negotiating with the rebel leader Lennox. You weren't informed?"
Mack gazed wide-eyed. "No. ...What a pleasant surprise. Ha ha. Ah. The rebel leader. Do you expect him back?"
"Eventually."
"Yes. Eventually."
Servants stirred in the adjacent room.
"And when he returns, ...ahhh. I have a message for him concerning this new negotiation."
"Yes, minister?"
Mack whipped out his pistol, and he glared at the pair.
The boy cocked his head. "What's he doing?"
"Minister?"
"Hhh." Mack blasted Duffy's Wife, gorging a hole through her midriff. Duffy's son sprang up toward his mother.
"Mother! Mother!"
Mack cut down the son, and he stood motionless above the singed flesh and blood pools.
A maid screamed hysterically from the doorway.
Mack turned to hunt down the staff, and he murdered them one by one.When the killing was complete, he holstered his gun and stormed out to the airlock.
INVERNESS.
Elle watched Mack's lone cycle approach on the horizon below. Through the telescope she watched his cycle disappear into a cavern in the rocks.
The secret bedroom panel opened, and Mack entered quietly.
Elle hid, wedged in the corner. "Off on affairs of state again my love? Alone?"
He jumped to reach for his weapon. "Don't concern yourself."
She sashayed forward into the light. "It's not safe, mister Prime Minister to travel the barren wastelands of Mars alone."
On the bed, Mack's wrist com chirped to life.
Captain Seton called in, emotional. "My God sir, the most terrible news!"
Mack retrieved his watch. Elle studied him.
The pair trotted to the security station. There the stunned butler and maids stood. Mack passed them by.
Seton stood in tears inside the security station.
"Been a terrible home invasion at Fife, General Duffy's residence."
"That's horrific." Mack tensed.
Elle looked about on the screens. "Who is murdered?"
Seton held his face, and he wiped away tears. "General Duffy's wife... and child. The boy was eight."
Elle's face blanched. "Duffy's little son?"
"Yes ma'am."
"When?"
"Just this evening, the blood is still wet like paint, they said. It's everywhere."
Elle glanced to Mack, who marched off back to their suite.
Mack shouted over his shoulder, "Find the scum. A rebel reprisal no doubt."
Elle rushed out of the facility after him.
FIFE.
General Duffy's floating fortress raced over the red hills, flying off the peaks, flanked by his elite squads.
Troops rushed inside with weapons out, followed closely by Duffy. The house was left untouched and pristine. As Duffy turned the corner, all his troops lowered their weapons in horror.
Duffy couldn't march in any closer, stricken at his core. He collapsed, still attempting to crawl forward in his pressure suit. He ripped off the helmet and he tossed it.
His men waited, and then stepped over to lift Duffy back to his feet. They turned him away from the gore.
He could barely form the words.
"This fiend must die."
