Everyday Stresses of Kazuki - Sci-Fi Action/Intrigue Webserial

Kazuki's golden eyes watched as red jam filled Archius' mouth, biting into the ration bar. The red, gooey jam spread between his teeth. The taste must be good. He messily consumed the bar. He grinned. It was probably the first time he'd eaten something with flavour for a while. Archius had a bright face, good-looking enough to become an icon, complimented by both tanned skin and messy dark green hair.

It swayed slightly in the wind as Kazuki turned his gaze out towards the cityscape of Anagora. Massive skyscrapers and highrises passed by as his shuttle shot across the sky-lanes. Colourful murals, adverts and bastions stretched up to the dusk sky. Air quickly blew through the two side exits of the shuttle.

Thousands of both distinguishable and indistinguishable buildings blurred by as Kazuki took in the view. His arms were crossed, face blank. Normally, he wouldn't take in such a bog-standard scene, but it'd been a year since he'd been home.

Peace was now the new order. Kazuki hoped for it.

Kazuki looked down at his wrist. He tinkered around with his ANCHOR watch, a little 'doohicky,' as his mother called it. Calling it as such was degrading to it. It was a marvel of technology: a short-range teleporter. Between that and Kazuki's railgun, they made up his 'aces'. His tools. His backup weapons to throw out in a gamble. Or a gambit.

For all its colours, soulful playing, and propaganda, it was far from a full democracy. This sight masqueraded the corruption rooted within the republic. A power-hungry plutocracy was rampant, with families shifting each other along forever in chains. Crime hid beneath the surface — literally. The Sub-Levels held most of the planet's population.

The only voice most had was through the Senate. Most Senators were corrupt, obviously. Like Senator Iana Nimitz-Delia… The AGENCY's greatest ally.

Drones whizzed by, projecting large adverts through the skies as a few of the massive defence bastions covered the view of the horizon. Up above, tens of scattered floating islands hovered in levels.

Jessica's last words stuck with him. It was too cryptic for her. Jessica was cruel. Despite that, she was never a liar. As promised, Kazuki planned to lead Clandestine when his contract ends. Ironic. Mercenary. That was who he was. But he was far from what the media called him: the Contract-Breaker of Greed; because his breaking of contract never came from greed…

"So," started Archius, licking his fingers as he placed the rest of the ration pack in his jacket pocket. "Senator Delia and her cabal of influence are upholding that paper that lets us put holes in the bad guys… with that out of the way, what's on the agenda?"

What a joke, Kazuki thought. It was correct, however. They were simply security forces sent in when the shooting got hot. Archius' voice was far more enthusiastic than Kazuki's could ever be, practising the facade for when they'll eventually meet someone he can... squeeze past.

Kazuki shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, connected to the the steel bracing that reinforced his legs and back, connected to his exospine. It wasn't the most comfortable configuration, but it allowed him to walk. Comfort was not a luxury afforded to him. "Nothing. Martinez and Sato will handle the AGENCY in our stead."

Steam slowly vented out his exospine. It was the only thing keeping him alive, a life support system strapped into Kazuki against his will. Kazuki watched a wreckage far beyond the horizon.

Archius rolled his eyes. "Sato, ugh… Good thing we have Martinez to balance her out."

Kazuki raised an eyebrow before glancing at him. Archius' concerns were warranted, but Kazuki knew not to rely solely on Archius. Even if he was loyal, Archius was by far the least compatible member of his inner command, always starting arguments with Sato.

"Sato is competent," Kazuki stated.

Archius nodded. "Workaholic, I know," he said, smirking as he pushed the topic aside.

"This friend of yours, Senator Delia. I don't trust her." Kazuki bluntly asserted.

"Neither do I!" Archius chimed in, "But what choice do we have but to rely on her? I can't exactly send my eyes to monitor her, can I? Senators keep their retinue tight, though I might have a few skilled diplomats on my chopping list."

Archius was an indispensable asset, but also a headache: Kazuki's spymaster and a long-time 'gift from Republic intelligence'. Like he said, he had a network of 'eyes'.

"We'll survive. There's more pressing matters to attend to, anyways."

"What? Eliza? Kaz, the war isn't over." Archius continued to emphasise, "Just because we blew up half the directory and you shot the others doesn't mean that we're free to do whatever we want, we have responsibilities now, and one crisis always seems to spark another. Logi-team's in shambles; Martinez and Sato are clashing on how to integrate the deserters! You're supposed to be their fucking leader, so lead!"

The slow whir of the shuttle's engines vibrated throughout the vehicle. It wasn't one of the large transport shuttles used in combat. This was simply a civilian passenger shuttle — made to get someone from A to B with gravity lifts.

Looking back out, Kaz caught sight of the steel ruins of the P-1 Station. Numerous tendrils and decayed steel corpses jutted out from the initial impact zone. In front of it were a whole display of lights and fireworks, firing away in all its glory. All for the Republic. All for its glory, none for its people. Holographic displays kept up the facade, all whilst each passing day let more of the rot consume this planet.

Skyscrapers dotted around it, hiding the shame. But scars linger. The Ptolemy-1 Station. Kazuki's first and most fatal mistake. Slamming the shuttle door shut, Kazuki turned to Archius. The life and colour did not hide the rot, not to Kazuki at least.

"Whatever remains of Clandestine is nothing more than a pest," Kazuki said.

Kaz won, but victory was bitter. Still better than a bitter defeat. Always better.

It felt strange not wearing his armoured vest. For one, his chest didn't feel so tight. And for once he felt at ease.

Kazuki planned to build amongst the ashes of Clandestine, amongst the bed of knives and grenades that was Republican Politics; but Kazuki had connections. Despite that, none were his family.

Instead, Kazuki had to play the game. Alliances. Criminals. Politics. It was a mess, but Kazuki was uniquely situated to benefit from the chaos he made...

"You better be damn right," Archius paused for a moment. "I swear if you jinx us…"

Kazuki interjected, "Superstition? Now? Of all times to give your heart and weigh it to some... strange forces. The Star Gods are dead. Hazard shards won't jinx us."

"Oh fuck you, I'm just saying." Archius' voice trailed, "It's just… we're treading in wild space."

"We've been treading in deep space for the past year. We're alive. We're doing something right," Kazuki remarked sarcastically.

Kazuki couldn't be asked to deal with such headache-inducing problems. Even so, his head ached anyway.

Such jabs were a byproduct of over-using his cybernetics. Between having a bullet sent through his skull or some mild headaches, the latter was preferable. Most times.

He cracked open a pill jar and swallowed one.

"Just saying, I could have mind-snared a few of the Directors, before you painted their heads into the sixth dimension," Archius said.

"It's done," Kazuki stated, after a small moment of silence. "You know we don't have the luxury of hindsight." That was something both knew was true. They won, and they both knew that for whatever troubles ahead, they needed to save their energy on that.

Between the two, there hung a sombre smog around each other's necks. Both knew the costs of the past... Neither dared to say it, but both knew that arguing over the dead and done was fruitless.

Archius tapped Kazuki across the small gap in the shuttle. "On a brighter note, I guess you'll finally see her again."

"Yeah…" It was all he was willing to say.

Not much else could be divulged. After all, Archius probably knew everything. Except for one detail - a secret even he couldn't pry from him. The answer didn't satisfy Archius, who frowned.

"Come on!" shouted Archius, "Is that all you have to say?!"

"Yes," Kazuki stated.

"Let me practise for a bit!" Archius groaned. Making a strained face. "You started all of this, for her. And you have nothing to say?"

"We were going to remove the Directors anyways. Your plan took too long," snapped Kazuki. "But don't worry, other than that I had no qualms about it." A sarcastic-smelling venom lingered in his voice.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

When two contracts collide, Kazuki must choose the one with greater importance to him. His whole rebellion was built on a single promise. A word made in blood in orbit of Anagora. In the end: he won, and the Directors lost.

His forces prevailed and formed a new PMC order... One head of the hydra was removed, and another took its place. No matter what, Kazuki thought, he could not allow another person to take his. He got here through blood. His blood, his men's blood — his enemies' blood. A price to pay, a price he would keep paying, whether he liked it or not.

A year's worth of stress and built-up nerves stuck to his exospine. The AGENCY was now Clandestine, but Kazuki would not let Jessica's legacy persist through him.

"And too much bloodshed, a coup d'état would have made a smoother transition, easier to hide dead bodies under 'corporate rebranding' after all." said Archius, "Plus, you wouldn't be labelled a Contract-Breaker for killing the Directors."

"Contract-Breaker, huh…" Kazuki deliberated for a moment as Archius wiped fake emotions from his face, revealing a disdainful look.

"They mock you. All of them. Member of the seven, prince-aristocrat and Contract-Breaker of the AGENCY." said Archius, "From the interweb forums to the highest peaks of the gentry."

He paused. Mockery of him wasn't all too bad. He never cared for what they said. But the mockery of his name was something else… Kazuki Izumi Geminorum-Ryzaku — here he was.

"Good! Better a merc than a criminal," said Kazuki. Archius raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Let them mock me. I'll turn that mockery into fear. All of them. Every single one of them. I—"

"Oi, we're getting close, it'll be smooth, don't worry." Karl, the pilot, interjected into their conversation. His brown bearded head peeked into the passenger compartment, along with Cyrus, one of Kazuki's guards. "It feels weird, not having an Airspace Pass."

"Paperwork's still going through," stated Kazuki. "As always…"

Then, suddenly, the shuttle came to a reeling halt. Kazuki and Archius looked over at Karl, driving the shuttle. "Traffic control," Karl said.

Traffic control? Kazuki and Archius instantly froze, slowly placing their hands to the compartments beneath their seats. Metal shuffled around, as the two slowly pulled two pistols out. "Karl. If someone goes wrong, full pedal to the metal," Kazuki ordered.

"You got it, boss," Karl replied. Then, he placed a hand to the transmission receiver as few shuttles encircled around Karl's steel box. Kazuki could see through the slits... Military shuttles, or were they? Were they assassins hiding as military? The transmission seemed to be... slow. No. It had to be assassins! Kazuki pulled back the receiver.

Then, Archius placed a hand on Kazuki's barrel, shaking his head as a shuttle neared to the door. A knock came. "Hey! Transmission seems to be down, mind if we come on board?!"

"Do you have a warrant?" Kazuki snarled back, slowly stacking up against the wall with Archius. The two signalled to each other, as Archius tapped his ICAPAD, seeing through the wall. Seven people, seven possible figures. Seven bullets. One for each of them, it was going to be a bloody day today, Kazuki thought.

Taking a deep breath, Kazuki awaited a reply.

"Uh, we don't need a warrant, it's just a random routine check, sir!" The potential assassin replied. "Mind opening up?"

Karl shot back, "Uh... give us a moment, sir, we need to grease up the doors so it might take a few seconds."

Time. Kazuki dug around the compartments, dragging out a grenade. He threw it across the shuttle to Archius, who caught it immediately. "Why'd you give me this?" he asked. "You're the better throw."

"I didn't play baseball, you did."

The two continued to prepare, with muzzles trained at the door. Plasma fire... It was going to hail Kazuki's return to the capital, and his first engagement since the end of the rebellion. Now, he thought... This was where he will exceed... Not as an aristocrat. Not as a student. Not as the son of a bitch... A mercenary. It will be done, Kazuki thought.

"And let justice be done," Kazuki muttered to himself, watching as gases vented off the doors.

Slowly, the doors came loose... And slowly, the sight of a squadron of soldiers appeared. Kazuki and Archius had their guns pointed right at them, just as they had their guns pointed at them... Welp, Kazuki took in a deep breath, slowly pulling down on the trigger. But then, a voice halted his actions.

"Woah Woah Woah?!" The potential assassin grunted as he slammed his hand down on his subordinates' muzzles. "Don't shoot, it's them..."

"What did I tell you?" Archius sneered.

The soldier nodded and gestured for his men to get back into resting positions. He waved his hand around to the nearby shuttles, calling them off as the whizzing sound of hover-engines flickered by. "Sorry, it's just a regular traffic stop, we didn't expect you so soon, our High Admiral has already notified us."

Father was already involved, Kazuki thought? Rolling his eyes, he leant forward, lowering his pistol. "Ensure you do not forget yourself, soldier."

The poor soldier instantly nodded and took a step back, keeping an eye on his squad to ensure they didn't... make a fatal mistake. "Sorry, sirs... and Prince..."

"Do not call me that," Kazuki sneered. "Remind the High Admiral for me that I'm not seeing him."

The soldier sighed, then saluted. "Yes, Prince Kazuki."

Karl snickered, "Prince, you really don't act like it, Kazu-kun!"

Prince. It was a term denoting for his royal aristocratic background. Despite that, he was never Princely. Never magnanimous. Never a regal man. He was a mercenary, a cut-throat. Nothing more, Kazuki thought. Soon, the shuttle veered off as the white and red clad traffic soldiers disappeared into the golden, winter sunset.

Archius sighed. "Not really on for the parent's love? Or is this just a rebellious phase?" he joked. A ten year long rebellious phase? As if... No, Kazuki's disdain was rock solid... Archius continued without waiting for an answer from Kazuki.

"Don't worry, Kaz, I know the guys at customs." Archius commented, "Unlike these people, they have heads on their shoulders."

Kazuki rolled his eyes, giving an air of frustration and apathy at the same time. "Ensure they do." The two placed their weapons back in their compartments, as the tension was dying down. Karl sped off once again.

"Customs guys will forgo procedures for us," Archius said, checking his ICAPAD. "Seriously... If they don't, well, I have a few friends in low places that can pay them a visit."

Kazuki nodded, he gave the carcass of the Ptolemy-1 Station one last look through the shuttle window slits. Whilst up above, far in orbit, the P-2 Station hung over the planet, segments of its dead self still latched onto it. He made sure to check whether his pistol had a bolt in its chamber.

∗ ∗ ∗

The breezing winds of a late evening Anagora day turned null. Noises filled Kazuki's mind as the winds were all but gone, replaced by the bustle of the terminal. A thousand monitors blinked on the ceilings, hanging as signs to show the various connections. Whilst up above, cruisers, cruises and transport vessels lugged over the skylights.

"Did you mind snare them?" asked Kazuki, following Archius as Karl trailed behind, carrying all the cargo and luggage that came with the duo's movements. "Your man on the inside."

Cleaning drones whizzed by, eclipsed in the sunset. Yet despite the lateness of the day, the spaceport was no less lively. Archius shrugged. "Would you have preferred that instead of just good old blackmail?" asked Archius.

Kazuki grumbled, sighing for a moment. It wasn't the answer he was looking for. The trio lined up in one of the Fast-Lanes through customs, a line authorised only for 'Very Important Persons'. "Pass?"

"Pass," replied Archius, grabbing three VIP passes from a drone that passed by discreetly to their side. He slid two of them behind him. Kazuki snatched them up. It was bright gold with white holo-text announcing who they were. His had: 'VIP, Kazuki Izumi Geminorum-Ryzaku', with his family phoenixia-leviatha brooch beside it. Turning to Karl, he saw that both his hands were occupied.

"Pfft, just slide it into my mouth or something," said Karl, much taller than both he and Archius.

The cost of stress and age was visible on Karl's face, much like Kazuki's parents.

Thinking for a moment, Kazuki decided to just follow suit. He could relax, couldn't he? He slid the VIP Pass into Karl's shirt pocket, ensuring that it was poking out just enough.

"There."

Turning back to Archius, the waiting line was quickly evaporating. Though it felt quite strange to be there, on Anagora. Most people in the line were politicians, diplomats and government agents. And there they were, three idiots wearing the least formal of wears.

"Are you sure the passes will work?" Kazuki inquired, as they were the next in line. Beside them were long rows of people going through customs. Anagora always had a heightened level of security, at least compared to other planets. It'd be inconvenient if the passes were expired. "Because—"

"—It'll work!" interjected Archius, slapping Kazuki on the arm. "I just had my eyes vet them, and my other eyes will just let us pass." He looked towards the person manning the booth in front of them. The other customs officers were drones, but the VIP route had an actual human being. The only uniform thing between the VIP and standard booths were the contraband detectors attached to each gateway, operated by hovering drones.

"And if they don't?"

Rolling his eyes, Archius grabbed Kazuki and nudged him forward as the words 'NEXT' projected onto the floor in front of them. "Let's not keep her waiting, shall we?"

Kazuki turned to face Archius, grumbling slightly.

"Papers, please?" A voice requested. Kazuki turned back towards the man operating the customs booth. He looked tired, exhausted. His immaculate red-white uniform bled professionalism into his husk of a body.

"Ah," started Archius, stepping forward with Karl. He slid their passports over the counter.

The officer nodded before grabbing them, skimming through them as he made sure all the information was right. He then closed them all, sliding them across the booth table. "Alright, you know how it is, conveyor."

Kazuki remained silent as Archius leant forward, sliding a sigil over the counter. It was the inisgnia of the Leviathan & Unicorn. The letters 'CRIS' painted on them. "That won't be necessary."

He looked at the sigil, then wheeled his chair backwards. He glanced up at Archius, Kaz and Karl. He then nodded, turning off the metal detector for a moment as the lights well dull. "It won't be necessary, welcome back to Anagora, Yousef."

"Long live the Republic," Archius whispered in a mocking tone. Snatching the passports and the sigil back, Archius was the first to walk through security.

Kazuki could see Archius smirking beneath the facade. He ushered Kazuki and Karl forward as he snatched back the sigil. The officer scratched their neck, nodding at the three of them, as they entered the civilian terminal proper.

Shops and stores were all over the place as they turned the corner, with a nearly endless amount of floors and escalators attached to the place.

"Friend of yours?" asked Kazuki.

"Informant, it's important to know which individuals are leaving and coming," commented Archius as he turned back to the two of them.

"Still, all this for just a single gun?" Karl grumbled, still carrying all the stuff that Kaz and Archius brought with them. Most of it was non-contraband, repair kits, tools and medical equipment.

"Two guns," corrected Kazuki. "You're carrying the railgun."

Archius raised an eyebrow. "You still prefer standing in lines for half a day?"

Touché, Kazuki thought. He slid his hands into his coat interior, feeling the coldness of his backup pistol. He checked its chamber, feeling the freezing touch of hollow piercing bolts.