Rhea stared at him for several moments after he finished. “So you’re the one who wiped my mind? When I was unconscious, and basically dying, my body ripped to shreds…”
“It was for your own protection, and frankly I shouldn’t have bothered, because here you are,” he said. “I thought I’d have at least another thirty years before you arrived. I was wrong. I’ve been following your career closely, ever since you made a name for yourself in that Hydra attack. I’ve even tried to help you, now and again, so I suppose it’s not surprising that you’d find your way here so quickly.”
Her brow furrowed. “Help me? How?”
“Do you remember, when you penetrated city hall, a lone drone dropped a pistol to you?” Burhawk said. “And then, when you were scheduled to be chipped by the mayor, your binds magically opened? That was me, in both cases.”
“So that’s who it was…” she said.
“Yes,” he told her. “Just as I’m helping you now, by stopping you from continuing down this path.”
Rhea studied him. “Except you can’t stop me. I have to see Khrusos. I need to make him understand I won’t have his assassins hunting me down for the rest of my life.”
“It’s not Khrusos who wants you assassinated,” Burhawk said offhandedly.
“What?” she said, sitting up. “Of course it is.”
“No, you’re mistaken,” Burhawk insisted. “My contacts in the palace tell me he was amused more than anything else when you first cropped up in the slums outside Aradne. Imagine that, his Dagger had become the Warden, Defeater of Hydras, Protector of Rust Town. According to my sources, he was no longer angry at your betrayal, and wanted you back. I’m not sure what he planned… keep in mind, he doesn’t know you’ve been wiped. Perhaps he intended to mind-jack you.
“Either way, I believe he expected you to return of your own accord, at the very least to try killing him again. But when you didn’t, I think he grew impatient, and ordered your arrest to accelerate the process. He might have thought he was protecting you as well, because I’m sure he’s heard about the attempts on your life by now.”
“So wait,” Rhea said. “You’re certain he didn’t place a bounty on my head?”
“I am,” Burhawk told her. “I’m good friends with the man who took over my position as Liaison to Assassins. He assures me Khrusos has laid no bounties on your head. Personally, I believe the president regretted his hasty decision to have you executed in the first place. He often spoke of you fondly, so I can imagine he misses you.”
“So, if it wasn’t Khrusos, then who is it that wants me killed?” Rhea asked.
Burhawk shrugged. “You’ve always been hunted by assassins. Since the day you started working for Khrusos you became a target.”
She shook her head. “Well, this was all great and everything, but I still need to talk to Khrusos.”
“Why?”
“First of all, I want to see if I can convince him to sign a deal with the Europans for access to Ganymede’s water,” she said. “Second of all, I want to know why I turned on him. Why I tried to kill him. Unless you can tell me.”
“Ah.” Burhawk smiled sadly. “As I said, I don’t know. You fled after your failed assassination attempt, and when I found you, you were unconscious. I decided your reasons didn’t matter, since I would be wiping your mind shortly anyway. It would also prevent me from having to lie to you if you ever confronted me about it, like just now. But if Khrusos tells you, it will only make you want to kill him all over again. You know that, don’t you?”
She stared at him for several moments, then tapped her chin. “You said I was captured when I came to Earth with others from Ganymede. What was my original mission?”
“That I don’t know,” Burhawk replied. “Only Khrusos can tell you that.”
“There you go,” she said. “Another reason why I must see him.”
Burhawk sighed. “Obstinate, stubborn Dagger.” He spat the words as if he was cursing. “Well, if you’re really intent on doing this, then at least accept my guidance.”
“You’re going to betray your former boss?” she asked.
“What he’s doing to Earth, what’s he’s done…” Burhawk shook his head. “No one deserves to maintain power after such atrocities. He led us into a war we could not win and gave up when the water could have been ours. He’s a fraud. A sham. I used to idolize him. I realize how misguided I was. I stayed on, serving him all these years, only because I hoped the Khrusos I had met in my youth would return. But he’s long gone, replaced by the twisted, power hungry thing that now sits on the High Council. He will doom Earth. By the time he dismissed me, I was more than ready to go. This is why I will help you. Why I have helped you.”
“So, it’s settled then,” she said. “You will visit Khrusos. And you will help me.”
Burhawk stood up. “I will help you. But bring your Ban’Shar. One of you will die during the meeting.”
“We’ll see,” she said. “I’ll need to know what sort of defenses Khrusos has at his disposal in the palace. I’ll also
