In fairness their shock was understandable. Violent crime was low on Alpha. It wasn’t absent, by any means, but it was certainly a safer, more stable world than that of Beta Earth. The odd flare up always happened, but with far more equitable societies and fewer territorial disputes, outbreaks of violence were lessened.
All Alphas knew that this wasn’t the case on Beta Earth. They lapped up their culture with voyeuristic glee. The killings, the wars, the thefts, the punishments; all of these things were alarming and exciting and safely experienced through films and books. Now, here was a genuine act of violence in the heart of their cultural icon.
Sam snorted. Privately, the idea that a six foot medic had been taken out by an elderly, disease riddled Beta, was ludicrous. Still, the general public didn’t know there was an unaccounted for angel roaming around. No need to alarm them unnecessarily.
Soliman’s voice boomed across the atrium. ‘No need to panic. My operatives will soon apprehend the fugitive Beta individual. Your security is my primary concern.’
Sam was not alone in taking in a gulp of air and clenching his teeth. No one had mentioned a missing Beta individual. It was just gossip and wild rumour. That was until Soliman publicly declared it. Sam watched as a wave of horror swept across the tourist’s faces and the panic began to mount.
‘Oh, so you do believe in the angel now then?’ Sam couldn’t contain his sarcasm.
‘Asha brought me up to speed as I came over. Have you submitted your report yet?’
‘The report on the fictitious event which turns out to have happened? Or the lack of discipline in my team that actually alerted us to a crime? Or did you mean the report on the general sloppiness of my department that has just revealed a major cover-up? Which report was it, Sir?’
‘I should fire you right now for insubordination!’
‘Sir, respectfully.’ Asha pulled Soliman to one side and after a few minutes Soliman gave Sam a curt nod. ‘I want a full report on all operating procedures on my desk by the end of the day. I want your observations on what is wrong with the Q Field, the current status of the two remaining teams, and how one of your medics got themselves killed by a little old lady!’ His voice rose to a crescendo as he roared his instructions at Sam. Walking over to the cordon, where various camera crews were converging, he began to do what he was best at. Talking to the camera and letting everyone know that he was in charge.
Sam pinched his nose and turned to Asha. ‘How did you pull that off?’
‘Told him you were up to your neck in it and it was better to have you inside the tent where I could keep an eye on you.’
‘Keep your friends close, hey?’
‘Exactly, but I would just say it’s curious the speed with which Soliman has tried to remove you from the investigation.’
There was a commotion from the perimeter, and Sam saw Farnaz trying to get through. She was holding tightly onto a young medic’s arm, who was visibly distressed. He looked at his watch and realised that her shift had already ended. Nodding to Asha, she waved Farnaz and the medic past the guards.
‘Sir, Chief, I heard about this event as the shift was ending so I brought Janet here for protection and/or interrogation.’
Sam was puzzled, but Asha cottoned on immediately and summoned two guards to take the trembling medic to a secure room. No one was to enter until she joined them.
‘What have I missed?’
‘Not what, Sam, when. Someone was clearly anticipating that an angel might come through. That means that whatever is happening on the other side, someone on this side knows about it and knows that the team might be in distress.’
Sam nodded. That made sense, but painted an even more serious incident. ‘You said when?’
‘Yes, whoever this is had no way of knowing if an angel was coming through or when that might be, so they had to get to the on-call medic for each shift. We need the name of the medic on the third shift. Let’s go and pick them up, and see what they and Miss Janet have to say for themselves.’
She turned and smiled at Farnaz. ‘Good work. Any time you want to join security I’ll sign you straight through.’ Turning back to Sam, she looked more concerned. ‘I think the angel is dead as well, but just in case I’m wrong we’ll do all we can to find her and get her to safety.’
Both reflected on how terrifying this experience would be to a sick and confused Beta. Sam nodded. The day had started poorly, and was just getting worse.
‘I’ll be at the Q Zone until all the teams are back. Can you brief me, as well as my Glorious Leader over there, with any findings you get? You know, just in case he forgets to tell me?’
As he reached the cordon on the other side of the plaza, Asha caught up with him.
‘Sam, I didn’t want to say this where I could be overheard, but someone on our side murdered that medic. Please be really careful. I wouldn’t normally recommend this, but maybe carry your stunner with you at all times until I’ve arrested those involved.’
Sam agreed and headed back to the Q Field. There was no need to say that he had been carrying his gun ever since the first anomaly on the gate was reported.
# interlude 4
The following text conversation was retrieved, doing a sweep of the ghost files of the Q Zone security system. It has been added to the evidence report for Case No: 234530/H. As yet neither correspondent has been identified.
- Are you an idiot?
- What?
- Killing the medic. On the actual Plaza. You’ve drawn the attention of
every single person on the globe. A murder at the
