Skyfall by Anthony Eaton

crapped sunlight.
    â€˜Anything else?’ She kept her tone carefully neutral. The man ignored her question while he took a sip.
    â€˜Shi! This tastes disgusting. I don’t know why we even bother drinking it, do you?’
    â€˜What do you want?’
    â€˜Relax, Miss Anatale.’ The man leaned his head close and lowered his voice. ‘I’m only doing my job, so how about playing along for a little while, eh?’
    For a moment all traces of sleaze dropped away and Kes was struck by a strange intensity, a sense of control about him. Then abruptly it vanished.
    â€˜What was that little scene, down at the hub?’
    â€˜Nothing.’
    â€˜Didn’t look like nothing.’
    â€˜Just an argument. It doesn’t concern you.’
    â€˜A lover’s quarrel?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜What, then?’
    Kes fixed the man with a glare and took a mouthful of her own caf. The guy was right, it was terrible.
    â€˜Politics.’
    â€˜Oh dear, Kes.’ He shook his head in mock-concern. ‘Don’t you know never to try discussing politics with the upper levels? They tend to have a different… perspective from people like you and me.’
    â€˜It doesn’t matter. I’ll call him and fix things when I get upstairs.’
    â€˜You do that. I don’t need to remind you how important it is that you and Larinan remain on … good terms.’
    â€˜Don’t concern yourself.’ Kes bolted the last half of her drink in one gulp, throwing it down as fast as she could.
    â€˜You’ll give yourself indigestion.’
    â€˜Anything else?’ She made to stand, but the man pressed her arm to the table with a sweaty palm.
    â€˜You did good work this morning, Kesra. I’m here to tell you that. Very … good work. We’ll be in touch.’
    â€˜Don’t hurry.’ She wrenched her arm free and this time the man let her leave, but as she reached the door of the ref he called out to her.
    â€˜I’ll look forward to our next meeting, Kesra. I suspect it’ll be soon.’
    Ignoring the urge to glare back, Kes pushed out into the common again. She felt odd, unsettled. This morning’s adventure should have left her feeling pleased with herself, but instead queasiness had settled in the pit of her stomach.
    Her apartment was in the upper levels of the southern tower. The internal lift shuddered and groaned as it heaved itself upwards. The moment she stepped out of the car, she could hear the Bean screaming, as usual, even from the corridor.
    â€˜I’m home!’ she called as she let herself in.
    â€˜Kes, darling!’ Her mother emerged from the bedroom, the baby across one shoulder. ‘Can you look after Savi for me for a few hours while I get down to the supply agency and check the progress of our application?’
    â€˜Of course, Mum.’ Kes sighed as she accepted the screaming bundle. It won’t do any good, she wanted to say, but she restrained herself. Requests for new accommodation were rarely granted; there just wasn’t anywhere left to put people. Her mother knew that as well as Kes did.
    â€˜You’re a treasure. I don’t know what I’d do without you. He’s been fed, so he should settle down soon.’
    â€˜It’s fine, Mum. You go.’
    Her mother stopped at the door, checking that she had everything she needed. Kes, her little brother clutched to her left shoulder, watched her. When did she get so old?
    â€˜Okay, I’m all set. Bye, darling.’
    â€˜Bye, Mum.’
    The door closed and immediately the Bean threw up all over her.

It was getting on to mid-afternoon by the time Lari got home. The moment he stepped into the apartment his message tone sounded, growing louder and more insistent until he went to his room and logged on to his terminal. The message had a priority flag.
    Larinan, contact me as soon as you receive this. D.
    He’d never been able to work