Skies Over Tomorrow: Constellation by Kelly B. Johnson Page B

turned about. It was Miller. Her left hand covered her right shoulder with a blood-soaked pad. Her right arm, extended, was shaky as she aimed her weapon at me.
    â€œNight Shift, this is Night Owl One,” she said. “Subject found at heliport of the Cheney building. Requesting backup.”
    â€œHow are you?” I said, and approached her with my hands turned out. She seemed a little taken aback by the question. “I’m glad you were not neutralized!”
    â€œStop right there!” she said. “I don’t want your sympathy!”
    Not true, I thought.
    â€œI’ve never been this close to neutralizing you, Naomi Ottawa! I will not let you get away—not this time! This time, I’ll be the one to end this chase in dramatic fashion!”
    â€œDramatic fashion?” I said, shouting over the wind and distance between us.
    â€œJumping from high places!” she said. “Isn’t that how you like to end these pursuits? It was just a matter of time in learning how you think! With your ability to teleport, I would think you enjoy tempting death!”
    Ah, yes. I smiled, and then said, “Perhaps, I do!”
    â€œBecause of you, many class B humans escaped me!”
    â€œYes, and I recall the look of defeat on your face the times I helped those of my people to safety!”
    â€œYou’re my only priority!” she said. “You are the last of those with the ability to teleport! It is good that you confronted Councilor Carmichael, as he has come to his senses and no longer wants you taken alive!”
    Last one. It never occurred to me. “I suppose I am, but this won’t end here! Not this time! Our affair has been ordained by destiny!”
    â€œDon’t you move!”
    I shook my head in disappointment. “Hear me out! Please, if you truly possess some sense of human decency, put aside your ignorance and fear!”
    The wind flowed between us.
    â€œAll right!”
    â€œYou are unlike the others! I see it your eyes! You know what you’re doing is wrong, and I can see that you are tired of killing! The genocide—”
    â€œDon’t try to talk your way out of this!”
    â€œI’m not! I’m just trying to explain to you that our actions are a direct result of a destiny that we must fulfill! I thought mine would end here, after killing Carmichael, but I was wrong!”
    â€œEnough!” she said.
    â€œThis is not over!”
    â€œI beg to differ!” Her weapon trembled in her grip.
    â€œYou and I have been on opposite sides for a while now! I’d like to at least know your name—your full name!”
    She looked at me, the caution palpable on her face.
    â€œPlease!”
    â€œSpecial Agent Ivy Miller, Commander Second Class of the Galactic Division of Investigations!”
    â€œIvy Miller, is it now? You have a pretty name!”
    She did not respond.
    â€œI must go!”
    â€œStop! If you try to jump, you will be dead before you hit the ground!”
    I looked into her eyes.
    â€œI’m warning you!”
    Enforcers began to appear.
    â€œIt was my pleasure, Ivy Miller!”
    A shot rang out. It was as though lightning flashed. Looking down, I saw a blood drop fall, as my life began to seep out of me. I looked back to Miller, and as she lowered her weapon, the antipathy on my face must have frightened her because she looked afraid—perhaps of what I might do as a reprisal. Of course there was no need for this to go on any further. With the red fluid of my existence percolating through my cloak from the gunshot wound, my chest burned. I coughed into my right hand, and looking into the palm of it, I saw blood and wiped it off on the mantle. Cold, my legs began to numb. It felt like the arm of death came across my shoulders and embraced me like family, showing me affection. My vision blurred. It was then that I considered surrendering, but a voice in my head told me that my survival