Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 01

The cop raised his armored arms." Whatever you say Citizen, according to your CITI you are from Nilfeheim, Classified as Culture Type 191 P. The P stands for primitive and 191 means that you jokers basically just barely above Stone Age. While I understand your peril and I will assist you but don't raise your voice again while I sort things out."

The Robot remained with Harkun while the Policeman stomped into the Establishment. The robot said." Do you wish for medical assistance? I am able to provide first aid and a Med Team can be here right away!"

His shame and embarrassment, the failure of the mission and him feeling homesick and sorry for himself; but most of all the endless barrage of machines talking to him made him react the Viking way and he kicked the machine and screamed." I am sick and tired of machines! I do not want you talk to me. I do not want you to offer me anything. I want you to shut up and leave me be! Now I know why we reject all this on our home world oh I know now!"

The robot nevertheless responded." I am police equipment and will be forced to restrain you if you keep attacking me, to make sure you will not harm yourself. Furthermore you are committing a violation of Law 355 section 12 concerning the attempt to damage autonomous police equipment. I am hereby placing you under arrest. You have the right to medical assistance and to call your societies representative." A restriction force field issued from the robot and engulfed Harkun and made it impossible for him to move even a finger.

He had utterly failed. If Erik Gustav would hear that he was here on Pluribus, there would be an investigation. The Ragnarsson clan chief would learn that he had carried a credit chip issued to a bank account belonging to Eric Olafson. He was certain they had some sort of gadget that would make him talk or divulge his secret mission. An off world assassination attempt would certainly doom not only him but Isegrim and his wife. Not even if every elder would against all odds show mercy, the Union Police would arrest them and hang everyone involved. His mind raced to find a way out.

The human police man came back carrying his knife and other belongings. His face was all business. "Mr. Harkun of the Olafson clan. I just have seen security footage of you pulling an edged weapon with the clear attempt to harm another Union citizen on the premises of his establishment. Mr. Grrrhankah had your belongings in safe keeping and said he would not press charges. Now you have the right of course to file charges against Mr. Grrrhankah and we let the night court sort this out. Or you take your belongings put your damn pants back on and go back to your hotel and we all are an experience wiser and each goes back to business."

Harkun nodded hastily."I will not press any charges and leave this planet as soon as I can."

"This is a very wise decision." He wave to the robot."Let the 355 slide partner. He did not cause any damage to you and we leave him with a citation."

The robot deactivated the field and a printout appeared from an opening slot." HQ Computronic calculated the citation fee of 200 credits."

Harkun paid the robot. The cop even called a cab for him.

He returned to the hotel and his room, bathed as long as he could and consulted the hotels Virtu Doc who checked him out and fixed the physical wounds in no time.

He tried it again, this time he was less self absorbed and this time followed the door mans advice who even called him a way finder drone. A small ball shaped thing that floated before him to show the way.

Clenching his teeth he passed across the seemingly hand hold free sky bridge, and the Way-finder drone directed him to a vertical conveyor like lift system and snarled." Exit the Verti- Shooter at level zero and you will not be able to miss the entrance to TMS Main station. I have reached the extend of my permitted operation assistance from the Hotel and wish you a nice day."

The Verti shooter moved fast down the outside of an enormous sky scraper. Everything talked around here and even the Verti Shooter cab. "Reaching Zero level in 10 seconds. Trans Matter Station, Multi Shop and Post Office."

This time he was certain he was at the right place. Four huge gates in the facade of a building with hundreds of beings coming in and out like a never ending stream. Above the gate he saw openings and taxi Cab bubbles, commercial and private floaters buzzing in and out without end or break.

He stepped on the slide belt moving in, packed with beings. Some of them holding PDD's before them with activated field screens reading, others chatting with each other or eating food they got from vendors bots that flew back and forth from various restaurants and food stands.

Right before him on the belt was an elderly woman and a matching white haired man wearing big boots and what seemed to be rain coats. He heard her say to the old man:"I am so excited to pass through a Trans Matter Tunnel. Do you think it will hurt?"

A bored looking boy in a black one piece suit with deep purple swirls on the back laughed." You won't even notice it lady. There isn't anything to be excited about! I bet you must be from some Prim Planet on the fringes!"

"We are from Splish-Splash." She said with disappointment in her voice."They have these transmitter tunnels only on the most populated worlds."

The boy laughed again."Splish-Splash eh? Well they had to name your planet something I guess. If you want an exciting ride you feel something I recommend the Super Express Slide way to Continent 3. Moves at 50 miles an hour through a transparent Ocean tunnel"

Harkun paid no longer attention to them as the Slide way ended and he stood in a cavernous hall. He was certain you could fit the Burg complete with the island at least five times in it with room to spare. Someone snarled at him to step out of the way and he observed the incoming people splitting up selecting from 12 smaller slides. Each slide way moved them towards huge hexagon shaped rings to the left of the buildings entrance The inside of the rings were utterly black and the slide belt carried the passengers right into it where they disappeared. Gliders and taxis flew without slowing down into these black fields. As he turned to the right he saw twelve identical rings and beings and gliders appeared in a steady stream.

Above each hexagon floating light signs designating destinations. None of them however read Ripley's Canyon.

A blue robot with the Information I on head torso and back caught his eye and despite the fact he had no desire to talk to yet another machine he had to do it. "Where do I find the Trans Matter Tunnel to Ripley's Canyon?"

"You can take Slide way nine. It will get you to Suburbia Planet and there you take slide way one to Suburbia Moon One. At the TMS station there you can take the canyon tram or a taxi to Ripley's Canyon. Or you board a taxi here that takes you there without the need of switching slides yourself. Do you want me to issue you a TMT day pass for 25 credits"

He would never ever use a Taxi again if he not absolutely had to. He paid the robot.

"Unable to connect to your PDD, citizen. Please collect the physical pass at the printout slot."

He took the slip and stepped on Slide way nine that carried him and many others towards the utter black field. After reading the info screen, he understood the machine would somehow send him very fast to another planet in the same system, but how this was accomplished without spaceships he did not know. The slide way carried him closer and he could now hear the low hum of something incredibly powerful. It was a sound that seemed to bring his very bones to resonance he could no longer see the octagon metal frame, only the black field were beings simply disappeared. As if the gates of Hel swallowed them. Six beings before him, now five, he felt all his hair standing on end as the hum increased as he moved closer. Now four, three, two ... he could see nothing but the black field and then he saw the beings in front of him again moving to the end of the slide belt. He turned and saw the black field behind him. The boy was right he felt absolutely nothing.

Slide belt one was much smaller and so was the Octagon field and only two other humans stepped on it before him. This time he looked at his time piece as he approached the field, suddenly the hands of his analog watch jumped ahead five seconds and as he looked up he had again passed the black field. Five seconds had passed without him experiencing anything. He didn't like this way of traveling at all. It was too unnatural and certainly against the will of the Gods.

A woman approached him. She wore a tight one piece suit of a burgundy color and a wide flowing red mantle sweeping the floor behind her. She wore the mantel open and it revealed large breasts and wide hips. Her face hidden beneath a wide brimmed red hat and a similar colored veil." You are from Nilfeheim?"

He was surprised she knew that but he nodded. Eager to get to the Canyon, he was now almost two hours late, even though he started out with 4 hours to spare this morning." Why do you want to know?"

"Because you are one hour and 49 minutes late. We were supposed to meet at the Chinese Lantern restaurant above Ripley's Canyon."

He blinked." I am to meet and talk to a woman? I am to do business with a female?"

"If I am female or not, if I am Human or not is not what you need to know. I assure you what you see is not my true form and appearance, but even if I was female what has that to do with anything?"

He looked down at her."Women are good for..." He swallowed the rest and said." Indeed it matters not. I have not made that choice I am only here to deliver certain things."

She motioned towards an Arthur's Swine and Dine." This place is as good as any."

Moments later they sat at a table in the automated fast food restaurant.

She began. "I understand your contacts want my contacts to do something."

Hogun folded his thin hands." That is so. That something is described on this." He pushed a data coin across the table and she took it and after a few moments holding it without putting it into a reader she said." I had to download an App to read that ancient thing, I had no idea those are still used."

He had no reply to that as he was certainly no expert in those things. She also was silent for about three or four minutes still holding the small disc, then without any apparent effort she crumbled the tough little disc into a metal ball between her fingers."Since the something you want removed is part of an important structure and the untimely removal will cause others to look into the matter. The fee is 2 Million credits all up front. You will never see or hear from me again and as stipulated on that little disc it will be done on any date we choose between now and the 25th of this month."

"How do we know you don't just cash in and leave?"

"No guarantees, no refunds no haggling. Take it or leave it."

He took it and handed her the Credit chip.

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Chapter 13: Funeral

The image of Ardalf's face as the sword slipped into his body would not leave me and I dreaded going to sleep even more than before. When I finally was so tiered I had to sleep I would dream and see the scene all over. One particular dream was especially disturbing as I saw my mother standing by the dead boy and shaking her head.

Father was busy integrating the Steiner clan and he left me completely alone, even when I was at the burg and he was there. I spend most of my time at Uncle Hogun's now anyway. In school they treated me now with a different kind of respect and usually made a b line around me. Even Yngve grew distant and did not talk to me as much as he used to and when I asked him he said. "They won't admit it, but most of them are afraid of you now. As much as they like to talk tough and appear to be killing Vikings, you have actually done it." Then he added looking away."I however will admit it, Eric. I am afraid. I can't help it. I saw you fight Ardalf on Nilfeheim Radio."

I could not even find words to defend myself. I just wished I could wash that sticky feeling of my hands. No matter how much I washed my hands. I still had this sticky feeling I had when my hands were caked with blood.

Yngve sighed. "I am leaving Nilfeheim very soon anyway. My father thinks it is better I finish Union school on Helgoland. I have an Uncle there and he invited me. He said it would be less stressful for me there and they do have better facilities and offer advanced classes."

"How soon will that be?"

"I will leave at the fifth of September."

"That is less than two weeks."

"I know Eric, and I can't wait. I was off planet and out there I do not have to fear bullies or proof myself killing. Sorry Eric, you've been a good friend, no doubt. But I am simply incompatible with our world."

-''"-

A friend of Uncle Hogun was now training me three times a week. He was a strange man, named Carl Lindgren, who lived in an apartment right under the roof of the Inn. He did not speak much, and was almost as brooding as Richard the brooding Off-Worlder living with te Keepers. He had a thin but very athletic looking body. Carls gray beard was a sorry looking thin grizzle and he had many scars on his body and one across his face that gave him an especially evil look, but when it came to fighting with an ax he had no equal, so Hogun said and I was almost certain he would even be able to stand against Richard for a little while only when it came to the spear he grunted once a word of praise as I scored a few times." You either were born with a darn spear in your hand or you had a teacher that is beyond anyone on Nilfeheim."

Uncle Hogun would sit in the back yard and watch us train. I could concentrate and forget my nagging guilt only when I was diving or when I needed all my wits in a bout with Carl Alhquist. I never heard of a Alhquist clan and Uncle Hogun told me never to mention that before Carl.

It was a few days before my birthday as we just had finished and I was soaked with sweat and put the Sword on the rack. Carl's body was also glistening as he sat next to Uncle Hogun and received a tankard of ale. Hogun smiled and said."Seeing you two go at it is a feast for the eye. Carl wiped his lips and with his gnarly voice said." Maybe another year and that whippersnapper will give me a run for my money. I would love to meet whoever taught him."

Aunt Freydis who never came out in the yard before suddenly appeared in the door and her usual smiling face was replaced by an expression of sorrow and distress and she said breathless." They just said it over the radio. Eric's grandfather died in a flier accident on Pluribus!"

At first I thought she had misunderstood, but Hogun rushed into the house only to call me moments later.

He had opened the wooden cabinet where he was keeping the large vid screen and his GalNet terminal. Lars Igvarhein sitting behind a desk said." Again these are breaking news. We just received word from the Union Capitol that our Representative Erik Gustav Ragnarsson was killed in a flier accident. Details are not yet known only that Union Police is investigating. A picture of grandfather appeared behind the media man and a ticker band repeated the news. Then the screen went dark switched to blue and an official looking logo appeared. A voice said." Incoming Call for Eric Olafson from Union Police headquarters."

Uncle Hogun appeared behind me and put both of his hands on my shoulders and said." Call accepted. Eric Olafson is here."

A dignified looking man in dark blue uniform appeared and he too had a somber face. I was not thinking anything at that moment. My mind was blank or I simply wanted to believe I was just imagining what happened and yet I knew it was all too real. The man spoke."Are you Eric Olafson?"

"Yes." I managed to say.

"I am Captain Bartholomew Swiggard of the Union Police of Pluribus Unum. We found your name as contact in your Grandfather's documents. There is no easy way to say this, but I have the sad duty to inform you that your Grandfather Erik Gustav Ragnarsson, Planetary representative of Nilfeheim lost his life in a tragic flier accident. As it looks, his flier was hit by a malfunctioning heavy cargo bot. We are still at the beginning of our investigation and will of course keep you posted, on behalf of the department and myself I would like to express me deep felt condolences."

"My grandfather can't be dead! He..."

"I am sorry, Son, the med crew said he did not suffer. Death was instantaneous."

I tried to straighten myself, "Is there anything I must do? Bring him home?"

"No, son. Despite the fact that he was the representative of a small world, he was well respected and liked and the assembly will arrange everything."

After Grandfather told me about the young businessman and his excuse for not following up on arresting father, I did not think of him as I did before, still he was my grandfather and I knew he had cared for me. His death came as a shock to me.

That Uncle Hogun had guided me to a table and Aunt Freydis put a cup of hot chocolate before me I barley registered. The we sat around the table saying nothing.

One of the first guests walked for that evening and said." I heard what happened. Will you be open tonight?"

Hogun nodded." Yes, the Inn will be open. Erik Gustav would not have wanted it any other way. Business is business he always said."

The Inn slowly filled and those guests who knew that the Ragnarsson clan Chief was my grandfather came over and offered their condolences to me. I accepted them in the proper and formal ways of our planet as the entire situation slowly sank in. Grandfather was dead. He was the only thing that stood between me and my father's greedy fingers. Now the Ragnarsson clan was officially dead and the name would be buried along with the shields and flags in the Cave of Extinct clans, a cave in the side of Mount Asgard behind the field of graves. It had been part of the school excursion. I was now the rightful heir but I was by our damned laws an Olafson first. I could not take on the name of Ragnarsson. If I ever had sons and would want to give my second born the same chances as my first born. I could allow him to revive this old name and split my belongings and the clan in half giving each son a fair share and his own name.

That a second born got his fair share on Nilfeheim in this manner was rarer than finding a White Tyranno. I knew of no story or incident were a third or fourth born getting anything. I never liked unfair situations and the more I thought about Nilfeheim laws and customs the more I hated them.

By custom I was the heir but I was not able to do anything about it until I was sixteen. Father would in the meantime in full control as I could not be!

The Elder who acted as the speaker of the Circle approached me and I got up to pay the required respect, but he motioned for me to sit back down. "I am here because the greatest man of this planet died. A man who has done more for this world than we will ever truly know, man who was a personal old friend of mine. I am here to pay my respect to you, his grandson and to make sure his last will is carried out!"

A dark shadow appeared in the door frame, filling it almost completely. I knew this silhouette well. It was that of my father. He entered and stomped towards me and the Elder. Hogun came rushing form behind the bar and as he stomped by tankards started shaking on the heavy table. Father held up his hand. "I am not here to fight or argue with you Brother. I am here because I heard the news and was summoned by the Speaker of the Elders."

Father glared at me and I was certain he was hiding a triumphant smile behind his beard, but his eyes signaled hatred and promise of pain." I see you teach that misbegotten son of mine, that dribble of scum that run down my leg his rightful place. Sitting in the draft room with drunkards and the Low men, the Servants and have-nots."