A Favour Repaid - Part 3/3 (Short Story)

Recap: In the last installment, Lien and his wife entered the restaurant, where they were meeting Taron and his wife. Lien was afraid, due to the assassination request from Mr. Voight, and while talking with Taron, he felt guilty, knowing the result of this meeting.

< A Favour Repaid - Part 2

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       "I'm sure you know that I'm in the running at the moment, and at that, I have been gaining a lot of support based on my ideas." Taron asked while sitting back cradling his stomach, which at this point was bloated and seemed fit to burst. "I want to help people, and as I see it, Confederation Space needs more people willing to do what's right for the territory."
       "You're trying to bridge the gap between Free Space and Confederation Space?" Lien replied, already knowing the answer.
       "That's right." He nodded. His face straight, and his eyes glossy from the alcohol. "You see, I think we can benefit each other greatly. I believe that there is a whole market that is untapped, just waiting for us to get into it. The financial benefits alone are enough to warrant a metaphorical bridge being built. But, it's also to help the people of those worlds." He leaned forward. "I know you served, I served, hell, I think most of the people in this room served during the invasion. The invasion left a bad taste in the collective mouth of Free Space, and I think it's high time we wash that away. It'll be a slow process, but it will be worth it."
       "I agree, something should be done now before the animosity grows anymore." Lien replied. He agreed with Taron's ideas wholeheartedly and would love to see a day when the past was little more than a bitter memory. "The independence movements? They're another ground you're running on?"
       "Those policy changes are the reason I'm up in the polls. You see, a lot of the colony worlds are being left behind, forced to stay behind the times and stagnate, in a way. Did you know that nearly ninety percent of all food in our territory is produced on colony worlds, by people who are afforded little in the way of freedom or civil liberties? On the backs of those people, the inner worlds thrive and I think it's high time they are treated with the respect they deserve."
       "I have read that if they are given the freedom to expand without restrictions, it could lead to food shortages." Lien replied.
       Taron shook his head. "No, that's just propaganda and misinformation spread by the opposition. Yes, of course, if cities were erected a portion of those worlds wouldn't be fit for farming. But, what they don't tell you is that a large portion of the colony worlds are already not being used for farming. The population is simply too small on most of them, for the entire worlds to be farmed." Taron looked around and gave a sideways nod toward away from the table. "Come with me, we'll get some drinks and let the women talk in peace." He turned to give a smile to his wife, which was reciprocated in kind.

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       The bar was quiet, and after a few moments of standing at it one of the staff was over, taking drinks orders. Taron thought about what to get and after a few seconds chose one that Lien had never heard of, but he was advised to try it.
       The two drinks came, and as Lien reached for his, Taron put his hand out, blocking him. "I brought you out tonight for a reason." He stated, with a concealed smirk.
       Lien nodded, expectantly.
       "Your show has a very high viewership, and your following tends to agree with whatever you agree with."
       "My audience is very loyal." Lien responded.
       "I would like you to get me on your show, and throughout the runtime of it, I will state my case, and discuss many of the things we have spoken about tonight." Taron picked up his drink and sniffed it, before holding it out. "I would like it if you could do this for me, and agree with everything I say. Together, we could change the course of history. I know it is a lot to ask."
       Lien left one hand in his pocket, playing with the pill. "Okay, I can do that. I do think you are the best person to be put in a position of power, and under your leadership, the lives of everyone in Confederation Space would be bettered." He took his hand out of his pocket and picked up his own drink, to then clink glasses with Taron, who let out a laugh as they did.
       "You won't regret this. Thank you Lien. Appearing on your show is sure to cause an unprecedented victory for me, and I won't forget it." They both drank to a successful partnership and after a long swig, Taron adjusted his shirt and looked around. "I'm going to find a toilet, wait here for me."
       "Okay, see you soon." Lien replied as Taron walked away. The idea buzzed around in his head, and Lien could foresee an amazing future, one that anyone would be happy to live in; one that could be the turning of a new age of progress; one that he wouldn't be around to see.
       He looked at the two drinks on the counter, and thought of the pill in his pocket, the favour requested by Mr. Voight; the death of Taron, and an end to his plans. Lien would lose everything, including his life and that of his wife. If they were to survive, they would certainly lose the lifestyle they had grown accustomed to. Anxiety built up within him, and his chest became tight. He wondered if betraying Mr. Voight was a smart move.

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       Lien reached into his pocket, as he stared at Taron's glass, and decided there and then, the only thing he could do was drop the pill into his drink. He took it out of his pocket while he looked around the room, to make sure no one was watching him. As he moved to drop the pill in the drink, he felt it slip; it was slick from sweat and bounced along the wood floor. He darted to try and find it, but it was gone. Staring across the dark floor it was gone, and he was prepared to dive onto his hands and knees to start looking for it, but didn't want to cause a scene.
       "Are you looking for this?" He heard a man ask.
       Lien was almost shaking as he clocked eyes with a stranger; well dressed it a hard face. The man inspected the strange pill and then shot an inquisitive eye at Lien.
       "Yeah, that's mine." He stumbled through his response, trying to stay calm and stave off the trembles. "It's for indigestion." Lien rubbed his stomach as he approached the man with an extended hand.
       The stranger stalled for a moment, and continued to look at the pill. With a nod, he moved to place it in Lien's hand and then pulled back for a moment. "Why are you shaking?"
       Lien noticed the tremors, and shook his head lightly. "I, I well, I sometimes get slight shakes after eating." The man shrugged and dropped the pill in his hand.
       "I sometimes get that." The man responded as he continued to walk past.
       Lien waited until he was gone, and looked around once more. Hand balled in a fist, with the pill secured in his palm. After making sure no one was looking at him, he dropped the pill in Taron's drink, and the liquid seemed unchanged, and through the clear liquid, Lien could see the thing at the bottom of it. After picking it up and swirling it, it started to hiss slightly, but not as much as he was hoping for.
       He looked up to see Taron approach from the restroom, and now the panic started to set in. The pill was dissolving, but not fast enough. Lien desperately tried to shake it some more and then picked up a straw to stir it. It helped, but the pill was still very noticeable.
       He watched Taron, and couldn't take his eyes off the man as he approached. As he got closer and closer, someone stopped him to chat, and Taron obliged happily, engaging in a quick discussion while sticking his index finger up to Lien. The panic dissipated slightly, and he watched as the last of the pill dissolved, leaving behind no remnants.

       Soon, Taron was back and picked his glass up, taking a long sip after apologizing. Lien joined him, taking a sip of his own as he wiped away some sweat with his free hand.
       "Come on, we'll get back to the table before they start wondering where we got off to." Taron said as he lead the way.
       They all sat, enjoying each other's company, and after a few minutes Taron started to sweat, and his face went flush.
       "It's warm in here." He said while dabbing at his forehead with a napkin and loosening his shirt.
       "Excuse me, could you turn on the air conditioner? My husband is overheating." Taron's wife asked a passing waiter, who nodded and left the table. His wife then turned to him and rested a hand on Taron's shoulder. "Open your shirt, take off your jacket." She said in an almost panicked tone.
       Lien started to feel guilty, and was watching the result of his actions; the price of his luxurious lifestyle.

       Taron collapsed; falling from his chair and onto the ground, gasping for air as he clutched at his left arm.
       Everyone started to gasp and scream as this happened, and people rushed to try and help, but nobody seemed sure of what to do.
       Lien stared at the man, with a straight face, and Taron looked right into his eyes.
       He could have sworn that Taron knew what Lien had done, but couldn't catch enough breath to accuse him verbally.
       It wasn't long before he took his final breath, and with him, the prospect of a brighter future for all died; as well as a prosperous future free of any more of Mr. Voights requests.