Spacessasination
By: Donal Greigh
Tags: Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction, SciFi, Science Fiction

Cloning can work for you or work against you on the planet of Xenon. A sub-planet of Mars discovered during Zamazon’s first years of public space travel, it became a popular relocation option for those of us who were exhausted with the limitations of Earth.

My name is Gemini Stevens, by the way. I was a police officer on my former planet, which gave me the authority of having a carry and conceal license on Xenon. With my skills in weaponry and law enforcement, I had the brilliant idea of cloning myself, once the opportunity became available.

It wasn’t a wise choice. Cloning on Xenon is a direct replica of yourself in current form. It isn’t a baby that is born with the same genetics. It’s rapid… instant adult.

Because I was working on a patent in which I wanted to confirm exclusivity, I had the genius idea of cloning privately, which meant the identification, DNA, and existence of my clone was unknown to the public. I was able to accomplish this via my earthly habits as a police officer which came back to bite me… payola.

I guess Karma is a real thing, even in Space.

Crouching between the slim alleys of two glossy, silver industrial buildings in the city of Zenith, I place my ZetFlix goggles on to view the latest news.

Xenon Police are still searching for the burglar dubbed the ‘Zenmo Zealot’, the first and only earthling to successfully hold up and rob a Zenmo bank. Zenmo, Earth’s most successful mobile payment service, recently built commercial facilities here in Zenith. The culprit has been identified as Gemini Stevens. He is said to be armed with a .38 Special Laservolver and killed two innocent bystanders during the brazen theft.

The photo of my clone was plastered across every mobile device on the planet. So, I was on the run, since no one knew I had ever duplicated myself.

I had one objective. Kill my clone.

Removing my ZetFlix goggles, I placed them in my rucksack and walked into the pitch-black street. This part of town was not known for its lighting. I knew a clone shared the attributes and habits of its source. Somehow my affinity for catching bank robbers had changed into bank robbing.

I knew one habit that would be hard to break. My love for Gentlemen’s Clubs, known as OnlyAliens on the Planet Xenon. Banned on Earth, OnlyAliens had made a financial killing on this planet.

I figured my clone would be spending his riches on the bevy of beauties known to frequent OnlyAliens in Zenith.

Being sure to avoid detection by other humans, sub-humans, or aliens, I skipped through three other alleyways.

When I made my way to the back alley of OnlyAliens, I saw my favorite dancer having a cigarette break — perfect timing.

“Incia!”, I whispered loudly, if there ever was such an oxymoron, that’s what I did.

Incia’s two eyes focused on her cigarette and her third looked up at me. No, she wasn’t from Earth. She was born and raised on Xenon.

She walked over to me slowly, cautiously looking around. I always admired her beautiful green legs.

“How are you out here, when I just gave you a dance inside?” she asked me, all three eyes now staring intently into mine.

“That’s not me, Incia,” I said. “That’s my clone.”

“That makes sense now,” she said. “He was very disrespectful. Part of the reason I’m having a smoke. Very aggressive. I was shocked.”

“Yeah, he’s been committing crimes and I’m in trouble,” I said.

“Isn’t your clone registered?” she asked.

“No,” I replied.

“You earthlings,” she responded, chuckling and shaking her head. “When will you realize cutting corners never works on Xenon?

“Touché,” I sighed.

“How can I help, Gemini?”

“Get me in there,” I said. “I need to terminate him as well as make him disappear.”

“Hmmm,” she said, thinking. “I haven’t eaten in a week. When you’re done with him, I’ll consume every inch. I’m due for a feeding.”

Perfect.

Opening the back door to OnlyAliens, I could hear the techno-like music blaring through the hallway. The club vibrated with bass.

Incia walked in front of me and pushed open the bathroom door, peeking inside. There was only one bathroom for all on Xenon, by the way. Not separated by gender, species, etc. All-inclusive.

“You’re in luck,” she whispered. “He’s using the urinal.”

Slipping into the bathroom, I glanced behind me at Incia.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Thank you,” said Incia. “I’m hungry. Let me know when you’re done. I’ll be waiting outside the door and won’t let anyone in.”

My clone was relieving himself in the urinal right in front of me. He was dressed in all black, just like I was. My taste in clothing had been passed on, apparently.

Removing my .38 Special Laservolver from my holster, I aimed and fired.

One shot with the laser took his entire head off. This was different than the ammo back home.

The headless torso dropped to the bathroom floor, green fluid oozing out of the top of the stump which used to be my clone’s head.

Great. He won’t commit anymore crimes. But, I’m still on the run and if Incia eats him, I can’t prove that I was cloned.

I knocked on the door and motioned for Incia to come inside the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

“Yummy!” said Incia, getting on her knees to begin her feast.

I aimed the Laservolver at the back of Incia’s head and pulled the trigger.