by Scott Baron
Naturally, when the pair of deadly Wampeh Ghalian assassins strode through town, they immediately clocked the most unsavory of the lot with an ease that came from years of practice. For one of their profession, ignoring a potential threat, no matter how minor, could prove fatal.
Hozark walked at the front, leading young Happizano, the son of the powerful Visla Jinnik. He had rescued the boy not once, but twice from kidnappers, the first of which had taken the boy to coerce his father into doing the Council of Twenty’s dirty work for them, drawing from his great magic stores at their bidding.
The second time the boy had brought upon himself after stealing one of the shuttle craft belonging to Hozark’s pilot friend, Uzabud, in an attempt to find his way home on his own. Unfortunately, the youngster not only lacked the requisite skills to manage that sort of a voyage, but he was also unfamiliar with even the most basic of captain’s skills.
Like how to identify threats in the void of space. Threats like pirates, for example.
Happizano had been captured by a band of Outlander pirates and taken as a slave, ready to be sold off to Visla Ravik, though that was later revealed to only be a front.
The true puppet master behind it all was Visla Maktan. One of the Council of Twenty. And for whatever reason, he was amassing power however he could.
That included young Happizano, and not just for the power his father held, but because the youth appeared to share his father’s gift. Ultimately, Hozark and his friends had rescued the boy from the pirates as well as the Council.
And the Council had brought out a deadly asset. Hozark’s former lover, Samara, whom he fought aboard the stormed pirate craft before being blasted out into space and damn near dying in the process.
But they had survived, and since then, Hozark had been saddled with the youngster while they sought out his father in order to return his son to his side.
Hap, for all he had been through, seemed in good spirits. It had been a few weeks since he had escaped the kidnappers’ clutches, and he had rebounded as only a ten-year-old could. Of course, a bit of additional attention had to be paid to keep his spirits up.
“Young Jinnik,” Hozark said, handing the boy some coin. “We have spent much time in transit, and you have handled yourself quite well. Why don’t you go purchase yourself a treat?”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks, Hozark,” Hap replied, then trotted off into the sea of potential customers milling about the stalls.
Demelza had been walking behind the pair, her sharp assassin eyes making sure there was no trouble lurking around the corner. But this was Sorlak, and trouble never materialized. Nevertheless, the stout woman was ready for action if need be.
Uzabud and his copilot, Laskar, were off galivanting elsewhere in the marketplace, eating, carousing, and acquiring baubles they had no use for, no doubt, along with the best alcohols they could procure.
Bud had once been a space pirate, after all, and some habits died hard.
Henni, the angry, violet-haired young woman they had rescued several worlds back, was resting up aboard the ship after eating far too many Horakin berries. She would be fine, eventually, but for the moment she did not want to stray too far from a restroom.
Happizano headed straight for the sweets vendors farther along the winding stalls in a rush. He was like a kid in a candy shop, and while these were outdoor vendors and not actual storefronts, the analogy held true.
“And two of those sticky buns,” he said, completing his purchase with still a bit of coin to spare for perhaps one more treat before they lifted back off into the utter boredom of space.
It was not the greatest environment for a ten-year-old to pass his days and weeks, but necessity was necessity. He was a target, after all. A third kidnapping simply was not an option.
“Hey!” he blurted as a couple of larger boys bumped into him in passing.
“Watch where you’re going,” the nearest one said, then headed off with his friend.
Hap felt something was odd about the two, and a moment later he realized what it was. His pocket was now lighter the few coins that had been there just a moment ago.
“Hey! Come back here!” he shouted.
The older boys took off running, and young Happizano chased after them as fast as his legs would carry him. They weaved around carts, then diverted abruptly into a long alleyway. Hap plunged in headfirst in pursuit, the echoes of his footfalls ringing off the hard walls.
He rounded the next corner to find the larger of the two boys standing there waiting for him.
“I’ll take those,” the boy said, his hand extended.
“You can buy your own. Oh wait, that was my coin you stole,” Hap said, holding his bag of sweets tight in his grip.
“Give me the bag.”
“No.” He turned to leave, but the other boy had stepped behind him and was blocking his way. And he was moving closer.
“He said hand over the bag.”
“They’re mine,” Hap protested.
He didn’t even see the first punch coming, nor the second or third. In a quick flurry of blows, the two larger boys had driven him to the ground. The nearest bent down and snatched up the bag of sweets.
“Ya shoulda just given ’em to us,” he said, laughing as he walked away, eating poor Hap’s sticky buns.
Happizano slowly pushed himself up to his feet and brushed off the dirt. His nose was bleeding, but only slightly, and his cheek had been scraped by one of the boys’ fists.
Little did the boy know that Hozark had been standing nearby, invisible beneath his shimmer cloak, watching the whole thing unfold. The youth had shown courage, chasing the larger boys, and he had even stood up to them when the tables turned. But he was not familiar with the ways of the rough back alleys found on every world.
Happizano had been raised in the privileged confines of a powerful visla’s estate, and these sort of things were utterly foreign to him. It was a painful lesson he had just allowed to occur, but Hozark knew it had to unfold without his intervention. The boy had to learn, and the best way to do that was firsthand.
The Wampeh assassin silently slipped out of the alleyway as Hap wiped the dirt from his palms and clothing and walked back to meet the others.
“What happened to you?” Demelza asked when she saw the telltale signs of a fight on his face.
“Nothing. Can we go, please?”
Hozark gave Demelza a look. “A good idea. Head back to the ship. I shall follow shortly.”
Also by Scott Baron
Standalone Novels
Living the Good Death
The Clockwork Chimera Series
Daisy’s Run
Pushing Daisy
Daisy’s Gambit
Chasing Daisy
Daisy’s War
The Dragon Mage Series
Bad Luck Charlie
Space Pirate Charlie
Dragon King Charlie
Magic Man Charlie
Star Fighter Charlie
Portal Thief Charlie
Rebel Mage Charlie
Warp Speed Charlie
Checkmate Charlie
The Space Assassins Series
The Interstellar Slayer
The Vespus Blade
The Ghalian Code
Death From the Shadows
Hozark’s Revenge
The Warp Riders Series
Deep Space Boogie
Belly of the Beast
Odd and Unusual Short Stories:
The Best Laid Plans of Mice: An Anthology
Snow White’s Walk of Shame
The Tin Foil Hat Club
Lawyers vs. Demons
The Queen of the Nutters
Lost & Found
About the Author
A native Californian, Scott Baron was born in Hollywood, which he claims may be the reason for his rather off-kilter sense of humor.
Before taking up residence in Venice Beach, Scott first spe
nt a few years abroad in Florence, Italy before returning home to Los Angeles and settling into the film and television industry, where he has worked as an on-set medic for many years.
Aside from mending boo-boos and owies, and penning books and screenplays, Scott is also involved in indie film and theater scene both in the U.S. and abroad.