Spice Crimes

by Dale Ivan Smith

  Yumi sniffed the air. "There's a scent I recognize," she said.

  Mica licked her lips. “That smells fantastic!”

  "See if you recognize this taste," Beck said, and handed them each a plate with a taco on it. The Doctor eyed his suspiciously, but then picked up his taco and began nibbling at it. "This is tasty," Alejandro mumbled around a mouthful of fish.

  Beck's eyes widened. The Doctor never called anything tasty. But then again, he hadn't been at breakfast.

  The mushrooms and grilled veggies were next. Beck shut off the grill, and began doling out the mushrooms and grilled veggies.

  "These are pretty delicious," Yumi said.

  "Yummy Yumi," Mica giggled. Yumi gave her a sidelong glance, then broke out laughing.

  The Doctor wobbled on his feet. "There's something not quite right," he said. "By the way, why do those cylinders have the Imperial Black Box symbol on them?"

  Beck was finding it difficult to think.

  Yumi started to fall, Mica tried to catch her, but ended up toppling over herself. The Doctor blinked. "I think we've been exposed to a--" he passed out.

  Beck staggered to the input pad to open the hatch, but before he could reach it, the floor rushed up and smacked him into unconsciousness.

  3

  The towers at Cosmic Wonders rose up around them, gleaming like the stalks of some giant glittering plant. Alisa's own footsteps felt light beneath her, while Jelena skipped ahead, running toward the Robo Horse Range. Ostberg half-walked, half-trotted behind Jelena, obviously trying not to seem too eager, but his eyes had lit up when Jelena had mentioned the Robo Horse Range and riding a galloper.

  “Come on, mom!” Jelena called back over her shoulder at Alisa.

  “She’s going to wear me out,” Alisa said to Leonidas. “After the Virtual Reality Ocean Wonders, then the Zero Gee Maze, and now a second go at the Robo Horse range.” Alisa rubbed her backside. “I’m still sore from the first time we did them.”

  Leonidas grimaced. “You’re sore? Try being my size and riding a ’bucking bronco,’ I think they were called.”

  She patted his arm. “You only fell off twice. Besides, Jelena loved that you were out there riding with us, bucking bronco or no bucking bronco.” She leaned in closer. “I’d be happy to be an alternative in the bronco department.”

  Leonidas’s face turned a faint shade of red. Alisa grinned. She shouldn’t tease him, but it was so much fun watching him react. He’d gotten better since they’d settled down into a routine of hauling cargo, taking a break for a few days, and then another run. He didn’t even complain about the lack of any shooting or fighting. They’d both had their fill after the business with Tymoteusz, and she knew he was as happy as she was just to have a boring routine for a change.

  “You fill out that shirt I gave you nicely,” Alisa said. Leonidas wore a silk blend “sculpted shirt” that showed off his pecs and abs to good effect. Her skin tingled at the sight.

  His face colored again. “It is comfortable fabric,” he said, smoothing the shirt. He wore a sleeveless lightweight vest over it.

  “Goes well with the pants.” She grinned. She had gotten him camouflaged patterned cargo pants as a gift to go with the shirt and vest before the run to Baku Moon.

  “I like the fit,” he agreed. “And the pockets. Pockets are always useful.”

  She cocked her head, considering the bulge in one thigh pocket.

  “You didn’t bring a weapon to an amusement park, did you?”

  He gave her a matter-of-fact look. “I always come prepared.”

  “Leonidas,” she said in a whisper. “Here?”

  “It’s only a combat knife,” he said.

  “Well, if that’s all, then it’s fine,” she said.

  “You don’t do sarcasm nearly as well as Mica.” He said it with a straight-face, but the skin around his eyes crinkled.

  She laughed. “No one does.” Her own garb was a brown synth-leather body suit, with zippered pull-away sleeves, and matching belt and boots. She couldn’t remember the last time she wore a nice outfit. The catering escapade on Henneberry’s yacht didn’t count.

  Jelena waited impatiently for them at the entrance to the Robo Horse range, Ostberg beside her, trying not to seem too eager. A line of brilliantly colored robotic equines waited just beyond the gate. There was a faint hum of power overhead, accompanied by magnificent-sounding singing. Alisa and Leonidas glanced up. A marble-colored hover platform floated above them, trailing ribbons. Alisa could just make out a swirl of fabric on the edge of the platform.

  “Mom, come on!” Jelena tugged at Alisa’s sleeve. “We can ride the faerie barge later.”

  Alisa glanced at Leonidas. His brows furrowed in confusion. She shrugged. At least Jelena was having the time of her life, and Leonidas was bearing the day well.

  Later, the four of them met up with Stanislav, Abelardus and Young-Hee who waited for them at a table at the Dazzle Corner, a little nightclub-themed restaurant in Old Earth Town. They had gotten lucky in their timing in visiting Cosmic Wonders—apparently, the place was normally packed with tourists from elsewhere in the system.

  Stanislav got up when they arrived, still looking a little out of place in civilian clothes rather than Starseer robes. Abelardus and Young-Hee remained seated, heads together. Alisa felt a flash of jealousy. They must have taken one of the private zero-gee adults-only rooms. She was surprised they’d actually made it to the restaurant, but no doubt they needed to rest and recharge after sexy fun times. She’d like to spend some quality time with Leonidas in a zero-gee room. Maybe this evening.

  Jelena ran up to Stanislav, and gave him a hug. “Grandpa, you missed the faerie barge!”

  “I wanted to make sure we had tickets for the singing forest, and the laser palace, like you asked.”

  She hugged him again. “Thank you!”

  Alisa and Leonidas sat down at the table.

  “That was very kind of you,” Alisa said.

  Stanislav looked at her gravely. “I’m happy to do something like this for my granddaughter and my daughter.” He nodded at Leonidas. “It gave you a chance for some bonding time.”

  Alisa raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t sure if Stanislav were kidding or not, he said it with such a straight face.

  But it was true.

  They had a great late lunch. Alisa pushed back her now empty dessert plate and glanced at her comm. No message from the rest of the crew. The others should have arrived by now. Beck’s special treat must have taken longer than he’d said it would.

  They cut through a recreation of an ancient Earth midway. The place was deserted. Androids in straw boat hats, white striped shirts with bow-ties, and red vests stood waiting in booths.

  Stuffed animals lined shelves behind the various games of chance. Balloons hung from dart boards in one booth. Pyramids of glass bottles lined a long wooden trestle table in another. In a third an ancient rifle attached to a mount faced an odd-looking series of metal rails along a high wall. Alisa and Leonidas stopped at the gun. Jelena pulled Stanislav and Ostberg both behind her, not noticing her mother had stopped for a moment, then she stopped and turned.

  "Mom, the dragon train is leaving in five minutes!"

  Oh, the thrill of riding a dragon train, Abelardus said in her mind.

  "Just a minute, honey." You don't have to go if you don't want to, she thought to Abelardus.

  True. Young-Hee's still thinking about it.

  “Nice of you to be so considerate,” Alisa muttered. He didn't answer.

  Leonidas sighted down the old-style gun sight on the rifle. "What's the objective?" He asked the android waiting inside the booth.

  "Well, sir, behind me is a target range. Hit targets to win a prize."

  "Any prize?" Leonidas's face was thoughtful.

  "Certain prizes require a higher degree of success, sir.”

  "I see."

  "I'm glad that you do, sir."

  "Mom!" Jelena called.

>   Your daughter takes after you when it comes to impatience, Abelardus observed wryly.

  Hush, she told him.

  "Do you want to stay here?" she asked Leonidas.

  "If you don't mind. I'd like to try to win a prize for Jelena." He leaned down close to Alisa. “See the Andromeda Android doll?”

  Alisa’s eyes widened. A meter-long Andromeda Android doll perched on a shelf to one side of the target range, legs dangling. The doll held a blazer pistol in one hand. Jelena would have seen the doll if she hadn’t been so intent on getting to their next stop.

  I will let Jelena know, Abelardus commented.

  “Don't you dare,” she said in a low voice. “She's been looking forward to the dragon train ride.”

  Jelena would love an Andromeda Android doll. Alisa had never seen one so big before. But Jelena had also been looking forward to the ride.

  These midway games aren't as simple as they look.

  How do you know? She asked silently.

  I've picked up the thoughts of a couple of people who tried their luck and lost. We passed them on the way in.

  Still, it was a chance.

  Trusting in the big guy? Abelardus said in her mind, his tone actually sympathetic for once.

  Always.

  "Wait here," she told Leonidas and ran to meet Jelena, who stood between Stanislav and Ostberg, impatiently swinging her arms and practically hopping from foot to foot.

  "Why isn't Leonidas coming?" Jelena asked.

  "Honey, we'd like to stay here. Can we meet up with you three later?"

  "Okay." Clearly Jelena hadn't really taken in the games, or maybe she thought they were lame.

  "Is that okay, Dad?" She asked Stanislav.

  "Of course.” His smile was warm. Alisa smiled in return. It was great to see her father enjoying himself.

  Alisa turned to Ostberg. "How about you, Erick?"

  He hesitated, looking past Alisa at the midway, interest obvious in his eyes. Jelena tugged on his arm. "We're going to go ride the holo cycles after this, remember?"

  A smile lit up his face. "Yeah! I did forget."

  Jelena turned and started tugging on Stanislav and Ostberg's arms. "Okay, mom, see you later." Just like that, Jelena was off again. Alisa felt a brief pang, but they'd meet up again soon enough.

  Young-Hee and Abelardus stood near Leonidas when Alisa returned. She raised an eyebrow.

  "This your sort of thing?" she asked Abelardus.

  He shrugged. "It is when Young-Hee wants to watch."

  Young-Hee smiled slyly.

  "Are you ready to try your luck, sir?" The android attendant asked Leonidas.

  "I am."

  "Very well. Your gold pass entitles you to a free play at each booth. Additional plays are ten credits each."

  Alisa frowned. "Ten credits? That's expensive for games."

  "That's assuming sir needs them," the android said.

  But an Andromeda Android is the stakes. How could your hulking brute not attempt that for your daughter? The tone of his telepathic voice was back to being mocking.

  Only I call him hulking brute, she responded silently.

  Abelardus grinned at her. Leonidas saw the reaction, shook his head. "Talking about me?"

  "Of course, we are, who else?" Alisa winked at him.

  He shook his head. "You could include me in the conversation."

  "True. And I would, if it were an interesting conversation." She patted his arm, shooting a quick glare at Abelardus, who looked away.

  "Are you ready, sir?" The android asked Leonidas.

  He nodded. He lifted the rifle and aimed along the sight.

  The target range whirred to life. Painted silhouettes of animals--ducks, deer, lions, bears, quail, and on, rose from the track and began moving from left to right. There were three levels of animals.

  "Please wait to fire until I tell you to begin," the Android said. "You will need to hit every animal on each level in order to win the prize.”

  "Hold on," a voice called from behind them. A heavy-set man dressed like the android attendants, in white striped shirt, and red vest, wearing a straw boat hat pushed back on his head, jogged up to them, sweat gleaming on his face. "I'm the manager of this midway. We have special rules for cyborgs."

  Alisa crossed her arms. "You do? That seems unfair." Why would they have special rules for cyborgs?

  "We need to be fair to the park, too, madam," the man wheezed.

  "What are the special rules?" Leonidas didn't look annoyed.

  "You'll have to shoot at the targets blindfolded."

  Alisa gestured at the target range and the moving silhouettes. "That's ridiculous! You can't expect anyone to shoot blind at moving targets."

  The man produced a cloth from his vest pocked and mopped his forehead. "I'm sorry, but those are the rules."

  "That you just made up!"Alisa scowled

  He looked at his hand. "Those are the rules, have been for some time."

  "How long?" She demanded.

  "A while."

  Before she could hit him with another retort, Leonidas spoke up.

  "I accept." He was calm and relaxed.

  "This is ridiculous!" Alisa waved her arms. "He's cheating you."

  Leonidas squeezed her shoulder. "It will be fine."

  Hand shaking, the man pulled another cloth from his vest, tied it around Leonidas's eyes.

  "Okay, you can begin," the man told the android attendant.

  "Very good, sir." The android turned to Leonidas. "Are you ready, sir?"

  "I am."

  Alisa swallowed. This was so unfair. But Leonidas took a deep breath, turned his head and listened as the target silhouettes moved along their rails. He waited as the targets completed a revolution. Alisa noticed the middle rail moved slower than the top and bottom one. The silhouettes also vibrated as they moved. That would make them harder to hit. She bit her lip at the unfairness.

  Leonidas turned back to face the target range, and pointed the rifle at the target duck moving on the middle rail. He fired.

  The duck went down with a loud ping that made Alisa jump. Leonidas took "aim" on the deer on the upper-most track, fired. Ping! He cocked his head. Listened. He then shot at the rabbit on the bottom rail. Ping! He began firing steadily. One after another the silhouettes went down until there was only the wolf on the middle rail. Leonidas listened carefully as the wolf went around the range three times.

  Alisa shifted her feet. Just when she was about to say something, he fired.

  Ping! The wolf fell over.

  Leonidas pulled off his blindfold.

  "Excellent shooting, sir," the android attendant commented.

  "That was!" Alisa agreed.

  The manager shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it. How did you do it?"

  Abelardus and Young-Hee were both trying to hide their smirks, and failing.

  Alisa raised an eyebrow at Leonidas, who shrugged, then smiled at her. He tapped his ears. "I just listened," he said.

  "Enhanced hearing? But that shouldn't make the difference," the managed said.

  Abelardus and Young-Hee burst out laughing. "He was listening to the sounds the metal targets gave off, and how the resonance changed as the number of targets dropped."

  "You were reading his mind?" Alisa asked them.

  "Yes," Young-Hee replied. "Sorry," she said to Leonidas, "but we couldn't help ourselves."

  He smiled. "I'll excuse it, this time."

  He turned to the Android attendant. "I'd like the Andromeda Android doll please."

  The attendant put the doll in a bag and handed it to Leonidas.

  "I hope you appreciate that that is a rare doll," the manager griped.

  "I care that it will make a certain birthday girl happy," Leonidas said.

  Alisa couldn't hide her grin as they walked away from the midway, Leonidas carrying the Andromeda Android in its bag, slung from one shoulder, while Alisa put an arm around his waist.

  �
��Well played,” she said. “Nice to see the good guy win.”

  They would spend the night at the family suite at the Fantastic Vista Hotel, Cosmic Wonders’ finest, according to the information that had come with their golden passes had proclaimed. Very generous of their client to throw in an overnight stay. It would be nice to use the fancy showers and each have their own hotel rooms, rather than just cabins. She and Leonidas might actually get to see what frictionless sheets were like. The thought came to her while they were on something called a roller coaster. Then again, she’d need to talk to Jelena about staying with Stanislav for the night. Well, she’d cross that bridge when she came to it. For now, she rode the rollercoaster as it dipped and swerved on the track, and listened to Jelena, Ostberg, Abelardus, and Young-Hee, arms in the air, shrieking while Leonidas sat beside her, an relaxed grin on his face.

  Jelena had mapped out the whole rest of the evening. Water fire (whatever that was), and then the Holo Parade. Jelena couldn’t stop talking about it. It was coming up in just a couple of hours. Alisa couldn’t remember the last time Jelena had been that excited. Part of her didn’t want this day to end.

  But Beck, Alejandro, Mica, and Yumi still hadn’t showed up. Despite all the fun she was having, a nagging feeling made her want to go check on Nomad and make sure the ship had been properly secured in case Beck and company had decided to go out on a food requisition mission. Of course, if they had come to the park, the ship would still have to be properly secured, but the fact that they hadn’t shown up, and may have gone off elsewhere made Alisa worry that Mica, who normally was very thorough, would have somehow forgotten to lock the ship.

  Her mood vanished like snow beneath a starship's thrusters. Great, way to wreck the mood, she thought. If they had just answered her comm she wouldn’t worry.

  Fine, then it was time to see what they were up to and share some of her lousy mood.

  A strong hand squeezed her shoulder. Alisa glanced up. Leonidas looked concerned. "You're angry that some of the crew are still not on mandatory, enforced fun.”

  She didn't try to deny it. "They are ruining the day."