Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  “My room? Oh no! G-War.” Braden bolted from the office. The battle cry of a Hillcat pierced the dark of the evening. Soft lights from hidden torches showed the area, but Braden didn’t think about that. He was focused on keeping his friend from getting hurt.

  The door to the room stood open, and Braden rushed through it. He was greeted by the screeching sound of claws on steel. “G! They’re safe. It’s safe. It’s not attacking.” Without thinking, Braden grabbed two handfuls of the ‘cat and pulled him from the top of the Server Bot.

  The ‘cat turned in a flash, eyes wide, claws out, ready to rake across the human’s face and throat. Braden froze.

  “G. It’s okay. Look at me. It’s okay,” Braden reassured the ‘cat. G-War stopped struggling.

  ‘Put me down,’ he said, anger boiling just beneath the surface.

  “I didn’t know they were coming in, G,” Braden said as he put the ‘cat gently on the floor. “This one is a Server Bot, and the other ones are Maintenance Bots. The ancients built them to maintain the oasis. They aren’t dangerous.”

  ‘Fine. Hold on.’ The ‘cat started heaving and puked the remainder of his javelina onto the floor. Licking his ‘cat lips after finishing, he added, ‘Have that cleaned up before I return.’

  Braden looked at the Server Bot, which had returned to its work making the bed. Two long tendril-like arms deftly pulled the sheets and blanket tight, fluffing the pillow before moving toward the counter area. The ‘cat walked slowly, head and tail high as he left the room.

  The Tortoid had joined them, watching all of it from the safety of the outdoors.

  Braden started laughing, taking care not to step in the steaming mound of ‘cat puke as he left the room to the Server Bot.

  57 - Endless Questions

  Once learning the functions of the beings in Oasis Zero One, peace descended on Braden and his party. He was amazed at how lazy they all grew when their whims were readily indulged.

  Braden spent a great deal of time with the reflection, learning as much as he could about the world of the ancients. Humans settled on Vii from another planet, a long ways away. The original landing site was called Sanctuary in the south.

  What was it like? How far? Can you show me a map of the land? Where are the ancients’ cities?

  Only one city, many outposts, manufacturing facilities, and more. The original settlers had the task of building the infrastructure to support a follow-on civilization. James Warren was the first to settle the area known as Warren Deep. They built a road network to support farming and ranching. Warren Deep was established for the purpose of supplying food for all inhabitants of Cygnus VII. James Warren was a bioengineer, his strength was in creating and modifying animals to make the transition to a human-based world more smooth.

  William Devaney named Devaney’s Barren, the wasteland between the southern and northern continents. It was bracketed on the east and west coasts by mountains rising from two vast oceans that covered most of the planet.

  The reflection, a hologram she called herself, instructed Braden on how to use the desktop interface in the office to access a map of the area. Braden looked at the pictures, then looked behind the monitor to see where the paper was. He didn’t understand how it worked, but he appreciated what it provided. He asked the hologram for a regular map that he could take with him.

  “The map will be downloaded to your neural implant, so it can be recalled and personalized at any time.”

  “I’m not sure what any of that means. I would like a map on paper that I can add to my rudder.”

  “I’m having problems accessing your implant. Has it been damaged in some way?”

  “I don’t think I have one of those. I’m the son of Traders Derek and Agnes. I grew up in my parents’ caravan as they traveled the roads of Warren Deep. My companions are a Hillcat named the Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs, a Hawkoid called Skirill, and Aadi, First Master of the Tortoise Consortium.”

  “Welcome. All travelers are welcome to Oasis Zero One, rest area for those traveling between the north and the south continents.”

  “And that travel would be so much easier with a map.”

  “Once we can access your implant, then we will download all you desire.”

  “Sounds like I’m drawing some maps,” Braden said to himself as he walked out of the office. He returned with his rudder, pencils, and chalks. He sat down at the monitor, recalled the maps as the hologram had showed him, then began to draw.

  58 - Maps

  Braden was having a hard time focusing, when he realized the sun was about to rise. He’d been up all night drawing maps of the world. There were so many place names. He had dutifully captured them, but they didn’t mean anything to him besides the big ones: Warren Deep, Devaney’s Barren, Plains of Propiscius, the Eastern and Western Oceans, and most importantly, the capital city of Sanctuary.

  Sanctuary. It sounded like a safe place to trade for Old Tech.

  The ancients’ life was not for him. He needed to hunt. He needed to trade. He needed to do something with himself. The ancients didn’t have animal companions as the hologram confirmed. None of the doors would open for any of his friends, even after he told the hologram that’s what he wanted. The Maintenance Bots would serve, but only humans.

  Braden couldn’t accept that.

  Time to leave.

  First, they needed to restock. Braden had the fabricator working overtime as he questioned it regarding meals that would last for a few turns. It made granola bars, energy cookies, dried fruits, and a variety of sandwiches on a hard tack. He bundled it all into towels.

  They also went on a killing spree, cleaning out a good part of the javelina population. Braden had a difficult time smoking the meat as every time he started a fire, a Maintenance Bot showed up to put it out. He finally settled for building a fire in the desert, a place where the Bots would not go. He smoked as much meat as possible, but it didn’t amount to much.

  Skirill and Aadi found the granola and dried fruits to be palatable, but both preferred javelina, so Braden committed to eating the fabricator-produced meals, leaving real pork for his companions. Aadi most preferred bugs, but he couldn’t find any. Braden expected the Maintenance Bots eliminated any infestations, although those same Bots completely ignored the javelinas.

  Braden also learned that the Mirror Beast was similar to the Maintenance Bots, but as a Development Unit, it had an energy screen that helped it manage its work in land development and heavy construction. It reflected anything that came at it so it wouldn’t be damaged as it displaced earth, rock, and trees.

  Braden’s brain hurt. He had never been bombarded by so much new information. Every other word from the hologram required an explanation. The planet Vii, pronounced Vee would always be Vii not Cygnus VII. And all those other places he had on his map? The Great Desert was what it was called. He would think about whether to share the map with others.

  Probably not.

  He found out that the small device he acquired in the repair shop was called a watch and a bracelet. It kept the time. He had no use for it, but it was small and the right person might trade a great deal for it.

  While Braden viewed the maps, he shared their images with his companions over the mindlink. The Hawkoid was able to match the pictures with what he had seen in his life. He felt that he could guide the group south on the best track. The maps showed a Hawkoid’s view from above. Braden shook his head at the ancients’ technology.

  G-War remained aloof for the entire time they were at the oasis. Braden expected it was because he could not feel any of the ancients’ creations. His attack upon the Server Bot was brushed off by the metal creature. Maybe G-War finally learned what it was like to be afraid.

  Master Aadi said very little during their stay, but he constantly demonstrated that wisdom is gained in listening, not speaking. He heard every word that the hologram said. He saw every image that Braden shared. He would not forget any of it. During their time crossing th
e remainder of Devaney’s Barren, he would contemplate all he had learned. After that, he would discuss his perceptions with the young human.

  59 – Feeling Bad

  They left at dusk, traveling as they had arrived. Max led Pack, who pulled the cart, and everyone else came along for the ride.

  Night came, then the moon shone, then the moon set, and daylight returned.

  Braden mechanically built their camp in the location that Skirill selected. No one talked. They prepared to sleep, each claiming a spot under their foliage and blanket awning. Their spirit waned. Was it that hard to leave the life of comfort? Was it that hard for G-War to accept that man created these Bots as servants? No one was happy.

  He wasn’t even that tired. He felt like he was in a fog.

  He pulled out his Rico Bow and cleaned it. He looked over its curves, how the string attached. He was good with the bow. He nocked an arrow and picking a spot fifty strides away, he let loose. The arrow hit home, a finger’s width to the right of his target.

  “G. Are you sleeping?”

  ‘No,’ the ‘cat answered.

  “Is anyone sleeping?” The other two shook their heads as they locked eyes on the human. “Why do we feel so bad?”

  ‘We’ve learned that we are but one grain of sand in the Great Desert. We’ve learned that people had power over the very universe, but they are no more. I wonder what happened to them,’ Aadi offered.

  ‘They didn’t recognize us. Only you could open doors,’ Skirill added.

  “And they are lesser for it. Maybe their knowledge disappeared because they didn’t recognize the intelligence that exists in our world, on Vii. The oasis isn’t how we want to live! Is that what they did with their knowledge? They made it so they no longer mattered. Their existence no longer mattered.” Braden dug the toe of his boot into the dirt as he thought of what he wanted to say next.

  “So, my friends, what would we do differently? If this so called technology was available to us, what would we do with it?”

  ‘Not that,’ G-War said definitively.

  “I have to say, G, you left some pretty righteous scratches down the side of that Server Bot. I’m sure it will wear its scars with pride. Then it cleaned up after you, too. You put it in its place.” Braden scratched behind the ‘cat’s ears. G-War purred reluctantly, then settled down and finally batted the human’s hand away.

  The friends passed the time discussing what they liked and what they didn’t. They talked about how they thought the world could be better. It had little to do with things and everything to do with relationships. None of Braden’s companions liked the last oasis. They all liked the first oasis. Provide water and make food available, then leave the rest to them.

  The concept of too much of a good thing was real. As Skirill had found out when he ate too much of the juicy red fruit, as G-War found out when he gorged on the javelina, as Braden learned when he ate all those chocolate brownies.

  Only Aadi had restrained himself. “How did you do it?” Braden asked for the group.

  ‘Simple, Master Braden. In all my years, one thing I like less than starving is eating too much. I haven’t run across the opportunity often, but when I did, I suffered greatly. I’m too old to go through that again. You youngsters will learn one of these turns.’

  60 – Leaving the Great Desert Behind

  One more night of travel found Braden’s caravan leaving the sands of the desert behind. As the morning sun shone, they entered plains where short trees and grasses grew. Gentle, forested, rolling hills filled the horizon. Heavy foliage here and there showed where springs might be present. The Plains of Propiscius were expansive rolling grasslands, fertile and probably teeming with life.

  Braden smiled broadly, before jumping off Max and kissing the ground. They had done it. They’d crossed the Great Desert.

  Skirill was airborne, flying in circles around the party, seeing all there was. He looked for a pond or a stream. They’d rest there for a full turn before starting the next leg of their journey. They no longer needed to travel at night. It was hot at the edge of the Plains, but not desert hot. There was moisture in the air. Master Aadi found it very pleasant.

  “Do you sense anything G?”

  ‘Yes,’ the ‘cat said as he looked south while sniffing the air. ‘Deer are that way. Boars. Wild dogs.’ He coughed in disgust. Braden snorted at that. ‘And a human.’

  “What? Where?” Instantly alert, Braden didn’t know what to think. Even though the hologram confirmed there were humans in the south, he assumed they had disappeared. It had been nearly four hundred cycles and none made it beyond the Plains of Propiscius.

  ‘That way. Not far.’ G-War indicated the direction with a nod.

  ‘Do you see anything, Skirill?’ Braden watched as the Hawkoid circled lazily, finally focusing on a stand of trees wrapped around a small lake. Through their mindlink, the companions saw Skirill’s clear view of a person who appeared to be fishing. When he looked up and locked eyes with the Hawkoid, he threw his pole down and started scrambling for something under a tree.

  “Get out of there!” Braden shouted out loud, although Skirill only heard him through the mindlink. The Hawkoid dove to increase speed and put a tree between him and the unknown person. He beat his wings hard back to the companions.

  “It looks like we know which way we’re going.” Braden said as he pointed Max’s nose toward the lake. He loosened his Rico Bow at the same time and held it across his lap at the ready. Venison sounded good, just in case something appeared before they arrived. And it didn’t hurt to be ready in case the human was unfriendly.

  Braden set a brisk pace. The cart bounced along as Pack trotted behind Max. G-War expressed a certain amount of dismay, which Aadi found entertaining. The Tortoid floated along behind the cart, a rope grasped tightly in his beak-like mouth.

  Strange thoughts raced through the young human’s mind as he contemplated his first meeting with an ancient.

  61 – She’s Hungry

  Braden’s caravan approached the trees and the lake. “Is he still here?” he asked the ‘cat.

  ‘Yes, she is.’

  “Interesting. That changes things,” he responded.

  ‘How, young human?’ Master Aadi asked.

  “Well, she could… She might... She is, well, different.” The Tortoid blinked rapidly in response and managed a cough, too. G-War jumped from the cart and silently disappeared into the shadows.

  ‘Threat?’ Braden asked.

  ‘Yes, if we are not careful. She will protect herself, but she will not attack first,’ G-War answered.

  Braden knew what he had to do. Assuming his well-practiced role as a trader, he climbed down from the horse and walked ahead with his hands up.

  “Hello! I am Free Trader Braden. I am no threat to you. I simply want to talk, possibly trade, and maybe you can provide us with directions to Sanctuary.”

  “Stop right there or I’ll blow you away!” came a harsh bark from a young voice. Braden looked in her direction, seeing that she held a complex Old Tech item in front of her. She stood with a tree at her back. Her accent was odd to him. He understood her words clearly enough, but not the meaning.

  “Are you an ancient? Do you command the wind?”

  “What? What wind? Where did you come from? You said ‘us.’ Where are the others?” She rapidly spit out the series of questions.

  “I’m sorry, maybe I didn’t understand. Let me start again. I am Free Trader Braden, on my way in search of Old Tech that I can take north of the Great Desert, I mean Devaney’s Barren, back to my homeland of Warren Deep. The others are my companions.

  “The Tortoid is called Master Aadi. You saw the Hawkoid Skirill earlier while you were fishing. And I am bonded with a Hillcat named Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs.” The Hillcat stepped onto a tree branch not far from her and sat down, wrapping his tail around him as he looked at her.

  “Your companions are animals?” she asked without lowering the dev
ice she held in front of her.

  “Yes,” Braden began. “But they are the most trustworthy and faithful friends I’ve ever had.” He held his head high, nodding to Master Aadi, who swam forward and floated at his side. “Is that a weapon? I would appreciate it if you stopped pointing it at me so we can converse peacefully.”

  “I don’t trust you. I don’t trust your creatures. You need to go.”

  “We’ve come a long way. We need water and rest. We would very much like to stay at this lake. We have smoked pork and other food items if you are hungry.” He watched as she licked her lips. He expected food was the hook to get her to relax. He didn’t need to mention that some of his food had been produced by the fabricator at Oasis Zero One.

  “Show me what you have…” the young woman said, finally lowering her weapon.

  62 - Micah

  They sat together on the shore of the small lake, around a fire pit the young woman had made to cook the fish she had not yet caught.

  “I am Micah. I’m from the village Trent, on the coast east of here.” She talked in between bites of granola, smoked javelina, and dried fruits. She ate like one starved. Braden’s instincts told him that to gain her trust, he needed to let her talk. His job was to listen.

  “I’ve never met anyone from north of the Barren. What’s it like?”

  “Very green. Big mountains in the east. Towns and villages. People. Animals, both dangerous and friendly, both intelligent and dumb.

  “I’m a trader. We have blacksmiths, weavers, carpenters, paper makers, artisans, farmers, ranchers, butchers, and more. What about you? How did you get here? What about that Old Tech of yours? What does it do?”

  The young woman looked apprehensively at Braden. She was short and sturdy, without any fat. She also had braids, but hers were chestnut and multi-colored. She shook her head, before focusing on a point in the distance.