Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  “How do you know these things?” Braden asked.

  “I’ve studied the records, the knowledge that we used to have. I’m glad it’s not lost on you. Are you connected with your AI?” the Professor asked suddenly.

  “I think we’ll return to our ship now,” Braden parried, unwilling to engage an ancient without talking to Holly. “We have much to think about. If you would be so kind, meet us on the beach tomorrow morning. We’ll return then and have a nice sit-down conversation. Is there anything you miss, from the continent you called it? We could bring it ashore. We have a most excellent coffee,” Braden offered, resuming his Free Trader persona in order to disengage from the Professor. The old man gave Braden the creeps.

  “I’m afraid not, but the company of new people is most welcome. I look forward to resuming our conversation. Until tomorrow,” the Professor said dismissively.

  “If you’ll be so kind, Brandt, to lead the way back to the beach.” Braden pointed at Micah and Bronwyn to follow with the Rabbits and ‘cats joining them. Braden, the Wolfoids, Pik, and Aadi backed away from the old man.

  “Which beach are you talking about?” the Professor inquired pleasantly.

  “I would be surprised if you didn’t know the answer to that question.” Braden had no intention of playing the old man’s game of innocent ignorance. The misfit mob’s actions suggested that being armed was a completely new experience for them. They’d dropped their weapons, leaving them behind without concern. “Until tomorrow.”

  The Professor held the creatures back while he intently watched the companions as they cautiously withdrew. The Hawkoids flew the path ahead, while Skirill stayed behind, watching for anyone following. Braden didn’t think they would, knowing that they didn’t have to. He suspected the old man had all the information about Braden and his companions that he wanted.

  When they arrived on the beach, the ship was already there. Holly had driven the ship even closer, wedging the deck against the sand of the shallow water, before it dropped over the edge of a cliff. Brandt waded out and with a mighty leap, was able to get his front legs and chest onto the deck. He twisted back and forth until he managed to get a back hoof up, then he pulled himself upright and stood on the deck, majestically outlined by the setting sun.

  Bronwyn waded through the gentle surf and with a helping horn from Brandt, she was pulled onto the deck. Aadi swam through the air near her, in case she needed a friendly shell to grab onto. The Wolfoids and Lizard Man were also there to help, then climbed on board after Bronwyn.

  The Rabbits waited on the beach until Braden and Micah could carry them the few steps to the deck and wrestle them on board. Then the humans returned for the ‘cats. Treetis hadn’t tried to ride the Aurochs as the King clambered aboard. The young ‘cat still looked rough from his earlier dunking. The Hawkoids stood on the second deck’s railing, watching the woods for any sign of duplicity.

  There was none.

  Braden helped Micah aboard, and she pulled him up after her. They stood together on the deck as the ship slowly pulled away and backed out of the small cove.

  “What the hell is he all about?” Braden asked, screwing up his face as if he’d just eaten something unpleasant.

  “He’s almost as spooky as the Androids,” she replied.

  That made Braden’s ears perk up. “Did you get a close look at him?”

  “Yes, and he looked plenty human to me. Bronwyn, is he a clone?” Micah asked. The girl shivered as she recalled her mind seeing his.

  “Yes and no. I can’t explain it, but he’s not right. We should leave this place.” Bronwyn sat on a deck chair, hugging her knees to her chest and rocking. Fea climbed into the chair next to her, rubbing against her and purring. The deck chairs magically appeared and disappeared as the Bots managed the ship as if humans had never abandoned it.

  “Did you see anything in his mind about my father, about Caleb?” Micah asked.

  Bronwyn shook her head, then wiped her nose on her shirt.

  “Impressions?” Braden said, waving all the companions into a circle around them. Perched on chairs, sitting on the deck, standing, or laying, everyone was focused on the matter at hand. “He knew things like Holly would know them. He asked if we had neural implants, although I think he already knew that we did. I wonder if he has one, and then who is he connected to?”

  ‘I sensed evil, but he has patience. He wasn’t ready for whatever he wanted to do. Once he felt my presence, he closed his mind to me as easily as you close a door,’ G-War added.

  “Did he get into your mind, G?” Braden asked, unsure what else the old man learned from their minds as they tried to probe his.

  ‘Please,’ the ‘cat scoffed, closing his eyes and feigning sleep.

  “Aadi, I think he knows something about those taken from White Beach. I’ll keep working on him, but it’ll be best if there are fewer of us out there to distract him. I think just G-War and I should go.

  Micah pursed her lips, waiting for Aadi to talk Braden out of his ill-conceived plan.

  ‘I think you may be right, Master Braden. He looked at us as if we were science experiments. The creatures that he surrounded himself with? Those were his attempts to create different species. His efforts didn’t work. I think the less he interacts with us, the better off we’ll be.’ Aadi floated serenely in the middle of the group, turning slowly so he could look at each one’s face. ‘It will be best if we stay on the ship, away from the island. Maybe you can use the small boat that our scientists brought to take you ashore?’

  Braden looked at his partner, but she didn’t want to argue with Aadi, that she should be the one to go and not Braden.

  “Brandt?”

  ‘I have nothing, my friend. This task requires a delicate touch. If you need someone run over, I’m your Aurochs. Or if we were going to sit down and have a nice chat, I can do that, too. But this? No. I will stay here and keep watch over Bronwyn,’ the King of the Aurochs replied.

  “Pik?” Braden asked, going through the companions one by one.

  ‘He is an Overlord and should be killed as soon as possible. Then we will search the island, find what we came for,’ Pik suggested.

  “It may come to that, Pik, but let’s see if we can learn something first. Ess, Zee, Zeeka?”

  Skirill looked at his mate and their daughter. They all shook their heads. ‘We saw no other creatures, nothing special,’ Zyena stated.

  “Were you able to see the whole compound?” Braden asked her.

  ‘Yes and it reminded me of the Overlords’ compound in the Amazon. There’s a well-worn path heading away, opposite the way we came from. I recommend we explore that more. Skirill can do that tomorrow when you are meeting with the Professor. Zeeka and I will stay here and watch,’ Zyena said.

  “I don’t think he noticed you Hawkoids, so let’s keep you out of sight as much as possible. Skirill, are you up to explore the rest of the island, well, at least where that path goes?”

  ‘Of course.’ Skirill bowed.

  “Ferrer, Brigitte?”

  Both Rabbits shook their heads, ears flapping in the gentle breeze as the ship moved away from the island and into the open ocean.

  ‘Last, but not least, are you there, Holly?’ Braden asked over the neural implant.

  ‘Yes, Master Braden. I am not at all comfortable with anyone meeting this ‘Professor.’ I think he is a holdover from the ancients, no better than those who started the civil war that nearly destroyed our world. We cannot trust him.’

  ‘Pretty strong words, Holly,’ Braden replied. ‘I already knew not to trust him, but what else? My plan is to not leave the beach with the Professor. I don’t want to be anywhere we can’t overwhelm him with force. He’s an old man. What could he do to us if we take him? That band of misfits is no match.’

  ‘Just be careful, Master Braden. If he’s an ancient, he may have tricks that you don’t suspect,’ Holly offered. Braden closed his neural implant.

  “If anyone thinks
of anything else, let me know. We’ll talk again over breakfast.” Braden looked at the Golden Warrior, while Treetis with his hair finally starting to settled down, sat next to him. Fea was with Bronwyn, talking. The Rabbits were on their way to the garden. The rest of the companions headed for the galley. Dinner called.

  An Unpleasant Surprise

  The morning arrived with a beautiful sunrise that Braden and Micah watched from a balcony on the third level of the sail. They stood, arms around each other, enjoying the salt of the ocean air. The Hawkoids flew high above, circling the nearby island. They weren’t looking for anything, just stretching their wings. They loved to fly.

  Just as Braden loved to trade. He’d decided that he’d approach this as a trade deal. What did the old man want for information that would help them get Caleb and the others back?

  Micah didn’t support Braden going, but knew that it was for the best. She would lose patience quickly as the old man dodged direct questions. She’d resort to violence and that wouldn’t get her the information. It was better that Braden and G-War go it alone. Micah didn’t like it, but accepted it as their best chance.

  Over breakfast, no one had anything new. Fea was especially kind toward G-War while Treetis had an annoying habit of pawing at the fabricator when he was hungry, which seemed to be all the time. Braden facilitated the young ‘cat’s behavior by getting him something every time he did his thing. Braden was just trying to be nice, but Treetis was learning the wrong lessons. G-War shooed the younger version of himself away and ate half of what Braden had gotten from the machine.

  The Wolfoids seemed fascinated by the exchange. Braden sat close to the fabricator because it only responded to verbal commands. Skirill sometimes had luck making it work, but generally, it was up to the humans to order food for everyone.

  Braden and Micah didn’t mind. They would do anything for their friends and usually the smallest things made the most impact. They had all risked their lives, but the little effort was what kept them close.

  “That’s enough of us milling around and looking at each other!” Braden declared. “G and I are going ashore to work a deal. That’s it. We’ll be back before you wake up from your morning naps! Holly! Move us close to the shore. Where is our boat?” Braden yelled, giving orders as he expected a ship’s captain would.

  The companions casually moved to the main deck, where the boat was tied up at the front of the well deck. The Bots must have removed it during the storm as he didn’t remember it being there when they were getting thrown around. It didn’t matter. He asked Holly for a quick instruction on how everything worked. Holly reiterated at least seven times that under no circumstances was the Hillcat to extend his claws and penetrate the bladders of the small boat, which it relied on to keep it afloat.

  When the ship was close, Braden gave Micah one last hug and kiss, and he climbed into their small boat. G-War jumped and was instantly yelled at for using his claws to stop himself from sliding when he hit the wet rubber.

  “If you think your paws are wet now, if you sink us, you’ll be just like Treetis, a drowned rat,” Braden cautioned. “Just stand in the bottom there and I’ll get us ashore as quickly as I can.” Using the lever that controlled their speed, Braden guided the boat from the aft end of the ship which Holly had conveniently pointed toward the island.

  Braden turned the handle a little one way, then the other, getting the feel of how the boat responded. He twisted the handle and the engine hummed, driving the boat faster and faster until they went airborne over a surging wave. The ‘cat bounced into the air, almost as high as Braden was tall. He came straight back down, landing hard within the boat.

  ‘Do that again, and I will sink us and drown you,’ G-War growled, unhappy with his human for the entire oceangoing adventure.

  “Relax, G! We’re almost there.” Braden throttled back to slow their headlong rush. He’d almost fallen overboard with their little stunt and didn’t want the embarrassment of the boat racing away without him. G-War would never let him live that down.

  Braden guided the boat into the small cove where the dark water was clear, but too deep to see the bottom. They cruised across the calm waters and slid the boat ashore. When Braden stepped out and started to pull the boat farther up the sand, away from the tidal pull, G-War spoke.

  ‘They’re here,’ he said. Braden immediately opened his neural implant. He wanted Holly to be included, for the inevitable challenges the old man would bring.

  Braden let the boat drop and turned to face a younger man, well built, standing firm.

  “Yes, they’re here, nothing to fear, all in good cheer!” he said with a big smile.

  “Who are you?” Braden asked, surprised at the switch.

  “Why, I’m the Professor, of course. Shall we?” the man pointed to a small table and two chairs that had been set up in the shade of a palm tree, similar to those growing at the Oases in the Great Desert. Braden never knew what they were called until Holly told him.

  “I thought the man we met yesterday was the Professor,” Braden said, confused.

  “Yes, he was. That was me. I had worked all night and hadn’t had a chance to clean up. I feel like a new man!” the young Professor exclaimed. Braden gritted his teeth. It was never good to argue with a customer who was clearly lying.

  Why the bait and switch? Braden thought to himself, trying to get back into the right trading mindset. It didn’t matter who negotiated, as long as they were willing to talk.

  G-War looked into the trees, staring at certain spots but not speaking, because he knew the Professor could hear him, even when he spoke only to Braden. The ‘cat didn’t like his thoughts intruded upon, although he couldn’t understand why people were upset when he did it. He was a ‘cat, after all.

  “Well, then, shall we?” Braden pointed to the table and started walking that way. The Professor took a keen interest in looking at Braden’s boots. The Free Trader didn’t ask as he didn’t want to be drawn into any conversation that didn’t have Caleb as its main topic.

  “I’ll start by repeating myself from yesterday. We are looking for humans that were taken from White Beach a few cycles, I mean years, ago and then more people taken recently. We believe they were taken to the undersea facility that is just off shore from this island. You and I both know that’s not a coincidence, so let’s talk about that and how we can get our people back,” Braden said firmly, jaw set as he studied his opponent.

  “What a shame that you think I had anything to do with that. I really have no idea who gets taken or when. My work is far too important to get caught up in the mundane,” the man replied politely.

  “What is your work?” Braden wanted to find common ground with the Professor, who seemed interested, although everything that came out of his mouth was questionable. Braden also noted that the Professor had just confirmed he knew about the undersea facility. The gentle thrust and parry of the negotiation had begun.

  “I think it best if I show you,” the man said, standing up. He produced a device that looked like the communicator Holly had given Micah. The Professor pressed a button and the window where Holly had been filled with fuzz, blocking Braden’s vision. He closed the window and blinked the image away.

  Braden looked at the device and lunged for it, but his muscles didn’t seem to work right. His legs became thick, then his arms were too heavy to hold up. It became harder to breathe. G-War snarled and tried to attack the Professor, but three different nets sprang up from the sand. He tangled into one and a hidden arm dragged the net over the ‘cat, trapping him.

  G-War twisted and slashed, hissed and jumped. All to no avail. He didn’t give up. He kept fighting against the net until a powder wafted over, instantly calming him.

  ‘Braden, I’ve failed you,’ the ‘cat shared over the mindlink before he passed out.

  “No one will hear your plea for help, you magnificent fighter, you. Look at all those scars. My! You must have been in some battles. And you too, my young frie
nd, you too.” The Professor looked closely at Braden, happy that the pin in the chair had done its job and effectively delivered the drug that rendered the young man unconscious.

  “You will both add nicely to my experiments, help me get past these interminable hold ups. Come now!” he yelled at the woods. “Take them to the den.” The misshapen mob appeared and threw Braden unceremoniously onto a stretcher. G-War received even less consideration as they dumped his unconscious form into a bag.

  The Professor pointed to the raft and the man-horse shuffled to it, using a spear to poke holes in all the bladders. He pushed it into the surf where it was dragged backward and disappeared into the depths of the cove.

  Skirill was sitting on a branch of the lone tree at the end of the rocky outcropping. He could see the beach and everything that happened, but he stayed silent as he knew the Professor could hear him. He remained unmoving, sitting as close to the trunk as possible, trying to remain unseen. He’d been there since the break of dawn and watched the Professor set up. He hadn’t seen any of the traps being put into place. He’d failed Braden, too, but he didn’t know that was exactly how G-War felt. Skirill hadn’t heard a thing from those on the beach, and that surprised him.

  When the mob and the Professor disappeared into the woods, Skirill waited until he was sure they were gone, and then he launched himself skyward, flying quickly to the ship.

  He landed and told them what he’d seen. Without hesitation, the two Wolfoids grabbed their spears and ran full speed to the edge of the deck and jumped into the ocean. They started dog-paddling, but the tide was going out. Soon, with Bronwyn’s help, Chlora and Rhodi showed up to guide them toward the shore.

  ‘Holly, get us ashore, now!’ Micah called via her neural implant.