by Dave Lemel
Simon glanced up. “If you have this kind of presence in this solar system already, why are you sending us all the way out there?”
“I did consider using the agency we have operating in that solar system. However, much like here on Earth, when law enforcement or military from two different nations work in tandem, it can be difficult to keep the operation running smoothly.”
Todd glanced up this time. “It’s not just when multiple countries are involved. Even with a single country or area of a country, when two law enforcement agencies are forced to work together it frequently ends up a mess.”
“Precisely,” replied Lombargnor. “Considering the delicate nature of this particular assignment, I felt it best if we simply cleaned up our own mess.”
Simon nodded and turned back towards the hologram. “Okay, so we’re in orbit around Gleeb.”
“From there,” continued Lombargnor, “you two will head down to Jandor, the largest city on the eastern coastline of the land mass known as Greepo. As you see here,” Lombargnor slowly dragged a finger from one of his right hands over the planet of interest, “the land wraps the planet like a belt pole to pole. Greepo is this strip here, identifiable by the more mountainous terrain and slimmer silhouette from coast to coast.”
Todd studied the slowly rotating hologram of Gleeb. “Seems easy enough so far. Where do we find Jandor, exactly?”
Lombargnor stopped the planet from rotating and moved in closer on the eastern coastline of the land mass he had just identified as Greepo. As more detail emerged, clusters of structures revealed cities scattered all over Greepo. Most of them were located up and down the eastern coastline. Approximately halfway between the equatorial region and the northern pole of the planet, one of the largest clusters of structures sat on a cove.
“This city here is Jandor. The population hovers right around one million. As one of the largest cities on a planet very open to tourism and importing/exporting, it will be quite simple to arrive without anyone finding your presence out of the ordinary. You are to wear unmarked space suits on the way down to the planet surface. After you land, you should dress as you normally would if you were on vacation.”
Todd’s eyes narrowed. “What about our links? Are we not supposed to be wearing them?”
“You will still wear your links at all times. It would be preferable if you had a long loose sleeve covering it, but that is not absolutely necessary. There are other species with similar communication devices that are reasonably common. There is simply no reason to risk any unwanted attention. This is the beginning of spring in the area Jandor is located, and the climate is comparable to this region on Earth, so long sleeves will be practical attire as well as providing a touch more anonymity. That also reminds me—the days will feel long to you. Gleeb has a day comparable to twenty-nine Earth hours. This time of year, in the hemisphere you will be visiting, that will translate to nineteen-hour days and ten-hour nights.”
“Got it,” replied Simon. “If I remember correctly, there is some sort of map to Doug’s location supposedly left in this city.”
“Correct, Marshal Cain.” Lombargnor zoomed in on a stretch of the city along the ocean, towards the northernmost outskirts. A wide, elevated boardwalk with a large boulevard on one side and the ocean on the other revealed itself. “Here, across from this boardwalk, is a long strip of restaurants, clubs, and bars.” Lombargnor pointed a long purple finger at a narrow street leading inland about midway in the strip of restaurants, clubs, and bars he had just referenced. “On this street, the third door on the right hand if heading up, on the northern side, is a small café called Tenjo’s. Douglas indicated that he had hidden the map in a booth up against the front window of that café.”
Simon squinted. “What if it’s not there when we go to retrieve it?”
“Hopefully, that is not an issue. However, if you are unable to retrieve the map, you will have to head into the mountains and search for him. At any given time, there are few to zero humans on Gleeb. This should aid in your search because a human living in the mountains above Jandor would likely draw some attention.”
Simon’s eyes creased further and his lips thinned. “Still, that sounds like it will be a serious task to undertake sans map.”
“It would likely increase the length of your searching time significantly,” confirmed Lombargnor.
“Well,” said Todd, “then the map will be where it should be.”
“Glad you’re so confident.” Simon’s eyes rolled sideways toward Todd.
“Either way,” Todd said, meeting Simon’s glance before looking back up at Lombargnor, “when we find him, what comes next?”
“I am leaving it up to you two to determine if poding him is necessary or not. He sent the distress call, and after years embedded with the Vikards, he likely wants to get home regardless of the punishment awaiting him. On the other hand, he clearly has proven himself to no longer be a loyal marshal or otherwise good citizen of Earth. No matter how you get him to the Henrietta, once aboard I would like him securely locked in the brig until you return to Earth.”
Todd nodded once, sharply. “Understood. Then back through the port and on our way home.”
“That is correct, marshal.”
Todd grinned. “Just one big thing you’ve left out so far, boss.”
“What specifically are you referring to?”
“Well,” Todd said, his eyes opening a bit wider, “when are we going to go over how to use the port key?”
Lombargnor looked down at Todd and thought he saw a very familiar look on the face of the young man looking up at him. Lombargnor’s big black eyes narrowed slightly before breaking eye contact and looking at the floor as he placed precisely where he had seen it before. His eyes widened and his small mouth curled into a slight grin. “Right now, Marshal Jordan.”
Lombargnor walked slowly around from the interior of the large U-shaped table. He made his way to a silver metallic box the size of a nightstand sitting in the corner beside the wall of screens. He pulled his link up, entered a few commands, and the hologram at the center of the table disappeared. He tapped a spot on the top of the box, and a small control panel revealed itself. He entered a sequence of commands, and the box began to hover just above the ground. Lombargnor grabbed it with two hands and guided it around and into the center of the U by Todd and Simon.
All eyes in the room were focused intently on the cube now. “This, marshals, is a Bopecan port key.” Todd and Simon closed in on either side of Lombargnor as the three surrounded the object of interest. “As we speak, one of these from the small ultra-secure supply on the dock is being loaded onto the Henrietta . It is being placed in a designated space in the storage area of that ship, where it is to remain at all times when not in use. Once you have finished stocking up at the port station and are ready to proceed through, you will bring that key out of storage and up to the bridge. As the port is being turned back on, you will activate the key.”
“How?” Todd interjected as he looked all over the cube for the power switch.
“The key on the Henrietta has been biometrically linked to both of you as well as Ben and Foggen, just in case. If any of you place your hand flat in this area here on the top and hold it there for three seconds, the control panel will open. That key has two locations pre-loaded into it at this time. One is the port in the Montice system. The other is the port outside Jupiter you will be leaving and returning through. As you approach the port after it has been turned on, you will enter this sequence of commands.”
The control panel was roughly six inches by nine inches. At the top was a narrow display screen laid out horizontally. Underneath were thirty buttons in the form of Bopecan characters. The Bopecan alphabet and numbers had always reminded Todd of the ancient cuneiform tablets he had learned about in high-school with a small dose of Egyptian hieroglyphics thrown in. With his Bopecan languages upgrade
, Todd could decipher them as if they were his native language.
Lombargnor began typing on the keys. “You will enter ‘destination one’ then hit enter. These coordinates should appear on the display screen. To be safe they, along with the coordinates for both ports in this solar system, will be sent to your links in the unlikely event that you would find yourselves needing to manually enter them. Either way, compare what appears on the display to the appropriate coordinates saved on your link to confirm it matches before going through.”
“Okay.” Todd nodded. “I will never forget that purplish wave that filled the ship after the key was activated when we went through at academy. When does that happen?”
“Once you have confirmed and you are certain the port is on and ready to receive, you will simultaneously press these two buttons above the display.”
Lombargnor depressed the two buttons he had indicated, and a moment later the cube split cleanly down the middle. The half across from the control panel slid away two and a half feet, revealing a hexagonal tube connecting the two halves of the box together. Three small purple orbs of light began passing each other as they pinged back and forth in the tube. The speed with which they bounced back and forth increased rapidly until there were three solid purple rods of light in the tube accompanied by a low-pitched, whirring sound. The glow started.
It emanated from the tube and increased in intensity as it spread outward in every direction. It appeared almost liquid as it poured over the top and sides of the box before flowing over the floor and up the walls. Lombargnor stepped back up to the control panel and simultaneously depressed the two buttons three times in quick succession. The whirring sound immediately decreased in volume as the light quickly retracted back inwards towards the box. Once the light was contained within the box, the two sides contracted back together into the original cube; it sealed shut, and the room went quiet.
“I forgot about the taste,” Todd remarked as he smacked his lips slightly.
“Me too,” added Simon. “I remembered the tingly feeling, but that weird taste it puts in your mouth,” he said, smacking a couple times as well, “don’t know how I forgot that.”
“Once you allow the process to complete itself, as opposed to halting it as I just did, the wave will coat every molecule from the exterior shell and contained within the vessel you are traveling in. Once you hit the interior of the activated port ring, you will instantaneously appear outside the port of destination indicated on your key.”
Simon leaned in to look at the control panel closer. “Do we hit the buttons three times in quick succession after that to turn it off?”
“It will shut off automatically once you reach a certain distance while traveling away from the port, or you may choose to shut it down yourself at that time. There is a group of hotels near the north end of the Jandor boardwalk. They operate a long-term parking garage together. Land there with your cruiser and check in to whichever of the hotels in that group that you prefer. Remember to dress and act like you’re on vacation. The cruisers are not all that recognizable as law enforcement outside this solar system. They do stand out as different, however. Once it is parked, use it only if absolutely necessary until you are prepared to depart Gleeb and head back to the Henrietta . I see no need to risk drawing unnecessary attention to yourselves.”
“Understood,” replied Todd and Simon in unison.
“Is that everything?” asked Todd
“Yes, marshal, this concludes your pre-assignment briefing. I had Pritzley supply some appropriate clothing to wear on Gleeb, as well as the unmarked space suits. All will be in your lockers. Please be sure you pack everything before heading up. Also, there are two vac-pens with vaccine cocktails for traveling to a planet you have never been to. You both must inject those before you leave the locker room. Good luck, marshals, and we will be in contact soon.”
“Thanks, boss. I really do appreciate your faith in me for this assignment. I will not let you down.”
Lombargnor returned Todd’s determined stare. “It is not difficult to have faith in a being of your character, Marshal Jordan. It is difficult when a being of your character turns bitter with age and experience as opposed to seasoned and resolute.”
Todd broke eye contact and looked at the table, knowing perfectly well what Lombargnor was getting at. He shook his head in acknowledgement before re-engaging in eye contact. “You will not be disappointed.”
Lombargnor nodded back in reply.
“C’mon.” Todd tapped Simon on the elbow. “Let’s go suit up.”
Chapter 5
As the door to the briefing room clicked shut behind them, Todd turned to Simon and groaned. “Ugh, a vac-pen. I should’ve known. You’re gonna have to give me mine. I cannot get myself to stab one of those things into my leg.”
Simon grinned. “You are such a baby. They don’t even really hurt.”
“It’s not that! I just hate needles. It’s the syringe, man. Needles and snakes. Frickin’ snakes are like syringes that slither around after you. That tiny little pin puncturing you, then injecting fluid into you…” Todd shivered. “Ehhyuch.”
“All right, all right. I’ll do yours, too, ya big baby. I really hope that map is where it should be. This journey is already leaning towards arduous. If we have to hike around mountainous terrain on a foreign planet with no real direction, it could get utterly ridiculous.”
With no change of expression or stride, Todd responded, “It’ll be there.”
Simon glared at the side of Todd’s head with a soured expression. “Seriously, dude, you’re gonna drive me nuts with that crap if you’re like this the whole way there.”
Todd turned and his forehead creased. “Like what? Optimistic?”
“No, optimism is fine. I’m down with optimism. It’s that flippant, no hint of doubt or shred of thought to even the possibility something may not go perfect bordering on arrogance that makes me nuts.” Simon squinted a little. “Maybe ignorance would be a better choice of word.” His eyes opened wider. “Both. I’m going with ignorant arrogance.”
Todd grinned as he opened the door to exit the headquarters building; the icy air blasted him in the face, instantly removing the grin. They made their way across the road to the building housing the locker room. “Shoulda taken the underground tunnel,” Todd said through white puffs of breath. “And sorry, I’ll try to temper my ignorant arrogance with some healthy pessimism.”
“Not pessimism. I like optimism. Just a touch more realism wouldn’t hurt.”
“To be clear, I do anticipate some bumps in the road on this assignment. Probably some big ones. I just have this overwhelming feeling the map is going to be where it’s supposed to be.”
“Okay. Well, I hope you’re right. I mean, your gut did finally get the running-into-Jay-Gibson feeling correct on our last assignment, so maybe it’s on a roll.”
“Yeah!” exclaimed Todd as they stepped up to an entrance of the building neighboring the cruiser hangar. “There ya go.” Todd pulled open the steel door, and a rush of heat from inside welcomed them through the doorway.
Todd skipped down the steps two at a time to the locker room door. “I knew you’d come around.” He pulled the heavy oak doors open, revealing the emerald green carpet within.
As they made their way through the cluster of tables at the center of the room, a group of six marshals, two women and four men, were making a significant amount of noise. Each had a pile of betting chips in front of them, and seven die with odd markings sat in the center of the table. Three were green, three were purple, and one was black.
Todd and Simon did not need to ask to know they were playing pittsnog. The Bopecan dice game had taken off among marshals long ago and was a common sight in the locker room. “Hot action?” asked Todd as they weaved around the group.
“Not now, Todd,” replied one of the marshals as she pulled her orange h
air back into a ponytail. “Manny needs a refresher course in why I am the greatest pittsnog player on this planet—or any other I am aware of.”
“Well, your chip pile says otherwise,” said a marshal with dark black curly hair and a light brown complexion. He was seated across from her and behind the largest collection of chips on the table.
“Shut up and roll,” she grumbled back.
Todd and Simon rounded the final table and headed for the back corner and the row of lockers containing their two. “Looks like Pritzley’s been busy,” Todd said as he studied the pile of new items that had accumulated on the bottom of and at the foot of the opening of the oak locker. His eyes stopped on a small rectangular item wrapped in tan canvas with a zipper running around the outer edges. “And there’s the stupid vac-pen.”
“You just wanna get it over with?” Simon asked as he sat down to take his boots off.
“Actually, yes.” Todd bent down and snatched up the small canvas case. “Here. Make it quick.”
Simon grinned and took the case from Todd’s outstretched hand. He unzipped it and found the thick cylindrical item inside. He pulled it out and studied the label wrapping it. “Leg or arm? Looks like either is fine for this one, and I am not doing your hindquarters.”
“Ummmmm…arm. No! Leg. Wait…yeah, leg.” Todd unbuckled his pants and dropped them before grimacing and turning away. A few seconds passed, and Todd’s voice elevated in tone and pitch. “Come on! What are you waiting for?!”
Simon’s grin widened. “Oh, sorry, were you ready?”
Todd’s eyes opened, and he spun his head around just as Simon firmly pressed the vac-pen into his thigh. He instinctively looked down and saw Simon press the button on the end with his thumb and could not un-see the fluid inside gush out and into his leg. He sucked in a huge breath through clenched teeth before opening his mouth wide in horror. “Ahhhhhh, no! Why? I hate you! I’m going to be seeing that on repeat in my head for weeks.”