He and Tarq had gone up to Felix’s room. The door had informed them that the current occupant, one Horace Belloc, wasn’t on the premises.
“Bugger."
“What?," said Tarquin.
“He’s out. Silly bastard."
“Well, what would you do in his situation?”
“I’d keep my fucking stupid face away from others to start with.”
Tarquin gave him a dubious glance. “Of course you would."
“Of course I would what?”
“Keep your face away from others. Its just the other bits that would be the problem."
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You want me to spell it out for you? You have a problem keeping it in your pants. Most of your daily inspiration and some of your best ideas have come from your little head."
“Yeah, yeah. I hate to change the conversation, but seeing as Felix isn’t here, it means he’s somewhere else.”
“Clever," said Tarquin. “Learn that in Military intelligence school?”
Logan ignored him and sailed on. “Alternatively, he’s somewhere else with somebody else. That somebody else could be terminating our good friend Felix right about now. That means we have to find him, and quickly.”
Logan addressed the ship through his AI. “Minx, location of Horace Belloc please."
“Certainly. Mr. Belloc is currently on level 21 in Mojo’s bar. If you wish to contact him, you will have to do it through the bars communication link. His AI is currently inactive."
“Thank you Minx."
“My pleasure."
“Why didn’t you do that to start with Log?," asked Tarquin.
“Shut it, you muppet.”
The two men took an AG lift down to level 21. They found Mojo’s easily enough, and Felix even easier, despite his vague attempt at disguise. He was pretty much the only person in the bar apart from a stunning brunette sitting next to him who was engaging him in conversation. Felix failed to notice the entrance of his two friends, seemingly preoccupied with other pursuits.
The woman noticed them first. She raised her eyebrows as they approached. A startled Felix looked in their direction, his concerned expression being replaced with one of delight when he saw who it was.
“You sly dogs," he said standing and embracing his friends. “How did you find me?”
Tarquin attempted to look surprised. “What? We weren’t even looking for you. Decided to take a holiday. Bit of luck finding you here really. We obviously all had the same idea for a holiday." He gave Felix a cheeky grin.
“Nice mustache Felix. Grow it recently?," Logan deadpanned, trying to look innocent.
“Who’s Felix?’, said Crystal.
“Oh…its my middle name," a slightly flustered Felix replied. “Cystal, these are my good friends Logan and Tarquin.”
They shook hands. Crystal looked at Tarquin dubiously. “Do I know you?”
“I dunno. Do you watch any gladiatorial shows?”
“Tarq’s a gladiator," Felix said by way of explanation.
Crystal nodded and smiled. “That’ll probably be it." She made her excuses and gave Felix a kiss on the cheek, placing a bar mat in his hand. “See you tonight. My room numbers on the back."
Conversation temporarily ground to a halt as the three men turned to watch her leave.
“Not bad," Logan grinned appreciately in Crystal’s direction. “You certainly don’t waste any time do you young man?”
“Better than tossing off over the holo displays in my room," he said smiling boyishly, before adding, “Yeah, she’s really nice."
Tarquin ordered three beers and passed them around.
“Now what sort of shit have you got yourself into Felix?”
Felix, continually interrupted by questions, took half an hour to explain. Logan in turn explained how they found him.
“So you’ve got no idea who did it?," asked Tarquin.
“I’ve got my suspicions, especially after Log’s run in with the Templars on Coleridge."
Logan sipped his beer and grimaced. “Dodgy fuckers. So where are you off to then?”
“Don’t know. They said they’ll be in contact. I just have to wait.”
Tarquin put his huge arm around Felix’s shoulder. “Well, now that you have the strong brown arm of gladiatorial might and the ever present and vigilant military skills of Logan to look after you. I say we enjoy ourselves until they do get around to contacting you. What sayeth you Log?”
Logan shrugged. “I don’t see why not. I wouldn’t have been able to trace Felix if I hadn’t recognized the ape like walk. I doubt anyone else would’ve picked it up."
Felix punched him in the arm. “I do not walk like an ape."
Logan made a face and looked sideways. Tarquin laughed.
Felix made to hit Logan again but was interrupted by Tarquin’s question.
“What was that lovely young thing saying about tonight?," he asked.
“Oh yeah. I’m picking her up at 8. There’s a big ball or something on tonight."
“We know," Logan and Tarquin said in unison.
“Well, looks like we’re all going then. You guys can protect me and womanize simultaneously. What could be simpler?”
“I’ll go on one condition," said Logan.
“What’s that?”
“You loose that fucking ridiculous mustache."
◊
The Meat and Two Vege club was contained within levels 24 and 25 of the massive Hedonist ship. All major parties and events were held here, largely due to its central location and size. A three hundred meter cube, the club had six different mezzanine levels, various field maintained dance floors and a huge AG bar that hovered in the middle. For those without an AG harness who couldn’t reach the main bar, other smaller bars floated, apparently haphazardly, around the place.
Felix, Logan, Tarquin and Crystal stood on the lowest level of the club. The main level, as it was called, was filled with at least a couple of thousand revelers all dressed in suitably debacherous attire. Logan couldn’t remember seeing this much leather in one place before.
A band, held in place by a horizontal field 50 meters above and about the same distance away, were thrashing out a catchy dance number. The band seemed to be competing for attention with floating dance cages containing up to 10 people. One of them, under the guidance of a couple having vigorous sex, knocked over the drummer during one of its passes. The music temporarily ground to a halt. An altercation broke out between the drummer and the occupants of the cage which was quickly broken up by security, escorting the human contents away from the cage and accompanied by cheering from the crowd. He could see Walter mingling with a group of passengers near one of the bars.
Tarquin nudged Logan and motioned for him to look upwards. Five meters directly above them, a transparent blue dance field was filled with mostly nude bodies providing rather graphic genitalia displays. The two men grinned at each other.
Crystal and Felix were engaged in animated conversation. Tarquin looked on with an amused expression but Logan looked a bit sour.
“What’s your problem. Jealous?," asked Tarquin.
“Nah. Its just that we came all this way to help him out and he spends all his time cavorting with some woman he picked up a couple of hours ago."
“Ah," said Tarquin, knowingly. “Jealous."
“Alright. Maybe. Do you want a beer."
“Are your trousers crusty?”
“I take it that’s a yes”?
“Sure is baby."
Tarquin was dressed in his gladiators outfit consisting of his leopard skin g-string and not much else. Logan had ordered his Coverall to take on a more conservative appearance of black leather pants and a black singlet with the words “monogamy is bad for your health." Felix, minus the moustache and fake nose and Crystal were dressed as the Prince and Princess of hell, wearing matching red leather outfits and had little red horns attached to their heads. Logan thought they looked disgustingly cute.
/> Logan waved to the bar closest to him. It descended and he ordered 4 beers from the barmaid. A crowd of spectators had gathered to watch a large gorilla and an 8’ Polar bear were arm wrestling a few meters away from them. Many of them appeared to be betting on the outcome. After much toing and froing, the Gorilla succeeded in besting his opponent to a mixed response of cheering and booing from the onlookers. The two furry participants were Transplanters. They’d had their brains surgically implanted into a custom made body. The transplant procedure was relatively simple and cheap but actually growing another body was quite expensive, although not prohibitively so. Stories had circulated of people on drunken benders who had woken up in their friend’s body, deciding whilst under the influence that Transplanting would be a bit of a hoot.
On the other side of the bar, an older man waited to be served. Next to him towered his guardian angel. Guardian angels were the lowest ranked in Angelic society. Outwardly, guardian angels looked similar to other angels but unlike their more powerful brethren, were incapable of generating significant strength fields or navigating ships. The most they could manage were level 2 fields – fields capable of fending off projectiles. Anyone could have a Guardian Angel, providing you could pay. At fifty thousand galactic credits a year and 20% of their client’s annual income, they were not cheap. Both the Areopagite’s and the Watchers had tapped into this lucrative market and it was something of a status symbol to have one.
Looking around, Logan could see several Guardian angels scattered throughout the bar. It was hard to distinguish an Areopagite angel from a Watcher. The Watchers, in general, chose to color their wings various shades. It was difficult to determine whether any were in the bar due to the myriad of lights flashing, strobing, oscillating and throbbing.
Logan took the beers and handed them around. Felix and Crystal seemed oblivious to anything else but each other. Tarquin was talking to two young women wearing revealing vampire outfits. He sidled up to Tarquin, and polishing up his best grin, inserted himself into the conversation.
◊
Simbiel, Knights Captain Tynan, and the crew of the Divine Retribution had docked with the Dirty Little Minx an hour earlier. After being searched for weapons in a similar fashion that Logan and Tarquin had, Simbiel, Tynan and 10 Templar Knights consulted the Minx to ascertain the location of their quarry. The ship had told them that Logan and Tarquin were attending the ball.
Working on the assumption that Felix would be with his mates and not bothering to dress for the occasion, the Areopagites arrived at the Meat and two vege club, found out roughly where the men were situated, and decided to wait. Simbiel could see them on the other side of the bar. The red haired male, apart from his height and hair coloring, vaguely fitted the visual logged into his AI.
So far, the Watchers hadn’t made an appearance but Simbiel believed that it was only a matter of time. If the Areopagite’s had discovered the existence of the Overdrive then it was a safe bet that the Watchers had as well. He’d seen Watcher and Areopagite Guardian angels on board who bowed to him deferentially and been pointedly ignored. He watched scowling and somewhat bemused as a group of drunken Martians staggered past. Two of them had flaming candles inexplicitly rammed up their arses.
Tynan, instructed by Simbiel, approached two women dressed as Vampires. He explained that he wanted to surprise two business associates, transferred some credits into their accounts, and watched as the two women made their way towards Logan and Tarquin, engaging them in conversation. Getting the two men away and preoccupied would make their job of kidnapping Felix so much the easier.
◊
“So, you don’t believe in religion then?”
“Nah. Its the recourse of the weak minded." Felix raised his eyebrows at Crystal and took a sip of his beer. “You?”
“I have slightly religious leanings. Its the nature of my work."
“What exactly do you do again?”
Crystal smiled that sexy half smile she had. “I told you. I look after my clients business interests."
“That still doesn’t tell me anything. You’re being a little cagey aren’t you?."
Felix thought for a moment. “You don’t work for the Areopagite’s do you?” He should have asked her this before. His brain had been slightly scrabbled by his libido and testosterone.
“No, of course not. They’re a bunch of religious fascists.”
Felix wiped his brown in mock relief. “Whew. Had me worried there for a sec.”
“Why should the Areopagite’s worry you?”
“I’m allergic to religious fascists," he said in what he hoped was a convincing way. Crystal looked dubious but decided not to pursue the matter any further.
Felix was watching his friend’s progress with the two vampires out of the corner of his eye. Crystal, noticing his attention was diverted, glanced in the direction of Logan and Tarquin.
“So, have you guys been friends long?”
Felix nodded. “Since school. We all went to University together.”
Crystal looked incredulous. “Even Tarquin?."
“Oh yes. He doesn’t look it and makes pains not to show it but he’s actually got a degree in physics of all things. I think he tries to fit the stereotypical mould of a Snareball gladiator."
She looked over at Tarquin. Accompanied by much giggling, one of the vampire twins was trying to take his G-string off. “Well, he’s doing a good job. And what about Logan?”
“Ah. Our Logan is a former Captain in military intelligence for Unamuno’s military."
“Former?”
“Yes. Sadly, young Logan decided that it would be in the interests of his promising career to have sex with his CO’s wife. He was wrong.”
Crystal laughed. “And what about you”?
“Well, I got my honors in Astroengineering and Physics and then did my doctorate in theoretical field manipulation.”
“Is that anything to do with ship propulsion?”
“You could say that."
“I just did."
“Oh yes, so you did.”
Logan came over and told the couple that he and Tarquin were leaving with the Vampires.
“Shan’t be long, but don’t wait up." He winked at Felix and spoke into his ear. “You be careful. If there’s any problems, call us via the ship and we’re come running.”
“I’m sure there’s nothing here I can’t handle."
Logan looked over towards Crystal. “I wouldn’t be too sure if I were you.”
With a cheery wave, Logan and Tarquin departed with their respective vampires.
“Make sure they don’t suck you to death," yelled Crystal after them.
Logan turned around and grinned. “That’s the general idea isn’t it?”
◊
Simbiel watched Logan and Tarquin depart. That just left Felix and the woman he was talking to. This would be too easy. How to get them off the ship would be another matter and of course he had the Watchers to consider. No point in delaying though. It was, thought Simbiel, time to act.
He beckoned to Tynan. The Templar Captain and his knights stood a few meters apart from Simbiel. Despite the fact that the club was rather crowded, a buffer zone existed not only between the Templars and their Angel, but between the Areopagite’s and other passengers.
Tynan came over and gave Simbiel a short perfunctory bow. “Lord?."
“Its time. Grab the man and the woman and bring them back to our quarters. Quietly.”
“Yes Lord”
“And Tynan?”
“Yes Lord?”
“You might want to think about changing your clothes."
The Templars were in their Areopagite garb. Tynan swiftly issued orders and within seconds, he and his 10 Knights had their Coveralls dressing them identically in black leather. He sent five Knights to cover the exit nearest Felix and the rest formed up around him. They made their way towards Felix and Crystal. The crowd parted to let them through, unconsciously sensing trouble. Ten meter
s away from the couple, they passed close to a large Polar Bear and gorilla. Tynan brushed past. His elbow toppled a beer off the table which exploded on the floor, sending glass fragments and beer all over the Templars behind him. He felt a tap on his shoulder.
Looking around in annoyance and expecting to see one of his men, he was surprised to be looking at a white furry chest instead.
“Did you spill my fucking pint?," a deep voice growled.
He looked up into the menacing face of a polar bear. A Gorilla was grinning over his shoulder. Tynan, confident in his numerical superiority, but not willing to draw attention to himself or his Templars, decided tact might be required. “Yes, sorry about that. Can I buy you another beer?”
“Fucking right. Better make it two.”
Tynan signaled to one of his men who made his way to the bar. He made as if to turn around but was stopped by the Polar Bear.
“Oi. I haven’t finished with you yet."
Tynan struggled to control his temper. “Yes?”
“Spill my pint again and I’ll fucking have you. Got me?”
Tynan lost it. “Look, fuck off you moron.” He motioned to some of his men who came to stand beside him. The Polar Bear’s eye’s went wide and he went to grab his bar stool. His gorilla friend nudged him and looked in the direction of approaching security guards. The Polar Bear waggled a finger at him. “This isn’t over. I’ll see you later."
Tynan grinned mirthlessly. “Look forward to it." He turned around again and followed by his men, continued walking towards Felix.
◊
Crystal sensed trouble. She was watching 6 men dressed identically in black leather purposely make their way in her direction. The leader had his eyes fixed on Felix. She watched as words were exchanged between the leader of the 6, a large Polar bear and his almost equally large gorilla companion.
“I think we should leave”
“Why? I’m having a great time.”
“I get the feeling that you could be trying to avoid attention from the Areopagite’s. There’s a group of them heading this way.”
Felix looked around. “Where? I don’t see them."
The guys in black leather coming towards us. The swords are a dead give away.”
Overdrive Page 8