The Battle of Hollow Jimmy

by Becky Black

  "For what? This is outrageous; you people have no powers of arrest."

  "Things are changing."

  They walked in, forcing her back into the room. A movement at floor level caught her eye as Glyph shot past, dodging the legs of the crowd of people and vanishing out of the door. Wixa resisted smiling and scowled instead.

  "Now look what you did! You let my cat escape!"

  ~o~

  They didn't have to tell Jaff to get dressed. Always a night owl, he'd been up late and had fallen asleep on his sofa, still dressed. They did have to tell him to kindly stop swearing at them as they were only acting under orders and he would not be harmed if he cooperated.

  Just like Glyph, Smoke "woke" from where it had been curled on a chair, jumped to the floor and ran out of the door. Jaff stared after it, couldn't understand where the robot cat could possibly be going. But he quickly forgot the cat as they led him from his quarters under guard.

  ~o~

  "Four of you?" Sheni laughed. "Well good grief, how many do you send to arrest someone who isn't a tiny old lady?"

  "Apologies, doctor." The Watch officer bowed her head at Sheni. "Nobody intends you any harm. Please get dressed and come with us."

  "Four!" Sheni walked back to her bedroom chuckling. Trouble was starting, and no doubt her professional services would be required soon, but for now, time to laugh at the idiots. A woman Watch officer followed her into the bedroom.

  "Do you think I have a couple of strapping lads hiding under my bed?" Sheni asked. "I should be so lucky!"

  ~o~

  Chervaz actually considered fighting the men that came for him. He still felt embarrassed that he hadn't made a better job of defending himself against Bara's bodyguards and he'd have liked to redeem himself. But he knew he'd lose. He'd never been much of a fighter. No sense in getting hurt at this stage.

  They handcuffed him, which surprised him, as they'd been generally polite. Perhaps because he was a big man they feared he could make more of a nuisance of himself than he personally felt capable of.

  Once in the corridors he knew he didn't dare start trouble. More Watchmen were patrolling, and anyone who poked their head out of a door was told to stay in their quarters for their own safety and await instructions. Chervaz didn't want to start anybody shooting. He could taste the tension in the air, and knew it wouldn't take much to push that tension too far. Best to bide his time until he got together with Maiga and the others, so they could adjust their plans.

  Because getting arrested had not been any part of their plans.

  Chapter 40

  The next thing that went wrong was that the Watch brought Maiga and the rest of the troublemakers to the Watch HQ, rather than station security. Maiga had expected that if any of them were captured that's where they'd be taken. On the other hand, she could count that as a good sign, because it might mean Bara's people hadn't taken station security yet. Perhaps they'd even transfer the prisoners there en masse later. That should be fun.

  Meanwhile, they left the prisoners in a large cell in the Watch HQ, with a force field-covering the open doorway. Next door, people bustled around, sending orders, receiving reports. Alarms sounded sometimes, the station waking to the fact it was being attacked from the inside. And if distant rumbling and slight tremors were any indication, from the outside too.

  One by one, Maiga's friends joined her, along with other "troublemakers". Sheni's two young colleagues, Chullan and various other lifer business folks, and several men and women Maiga recognised as the gangsters, who'd been having such a field day of it later.

  Jaff lounged by the door watching the room beyond, on Maiga's orders, and baiting the guards, on his own initiative. Chervaz stood against the wall, hands moving nervously, deprived of his notebook and pen. Wixa paced about, scowling and griping.

  "Coming out of the walls, he said. Using our own advantage against us. Dammit."

  "Calm down," Maiga said, from where she sat cross legged against the wall. "We still hold several aces." A couple of kings too.

  Gry may not have seen the attackers sneaking though the hidden areas; but now they weren't hiding, he'd be watching. Once Maiga's people got free he'd be there to see into the heart of enemy held territory for them.

  And right in enemy territory, right at Bara's side, the other king in Maiga's hand. Alex, waiting for his moment.

  "Remember what they always taught us," Sheni said, calm too. Waiting, like Maiga. "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy."

  "What she said," Maiga agreed. She closed her eyes, thinking, waiting. A few glitches, but it would work out. Bara would soon be right where Maiga wanted her.

  ~o~

  Hers! Hers! Bara walked through the docks, trying not to laugh hysterically, in her triumph and joy.

  The station had fallen with little resistance, from inside or outside. Of course it wasn't a military facility. Its defence wasn't guns and shields, but the economic power of its owners. Screw with them and they'd sanction you back to the Stone Age.

  So they were helpless against Bara, who didn't give a shit about their economic power. Truthfully, the Trebuchet firing on the station had been mostly to intimidate the management. The guns had been set to half-power. The real work had gone on inside. But the Trebuchet had kept their attention. Oh the famed pirate ship, commanded by Captain Bara, of fearsome reputation. They even called her crazy, which she found very funny, but was happy to let them go on thinking it. While they were busy thinking crazy Captain Bara might destroy their station they weren't paying attention to the people cutting their way through the doors of Command and Control.

  When the signal came through that her people now held C&C she had laughed for a long time and kissed Max. Max, first officer, lover, a man full of fury and ambition under his smooth exterior. A worthy companion for her. For a while she'd considered leaving him in charge of the station--governor as Maiga herself had called it--but she decided she wanted him with her on her glorious campaigns. At her side on the bridge and in her bed.

  Perhaps she'd leave Alex, instead. He was so spineless though. No rush to decide. She should take this time to bask in her victory. Her marines cleared the docks ahead of her, but as she emerged into the corridor to the market place, there were the crowds.

  Her people. Not only those who'd worn Watch badges and carried rifles tonight, but supporters, loyalists. Oh, there was Dav, sweet man. She waved to him; she'd have a drink from his bar to celebrate later. He'd kept the faith, concealing the weapons for them, he'd known she'd come back. Look at his face now, so full of gratitude, so happy to see his leader return.

  She remembered the day--it seemed so long ago--when she had stood on that bench in Dav's and made her speech to the people there. Today she had a much bigger crowd, and a bigger victory to enjoy.

  "Something for me to stand on," she said quietly to one of her guards, as the crowd saw her and the cheers started. He turned back into the docks and a moment later came back with a large crate. The cheers grew even louder as she stepped up onto it, Max giving her a hand up.

  She saw more faces she knew, many dear friends. Ah, not all friends, but some who might be counted as enemies, though were too defeated to worry about now. Major Jax for one. She stood near the wall, frowning, and not looking at Bara, but staring at Max. Interesting, Bara would have to ask him about that later. And by ask, she meant interrogate. Nothing could spoil her mood now though.

  She faced her people, and raised a hand, making a gesture to calm the cheering. She'd chosen a spot right under a light and the scales of her lizard skin coat irridesced.

  "My friends, my friends, please; you're too kind, please."

  They quietened, gazing up at her, hungry for her words. Ah, a shame the newspaper man could not be here for this. Imagine the stories he could have written about her, if only he hadn't been so stubborn. He could have chronicled her legend.

  "My fellow humans," she said, voice ringing out clear. She hadn't rehearsed this, it came
from her heart. "For too long we've suffered humiliation by those who consider themselves our conquerors. Those who murdered our children, who destroyed our home. That changes now! Humans will be taken seriously again. We are the best soldiers in the galaxy. They all know it. They all fear us." Cheers interrupted her again, and she waited, started to talk again before they fully quietened.

  "They tried to wipe us out, but we survived. We survive here and all over the galaxy. From here, let the word go out that we are back and we will never be destroyed. This station is ours now. It is no longer a haven, a place to hide. It's a place where we can become strong again. And I'm here to make you strong again. This is my base, and you are all my soldiers. This is who we are. This is who we were born to be." A roar of approval greeted those last words.

  She took her coat off.

  A symbolic act. Today she stopped being Bara the crazy pirate queen. Today she became their commanding officer. The insignia on her freshly pressed uniform gleamed. She hurled the coat into the crowd and several people started fighting over it.

  "Those of you who still have uniforms, get them out again. Wear them with pride. But all of you, all of you, can be proud again. Today we stop running. Today we turn and face our enemies. Today we start to fight back!"

  The crowd erupted into cheers and applause and a couple of men at the front, tall lads, not wearing Watch badges, but wearing expressions of awe, lifted her onto their shoulders. Her guards allowed it when she gestured to them and they followed as the men carried her through the cheering crowd. People reached out and touched her, and she shook their hands when she could, or just clapped palm against palm.

  She'd read of commanders carried in triumph like this by their troops after a famous victory. At last she had her own moment of triumph, adulation, legend.

  She tapped the shoulder of one of the men carrying her and spoke to him.

  "Take me to Command and Control."

  ~o~

  The station manager's office, with its one way glass walls, fascinated Bara. To see without being seen. So paranoia-inducing for those outside, never knowing if they might be observed at that moment. Her people, manning the control stations out there had more on their minds just now than whether she was watching them. They worked hard, ensuring they had full control of the station's systems.

  A small sound came from the vent and Bara flinched, but didn't look in that direction. She never did now. Because she would see… The shadow, the movement.

  It's not real.

  The lift in the centre of the room began to rise and she strode back over to the desk to sit down. For a moment she considered putting her feet up on the desk, but, no, she wasn't a barbarian. She needed them to take her seriously now. A moment later, the lift platform rose into view, holding Mahtani, Neex, a couple of Watchmen and Max. Neex looked flushed; a deep shade of blue, but Mahtani was still pale and calm.

  "I didn't order you to bring Mr Neex," Bara said to Max.

  "He wouldn't let us bring the manager without him," Max said. He shrugged. "Seemed easier to bring them both, you said to minimise--"

  "Fine. Well, no harm in him hearing my proposal too." She turned to Mahtani, smiling. "Won't you sit, sir?"

  "No, madam. You are in my chair."

  Oh, going to be like that eh?

  "Very well. I brought you here to tell you my terms."

  "Terms?" Mahtani said. "You already hold the station."

  "And I'm under no illusion that I could hold it if the Klaff Consortium sent a fleet of ships to attack us. But if they did that, the station would suffer severe damage. That's very bad for trade isn't it?"

  "And this isn't?" Neex demanded.

  "Temporarily, perhaps. But in the long term, I want trade to resume and continue as usual. The only difference is that I, or whoever I nominate, will command the station. The Consortium will get its usual commission."

  "I do not believe you have done this simply to run this station exactly as before," Mahtani said.

  "Of course not," she said, nodding to him. "I have my own plans, but they don't have to interfere with the normal commercial activity of the station."

  Neex made a snorting noise, "And you think the Big Four powers will simply allow you to turn this facility into some kind of… of paramilitary base, to conduct your pirate raids and terrorist attacks from?"

  "Yes, if the station continues to enjoy the protection of the Consortium," Bara said. "The threat of sanctions--"

  "There is only so far such a threat will work, Captain," Mahtani said, still annoyingly calm. "Allowing you to dock here and trade your stolen goods was one thing. I'm sure your plans are more ambitious than that."

  They were. But they weren't any of his business. That scratching sound came from the vent again. Damn, not here too. Couldn't get away from it on the ship, now it had followed her here.

  "Mr Mahtani," Bara said, smiling with maximum charm, "I appreciate your valuable advice. But the final decision is not yours. I need you to contact your superiors and put my proposals to them. I have a fully detailed list here." She picked up a piece of paper. "Please note that I intend to actually increase the profits from sales commissions by ten percent within one standard year. I'm sure they'll be interested in that."

  "I'm sure they will." Mahtani took the paper without looking at it.

  "Max," she ordered, standing up. "Take them to the communications station, and allow them to make contact with the Consortium." She bowed her head at the two of them. "Thank you for your co-operation, gentlemen."

  They left her alone with the tiny scratching sound and the shadow behind the vent.

  ~o~

  "Maiga," Wixa shook her shoulder and Maiga woke, sat up from where she'd been lying against the wall. "How can you sleep at a time like this?"

  How could she not? They'd been there for many hours now, all day. Still waiting.

  "She's here," Chervaz said, offering Maiga his hand to stand up. He nodded through the door. There could be only one "she" he. And there she was, Bara, circulating among her troops, smiling and laughing with them, congratulating them on a job well done. Alex walked at her left side, and on her right…

  "What the hell?" Wixa gasped, speaking for Maiga too. "Max? Max?"

  He didn't wear a Watch badge; he wore a starship officer's uniform, the insignia of a Commander. He hadn't been one of the inside men, he'd been on the outside, with her.

  "I thought I hadn't seen him around for a few weeks," Chervaz said. He sighed. "I never did get that interview."

  Alex moved away from Bara for a moment and came close to the room holding the prisoners. He looked inside, a worried frown on his face, searching. Searching and not finding who he was looking for, Maiga knew. When he turned a questioning look to her, she smiled at him in what she hoped was a reassuring way. He's safe, she wanted to say. Sev is safe, but not here. Off on a little job for me. Not so little actually, maybe the key to this whole thing.

  Bara came close to the door too and shook her head at Maiga.

  "I'm sorry to see you on the wrong side of this field." She brushed her fingertips across the force field. It twinkled and made a small fizzing sound.

  "Feels like the right side to me." Maiga looked around at her companions. Yes, the right side.

  "Captain," Alex said. "I'd suggest moving these prisoners to more secure facilities, either in station security, or the detention section."

  "It's too dangerous to move them just now," Max argued. "Suggest we wait until after curfew."

  Maiga heard Chervaz make a frustrated sound. His hands must be twitching. Curfew rated high on the list of newsworthy words.

  "Agreed," Bara said, nodding to Max.

  Shame, Maiga thought. Escaping in transit should be easy, and Alex would have a plan to ensure they did escape. But the plan would work just as well after curfew as it would now. Bara looked in at the prisoners again, and smiled that charming, disarming, sweet-shark smile again.

  "I'll want to talk to each of you
later," she said. "But I'm rather busy at the moment. I don't intend you any harm though, so please, just relax." She turned to the Watchman in charge of the prisoners. "Make sure they have whatever they need."

  She turned to leave. Max gave the prisoners a smirk, and Alex just managed to hide a worried grimace, before they both followed their captain.

  Chapter 41

  Where the hell was Sev? Alex paced up and down beside the comms station in Command and Control. What the hell was that mysterious look Maiga gave him? What was that supposed to tell him? Maiga had promised Sev would be safe. Maybe she had him stashed somewhere off the station. That would be good. Still, he wanted to know, needed to know.

  "Sir, incoming message," the comms operator said.

  "Is it from the Consortium?"

  "No, sir, it's data from one of the border scanners."

  "Show me."

  The operator brought up the data and Alex watched it scroll by, and bit his lip.

  "Keep that comms line open. Constant monitoring." Without waiting for a response, Alex hurried to the central tower. The ride up on the lift platform felt like a slow agony and he had to restrain himself from abandoning the platform and climbing up the emergency ladder ahead of it.

  But he kept his cool long enough to wait, though he stepped up off the platform before it actually reached the level of the office floor.

  "Captain!" The cool didn't extend to his voice. He heard a frantic edge in it. "The border scanners are reporting enemy ships massing. Six so far, but more on long range scanners."

  Bara looked up from the desk and laughed.

  "Good!"

  She said good. They'll kill dozens, if not hundreds of people, and she said good. Go on and explain it, you bloodthirsty savage wearing stolen captain's stripes. Tell me why it's so good.

  "Let them come! We'll prove to the Klaff that we can hold the station against attack. Then they'll have no choice but to leave us in charge."

  Well, there was a kind of twisted, distorted logic there, Alex thought. A logic that would get them all killed.