‘I need a pilot, the whole crew, to deliver a secret device from Yedda.’
‘I knew it,’ Eddie whispered and rose up. ‘We need to talk, alone.’
Eddie darted to the foyer, where two women and three little boys were entering the house. Eddie ran up to the shorter, dark-haired woman and gave her a kiss. The younger and taller woman helped the boys take off their shoes and herded them towards a washroom to clean up.
Tredd stood up and stepped across the living room.
‘Cass, this is Tredd, an old childhood friend.’ Eddie gestured towards Tredd. ‘Tredd, this is my wife, Cassandra.’
She had her long, dark hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, which hung down to her thighs. Her cheeks radiated with the healthy glow of having spent time outside, and her eyes twinkled under a light touch of make-up on her brown skin.
‘A pleasure,’ Tredd said, and they exchanged kisses on the cheeks.
‘Finally I get to meet you,’ Cassandra said with a hearty smile, as she took off her sporty yellow overcoat. Perhaps it was her long hair and rounded figure that to Tredd made her seem motherly. At the same time though, her intense eyes and the lines on her face gave an impression of commanding firmness. ‘Eddie has told me so much about you.’
Tredd laughed, and glanced at Eddie. ‘I hope he’s done some editing.’
‘Perhaps,’ Eddie said, grinning.
Cassandra smiled looking at both of them. ‘You are staying, right? Let me change my clothes, and I’ll be right with you. Inka!’ she shouted, ‘make sure Luke gets his boost!’
‘Inka is our nanny,’ Eddie said.
‘I’m sorry,’ Cassandra said, and touched Tredd’s shoulder. ‘I won’t be a moment.’ With that, she hurried upstairs, leaving Eddie and Tredd standing in the foyer.
It was one thing hearing that Eddie had a wife and three kids. Seeing it was another. This could make it difficult for him to join Tredd’s mission.
‘Let’s take a walk down the pier,’ Eddie said.
They went down the stairs, below the living room and out to the backyard. Tredd saw a glimpse of Eddie’s gym and the holographic entertainment room. Outside, they were greeted by the smell of freshly cut grass, a light, cool breeze, and the sound of birds flying above the water. Tredd took a deep breath of fresh air. He had missed this in the smoky oven of Spit City.
They walked up to the wooden pier. It creaked under their feet as they passed the sailboat. ‘That is a fine piece of craftsmanship,’ Tredd said.
‘It’s great, isn’t it? But that’s not why I brought you here. You do realise that I’m not a fighter pilot anymore?’
‘I do, but I need a good pilot—’
‘I have a life here. While I get excited about the life of a bounty hunter, that’s not me. I’m a teacher and a father. I need to be here with my family, I can’t just get up and leave for Yedda. Understand?’
‘I do, Eddie, trust me, I do understand. I wouldn’t come to you if it wasn’t important. It’s about Tommy.’
‘Tommy?’ Eddie said, with a newfound passion in his eyes.
Tredd knew Eddie wanted to get Tommy even more than he did. In less than a week after Eddie had been sent to the navy, his mother had killed herself, and his father had followed in grief after a few months. Eddie had heard this only months later.
‘Tommy Huckey is the man in Yedda. This is our chance.’
‘Tommy Huckey? Our Tommy-blasting-Huckey?’
Tredd nodded. Since the incident, Tommy had disappeared from the Dawn Network. As a navy officer Tredd had sought him, but to no avail. He was sure Eddie had done the same, and he was the one who knew all the quirks of the network.
‘Blast, blast, blast,’ Eddie said, and stomped the pier on each curse. He turned around to Tredd. ‘Now you come to me with this… The worst timing in the history of universe.’
Tredd shrugged. ‘This is our chance to get payback.’
‘How do you know its him?’
‘FIST. They know.’
‘Can you trust them?’
‘Can you trust anyone?’
Eddie held his forehead with both of his palms. Tredd eyed the blue mountains across the lake. A white bird flew past them, gliding down without a worry.
‘How much do they pay?’
Tredd paused. The boat swayed in the light wind. ‘One million terabucks.’
Eddie stared at him, his full eyebrows almost touching each other. ‘Now the truth, please.’
‘Five million. Plus expenses, like crew.’
A faint smile appeared on Eddie’s face. ‘My salary would need to be quite high…’
‘That’s fine.’
‘Plus, once we’re done, I get 20% of your bounty.’
The request came out of the blue, as Tredd hadn’t thought that money would an issue. He hadn’t even thought about sharing his bounty. He always worked alone. However, if Eddie were to join him, it would be different. He felt he owed it to his friend, and he really needed him on the team. Together they would bring justice to Tommy, and a good life for themselves. ‘It’s a deal, but we need to go as soon as possible.’
Eddie sighed. ‘Why did this have to happen now? You know I want to come with you. You fat bastard… You knew that just by saying Tommy’s name you’d get me.’
‘It’s bigger than our feud. Tommy’s holding a device that can make stars collide. Imagine what it could do in the wrong hands. It could bring about the collapse of the universe.’
‘I feel like I need a drink.’ Eddie turned back towards the house.
Tredd followed up. ‘I’m really sorry for coming like this, but I can’t help it. You were my number one choice for a pilot. To be honest, you were my only choice. Though before we go, I also need to find the rest of the crew.’
‘That’s easy, I know a few folk,’ Eddie said. ‘We’ll visit Gemma Central tomorrow.’
Tredd smiled as they stepped down from the pier onto the patio. ‘So you are with me?’
‘Of course I am. Let me speak to Cass.’
TREDD SAT with Eddie and Cassandra around the dining table, enjoying cool drinks – naturally non-alcoholic – and some super-nutritious dry snacks Tredd had never tasted before. Cassandra had changed to a long black dress and wore her hair loose behind an intricate golden headband. They talked a bit about Eura and their time in the navy, but mostly it was Eddie and Cassandra going on about their social circles, the Bella City council where Cassandra was a representative, and the lives of their children. As they talked, Gemma started setting behind the mountains, turning the sky dark red, and Tredd started to feel uncomfortable. He wanted to get on with his mission, but Eddie had not even brought it up with Cassandra.
‘Tell me, Tredd,’ Cassandra asked. Tredd had insisted she used his current name instead of Tristram. ‘What was it that brought you down to Baleor?’
Tredd wasn’t sure what to say. Eddie had been clear about not talking about the mission, and he had to respect that. ‘Well, I’ve quit my job,’ he started and glanced at Eddie as he hesitated. ‘And—’
‘He wants me to join him on a mission,’ Eddie said. At last, Tredd thought.
There was a moment’s silence as Cassandra eyed the men through narrow eyes. Then she smiled, her eyes still a squint, and said, ‘Is that right?’
Tredd and Eddie nodded. Tredd took a sip of the white protein cooler in his glass and Eddie threw a small green cracker in his mouth.
Cassandra turned to Tredd. ‘You do realise that he can’t go just like that?’
Before Tredd could say anything, Eddie said, ‘To be honest, Cass, this is a good time to go – the school’s in recess and won’t need me for another month.’
‘A month?’ Cassandra dropped the question like a wet and dirty washcloth on the dining table. ‘You are not seriously considering going away for a month.’
Eddie set his glass down on the table, and reached for the green crackers. ‘It’s only for a week or so, but we should leave tomorrow.’
Cassa
ndra sighed, and shook her head. ‘Tomorrow? It’s not a good time to go. Luke has his birthday in two weeks, the twins’ preschool has the fundraising event on the day after tomorrow, and then my parents are coming to visit. I really need you here.’
Tredd felt awkward, and at loss for words. He had no first-hand experience of managing these kinds of relationships. His parents had had difficult discussions from time to time. Tredd never remembered what they had argued about, only the uneasy feelings he was left with. He picked up a green biscuit.
‘I’m afraid this can’t wait. It’s something I must do.’
‘Why? What is it that you must do?’
‘I can’t—’
Tredd cleared his throat and said, ‘We’re going to pick up a device from Yedda. I need a good pilot, and Eddie is a man I can trust.’
Cassandra frowned. ‘Eddie is not going to Yedda. You, Mr Bounty, should go back up to Gemma Central and get yourself a pilot. Eddie is needed here.’
Tredd wanted to say something, but before he could, Eddie stood up. ‘Cass, I love you, but this is something I must do. You must understand.’
‘But I don’t,’ she said, and shook her head. ‘Why do you want to do this?’
‘I’m sorry, Cass, but I just can’t explain.’
‘There’s something you’re not telling me,’ she said, and banged her glass against the table.
Eddie did not reply. He looked down and played with a spoon in his hands. Cassandra’s face was full of disappointment and anger. When she turned her eyes to Tredd, he looked away.
‘Get out of my home.’ She stood up and pointed at Tredd. ‘You’re not going to take my husband away from me.’
‘I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to…’
‘Get out now or I’ll call security!’ She stood shaking, her face blushing, her finger pointing at the door.
Tredd stood up. There was nothing he could say. He put his hand on Eddie’s shoulder and said, ‘I’m really sorry…’
Eddie stared at the floor and bit his lips together.
The next moment, Tredd found himself walking out through the front door, and breathing cool air of Bella’s night.
TREDD TOOK a ride to Bella spaceport and then a space taxi back to Gemma Central. The colourful lights of central Bella high-rise and the vanishing dots of the sprawl reminded him of Eura. It made him feel a tinge of sadness.
Eddie was doing well. While Tredd felt jealous, it was difficult to put himself into the same situation. He knew it was not going to happen. He realised it was not him, just an old dream, a childhood fantasy. Perhaps that was the cause of his sadness. He had grown out of what he had wanted. He had grown detached from everything and everyone he considered important, to the point of no return.
Why did I even connect with Eddie? Meeting him had only served to scratch open old wounds that he thought had already healed. While working alone was possible in Spit City, for this mission he had to find a crew. Working with some unknown chaps had its risks, but also benefits. The crew would gather for a specific purpose, and then it was off. Everyone could go on his or her separate ways, no strings attached. It felt like a good proposition.
Returning to his ship at Gemma Central docks, he found Evie in the cockpit. Tredd was expecting her to have been gone, but there she was, squatting down by the pilot’s seat, fiddling with the controls of the communications unit. She was barefoot, and wore the same black shorts and the black tank top as she had last night.
‘You never wear any proper clothes, do you?’ Tredd asked.
She was completely focused on adjusting something on the communications unit, and gave no sign she had heard Tredd. Then she smiled and pumped her fist. ‘Yatta!’
Tredd raised an eyebrow.
Evie stood up and turned to Tredd. ‘Sorry, what did you say?’
‘Never mind. What are you doing?’
‘I got bored, so I calibrated the external IO. It was completely out of balance. You know, if we’d sent out an emergency signal, we’d have been lucky if anyone picked it up. It was all messed up, but now it’s shipshape,’ she said with a poised smile.
Tredd shook his head. ‘Did you learn this from the game as well?’
‘Actually,’ she said, leaning on to the pilot’s seat, ‘this stuff works the same way in the game. It’s all modelled, with various manifestations, but inside it’s the same.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I spent a bit of time on ship, on a tour, killing time and helping out the crew while the band was away – you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. In Momentum or in reality they’re all the same.’
Hearing her say tour and killing, Tredd immediately thought of combat, but realised she was talking about touring entertainers. ‘So you were a groupie, is that it?’
‘If that’s what you think, fine,’ Evie said crossing her arms and raising her chin. ‘What about your friend? I don’t see him around.’
‘Whatever…’ Tredd said. He was not in the mood to talk about what had happened down in Bella, nor to let her know he didn’t have a pilot. ‘I’m gonna hire a crew first thing in the morning and then be on my way. You can stay the night, but I expect you to be gone before we take off tomorrow.’
Evie stood up and frowned. ‘And I will,’ she said, and darted to the door, her bare arm brushing against his jacket as she went past.
Tredd sat down and took a drink. It had not been a good day, but he felt his troubles were just starting.
CHAPTER SEVEN
GEMMA CENTRAL WAS one of the biggest interstellar hubs around these parts. Like most other old interstellar spaceports, it was shaped like a ball, with a one large inward indent around it. Like a moon, it orbited Baleor, which had no natural moons.
When Tredd woke up, he noticed that Evie had left the ship without a word. He had hoped to part without a fuss, but he had at least expected her to say something. He found it difficult to admit that he had enjoyed her company, but now looking back at their short trip together he had to. Well, she’s gone now, he thought. It made him feel empty, but at the same time glad he had met her. I need to stop thinking like a loner and find me a crew.
Tredd was determined. He was going to find a crew, right here at Gemma Central, and go to Yedda. He was going to find the blasted device, and deliver it to FIST. He was going to start taking better care of himself, but most important of all, he was going to stop brooding over the past. He realised he had been thinking about the low points of his life a lot recently, and it was dragging him down. To succeed in this mission, he had to stop letting negative thoughts take over. The past was gone, and there was nothing he could do about it. From now on, he was going to focus on the mission and nothing else. He had pushed his past aside before – started anew – and he was going to do it again.
He also became more convinced that this was something he could not do alone. The emptiness he felt after Evie was gone made him certain of it. When he set out from Spit City, he had thought he was better alone – with a few hired hands – but the few hours he had spent with Evie on the ship made him realise it was not the case. Since being thrown out of the navy, he had worked alone, and where had it gotten him? Thrown alone to the bottom of Spit City. In the navy, he had always been in the company of men he could trust. On this mission, he wanted to make it happen again.
It was not going to be easy to find people with the right skills who were willing to take a trip to Yedda. Finding someone he could trust would be even more difficult – it would take time, a scarce commodity on this mission.
Tredd logged in to the station’s systems and searched for potential candidates based on Gemma Central. At the outset there seemed to be many experienced pilots and mechanics, and he was spoilt with choice. However, when he narrowed the search with his requirements for professional skills, battle experience, and the need to leave the same day, no results came.
Blasted backtrack systems! There must be more on a hub like this, Tredd thought as he loosened his r
equirements.
Only when he lessened his experience requirements to none was he able to get a list of few green youngsters that would be able to leave the same day. I should’ve asked Evie to join the crew, he realised, but it’s too late now. As a substitute, he left his own request in the system, paying extra for increased visibility, hoping to get noticed by an ace.
While pondering his next move, Tredd browsed the services menu for potential upgrades to his ship. He had the FIST credit, and he was not going to let it stand idle. His choices were limited to anything that could be delivered quickly, so most of the actually useful changes, such as a complete shield system renewal or quantum jump expansion, were out of his reach. In the end, he opted for a shield upgrade of 20%, which was not bad, and add-on torpedo launchers to complement the peashooter. It was the best they could deliver within the time he had. While the changes were marginal – they did not transform his wagon to a fighter – they would still serve to improve his chances if it came to that.
As the workmen and their robots started upgrading the Rutger, Tredd checked for new messages. There were none. He reviewed the lists of available mechanics, only to become depressed as a result. He had no time or interest to start teaching those kids. It looked like he was going to be stuck at the Gemma Central for some time.
He sat on the open ramp that led up to the Rutger’s cargo bay, and played with a chrystallium bolt in his hands. The bolt’s lightness masked its toughness – these little things held together ships that could bend space. It was one of the hardest man-made materials, and definitely the most versatile.
As Tredd marvelled at the wonders of material engineering, a strange pair of black boots appeared right in front of him. He lifted his head and saw a giant of a man smiling down at him. He must have stood over two metres tall, but everything else in his appearance said, Andron: meaty arms and legs, thinning short brown hair, and a full beard covering his brawny face. The tallest Andron Tredd had previously seen had been less than one and a half metres tall.
‘Greetings, Captain! I hear you need a mechanic. Berossus Dengo is the name,’ he said, extending an arm that was thicker than Tredd’s legs.
Starcrasher (Shades Space Opera Book 1) Page 6