Harris nodded as he passed the bucket. “Yeah, I just leave it that way. The staff is in and out of here so much, I just decided not to bother locking it anymore. Not like I have visitors… usually. What’s happening in slug-ville?”
Tawn looked around, taking the only seat available, on the toilet. “I’m guessing you haven’t been watching the news.”
Harris smiled. “I do my best to avoid it. I think we’d all be happier without listening to all the negative things that go on. Something special happen?”
Tawn took in and let out a deep breath as she studied the ornate crown molding of the luxury suite’s bathroom. “I checked those weapons we confiscated from Eden. As we suspected, they were ours. The serial numbers matched up to our manifests.”
Harris sat up. “Please tell me you haven’t been holding on to those. That’s hard evidence against us should you get searched.”
Tawn replied, “I have. Not sure why, but something told me I should. Anyway, I’m certain Baxter held onto her copies. If she wants something at some future date, she’ll come demanding our help.”
Harris frowned. “I knew that one was bad from the start, but I was desperate.”
Tawn chuckled. “We both were.”
Harris puffed on his cigar. “Well, you came in here for a reason. Spit it out. What’s our trouble?”
Tawn set down her drumstick after stripping it of meat. “Eden. Reports are all over the news that the pacifists slaughtered a group of settlers. New Earth is demanding to send in a delegation to check the facts.”
Harris threw up a hand, splattering bubbles across the floor. “So let them look. Any investigation will find the truth as to why we went in there. The Earthers had weapons and we stopped an invasion and takeover.”
Tawn winced. “You seriously think that’s what will be reported? First, there’s no evidence of the Earthers having weapons. We took them. Second, there’s no evidence of an invasion of Dove. What there is evidence of is an attack on the Earther colony, by us. And there’s evidence that a railgun was used to destroy a building. A railgun fired from a ship owned by us.”
“So what are you proposing we do?”
Tawn shook her head. “Not proposing anything. I just think we’ve been running around like a couple wild boglers leaving our hoofprints everywhere. I almost wonder if we shouldn’t burn those two ships and get a couple fake identities. Something that would let us disappear.”
Harris flipped on the display hanging on his bathroom wall. “There. They’re discussing a three colony trade deal. Our news has probably seen its fifteen minutes of fame.”
The next reporter came onscreen with a Breaking News banner scrolling above her head. “We’re receiving reports of violence at the Retison colony. It appears a town populated by Domicile citizens has been overrun and demolished by an angry hoard of Earthers. Earthers who were out for revenge for the supposed Eden massacre.”
Tawn looked over. “I’m betting if we go to Retison we find a cache of weapons out there that went through our company to the outer colonies. Bax played us. We’re the cause of this.”
Harris replied, “Let me guess, Retison is another of the truce colonies? And we’re not the cause of this, but we might be the trigger that made those people take action.”
“I think you should disable that railgun and sell the Bangor. Maybe even scrap her.”
Harris huffed. “That’s not gonna happen. You need a different plan.”
Tawn stood and began to pace. “OK, how about we jump the Bangor into the sun out there… and I’ll sell you the Kingfisher. She’s got a clean record. She’s even registered to Gandy Boleman still. No tie-in to either you or me. It’s the same ship, only in better shape.”
Harris stood, grabbing a towel from a rack. “Not selling or destroying the Bangor. That’s the only real home Farker knows.”
Tawn returned a frustrated chuckle. “How is Farker?”
“He gets out of the shop tomorrow. His parts are ancient and they’ve been having trouble finding equivalent replacements. The techs are all stunned that such a machine even exists, and that it’s somebody’s pet.”
Harris pulled on a pair of skivvies followed by military issue, surplus trousers. A tight t-shirt sporting the name and emblem of the Emporium Buffet was pulled over his barrel chest.
Tawn laughed. “Where’d you get that from? I thought they banned you.”
“I agreed to mind my manners next time I was there, and to wear this shirt as advertisement when I’m walking around the promenade.”
Tawn shook her head. “Half your face and neck are covered with blisters and scabs from Eden. Not sure you walking around with an emporium shirt is the best of advertising. You’re sort of extra-hideous right now.”
Harris smiled. “Thank you for the kind words. And I’m heading over there right now. Trish will be joining us if you want to come.”
Tawn scowled, but the thought of the buffet brought her back to the reality that was hers. She was a slug and she liked to eat.
“Let me comm Gandy. He can meet us there.”
Tawn took one final glance at the news feed on the display. “This is gonna blow up on us. I know it.”
Harris replied, “Not before we eat. Let’s go.”
***
Harris sat down with his fourth plate. Trish looked at him with disgust. The young manager stood not far away with a scowl on his face as the image of the ghastly-looking stump kept the tables around him empty.
“These ribs are just delicious. Trish, have another rib. Put some meat on those skinny bones.”
The young woman slowly shook her head. “No thanks, Mr. G. You’re having more than enough for both of us.”
Tawn set the bone from a turkey leg down on her plate. “That’s not good.”
Gandy asked, “What?”
Tawn pointed. “The news feed says the military is threatening to send a fleet to Eden if the New Earthers send a delegation. This whole thing could erupt into a new war.”
Harris licked barbecue sauce from his bulbous fingers. “Not before we finish eating. I’m paying for this, so let’s get my money’s worth.”
Trish said, “If there is war, wouldn’t you two get reactivated?”
Harris stopped mid chew, setting an unfinished rib gently on his plate. “We signed agreements that we were out. There weren’t any clauses about recall or reactivation. At least none that I saw.”
Trish replied, “So if we go to war with New Earth, you aren’t willing to fight?”
Harris turned. “I didn’t say that. All I said was they can’t just recall me.”
Tawn rubbed the back of her neck as she sat back. “Out processing papers only said you were out. Was nothing there saying they couldn’t call us back. I would bet there’s a document we blindly signed way back that states they own us during time of war. Not that I want to fight either, but if needed, I’ll go.”
Harris dug into his rib.
Trish laughed. “You’re not done, I take it?”
Harris shook his head as he chewed. “Not if this might be my last meal as a free man. Gonna be tough going back to that slop on the chow lines.”
Tawn gave an odd grin. “I actually find myself missing that sometimes.”
Harris looked up. “That’s because you’re defective.”
When the meal was finished the group headed for the exit, escorted by the young manager. “What happened to you? Did you fall in a blender?”
Harris shook his head. “Nah. Stayed too long in a blast furnace. Almost got cooked to death. What happened to you?”
The manager turned away with a huff as he pulled his tie straight.
The foursome stood out on the promenade sidewalk as two men in military uniforms hurriedly approached their location.
Harris frowned. “This doesn’t look good.”
One of the men nodded as he passed. “Excuse me, sir.”
Seconds later they interrupted a woman coming out of a shop, causing he
r to drop a package. One of the men picked it up as the woman stared.
The other said, “Sorry, ma’am. We just got called up. Looks like it may be war for Eden.”
Harris said, “Trish, I may be joining you on the ship tonight.”
Tawn added, “Same here, Gandy. I think we stay close if for some reason we need to move.”
Trish asked, “And what are we going to do if war is declared?”
Harris shrugged. “Don’t know, but I’d like to be on the Bangor if that happens. Gives me options.”
Tawn nodded. “Same here. Kingfisher gives us options as well.”
When the foursome arrived at the adjoining slips, Baxter Rumford was waiting. “You two had to go and screw things up. Not sure what force you took down there, but that Eden operation would have been over and no one the wiser without your interference. Now you’ve got both sides riled up.”
Tawn said, “I should snap your neck for getting us involved in this. Traitor is exactly what you are.”
Bax laughed. “As are the two of you. Living your fat lives by arming the outer colonies? And don’t tell me you didn’t have suspicions about where those weapons were going.”
Harris crossed his arms. “How do we stop this?”
Bax smirked. “Don’t know that it can be stopped. The Earthers want control of Eden. We both know why. Them and the Domers both know why. And you Domers have no stomach for war. And what on New Earth happened to your face? Somebody hit you with a flamethrower?”
“Just a mild sunburn. And you called us Domers, that mean you’re actually from New Earth?”
Bax huffed. “Not that dump. Was born here, but I consider myself more of a galactic citizen than one of either of these two backward operations.”
Tawn said, “You’re a galactic ass is what you are. People are dying as a direct result of your actions.”
Bax laughed. “And you two are the ones killing them.”
Harris asked, “You here for a reason?”
Bax nodded. “Here to tell you two to sit tight. My people had a team move in behind you on Eden and your issues of showing up in their logs or being seen at all have been taken care of.”
Tawn sighed. “You saying the pacifists are dead?”
Bax smiled. “The pacifists are now living off in their extra-planetary nirvana or wherever it is they believed their afterlife would take them. The New Earth settlers are now in control of Eden and the planet is about to see a titanium mining boom.
“Just this morning I bought options for shares in the mining company that will be receiving the contract. Within a year, there will be a hundred thousand New Earth miners out there scratching out a living. And I’ll be sitting atop a huge pile of credits.
“Have you ever been to New Earth? It’s kind of a pit overall, but there are a handful of nice places. And as a galactic citizen, I can jump between both sides at will. I see exciting things coming up for Baxter Rumford.”
Tawn glared. “More likely you’ll see the outside of an airlock. And no one would care.”
Bax returned a phony hurt gaze as she clutched her chest. “You just crush my tender heart, slug. You should be grateful I gave you the opportunity to make some credits. And just so you know, if it hadn’t been the two of you, it would have been two other morons. There are plenty of broke people out there willing to do whatever is asked for a little pay.”
Baxter Rumford turned with a laugh and a flick of her hair as she strutted off.
Tawn shook her head. “That woman is just evil.”
Chapter 24
_______________________
Harris rubbed his forehead as he sat on a bench in the cabin of the Bangor. “We can’t let this happen.”
Tawn said, “We have to go back out there. We have to liberate Eden.”
Harris laughed. “And how do you propose we do that? I bet every New Earther down there is armed to the hilt. We might be able to get lucky against a couple hundred numskulls in the desert, but we’re talking more than a thousand armed soldiers now. We would need an army.”
Tawn thought for a moment before standing abruptly.
Harris asked, “You going somewhere?”
Tawn smiled. “You said we’d need an army. I just happen to know where we might find one.”
Harris winced. “You plan on hitting up the Retreat for fighters?”
Tawn nodded. “Who better to protect our world? And we’re not currently attached to any military. We’re free citizens that can move wherever we want among the truce worlds. If I can manage a hundred or so, we could kick the crap out of the Earthers and start up our own colony.”
Harris scratched the back of his head. “You’re not suggesting we move out there to that furnace are you?”
“If we have to, temporarily. Look, it will take sacrifice, I know, but at least it will be on our terms. If we let the Earthers rebuild their fleet, nothing will be on our terms. Not even control of our own lives. We’ll be back as part of the war machine.”
Harris growled. “Sit down. I’ll fly us out. Trish, take us out and jump us to the Retreat.”
Trish returned a snarky expression. “You’ll fly us out? Sounds more like Trish will fly us out.”
Harris turned toward the cockpit. “You unhappy with our pay arrangement?”
Trish frowned. “No.”
“Then zip it up and zip us out. We have an army to raise and a world to conquer.”
Gandy sat on the bench, his eyes starting to tear up.
Harris asked, “Now what’s wrong with you?”
Gandy replied, “Nothing. It’s just… this is like everything I used to dream of as a kid, all rolled into one fantasy. Fighting the good fight, saving the world from the Earthers. That’s exactly what we’re doing, right?”
Harris scowled. “You’re weird kid.”
Tawn chuckled. “Says the stump who a few short days ago was storming an impossible hill. Tell me you didn’t get a thrill from that.”
Harris slowly shook his head. “No. Not really.”
Tawn laughed. “You were pulling that trigger like a madman as you charged that hilltop, all the while with your skin blistering and burning. You loved it.”
Harris sighed. “OK… maybe… a little.”
***
Colonel Robert Thomas met the Bangor as it landed at the Retreat. “Miss Freely, welcome back. I have great news. We now have more than four thousand residents with more coming every day. And all are pitching in on the homebuilding. Just yesterday we managed the completion of seventeen new dwellings. We’d love to show them off.”
Tawn replied, “That’s great news, Colonel. Unfortunately, we won’t have time. Don’t know if you’ve been keeping up with the news or not, but there’s big trouble brewing.”
“You’re talking about the massacres on Eden?”
Tawn nodded. “The news outlets are only covering part of the story. Eden is rich in titanium ore. The Earthers want it. And with it they will have the ability to rebuild their fleets.”
“That is troubling. How is it that it involves you?”
Tawn frowned. “We have some confessions to make, Colonel. Confessions that will give you every reason to kick us off this planet.”
Robert Thomas laughed. “Not certain you could tell me anything at the moment that would rise to a request of such.”
“We’re responsible for the mess on Eden. Our wealth… it came over the last year by selling illegal arms to the outer colonies. And when I say arms I mean a lot of arms. Thousands of repeating rifles even.
“Anyway, some of those arms were sent to Eden to outfit a contingent of New Earth soldiers who were posing as settlers. We went in and stopped an assault on the main colony there. The Earthers claimed their peaceful settlers were attacked and used that excuse to stage an attack on another of the truce worlds. Supposedly an unsanctioned or unauthorized retaliation of sorts.
“When the media turned their attention to that and to blustery talk from New Earth, the sold
iers on Eden conducted their raid, wiping out the governing colony there. The new government will be opening the planet to titanium mining where the old government refused. In a year the Earthers will have the beginnings of a new and powerful fleet.”
Robert gestured around them. “So all this, the donations, your efforts, it all came from selling arms?”
Tawn nodded. “It did. We were used by New Earth agents whose purpose was to move arms from here to Eden. The weapons are all traceable to Domicile and back to us should the authorities know where to dig for info. We inadvertently enabled the takeover of the titanium on Eden.
“And the Earthers have managed to do this with all the blame pointing toward us. Discoverable evidence will show that the truce was not violated because New Earth was in no way involved. They got us to do their dirty work for them.”
Robert crossed his arms. “Supposing all this is true, why have you come here? For sanctuary? You wanting us to hide you away?”
Tawn shook her head. “We’ve come here to raise an army, Colonel. We need fighters. We plan on going back to Eden to regain control. We need fighters who are willing to lay their lives on the line one more time for Domicile, and who are also willing to stay, at least for a short while. We plan on establishing a new colony with a government that will once again deny titanium to the Earthers.”
The colonel turned and began to pace back and forth as he rubbed his chin. “That’s quite the story you’ve got going. And quite the request.”
Tawn winced. “Had we known any of this could possibly happen, we’d have never gotten involved. We believe many of the arms we delivered out here have since been smuggled to the other truce worlds. The Earthers revealed plans of taking control of most of those worlds through unofficial uprisings, with Eden being their primary target.”
The colonel stopped his pacing, placing his hands on his hips. “I’ll have to run this by our community council.”
Harris stepped forward. “Colonel, we aren’t doing this for ourselves. We’re trying to prevent the great war from returning. The New Earthers came to the truce table begrudgingly. Having this titanium source would allow them to pick up with the war where they left off. They want control of all the colonies. Including Domicile.”
ARMS War for Eden Page 22