Star Raider

by Vaughn Heppner

  The man launched into a tirade of curses and threats. He demanded they return to the docking cube or face their considerable vengeance.

  “Do I have to say anything to him?” Tanner asked Acton out of the corner of his mouth.

  “Not unless you desire to gloat,” the alien said.

  Tanner tapped the screen, disconnecting. “You heard the man. They want revenge in the worst way.”

  “Before we’re through, many here will have similar desires.”

  Tanner couldn’t help it. He grinned. “You’re a right royal bastard, Lord Acton.”

  The alien regarded him, cocking his head. “Is that an insult?”

  “No. It’s what we call a backhanded compliment. It doesn’t mean I trust you, but you do have style.”

  Two hours later, Acton finished his dealings with Magnus Shelly. The woman owned the two frigates they’d seen earlier, among other vessels. She also owned one eighth of the floor space on the central asteroid.

  “She is among the most powerful of the hideaway notables,” Acton said.

  “Do you think Ottokar really was a notable?”

  “No. He was a thief, one who managed to turn guard duty on the belt’s perimeter into a death sentence. If he had succeeded gaining our triton, though, he would have been wealthy beyond his understanding.”

  “Did you always know he was just a perimeter guard?”

  “No. I learned it fifteen minutes ago.”

  The comm light blinked again. Once more, Tanner tapped it. This time, an orange-skinned woman peered out of the screen. She had silver hair and red-colored eyes. It was Magnus Shelly.

  “Greetings,” Acton said in a formal manner. “It is a great honor to speak with you, Lady.”

  “Yes,” she said. “Is it true you have triton?”

  “Would you like to see a sample, Lady?”

  “I would indeed,” she said.

  The onscreen haggling as to protocol for the coming meeting took three hours. By that time, Tanner had docked the Dark Star in a more spacious area alongside expensive space-yachts.

  Soon, Acton went to a meeting on the main asteroid. This time, he went alone, leaving the others in the raider.

  Tanner hurried to Marcus’s quarters. He informed the heir of everything that had taken place. The big man scowled at the news.

  “This is accurate?” Marcus asked. “In particular, you’re certain his niece was a cyborg?”

  “It’s all true,” Tanner said.

  “We must talk to my sister at once about this.”

  “We need to meet, all of us, to figure out what we should do next.”

  “Yes,” Marcus said. “I agree. Where should we meet?”

  “Somewhere that hasn’t been bugged. We’ll go to Cargo Hold Four.”

  “Why there?”

  “You’ll see.” Tanner checked his chrono. “Meet me there in one hour.

  “Surely, we should meet sooner.”

  “No. I’ll need some time to move a few things around. One hour, Lord.”

  “We’ll be there,” Marcus said.

  ***

  Tanner and Greco shifted heavy boxes and bulky duffel bags into the corridor, freeing enough space in Cargo Hold Four to set up a folding table and chairs. Lastly, the apeman set a pitcher on the table and four cups along with sandwiches.

  Tanner sat and tilted his chair back. He poured himself some orange juice and threw it down his throat. He’d found more in a storeroom. He was thirsty after all that moving.

  Ten minutes later, Marcus poked his head into the hold. He smiled, glanced significantly at Tanner and entered, holding out his hand. His sister took it, entering afterward. She kept her gaze lowered.

  Tanner had almost forgotten how pretty Ursa Varus was. It had been soon time since the Lupus incident. She had avoided him since then. He stood abruptly, causing his chair to fall.

  Ursa’s head snapped up in surprise. Her gaze brushed his, and held.

  “Lady Varus,” Tanner said. “I appreciate your presence. We have important matters to discuss.”

  “I didn’t want to come,” she said, while still holding his gaze.

  Marcus cleared his throat. Neither Tanner nor Ursa paid him any attention.

  “I…” Tanner said.

  Ursa raised her eyebrows.

  “I’m sorry Lupus died,” Tanner managed to say. His lips felt stiff as he spoke. “You have my condolences. I wish it had ended differently.”

  Ursa nodded curtly.

  Tanner motioned to the table. “Would you sit, please?”

  Ursa turned to her brother. “The ruffian has learned some manners. How quaint, don’t you think?”

  “I think Centurion Tanner is genuinely sorry for what occurred earlier,” Marcus said. “You must remember his life was at risk. He is a fighting man. He reacts harshly because that is his training and inclination.”

  “Will he attack us if we move too suddenly?” Ursa asked archly.

  “That is not worthy of you, sister. I wish you to retract your last statement.”

  “She doesn’t have to,” Tanner said.

  “And I request the centurion to let my sister and I have a discussion in peace,” Marcus said.

  Tanner opened his mouth. Greco laid a gentle hand on his wrist. Tanner frowned, looked at the hairy hand and finally nodded.

  Ursa had thrown her head back and squared her shoulders. She shivered, perhaps with anger. “If you think, brother—”

  “Would you rather that Lupus had slain the centurion?” Marcus asked. “Given Lupus’s rage, that could have easily been the outcome. If you don’t know that by now—”

  “How dare you?” Ursa said, as her hands clenched into fists. “How dare you say that?” she shouted, striking her brother’s chest several times. Finally, Marcus staggered backward, catching her wrists so he wouldn’t have to endure more blows.

  Ursa bent her head, but she didn’t weep. She shuddered, seeming angrier than ever.

  “We must discuss our present situation,” Tanner said. “It’s urgent. We must put aside our differences for the good of mankind.”

  Ursa tore her hands free and whirled around, glaring at Tanner. “You’ve suddenly become noble minded?”

  “No,” Marcus said. “Centurion Tanner has always been noble minded. Those with eyes to see have already witnessed that.”

  Ursa’s shoulder’s sagged. “My coming here was a mistake.”

  Greco cleared his throat. “May I speak, Lady?”

  Ursa shrugged.

  “The situation is grim,” Greco said. “We need your good consul. Humanity everywhere needs it. Please, forgive the centurion. If you cling to your bitterness, it could have dire consequences throughout the galaxy.”

  “You overstate the case,” Ursa said quietly.

  “I don’t believe that,” Greco said. “And I am equated as something of a genius, so I should know.”

  A sad smile appeared on Ursa’s face.

  “I beg you to forgive the centurion,” Greco said. “I have known him for over five years now. He is brave, loyal and stalwart.”

  “You make him sound like a good dog,” Ursa said.

  Marcus hissed.

  Tanner’s features hardened.

  Greco pursed his lips in a simian manner. “Your anger will destroy everything, Lady. Do you want that on your conscience?”

  “Are you going to lecture me now?” Ursa asked.

  “I think I will,” Greco said, “as it seems you need it.”

  Ursa’s cheeks colored. She took a step toward Greco. Suddenly, she turned and bowed her head, rubbing her face. A mournful sigh escaped her. Slowly, she looked up, turning to face them. Quietly, she moved to the nearest chair, sitting down.

  “I’m thirsty,” she said.

  Tanner moved faster than anyone else did. “Allow me, Lady,” he said, pouring her a glass, handing her the juice.

  She accepted it with a nod, sipping, setting the glass on the card table.

&
nbsp; Tanner sat back. At last, he put his hands on the table. Marcus quietly took a seat.

  Tanner began to talk, telling them exactly what had happened in the docking chamber with Ottokar and his gunmen.

  “A cyborg,” Ursa said. “Who would have believed it? How can Acton have kept it quiet all this time?”

  “There’s another problem,” Greco said. “Where did Acton acquire the cyborg?”

  No one seemed to have any idea.

  “The cut hand,” Marcus told Tanner. “That was well thought out.”

  “Yes,” Ursa agreed.

  “Are you certain about what you saw, though?” Marcus asked. “Could Acton have tricked you regarding his true nature?”

  “There’s always the possibility,” Tanner said, “but I don’t think he tricked me. I took every precaution.”

  Ursa kneaded her forehead, seemingly deep in thought. The others fell silent. She looked up after a time as if surprised. “What are you waiting for?”

  Tanner smiled softly. “I don’t know what they’re waiting for, but I’m waiting to find out what you see that I’ve missed.”

  “I have several thoughts. First, that was clever using Acton to climb out of your hole with Ottokar. We had been with the Shand for several months before meeting with you at Calisto Grandee. While Acton’s suggestive powers are amazing, he seems disinclined to use them much.”

  “Maybe it costs him physically to do what he does,” Greco said. “Maybe having his body manufacture the drug is a taxing process.”

  “I think you might be right,” Ursa said. “In any case, Acton formulated a plan against Ottokar. Maybe he had several plans. The pirates’ murderous ways disrupted some of that. I doubt Acton thought any of them would murder or be capable of murdering Lacy.”

  “Is killing a cyborg murder?” Greco asked.

  “Who cares?” Tanner asked. “That seems like the least of our concerns.”

  “Not to me,” Greco said. “I want to approach the Deity with a clean conscience when I die.”

  Ursa nodded. “That is a commendable thought, one not often considered by soldiers and warriors.”

  Tanner felt his face heat up. Had Ursa directed that at him? He suspected so.

  “However,” Ursa told Greco, “I’m not sure any of us are able to make that call.”

  “That troubles me,” Greco said.

  Tanner couldn’t believe his friend sometimes. “Let’s call it murder for now,” the centurion said.

  Ursa raised a single finger. “Lord Acton had a cyborg. Do you believe it’s dead?” she asked, referring to the mangled form he and Acton had brought back to the raider.

  “I do,” Tanner said. “But Acton indicates that he can bring her back around, and that she wasn’t fully dead in the same way a human would die.”

  “That is troubling,” Ursa said. Her single finger was still upright. “Let us suppose Acton can revive Lacy—if she was ever truly dead. The only question that matters is what does Acton hope to achieve on Planet Zero with her? If his goal is to revive the rest of the cyborgs, we must kill him at once.”

  “How can we tell what he plans?” Tanner asked.

  “We have to figure that out,” Ursa said. “If we can’t confirm the answer in some manner—either yes or no—we must kill Lord Acton and destroy Lacy out of prudence.”

  “Cold-blooded murder,” Greco said. “I cannot agree to that.”

  “Perhaps you should leave the meeting then?” Ursa told the apeman.

  Greco made to rise.

  “Wait,” Tanner said, putting a hand on one of Greco’s wrists. “We only have a little time to figure this out. We need every insight. Greco should stay.”

  Ursa considered that, soon nodding. “Forgive me. I spoke in haste.”

  Greco reluctantly sat back down.

  Tanner leaned forward. “There’s one thing I feel firmly about: we can’t let Acton bring anyone else onboard.”

  “Does he plan on trying?” Ursa asked.

  “He hasn’t indicated that he is,” Tanner said. “I’m just saying. He already has the Lithians. We can’t allow him yet more allies.”

  Ursa was quiet a moment. “Yes. That’s a good point. Should we storm the room and destroy Lacy?”

  “That all depends on Acton,” Tanner said. “If he’s on our side, we need him. If we need him, we need his cyborg key, don’t we? That means keeping Lacy’s remains for the moment.”

  “Perhaps you’re right,” Ursa said. “Too much hangs on Lord Acton, and we don’t know enough about him.”

  Tanner glanced at the others. “I’m out of ideas at the moment. I’m tired, and I’m more than a little bewildered at everything that’s been going on. I say we keep our eyes and ears open and start soaking up information. Maybe we should buy some useful cyborg-killing weaponry while we have a chance.”

  “What do we use for currency?” Ursa asked.

  Tanner grinned. “That’s the easy part. We put it on Acton’s bill. He has the triton. A few extra purchases should go unnoticed.”

  “Don’t count on that,” Ursa said. “Acton is supremely aware of just about everything going on around him. He’s uncanny.”

  “I’d agree to that,” Tanner said. “Is there anything else to consider?”

  No one came up with anything.

  “Greco and I will clean up,” Tanner said. “Remember, this game will likely go to the one who strikes first. Guard yourself and be ready to strike.”

  “Do we strike while we’re still at the hideaway?” asked Marcus.

  “No,” Tanner said. “First, we get our ship modifications. I’m talking about later once we’re in space again. We may not have another opportunity to talk like this any time soon.”

  They stared at each other, the importance of the centurion’s words sinking in. This was a treasure hunt, possibly the most important in human history.

  -32-

  Several hours later, Lord Acton returned in a hurry. As soon as he stepped out of the airlock, he pointed the lion head of his cane at the waiting Tanner.

  “We have serious trouble,” the alien said. “It’s worse than I’d foreseen. These humans are more than greedy. They are thoroughly corrupt and vicious. I suspect Magnus Shelly wants to double-cross me. It is most distressing.”

  The Dark Star had moved yet again and now waited in a main hangar bay inside the central asteroid. Greco had noticed guards an hour ago outside the raider, bringing it to Tanner’s attention.

  “What’s the problem?” Tanner said.

  “They are multiple,” Acton said. “For the success of our enterprise, I must overcome them all.”

  “What’s the first problem?”

  Acton rubbed the lion head against his chin. “We must modify the raider. Otherwise, the sentries circling Planet Zero will destroy us before we can land on the surface.”

  “Okay. Why’s modifying the raider a problem?”

  “It seems I must trust you. Worse, I must arm you with suitable weapons.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa, what are you talking about?”

  “Perhaps that isn’t important,” Acton said. He began to pace with his features blank as if he was deep in thought. “We only have a little time,” the alien said. He stopped abruptly. “The pirates ruined the easiest path. I never expected such wanton destruction on their part. This destructive streak seems epidemic among you hominids.”

  “You’ve got to settle down,” Tanner said. “I don’t understand a thing you’re saying.”

  Acton looked up. “You must come with me. Hurry. We don’t have much time.” He moved back to the airlock hatch, opened it and looked back. He frowned seeing that Tanner hadn’t moved.

  “What is your objection now?” Acton asked.

  “Look,” Tanner said. “Come on. Are you serious? You come in here huffing and puffing and expect me to just race out after you? Yours is an act, not a bad one, but an act just the same.”

  “Why would I pretend anything?”

&
nbsp; “To get me off the ship and alone,” Tanner said.

  “No. You place far too much value on yourself. You are a cog, a mere cipher.” Acton snapped his fingers. “It would be simplicity to eliminate you from the calculations. This self-insistence on your importance has become taxing.”

  Tanner grinned. “Don’t forget that my quick wits have brought us this far.”

  “Negative,” Acton said. “Your sloppy procedures have almost seen us killed several times already. I am appalled at your techniques. But you’re all I have at the moment. Now, hurry, this delay is only making our situation more difficult.”

  Tanner shook his head. “What’s your plan? Where are we going? I have to know what you’re thinking.”

  “I have already told you the plan. We need powerful weapons to help us persuade Magnus Shelly to uphold her end of the bargain.”

  “How can I trust you enough to leave the ship in your company?”

  “What do suspect I will do to you?”

  “Have thugs grab me, allowing you to smear grease on my skin so you can control my thoughts.”

  Acton’s lips peeled back in the silent hiss. “You speak about sacred acts as if they are common occurrences. It is difficult to speak to you for extended periods. It tires me.”

  “That’s interesting,” Tanner said. “Because you give me a pain right here,” he said, rubbing his butt.

  “If you won’t go, I’ll demand Marcus comes with me. You are better suited, however.”

  “Yeah? Why’s that?”

  “It should be obvious. You are more dangerous than the tribune.”

  Tanner sighed. “All right, I guess. We’re already in a fix. Let me get my gun and gloves. Then, I’ll be ready. But if this is a trick, Acton, I’m going to shoot you before they take me down.”

  “Your threat is noted. I have been warned.”

  Tanner hurried down the corridor. The hangar bay had artificial gravity, and thus so did the Dark Star. He told Greco where he was going, and gave the apeman instructions about how to test him once he’d come back.

  “That’s devious,” Greco said.

  “Let’s hope it will work,” Tanner said. He buckled on his gun-belt, checked his pistol and hurried to the airlock for the waiting Lord Acton.

  ***