"Are you planning to stay and inhabit this place?" Nelligen asked.
"For the present; we can discuss our plans after we clear some of the stench out."
By the time Byers and Nelligen had returned, Vyx had cleaned the bedding that the Tsgardi had been using, and all the clothing he found in the dormitory style bedroom. When the pressed and folded items slid from the laundry equipment, they still bore the smell, but they were marginally better than the air in the base. Nothing would resolve the airborne stench. Their one hope was that the air scrubbers could clear the odor sooner rather then later.
"Okay, what now?" Nelligen asked.
"Let's have dinner, and then we'll take a look through the storerooms and see if there's any ordnance here."
"And if there is?"
"We take it, or destroy it, so that no one else can get their hands on it."
"Then we leave?" Byers asked.
"I've been thinking about that during our trip. Space Command is going to need some outposts in the new Frontier Zone. If this base is constructed anything like Rivemwilth's old base, it's almost impregnable. We're buried inside a mountain, with a very well camouflaged entrance, and thanks to Rivemwilth's occupation and natural paranoia, almost nobody knows the location."
"So you're saying that we should stay here?" Byers asked.
"I think that we should stay for at least as long as it takes to get an answer from the Intelligence Section. I'll send a message today asking for their decision. That means that we'll have to stay for at least two weeks. Maybe longer if they have to think about it for a while."
"I don't think that I can stand this smell for two weeks," Byers said.
"It's not nearly as bad as your feet just after you remove your shoes," Nelligen quipped.
"And it's not as bad as your breath after you've been eating that flame thrower chili that you make, but I don't have to like it."
Vyx grimaced, decided that the reasonable discussion period was over, and turned to look through the food supplies for something quick and easy to make. Byers brushed him away and began sorting out the stuff so that he could start dinner. Vyx hated to cook, so he allowed himself to be shooed away and he left to check out the communications room. Sitting down at the console, he recorded a message to the nearest Chief Intelligence Officer, Captain Kanes at Higgins SC Base, then transmitted it. Nelligen came in just about the time that he was done and announced that dinner was ready.
"Looks like the same setup that Rivemwilth had at the other moon base," Nelligen said.
"Except this one hasn't been destroyed."
"Yeah. Send the message?"
"Yup."
"Let's go have dinner."
Byers had prepared some kind of pasta dish with pieces of, what appeared to be, clam meat, mixed in. It was tasty, and a lot better than anything that Vyx would have made for himself. If he continued to hang around with these guys, he was going to start putting on weight. He thought, facetiously, that in a few years he could look like Byers. 'No,' he decided, 'wouldn't happen.'
After the meal was over and the dishes cleaned up, they took a tour of the various storerooms in the base. They found a decent amount of weapons and ammunition in the first two storerooms, and Vyx felt sure that it had to be the sample merchandise from Gollasko. Judging from the amount and variety, it probably also included some from Rivemwilth's old base. Vyx's only remaining question was, 'Where is the ship that brought it here'. It was unfortunate that the Tsgardi had decided to go for their weapons. They could have provided useful information.
The rest of the storerooms were empty; except for the last. Upon opening the door, Vyx's jaw dropped as he looked inside. Ten steps from the door, chained to a ring in the floor, were two naked Terran women.
The two young women pulled away from the three gawking strangers that stood in the doorway, at least as far as the chains on their ankles permitted. They were fearful, but they didn't scream. They had apparently been prisoners long enough to know the futility of, and punishments from, screaming.
Vyx entered the room and approached the women. "Who are you?"
The women stared back, unable to comprehend the reason for the question. The older of the two, all of about twenty-six, said quietly, "We haven't received our new identities yet. I'm Slave 65. She's Slave 66."
"What are your real names?"
"Those are our real names."
"I mean the names that you had before you were taken."
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"Because our masters beat us if we use them."
Vyx took a good look around the room. There was a bowl with water, and another which appeared to have traces of dried food. A tall bucket had to be serving as a chamber pot, judging from the smell that wafted around the room. Turning to Nelligen, Vyx said, "Nels, see if you can find a pair of bolt cutters in the tool room that we passed."
"How about just using the keys?" Nelligen asked, pointing to a hook on the wall just inside the door, where a small ring of keys hung. He took the ring down from the hook and tossed them to Vyx.
Vyx stooped down and tried several keys until he found the one that released the leg irons for both women. Neither moved when released. They just sat on the floor, watching Vyx warily.
"Okay, ladies, you can get up now." Vyx said as he stood up.
Both women got to their feet, never taking their eyes off Vyx.
"Follow me," he said.
Leading the little group to the dormitory room showers, Vyx picked up a couple of bath towels from a stack near the entrance, and tossed one to each of the women.
"Get cleaned up and then we'll talk. I'll want your real names so that we can notify the proper people that you've been rescued."
"Rescued?" the one that had identified herself as Slave 65 asked apprehensively.
"Rescued," Vyx confirmed.
"Where are our masters?" Slave 66 asked.
"The two Tsgardi that we found in here are relaxing peacefully under a pile of rocks out on the surface of the moon."
"What do you mean?" Slave 66 asked, confused.
"He means that they're dead," Slave 65 said.
"Is that right? They're dead?" Slave 66 asked.
"Yes. They refused to surrender, even though I had them covered with my laser pistol."
Slave 66 began sobbing and dropped to her knees as she buried her face in the towel. Vyx stood there looking confused and wondering why she'd be crying over the monsters that had kept her naked and chained to the floor.
Slave 65 stooped and put her arms around the younger. Looking up at Vyx, and seeing the expression on his face, she said, "She's not crying out of grief, but out of relief. They treated us like dirt. She'll be okay in a little while."
Vyx nodded. "We'll leave you alone to get cleaned up."
The Tsgardi clothes that Vyx had taken to the laundry were the only clothes he had seen in the base so he left them outside the shower area while the two women bathed. He was glad now that he hadn't followed his original instinct and shoved them down the waste disposal chute instead of into the laundry chute. He returned to the mess hall to give the women privacy to dress.
When the women didn't appear after an hour, he went back to the dormitory. He found them sitting on a bed, covered only by towels.
"Aren't you hungry?" Vyx asked.
Both nodded.
"Then why are you sitting here? Get dressed and come to the mess hall."
"You didn't leave any instructions for us. We didn't know what you wanted us to do."
Vyx smiled sadly. It might take a while for them to recover from the slave mentality to which they had succumbed. Pointing to the pile of Tsgardi clothes, he said, "I cleaned those earlier. They're the only clothes that I've found in here, so I guess that they'll have to do. Use what you can, and then come to the mess hall. Byers is waiting to start cooking a special meal for you, so I'll tell him to start now. Come when you're ready. Turn left in the corridor, walk until you sme
ll food cooking, then follow your noses."
"What should we call you?" Slave 65 asked.
"I'm Vyx. We'll talk after you've eaten."
The two women ate furiously, but not a great amount of the spread that Byers set before them. Months of meager rations had shrunk their stomachs. The one named Slave 66 made a sandwich for later, wrapped it in a couple of paper napkins, and then held onto it with her left hand like it was the last thing she'd ever receive to eat.
Vyx sat at the table drinking a cup of coffee and trying not to stare at the women. When they had finished, and put their eating utensils down, he said, "The kitchen is always open to you. Feel free to come make yourself something to eat anytime you're feeling hungry."
Even that statement wasn't enough to make Slave 66 release her grip on the sandwich, so Vyx continued.
"Suppose you tell me your real names now, and how you wound up chained to the floor in the base of a notorious arms merchant?"
"You first," Slave 65 said.
"Okay, my name is Vyx; Trader Vyx. That's Byers, and that's Nelligen," he said pointing to his comrades. "We came here seeking a load of missing weapons, stolen from Space Command. We found them in a couple of the storerooms. Now you."
"You're a Trader in illegal arms and you expect us to trust you?"
"We're the ones that freed you and fed you. That should be enough to learn what I asked."
"You might be trying to trick us. Maybe you're only pretending to free us."
"For what purpose?"
"I don't know."
"Did the Tsgardi know your names and how you wound up here?"
"Of course."
"Then what harm can it do to tell me?"
The two women looked at one another. Then Slave 65 said, "I'm Maria Elena Morales, and she's Sarah Lynn Hawkins."
"And what are you doing sixty light-years inside the new Frontier Zone?"
"We weren't in the Zone when we were captured. We were part of an advance survey team for Cestwidge Mining on the surface of a planet in the Argopp system when the Tsgardis landed near our camp. We tried to radio our mother ship but we didn't get a response, and we didn't stand a chance against the Tsgardis by ourselves. We last saw the men in our party on the planet; I have no idea what happened to them. We were taken up to the Tsgardi ship and held in their brig for months, transferred to another ship's brig, and ultimately wound up here."
"The Argopp system? That's thirty light-years on the other side of the border?"
"Yes, I know."
"How large was the ship that attacked your group?"
"I don't know. We never saw it, except from the inside of their brig."
"Do you know its name?"
"No."
"Can you tell me anything that would be relevant?"
"We had a lot of different guards during the months that we were there, and it was a long walk from the flight bay to the brig."
"So you're saying that it was a big ship?"
"It must have been."
"How about the second ship?"
"We only saw two different guards while we were locked up. The brig was very close to a small flight bay that was only large enough for a couple of shuttles or tugs."
"That must have been Rivemwilth's ship. They apparently linked up with the Tsgardi transport on their way here. I wonder what happened to it after they unloaded you and the ordnance at this base. Did you overhear anything at all about their destination or purpose?"
"Nothing that made sense. They just said something about 'making the Arrosian delivery.'"
"Are you sure they said 'Arrosian'?"
"Yes. But I don't know what they meant by it."
"Okay. What was the name of your ship by the way?"
"The Cestwidge Explorer IV."
"Thanks Maria. I'm going to send a message about your being found alive and well. You'll either have to stay here with us until we leave, or they might possibly send a ship to pick you up."
"Who are they?"
Vyx smiled. "Space Command. I have a contact at Stewart."
"Shouldn't we leave here right away? Rivemwilth is expected at any time."
"Oh, don't worry about him. He made the mistake of cheating my associates and me. He won't be leaving the place where he is now. Contrary to what many authors have written down through the centuries, I don't think they actually let you leave Hell."
* * *
Chapter Eight
~ June 1st, 2275 ~
Jenetta was working in her office when an encrypted message arrived from Vyx. She put aside the portable viewpad and tapped the play button on her com unit as she leaned back to watch the communication. Vyx's face filled the screen as it began to play.
"Hi Captain. I'm transmitting this message from inside Rivemwilth's new base in the Frontier Zone. We discovered its location and traveled here to determine if any of the weapons he'd stolen had made their way here. We discovered a small amount that I believe might have been the 'samples' brought here directly from Gollasko when he had to abandon his quarters there. We also found two Terran women chained to the floor in a rear storeroom. They've identified themselves as Maria Elena Morales and Sarah Lynn Hawkins, formerly of the Cestwidge Explorer IV. They claim to have been conducting a survey in the Argopp system when taken prisoner by Tsgardis eight months ago. They say that after about three months in captivity aboard a transport, a smaller ship brought them here.
"I sent a report to Captain Kanes at Higgins regarding our discovery of this base, but he isn't aware of the prisoners because we hadn't yet discovered them at the time I filed. I see no real need to amend that report since it doesn't affect the query that I posed. I asked if he'd like us to secure this base for use as an outpost in the Frontier Zone. We're sixty light-years over the border so the location might be useful, and I'm confident that no one will contest the ownership with Rivemwilth gone. But now I'm also going to need a decision regarding these women. Will someone pick them up, or should I return them to Stewart? I'd appreciate any input that you might offer.
"On a final note, one of the women overheard the Tsgardi referring to 'the Arrosian delivery.' She didn't have any information other than that, but it sounds like Arrosa was trading with Rivemwilth. The transaction might be perfectly legal, but I thought that I'd mention it in case they had received any of the stolen Space Command weapons for which we can't account.
"Trader Vyx of the freighter Scorpion, message complete."
Jenetta's face reflected her intense concentration. She hadn't seen any reports about a missing survey ship in her sectors, and the Argopp system was clearly within her mission authority.
"So why didn't Cestwidge report the Explorer IV as missing when its absence was realized?" Jenetta asked herself aloud. "It has to have been noticed that the ship hasn't filed any reports in eight months. Or are the two women lying about their identities and circumstances?"
Sitting up straight, Jenetta recorded and sent her own message to Captain Kanes at the Intelligence Section. She then transmitted a message to Vyx, thanking him for the information and informing him that she would notify him regarding transportation for the women as soon as she reached a decision.
* * *
The delegation from Arrosa finally arrived at Stewart. As with the Selaxian delegation, Jenetta met them at the conference room prepared for the arbitration hearing. But unlike the Selaxians, the Arrosians had nothing but uncomplimentary things to say. They were unhappy about the shape of the table, they complained that the seats were uncomfortable, and they said that the height of the table was unacceptable. Jenetta listened patiently to their comments.
"I'm sure that all those issues can be easily remedied," she said. "If you'll select a chair that you all find comfortable from aboard your ship, we'll duplicate it exactly. Or perhaps you'd like to provide your own chairs from your ship's furnishings? As to the height of the table, we matched the height of all the tables aboard your freighter, the Hunaray. We assumed that since this height was
standard throughout the entire ship, it would be the norm, but simply tell us what would be acceptable and we'll adjust your side to that specification. The same will go for the shape of the table. Tell us what you desire and we'll do our best to accommodate you. I'm sure that the Selaxians will go along with whatever table shape is decided upon because they're more concerned with the substance of the talks, and I'm quite sure that the shape of the table hasn't even occurred to them."
"Are you implying that we're being unduly concerned over trivial matters?" the delegation leader, Minister Thulrys, asked angrily.
"I'm sure that these matters are of great importance to you. I'm only trying to accommodate you at this early stage."
"Which means that you won't accommodate us later?"
"I'm to be the arbitration judge. Once the hearing begins, it isn't my place to accommodate either side. You'll have every opportunity to present your case, as will the Selaxians. When both sides have made their case, I'll issue as fair and impartial a ruling as I can."
"I'm sure that you will, Captain, if you haven't already made your decision."
"Are you suggesting that I won't be impartial?"
"I'm sure that your decision will reflect your true feelings."
'Real diplomatic double talk, steeped in ambiguity and innuendo,' Jenetta thought to herself. It was no wonder that she tried to avoid politicians and diplomats as much as possible. Politics were present in every bureaucracy, but the Arrosian delegation seemed to raise it to a science. "No, Minister, it will reflect the most fair and equitable solution that I'm capable of rendering. My personal feelings will have nothing to do with it. You may forward your table and chair specifications to my office. Commander Blake," Jenetta glanced at the commander briefly, "will escort you to your assigned quarters. I have many other things to complete before the hearing begins. Good day."
While the Arrosians continued to delay the start of the hearing by registering a series of complaints about the conference room, Jenetta continued her duties as before. She wasn't any more anxious to conduct the hearing than the Arrosians were to see it progress, but she knew of its importance. She placed Commander Blake in charge of making the conference room satisfactory, within reason. Although not permitted to enlarge the room, or change the wall shape or ceiling height, almost everything else was open for discussion.
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