by Chris Lowry
The former guard nodded toward Ming.
“Favors rule the world,” said Mona Lisa.
“Yeah, that’s just it,” said Tinker. “The android body isn’t just a favor. She bought it.”
“Who bought it?”
“Junebug. She paid me to get her a new body.”
“How do you have money?” Bat asked.
““I have all the money,” Junebug announced.
“What do you mean?”
“That’s just it Mate,” Tinker grinned. “She’s been into other computers and we have all the credit we’ll ever need.”
Bat paused by the airlock and started at him.
“We don’t need that ship,” Tinker said. “Because we have all the money.”
Mona Lisa perked up.
“How much credit?”
“All of it,” the pilot crowed.
“Junebug?”
“He is correct. I have transferred all of the credit into an account for him. That was his price.”
Bat turned around.
“When you say all of the credit-?”
“All of it Mate. I’m the richest bloody man in the history of the Galaxy!”
Bat didn’t know what to say. Mona Lisa couldn’t talk. Only Ming was able to sigh.
“And so it begins.”
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
“Uh Bat?”
“Yes Tinker?”
“We’ve got company.”
The pilot pointed at the view screen.
Bat wasn't sure what he expected. A single ship derelict in space broadcasting an SOS should be a simple affair. Slide in, render aid, and keep going until the mission was done.
But there were two ships floating in space.
"Impossible," said Tinker as he stared at the view screen.
It should have been.
Cloaking tech was a theory. He had never seen it in practice. It wasn't supposed to be real.
"Did you know about this?" he said over his shoulder to Bat.
The guard shook his head.
"Either of them?" Ming asked from his other shoulder.
The second thing was the second vessel. A warship with cloaking technology.
"No," said Bat.
"Are those guns?"
Mona Lisa gasped in the co-pilot's seat.
"Kelvin 2k's," Bat answered.
"Shite Mate," Tinker swore.
"How bad is that?" she sucked in her breath and chewed her bottom lip.
"If they shoot us, we're dead," he answered.
"Kelvin model cannons refer to the heat of the laser blast produced," Junebug stated.
"Makes one wish for pirates," said Ming.
"It could be pirates," said Bat. "They aren't registered with the government."
He looked at Mona Lisa.
"I'm in way over my head," she said.
Buster didn't have access to weaponry like that. If he did, he didn't tell her.
"Guess we're gonna find out."
"Shouldn't we turn the ship around?" Ming asked Tinker.
"Don't ask me. I'm not flying."
"But, you're the pilot," she said.
"Finally!" he shouted in triumph. "Someone recognizes."
"Junebug, adjust course," Mona Lisa called out.
"Negative."
Mona Lisa shot Bat a look.
"Adjust course," he ordered.
"Negative," she sounded exasperated.
The NS-17 continued the intercept course.
"It's a trap," Bat yelled. "Get us out of here."
The ship didn't alter its path. The warship turned broadside and adjusted the barrels of the Kelvins.
"Weapons hot," Bat announced.
"One more drink before we die?" Tinker raised his flash and toasted the console. "Stupid computer killed us."
The lights blinked out bathing them in the pure darkness of deep space.
"At least we won't feel the lasers when she pops the airlock," Mona Lisa giggled on the verge of hysterics.
The view screen glowed back on and returned an image of the two ships bearing down on them.
The Warship went dark and listed left. The derelict vessel lights pulsed off, on and off again.
"What's happening?" Mona Lisa stuttered.
Airlocks along the length of both ships winked open and spewed bodies into the vacuum.
The NS-17 drifted into a floating field of human detritus. One of the bodies spun in a forward rotation, slammed face first into the camera giving them a good look at a topography map wrinkled face.
"Welcome to Mo's," said Tinker.
The lights in the cockpit surged back on.
"Junebug?" the pilot queried.
"Who are you calling stupid?"
"Care to tell us what just happened?" Mona Lisa asked again.
"I interfaced with the shipboard computers and self-replicated."
"You're on those ships?" Tinker stared at the images on the screen as they both lit up and fell into a formation with the NS-17.
"I am they and they are me."
"Via wireless?" Bat asked.
"Even I was unsure if it would work," the AI confessed. "But they are under my control now."
Ming caught Bat's eye.
"What have you wrought?"
"What do you think I should name them?" Junebug asked.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
Bat expected a large welcoming party at the airlock when they docked with the Space Hub. Mona Lisa had transmitted a message announcing their arrival, but received no response.
“Maybe he’s busy with gang stuff,” said Tinker as they marched Ming through the corridors toward Mr. Kim’s section of the ship.
“My Uncle is not a gangster,” Ming sneered. “He is a man of business and many interests. A philanthropist who facilitates the running of this sector.”
“Section of the ship,” Mona Lisa corrected.
“I spoke correctly underling,” sniffed Ming. “You are not aware of how far my Uncle’s reach extends.”
“He can tell us when we turn you in,” Mona Lisa shot back. “And if you admire him so much, why did you run away?”
But Ming didn’t answer.
She stared down the corridor, icy resolve making her eyes hard, movements lithe and graceful. She walked between Mona Lisa and Tinker, refusing to stand too close to Bat.
He marched a little ahead of them, and Mona Lisa realized that it was a position he always chose, at the lead, even if it was only a step or two. Like the jump seat next to the airlock hatch, a spot he claimed as his own by virtue of occupation.
Tinker didn’t want to be called Captain of the ship, but Mona Lisa realized Bat was the de facto commander of their crew.
He sought their opinions, even the AI and then made the decisions.
She just wasn’t sure if she liked that.
Buster had made all the decisions for her in the past, except for turning evidence against him. That had been in her control.
And look where it got me, she thought.
But try as she might, she couldn’t be sad about it.
Where it had gotten her was to the far reaches of the galaxy where no one had explored before, breaking into a military installation, the way out, and meeting a legend of the past.
She stared at the back of the man in front of her as they approached the entry to Mr. Kim’s hold.
“There are no guards,” Ming observed as the door opened and they stepped through.
Odd, thought Mona Lisa.
Then she couldn’t breathe.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Mona Lisa stepped through the door and froze.
“Hello love.”
She shivered and she wasn't sure if it was fear or desire. Or both.
Bat led Ming to one side of the door.
He noted the lanky man with greased back hair, Mr. Kim between him and Ian. There were a dozen armed men dressed just like the lanky one. Black suit. White shirt. Skinny black ties. Automated lasers
pointed at the newcomers.
“Buster,” Mona Lisa said when she could finally breathe.
“I thought he was dead,” Tinker said from behind her.
“Rumors greatly exaggerated,” said the gangster.
He made a motion with his hands and the armed men spread out to cover them.
“Alright sunshine,” Ian glared at Bat. “I have been counting the hours till I met you again.”
Bat let his eyes travel the room before settling on Mr. Kim.
“I thought he was your prisoner.”
The Chinese Gang Lord smiled.
“He was until this one arrived with the ransom. Now the tables have been turned and I am intern a prisoner of theirs.”
“Did you know he was alive?” Mona Lisa shouted.
“No,” said Mr. Kim.
“Circles and wheels,” Ian smirked and shoved the Giant in the back. It set off an undulation under his thin silk pants.
“Great Stars man put on some underwear,” said Buster. “There are ladies present.”
He glanced at Mona Lisa.
“I may not be talking about you,” he said. “A lady doesn't try to kill their one and only true love.”
“And what kind of man tries to kill his? Twice.”
“And fails,” Tinker added. “But wasn't it three times?”
“That's right,” said Mona Lisa. “Three times if you count the ship that the Dipole Shield. Maybe you love me too much to kill me, maybe you just want to make the threat to make you feel better.”
“You betrayed me,” he said. “I can't let that stand. What would these guys think about me as a boss? What would these two think about me as their equal? Making a play for Kim's territory is going to erase a lot of questions that you getting away created for me.”
Bat slowly eased Ming behind him so that her back was against the wall.
“That's right sweetheart,” said Ian. “Get up close so we get good shots at you. You are going to rue the day.”
“What say love? You want one more go on the Lounge before I have the boys kill you for betraying me? You never cared if anyone watched and we were always good at that part.”
He winked.
Mona Lisa considered it. It would buy her fifteen more minutes of life, buy them fifteen more minutes of time to figure a way out of it. She reached her left hand up and traced a finger down the open neck of her flight suit pulling it slightly to one side and entrancing her ex.
Then she heard Bat.
“Is this a test?” He asked Mr. Kim.
She had never heard anyone sound so sound in her life. Not quite on the verge of sobbing, but like someone viewing a natural disaster that has claimed the lives of a thousand innocents.
A voice that implied why.
The giant showed him his long hands and shrugged his basketball size shoulders.
“Are we not always being tested?”
“Hey, where is ICE? Where are the guards?” asked Tinker.
“You are outnumbered,” Buster spread his hands wide to take in the thugs arrayed around the room.
“I guess I should go get help then,” Tinker said and took two steps toward the door. Three men moved to block him.
Bat noted it all. Their position. Their poise. He knew the make and model of each weapon, the strength and skill of each man by the way they stood.
He knew who to hit first and how hard, where to strike to cause the most damage. Worst of all, he knew what it would take to kill every single person in the room.
Mr. Kim giggled.
And Bat knew.
He knew this was all a setup. Some kind of test, but the stakes were too high for just that. Too much risk.
Mr. Kim's eyes sparkled from across the room.
“I will spar with you,” he said.
Bat heard the message.
Don't kill them.
He calculated it would take him thirty-two seconds to retake the room.
With the giant’s help, they did it in twelve.
Buster and Ian escaped in the chaos.
They made a grab for Mona Lisa, who caught her ex-fiancé with a glancing blow to the crotch. Ian dragged him from the room as the men they left behind became fodder.
Mr. Kim huffed twice to catch his breath when it was over.
Bat just stood in a new spot in the dock and stared at the carnage of twisted bodies and twitching limbs.
“Satisfied?”
Mr. Kim tilted his head to one side and studied the man in front of him. He put his hands together and bowed.
“I am never satisfied,” the giant stated. “But I am pleased.”
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
“He has my android,” Mr. Kim growled.
“I can catch him,” Bat offered.
Mr. Kim’s eyes flashed, but he shook his head.
“They planned well,” he said. “Their escape from the Space Hub is a foregone conclusion.”
“I can catch them,” Bat stated again, emphasis on the I.
Mr. Kim regarded him.
“I have no doubt,” he said. “But they are not the only one’s who plan well.
He turned to peruse Ming.
“You have returned.”
“You did not tell me he was a Regenerist.”
He opened his long thin arms and she embraced him, as he kissed her on both cheeks.
“It did not seem pertinent.”
“I shot him.”
His eyebrows went up almost to his forehead.
“Another test it seems.”
“One you don’t want to repeat,” Bat warned him.
“Wonders,” he said.
“How did they overpower you?” Mona Lisa said in suspicion.
“Let us just say that my mind was occupied on your task and the appearance of your fiancé created a pause in my reaction.”
“Ex-fiancé,” Bat and Mona Lisa muttered at the same time.
“Your guards, Uncle?”
He pointed to a lump of bodies under one of the tapestries ripped from the ship deck wall.
“Good men,” he said in sadness. “They served me well. See to their families.”
Ming bowed and moved to another part of the hold hidden by more curtains that shimmered in a constant stream of scrubbed air.
The Gang Lord turned to the mercenaries.
“You performed well, and went above what was asked of you in your rescue of me.”
“Do we get a bonus for that?” Tinker rubbed his fingers together.
“Another item that occupied my attention was the disappearance of my credits,” Mr. Kim stared at the pilot.
Tinker took a few steps back.
“All of my credits.”
“Wow,” said Tinker, licking his lips and shifting from foot to foot. “That’s crazy. Do you know what happened?”
“ICE discovered the reason before he was taken from me.”
“And?”
“And I will ignore the ramifications this is causing in all of the galaxy if those same credits are returned to me, and to the rest of the original owners.”
“That’s magnanimous,” said Mona Lisa. “Buster would have kept it all for himself.”
“Your Fiancé,” he started. “Ex-fiancé has a short sighted approach to our activities. The Ming family has existed for five thousand years, the history of our ancestral homeland for a thousand years before that. Long term thinking is our area of specialty.”
“You’re just going to give it all up?” Tinker snorted. “All that credit.”
“No,” Mr. Kim smiled. “You are.”
Tinker blanched, then shrugged his shoulders.
“We still get paid for the rescue, right?”
Mr. Kim smiled.
“Once all is made right.”
“And maybe some of that rice wine we had last time?” the pilot asked.
“A celebratory drink is always in order.”
The giant made a motion with his hands and his harem appeared from hiding behind
the tapestries to set up the table and prepare the drinks.
“What are you going to tell Junebug?” Mona Lisa whispered to Tinker.
The pilot sighed.
“My share should be enough to get something,” he whimpered.
“You can have my share too,” Bat said.
“I can?”
“And mine,” Mona Lisa offered. “We’re crew after all.”
CHAPTER FORTY
"You ever wonder about things?" Tinker swigged from his flask.
"I do," Mona Lisa said.
"I'd buy you a moon if you'd say that to me in a wedding vow," he slurred.
"Is that a proposal," she batted her eyes.
"The genesis of an indecent one," he assured her.
"That's more like it. What were you wondering about?"
"Words," he pondered. "Where do they come from?"
"Our mouth."
"How do they start?"
"Our thoughts."
"You ain't making this easy."
"I never do," she giggled.
"Take where we are, for instance."
"In space."
"In a cockpit. Now how do you think they came up with that name?"
He watched her with lowered eyes, giving her his good side and a half grin. She rolled her eyes loud enough for him to hear but he ignored it.
"You think it's because you have to slide in here and it’s all nice and tight and warm?"
She snorted and turned shifted over to the other side of her seat.
"Or cold. I'm not picky."
"Get a room," she said.
"I've got one. In the back. Just big enough for two."
"I wouldn't want to make you move your still."
"You wanna tickle my pickle?"
"What is wrong with you?
"I'm a man love. A man with needs. And a 100% guarantee of mutual satisfaction."
"Gross."
"Yeah gross can be good too, right."
Mona Lisa made an exaggerated gagging motion.
"Alright, sighed Tinker. But I've still got an ache only a woman can satisfy."
"Ack. "Didn't you get a sex bot body for the Droid?"
"Android," he said as a bright grin cracked his scruffy cheeks. "Yeah, that's right. She is."