The soil had been cultivated and enriched, enabling the growing of plants, particularly trees. This supplemented the environment, as trees produced oxygen during the day. Grass grew in some areas and gardening had become popular. Supposedly, even a cattle ranch had been established. In all, the colony was self-sufficient, maintaining its independence, but that independence was not without cost.
A frontier town, law enforcement was not like the O.S.P., Earth, or even Columbia Station. Powerful citizens, who had amassed fortune enough to pay for the muscle to protect it, ran Phoenix and their primary concern was protection of assets, not policing the population. If you lived on Phoenix Station, you’d better be armed and able to protect yourself, or have enough money to hire people to protect you. Those who could do neither, curried favor with the strong, served as virtual slaves, or lived as urchins and tramps. Some turned to prostitution, which was a booming business in Phoenix.
Kendrick and Lena arrived at T.T. Reynolds’ Bar & Grill, an establishment Kendrick had played many times when he was younger. It had that run down, road house quality that made it appealing, in spite of being in obvious disrepair. The food was not great, but it was edible; and of course, Reynolds was always happy to buy any beer that Kendrick was hauling. The couple was expected and the hostess, a weathered middle-aged woman with a low cut shirt that showed off her ink, escorted them to Reynolds’ office, making eyes at Kendrick the whole way.
“Boss, Captain Royce is here,” she announced.
“Send him in,” came Reynolds’ voice through the door.
“Yes, sir.” She turned to Kendrick and produced a marker. “Would you be kind enough to sign me?”
“Sure,” he replied, knowing where this was going.
The woman handed him the pen and thrust her chest forward. “Right there on the left. I’ll go to The Black Phoenix later tonight and get it made permanent.”
“Sure thing, babe.” He signed her chest, and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Thanks for bringin’ us in, babe. We’ll take it from here.”
“Thank you!” The hostess practically floated back to the main room as Kendrick entered Reynolds’ office.
“Rosy have you sign her boobs?” The bar owner stood and shook Kendrick’s hand as he and Lena entered the office.
“It’ll be visible in that shirt,” Kendrick said with a chuckle.
“A genuine Ken Royce signature permanently etched in ink? I’ll get a picture of her with that tat up on our page.” He offered Kendrick and Lena each a chair, before taking his seat behind his desk.
Nearly as tall as Kendrick, T.T. Reynolds was a portly man with a thick mustache. His African American heritage made him as dark as Kendrick was light. Reynolds’ once dark hair had long since gone gray. In his youth, he had been a bluesman and on more than one occasion, had sat in with the younger pop star. Royce’s sessions with Reynolds cemented his reputation as a serious blues musician and had helped him build a loyal cult following that had outlasted his pop career. Bootleg copies of the Royce/Reynolds sessions abounded and were still in demand.
“How ya been, T.T? It’s been like forever!”
“You know,” Reynolds offered. “Drunk patrons, sleazy mercs and smugglers … then you show up on my doorstep and I find I have an opportunity to do something I didn’t think would ever happen. Say, you don’t have any beer on that ship, do you?”
“I can palletize all I got and it’ll be about three feet high. Not a lot for a bar, but it should pad your inventory.”
“Get it ready and send it over,” Reynolds said enthusiastically. “I’ll pay you the usual rate.” Then he looked over at Lena and raised an eyebrow. “An’ do my eyes deceive me or is she an Escort-7?”
“Not exactly,” Kendrick replied. “It’s complicated.”
“Ken, you don’t need no sex-bot; I mean, look at Rosy; you still got chicks asking you to sign their tits!”
Kendrick rolled his eyes at the comment. “Yeah, I have a flesh and blood woman, T.T; I’m engaged in fact, but that ain’t why I’m here.”
T.T. extended his hand enthusiastically. “Congratulations!”
Kendrick shook his hand, then the two men got down to business.
“Tell me about this gig,” Kendrick said, hoping that it was not smuggling.
The old bluesman nodded. “How long you gonna be in town?”
“A few days, tops,” Kendrick lamented. “Things are kind of … hot.”
“Well, if you can spare a night, tonight or tomorrow,” T.T. said, “I just took out a business loan for some upgrades. I installed a new sound system, house PA, the works. How would you like to break it in for me? A quarter of a million – if you let me record the session and have exclusive rights – and all in cold cash.”
“That’s awfully generous, T.T,” Kendrick noted. “Especially for a gig at a roadhouse.”
“It would keep us financially solvent for minimal work,” Lena added.
“So, Kenny, you interested?”
“Definitely,” Kendrick assured. A quarter of a million dollars was not going to make them wealthy, but was still a good fee for one-night show. “Put the word out and book me for tonight.”
“You got it, Ken. Now, that ship of yours gettin’ fueled up? I set it up for you, just like you asked. If they ain’t out there, takin’ care of business as we speak, let me know, an’ I’ll make sure someone cracks the whip.”
“They were on top of it before I left the airlock. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but I’ll let you know if it ain’t.” The two men stood and shook hands. “Damn good seein’ you again, T.T.”
“Hey, while you’re in town, come on out and jam; you and me with duelin’ guitars, just like the old days!”
“I’d like that, T.T. I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Take care, Ken. You too, Lena; I won’t say nothin’ to no one, but be careful; even here, the U.P.A. has reach.”
“Point taken,” Lena replied, shaking Reynolds’ hand. “Your discretion is appreciated.”
Heather and Cyrus headed into Phoenix for spare parts and consumables. Heather looked nervous, as though her mind were elsewhere. At first, he thought that she might be nervous with him, but he then suspected she was simply concerned for Mister Mun.
“Cyrus Freeman,” he said as they walked. “We haven’t been formally introduced, but I hear you’re quite the prodigy.”
“I just know my job.” Heather walked resolutely, not looking up him. “Captain hire you? Or did you just end up with us because reasons?”
“Your captain knows talent,” Cyrus assured. “I have an extensive technical background; in addition to my many other talents. I’m looking forward to talking shop with someone who actually knows what I’m talking about.”
Heather laughed weakly. “Yeah? You an engineer?”
“Not in the sense that you are; I have the skills, but robotics is my field. Hacking is a bit of a side hobby for me.”
“Robotics and hacking?” That seemed to draw her from her reverie. “I thought you were a merc.”
“That is how my life turned out and I am excellent,” he boasted. “But my training is mainly in robotics. Hacking went hand in hand with pretty much everything I do.”
“I can see that,” Heather agreed. “So, you’ve hired on. What’s your job?”
“To act in the best interest of the ship and her crew. I could fill the role of security officer, but given the small, tight knit nature of your crew, that hardly seems necessary. I can assist you in the engine room; I have no doubts about your skill, young as you look, but some jobs are just easier with an extra set of hands and I do know my way around ships.”
“Sounds like you’re a jack of all trades, master of none.”
“Jack of all trades, master of all,” he corrected.
This drew a laugh from Heather, who had perked up once Cyrus had begun conversing with her. She was too young to be an engineer aboard a ship as sophisticated as the Selene, but Cyrus learned long ago not to let established b
iases color his view of people’s skills; only a fool did that, and Cyrus Freeman was no fool. To him, Heather epitomized the nature of the Selene crew; capable and friendly, but not a focused team and definitely not mercs; they seemed more thrown together than put together. Cyrus did not know how long he would stay, but for the time being, he felt like the Selene was a good place to be.
“Master of all trades, huh?” Heather laughed, shaking her head. “You and Royce are two of a kind.”
“Oh?” He was a bit taken aback at the comment, as the singing sailor did not strike him as a kindred spirit.
“Yeah; seems like he’s good at practically everything he does,” she explained. “I haven’t seen you in action yet, but if he hired you on, then you must be tops.”
“So everyone aboard is tops, as you say?”
“I like everyone, but we’re the only ones he actually hired. Well, us and Mun, but he’s the reason we’re here. Everyone else wound up aboard through acts of desperation, by serendipity … or they were rescued and just ended up staying. I suppose Keyes will be leaving us now that we’re here, though.”
Cyrus looked back disapprovingly. “Sounds like you have stowaways.”
“Only Doctor Kinsale,” Heather corrected. “Lena, Mun, and Father O’Carmody were serendipity, and Keyes and Terri were rescued.”
“Your crew really was thrown together. That explains a lot.”
“Guess so. We’re here, Cyrus, so let’s get what we need and get back to the ship. I need to go see how Mun is.”
Cyrus chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
The captain had not known quite what to do with Terri, but at Amanda’s behest, the single bed was changed out for a double and the now unemployed traffic controller was placed in the agent’s cabin. Terri imagined that she would be evicted from her apartment on Luna because of this. It was only a modular tube, but she had been only three paychecks away from not being able to make the rent and had gone past that already, with no idea when she would work again.
As she sat on the bed contemplating her life, Terri realized that the one thing she had wanted for so long, Amanda, was the only thing she had left at this point. She smiled at the thought, but it was bittersweet. Amanda is still Amanda, she thought, and that did not bode well for any future together as a couple. She had noticed the change in her lover’s behavior, but Amanda was a chameleon, capable of fooling the best, so Terri was skeptical of the agent’s new found devotion.
Terri thought of all of the things she wanted to say to her lover, like how thrilled and elated she was when Amanda would blow into her life, only to be hurt and empty when the agent would leave just as abruptly. She wanted to tell Amanda about the dread she always felt, never knowing when the charismatic agent would disappear again. Terri wanted to tell her lover how used she felt when they would make love, only to have Amanda leave her lonely in the morning, with the knowledge that Terri had just been used for something, God only knew what. She tried to get it all together before Amanda walked through that door and reduced Terri’s willpower to mush.
It did not take long for Amanda to do just that, as the door opened and Amanda came walking through. Terri felt her heart leap at the sight. The normally suave agent seemed to light up upon seeing Terri seated on the bed, and crossed the room, embracing her tightly. Terri stood and wrapped her arms around Amanda, holding her as tightly as she could, hoping to keep the dynamic woman close to her forever.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Terri. I thought I’d lose you!”
Terri felt … tears? Is she crying? As Amanda held her, Terri could feel her lover’s soft sobs. If this was an act, it was one that Amanda had never performed. No, this is … this is real! When they parted, she could see that Amanda’s cheeks were wet with tears.
“Amanda?” Terri held onto her hands as they sat on the bed.
“They left me to die. I thought I was going to just starve to death, or suffocate when the air in the pod ran out. It’s only because Royce picked me up that I’m even alive to see you. When I was in that pod, all I could think about was you and how awful I’ve been. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I didn’t know it was that bad …”
“Then, I figured out that they’d issued a kill order for you after we talked. It made me sick to my stomach to hear you say that you were walking into what I knew was your execution. When I saw the agents with Velos, I knew it was no fluke.” Amanda shook her head. “Terri, I led you along, toyed with you and was just awful to you, all in the name of the Alliance. It turns out, I’m just an expendable asset to them, nothing more. My whole life was just a charade.”
Without warning, Terri kissed her. Amanda stiffened, surprised by Terri’s boldness, but she soon relaxed and kissed her lover sensuously. Terri savored every moment.
“Your life is no charade, Amanda. You walked into my life fourteen years ago and made it worth living. I would never have gotten through high school without you. Don’t ever think you lived for nothing. You changed my life, Amanda, and I’ve loved you ever since.”
Amanda stared back, seemingly floored by Terri’s words. “I love you, Terri,” was all she said before pulling Terri close and kissing her hungrily.
Everything Terri had planned to say was forgotten. Her worries about her job and home vanished. For the first time since they parted ways for college, Terri felt like she was the center of Amanda’s world, loved fully and completely, and lost herself in her lover’s embrace.
Fiona and Ronan accompanied the medical transport to the hospital and Fiona was shocked to be greeted by Doctor Yori Hayashi, the Fujin’s former doctor. Hayashi lit up when she saw Fiona.
“Fiona! It’s a small solar system, my friend.”
“Come here and give me a hug,” Fiona replied, embracing the petite woman.
“Is that a ring on your finger?”
“It is, indeed.” Fiona beamed.
“I thought you looked different … more radiant. Kendrick?”
Fiona nodded with a wide grin. “He proposed to me on the way here. I’ve never been happier in my entire life.”
Hayashi hugged Fiona tightly. “Congratulations! I’m very happy for you both!”
“Oh, thank you,” Fiona replied. “Oh, and this is Father Ronan O’Carmody, the chaplain and resident priest of the Selene.”
The priest bowed. “Good to meet you, Doctor.”
“Likewise, Father. I must say, it’s unusual to see a chaplain outside of the military on a private vessel like the Selene.”
“I was carrying her from the church to the ship, helping her elude a bounty hunter. Once we were all aboard, the captain took off, with me still on board.”
“I see, but enough small talk; we need to get Mun to a room and determine why he’s still in a coma.”
They wheeled the unconscious man to a hospital room, where he was hooked up to monitoring equipment. Ronan went to a waiting area just outside, praying for their success.
Cyrus and Heather finally joined Ronan in the waiting area, as Fiona worked with Doctor Yori and the Phoenix staff. Cyrus noticed that Heather was biting her nails, anxious for her friend. She had been cheerier when they left the ship to negotiate parts and services, but seeing Mun through the glass, doctors trying to figure out what to do with him, reawakened her anxiety. At her side was a small wooden box with a chess board on it, which he was certain contained game pieces. He wondered why she had brought it, as she had made no moves to play with either himself or the priest, but it gave him an idea.
“I’m bored out of my mind,” he said to the nervous engineer. “Are you up for a game?”
She nodded as Cyrus opened the chess set and removed the pieces.
“Chrome or black chrome?”
“You choose,” she said glumly.
“I’ll take chrome, if you don’t mind,” he said, setting up the board. “I was impressed with the way you got the parts together and installed, and I don’t impress easily. You really do know
your work.”
“I don’t really think about it; I just do my job and the captain says he’s happy with it.”
“As I said earlier, I have an extensive technical background.” He put the last piece on the board. “I’m hoping to become more acquainted with your profession; it could prove useful later on.”
Heather laughed weakly. “Yeah? You ready to learn the craft from the master?” At his insistence, she made the first move.
“The master, huh?” Cyrus moved a piece. “I have the basic skills, but I’m always looking to improve.”
Heather moved. “Mun is real smart,” she said absently. “He could probably learn engineering too if someone taught him.”
“What does he do?” Cyrus took one of her pawns.
“Gunner.” She took Cyrus’ pawn with her own. “I just hope he wakes up soon; we can’t stick around more than a day. Then, we’ll have to bug out and leave him and I don’t want to do that.”
Cyrus brought his bishop into play. “I’m inclined to agree; he’ll end up being interrogated and having his personal life turned upside down.”
Heather realized what Cyrus was doing and took his bishop with her knight. “I just hope Mun is alright. It hasn’t been the same without him.”
Cyrus looked over and saw Ronan seated, his head bowed and a rosary in his hands. The priest’s mouth moved and when he listened closely, Cyrus could hear the priest reciting prayers. He brought one of his own knights into play.
“Let’s keep your chess skills sharp,” Cyrus encouraged. “He’ll need you at your best when he wakes up.”
“Thanks, Cyrus.” Heather made her own move. “Checkmate.”
“Shit … I know this isn’t a game I play very often, but I usually win. Never lost like that! Play again?”
Heather managed a smile. “Sure.”
Before they began, Fiona came out into the waiting area. Cyrus noted that she did not have the look of someone about to deliver bad news, so he was hopeful, mainly for Heather’s sake. Cyrus had no investment in Mun, but the young engineer did. Heather lit up when she saw Fiona enter the room.
No Safe Harbor: The Silver Liner Page 8