“Bloody hell,” Nate said as he fully realised the size of the place. “Still, at least we know where we’ll be able to find the qiameth. Just a matter of talking to the right person.”
“Just that indeed,” Nero said.
****
With their shuttle parked on one of the landing pads on top of the building, Nate, Jerad and Nero were greeted by two armed humans as they exited their ship. The guards didn’t appear to harbour any particular malice, but their fingers were covering the triggers on their weapons nonetheless. Despite this, Nero and the others were distracted by the wind. It almost knocked them over as they stepped off the ramp, blowing viciously over the top of the building. Nero was amazed the two guards could stand there so steadily.
Before they could say anything, one of the guards indicated that they should follow him, evidently aware that a discussion in this wind was virtually impossible. They were led a distance towards a set of steps that descended down into the building, through an open hatch. Climbing down, Nero and the others emerged into an open space on this, what must be the only level above ground. They were at the very edge of the building, and the room they climbed down into had panoramic windows looking out onto the dull, rocky surface of the world, stretching endlessly around them.
“We don’t get many visitors out here,” one of the guards started saying, the voice coming out harsh and muffled through the full-face helmet he had on. He reached up, and pulled the unit off, evidently only requiring it on the surface, perhaps to reduce the sting of the wind.
“Sorry,” he continued, once his head was free. “Anyway, what brings you out here?”
It was at once refreshing and confusing to speak to an official who didn’t look like he wanted to kill them immediately.
“Um...” Nero started, cursing himself for not thinking things through first.
“We have some business with a merchant,” Nate finished, covering Nero’s hesitation.
“Very well, do you know where to find them?” the guard asked. Was this a test, or was he being helpful? Nero wasn’t sure.
“We don’t know, actually. We were told to look him up once we arrived,” Nero informed the man.
“Would you like me to search for them?”
“No, that’s fine. We’ll use one of the public search stations. There’s a couple of other people we want to meet while we’re here, anyway,” Nero replied, hoping the man would accept that. He didn't want to have to invent a name that might not be in the system.
“Certainly, well, have a good time here on Kaza'ona,” the guard said, hesitating momentarily, before continuing. “You’ll be very popular if you visit a bar, you know. We don’t get many foreigners out here...” the guard said, giving them a slight wink, as if to infer the popularity might be with a particular sex.
“We surely will,” Nate replied, genuinely thankful. “We appreciate your help.”
They left the guard, and headed out of the room into a large, gently curving corridor. On the ceiling, there were helpful illuminated direction signs, pointing them to particular places on this level. Spotting a sign to the public information station, Nero led them over that way.
Passing a number of people, human and alien, all of whom stared intently at the foreigners dressed in their strange clothing, the three of them reached a holodisplay mounted in front of a wall. It flashed up a greeting as Nero approached, before reverting to an image of the building they were in. Apparently, it descended over three hundred levels into the ground.
“How many people do you think live here?” Jerad wondered as he looked at the plan. Before Nero could answer, the holodisplay flashed up some information, in answer to Jerad’s question. Apparently, there were only 87,648 people living in the building, scattered over the top few levels. The other levels weren’t used at all, except for some storage areas.
“Well that’s... hardly anyone,” Jerad said.
“That’s what’s happened on a lot of these galaxy’s edge planets,” Nero responded, having been taught more history than most people he knew. “Apparently there used to be a lot more people living on them, but the numbers just keep decreasing. Don’t ask me why,” he added, in response to Jerad’s enquiring look.
“Enough with the history, guys,” Nate said. “We need to find those red pills. Any ideas where to start? I’m thinking...” he said, glancing at the holodisplay, which was currently showing them nearby locations. “...how about this bar?”
Nero looked at where Nate was indicating, seeing a bar labelled on the plan. It was only a few hundred metres away. “Looks like as good a place as any.”
****
“Bloody hell, that’s cheap!” Nate said. “For all of them?”
Their search had proven shorter than they could have imagined. The bar they first went to had been rather quiet, but there were still some customers around, a couple of whom were evidently high on a drug of some sort. When chatting with them, they happily told Nate where they had got their drugs from. Apparently, there was a well-known shop not far away that sold the drug, and it was in this shop that Nate, Jerad and Nero could now be found.
“Certainly,” the alien in the shop told Nate, with a slightly confused look. After a slight pause, it continued. “You are not from around here, are you?”
“Now what makes you say that?” Nate asked the shopkeeper, in a playful tone.
“Oh, nothing, nothing at all. Just a guess, signore.”
Nero stood back from Nate, keeping an eye on their surroundings as Nate was talking with the shopkeeper. The shop they were in was remarkably modern, and very-well kept. It struck Nero as quite a contrast to the dull, often dirty world they came from. Perhaps more surprisingly, though, were the objects on display in the shop. There didn’t appear to be any security covers, or anything else to stop someone walking off without paying. It was slightly baffling.
Behind the shopkeeper, somewhat protected on the wall, was an array of what Nero assumed must be stimulants and drugs, of varying sorts. In a prominent position on the display were the packs of qiameth, on show for all to see. It hit Nero then that he hadn’t actually tried the red pills himself, having just taken Talyah and Nate’s words on the effectiveness of the drug. He resolved to do something about that.
“... so where do you get this stuff from?” Nate was saying to the shopkeeper, casually referring to the qiameth he had in his hand.
“Oh, it’s made here. We’re known for pharmaceuticals on this planet, actually it’s pretty much all we’re known for. That’s why this building was built here, to allow access to the chemicals produced under the planet’s surface. You can’t find them anywhere else, and no one’s figured out how to synthetically make them yet,” the alien finished with a shrug - or what approximated to a shrug.
Nate nodded, feigning interest in the history of the planet. The alien continued. “Of course, most of what we produce is of a more legal nature, but with all this equipment around, some took to making pharmaceuticals of a more... entertaining nature.”
Nate grinned. “And you keep them on this planet?” he asked.
“As far as I know. You’d really have to talk to Heldine if you wanted a more detailed answer. She’s my supplier. Good person, slightly odd though.”
Was it really as easy as that? Nero had never known a people so open about things.
“Thanks man, we’ll do that.” Nate answered.
“You should be able to find her on the manufacturing level. Try the testing lab.”
“Appreciated.”
Nate picked up the pills he’d bought and headed out of the shop with Nero and Jerad, back into the large corridor.
“It’s hardly a secret operation, is it?” Jerad said as they set off to find another information station.
A short way up the corridor they found another info station, which informed them that the manufacturing level was three floors down, with the testing lab a small area near the centre of the building. The terminal then directed them to a ne
arby lift, which, on approach, they found to be massive. The closed metal door was at least ten metres wide, and gave the distinct impression that it was thick enough to prevent anyone breaking in. Perhaps the planet had suffered from security issues in the past, Nero thought. Maybe they still did.
They stood in front of it in silence as they waited for the lift, and watched the glowing green light move along the top of the door. Since only a few floors of the building were apparently in use, it didn’t take long for the whole bar of light to flash green, and for the thick door to slide downwards, into the ground. But before Nero, Jerad and Nate could think about stepping forward, they saw the group of ten heavily-armoured men, not one of them less than two metres tall, stood in the lift. Each had a hand casually resting on a horrifically large laser weapon holstered in their belts, and all ten of them slowly turned to look at the group of three young men stood before them.
Nero, for his part, froze, heart suddenly racing. Perspiration appeared on his forehead, and he took an involuntary step backwards, away from the men in the lift. The first of the men began to step forward. Looking identical to the other men, he wore form-fitting armour that covered his entire body, a dark military grey in colour. On his head was a full-face helmet, with a complex and asymmetrical set of cameras and lenses where the visor might normally be. They looked rather like the glowing ice-blue eyes of some sort of horrific creature. The helmet also had a large, very heavy duty rebreather built-in, protruding in a slightly ugly manner. It looked like it would allow the man to survive the worst chemical or gas attack.
Nero shuddered as he took all this in, recognising the men for what they were. His eyes were drawn to the subtle symbol emblazoned on the mens’ right breasts, which looked a bit like a shield, with an old-fashioned ship design on it. It was a symbol that Nero recognised, and for those that knew what it meant, it plunged icy daggers of fear into their heart. These men were the highest level of Central Systems Government enforcement. They were Aegis agents.
“Out of the way,” the nearest man ordered, his voice rasping out of his helmet’s voice unit. Nero and the others hastened to obey, moving back like they would for no one else. They, as had most who lived on the edge of the galaxy, had heard stories about Aegis.
Nero’s heart rate calmed a bit as the agents slowly marched past, metal boots thumping as they walked, evidently disregarding the three men in the middle of the corridor. He watched as they slowly disappeared from sight, a shiver making its way down his enhanced spine. What were they doing out here? It was not a nice thought.
“Fuck me,” Nate breathed, some time after the armoured men had gone. “That’s a sight you never want to see.”
“It wouldn’t be anything to do with us, would it?” Jerad asked, his voice uncharacteristically nervous.
Nero didn’t answer immediately, instead trying to think if there was any way Aegis could be interested in them. “No,” he finally replied. “No, it wouldn’t be. We’re nothing to them.” He was partly trying to convince himself. “I’ve never even heard of them coming this far out before. They normally just deal with central systems stuff.”
“It must be something big, to affect the Central Systems Government,” Nate said, stepping forward into the lift, the door of which was about to close. “Come on, it’s got nothing to do with us. Let’s just go and see this Heldine, yes?”
Jerad and Nero followed Nate into the lift, who had selected the manufacturing level on the lift’s holodisplay. The door slid up with a slight hiss, and quickly descended, whisking them away from the mysterious armoured figures.
****
“Heldine?” Nero asked, speaking to the room at large. There were a few people in this testing lab, or ‘looplab’, as someone had written below the official sign. A few humans, and a large number of aliens too. A couple looked up when Nero spoke, with one woman continuing to look after the others had returned their attention to their respective tasks.
“Heldine?” Nero repeated, addressing her.
“Yes,” she replied. Nero wasn’t usually one to get distracted, but he couldn’t help giving this Heldine an appreciative look. She was startlingly attractive, her blue uniform tight-fitting and emphasizing her shape, and matching her eyes perfectly.
“I understand you’re the person to talk to if, er, I was interested in some particular pharmaceuticals,” Nero tried. He saw comprehension dawn on her face as he said so.
“Ah,” she said. “Follow me, if you would.”
She turned around and headed toward a door at the far side of the room, glancing back once to check that Nero, and the others, were following.
“Look at her!” Jerad muttered to Nate as they crossed the lab, passing a number of machines that were doing who-knew-what to a variety of substances. “I’ve never seen someone--”
“Easy lad,” Nate said. “If anyone gets her, it’s me.” He flashed a big smile at Jerad, who rolled his eyes up.
The room they entered, where Heldine was already waiting for them, had a large window in the far wall, with a desk in front of it. The view out was astonishing, Nero thought, as he moved over to look. The window looked out into the vast central area of the building, with the mile-diameter transparent window to the sky at the top of the shaft. Light poured through this and lit up the shaft, and Nero looked down to see it descending far away towards the centre of the planet. It quickly became lost in shadow.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” Heldine commented, watching them stare out of the window.
Déjà vu, Nero thought. “No, we’re not. That’s really why we’ve come to see you.” He turned away from the window, to face Heldine, to see a curious expression on her porcelain features. “We’re interested in setting up a business partnership with you.”
“Oh?”
“We understand that you don’t currently export the more... illicit substances you make?”
“Only very occasionally. I take it you’re proposing something a bit more significant, mister...?”
“Leydon. Nero Leydon. And these are Nate and Jerad,” Nero replied, gesturing to the other two in turn. They each nodded in greeting.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Nero, but I’m afraid we don’t have any way to export on a larger scale. It would be frowned upon by other... parties.”
“Officially, I’m sure it might be. But, I was thinking of a less obvious way,” Nero said, turning to look out of the window again. On the far side of the shaft he could just make out some illuminated windows, though they were far too distant to see anything through them.
“I did some research on your planet before I arrived, Heldine,” he continued. “I understand that you produce a lot of metal ore, as well as the pharmaceuticals?”
She nodded in confirmation.
“And your biggest market for that ore is our planet.”
“Ah, so you’re from Dimora?”
“Precisely,” Nero said. “Which gives me an idea.”
****
The wind had increased even more when Nero, Jerad and Nate were leaving the planet. It almost knocked them over as they emerged onto the top of the building, next to the landing pad. Pulling their hoods up, to no avail, they hurried forward, swiftly climbing up the lowered ramp into the blessedly still confines of their ship. Jerad hit the button to close the ramp as soon as all three were on board, shutting out the biting wind.
“That went well,” he said, after the door had shut.
“Surprisingly well,” Nate replied, taking off his coat and tossing it on one of the shuttle’s seats.
Leaning over the console, Nero set the computer to fly them back home, pleased with how it had gone. As the shuttle’s engines powered up, taking the ship upwards, back into space, he popped out one of the small red pills that Heldine had given him before he’d left. Pausing momentarily to study the innocuous little tablet, he opened his mouth, and tossed it in, waiting for its effects to kick in.
CHAPTER SIX
AMI
Shaking his head, he looked back up into the sky, again searching for a sign of the expected lights. With the pouring rain, it was hard to make out much, but finally he saw a faint blue glow in the sky, towards the north-east. The glow rapidly got brighter, and started to move across the sky at the same time.
He glanced back at the empty spaceport in front of him, and seeing nothing amiss, continued to watch the ship approach. It was too dark to see any detail, but at this time of day, he didn’t expect there to be many other ships approaching a spaceport, let alone this small one on the edge of the city.
A deep rumble soon accompanied the ship’s approach, audible over the din the rain was making. It grew steadily louder as the ship approached, causing the ground to vibrate a little, even though the ship wasn’t that large. As it came overhead, it slowed its descent, aiming for the centre of the large, open space of the landing pad. The fine layer of sand that covered the metal pad was blown up into the air as the ship neared, forcing Nero to cover his eyes until the blast of air decreased. When he looked again, the ship had landed, and the ion engines had been shut down, plunging the spaceport back into near-darkness.
He walked up to the ship, in time to see a small ramp descend from near the front. Down this walked a slightly portly human male, clothed in coveralls that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in a very long time. He wiped his hand on them before offering it to Nero, who reluctantly accepted the handshake.
On Galaxy's Edge: Ascendance Page 11