"Enough, Gara. Trust me. We can talk about this later."
Garavenah held her hands up and grudgingly sighed her assent.
"There seems to be a lot of fresh faces about here," said Sind, his question lying pregnant in the casual statement.
"Yes, you're right," she said and sighed again. "Times are difficult right now. We've had a high attrition rate over the last few months. Lost some really good people too along the way."
"So, what's happening?" Pellis asked.
"I don't know. I don't know." She rubbed the back of her neck and Mahra could hear the weariness in her voice.
"There's a lot going on. The dusters haven't helped. There have been losses on all sides. We're not the only ones. We've had our suspicions for a while, but the big news is that we're getting hints of Sirona involvement. There's nothing solid, but it fits the pattern of what we know of them. We had reports of Sirona activity in Belshore space about two months ago. Then there were one or two reports of actual sightings planetside. About two weeks after that, the whole duster thing took off."
"Fire! But it's just what we need." Pellis slapped his leg. "Can you get nothing more?"
"By all we hold dear, we're trying. But you know the way Belshore works as well as I do."
"Ah, but wouldn't it be something to have some concrete pointers on those sly little buggers."
Mahra sat back and listened attentively as Pellis and Garavenah's conversation flowed back and forth with the occasional interjection or question from Sind. She sipped slowly at her glass, savouring the rich, almost sensual, taste of the Kalanian Green. During the course of the discussion, a pattern of subterfuge and hidden plans emerged that Mahra could barely have guessed at. Pellis had warned that all might not be as it seemed, but she had no idea of the extent of it. Now it seemed that she had become bound up in some skein of conspiracy. She wasn't sure she liked the idea or, for that matter, the fact that she was being kept firmly out of the picture. She might have expected that sort of treatment from Sind, but from Pellis it came as more of a surprise. She'd have a lot of questions for him when they finally got back to the ship, and this time she'd want some real answers.
Pellis and Garavenah talked for more than an hour. The subjects ranged widely across operations, losses, strategies, and contacts. More than once they mentioned the Sirona. Mahra didn't know much about the Sirona, but after what she heard, she was certainly going to set her mind to finding out more.
Finally, the conversation dwindled and drained away with the last of the Kalanian Green. Pellis slapped his hands on his thighs and sat up.
"Well, at least you're still in one piece. It sounds like things could be better for you, Gara. All I wish was that I could do more to help. Despite that, we've been here quite long enough and we should be making a move. Have you got what we came for?"
"Yes, of course. Roella, will you go and fetch the package for Timon please." Roella nodded and left.
She returned a few moments later with a small bundle and handed it to Garavenah. Garavenah hefted the package, then tossed it across to Pellis who caught it deftly in one hand.
"There are about two full weights of high-grade dust in there. Properly cut, street value about a mil. It should establish your cred well enough. Just try not to let it get into the wrong hands. And don't go using it yourself either. Now ... for the real package."
She pulled a card from her top pocket and slid it across the table. Pellis caught it at the edge and handed it across to Sind who, in turn, pocketed it.
"My full report is there," Garavenah said. "There'll be a few extras coming off Belshore in the next few months but they're all detailed in there. It's all encrypted and that's the only copy. Wipe it if you have to. It's all up here," she said with a tap at her forehead.
Pellis rose and moved across to where Garavenah sat. Leaning over he pulled her to her feet and, still bending down, threw his arms around her, hugged her close and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"You look after yourself, my girl," he murmured, then, picking up the package, turned and strode to the top of the stairs. Mahra and Sind both rose, nodded to Garavenah and Roella, and followed.
"Safe flight. Take care now," Garavenah said after Pellis, as she watched his retreating back.
The three were escorted back up the passage between the crates by only one guard. She unlocked the door for them, stepped back to let them slip through and closed it securely behind. They were left standing outside the main warehouse door, bathed in the yellow glow of the solitary street lamp across the road.
Mahra immediately sensed something was not right. At the same instant, Chutzpah began to claw at her shoulder. The two vehicles were in place in front of the door, but there was something missing. Then she realised; no sign of the two guards who screened them. Mahra scanned but nothing seemed out of place.
"All right Chutz, go!" she said quietly. In the same low tone of voice, she spoke to the other two. "Timon, Jayeer, be ready. We've got trouble."
Chutzpah leapt from her shoulder at the instant of her command, landing soundlessly on one vehicle as Mahra carefully drew her blade, her gaze flitting across the surrounding area, searching for any trace of movement. Pellis moved his hand to his belt, and pulled a small ugly-looking hand weapon free. At the same time as Mahra dropped into a defensive crouch, a figure stepped into sight from around the foremost vehicle.
Mahra experienced a moment of confusion. She knew the face. It seemed awfully familiar, and familiar from not too long ago. The stranger raised one hand and pointed a weapon toward her, a slow grin spreading across his face. At that instant, she knew him. It was the so-called duster who had stepped in front of their trans-cab, and this time, there was no special plas between them.
With the flash of comprehension, Mahra swung into action. She lunged forward into a roll, tumbling beneath his arc of fire, blade held out to one side. With the same movement, she brought her leg sideways and out, kicking out at his weapon arm. The gun went off as she made contact and she heard a grunt from behind her.
She continued the roll past and to one side and was on her feet in an eyeblink. Her blade was ready, but she wanted the youth in one piece for the moment. As he turned — so slowly now his movements came — she surveyed the situation. He still had his gun. Pellis was back, propped up against the wall. It looked like he had been hit.
Fire! she thought.
At that moment, another figure appeared from behind the rear vehicle, weapon poised, but as quickly as he appeared, he fell back with a cry of fear and pain. He clutched at a ball of grey-furred teeth and claws gouging at his face. Mahra took all this in as she spun, her boot edge connecting with the side of her opponent's head. He went down, crashing against the side of the trans and crumpled to the ground. She looked for the other, but there was no sign of him.
Chutzpah already sat back on the top of the vehicle, cleaning dark stains from his face and paws. A faint sound came from the vehicle's other side. Cautiously, she moved, flat against the black panelling and ducked her head round to investigate. The other assailant was there, lying spread out on the roadway, the remainder of his life ebbing out from what was left of his throat. Chutz was certainly efficient when he put his mind to it.
Lying propped against the side of the two vehicles were the two guards' bodies. Quickly checking up and down the street, she satisfied herself there were no other attackers.
Still watchful, she made her way round the vehicle's front, her attention now on seeing if Pellis was all right. If he was badly injured, things would be really difficult for them. He was still down, with the squat form of Sind crouched before him. As she passed the limp shape of her first assailant, she sensed, rather than heard, a sound.
Without a thought, her blade passed from her right hand to her left and she swung downward. She turned just in time to see those wild eyes take on a look of surprise, as the arc of her swing clove neatly through collarbone and chest. The youth slid slowly to the side and his weap
on clattered to the ground.
Mahra cursed. She had wanted that one alive, or at least one of the pair. They had to have been good, both of them, to take out the two guarding the front door. It made her doubt that there were not more, but Chutzpah still sat cleaning his paws and face, obviously calm; enough to tell her that there were only the two. She probed her own senses, but everything felt right.
Now she needed help. Pellis was down and if any more did appear, they really would be vulnerable. Quickly she assessed the options. They had to get away from here or inside — anywhere out of a possible line of fire. She was sure banging on the warehouse door wouldn't bring the sort of response she wanted. There had to be some other alternative.
Stopping for a moment, just to make sure that Timon was not too badly hurt, she left Sind to attend to him and stepped round to the other side of the lead vehicle where the three bodies lay. Hurriedly, she reached down and searched the first guard's still form, unclipped the weapon from his belt, then reached in to his coat pocket to search for his com. He was still warm and blood ran from a neat hole in his temple, pooling on the road surface at her feet. The whole thing had to have happened moments before they stepped out the door. The guards couldn't have had a hint of warning. The com was still in the guard's pocket. She grabbed it, flicked it on and started speaking in low tones, without waiting for any response.
"Garavenah, Roella, anyone in there. We need help out here. Fast! You've got two down out here, and Timon is hit. Repeat, two down and Timon is hit. It seems clear for the moment, but we need assistance. No telling if there are any more."
A noise behind her cut her off. Whirling, she trained her newly acquired weapon on the source of the sound. She let out a breath as she worked out its origin. It was just the whirr and click of the still active light intensifiers adjusting as her shadow fell across them. And that was the other thing — the LI. They had to have been quick to get past the guard of somebody wearing an LI set.
A loud crash came from the vehicle's other side as the warehouse door slammed open. Mahra popped her head over the intervening roof to see the solid form of Garavenah herself storming through the door, weapon ready. She was followed by three crew from inside in rapid succession. Just as quickly as she emerged, Garavenah assessed the situation and started issuing commands.
"You two, get Timon inside. Jayeer, go with them now. You," she said pointing at one of the guards, "stay put until I can send someone else out. Mahra, are you all right?" she demanded in the same breath, barely waiting for Mahra's quick nod of confirmation. "Good. Any more?"
Her gaze flickered over the surrounding area as she spoke. She took in the wild-eyed youth's body at the side of the rear vehicle and pursed her lips then gave a slight nod of her head. Seemingly satisfied the immediate threat was dealt with, she moved round the vehicle to join Mahra, still keeping a watchful eye on the street. Looking at the bodies littering the ground, her face grew grim.
"Fire — another two. And they were two of my best. Here, give me that," she said, reaching for the com. "Garavenah. Yes. I want a couple more of you out here. Now! We've got some cleaning up to do. Yeah. Fizelle and Andi down." She flicked off the com and thrust it into her pocket shaking her head. "What happened to that one?" she asked, taking in the ruined throat and features of the other attacker. In answer Mahra tapped her shoulder.
"Chutz. Here."
As the zimonette leapt to perch on Mahra's shoulder, Garavenah's eyes widened with comprehension.
"All right. It looks like you two make a pretty good team. Now, better get inside before we get any more surprises. We'll get this lot cleaned up and see about getting you back to your ship as soon as we can. I don't think it's a clever idea to have you hanging around here any longer than we can help it. Come on," she said, and led the way back inside as more of her team emerged from within.
Pellis wasn't seriously hurt. The projectile had passed neatly through the fleshy part of his right thigh. It was messy however, and looked a lot uglier than it really was. Of course, he made a great show of how much discomfort he was in. By the time Garavenah and Mahra joined them back inside, Roella was already attending to the dressing. Sind stood, arms folded, looking on with disapproval, as Pellis lay back on the couch basking in the attention.
It didn't take much prompting from Garavenah to get them moving again. It was obvious they weren't going to be travelling very far with Pellis in his current condition. Garavenah offered transportation in one of the vehicles outside.
"It will probably mark you out. Our vehicles are known, but I don't see that we've any choice."
"No, I agree," said Sind. "If you've finished enjoying yourself, Timon, I think we'd better move."
Timon looked pained, but raised himself to a standing position. Supporting him, one on either side, Sind and Mahra helped him down the stairs and out to the trans. When they emerged, there was barely a trace of what had just happened outside the fortified doors. The two guards had been replaced by two more, virtually indistinguishable from their predecessors.
Mahra was still annoyed that their first assailant had not survived to be questioned, but at the same time she realised that things could have been a lot worse. Perhaps it was too much of a coincidence meeting the same crazy twice in the one night; too convenient for it to have been simply a random hit. The way the guards were taken out, without so much as the hint of an alarm, alluded to something a lot more professional. If Garavenah was right, it was not what she'd expect from a simple duster.
Back at the ship, they set Timon to rest under a light sedation after cleaning his wound properly and sealing it with plas-skin. He made loud protestations but neither she nor Sind would have any of it. He had suffered a shock, and rest was the best thing for him. The plas-skin would aid the healing process, but it could not work effectively without the body's own recuperative powers, and that was best achieved when resting. There was no thought of even allowing him to attempt to take the ship up.
Seeing him finally settled, Sind stowed the package in Pellis's locker, and they repaired to the rec. Mahra sat across from him, staring at him thoughtfully. She felt a little drained, but wondered at the same time how she was going to broach the range of questions that she knew could no longer remain unasked. There was nothing else for it. The worst that could happen was he could refuse to answer her.
"Jayeer, I'm not quite sure what to ask you," she began hesitantly. "I have too many questions. Um, if you don't mind, do you want to start by telling me what the hell is going on?"
Sind paused for a long time before he slowly lifted his gaze and spoke.
"I suppose now you think you have a right to know?" He sighed deeply before continuing, a tone of resignation in his voice. "Well, I suppose you do. I suppose you do. All right then .... Where to start? I don't really know. I think you've probably worked one or two things out for yourself, but let me try to fill in the blanks, at least a little. You can stop me if I start to tell you things you already know. You handled yourself well out there, by the way."
Mahra didn't know whether she was more surprised by his agreement to talk or by his half-grudging tone of approval. Her surprise had to be evident, because he raised his hand to stifle any protest before continuing.
"Look, I will admit that I was against taking you on from the start, but I had my reasons, and believe me, they were very good reasons. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of a spot at the time. Our last little excursion before you came on board was — how shall I put it — a little less than fortunate. We lost a very good man as a result. It was essential that we were fully crewed and ready to go by the time we came into Belshore. You turned out to be the one. You represented a risk for us." He took off his lenses and wiped them thoroughly, before setting them carefully in place on the bridge of his nose and continuing. His last statement was so matter-of-fact, that Mahra could barely believe he had said it. "So, before I say anything more, tell me what you think you know."
Mahra thought for a few
seconds turning events over in her mind before responding.
"There's just too much that doesn't seem to add up. There is the ship for a start. She's far too well equipped. Much too much to reflect the sort of income I would expect from someone trading out of New Helvetica. Not for a small operation such as yours anyway. You might do well at it, but I doubt that it would be that well. If I put that together with your ability to bring the conversation to a halt every time Timon starts to get into anything meaningful, well, then I start to get a little curious."
"All right ... go on."
"Secondly, there's the ease with which you seem to get in and out of systems, without once getting caught by a detailed check. That started me thinking as well. You know that I've been patched in every time we've made an approach or departure. There's lucky and then there's too lucky and somehow The Dark Falcon seems to fall into the latter category. I'll wager that we'll get back to New Helvetica with two weights of dust casually stowed in Timon's locker without so much as a second look."
"And, finally there's Belshore — Garavenah's operation. I'm not altogether sure what its real purpose is, but it's by no stretch of the imagination anything like it's trying to appear to be. It all seems to point to one thing. So, tell me ... who exactly are you working for, Jayeer?"
"You actually have more of the picture than I'd have thought. I'm impressed." His eyes were narrowed behind the thick lenses. "You're right of course. We're a covert operation, just as Garavenah's outfit is. It doesn't hurt to admit that much. You're already bound by what you know, you realise that? Should you want to leave now, it would be very difficult for all of us. Not a level of risk we could easily accommodate — you understand?"
"Yes, I think I do. In that case, Jayeer, you may as well tell me all of it. Just so I know exactly what I'm bound to. I think that's only fair, don't you? At least it gives me a chance to think about my options." Mahra spread her palms.
"I'm afraid, Mahra Kaitan, that you don't have any options any more. You're along for the ride." He paused, subjecting her to thoughtful scrutiny. "All right then. Be that as it may, I may as well paint the rest of the picture. Timon and I work for the Special Operations section of the Combined Council of Worlds, as does Garavenah."
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