Stranded: (Space Outlaw 2)

by Dominique Mondesir

  The warehouse was in disarray, as usual, and he shook his head at the lumps of precious metals and gemstones just lying around. The lack of security measures never ceased to amaze him. Yes, they owned the local law enforcement, but that didn't mean they had to flaunt what they did in everyone's faces.

  Blake opened a set of doors and walked down a flight of stairs. Reaching another door at the bottom, he pulled it open and walked down a corridor. The light flickered overhead and water dripped faintly, somewhere off in the distance. They were so wealthy they could allow water to go to waste like that. It made him sick. He came to another door and yanked it open.

  A short shirtless male had his back to Blake. The person's back had what appeared to be a giant worm tattooed on it. The worm's mouth was open, attempting to swallow a red planet just above its head. Sweat glistened on his skin. Even from this angle, Blake could see that the person was breathing heavily.

  "What is it, Blake?" Duke asked.

  Blake walked around to face his boss. He took in the scene and gave a small shudder. Blood splattered the floor. Tied to a chair was an informant that Duke had caught before he could testify against the gang in a month or two's time. His gag was wet with tears and blood, and the smell of fear and urine hung heavily in the room.

  Blake ran his scarred hands over the patchwork of scars on his face. Moving his hands rapidly back and forth in front of him, Blake informed Duke of what he had heard.

  "Do you think this guy that attacked T back at Dusty's is someone from another gang? A gang from another city making a move against us?" said Duke.

  Blake gave a noncommittal shrug and held his hands out in front of him.

  "If one of those sons of whores wants a war, then a war we shall give them. I have come too far to be stopped. I shall destroy anyone that gets in my path." Duke cocked his arm back and slammed his fist into the informant's face. The blood on both his hands had already begun to dry, but that didn't seem to concern him.

  "Did T say what this guy looked like?"

  Blake pointed to his ear and allowed his hands to flow.

  "Huge earring, huh? Well, put some credits out there and see what we can find out."

  Blake took a step towards the door then stopped. He looked towards the informant and back at Duke. He raised one eyebrow in Duke's direction.

  "What?"

  Blake pointed towards the pipes lining the walls of the room like those of a church organ. Each one was hollow and open at the bottom, leading through the ceiling and beyond.

  "The reason I made this room, Blake, is so that sound can travel around the whole base. Everything that happens here can be heard. Everyone that acts, thinks, or even has a subconscious thought against me–against the family–will know what will happen to them. Let the thuds and screams be a lesson to all!

  "Now, find out who this fucker with an earring is. I think he needs to see the lovely features in this room."

  11

  The night was coming to an end–or just starting, depending on what side of the coin you viewed it from.

  Phoenix and Saoirse were the only two left at the table. The others had left by the one or two, saying their goodnights. Neither said anything but simply drank and allowed the night to carry their thoughts into the breeze.

  Phoenix wondered how he had managed to get mixed up in all of this. One minute you're stealing money from a scumbag who sells drugs to school kids, and the next, you're on a distant planet stealing a ship from some gangster.

  No. Not stealing. Taking.

  Phoenix had seen the passion and fire in L's eyes when she spoke about that ship. It meant the world to her. She had slaved over it. Put all her soul into it. To have it snatched away, while she was powerless to do anything about it, would, would...

  Phoenix let out a sigh and allowed the thought to pass. No sense in working himself up about it now. He would need all his strength later. He looked over at Saoirse, whose eyes were slightly closed.

  "Do you think L is going to be okay?" said Phoenix.

  "Yes. I'll make sure of it," said Saoirse.

  "She's trying to put a brave face on it, but I can understand the frustration of not being able to help a loved one. It hurts. It's hard to deal with. And no matter how many people offer words of comfort, it doesn't really help."

  "Her race show their emotions through the colour of their hair. That's why it's so easy to tell what they're feeling."

  "We have a saying back home: wearing your heart on your sleeve. It fits L perfectly."

  Saoirse nodded slightly but still didn't move. Phoenix watched her for some time; it was akin to watching a lioness in the wild.

  "You were quiet at the discussions. I would expect you to have the most valuable input among the whole crew," said Phoenix.

  "Listening is more valuable than talking. Adding needless words just to partake in a conversation leads nowhere. Dooms us all. It's better to absorb the facts, allow them to sink in, then see what path lies ahead of you," said Saoirse.

  Phoenix took a sip from his mug and felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth.

  "So where do you see the path leading us?" he asked.

  "To blood and destruction."

  The next day Phoenix and L walked side by side down a dusty track. They had left the others behind at Rusty's and said they would meet them back there later.

  "What's this place we're going to called?" asked Phoenix.

  "Game."

  "Right. And we're going there...because? You didn't say much when you dragged me out of my room half naked."

  "Game is a club where players go to play games."

  Phoenix palmed himself in the face and shook his head. "Of course it is."

  "Gaming is popular across many different galaxies and races. It's virtual reality taken to the next level. Whatever you want to play–or be–there is a game for it. It's grown so large that the stars of certain games are celebrities. Large amounts of credits are wagered when certain games or gamers are playing. In a lot of cases, gaming is the only way people can escape their poverty-stricken lives. But--"

  "It comes at a cost?" said Phoenix.

  "Yeah, it does. When certain bets go bad, or gamers themselves bet on themselves and lose, things can turn nasty."

  "There's always someone looking to get a piece of the action."

  "Yes, there is."

  "You still haven't told me why we're going there, though," said Phoenix.

  The pair sidestepped a couple of beggars with outstretched hands. L stopped in her tracks and looked left to right, a finger placed against her lips. She snapped her fingers and pointed down another street, walking in that direction.

  "My brother, as you well know, loved computer programmes. He built some of the best known VRGs around--"

  "VRG?" asked Phoenix.

  "Virtual reality game. He had a knack for knowing just what players wanted in their games. What players needed to take their minds off life itself. But big brother sucked ass at the games he created. Any game, for that matter. Don't ask me how or why, but he just wasn't any good at them. Whatever game he touched he would lose at. People started to notice and place large bets against him that he couldn't pay."

  "Don't tell me, that's where Duke comes in."

  "Yup. When my brother couldn't pay off his debts, Duke demanded that he work for him, creating games that allowed the creator to say who won or who lost--"

  "Ahh, smart. By rigging the games themselves, no one can blame or accuse Duke's men of cheating. I also take it he would lose a few big games, here and there, to make it seem legit?"

  L nodded her head as they came to a large warehouse with flashing neon signs all over it.

  "Subtle. Real fucking subtle," Phoenix said with a shake of his head.

  Phoenix went through the sliding doors first, with L following close behind. The scene that met them jarred Phoenix's senses: a cacophony of flashing lights, sirens and excited whoops. The music from the overheard speakers mixed in with the
sounds of the heaving crowd.

  Rows and rows of what appeared to be beds stretched out on either side of them. People lay on them with helmets covering their faces. Holographic displays floated above each bed. A few flashed red, but most stayed a steady green. Occasionally lines of words scrolled down a few.

  "The headsets are the VRGs. All these people playing are solo players, which means whatever they do in-game is private. There are a bunch of different games, each connected across many planets. It almost becomes a world in itself," said L.

  "What do those flashing red lights mean?"

  "A gamer has stayed in the game too long. He hasn't eaten or taken in any fluids. A message will warn the player in-game but most ignore it. It becomes addictive, being someone else."

  "What happens when the player doesn't leave?" Phoenix asked.

  "They get a second warning, and if they don't come out, then the game shuts down on them, kicking them out. They then can't go back in till the next day. It never used to be that way, but dying customers are not returning customers. This way," said L.

  They moved through the crowd like farmers through a cornfield. Merchants offered to sell them anything from game cheat codes to food and drink. A few even offered stimulants to keep them awake.

  Ahead of them, a huge crowd stared at hologram screens floating above their heads. It showed what appeared to be a gun battle going on between two gamers. People booed and cheered as the action took place. Phoenix saw bets being made and arguments breaking out over what was said.

  The air was tense and heated.

  Among the crowd, dotted about so they wouldn't draw too much attention, were security. Their worm tattoos told Phoenix who they worked for.

  As one player got a clean head shot on his opponent, the crowd erupted in a roar.

  Must be the crowd favourite.

  The loser was pulled down from his game station by two unhappy-looking security guards and was pushed and shoved towards the back. By the amount of happy faces that clapped and cheered for the winner, the house must have lost big. Whatever debrief the loser was about to receive, Phoenix knew it would involve more fists than words.

  "I think I see who we came to talk to," said L.

  She pointed to a tall male with a ponytail, wearing all black. As they moved towards their man, he spotted them and took off running.

  "I guess he doesn't want to talk," said Phoenix.

  12

  The man's ponytail flashed more colours than Phoenix could keep track of as they chased after him. He didn't have any trouble in pushing past people or using them as objects to shove in his pursuers' way.

  Bodies flew over tables and slammed into screens.

  Phoenix ran after him as the shouts and screams of pain were quickly left behind. He didn't let his attention waver as he jumped over a fallen body.

  Ponytail kept up a pace that surprised Phoenix; he would expect the gamer to be out of shape from lying on his back all day. But Ponytail dodged and weaved and ducked, increasing the gap between him and Phoenix.

  A waitress in a tight-fitting dress that left nothing to the imagination stepped back, and Phoenix grabbed her by one arm. "Sorry, beautiful, but do you think I can borrow that tray you're holding?"

  The waitress smiled at Phoenix but he didn't wait for an answer. Taking the tray from her, he continued after his target. There were too many people in the way. He needed a clearer shot.

  Phoenix kept his sights on Ponytail's fleeing back and leapt onto a stage. He heard shouts aimed at him, but he paid them no attention. Cocking his arm back, he threw the tray like a Frisbee, hoping for the best.

  It didn't hit its intended target. Instead it struck someone else, who fell into Ponytail's way and knocked him off his feet.

  "Good enough, I suppose," Phoenix said, leaping off the stage.

  Ponytail picked himself back up and staggered towards the doorway. He didn't get there fast enough, and Phoenix's boot hit him square in the back. The impact sent him flying through the doors. Phoenix followed up with a kick to his ribs for good measure.

  "I think my friend wants to speak to you," said Phoenix.

  "And who would that be?"

  "Her." Phoenix nodded at L as she made her way through the doors.

  "I don't have anything to say to that whor--"

  Phoenix delivered another kick to Ponytail's ribs, aiming for the same spot.

  "Hello, Baldric," said L.

  Phoenix snorted as he tried to keep a straight face.

  "What?" said Baldric.

  "You look like a fucking Baldric if I ever did see one," said Phoenix.

  "Baldric, I want you to answer a few simple questions, and then we will let you be on your way."

  "And why would I do that?"

  L lowered herself so she was face to face with Baldric. "Because if you don't, my good friend over there will bash your brains out. Now, I don't like violence, and I have never fired a weapon of any sort, but you have information we need, and I want it."

  "But--"

  "And I will do whatever I have to do to get it."

  "Listen, I understand how you feel. But... But..."

  "Everything before the but is bullshit," said Phoenix.

  Baldric's eyes darted from Phoenix to L. Licking his lips, he rose from his feet and brushed his jacket clean. "L! You know me. Me and you go way back. If you needed information, why didn't you just ask? I have always said what a good soul you are. Even when people were bad-mouthing your good name. Even when--"

  "Where's Kai?" L asked.

  Baldric sucked air through his teeth and scratched his scalp. "Come on, L. In the name of Soul, you know I would tell you anything but--"

  The kick that Phoenix delivered to Baldric's kneecap buckled him, dropping him to the floor. Baldric grabbed it with both hands, shouting in pain.

  "Everything before the but is bullshit," said Phoenix, rolling the last word on his tongue.

  "Where is Kai?" L asked again.

  "Okay. Okay. I don't know much. People ain't seen him around for a while. You know what he was like, you couldn't get him away from these machines. He was addicted. But after that business with you getting sent away--"

  "You mean me being framed. You mean me going to Dredar for crimes I never committed! Everyone knew the truth, and no one said anything, or did anything to come to my aid--"

  "Look, I never--"

  "Is that what you mean? Because if it is, I would class it as more than just some business. You know how many weeks and days I wasted! Do you know what I went through?"

  L grabbed Baldric by his jacket lapels and glared into his face. Her eyes never left his. Her hair, a fiery crimson red, spoke of pain under the surface.

  "Look, it wasn't my fault. I had nothing to do with it. I--"

  "You did nothing about it. You allowed it to happen. You watched in the crowd like a faceless corpse. How long have we known each other, Baldric? How many years? You were my first kiss."

  "I...know. Okay, look, all I know is that Kai is still with Duke. I don't know where he is holding him, but rumour has it that Duke still has him creating games. The last time anyone saw him was near Duke's compound. Near the shipyard. That's all I know."

  L still held onto Baldric's lapels. Her glare was still glued to his face.

  "That's all I know. I swear it," Baldric said, breaking her grip.

  As the doors in front of them opened, four men with worm tattoos stepped out.

  "I didn't tell her anything. I swear," Baldric said, running their way.

  Whatever else Baldric said didn't matter, as a plasma bolt fired by one of the guards slammed into his chest.

  "We've been looking for you," said one of the men to Phoenix, his plasma gun still smoking.

  13

  Phoenix drew his pistol and sent a volley of shots in the goons' direction. He didn't want to know why they were looking for him. He didn't really care. He took one look at Baldric's smoking remains and knew that the chat wasn't goin
g to be a pleasant one. He grabbed L by the hand and they made their escape.

  Shots peppered the ground around their feet as they zigzagged left and right. Phoenix brought his gun up and fired blindly behind him, hoping for the best, expecting the worst.

  "Left–up ahead!" L gasped.

  The crowd around them screamed and panicked as plasma bolts hit innocent bystanders. It didn't take long for everyone to duck and hide. Fear was thick in the air. Market stalls were overturned as people tried to make their escape. The stalls' contents spilled to the ground and were trampled underfoot.

  "Right!"

  Phoenix took the corner sharply, and a shot sailed over his head, smashing a shop window. Its owner had the sense not to come out and investigate what was going on. Phoenix looked behind him and fired off a few more shots. As one hit its desired target he allowed himself a small smile.

  At least that's one less to worry about.

  "Why are they after us?" said Phoenix.

  "Well...it may have something to do with you...blowing...one of their members' legs off," L gasped between breaths.

  "Aw, man. They still mad about that? I thought they would have gotten over it, by now."

  Another shop window exploded next to the pair, showering them with glass. Phoenix covered L as best as he could before returning fire.

  "Do you have a plan?" asked L.

  "When do I ever?"

  They leapt over an overturned market stall as plasma bolts exploded around them.

  "Was that guy really your first kiss?" Phoenix asked.

  "Is this really the time?"

  "No, but... Come on, L, you could have done so much better than a loser like--"

  A plasma bolt took out a chunk of mortar next to Phoenix's head, forcing him to duck. He spun around and fired off what he could before his momentum brought him back around.

  "Phoenix, I was young, and he was older. He appeared to be so... What do you what me to say? Like you have no partners in your past that you regret!"