by Tripp Ellis
“Your security sucks."
"Clearly. Thanks for pointing that out.” Zym glared at his minions.
“I don't know how she got in, Boss,” one said.
“The sewers,“ Max said. “You really need to start thinking three dimensionally in regards to security."
“I'll keep that in mind,” Zym replied. “Now, do you want to tell me what you're doing here?"
“You don't happen to have a little girl named Riley held hostage here, do you?"
“What do I look like to you, a scumbag?”
Max shrugged.
Zym’s face tightened. “I’m a perfectly legitimate businessman. I don't get involved in that kind of stuff.”
Max eyed Skinner’s corpse. “Perfectly legitimate.”
Zym’s eyes narrowed at her. “Okay wise-ass. You've got about five seconds to tell me exactly what you're doing here.”
“I told you. I'm looking for a girl. If she's not here, I'm happy to go about my way.”
“Oh, you're happy to go about your way, are you?” He scoffed. "Keep dreaming. You know what I think? I think you work for Vaax. I think you came with Skinner as a backup.”
“Who’s Vaax?”
“Don't play dumb with me. Vaax has screwed me over for the last time.” He motioned to a minion. “Carl, take these two outside—away from the storage tanks—and kill them both.”
Zero's eyes widened. “I'm telling you, I got nothing to do with her. She forced me to come here at gunpoint.”
“Carl, shut him up.”
Carl planted his fist into Zero’s face. His head popped back, and his nose shattered, spewing blood.
“Ah, man. Not cool,” Zero’s nasally voice sounded like a muted trumpet. He hunched over in pain.
“You're making a mistake," Max said.
“No. I'm sending a message to Vaax.”
One of the minions, Jasper, scooped up Skinner’s body and hefted it over his shoulder. Carl and another minion dragged Max and Zero through the refinery, pushing them past the rows of flammable tanks.
“So, Carl, is it?” Max asked.
“Shut up and keep moving.” He kept his gun aimed at her as he marched them through the forest of piping.
“I was thinking maybe you could tell me more about Vaax?”
Carl said nothing.
“What's the harm? You’re going to kill me in a few moments anyway."
“Stop with the charade. You both work for Vaax. And you're both going to die. That fat bastard thinks he can push us around, short us on shipments—he's got another thing coming.”
“Trust me, I like Vaax even less than you do,” Max said.
“I've never met the guy,” Zero added. “Just saying."
Carl marched them into a field behind the main processing plant.
Jasper threw Skinner’s body down to the gravel.
"Get on your knees!” Carl shouted.
The other minion shoved Max and Zero to the ground.
Carl pressed the barrel of his plasma pistol against the back of Max's head. His finger gripped the trigger.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Max asked. “I’ll give you one last chance to change your mind."
16
Carl was about to vaporize Max's head. She knelt on the dirt. The tall stadium lights from the factory cast long shadows on the ground. Max could see Carl's outline on the gravel.
Max shifted aside as Carl squeezed the trigger. The plasma bolt blazed past her ear, sizzling her flesh. It erupted against the ground, showering gravel and dust.
Max spun around and grabbed the barrel, twisting the weapon around. Carl's finger snapped in the trigger guard, bent beyond its limit. Max swept his feet from underneath him. Carl crashed to the ground.
Max stripped the weapon.
The other minion took aim at Max and fired. Another plasma bolt ripped past her, carving a groove into the outside of her thigh.
Max dropped to one knee and returned fire, eviscerating the goon.
Carl sprang to his feet and charged Max.
She swung the barrel around and blasted off two bolts. Both of them burned through Carl's abdomen—one right after the other. The first one blazed the path, and the second one sailed right on through, untouched.
Carl clutched his gut and toppled to the gravel. He almost crashed down on top of Max.
The second plasma bolt that she had fired continued on toward the refinery. It impacted one of the flammable tanks.
Max's eyes went wide. "Oh, shit!”
The tank erupted in a brilliant ball of flame. An amber glow lit the area. The blast rumbled the ground. Black smoke billowed into the sky. Bits of twisted metal and debris showered in all directions. Glowing embers fluttered with the breeze.
But that was just the beginning.
The next tank exploded, then the next. It set off a chain reaction, cascading to the main facility. Each explosion a blistering inferno. But the small tanks paled in comparison to the massive detonation of the refinery.
The blast was deafening. The overpressure knocked Max and Zero to the ground. Scorching heat from the explosion covered the area. Max felt like a marshmallow roasting over a fire. The brilliant amber ball of flame was like the surface of the sun. The area was bathed in a blinding light. Large chunks of equipment and piping launched into the sky. The perimeter force-field flickered and died.
Max and Zero scurried for cover as debris rained down on them—smoldering bits of metal that could melt through flesh. It was the first of many large explosions that rumbled through the facility.
After the last blast died down, the area was engulfed in flames. The large smokestacks toppled to the ground like mammoth trees. Metal creaked and groaned as the fire crackled and popped. The hazy air was filled with smoke and noxious fumes. Toxic vapors from refining chemicals clouded the area.
Max coughed and wheezed as her lungs filled with the vile fumes. Her eyes were red and watery.
Zero gasped for breath. “When you fuck shit up, you really fuck shit up.”
Max staggered toward the fire—pain shooting through her thigh from the plasma wound.
Zero looked at her like she was crazy. "Where you going?"
“To find Zym. He is our only hope of finding Vaax.”
Zero didn't want any part of that. He stayed right where he was.
Max pushed into the blazing inferno. She covered her face with her arm as a wave of searing heat washed over her. It felt like her skin was going to dry out and crack. Blisters had already formed from the plasma burn on her cheek. She staggered through the smoldering passageways, looking for Zym. She crouched low, trying to avoid the suffocating smoke. With her enhanced lung capacity and regenerative powers, she would last longer than most in this environment. But she wasn't immune from the hazards. She owed the universe a death, just like everybody else. One day, her number would be up. She hoped it wouldn't be today.
Most of the chemicals had already been burned off, and the fire was slowly dying down without fuel. All that remained of the refinery were twisted and mangled pipes—some of them glowing red from the heat. Others were blackened and charred.
Max finally found Zym’s body. His legs were crushed under a massive pipe. His blistered skin was black and red and oozing. He was barely alive, struggling to suck in breaths of precious air. There was no saving him. Even if Max could lift the pipe, Zym would die from his burns. Max knelt down beside him. “Where can I find Vaax?”
He tried to say something, but Max couldn’t make out his faint voice. She put her ear close to his lips.
“Fuck you,” he choked out.
“Riley is going to die if I don't find where he’s keeping her.”
Zym wheezed in another breath. He muttered a few more words, but they were inaudible.
“Please! You've got to help me!”
17
Whatever Zym knew about Vaax’s whereabouts he took to the grave with him. The last bit of air slipped from his lungs and hi
s body went still.
Max made her way out of the inferno, back to where she left Zero. She fully expected him to be gone. He was sitting on the ground watching the ruins burn. “You find Zym?”
“Sort of.” The sullen look on Max’s face said it all. She plopped on the ground beside Zero and sulked. Her eyes brimmed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She sobbed for a moment, feeling like any chance to save Riley had gone up in flames.
Zero gazed at her with compassion. "I'm really sorry.”
“Yeah, right," Max said, her voice thick with sarcasm.
“No, seriously. I mean it. I'm sorry. I think it's terrible that they kidnapped the little girl. I didn't sign on for that kind of stuff.”
Max wasn't buying a word of it.
“Look, times are tough. I took a job flying transports. It paid a lot of money, and I didn’t ask any questions. Nobody pays those kind of rates for anything legal, so I can't say I didn't know I was getting into something shady. But hey… it is what it is. And I am sorry.” Zero took a deep breath. "I hope you find the girl. I really do." He sounded sincere enough.
Max sat deep in thought, grasping for some way to make a connection to Vaax.
“I'm as good as dead, you know.”
“How so?”
“When they find out I failed to get you to the X50 Summit, Zane's going to kill me. I've got no doubts about that.
Max’s eyes fell upon Skinner's corpse. A small glimmer of hope flickered across her face. She rushed to the body and rummaged through his pockets. She found his wallet, his mobile, and the card key to his hotel. A logo on the key read The Hyton Plaza Arcturus.
“Come on,” Max said. “Let's see what we can find back in his hotel room.”
Skinner had a posh suite that overlooked the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view. The night lights flickered in a dazzling array of colors. Max rummaged through drawers and luggage, looking for any clue that might lead them to Vaax’s location. She left no stone unturned, and after going through everything twice she finally gave up. She stormed into the living room and made a beeline for the minibar—she wasn't going to have to pay for it. She found a couple small bottles of whiskey and poured herself a drink. She sat on the couch, head in hands. “I can’t find a damn thing.”
“What about his mobile?"
“He's got two-stage authentication. I sampled his fingerprints, and that got me past the first stage with touch ID. But he's got an alphanumeric password.” She sighed. "Winston might be able to crack it, but there's no telling where he is, or if he's even still functional.”
Max looked crestfallen. She touched the burn on her cheek, and she winced. It still stung like hell, as did the her wounded thigh. She guzzled the whiskey down. She ambled back to the minibar for another round. “What do you know about Vaax?”
“Nothing,” Zero said. “I didn’t even know his name until today. The guy has always been shrouded in secrecy. That way if anything goes down, nothing can be traced back to him.”
“Why does he want the president of the Federation dead?”
“Maybe he doesn't like his politics?"
Max slugged another glass of whiskey down. It wasn’t Antarian, but it would have to do.
The click of a key inserted into the locking mechanism of the door interrupted her train of thought. Max drew her pistol and took cover behind the wall at the end of the entrance foyer.
The door flung open and the redhead from the strip club breezed in. She had a mischievous grin on her face. Her luscious hip swung from side to side as she sauntered through the foyer. “Baby, are you ready for me?”
As she crossed the threshold into the living room, Max greeted her with a plasma pistol. “We certainly are.”
The redhead’s sultry smile faded. “Who are you, and what do you want? Where’s Skinner?”
“My name is Max. You're going to tell me everything you know about your boyfriend.”
“He's not my boyfriend," she said in a flippant tone.
18
“Is he really dead?” the redhead asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her voice was soft and breathy. Even upset, her voice had a seductive quality. She sounded ditzy, but she was anything but. Her eyes were puffy and red and her nose was runny. She sat on the couch, blotting her eyes with a tissue.
“I'm afraid so," Max said. She handed her another tissue, while keeping the gun aimed at her.
“You know you don't have to keep the damn thing pointed at me."
Max figured she wasn't going to cause too much trouble—nothing she couldn't handle anyway. She holstered her weapon and sat across the coffee table on the opposite couch.
“What's your name?" Max asked.
“Savannah,” she sniffled.
“No, you’re real name,” Zero asked.
“Savannah Love. What does it matter?"
“You gotta be shitting me. I thought that was a stage name.”
“How close were you with Skinner?" Max asked.
“He was a really good client, you know.” Savannah sniffled again. “I’m going to miss him. He came in every week, and he tipped really well. He was taking me away for the weekend.”
Max's eyes perked up. "Where?”
“Vega Altair. He said he had some business with his boss, but then we could spend the rest of the weekend together. He was going to take me to the Velnar Canyons. It’s supposed to be really romantic.”
“What else did he say about his boss? Vaax right?”
She shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't really pay attention.”
“Do you know where his boss is?”
“Sol Vangel. At least, I think that's where he is. That's where we were scheduled to fly into. We were going to stay there for a day, then go to the canyons.”
“Sol Vangel is a big place. Do you know specifically where his boss is?”
Savannah looked at Max like she was crazy. “I can barely find my way around my apartment, much less one of the largest cities on Vega Altair.”
“Figures,” Zero muttered.
Savannah face crinkled up. "Hey, you trying to say I'm stupid?”
"Well, if your choice of men is any indication…”
Savannah was offended. “Skinner was a nice guy. And I'll have you know, I'm working on my PhD in molecular biology.”
Zero burst into laughter. "Doctor Love. That's classic."
“Keep laughing, Cheese Ball.” Savannah scowled at him. “You watch. I'm going to be a doctor. And I'm not going to have to work in that sleaze pit. You'll see.”
Zero put his hands in the air, surrendering the battle. “Touchy.”
“I have no doubt you will be successful," Max said. "Thanks for your help.” She looked to Zero. "Come on, Cheese Ball. Let's go.”
Zero scrunched his face up. “For the record, I find Cheese Ball mildly offensive.”
“Good. I'll keep using it.” Max pushed off the couch and strolled toward the exit. Zero followed behind, after he grabbed a beer from the mini-fridge.
They made their way back to the spaceport. The SpaceHawk was perched in an open air bay that allowed for vertical takeoff and landing. The baldheaded guy who had followed Max from Orion station was waiting for them. He and several other goons blocked the entry ramp to the SpaceHawk. As soon as Max and Zero stepped into the bay, several other goons followed them in.
Max’s face tensed. "Is there something I can help you with?"
The goons circled around her. The bay began to feel claustrophobic.
“As a matter of fact, there is," the baldheaded man said. "It seems you owe Mr. Raymond a considerable amount of money."
Max arched an eyebrow at him. "Excuse me? I don't even know a Mr. Raymond"
“Well, he knows you. He makes a habit of keeping track of everyone who owes him."
“I think there’s been some kind of mistake. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got somewhere to be."
The baldheaded guy didn't budge. He continued to block her path. The r
est of the goons prepared for conflict.
"Look, if this is some kind of shakedown, you're messing with the wrong person." Max's crystal eyes burned into him.
“I can assure you, this is no shakedown. It's unfortunate for you, but the moment you killed Chesney, you inherited his debt to Mr. Raymond."
Max cringed. "I call bullshit."
"You can call it whatever you want. But the fact remains that your actions have cost Mr. Raymond a substantial sum."
“Maybe Mr. Raymond should be more careful who he loans money to?”
”And maybe you should be more careful who you terminate."
“Sorry. It's just an involuntary reaction I have to douche-bags. I can't stop myself."
"Maybe you should have that looked into?”
"It's an incurable affliction. A compulsion really. In fact, I feel the urge to terminate a douche-bag right now." Max palmed the grip of her pistol.
Within seconds, the goons all had their weapons aimed at Max—angry barrels ready to blast off blazing bolts of molten death. Maybe she ought to slowly remove her hand from her pistol, she thought. But backing down wasn’t her style.
19
"There's no need for hostilities," the baldheaded man said. "Not yet anyway."
Max loosened her grip on the pistol.
“You've got 24 hours to get Mr. Raymond his money.”
“I'm a little busy at the moment,” Max said.
“That is of no concern to Mr. Raymond."
“How much did Chesney owe?”
“1,233,387 credits. But Mr. Raymond is willing to settle for an even million.”
Max's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "You expect me to come up with a million credits in 24 hours?"
“That should be no problem for a resourceful woman such as yourself.”
“How do you suggest I do that?”
"Steal it. Use your imagination. Look around you… this is the land of opportunity.”
Max clenched her jaw. "You tell Mr. Raymond he's not going to get shit from me.”