The Knockabouts

by DK Williamson

  “Thanks, John. Appreciate the time.” She didn’t wait for a reply before she terminated the connection. She pointed at Ned as she tossed her data pad into the pile on her desk. “You handled that well.”

  “Thanks. We know why the Commerce Station cops won’t release the vid. The ambush was perpetrated by the police. We have voice communication traffic with them talking about it.”

  Nikira’s eyes lit up. “Okay, now we’re getting somewhere! Why didn’t you mention it? Audio isn’t vid, but it’s not nothing either. Then again… if we could acquire vid… it would be even better… and they do have vid. We just need to finagle a way to get it. You know, we might have a tale.”

  “How do you suppose we’ll get vid from the Boddan system?” Teller asked.

  “I’m working on it. Can you bring in the audio you have?”

  “It is already here,” Ho said.

  Nikira grinned. “You sneaky, sneaky Mechs. First one of your kind that takes up the journo biz and we biologicals are in trouble.”

  “We lack your energy,” Ho said with a cant of his head.

  Ho played the same audio captures the others had heard before.

  “That’s good,” Nikira said when she was through listening. “Do we know who this Bombo or Florry mentioned on there are? Got anything on them?”

  Ursula shook her head. “No. How could we?”

  “The guy that cracked the Altairie data pad gave us a routing code from the last message Gomez received before she was killed,” Teller said. “Maybe that might shed some light if we had a way to figure out who sent it.”

  “I have another capture that mentions Sergeant Florry,” Ho said.

  “Let’s hear it,” Teller and Nikira said simultaneously.

  “One moment,” Ho said. “Here it is.”

  A momentary hiss came as the audio kicked on. “We can contain this,” a voice said. “It’s all our people controlling the crime scene. What about the security guy, this Florry?”

  “Keep him clear of this. Florry’s a straight-line military type. Last thing we need right now.”

  “We need to get rid of him?”

  “No. That’d be worse than him nosing around. Off him and we’d have to share jurisdiction on this with Security Forces. Do what you have to do, but keep clear of the Security folks. All he did was inquire if we needed aid. It’s a police matter, so keep it that way. We’ll keep tabs on the guy, but that comes later. Don’t create a reason for SecFor to get involved. Do that and it’s all ours. Bagged, tagged, and clear, got it?”

  “Got it.”

  “That is the conclusion of the conversation,” Ho said.

  “Maybe this Sergeant Florry might help,” Ursula said. “Or maybe someone else from the Security Forces?”

  Teller snorted. “Right. We fly back to Commerce Station and go talk to the guy.”

  Ursula gave Teller an irritated look. “I meant we might contact him, or rather Nikira might.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Nikira said. “If he can provide vid feeds, that goes a long way in your favor. Give me a ride to Boddan and we’ll see what we can dig up.”

  “You are not serious. We can’t go back there,” Ursula said.

  “You made it here. Why not there? Last place they’d expect you to go, except possibly Vachsblad. We need to see if this Florry can help us.”

  “Us?” Teller said.

  “I’m helping galactic fugitives, so yeah, us.”

  “In for a cred, in for a cr—”

  “Story, Tell. In for the story. If I’m risking trouble to get a story, then you better help make it worth the time.”

  “Get a story? You’re part of the story if we take you there.”

  “I’m an intrepid journalist willing to risk all to expose the truth.”

  Teller rolled his eyes. “That’s quite the tagline, Niki.”

  She grinned. “Catchy, yeah? Get me that vid and you get clear.”

  “Maybe you didn’t hear me before,” Ursula said. “We are not actually going to return to Boddan-Three?”

  “Commerce Station actually,” Teller said.

  Ned shook his head and shrugged. “I’ve got to say, I’m with Ursula on this one. You honestly think you’ll be able to obtain vid of the attack?”

  Nikira nodded. “I do. I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise. Ursula can stay at my place if necessary, but you, Ned? You’re the closest thing to a local we have, so you simply must go.”

  Ned’s jaw dropped. After a few second’s pause, he said, “This isn’t some crawl out on a limb and hope it works gambit? You truly think you can help us if we do this?”

  Nikira nodded once again. “I don’t relish spending time in a Syndic lockup any more than you do. We get that vid, we have the last piece to clear you.”

  “You mean to get your story,” Teller said.

  She laughed. “Yes, that’s what I meant.”

  Ursula let out a loud breath. “I’m not staying here if we’re actually taking this avenue. I’ll go.”

  Ned snorted. “And here I thought you were the smart one.”

  Ursula smiled. “I guess you gentlemen are rubbing off on me.” She looked at Ho. “It’s Syndic space. Maybe you should stay here… just in case?”

  “I thank you for your concern. That would be the prudent thing to do, but unless you bar me from ARC Lance, I shall accompany my shipmates.”

  Teller smiled. “Not very smart. We’ll make a knockabout out of you yet.”

  . . .

  “So this is the ship that’s topped every bounty hunter and Syndic cruiser that’s jousted with her,” Nikira said as she followed Teller aboard the ARC Lance.

  “No mention of her crew, Niki?”

  She laughed. “I’m sure you played your part, cousin.” She started and drew in a deep breath when Ord stuck his head out of the command deck hatch. “You have to be Hawmer. I knew you were quite a specimen, but… you’re the biggest Human I’ve ever seen!”

  The giant chuckled deeply. “Ord. You are Nikira, daughter of Daisho?”

  “I am, and delighted to meet you.”

  “You’re gonna love what she has in mind, old pal,” Teller said with a point at Nikira. “If it all blows up, she’s to blame.”

  “Ord is listening,” the big man said.

  “Like I said, you’re gonna love it….”

  . . .

  The Hellington joined the inbound traffic pattern headed for Commerce Station.

  “I still don’t believe we’re doing this,” Ursula said.

  “That’s the twelfth time you’ve said that,” Teller replied.

  “Hopefully she’ll be able to say something similar in the past tense when we fly out of here,” Nikira said from her seat behind Teller and Ord.

  “We’re coming in the opposite manner we did last time,” Teller said. “We enter the traffic pattern early and follow the flow in. We use the automated docking system and latch up to an external point. Nothing showy, nothing to attract attention.”

  All went as planned, and soon Ned and Nikira prepared to make their way onto Commerce Station.

  “I’m not comfortable just walking onto the station,” Jessop said as they stood at ARC Lance’s starboard airlock.

  “You have identity documents that will pass scrutiny. What’s the problem?”

  Ned pointed at his own face. “What if they have recognition systems?”

  “That’s what the hat is for. Wear it and smile.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  “I wasn’t joking. It doesn’t take much to fool those systems, especially if you’re Human.”

  “A hat?”

  “We’ve been over this. Yes.”

  “And a smile.”

  “That’s right.”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head with a pained look. “I don’t believe we’re doing this.”

  Ursula nodded. “That’s what I said.”

  . . .

  “Security is tighter tha
n I’ve ever seen it,” Ned commented as he and Nikira neared the exit from the docking walkway.

  Ahead was a pair of Boddan system customs agents checking credentials as beings made their way into the inner part of the station.

  “It’s just a credential check. Don’t get wound up.”

  “And don’t be too comfortable either,” Ned countered. “They’ll look at you a bit harder.”

  “I’m travelling as me. No worries.”

  “It wasn’t you I was worried about.”

  Nikira laughed. “Point taken.”

  The pair stood in a short line and were soon presenting their documentation to the customs men.

  “Security is a bit tight here, isn’t it?” Nikira asked. “It always this way?”

  The agent rolled his eyes. “We had an incident some time back. All this makes the politicos feel like they’re doing something.”

  “When it’s you doing the something,” Jessop said.

  “That’s about it.” The man looked at Ned’s documentation. “Fohrta’s Gulag? Sounds lovely.”

  “It’s not so bad unless you’re sentenced or committed there.”

  “Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll just take your word on that. Welcome to Commerce Station,” he said passing the documents back to the pair.

  They thanked him and moved into the station.

  “Poor guy. Works with a Morlok and lives on a rock with gulag in its name. That cannot be a nice place. Better him than me,” one of the customs men said as the two walked away.

  “You get all kinds come through here,” his partner said.

  “Now was that so difficult?” Nikira said quietly as they walked away.

  Nikira and Ned passed a bank of holo-ad displays promoting everything from dictrabots to swimwear to local eateries. The last in line was simply a logo that hung in the air and incorporated audio,

  VICINI’S DEBT RESOLUTION AGENCY

  “Find yourself in the straits of debt? Let Vicini’s help you. With years of experience, you want us on your side of the table. Considering another agency? Inconceivable! Vicini’s employs only Thithilian negotiators. Don’t risk shoddy representation when you can have us plan your assault into solvency. Never go against a Thithilian when debt is on the line! Vicini’s.”

  “Let’s visit the police first,” Nikira said.

  “The police? Why?”

  “Because that’s the first place I’d go if I were actually trying to find answers through normal journalistic means. Someone might be keeping tabs on us so we don’t want to go straight to the security people. Maybe one of the cops will actually be helpful. There is the chance this Florry person may not be accommodating. We’re only playing a hunch after all.”

  They proceeded to the nearest police station and Nikira went on the offensive. She proved to be quite thorough, questioning dozens of police officers while Ned tried to appear inconspicuous. Her efforts proved to generate little information that might help them, but Ned heard more than one cop make disparaging comments about the “nosy Morlok.”

  When she was finished, Nikira rejoined Ned. “Now we go see Sergeant Florry.”

  A station directory showed them where to go and a short walk got them there.

  “Is Sergeant Florry in?” Nikira said as they closed the door.

  “He is,” said a private seated at the desk in the outer office. BAKER read his nametag. He looked back and forth between Ned and Nikira. “Your names?”

  Nikira gestured at Ned. “This is John Smalberry. I am Nikira da-Daisho, Hyper Media Group.”

  “Send’em in, Baker,” came a yell from the open door to Florry’s office.

  “You got it, Sarge,” Baker yelled in reply. He pointed to the door that led into the sergeant’s office. “That way folks. He’s the guy with the stripes, can’t miss him.”

  Florry was standing behind his desk when they entered. He gestured at a pair of seats and sat down. “What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “I am with Hyper Media Group,” Niki started, “covering the Altairie Corporation affair.”

  Sergeant Florry blinked a few times before answering. “Altairie is based on Vachsblad. They have offices in this system planetside, but not aboard Commerce Station.”

  “I’m fully aware of that fact. I am covering the entire affair, from beginning to end, whenever that end might come.”

  “Last I heard, the people in question were killed in Confederate space by a Boddan cruiser. That seems rather final.”

  “Not so. Since then they have gone on to….”

  As Nikira expounded on the events that followed the incident at Sessler, Florry looked at the two beings seated in front of him. He activated his console, bringing up some of the vid captures from the incident in C-11 and stopped on a shot of the stern of the freighter ARC Lance prior to its escape. Standing on the ramp, waving at three figures running toward the ship was a man who bore more than a passing resemblance to the individual present in the sergeant’s office, hat or not. So, the rumors are true. They’re still alive and kicking. Why would a party to murder return to this location, even after a Boddan-Three cruiser tried to eliminate them? he wondered. A murderer wouldn’t, yet this man has….

  Florry closed the display. “It’s been some time since the incident,” he said when Nikira finished. “Why the interest now?”

  “News moves out of Vicimere as fast as anywhere, but the inflow does not, so Hyper has tasked me with retracing the entire affair. There are many interesting aspects to this story and I’m here to look into it. There are four beings that might be falsely accused of a series of crimes they had nothing to do with. The incident on this station is of particular interest. It’s where it started.”

  “I am aware of the incident, but cannot discuss it. The station police deem it an active investigation and as such, it is outside Security Forces authority. On top of that is the issue of the efficacy of a certain surveillance program and the parties behind it. It has caused something of a… controversy. As you might imagine, we in the Security Forces are trying to stay clear of rocks and hard places while continuing to perform our duties.”

  “You’re giving me the ‘I’m just doing my job’ line? There may be innocent people suffering because of this. Could you at least show us the vid?”

  This thing has been wrong all the way down the line from day one, Florry thought. Politicos running for cover, bad cops burying the truth… what’s one more. He unlocked and opened his desk drawer, removing a data pellet box. He stood, placing the box on the desktop as he leaned toward Nikira with an irritated scowl on his face. “I will repeat. I cannot release Security Forces video to unauthorized personnel,” he said testily as one of his fingers silently tapped the plastic box on his desk. Nikira’s quick eyes caught the label, COMMERCE STATION POLICE, between taps, followed by, 18 OF 18. “I would be in hot water if vid captures in the care of Security Forces were to somehow be disseminated. If your belief that those people are not guilty of any crime is true, I wish you good fortune in helping them. I’d really like to assist those folks if that were the case, but it’s beyond my authority. As I mentioned, it’s a police matter.” He gave them a hard look and crossed his arms, staring at them for a moment before turning around and retrieving a carafe of water from the table behind him.

  Nikira suppressed a smile as she deftly slipped the pellet box into her satchel. “Even if those people were innocent? You wouldn’t lift a finger to help them? You’d let them go to prison or worse?”

  “I’m not letting them do anything,” he said as he placed the carafe on his desk. He gave a quick glance at Nikira’s satchel. “I told you, it’s out of my hands now.” He glanced at Ned. “Those people would be well advised to help themselves. Water?” he said gesturing at the carafe.

  Ned’s eyes twinkled as he scowled and shook his head at the sergeant. “Just a stickler for the rules. Hades bent on doing what’s right.”

  “You might say that. As she said, I’m just doing my job
. Now, if there’s nothing more….”

  “We’ll be leaving, Sergeant Florry,” Nikira said. “Thank you for your time.”

  The two walked briskly from the office with scowls and muttering about “conscienceless thugs” and “mindless robots,” as they passed out of earshot.

  Private Baker pointed at the door when Florry stepped out of his office. “What’d they want, Sarge?”

  “You heard it.”

  “Well, yeah, but the door was open, Sarge. You think they might be right? A lot of scuttlebutt says things didn’t happen the way they say it did.”

  “I’ve heard the same rumors as you and more. I could do little for them. Just a couple of do-gooders trying to save the galaxy, bag themselves a vid spot, and wanting answers only the police can provide.”

  “The police, Sarge? We were probably more help than the cops ever would be. People need to realize there’s only so much you can do.”

  Florry cracked a slight smile. “Do what you can and hope the things outside of your control work out.” He flopped his hat on his head. “Hold down the fort, Baker. I’m going to check the security stations.”

  . . .

  “I still don’t believe you acquired the vid,” Ned uttered as he and Nikira stepped aboard the Lance.

  “Third time you’ve said it,” Nikira replied. “and for the third time I’ll say it again, think positively, act positively, and positive things happen.”

  “I am genuinely thrilled, but are we ready to leave?” Ursula asked as those on the ship met them near the airlock. “It is nerve-racking just sitting here.”

  “Try sitting among police officers and Security Forces soldiers,” Ned replied. “Talk about racked nerves.”

  “You actually got it?” Teller said.

  “You had doubts?” Nikira said with a grin.

  “No, never, I just wanted confirmation. Ready to get out of here?”

  “I have one more thing we need to do,” Nikira said. She pointed at Ho. “Can you do your Mech magic and track down the routing code on the message sent to Victoria Gomez’s data pad?”