by Saxon Andrew
“Tell me how the funds are going to be paid out.”
The Guild Master’s expression changed to concern, “I’m not going to pay anything out of the Alien’s fund, Sir.”
The President’s face grew angry, “Why is that?”
“Because all of the assassins on the planet have violated their contracts with the guild by attacking other assassins trying to increase their share of the fund. They violated their contracts and are not eligible to be paid.”
“ARE YOU TELLING ME EVERYONE OF THEM VIOLATED THEIR CONTRACTS!?!”
The Guild Master hesitated and said, “Uhhh…only two of them didn’t violate their contracts.”
“And you intend to keep the fund and not pay it to the two-assassins?”
“That’s correct, Sir.” The Guild Leader quickly added, “They won’t pose a problem.”
The President asked, “Do these two assassins know about what they’re owed?” The Guild Master was silent, and the President’s eyes tightened, “They’ll know, won’t they?”
“The computer automatically sends out the results of the analysis once it’s completed. But I can resolve this quickly!”
“Are you aware that the other five colonies that were invaded have been offered proposals by the aliens?” The Guild Master gave a small nod.”
“And what do you think will happen if the assassins on Haven contact the assassins on those five colonies and tell them that you’ve betrayed them and kept what they were rightfully due?” The Guild Master stared back at the President. The President leaned into the monitor, “Let me be clear on this so there is no misunderstanding. I’ll support you not paying the alien’s fund to those that violated their contracts. But if the two who deserve the payout aren’t paid…”
“You’ll do what?” the Guild Master sneered.
The President leaned back and glared at the Guild Master. “You should know that I have a colony warship stationed above the Guild Building and it will be ordered to slag the building with its pulse cannons if you don’t make the proper payments.” The wide-eyed Guild Master’s mouth fell open and the President continued, “You and your guild serve a purpose at my pleasure and if you think for a minute you are in power here, you better think again!” The Guild Master was struggling furiously with what to say or what he could do, and he saw the President smile, “Colonel Tap.” The Guild Master saw his purple-haired assistant stand up from her desk against the wall and walk over to his desk. “I don’t want to waste a building, please instruct the Guild Master on the error of his ways.”
The woman had a hand blaster pointed at the Guild Master in an instant. The Guild Master held up his hands just before his head was burned off his shoulders. “Sir, I’ve given him his instructions.”
“Who is slotted to replace him.”
The woman smiled, “That would be me, Sir.”
“Follow the Guild Master’s plan. We can’t allow the assassins to indiscriminately attack other assassins. Make the payment of the alien’s fund to the two that qualify.”
“Sir, I agree with the Guild Master about taking that fund. You can use it to pay the assassins for the aliens they killed and not have to use colony funds to do it. You can use the alien’s fund instead.”
“There’s a very important lesson here, Colonel. The only thing that makes the guild function is that it keeps its promises to the members. Keeping this one will show the assassins that their leaders can be trusted. If we allow our greed to take this fund, the assassins will become uncontrollable and insist on being paid up front on all future contracts and will probably attack the leaders of their guild. Ultimately, the price would exceed what the alien’s fund totals.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll do it by the book.”
“See that you do, Colonel.” The monitor went dark and the new Guild Master knew she was not able to do anything but follow her orders. She went to the computer and began erasing all the old passwords before entering new ones. She pondered the situation for a few minutes and then pressed the button linking her to the ship above Australia.
• • •
Tee and Mer were anxiously awaiting the Guild Master’s report on their bounties and were awakened late at night by their communicators alarming. They jumped up, ran to their communicators, and activated them. Every assassin on Haven saw a purple-haired woman appear on their small displays. “I’m sorry for the hour but there was no way to contact all of you without some being in a late time zone. I’m saddened to say that the Guild Master is no longer leading the guild. He intended to keep the funds you are entitled to receive for himself and that was not acceptable. I was slotted to be next in line to replace him; therefore, I will be the new Guild Master.”
She hesitated and then said, “Every assassin on Haven, pull up your contracts on your communicators and scroll back to the fifteenth-section, twelfth page, third paragraph from the bottom. Please start reading from there and I will speak with you once you’ve had enough time to compete the section.”
Tee scrolled back and started reading. After a moment, his eyes flew open and he said, “HOLY CRAP!!”
“What?” Mer asked.
“There are going to be some very unhappy people, Mer.” Mer started reading and was shocked by what she saw. Tee was right!
• • •
Tap waited for ten minutes and then began speaking, “We’ve estimated the number of communicators to be about 190 thousand when the aliens made their proposal. Less than fifty thousand reported in after they left the planet. I’m sure most of you assumed that the fewer number of assassins alive when the aliens left, the more of the fund you would receive. You failed however, to read the contracts you signed when you joined the Assassins Guild. Your contract strictly forbids any assassin from killing another assassin without the direct approval of the Guild. The only exception to this restriction is that you can defend yourselves if another assassin attacks you. After viewing your recordings, all of you were forced at one time or another to defend yourselves and that behavior does not violate your contract. However, pretty much all of you are guilty of killing assassins that weren’t attacking you. That puts you in violation of your contract and exempts you from receiving any part of the fund the aliens put together. Do any of you see it differently.”
The channel was silent, until someone asked, “Are any of us eligible to receive the alien fund?”
“Yes, and I will not divulge how many or who they are. You will be eligible for the bounty promised you for killing the alien landing forces. That was a different contract and none of you were in violation of it when that was happening.” Tap paused for a moment for the first part of her announcement to sink in and then continued, “The reason that clause is in your contract is that if assassins can attack each other, the power of the Guild will be greatly reduced, and the Guild will lose some of its most experienced members. I’ve sent the funds you’re entitled to the accounts you set up when you joined the guild and you may check them now. If you have any issues, contact me directly.”
• • •
Tee checked his account and his mouth fell open as his eyes flew wide open. Mer saw him and immediately checked her account. She staggered, and Tee jumped to catch her before she fainted and hit the floor. He lowered her to the couch and Mer managed to mumble, “This can’t be right!”
Suddenly, Tee saw the new Guild Master appear on his communicator’s display. He lifted it and heard her say, “I assume you’ve checked your accounts.”
“We have, Guild Master.”
“I believe your isolation is the only thing that prevented you from defaulting on your contract.”
“I suspect you’re right,” Tee agreed. The Guild Master stared at Tee and his expression changed and he inquired, “Guild Master, are you familiar with the contract I signed.”
“I am.”
“Will you look at the last page of the contract and tell me if what I’m reading is accurate?” Tap’s eyes narrowed, as she looked away from the display. A
fter a few moments, her eyes flew open. Tee saw it and said, “If I’m reading this correctly, Mer and I are now allowed to leave the guild and it’s your responsibility to ensure that we are not endangered by you or any other member of the guild.”
Tap shook her head and turned her attention back to Tee, “It appears you are correct, Tee.”
“Has this clause ever been violated, Guild Master?”
“No one has ever fulfilled that clause, so of course it hasn’t been violated. No one has ever reached the ten-billion-credit threshold to allow them to leave.”
Mer was silent and wondered what Tee was talking about. “Guild Master, I’d like to make a deal with you.”
Tap’s eyebrows raised, “What is that?”
“We will give you a hundred billion credits each if you will make sure that clause is followed. We will put an additional hundred billion credits in a separate fund that will be transferred to you after we die a natural death.”
“You are insinuating that you don’t expect me to honor the contract?”
“This level of funds will tempt anyone, Guild Master. Will you do it?” Tap hesitated and Tee quickly said, “Make it two hundred billion.”
“Why are you doing this?” Tap asked.
“Because I know the power you hold, Guild Master. You know that the wealthy have contracts taken out on them and only you can prevent that happening to us. You would have to approve any contract and we’re hoping you would take steps to stop anyone attempting to have us assassinated.” Tee paused and smiled slightly, “Consider how long it would take you to accrue four hundred billion credits.”
Tap smiled slightly, “I do expect you to pay for any contracts to eliminate any one attempting to take a contract out on you.”
“How about a million-credits for each one?”
Tap smiled, “Make the transfer to the following account and you have a deal.”
Tee saw the number appear on his communicator and he made the transfer. He took Mer’s communicator and transferred the funds from her account. Tap kept her eyes on her communicator and Tee saw her smile, “I suggest you disappear as quickly as possible. I’m erasing your files in the Guild Computer in the event another Guild Master ever replaces me.”
“We’ll remain here until everything settles down.”
“That’s a good idea. I really did not intend to violate the contract, Mr. Tee. You didn’t have to do this.”
“Even if you didn’t, Guild Master, I’d rather have you focused on keeping us safe and it’s worth every credit to make that happen.”
Tap smiled, “I’m glad to hear you say that. I pride myself on keeping my promises.”
The display went dark and Tee smiled. He looked at Mer and she said, “You gave away two hundred billion credits?! Are you crazy?”
“That leaves each of us three hundred billion credits to enjoy, Love. I think peace of mind is worth at least that much.” Mer glared at him, for a moment, then smiled, and put her arms around his neck.” Tee paused and turned to her, “You know that if you hadn’t stopped me from activating the gas canisters, we wouldn’t qualify for this payment?”
“Why not?”
“Because I would have killed hundreds of assassins that were not attempting to attack us. You’re the reason we qualified for these payments.”
After an hour passed, Tee turned on the cameras and saw that all the assassins who had been hiding, were gone. He assumed they left and went back to their lives hidden among society. They were still needed; Haven hadn’t sent out any colony ships. For the survivors, there were going to be more contracts than they could ever fill.
• • •
“Tal.”
“Yes, Jan.”
“I’ve intercepted an alien communication. It appears the fleet above Australia had phased out and is no longer surrounding the colony.”
“What?”
“That’s what was said, Tal. They also said they were fortunate that they didn’t cause any massive number of deaths on Australia.”
Tal instantly flew the ShaKa high above the LMC and ordered Jan, “Connect me with Duncan.” A few minutes later, Duncan appeared on the monitor, “WHAT IS THIS THAT THE ALIENS HAVE LEFT AUSTRALIA!!”
“Calm down, Tal.”
“We’ve been told that Australia has lost millions of its population to orbital bombardment! What’s going on?!” he asked impatiently.
Duncan’s expression showed Tal that something was going on. Duncan sat back and stated, “That falls under top secret information, Tal.”
“So, those of us putting our lives on the line out here aren’t entitled to know what’s happening!?!” Tal said loudly.
“Stand by.” Duncan disappeared, leaving Tal furious. Jan and Rachel remained silent keeping their eyes on their monitors not wanting to turn his anger toward them. Thirty minutes later, Jan saw her console start receiving documents. She turned to Tal, “Duncan asks that you read the file he just sent to me and contact him after you’ve completed it.”
“PUT IT ON MY PANEL!!” Jan winced and transferred the file.
Tal started reading and it was clear he was becoming more furious. After a few minutes, his expression changed, and he sat back in his chair as he continued to read. Finally, he took a deep breath, blew it out, closed his eyes, and allowed his head to fall back on his chair. He kept them closed and said calmly, “Get Duncan, Jan.” Duncan appeared on the monitor and Tal opened his eyes when he heard it ping, “I’m sorry for my behavior, Duncan.”
“The Chancellor gave me permission to send you the file but want’s it destroyed immediately. There is always a risk of the aliens intercepting our transmissions.”
“I understand, Duncan. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’d feel the same way if I were in your place.” The monitor went dark.
Tal glanced at Jan, “Did you read it?” Jan lowered her head into her shoulders and nodded. “What do you think?”
“This alien invasion was a gift,” she answered.
Rachael’s eyes flew wide open, “WHAT?”
Tal looked at her and waved his hand toward her, “Jan is right.”
“BUT…”
Tal interrupted, “There’s been no wide-scale loss of life in the colonies that have been invaded; that was a deliberate lie.”
Rachael stared at Tal and Jan said softly, “These aliens aren’t anywhere near as nasty as I thought.”
“No, they’re not.” Tal agreed. “But strong arming a theft of a planet’s raw materials and technology is still a crime; there is a price to be paid for that behavior.”
“What’s going on, Admiral?”
Tal turned to Rachael but hesitated for a long moment before asking, “Racheal, are you aware that the colonies are headed toward complete and utter collapse within the next eighty to ninety years.”
“That’s not true.” She countered.
“Rachael, do you have the last colony census in your computer.”
“No.”
Tal looked to Jan, “I’ll transfer it to her computer,” Jan responded to his look.
“Racheal, I want you to read the entire document and extrapolate what the colonies’ population will be in sixty years.”
Rachael turned to her computer and started reading. Five minutes later, Tal was shocked again by how fast Rachael could read and absorb huge amounts of information. Rachael looked up and said, “I think you were being conservative. Some of the colonies would fall into civil war before eighty years.”
“What does that say to you?” Tal asked. Rachael was silent, as she considered the question and Tal prodded her, “Come on, Rachael! You’ve seen the data.”
“The Central Government has been lying to the colonies.”
“Why?”
“Tal, it’s never good to lie!”
“But why did they do it!”
Rachael was deflated, “To get huge numbers of citizens to leave the colonies.”
“And what is the effect of doin
g that?”
“It delays the fall.” Rachael answered. Tal nodded, and she asked, “Does it stop the fall, Tal?”
“No. Not without radical laws curbing population growth. But the aliens have saved the colonies for the moment. Now it’s up to the government to get things under control.”
Jan looked down at her console and shouted, “WE’VE LOST THREE SHIPS, TAL! AND THE OTHERS ARE BEING PURSUED BY HUNDREDS OF ALIEN WARSHIPS!”
Tal pushed the thruster handle fully forward and dove back toward the LMC.
Chapter Eighteen
“JAN! GET JEREMY ON THE MONITOR NOW!!” Jeremy appeared on the screen and Tal demanded, “WHAT’S GOING ON?!”
“Tal, we lost three Epys and it appears the aliens can track our ships. We’ve scattered and are flying out of the LMC toward the Pinwheel Galaxy.”
Tal turned to Jan, “What’s happening!?!”
Jan stared at her monitor and answered, “I’m starting to receive weird scanning beams ahead of us. I’ve never seen anything like this!”
Rachael jumped out of her chair and rushed over to look at Jan’s monitor. After a moment, she said, “I recognize that beam; it’s designed to detect changes in gravity. We developed a scanner in the colonies to assist our scientists in studying a distant star’s gravity. This new scanner beam has the same frequency.”
“How many ships are using that scanner?”
Jan stared at her monitor and looked up, “Two. They’re scanning the space ahead of their ships on a broad front and are directing their formations to our ship’s locations.”
“Can they detect us?”
“No, we’re behind their scans.”
“Put them on my monitor.”
“Tal, they’re too far ahead of us. We’ll never catch them.”
“Put it on the tactical monitor, Jan!” Tal looked at the tactical display and said to Jeremy, “Order all your ships to go vertical now!”
“But…”
“DO IT, JEREMY!!”
Jeremy disappeared from the monitor and Jan announced, “We’ve lost another ship, Tal, but the others are moving vertical just ahead of the alien fleets.”