“There,” Harry said, jabbing his finger at a village near the northern edge of the plateau. “At the very least we can spend the night in front of a roaring fire.”
Charley had to admit that sounded appealing. Life on a spaceship could be claustrophobic at times.
Charley tried to hail the settlement over a general com channel and didn’t get a response till her third try.
Charley had a visual on the shipyard. It was essentially a collection of rundown local craft, many of them clearly unfit for deep space. Charley felt a little self-conscious landing her refitted heavy fighter next to such a modest collection of ships. The feeling was enhanced when the Phoenix landed alongside the Surprise.
Charley killed the propulsion and instructed the AI to set a high security setting. She wore her weapons belt and made sure she had a full complement of pellets in her utility belt. Vanessa had returned the pirate blaster she’d borrowed on Bonesse, meaning Charley now had one on each hip once more. Vanessa had a new weapon that she’d been practicing with - a light crossbow. Charley had doubted the usefulness of the weapon at first, but Vanessa seemed determined to learn a skill that no one else on the crew had. Charley had to admit that the light crossbow did have vast potential as a stealth weapon, and the sheer range of ammunition available was impressive. There were standard darts, poison darts, electromagnetic darts and a range of toxic paralysis darts based on a range of alien physiologies. Charley had insisted on buying Vanessa a deluxe case containing a full range of ammo. If the girl was to head into battle with the crew, it was best that she be equipped with the best gear possible. At the end of the day it made sense that the crew use a variety of weapons.
Charley debated whether she should pull on another layer - her current utility suit had a thermal setting that would protect her against the worst of the cold outside. But if suit functioning was impaired she would be exposed to the elements. In the end she opted for an elegant sallis fur coat that she’d picked up on Deep Blue. Vanessa wore something similar, but in a slightly different hue.
“I’m the luckiest man alive,” Harry purred as he helped the girls through the top hatch. “I’ve never been surrounded by such glamor.”
Charley enjoy the crunch of snow under her boots as she leaped to the ground. She looked at the fine powder with delight, letting a handful crumble through her fingers.
Harry put an arm around her, letting her enjoy the moment. Charley smiled broadly at him - this was just one of those moments where everything seemed perfect. Gronko and Molly joined them with slightly curious expressions. Harry felt obliged to explain the presence of silver elk and what it might mean to the crew’s fortunes. He didn’t mention all the romantic pirate stuff he’d revealed to Charley - that kind of thing just wouldn’t wash with the likes of Gronko.
As long as there was a payday in the offing, and the pirates were able to expand their power base, Charley’s crew would follow her anywhere.
5
A cold wind howled through the makeshift shipyard. Charley checked her wrist pad which had automatically adjusted to local time. It was only four in the afternoon but the dark was gathering all around. A string of blue lanterns glowed in the dusk, leading the way up a rise to a clutch of buildings. Charley led her crew over the hard-packed snow to a building that had a coms dish on the roof.
It was surprisingly warm inside. Several locals stood around a central hearth drinking from mugs of a steaming liquid. They had the weather-beaten, humble look of farmers and small scale traders.
A man in a red suede vest approached the crew, probably looking to defuse the agitation of some of the locals. He was short and stocky with a face lined by age and hard-earned wisdom.
“Welcome to Scantia,” he said warmly. “My name is Daro Bennen. Apparently I’m the unofficial mayor of this shit hole.”
Scattered laughter around the hearth. Charley accepted the man’s hand with a smile. She usually liked men with a self-deprecating sense of humor.
“Good to be here,” Charley said. “And thank you for giving us a place to stay.”
“Don’t mention it,” said Bennen. “We were kinda hoping you could repay us with words.”
Charley raised her eyebrows.
“We don’t get many visitors,” Bennen went on. “You people look like you have an interesting story to tell.”
Charley realized that most of the people in the room were staring openly at Gronko. She needed to draw their attention away. Gronko wasn’t likely to take their stares well.
“We’re here for silver elk,” Charley admitted. “Our contacts tell us this planet is coming back to life.”
“Who told you that?” one of the farmers asked. “I hope you haven’t spread that story around.”
Charley felt the tension in the room. These people were clearly protective of their way of life.
“Most of the old folks here remember the good times,” Bennen said. “Times when there were enough resources for everyone. The old trade routes are gone. The few of us that stayed have endured one long winter. Only now are the crops beginning to come back. We’d like to keep that a secret as long as possible. If the Empire knew, if this trumped-up new Emperor knew, this place would be filled with troops before anyone could whisper the word ‘invasion’.”
Charley understood the settlers’ concerns. These people were seeing their home come to life and she was marching in to kill the emblem of their resurgence.
“I didn’t come here to kill,” Charley said slowly. “I came here to plunder, as is my right as a pirate.”
Charley hadn’t intended to sound so hard, so defensive, but the effect seemed to be a positive one. The hardy settlers looked at Charley with a certain level of respect.
“Frostfire gets fifty percent of my profit here,” Charley said firmly. “I give you my word as a pirate.”
Bennen stepped forward. “On behalf of Scantia, I accept your proposal, and offer you whatever support you need.”
Charley took the man’s hand again and the tension in the room dissolved. The crew were offered cups of the local brew, a thick, yeasty concoction called macheno. Charley didn’t like the taste but it filled her with long-lasting warmth. After a couple of hours acquainting herself with the locals Harry tapped her on the shoulder and took her out to a warm back room where people slept in mounds of warm furs called dens. Charley realized she was quite drunk and was happy to be wrapped in the furs. She could feel Vanessa’s lithe body snuggle in next to her and Harry’s arms enfolding them both. She drifted away happily, her body surrendering to her cocoon.
Charley drifted into consciousness slowly. She was vaguely aware that she didn’t need to be alert and that she was perfectly safe. She listened to several others sleeping around her in their own mounds. Harry and Vanessa lay close, and it seemed most of the town was scattered throughout the room. It made sense to use one room so all the body heat could be trapped. There didn’t appear to be many generators around so energy was probably at a premium.
The smell of baking bread drew Charley from the warm clutches of Harry and Vanessa. She emerged into the bracingly cold morning air and joined a huddle around a hot coal pit where several flat breads were warming up.
Daro Bennen was among the silent onlookers, staring into the embers as if he might find the answer to everything. Charley felt a peculiar tingle run down her spine. This planet had a strange energy to it. There was something timeless about both the people and the land. Charley could almost see the old trade convoys as they trundled up and down the plateau. A landscape that was probably more wildflower than thick snow. These survivors were building something again, and it was a good, positive energy to be around.
“I can guide you to the Ealing Forest,” Bennen suddenly said to Charley by way of greeting. “You might find your silver elk there, in
the foothills.”
Charley bowed her head in thanks. Within two hours the crew was prepped and ready. There was no point in taking the ships over the forest, with heat exhaust spouting everywhere and the forest critters running for cover. Bennen had prepared two flatbed trucks fitted with fat, spiked snow tires. Gronko and Molly joined Charley by the coals and shared some of the bread. It was infused with butter and some delicious wild herbs Charley hadn’t tasted before.
Gronko looked fresh enough, but Molly had deep bags under her eyes.
“I ran a perimeter last night,” she explained. “Couldn’t help myself.”
Charley scolded her for being too work-oriented. Still, she had to admit she was glad that Molly was running reconnaissance in what was unknown territory.
Once Harry and Vanessa had breakfasted and gathered their very few possessions, Charley’s crew piled into the back of the truck. There were low benches to either side of the flatbed. The vehicle had probably belonged to the old Imperial army back when Frostfire had fully manned military bases. The other truck was relatively empty but would carry certain supplies. Bennen explained that they always traveled in pairs out in the field in case one vehicle broke down.
The sun was shining weakly as the mini convoy set out to the south east. Charley wished there was a window in the truck so she could watch the pristine terrain as it slid past. Bennen was driving her truck personally, eager to see them to the edge of the Ealing Forest.
Charley and her comrades passed the time playing Battle Tactics on the floor of the truck. Much to everyone’s surprise Gronko knew exactly how to play and even cleaned up a little money on the side. It felt nice to share a little downtime with the entire crew, not just the naked forms of Harry and Vanessa. Molly and Gronko seemed to appreciate being included in the game, which pleased Charley no end. Even FIGJAM got into the spirit of the occasion, being less blatantly offensive than usual. All in all, Charley was in very good spirits when Bennen rapped his fist on the ceiling of his cabin as a signal that they’d arrived.
Charley stepped out into a beautiful, silent forest. Many of the trees had lost their leaves and grasped at the sky. A heavy layer of snow dampened the forest sounds, creating an eerie atmosphere. A bird squawked somewhere in the distance.
“I like this,” Gronko announced, brandishing his heavy weapon. The gun seemed wholly unsuitable for deer. “It’s like tracking mudlarns back home.”
“Where would you like me to stand, Charley?” Vanessa asked nervously. The poor girl had probably never been on a hunting expedition.
“In front of me, darlin’, workin’ that ass,” said FIGJAM from his slot in Charley’s utility belt. Vanessa gave the PalBot a smile and a light caress. FIGJAM groaned a mixture of pleasure and pain.
“You’re disgusting,” Charley said. “Try not to ruin my hunt.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” FIGJAM said. “When do we hit the next casino?”
“Hush,” said Charley. “We’re doing this for our souls.”
The PalBot emitted a strange barking sound. Charley realized it was laughing. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand, jackass,” she said with a smile.
Bennen wished the hunting party good luck and donated a pack of supplies from the back of the other truck.
“You may need them,” he said. “Critters are slowly returning to the forest but the snow cover still limits your options for food.”
“Thanks for your support, Daro,” Charley said. “The Pirate Guild looks forward to returning the favor.”
“Hunt well,” Daro said, climbing into the cabin of his truck and revving the engine. Charley watched the trucks disappear to the south.
Harry was looking at a terrain projection when Charley caught up with him. “Silver elk like remote gullies and glades,” he said. “I’m thinking we should trek into the center of these hills.”
Charley nodded, happy to be guided by the old pirate. She had limited hunting experience tracking sand lizards on Abeyas but that was a far cry from montane hunting on Frostfire.
Charley called the crew together and established a formation. Harry would take point, despite Gronko wanting to do so. The big renki just wasn’t suited to this delicate, silent terrain.
The rest of the party would follow single file, with Molly taking the rear. She could be depended on to stay vigilant and protect their backs.
The party moved out, each of them taking a portion of the supplies that Bennen had left them. Charley was hoping their quest would only last a few days. She was more than happy to take some time out here in the forest, as it was very important to Harry and a quintessential pirating mission. But there was more plundering to do on the Beluga Run and she was itching to build her empire. There was over 100,000 credits in her account after the successful Deep Blue operation and that kind of money could go to a third ship or perhaps to restoring the Pirate Guild Hall back on Danderly. There were so many options now she had money. Charley’s rags-to-riches dream was perhaps starting to come true.
Charley hiked in the middle of the line as Harry led the hunting party north along a ridge line. The surrounding terrain really was beautiful, especially when a light snow began to fall around midday. It was like being in a winter wonderland.
After two hours of solid hiking Charley noticed the snow cover diminishing somewhat. The ground became quite wet, then that dried out too. It was nice to see plants and shrubbery not blanketed by snow. The party moved into a deep gully and Harry motioned for everyone to stop and drop. Charley crouched low, listening carefully for animals.
The gully here felt warmer than the forest they’d just walked through. A waft lifted Charley’s hair - that felt warm! At length she noticed a subtle bubbling noise in the distance. Was it a hot spring or something? The sound of insects gradually rose. Harry looked back at Charley and shrugged. There seemed to be a lot of life in this gully. Harry signaled the party to stand and continue. They headed north through a copse of yan trees that sported green buds.
Harry stood under a gnarled old hanna tree and inspected the bark with great interest. A weird clicking sound erupted from somewhere, then disappeared. Charley spotted the source of the earlier sound - it was indeed a pool of hot mud, bubbling over occasionally. The extra heat probably helped all these trees and plants to grow, which in turn attracted insects and larger creatures. Harry kept walking, losing interest in the hanna tree. Charley had a second look it, doing a double take when the bark on the trunk appeared to shimmer. She laid a hand on the tree and it felt softer than it should. With another clicking sound there was a quick movement to both sides, like something folding itself out. There were gasps behind Charley as she staggered back for a better look. There was something attached to the tree, something big. It had extended wings to either side. Beautiful, horrifying wings of yellow and red. It was such an exotic sight, something that seemed out of place in this elegant, wintry forest.
As Charley watched the wings flexed from side to side.
“It’s a stick insect,” said Harry. “A fucking huge one.”
Charley took a few more steps back, unsure what to think. The action saved her life, because a gob of green liquid spurted across the undergrowth and fizzed on the ground where Charley had been. The liquid seemed to burn the tussocks it came in contact with. Charley looked up in alarm, seeing the stick insect’s small, ugly head at the base of the tree. It was upside down. The thing must’ve been at least eighteen feet in length. The wing span was probably wider.
“Right, so we should probably back away,” FIGJAM commented drily.
“Very quietly,” Harry said. “On my count.”
Charley drew one of her pistols just in case.
“Three. Two. One. Go!”
6
The party spun on its heels and ran. Charley heard a rush of clicks behind her and risked a glance over her shoulder.
She was terrified to see the grey, pinched face of the stick insect barely five yards from her. The thing was soaring up to he
r, long arms poised to either lift her or strike. Charley instinctively darted between two trees, hoping the narrow passage might prevent the creature from passing through. The move was successful, if temporary. The insect flapped its colorful wings and manuevered to Charley’s right flank. With a sinking feeling Charley saw her crew scrambling up the slope where another two insects were coming out of camouflage. They were just as big as the first.
Charley activated her targeting computer and reeled off several shots with her blaster. Her targeter suggested concentrating fire on the insect’s thin wing membranes. Charley’s fifth shot managed a small perforation in the left wing, eliciting a high-pitched squeal that made Charley’s stomach crawl. The thing kept on coming, snapping at Charley with its arms and spouting the odd gob of green liquid. Was it bile? Poison? It didn’t really matter. Charley knew it was dangerous and needed to be avoided. She rolled clear of one spurt and continued her attack on the beast’s left wing. The targeter couldn’t quite get a fix on the thing’s smaller head and torso so it made sense to play the percentages. Charley’s second barrage didn’t seem to have any effect. The insect’s wing may have been thin but it was also incredibly tough and resistant to energy fire. To make matters worse, Charley’s blaster powered down briefly. She used the other one, this time firing indiscriminately at the insect’s head. She missed every shot, knowing panic was setting in. She was unable to do anything about that - this beast seemed to inspire panic with its grotesque body and shrill call. It made another dive at her, managing to pin her down against the soft forest undergrowth. Charley felt a lancing pain at her shoulder and realized the insect had driven a pincer right through it. She would’ve screamed if she wasn’t so terrified. A thunderous blast almost deafened her. When she dared open her eyes the insect was a crumpled, gooey mess at the base of a tree several yards away. Gronko had attacked from the right flank with his heavy weapon.
“I owe you one, Gronko,” Charley said.
The Pirate Commander (The Space Pirate Chronicles Book 3) Page 3