“A million credits.”
“We could offer you that as a down payment.”
His eyes widened in shock, and his concerns for letting his more charitable side overcome him were set aside.
“I’m listening. I’ll come in to town, but I’ll follow you in my own ride.”
“Well, okay, thank you. I really mean it. You don’t know the kind misery we’ve been put through the last few years.”
“I’m not promising anything. I’ll meet with your people, and we’ll take it from there.”
“Thank you, really.”
He walked past Avery towards the crew who were waiting to hear what he had gotten them into.
“What does he want?”
“Looks like he has a job for us.”
“And?”
“I’m gonna follow him into town, Liu, and see what the deal is.”
“Alone?”
“Well, you need to help Wizard with the repairs. Hella can handle guard duty for now. She’s shown she is capable.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Erin.
Mason looked at her and tried to make sense of her sudden interest. She seemed eager to get involved since they had recruited Hella.
“What the hell, a pretty face can’t do any harm. You’re on.”
Liu didn’t look at all impressed.
“Can I speak with you for a moment?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure.”
They paced over the dry ground so they stood a good ten metres away from the ship. Liu looked back and could see Hella looking on. He gestured for Mason to continue on a little further. Hella seemed to have an uncanny ability to hear everything that went on and they knew it. They continued on another ten metres before finally stopping to continue their conservation.
“So what’s up?”
“You really have to ask?”
“Come on, cough it up. I can’t take the silent treatment.”
“I haven’t been to town, but you have. Everything you say would suggest this town is being muscled by some major player, resources, soldiers, weapons, and power. You are thinking of taking a job where we’ll be outnumbered by what, twenty to one?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s the point. You don’t know. Carter vetted the jobs carefully, as you know. We took what was sensible. We took jobs we could handle. We’re down a few crew and looking at a dangerous situation.”
“I don’t know quite what we are facing here. Only thing I do know is that these people are being walked over, and they’re offering a tonne of cash to give them a hand.”
“No research, no intel, and most importantly, influenced by the client. You feel for them.”
“Don’t you? Don’t tell me as a former cop, you don’t feel like helping these people?”
“Sure, I feel like calling in some help and getting this sorted. But we aren’t the guys to do it.”
Mason shook his head. “How far have you fallen?”
“What?”
“You took a vow to help those in need and uphold the law, have you forgotten?”
“My employers did.”
“And that matters?”
“What do you care? We do jobs for money. We don’t uphold the law. We don’t follow moral code. We don’t serve the people!”
“Really? And you think working as a cop is so much different. You might have liked the feel of ‘doing good’, but in the end it was just a job!”
“And so what, you’re such the fucking good guy now?”
Liu looked away and ran his hands through his hair as he tried to cool off. Finally, he turned around, but Mason interrupted before he could speak.
“You told me that as a cop your hands were tied from helping those you felt needed it. Now we have the chance to help, and nobody is tying our hands, and we stand to make a lot of money from it. You risked your life all the time for crappy pay. Now you have a chance to be on the right side of your moral standpoint, and make a tonne of money at the same time. What’s not to like?”
Liu took a deep breath and calmed himself.
“I’m not against helping those who need it. But look around. The crew has survived this far because we took the smart jobs at the right price. We can’t save everyone. I learned that.”
“Then let me go and suss this one out. I’ll see what they want, what we face, and what they’re willing to pay. Then I’ll bring it to the table, and we’ll make a decision as a crew.”
“You do that, and definitely take Erin with you. She doesn’t seem to have such a bad influence on you.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“All I’m saying is that if you accept this call for help, you put her life on the line, same as the rest of us.”
“And you think I would do that if it wasn’t an acceptable risk?”
Liu smirked. “You know what I learned on the force. An acceptable risk is one that puts others in danger to meet your own goals. But that isn’t us, and isn’t you. If you commit to something, you put your own ass on the line, same as the rest of us. Remember that. I didn’t sign up to throw my life away for no good reason.”
Mason nodded in agreement.
“I get you. Hold down the fort. We won’t be long.”
“I hope so.”
Mason started to to walk away but stopped after a few paces.
“You know, when you first joined us, you wanted nothing more than to help those in need. Josiah almost died, after we went back for a kid and his mother that you insisted couldn’t be left behind. What happened?”
“Maybe I realised there will always be evil, and I can’t stop it all. We’re in this for ourselves. We can’t save the whole world.”
‘Maybe you’ll have a chance yet.”
Mason took a deep breath and thought about it for a moment.
“I can’t say we’re a beacon of humanity and the pinnacle of moral conduct. But maybe, just maybe you’ll have a time to proof yourself yet. You told me you were fired for trying to do the right thing, you remember?”
“Yeah,” he replied hesitantly.
“So you were a good cop in a bad world?”
“Yeah.”
“Then a chance for redemption is perhaps not impossible.”
“You talk pretty righteously for a man who works solely for money.”
Mason walked away, smiling.
“Erin!” he shouted.
She jumped to attention with Mason’s rifle held across both arms.
“You’re with me. We’re heading into town.”
She jumped to his side and followed him to the quadcopter. Cayne fired up the engine of Ryant’s truck.
“I thought we were setting off this world as soon as we could?”
“Maybe, but we just might have a job here yet, Erin.”
“I thought you worked for money, not charity?”
“True, but maybe we can do one and get the other for free.”
“You’re a real humanitarian.”
“Famous for it,” he replied as they climbed aboard.
Chapter 5
The sun was high in the sky, and it felt like a painfully hot repeat of the day before as they soared north towards the town.
“How long you been at this work?”
He turned and looked at Erin’s young face.
“Almost as long as you have been in this world.”
“You said you have never been a soldier, why?”
“A soldier fights for a cause and for crappy pay. I fight for myself, and my friends. If I am going to run into a shit storm, I want it to be of our own choice, not some arrogant bastard who is happy to have us earn a medal for him.”
She nodded in agreement.
“You don’t find that morally offensive?” he asked.
“Why would I?”
“Come on. You’re an educated and well brought up young woman. I’ve never met one like you who wouldn’t strike me down for what I do and the reasons I do it.”
&
nbsp; “Maybe you haven’t met the right girl.”
He laughed at her response and saw she was semi-serious about the comment. They rode into town and found many of the shops shut, including Kaper's bar. Ryant led them to a centrally located building that was unmarked but clearly represented some kind of town hall.
"Let me do the talking," he stated. "We're going in here to hear them out. We make no promises and take no money from them."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to know what we could be getting ourselves into before committing to anything. Some jobs just aren't worth taking for all the money in the universe."
"I'm surprised to hear you say that."
"Yeah, well, money I like, but my life I like better."
They pulled up outside the hall, and Ryant led them inside to find there were thirty men and women awaiting them. They all stared at Mason as he was led to the front of the room. A man in his late forties was awaiting him with a smile. He wore a well-kept suit and was certainly wealthy.
"This is Nolan Machesky."
"The mayor?" asked Mason.
"No, no," replied Machesky, "I am merely the voice of the local businesses in our town."
"Chosen by the rest of you?" he asked.
Ryant nodded.
That's a start. Somebody they actually want to lead them, Mason thought.
"Not sure what I can do for you, Nolan. My people are gonna be out of here just as soon as get our ship patched up."
"Yes, yes, Ryant has told me. But we have also heard from Mr Kaper about what you did for him and his daughter. We have been looking for someone like you for the last five years."
"Like me?"
"Someone who will stand up to Volkov and his thugs."
"Hey, I just helped them out because I was there, and that's how it went down."
"Please, Mr Mason. Can't you see what is happening here?" pleaded one of the women.
He turned and looked around at the people.
"There are thieves on every world. Seems to me you don't have it so bad. Your trade is going well. You have good clothes and are well fed. You got it better than many."
"Mr Mason," called Nolan, "we are not a charity case. This is not some poor village pleading for help. We only want what is rightfully ours, and we're willing to pay good money for those who are willing to secure that for us."
"Go on."
"The business owners of this town will offer you ten million credits to solve our problem with Michael Volkov..."
Mason was silenced by the proposition.
"Ten?" he asked.
"Yes, with a down payment of one million to retain your services. We will, however, reclaim our money from your accounts, should you leave with our money before the job is done."
"Hang on. You're telling me your offering ten mil to do this job, and nobody has taken you up yet?"
Nolan shook his head.
It already feels too good to be true.
"And why is that?" he added.
Nolan took a deep breath and began to answer when Mason interrupted.
"No bullshit now. I want the truth if you want me to even consider this."
"Michael Volkov is a very dangerous man with substantial resources. We are offering a lot of money, but at a big risk to yourself in doing so."
He turned to Erin and could see she wanted him to say yes, as did the entire crowd before him.
"I don't take jobs on a whim, and I am not suicidal. If you want us to consider this, you will provide us with an accurate assessment of what it is you want and what we face. Until that happens, I will not commit to anything. Accurate outlines of this Volkov's resources, troops, weapons, vehicles. His allies and threats we are likely to face. I want maps of his facilities, and a history of his encounters with you over the last year. You get all that to me, and I'll talk it over with my crew, but I'm not promising anything."
"Thank you, Mr Mason. I will have everything you asked for assembled presently and dispatched to you this afternoon."
Mason nodded in agreement and walked out of the room. Several of the people patted him on the shoulder when he walked by as if he were their saviour. He continued on and out the door, with Ryant following close behind.
"Ten mil for a protection job. This Volkov ain't no normal bastard, is he? It's bad, isn't it?" asked Mason.
Ryant nodded in agreement.
"I won't lie. You'd have to have balls of solid steel to take the job."
Mason knew that was a challenge, but he would not bite.
"So you'll think about it?" he asked.
"No, I'll have a look over the info, if and when it gets to me, then I'll think about it."
"That's all we ask."
"Mmm," Mason muttered as he turned and left.
"Is that what you were expecting?" Erin asked as they walked back to Mily.
"One of two possibilities."
"How so?"
"When you get bastards muscling in on towns like this, they come in two forms. Loud mouthed arrogant lowlifes who use words and a little violence to present the image of being a real threat, and then there's the real threat. The man who has the knowledge, the resources, and the power to be the son of a bitch the other types only wish they could be."
"And you think Volkov is the latter?"
"The fact he isn't getting his hands dirty doing this is a pretty good indication."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Exactly what I said I would. We'll continue to patch the ship up, and if they get that information to us, we'll talk about it."
"You'd walk away from ten million credits?"
"I'll walk away with my life."
As they boarded the copter, Mason noticed a marshal questioning people in the street just outside the Digger, which was still shut. The man was getting little assistance from the locals, and he already knew what the subject of his visit would be. The marshal turned and glared at them as the rotors fired up. Mason pretended not to see him and pulled away, making a quick but not obviously rushed exit.
"Something to do with you?"
"Surely will be, Erin."
"You make friends everywhere you go, don't you?"
He smiled back with a cheesy grin.
They got back to the ship and found Andrews and Mitchell hard at work. Liu had joined them and left Hella on guard duty, which she seemed to never grow weary of. Liu passed up a component to Mitchell as they came to a standstill beside the landing site.
"Eager to leave, Liu?" Mason asked, jumping from the copter.
"Never wanted to be here to begin with."
"And yet this is where fate brought us," replied Erin.
"Fate? It wasn't fate that shot up our engines."
"Mmm," she muttered, turning her attention to Hella who sat atop the hull of the Foxy Lady. She had a pop up shelter assembled to give her cover from the sun and sat up there in the shade like a statue.
"She been up there long?"
"Maybe since you were gone," replied Liu.
"You think you can trust her?"
"Why, because she has a weird dress sense and tattoos? Her look offend you, Erin?" asked Mason.
"Maybe. She looks on edge, is all."
"You start telling some truths about your existence, and I'll start pushing her for some of hers," he replied.
It shut her up immediately.
"So what did the townsfolk want?"
"About what we figured, Liu. Muscle to help with a local problem."
"Don't tell me you're considering it?"
Mason looked surprised. "I'd have thought you of all people would want to help."
"Can't save the whole universe. I did my good deed of the week saving this one," he responded, pointing to Erin.
"Your chivalry has no boundaries, I see?"
"We all have boundaries, Erin. If we'd known about this job before we got here, and had time to think it over in the right frame of mind, I'd say it was worth at least a conversation, but I don't like thin
gs being thrown in our laps like this."
Mason went quiet for a moment, looking around the barren landscape and thinking it over.
"We'll bring it to the table and discuss it once the sun is down."
Liu shook his head, but he knew he had to accept Mason's command. Mason sat out for the rest of the afternoon, enjoying the sun. He had no clue how to help with the mechanics and engineering required to fix the ship. Finally, Mitchell paced up to him to take a rest. He was dripping in sweat and covered in dirt and dust. He looked down at Mason sitting with his feet up and a cool box of beer next to him.
“I thought you hated this heat?”
Mason smiled. “Turns out it ain’t so bad when you don’t have to work in it.”
Mitchell leant down and took a bottle from the box.
“If you say so.”
“How’s it going?”
“Andrews has sworn at the old girl more times than I can remember, but he’s making solid progress. Tell you what, it’s just as well we have him. I’ve known a lot of engineers, and not many could handle what he can.”
“Yeah, well the Boss always knew who was right to hire and who wasn’t.”
“About that…”
He popped open his beer and took a sip, leaving Mason hanging.
“Well, for God’s sake speak up.”
He gestured subtlety towards Hella, still sitting under the small half shelter atop the ship.
“Seems a few days ago we had a veteran crew of solid old timers. Now we got two young girls, neither of which will be honest about who the hell they are.”
“Well, we all have elements of our past we’d rather not share.”
“Maybe…”
“Maybe? Hell you’re not even cleared to fly anymore. We break the law every time we fly with you at the con. We all expect to be given a little leeway while we continue to be there for each other.”
“And I appreciate that, I really do. The Boss gave me more chances than I ever deserved, but let’s not forget why he did. I’m one of the best goddamn pilots you’ll ever meet. What have these girls got, beyond a bad attitude and a bundle of secrets?”
“Name one among us who is perfect? That one more than handled herself in that bar. She’s got a confidence and resolve like few others. And Erin, she can shoot as good as the best of us.”
“You mean you?”
Maniacs: 01 - The Krittika Conflict Page 7