by Jay Toney
At first we were left in complete darkness with only the red glow around the boat to give us illumination. Then we came to alcoves of hard working imps mining the cave under the watch of demons, snapping their whips. Then we were led to alcoves full of succubus and incubus demons promising their services for a price. We finally arrived at a great lake. One side had drunk demons and imp firing cannon across the lake towards invading archangels. The archangels were fighting a loosing battle, firing their arrows, falling well short of the demons and imps, but not us. The arrows splashed into the water just feet away. After passing through this mock battle, our boat dove, splashing water all around us. Then we were back in the light. I never noticed our gain in elevation or going through the various locks it would take to do it. It was a very impressive ride.
It was impossible to see all of the attractions To Hell and Gone had to offer in just one day. We all agreed that we would comeback every few days until we had seen it all.
Red wanted a meeting to talk about our options. I for one, wanted to continue on, searching for the star bridge. I had no idea what it was, and only new that it was on the fringe near Antares. I had fond memories of that planet from the last time Doc and I were raiding systems in that sector. The last time we were there, we over threw the Alliance presence on the planet. It was also the last time I crashed my marauder, after it was shot apart by an Alliance gunboat.
"Nathaniel, we found so few, only 48 survivors between the Falcon and the Gryphon. I don't see any need to go on. We may as well settle here in the Hades System."
"I never thought I would hear you quit a mission."
"The mission is over."
"Only one part of it. We still have to find out what the star bridge is, and if we can still use it. I am going to continue on. I thought that we, being family, would stick together."
"If you think its still worthwhile, I'll stick with you."
"I don't have a choice. The Alliance will continue to hunt for me wherever I go, unless I find someplace where they can't follow. They have a death warrant and a bounty on me that few could resist."
"When do we leave?"
"Two weeks from now. I still have a lot more of this station to see."
"Got hooked good on To Hell and Gone, didn't you? Red remember the pact Nugget asked."
"I've got a private berth for you aboard the Vengeance. You can move your belongings aboard anytime you want."
"What's this about a pact?"
"Nugget agreed to help me, if ever I was in trouble. In exchange I was to take him with me, wherever I traveled afterwards."
"I guess he got the better part of the deal."
"Nugget is Keshian."
"What does that mean?"
"To start with he is a changeling. He can change into any form he wants, but he hasn't changed or aged a day since I saw him last. He also doesn't do anything half way. Whatever his interest is, you can bet it will be a success. Just look at what he did to the space station, and how he operates it."
"What he did with it is beyond belief. Why give it up?"
"His interests lay elsewhere. This was just a hobby to pass the time."
"I plan on spending the rest of the two weeks visiting as much of the station as I can. I recommend you visit To Hell and Gone and The Devils Kitchen while you can."
I found Nugget. This time he was a little more hospitable to me. If we were going to bring the Falcon and Griffin along they would need some serious upgrades. We couldn't bring their crew along without their ships. There wasn't enough room. I also wanted him to look into making some replicators for the our ships. It was a new technology for him, and a challenge he wouldn't be able to refuse. I turned over copies of the knowledge the Iniguar translated from the Reptilian Fleet, and also the replication data that the Iniguar were working on. He promised that if it could be done, he was the person to do it. I left the details in his hands, wanting to see more of what Hell had to offer before it was time to leave.
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Coming Soon
Star Bridge
Other books by J. A. Toney:
Space Rogue
Alliance Gold
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