"I'd like to take the Major over to see Thirty Seven tomorrow."
"Sure, Hal. Do you know what you're going to find there?" Hal shrugged.
"All I know is the old man asked me to take his precious little princess over there." He turned his grey eyes towards Delta Ten, who stood to attention nearby. "You know anything else about it, Android?"
"No Mr Hal. That is all the General said." Hal lifted his eyes in Erion's direction.
"Major, I'll take you to see Thirty Seven tomorrow if that's okay with you?"
"Of course it is," she answered. "What is this Thirty Seven? Is it nearby? I have never heard of it."
"You wouldn't have, My Lady," said Tranter softly. Starfire risked a quick glance across at Raan. He was risking a quick glance across at her and their eyes met knowingly. It was obvious to them at least, that Erion and Tranter were fast becoming more than acquaintances.
"Thirty Seven is not a what, it's a who. He runs an outlaw haunt," began Hal, "where murderers and thieves go to spend their money." He was unnecessarily blunt.
"Wait a minute," began Raan with rising excitement. "The Cantina. You mean the Cantina!"
"That's what you'd know it as," admitted Hal.
"The Marines and the Police have been trying to find that place for years," said Erion. "How did my father know about it?"
"He didn't know where it was," began Hal, "but he knew how to get a message there. He rated a lot of respect or he wouldn't have been trusted."
"You all keep saying you know my father," blurted Erion. "He would never consort with …." she tailed off, looking at Hal who gave a wry smile.
"Lady, you have a lot to learn about this galaxy."
"Believe me, Mr Hal, I don't intend to stay on this side of the fence for very long, I can tell you," said Erion, stiffly. Hal and Tranter exchanged looks.
"You're naïve," stated Hal. He was stopped by a warning head shake from Tranter. The lithe engineer took her hand in his own.
"Erion," he began, looking deep into her eyes. "Like Hal says, you have a lot to learn about the big world out there." He took her empty glass from her hand and placed it back on the hover trolley. "Come here, sit down." He gently pushed her unresisting form onto the couch. "It isn't you; the fault lies with the Marines. They take you when you're kids and bring you up in a way that separates you from the rest of the galaxy. Maybe Raan knows a little of what goes on outside, but there's corruption, extortion, murder, bribery. All of this has been acceptable in the Marines and the Police for years, and it's been getting worse. Your dad knew this, and he was killed because he tried to do something about it. Nooran was a good man too and his death has spelled the end of everything good about the ruling administration. Don't you see, the corruption goes right to the top now. I know you love the Marines but we must be able to trust you."
"You can trust me," she blurted out.
"Lady, I need your solemn oath not to betray the whereabouts of the Cantina to the authorities." Starfire shot a look towards Tranter and bit back a retort about the encoded messages until she had a little more proof. She smiled and pasted a look of polite interest on her face.
"Very well," Erion instantly came to a decision. "Since it is obvious that you will not take me unless you have it, my word is given that I will not betray the whereabouts of your criminal outpost."
"A Marine's word is good enough for me," said Tranter. He looked up, "Hal?"
"We'll leave first thing tomorrow," he confirmed.
"While you're gone, I'll make a start on your ship." He looked at Raan and Starfire. "You guys can give me a hand."
"Sure," answered Raan. He stood up. "I'm going to turn in." He drained his champagne glass, placed it on the trolley and the others followed suit.
In their quarters, Starfire and Erion lay on their bunks looking up at the ceiling.
"What a week!" sighed Starfire.
"You said it, Lieutenant." They lay in silence with their own thoughts for a moment, then Erion turned on her side to face Starfire.
"What do you think of Tranter?" she asked.
"I don't know, Major. He's a little crazy. Do you know he told me he flipped a coin to decide whether to save us or not." Starfire took a deep breath. "I wouldn't get too close to him if I were you. We hardly know the guy."
"I trust him," smiled Erion, then her face hardened. "Lieutenant, so much has happened to me in the last few days, I can't believe it. The Marines was my whole life and now it's gone."
"Mine too," admitted Starfire. "I never thought someone like me could fit into this crazy galaxy any other way, but I've met Hal and Tranter and they seem to get along okay in it. Tranter's right, we have a hell of a lot to learn." Erion nodded.
"I think I'm going to learn a lot more tomorrow." She yawned and said, "Computer, lights down to ten percent." The lighting dimmed and they turned over in their bunks and went to sleep.
Chapter 13
"All set?" asked Hal, as he and Erion sat in Jemmi's little planet hopper.
"I'm ready if you are."
"Disengage," ordered Hal. The Planet Hopper broke free from the station arm and drifted slowly away. He engaged the thrusters and the little ship weaved in and out of the floating hulks with ease.
"You never told us you could pilot a ship," said Erion in a slightly accusing tone.
"You never asked," grunted Hal.
"This is going to be a really fun trip," she muttered under her breath.
"Sarcasm from you, Major. Whatever is the galaxy coming to?"
"What's our heading?" she asked, refusing to be drawn into verbal banter. Hal leaned over her and punched the course into the computer. "No hyperspace," she remarked. "It's in this sector then?"
"You'll find out soon enough," began Hal, "but if we wanted, we could be there and back in less than two days."
"Oh," answered Erion softly. She lifted her head slightly to gaze across at the readout from the little navicom screen in front of Hal. They seemed to be headed for a very large asteroid field and their course was plotted straight towards the endless wall of rocks. She turned in her seat to face him.
"You can't mean to fly straight into that?"
"Why not?" he countered, "that's where we're going." He grinned as the realisation dawned. "That's the Marine's weakness," he stated. Erion was pleased to note that he did not seem to lump her in with them now. Everything has always been worked out for them, from the Academy right up to their pensioning off. They've never been desperate enough to want to hide in an asteroid field so they never thought of looking there." Hal chose his words with care. "Marines are the armies; the tactical arm of the Federation. They fight wars, bring back trophies and call it peacekeeping. If a planet can't defend itself against attack, that's tough luck on them. The Galactic Police, now they're another story. They're supposed to keep order on a planetary scale and answer to the Federation, but they're corrupt."
"We're not overly fond of them ourselves you know," answered Erion in surprise. Hal had spoken more in that sentence than in the previous four days all together. Perhaps he was shy in company, she thought to herself, then immediately dismissed the concept. "They seemed a good idea at the start of the Federation, when we needed order and justice, but things have become out of control. They have too much power now."
"They control more than you think," stated Hal, flatly. He busied himself with piloting the little ship and Erion soon became bored watching the unchanging star map and fidgeted in her seat. The little hopper had no sleeping quarters but the twin seats were designed for great comfort. Erion tilted her seat back, stretched out as much as she could in the padded co pilot's couch and turned her head sideways to watch the tall Terrellian as he piloted the hopper with ease. His hair, she noticed, was fair and it curled very slightly at the ends. Aurians had strong hair that rarely lost its copper colour and his looked unusually pale and wispy. Now she was getting used to it, his skin didn't look as sickly and pale. It had a slight copper tinge to it that was probably
due to some sort of ultra violet exposure. It was his eyes that fascinated her though. They were dull, grey, expressionless eyes that gave nothing away of the thoughts that must lie beneath. The only time they showed any emotion was when he had killed Dolton Blass. Then they glinted like polished steel…
"Cantina Control, this is Planet Hopper Jemmi One. Come in please." Erion jerked upright at the sudden words. Her neck ached and she realised she had been asleep. She stretched in the co pilot's seat and rubbed her shoulder, rolling her head around to ease the nagging cramp that had developed. Hal piloted the craft straight towards the wall of massive rocks and slowed to a near stop. The boulders looked large, menacing and stretched away in all directions as far as she could see. A glance at her wrist link showed Erion that over four hours had passed but the gunman looked calm and refreshed.
"This is Cantina Control, Jemmi One." The disembodied voice sounded calm and competent. "What is your status, over?"
"Requesting assisted passage through the field. Over?"
"Please transmit your recognition code and disengage your navi-computer." Hal did so and brought the ship to a halt as they approached the outer edge of the asteroids. Huge boulders and many smaller rocks formed a wall in front of them that seemed to stretch forever but there were many huge gaps between the revolving asteroids. Erion wisely kept silent and waited until a small asteroid left the throng and floated towards them. It halted in front of them and emitted a pulsing green light every five seconds or so.
"This is Little Rock Thirteen. We confirm your navi-com is off line."
"Thank you, Little Rock. Take us to The Cantina. Over and out." The small boulder backed away from them and entered the asteroid field. The pulsing light was easy to spot and Hal guided their little ship into the rocky maze behind it. There were many twists and turns and Erion guessed the route was deliberately elaborate. Their path had been cleared of smaller boulders and was wide enough to take a freighter with care but it would have been virtually impossible to find a way through without a guide or programmed co-ordinates. Erion stared out of the front windscreen, lost in her own thoughts. She had no idea what was waiting for her at this Cantina, but what was more frightening was the truth of Hal's words.
Her life was no longer ordered. Erion was a career soldier. She went where she was told to go and carried out her orders when she got there. Life took care of itself. Erion was proud of her Marine career. She was Highborn and could have done anything she wanted, but had chosen to be in the Marines like her father. Now Hal's words caused her to think again. Of course there was corruption and violence among certain quarters; her stint as Erion Dune on the mining colonies had taught her that much. The Marines and the Police did as good a job of maintaining order as anyone could, she was sure of that; or she had been sure until four days ago. Hal broke into her thoughts.
"We're here."
Erion looked down at a small planet that quickly grew larger as they approached. "Do you think I should have worn my uniform?" she asked him. He shot her a withering glance that left her feeling terribly naïve. She didn't like the alien feeling. She was used to being in command and didn't like the sensation of feeling out of her depth. To hide her confusion, she made a great pretence of peering downward at the small haphazard patch of uninteresting buildings that came into view as Hal brought the hopper in to land. The base looked to Erion's practised eye like many a small, provincial Starport in the outer sections. There was a central hub, surrounded by well lit landing pads. These all carried universal docking hatches, which linked the pads to the main building with aircar tubes.
Hal asked for permission to land and headed for one of the pads that lit up for him. He engaged the landing thrusters and dropped slowly, placed the craft with great care on a surprisingly modern looking pad and cut the engines with a grateful sigh. It was the only sign he gave that the trip had been any strain on him and it passed as soon as it came. Erion realised that she was beginning to read him better. As a Marine, she could handle any potentially dangerous situation that came her way. She could navigate a class six Battle Cruiser across the galaxy and she could command a crack troop of soldiers with confidence but she didn't know people. Ordinary people baffled her and she suddenly realised that she despised them for their normality. At first, she had intensely disliked Hal. She told herself it was revulsion at his chosen profession but she was beginning to realise that it was a little racial prejudice mixed with a lot of jealousy. Somehow, she knew that Hal had known a part of her father that she had never been allowed to see.
There was a slight jolt as the umbilical connected with the hatch on the side of the hopper and they both slid their seats back and stood up. Their hatch opened to reveal a short corridor with an aircar door at the other end. They walked quickly to it and Hal passed his hand over the call pad. The door opened straight away and a short ride brought them out into a large, circular room. It looked very much like the lobby of a fashionable hotel or Starport. It was ringed by several shop fronts, cafes and aircar doors. Hal walked straight up to the centre desk, spoke briefly to one of the young women behind it and motioned Erion over to his side. She knew the drill and placed her palm on the pad held out to her. This was standard check-in procedure, and now she was checked in, waving her hand across various screens or doors would allow her access to certain rooms and order goods and services.
Check-in sorted, they walked to an aircar door with a green light above it and Hal waved his palm across the call pad. It wasn't long before a car arrived and they stepped inside. Hal punched a code into the little pad by the door and it set off. They sat facing each other in silence while the little globe weaved its way through the tunnels on a downward course. In less than a minute, it stopped and opened its door upon a scene that Erion would always remember with pleasure.
The room was discreetly and tastefully lit; soft, multi coloured lighting interspersed with the pale yellow glow from dozens of small table lamps. Gently perfumed air was overlaid by a faint scent of fruity cigar smoke that drifted unseen in the large restaurant. The walls were of panelled mahogany with brass mounted mirrors and wall lights. The plaintive strains of Valasian jazz filtered through the sounds of people talking softly, with the odd burst of polite laughter, as they enjoyed a meal at the many scattered tables. The centre of the room was taken up by a small dance floor where a few couples swayed gently to the music. It could have been a classy club in any corner of the galaxy, mused Erion, as she strolled behind Hal to the mahogany bar that ran the length of the back wall. She could see now why he had scorned the suggestion of her changing into her uniform for, although she could see at least three separate groups of Marines, they were certainly not on active duty. In fact, if any of them had turned up in her unit looking like that, she would have had them thrown in the brig.
"Hal!" said the plump little waitress behind the bar, "long time no see."
"Thirty Seven in?" Hal wasted no time in idle chatter, but the girl's smile stayed across her features as if glued there.
"He's running a big Pan game in the back."
"Tell him I'm here with a Lady." Hal placed special emphasis on the last word, which caused the waitress to take a curious look at Erion.
"I'll go tell him," she muttered, turning away.
"Hey, you!" Hal glanced up towards the large, brass bar mirror to see three unshaven Aurians walking towards them. The rest of the customers sidled away from the bar to watch as the three men stopped, forming a rough semi circle in front of Hal and Erion. They wore the remnants of Aurian Marine uniform but their insignia were all from different units. They were either deserters or renegades.
"You came in Tranter's Planet Hopper," the middle one snarled, watching Hal's face carefully. The man on his right scanned the room in the reflection of the bar mirror, while the other fixed Erion with a leer.
"Well spotted," said Hal, softly. He turned to face the three men and leaned his elbows on the brass rail that ran the length of the bar. "Now if that's all you wa
nted to say...."
"You're Hal aren't you?" the first man cut in. He wiped a grimy hand across his mouth. "There's a big fifty on your head, mister."
"Hey," called a grizzled old bartender from further along the bar. "There's a rule here about bounties. Nobody tries for 'em and if anybody dies here, the house collects."
"Stay outa this!" snapped the leader of the trio. He lurched and belched loudly, the fetid smell of his drunken breath reaching Erion. She tensed by Hal's side, her hand hanging loosely by the flap of her holster. She wasn't practised in the art of the fast draw but she was trained to Marine standards in the use of her pistol. With a little luck she might take one of them out."
"It's okay, Orlando," Hal answered the old man but didn't take his narrowed eyes off the three Aurians in front of him. "Erion, get out of the way." Hal straightened up and moved forward slightly, looking calm and relaxed. His left hand hung down at his side, the fingers of his right hand just brushing the butt of his blaster in its open topped, black leather holster. He repeated his words to Erion without looking away from the men.
"Yeah, do like he says, Erion!" sneered the smallest man. He stood directly in front of her and wore the uniform of a Marine corporal but it was heavily soiled and the jacket was from a different unit to the battered cap on the back of his head. Erion pegged him as her mark. She hated renegades.
"You figure to try for the bounty on my head, mister?" Hal's voice was hardly more than a whisper and Erion prepared to make her move. She knew from experience that when Hal spoke softly, he was making ready for the kill.
"There's three of us to your one, Hal. I don't care how good you are, you can't get all of us before one of us downs you. Hal didn't answer but just stood facing the three men, his hands hanging loosely by his sides. The small man began to sweat more heavily and did not look as sure of himself.
"We gonna take him, Stacey?"
"Naah…" answered the leader, turning away, "he's too good for us, Joey." He suddenly spun around to face Hal, his gun drawn and ready. It was a well practised move and had worked before but this time they were facing someone who was ready for them. Hal shot the tall man through the heart, the sonic blast ripping a hole the size of a man's fist in his chest. The charge dissipated quickly as the gun was set for killing close up but it still picked up the luckless Stacey and flung him across the dance floor. Chairs, tables and dining paraphernalia went flying as people leapt out of his path. The other two were not as fast as their leader and Hal had time to pick his shots with care. Both men fell with wounds to their arms, their guns still in hands that were blasted across the room. All this had taken just over a second, Hal's blaster was back in its holster and Erion's hand was still on its way to her gun. Like most of the other people in the room, she was stunned into inability at the speed and accuracy of the cold eyed gunman's shooting.
Starfire at Traitors Gate Page 15