The Starhawk Chronicles

by Joseph J. Madden

  Kahr rose to his full height, muscles tensing with the action. He glanced in Rahk’s direction, and for a span of heartbeats, Rahk thought he saw genuine fear in his brother’s eyes. Kahr was impulsive and reckless, but not stupid. Gall’s fighting abilities had been nothing compared to those of Charris. There was every possibility that if they were to do battle, Charris would be handing Rahk his brother’s head this time around.

  “Can I help you Bu’kel?” Kahr responded, his tone cocksure, but Rahk knew his brother would be sweating, if Kleezha had sweat glands.

  “You killed my brother. I want to know just one thing. Did he die in honorable combat?”

  Rahk’s eyebrows rose in surprise; saw Kahr’s do the same. His brother hesitated, stunned by the lack of a challenge. Finally, finding his voice, he spoke truthfully. “He died well.”

  Charris held his stance a moment, considering Kahr’s words, then relaxing his posture as he found the truth behind them. “Then you do his memory honor. There will be no retribution.”

  With no further word, Charris turned and vacated the bridge. Everyone was staring in silence at the bewildered Kahr. He turned to Rahk, his mouth moving, but no words coming out. Then he, too, left the bridge.

  *

  “Del Loora,” Jesse said, watching the lights of the spaceport grow nearer in the viewport. “Man, I hate this place.”

  “Don’t complain. At least there’s no blizzard this time,” Kym observed. “Remember?”

  “Who could forget?” He looked over to Kayla to explain. “It seems like every time we come to this place, it’s in the middle of some meteorological catastrophe. The last time we came in during a blizzard with 300 kilometer-per-hour winds. Wind shear was unbelievable. We didn’t land, we were pushed onto the ground. It took three weeks just to rebuild the landing gear.”

  “I’ve got spaceport control online, Jesse,” Podo interrupted. “What name are we going under this time?”

  “Try Witch of Endor. We haven’t used that one in a while.” Podo nodded and began conversing with the spaceport tower.

  “Witch of Endor?” Kayla asked.

  Podo took it upon himself to explain this time. “Del Loora has more than its share of the usual spaceport snoops. Those same ones that would sell out Lotha to us would turn right around and warn him that we were coming.” He paused, listening to the voice coming in through his earpiece. “We’re cleared for docking bay forty-nine on the southern side.”

  K’Tran and Morogo brought the ship in low, banking to follow the outskirts of the city, arching around the battered tower of the abandoned Galaxy Arms hotel, until they were hovering over the designated landing bay. With a groan of worn landing gear, they set the ship down.

  After the ship was secure, they retrieved their gear, meeting by the hatchway ready-room. A cool, damp breeze that smelled mildly of engine coolant and exhaust blew up the ramp.

  Jesse took his twin holster from K’Tran, strapping it around his waist. “We know Lotha has an interest in one of the three main casinos here, so we’re going to split into three groups to cover each of them. K’Tran and Podo take the Hydra. Kym and Morogo will take the Armitage. Karson and I will try the Helix. Bokschh stays here to monitor. Keep your comm frequencies open, but don’t make any transmissions unless absolutely necessary. If we should spot Lotha, we don’t want him getting spooked and running off before we get the chance to question him.”

  The others all nodded and began checking their weapons. Karson came up beside Jesse whispering, “We’re together? You still want to keep an eye on me?”

  “On the contrary, I want you to keep an eye on me.” He gave her a wry grin. “Besides, you’re not known to either Lotha’s men or any of the Nexus Gang’s informers. If you’re the one asking questions and not me, they’re less likely to get suspicious.”

  “Gotcha,” Karson answered, checking the power levels on her sidearm, then holstering it. Morogo came over and handed her a long hooded cloak. He handed Jesse his jacket along with what looked like an earplug and a small, triangular microchip. “What’s all that?”

  “This,” Jesse said, taking the earplug and placing it inside his left ear, “is what we use when whipping out our commbands isn’t the most discreet thing to do. A sub-vocal receiver. Newest thing on the market. You’ll be able to hear everything that’s transmitted, but no one else can.” Taking the microchip, he pinned it under his shirt collar. “This is the transmitter. Just tap and talk.”

  “Very clever. Will I be able to get them in the stores at Christmas?”

  Jesse ignored the comment. “The cloaks are for camouflage. We’ll blend in better if we dress like the locals.”

  Kayla snorted, looking past him, over his shoulder. “Yeah, they’ll blend.”

  Jesse followed her line of sight to look at Morogo, whose cloak ended at his knees. His wide green claw feet jutted out a little too obviously. Beside him, Podo’s own cloak was dragging on the floor like a bridal train. “Good point,” Jesse conceded. “Maybe it will be best if you two don’t wear them.” With silent shrugs, they removed their costumes, Morogo gesturing at Jesse for him to come closer.

  Excusing himself, Jesse followed the Vor’na’cik further down the corridor until they were out of earshot. The two carried on an animated conversation for the next several minutes.

  Kayla sidled over next to Podo and K’Tran. “Is this what you were telling me about before?”

  K’Tran grunted. “They do this all the damn time. Drives us nuts that they never share with the rest of us.”

  “Drives you nuts.” Podo corrected. “The rest of us learned to deal with it years ago.”

  K’Tran gave the Warwick a scathing look. “Don’t sass me, please. I’m not in the mood.”

  “You’re never in the mood.”

  Kayla could see K’Tran readying a retort when Jesse and Morogo finally broke off their secret parley and rejoined them. “Everybody ready?”

  A questioning trill sounded from behind them, Jesse turning to see Sneaker hovering behind them, photoreceptor eyes trained intently on Jesse. “No Sneaker, you stay here. We’ll be all right.”

  Sneaker began sounding out a rebuttal, but Jesse held up a hand, cutting him off. “I said no!” The drone lowered its eyes, turning, and hovering off down the corridor, until he was out of sight.

  “Come on,” Jesse said. “I don’t want to lose any more time. You all know what to do. Good hunting.”

  They split into their respective groups and headed off into the dark city streets. No one noticed the tiny form of Sneaker zipping out of the Starhawk’s hatchway just before it closed, following at a distance.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Stepping through the entrance of the Hydra, K’Tran pushed back his hood, and paused to take in a long, deep breath. His eyes closed as he inhaled, and he took on a rapturous look. Slowly, he let out his breath and said, more to himself than to Podo, “I love the smell of a good casino.”

  Podo, for his part, was gagging on the pungent stench from the cigar of the Phalean who passed them on its way out. The loud clanging and whirring of the gaming machines assaulted his more sensitive ears, causing him to curl them shut, and the garish neon lighting painted everything a dusty shade of pink. “I never did see the attraction,” he said, waving a paw at the cloud of blue-gray smoke that refused to dissipate from near his face.

  “That’s the problem with the youth today,” K’Tran replied, making a preliminary scan of the smoky casino. He walked down the steps into the sunken gaming section as though he owned the place. “You don’t appreciate the old stuff anymore. Nowadays, your casinos have to be affiliated with big resorts with amusement centers and sim-rides and special attractions to entice you in. You forget that the primary reason casinos are established is gambling.” An attractive, scantily dressed cocktail waitress sauntered past, and both paused to look after her longingly.

  “I’m not saying they don’t have their merits!” Podo said, hurrying to catch up to
his friend, who was winding his way through the tables. Pausing near the screens along one wall, they made a show of watching the sporting events being broadcast, while covertly scanning the crowds.

  “Lotha has a preference for trigon poker. Check over that way,” K’Tran said just low enough for Podo to hear over the cheering and booing of the gamblers watching the screens.

  Podo tried to be discretely observant. Seeing nothing, he turned back in time to find K’Tran placing a bet on the screen before him. “What are you doing?”

  “Casino managers don’t take too kindly to people loitering around. Doesn’t much matter whether we’re on official business or not. I figure so long as I place at least one or two bets, they can’t say anything.”

  Podo accepted that explanation, although he knew K’Tran did suffer from a lack of willpower where gambling was concerned. “Well, I don’t see Lotha anywhere,” Podo said.

  “Keep looking,” K’Tran answered without taking his eyes off the screen before him.

  Podo continued scanning the patronage; his attentiveness waning as K’Tran’s had, becoming more caught up in the action around him. A Kammaran was hard to miss in a crowd, even with Podo’s distinct height disadvantage. He instead began paying more attention to the cocktail waitresses as they passed by. His attention was fixed on one in particular when she suddenly moved out of his line of sight.

  And on the raised walkway beyond the gaming pit, heading for the exit, was Betan Lotha.

  Podo grabbed K’Tran’s cloak, tugging furiously. “He’s there!” he stage whispered, pointing fervently in the direction of the exit.

  K’Tran tore his gaze away from the vid screens. “You’re right,” he said, reaching up to tab his communicator’s transmitter button. “This is K’Tran. We’ve spotted Lotha leaving the Hydra. Heading after him. Out.”

  Together they pushed through the crowds. Lotha was just at the doorway, stepping out into the street. Another few meters and they would be on him.

  At first, K’Tran thought he ran into a wall that magically appeared before him. Taking a step back, he saw that the wall had taken the form of a large bald man that leered at him through a gap-toothed grin. “Excuse me,” K’Tran said, trying to maneuver around the man. He found his arm clenched in a vise grip.

  “You didn’t apologize, little man.” The big baldy glared down at him, using his grip on his arm to force him back further.

  “Then I’m sorry you got in my way!” K’Tran shot back.

  The bald man shouted, swinging K’Tran into the wall. Podo moved to try a tackle, but the man kicked out with one leg, catching Podo in the stomach. He tumbled backwards, head over feet, and down the steps to the gaming pit.

  K’Tran regained his footing just as his assailant took another swing. He blocked the blow, gripping the arm in both hands. The bald man went for his throat with the other hand.

  “I do not have time for this!” K’Tran said, twisting out of his attacker’s grip and spinning him around. As Podo came running up the steps at full speed. Head lowered, he rammed the man in the stomach. The bald man’s breath exploded from his lungs and he sank to the floor in a wheezing heap.

  Before their assailant had finished his fall to the floor, the two of them burst out onto the street. “Who the hell was that guy?” Podo asked.

  “Who do you think?” K’Tran replied, looking up and down the street. “Has to be one of Lotha’s men!”

  It was still early in the evening, so the streets were not yet crowded. Podo saw a large form turning the corner off to their right. “That way!” he shouted.

  They ran at full tilt, knocking beings out of their way. Rounding the corner, they spied the Kammaran a few meters ahead. Dashing across the relatively empty street, K’Tran leapt onto the Kammarans back, with Podo following suit. The three of them went to the ground in a jumble of thrashing limbs.

  K’Tran got back to his feet, pulling his sidearm. “We’ve got some questions for you, Lotha.”

  “Lotha?” the Kammaran shouted back at him. K’Tran had a sudden terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach at the very high-pitched voice that replied. “Who in Restack’s name is Lotha?”

  The Kammaran got to its feet, towering a full head above K’Tran. Podo was still down, gasping pathetically, when the Kammaran stood up and purposely stepped on him. It was then that K’Tran noticed the one distinguishing feature that neither he nor Podo could notice from behind.

  The Kammarans breasts.

  “Oh, Zooth!” K’Tran stammered, feeling quite low on the food chain at that moment. “I am so sorry. Mistaken identity. It won’t happen again.” He swallowed hard, “Ma’am.”

  The offended Kammaran made a loud hummpph, and started back on her way, but not before knocking Podo back to the ground again.

  Podo looked up at K’Tran through tired eyes. “I really wish people would stop doing that.”

  “Serves you right,” K’Tran replied, glaring down at him and shaking his head in disgust. “Didn’t you notice it was a female?”

  “The one I saw was not a female!” Podo protested. “If you hadn’t been so busy watching that stupid gaming board, you would have noticed it too!”

  K’Tran was no longer listening. He tabbed on his communicator. “This is K’Tran. False alarm. It wasn’t Lotha at the Hydra.”

  Kym and Morogo came running around the corner, stopping short upon hearing his announcement. Approaching slowly, Kym had an annoyed look on her face. “Don’t ask,” K’Tran said before she could open her mouth.

  “We just stopped in at the Hydra. The chief of security wants to see you two zipheads. Something about you starting a small riot and then running out,” Kym said. “There was also something about you placing a bet on some gladiator game? They said your winnings are waiting for you.”

  “Your winnings?” Podo asked. “You won on that bet?”

  “I guess so,” K’Tran replied. “Well, ain’t that a kick in the head?”

  *

  Pausing at the doorway to the Helix, Jesse listened to the report coming in on his sub-vocal receiver, then gave a tired sigh.

  “Problems?” Kayla asked, standing to one side to allow other patrons to pass.

  “K’Tran thought they had our target spotted. Ended up attacking some poor Kammaran woman. We’ll be lucky if we get off-planet without having a complaint filed against us with the Hunters Guild.”

  Kayla could not keep her grin in check. “You have to worry about a report. I’m not with the Guild, remember?”

  Jesse gave her a withering glare, but she returned it with full force. “Don’t be a wiseass, please,” he groaned. “I’m not in the best of moods.”

  She smiled, looping her arm through his. “Well Captain, you and I still have some work to do. Now be a gentleman and escort me into this fine establishment.”

  The charm worked to soften Jesse’s mood. Arm in arm, they stepped through the Helix’s entryway. They passed through a long tunnel with multi-color neon lights arching across the top that flashed rainbow patterns all the way into the main casino. Helix was the largest of the casinos in Del Loora and was certainly the most opulent. The lighting, sound system, and games were all state-of-the-art. The main casino stretched so far back that it was difficult to see the other side.

  “Feel a little out-classed?” Kayla asked, watching several well-dressed couples pass by. “Hell, even the cocktail waitresses here are dressed better than we are.”

  “Believe me. The ones that run this show don’t give a damn what you look like so long as you leave your money behind,” Jesse replied.

  Kayla inclined her head to her left. “Trigon poker’s over that way.”

  “Lead the way, Beautiful,” Jesse said.

  *

  “That’s Forster,” Betan Lotha said, watching the young hunter as he passed beneath the mirrored windows of the raised security office. “Who’s the female?”

  The security officer to his side shrugged as he checked the datapad i
n his hand. “She’s not on their crew roster.”

  “Must be the independent that helped them out in the Melarii system.” Lotha sipped at his chalice of luzulla blood. “No matter. We will take her down as well. I’m sure Rahk will pay handsomely for her capture after she spoiled his fun. Have the men make their move.”

  *

  “I don’t see anyone even remotely resembling a Kammaran,” Kayla said. “You know, it is possible that your pal Dancer could have been wrong.”

  Jesse shook his head. “Not likely. Dancer has some of the best info-hounds in his pocket. If Lotha did go off-planet, we didn’t miss him by much.”

  Turning in place, he scanned the crowds to spot anyone even remotely connected to Lotha or the Nexus Gang. All he saw were gamblers and more gamblers, and some security personnel.

  Then it struck him. There were way too many security guards present and all were watching him, making their way slowly but directly through the crowds towards them. “Lotha’s here.”

  Kayla looked confused. “You see him?”

  “No, but he’s seen us. He’s sending us a welcoming party,” he replied, pointing out the advancing guards. “Do you see any way out?”

  From the corner of his eye, he saw her survey the scene, the shake of her head. “No,” she said, her hand going for her sidearm. He grabbed her wrist. “Too many innocents around. We can’t take the chance of anyone getting hurt.”

  He felt her tense, ready to make an argument, but to his relief, she kept quiet. The last thing he wanted was for her to pull some crazy stunt in a place like this.

  The guards had them encircled now. Moving slowly, trying to make his movements seem natural, he reached under his jacket to activate the call button on his commband. The nearest guard caught the movement, drawing his sidearm. Jesse dropped his hands back to his sides.

  “The owners want a word with you, Forster,” the guard said.

  Their communicators and weapons were confiscated, then the guards led them off towards the rear of the casino and out an emergency exit into the alley beyond. Jesse looked over at Kayla, now half-hoping that she would not keep quiet, but she only followed along obediently.