Owsee said, "your power is sure a timesaver."
I said, "yes, but I hope no one saw me."
Owsee, "it's still early, people are not out yet."
I said, "I still want to keep this thing a secret as long as I can."
Owsee, "the people of the town know you have a power, the only secret is that you have the telekinetic enhancer."
I said, "and that is what I want to keep a secret. It could be a temptation for someone to try to take it away from me. And in the wrong hands, while I don't even want to think about it."
We got on the ship and power her up. The thrusters sounded smooth and strong.
I asked Owsee if he wanted to take the controls. He said, "no, I think I'll leave this one is up to you."
So I pulled up, over the containers, set down lightly on top and engage the clamps. I lifted them up in a smooth motion, and we were off.
Owsee, "I have never seen it done better before. With moves like that, you could work anywhere. It's no wonder the guild gave you a free ticket."
I said, "work -- yes, live -- no. And there is a lot more to life than how you spend your time working."
Owsee, "that's so true, but most of us never get past the, I need a job part."
Then he pointed out where the mountains sloped at the edge of the hidden lake. He said that was where I needed to put the nose of the big ship to take on water.
Owsee, "and I want you to take each of the three stations a full 2500 units of water each."
I said, "but if I take them that much they will not have room to take on their full shipment when the CM tankers come, they will be onto us."
Owsee, "yes, but I want them to know they can no longer hold the stations hostage with a little water. Do you know why they called the dock workers RATS?"
I said, "yes it stands for, “Rough And Tarnished Souls.”
Owsee, "that's right, yet most of them would not commit a crime just to get off the station. If you find a dockworker, or he finds you, that wants to leave, please feel free to bring them here. We can get them jobs in the city without a problem. Or maybe a transport back to their home world if they like."
I said, "if I start taking dockworkers they will be on me in a day. You know it is illegal to give any station worker that has a contract with the CM an unauthorized ride."
Owsee, "the Mining Guild protects the minors but there is no protection or rights for the station workers. That's why they treat them like slaves."
I said, "there should be a dock workers Union."
Owsee, "the CM would never allow it. They would just get new workers from overcrowded planet and give them what looked like a good contract. But when the workers get to the stations they find there is no one to stand up for their rights and no way out."
I said, "if the dockworkers could join up with the Miners Guild they would have the power to make it right."
Owsee yes, but the Mining Guild will not go that far. They make too much on the contracts they have with the CM. And there are just not enough dockworkers to make it work a strike."
I said, "I always thought it would give the guild more power. Dockworkers are the heart of any station. Without them ships don't move, and mines shut down. There is no water or food if the dockworker will not put it on a ship, and that's a line I would not want to cross."
Owsee, "you're right, and the workers have tried to unite themselves a number of times. Only to find themselves locked up for their troubles, or relocated to a place where no one ever heard from them again."
I said, "so the only way to make it better is to run a freedom ship, anyone that wants to leave can do so. That way the only thing the CM could do, to stop the workers from leaving, is to make it better."
Owsee, "you can get away with it once, but if you try it again they will hunt you down and blow you away."
I said, "that's the danger of trying to change things."
Owsee, "a little water from time to time they will overlook to some degree. Even a one-time dockworkers walk off to freedom, may not cause them to come after you. But they have many big, powerful ships, to enforce their will over the stations. You don't dare to keep showing up to take workers off. That's why even the crystal Pirates will not give the RATS a ride, they would hunt them down."
I said, "I can disable any ship that comes after me. But if they send more than one they may get off a few shots before I can shut them down. That's why I will need a ship that can take a some hits."
Owsee, "you want to build a warship?"
I said, "no, a freedom ship."
Owsee, "that's asking a lot. Let's try to get through this one trip, in one piece, before we talk about taking on the whole CM battle fleet."
I said, "you're right, let's get this one over before starting a war."
I set the containers down next to the side of the ship they were to be loaded into, then landed nearby.
Owsee said he was going to put the chips back in the computers while I unloaded my ship, and put the supplies on his. So I set the bag of buds on my shoulder, then just told the keg of juice and the three bags of fruit to lead the way. There was no one to see me playing with my new powers out here, and we looked like some kind of a parade, as I levitated the supplies to the ship.
I put it all in the cargo bay and went out to start on the containers. I moved them slowly, as the slightest mistake could damage the containers of fish and water. I did not want any leaks to deal with.
When I went back on board Owsee was on the bridge, done putting in the chips and running system checks.
Owsee, "it's all up and running, come here and look at the water take on maneuvers."
He showed me a topical graph of the area and how we just draw a line and tap in the course, then where the water take on symbol was, and that I must tap it when it flashes full. He said I must then lay in a take off course, but when I got back through the gate just to hit the home course symbol and it would bring me right here.
I said, "good, the one thing I was not sure about was finding this mountain out of all the ones on your planet."
Owsee, "I put a few things that I had in storage in the mess hall for you. Oh, and when you get back, if you decide to use a hopper take it outside first or you'll bounce off the walls."
We said our goodbyes then he went to my ship and took off for home.
After I was sure he was far enough away I engage the engines, and started on my preprogram course to the water take on spot.
I could feel the rumble of the engines as the big ship started to take off. I was glad to be setting down or I would've fallen. Outside of my windows I could only see dust as the ship rose from the desert and headed toward the mountains.
The ride soon smoothed out and we were at the water take on spot in less than a minute. The hose deployed automatically and the water started to fill the tank.
Owsee said it would not take long, but that I needed to hit the shut down symbol as soon as it started to flash. I was a bit tense as I waited for the tanks to fill. How long would it take to suck up over 7000 units of water? The seconds seemed to drag on and on. Then the light came on and I hit the stop button, the hose retracted and I was ready to go.
I plotted a course to the first Star gate and hit the engage. We were off!
It was a bit rough until the ship got out of the atmosphere, then there was no vibration at all. The ship was on auto now and would stop when we got to the first gate. So I went down to the mess hall to see what Owsee had left me. It seemed strange walking the hallways, knowing no one else was on board.
When I got to the mess hall there was a sign that read, "go to storage box 0021 =>."
At the end of the wall were a great number of boxes in the walls like at a bus station. 0021 was on the bottom, and about 4 x 4 feet in size. I hit the open button and it slid out with a whoosh, pushing my foot out of the way as it came. I shall remember to stand to one side next time. There was something like a bubble wrap on the top, which deflated and sucked itself ba
ck into the wall as I touched it. The box had a 5 gallon keg of rum in it, a bottle of bud liqueur, two bottles of detox water and a note that read, "be wise, be safe, be back soon."
I put the bottle of bud liqueur and the two bottles of detox water in my shoulder bag and moved the rum to the hall. Then went down to the storage bay to get the barrel of juice and brought them up to the bridge. I made myself a drink, and sat down for a smoke and a rest.
I must have dozed off, for the next thing I knew I was at the gate and it was requesting my destination.
I told it the first station in this sector and a corporate mining android came online, and said, "please declare your cargo and prepare to be scanned for contraband."
I said, "I had a free pass, no declaring of cargo. Guild #624, 792, 647, 012. I then ran my finger across a DNA scanner. A few moments later the CMA said, "thank you for your cooperation, have a safe trip."
The gate then powered up and I moved through into hyperspace.
I drank my drink and told myself to get some rest, but it was not easy as I had slept the night before. Then I remembered I had a bottle of bud liqueur. So I reached under the table for a short glass and poured myself a few shots. I sipped it as I smoked and played around with the view screen to find out how far I had to go, but all it would save was, "in transit."
At least that's what my translators said it was saying. If this ship had a written language it could have been saying I was off course and I would never know it. Now if I could only understand their number system I would be set. They probably got it from another race anyway.
I started to think about those fish. So I went down to the containers and opened the tops just enough to give them some more air. I was lucky that even the cargo decks of had gravity plates in the floor.
Then I went to the other end of the cargo bay, to look at the hoppers Owsee was talking about. I found a pair stuffed behind a palette tied to the wall. They did not look like much. Just some fast hydraulics on the legs and a pair of re-tractable wings, no thrusters. But there was a picture on the side, of a man in a suit with body padding and a helmet. I thought to myself, if those things can jump a mile -- then what would it feel like to fall from a mile jump? I think I would rather walk.
After getting myself something to eat, I went back to the bridge.
I was having another drink when I thought I saw a large black ship just to one side of me. More like a shadow of a figure, then it was gone. It did not go left or right, it just went. I'm not sure if it was looking me over or was just on the same course. For a moment I thought I would like a better look at it, then I thought it might be better that it was gone.
Just then, the ship dropped into normal space, not far from the station.
I turned around and got ready for my next jump. This time I not only gave it my DNA scan but my Guild number as well, and the gate powered up without a CMA inquiry. I set course and made the jump.
On my way to the station to buy poured myself a glass of bud liqueur and drank it down, then laid back for a nap.
I soon woke up with the feeling I was being watched.
The black ship was out there are again, just far enough away that I could not see it well.
“Is there anybody out there?”
This time I had an idea, and I took a drink of my spice dew. It got me out there but not all the way and not for long, so I took a bigger drink, and found myself in front of black ship. I let my mind move inside and took a look around. Then I saw a short gray skinned man, that seem to know I was there, next I was pulled back to my body again. I was going to take a third drink when the ship was gone again. Well at least I have an idea of what was flying that ship, but how did he know I was there? Well anyway, he did not seem to be a threat. I wondered if his ship could hide as well in normal space?
Just then my ship dropped back into normal space again, and I headed for the station. I found a spot at the far end of the dock that I could pull up to. The docking tube extended and made contact with my hatch.
I went down to the hatch and checked the pressure, then open it to see a man in black with a six-foot metal pole, standing at the end of the dock. I undid my sash, and open my cloak, to show my gold and silver Elvin wear beneath.
The man then walked up to me and said, "they call me Ranger."
I said let's go, and he came aboard. I closed the hatch and hit the detach button so no one could follow.
"This way," I said, as I led the way to the bridge.
We moved swiftly, yet I still heard the tap of his staff as he walked.
He stood by the observation windows, looking at the dock, as I got on the controls. Then I pulled us away from the station and toward the gate.
I put in my information, just like before, include in my Guild number of 624, 792, 647, 012; and station E3 as my destination. I got nothing, so I did it again. Still nothing, not even a CMA to argue too about it.
The Ranger said, "I don't think they want me to leave."
I said, "do you know where the on switch is for the gate?"
He pointed and said, "down there, why?"
I said, "because I'm tired of being polite."
I then pulled out my spice dew, took a large drink, and set my mind to the bottom of the gate. I quickly found the switch and pushed it to the open position. I was pulled back to my body just as we were sucked through the gate, and the ship had a good fix on the station three beacon.
I then said, "if you don't want to talk to me that's okay too."
He pulled his hood down, turned around and said, "how can you do that?"
I pointed to the a seat next to me, and he came over as I said, "telekinesis’s."
Ranger, "and he drink?"
I said, "a telepathic enhancer, I need to see something in order to move it."
Ranger, "well I guess there is no stopping you if you can open gates on your own."
I said, "I would appreciate it if you don't spread that around."
Ranger, "no problem, I'm quite good with secrets, there are even some things I will not tell myself."
I said, "well I hope you can tell me who to sell my crystals to."
Ranger, "sorry, can't help you there, promise not to tell."
I said, "then why am I taking you to E3?"
Ranger, "because I am going to show you the man, not tell you, and because I needed a ride. I was beginning to feel like I had worn out my welcome back there."
I said, "for a man they didn't want around, they sure didn’t let you go easily."
Ranger, "yeah well you know these CM types, they can never just go one way on anything."
I said, "well at any rate I bet I pissed them off."
Ranger, "I would say they will be more interested in how you did it, than that it was done. But don't worry about the lift, they expected me to get off the station, somehow I always do."
I said, "it will be me and the ship they will want to stop by tomorrow anyway."
Ranger, "planning something big are we?"
I said, "freedom for all RATS and a ride to a new world."
Ranger, "it's dangerous for you to talk like that, but to do it, this I would love to see."
I said, "I'm starting with station three. When I turn around, I will let any dock worker that wants to leave come with me. And the same at station two and one."
Ranger, "the CM considers me to be a nuisance, but you're a rebel. Do you truly think you can get away with it?"
I said, "I have no doubt I can do it once. It's the coming back next month and freeing more I'm not sure about."
Ranger, "coming back, are you mad? You won't even get past the first station before they send a ship after you."
I said, "just one ship is easy, as long as I see it coming."
Ranger, "easy he says, they will set a battleship to stop you."
I said, "I only hope they think just one will be enough. If they send two or three I may need to hurt someone. By the way, do you know of a race of grays that fly Black ships?"
Ranger, "you mean here, in hyperspace?"
I said, "yes, I saw one -- twice. The second time I took a drink and went aboard."
Ranger, "went aboard, you mean telepathically. Well the only thing I can tell you is that no one seems to know anything about them. It is largely considered bad luck to see one. It may be best if you keep the sighting to yourself. The people you're about to meet can be a bit superstitious. And considering what you are planning, you're not off to a good start."
I said, "I like his ship, I could use a ship like that."
Ranger, "yes, nice ships, very stealthily. By the way, this is a nice big ship. I have never seen anyone run a ship this size by themselves."
I said, "it’s very automated and belongs to a friend of mine. But I will soon own it, I just need to do a favor for him."
Ranger, "a favor, must be a big favor for such a ship."
I said, "yes it is. He wants me to teach his world to read and write."
Ranger, "oh is that all, just teach a whole planet to read and write. You don't do things in a small way now do you?"
I said, "well after 50 years or so of living, I find the small things tend to take care of themselves; if you keep your eye on the big picture."
Ranger, "so I guess if you think of the freedom and equal rights of the dock workers to be the big picture, then the monthly freedom ship is just one of those small details you're talking about."
I said, "that's one way of putting it. I know this ship will be marked, and I dare not use it again if I don't want to draw attention; they will also have an eye out for me. These are some of the small things I just take for granted. Like you, and the way you knew they did not want you to leave the station. We all have things like that to over come in our lives, no matter what our goals are."
Ranger, "this is all true, and it's good to have some help from other from time to time. And if you're going to make the plans you have in mind work, you will need a lot of help. These kinds of operations will take many credits. There are not as many freedom fighters, like us, as I would like to have for this kind of cause."
I said, "some of the dock workers can become freedom fighters but it's the ships I need, that's the hard part. I am not without wealth but I have my limits."
New Title 1 (The traveler) Page 22