by J. N. Chaney
The image dancing through my head disappeared, replaced with one that was much less enticing.
“Captain Hughes, might I offer to take over navigation and give you a break?” asked Junior, distracting me from my thoughts.
“I got it,” I told him. “I know how to fly my own damn ship.”
“Yes, sir. You make a fine pilot. However, and please forgive me for speaking out of turn, if you do not slow down soon, we shall miss the planet and have to turn around.”
I checked the display and found he was right, quickly making the necessary adjustments. “Good call, Junior,” I told him grudgingly.
“Maybe you should let him take over, Captain,” said Alphonse.
I gave him a sideways look. “Watch it. I would hate to have to tell the good doctor about your little trip to The Space Between. Something tells me MaryAnn wouldn’t like the thought of you ogling over another woman.”
He straightened in his seat. “Forget I said anything.”
* * *
Junior’s scan didn’t show any patrols or other ships close enough to worry. It picked up what was clearly an illegally outfitted midsize ship, sitting in one of the docks at our destination. I didn’t get the sense it was a Ravager vessel, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Even still, regardless of whether it was part of one of the clans or not, so long as it didn’t interfere with our plans, I didn’t see a problem.
“That’s a beauty of a ship ya got there,” the dockmaster commented from the holo display. “Ya must be stupid, in dire straits, or cocky to stop off at Leah with a ship like that. If ya have enough fuel to get somewhere else, I’d suggest it.”
He had deep lines running through tough, leathery skin, the way a hardened man with decades of bad choices tended to be. Even on the holo, I could make out a long, thin scar down the side of his face.
“We’ll take our chances,” I told the old dockmaster. “Thanks for the warning.”
As similar to the original as it might be, this ship was a far cry from the old Renegade Star. By any measure, it was one of the most powerful vessels in Union, Sarkonian, or Deadland space, and certainly worth a large fortune. I couldn’t imagine the kind of attention it would draw while we were docked here, but I also knew full well that no one with half a brain would try to take it. Even if they did, the internal systems would only respond to me or Alphonse. Besides, one of us would stay behind and look after it while the other went to meet with Shaw. We’d be just fine.
The dockmaster’s grizzled face twisted into a smile that was anything but nice. “Ain’t concerned about your safety so much as a fight breaking out on my docks. Don’t be expecting any kind of reimbursement if somethin’ does happen,” he added. “Understood?”
He didn’t have to bother with the warning, but I nodded anyway.
Once we were down, Alphonse exited the ship within moments of the clamps attaching to the hull. He took a moment when stepping off the ramp to fix the camera on his coat. “How’s the feed?” he asked.
“Looks good on my end,” I said, watching from inside the ship.
According to Junior, the station no longer bothered with simulating daytime, as most of its patrons preferred the feel of afterhours. Glaring holo signs pulsated wildly, each trying to lure in customers by outdoing their competition. The effect was unsettling, a muddle of lights and sounds that overwhelmed rather than attracted.
After a quick assessment of the individuals milling around the station, I decided that the obscene advertisements were needed to punch through the haze of whatever self-induced high most of them were experiencing. I supposed one would need pharmaceutical assistance to consider buying anything in a place like this, but then again, I doubted that anyone visiting actually cared.
Foot traffic on the dock was fairly heavy and I categorized the lot of them as unsavory, watching with mild fascination as Alphonse worked his way through the crowd like a shadow, twisting and melding with such ease that no one spared him a second glance. Not all of them were incoherent, though. A handful of them took notice of our ship and kept their eyes on the ship. I, in turn, kept my eye on them. Every so often, one would move into the throng, bump into someone, then return to their perch. Since Leah didn’t have a security force to speak of, I imagined the many fresh arrivals made for easy pickings.
Despite the thieves’ successful pick-pocketing, I couldn’t help but see how sloppy they were at the job. I had a deft hand in my youth and could have put these lackluster twits to shame.
Alphonse exited the docks and moved nearly out of sight from the external cams when a man turned his gaze in Al’s direction. He continued to watch as the former Constable drew near, then casually joined the crowd and fell into step behind him, one hand in a pocket.
“You’ve got company, Al,” I said into my comm.
“I’ve got him, Captain,” he replied under his breath. “Spotted him a few moments ago. Not to worry.”
Impressive, I couldn’t help but think. “Try not to kill anyone if you can help it,” I responded. “Or do. I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Obviously thinking himself safe, the would-be attacker sped up and tried to follow his mark through a small group of people. He pushed past them, but Alphonse was nowhere to be seen. The man whipped his head around a few times, searching. I would have lost him too, except for the tracking dot on my display, which showed Alphonse to be nearly 50 meters ahead already.
“Nice one, Al. All that fancy Constable training really paid off,” I said with mock sarcasm. He and I both knew he was capable of much more.
Unable to get a visual, I toggled a view of the portable cam we’d attached to his coat. For an extra layer of security, Junior ran continuous scans on the Star’s immediate surroundings. I had a strong suspicion that our arrival would soon draw even more unwanted attention, but with any luck we’d secure our package and be gone before anyone got it in their head to try something unsavory.
Less than ten minutes later, Alphonse had finally found the brothel, and without further incident. The minicam’s feed showed a large building that looked like it might have once been a warehouse. A holo rendition of a woman’s naked body graced the egress, starting with an exaggerated pair of breasts that flowed into the torso before ending with a set of legs that straddled the doorway. It was not unlike many others that dotted the promenade.
Employees, both men and women, danced behind dirty window displays on either side of the entrance. Their more personal bits remained covered, but only barely, by the thinnest of artificial fog clouds along the glass. A free taste, I guessed, meant to lure you in for the full meal.
Alphonse strode in without hesitation and confidently approached the hostess, a bored-looking young woman who was sitting and using her fist to prop up her chin. She was pretty, though a bit dead in the eyes. She had jet black hair done in tight ringlets that fell just north of her scantily clad breasts. By design, the tiny skirt she wore covered just enough to entice potential customers without actually revealing the goods.
She perked up at the sight of Alphonse, a good looking guy who probably appeared more reputable than most of the clientele she likely saw on any given night.
Pulling out a data pad, she flashed him a winsome smile.
“Welcome to The Space Between,” said the woman. “My name is Chastity and it would be my pleasure to assist you today. I have here a list of available companions. Live entertainment is through the doors on your left.”
The cam jostled a little as Alphonse leaned forward and rested an elbow on the lectern. “Thank you very much, Chastity. I’m supposed to meet with a colleague in the bar area. Under the name Gregario.”
For a moment, I thought someone else had spoken because Alphonse had changed the pitch of his voice so that it came out in a flirtatious drawl. I’d heard him use different voices, depending on the situation, but this was something new.
In a practiced motion, Chastity bit her lip. “Oh, I’m so sorry. We don’t do reservations here. The nam
e sounds vaguely familiar, but I just can’t remember.”
It was clear what the woman wanted, and Alphonse moved out of sight, jostling the cam again before producing a credit chip that he slid across the podium in what appeared to be a practiced motion. “Maybe this will help you to remember, darling?”
She peered down at the credit and bit her lip again. “Gee, it’s starting to come back, I just can’t be sure.”
I rolled my eyes as another credit chip joined the first. Chastity shook her head, pushing for another increase, but Alphonse sighed and started to pull the credit back. “That’s unfortunate,” he said in a low, less enticing voice than the last. “I’ll just make my way over to the live entertainment and see if any of your coworkers can help.”
Chastity’s hand hastily snaked out to cover his. “How strange, I just remembered! There is a Gregario waiting in a private room. I’m happy to take you there, sir.”
“I’d be very grateful if you would,” Alphonse replied, pulling his hand back and leaving the money.
The woman palmed it almost instantly and the chip disappeared, though I couldn’t say where she put it.
As Alphonse followed the girl through the door, a blinking light drew my attention. “What do you got, Sig—Junior?” I asked after muting the other line.
“Suspicious activity flagged,” the AI answered. “A number of individuals are loitering on the docks and they appear to be watching the ship.”
“Show me,” I ordered. The relevant feeds appeared on the displays, along with red markers showing up over the heads of each of the targets, shifting as they moved.
“Target locking complete,” Junior announced. “You may activate anti-theft protocols at any time, sir.”
“What options do I have?” I asked, shifting forward in my seat and pulling up the holo.
A list appeared before me. Some of it was standard, like non-lethal suppressive fire and high voltage pulse tech, but others were new. I made a mental note to have Junior give me the full rundown later. For now, I activated the non-lethal options.
“They get one warning,” I instructed Junior. “If that fails, we use the suppression fire.”
“Anti-theft measures activated and ready,” he confirmed.
I checked on Alphonse and saw he appeared to be leaving the brothel. Good, that was pretty fast. “Al, we’ve got about half a dozen uninvited guests. Do you have Shaw?”
“Yes, Captain. We’re on our way back to you now,” he answered.
“Make sure you’re both ready for a fight. I hope the old man has a weapon,” I told him.
At the moment, two of the men began to approach the Star. They moved cautiously, pausing every few seconds, never taking their eyes off the ship. I understood immediately what they were doing. It was a good tactic to see what the security measures were set to.
I decided not to make them wait. “Junior, give them the warning.”
“Of course, Captain,” he answered. “Warning! Antitheft measures activated. Vacate this dock or risk serious injury!”
His voice bellowed out of the external comms, startling the men into stopping. They backed up a few paces. One of them spoke into a comm. “Security perimeter is set at five meters. Yes.” He looked over at his partner and gestured to the ship. “Boss’ll be here in a minute. Says to stand by for now.”
I located a man on the far side of the docks who fit the bill. He was large in every sense of the word. By my estimation, a full head taller than me, with meat hooks for hands, and boots that must have been custom made. He walked with a swagger that told me he was used to getting what he wanted and didn’t expect today to go much different. People moved out of his way either on instinct or because the boss had a reputation. Maybe a little of both. By the time he reached us, the docks were nearly empty, save for him and his men. I had a feeling they were regulars here.
“Not good,” I muttered, reflecting on my earlier wish not to tangle with anyone. I still felt that way. I drew in an inhale and let it out on a heavy sigh.
“Greetings, owner of this fine vessel,” he said in a pseudo-pompous polite tone. “May I speak to whoever is in charge?”
This ought to be good. I didn’t really want to respond, but there wasn’t much choice. We needed to get off this station and back to Tartarus. I’d dealt with men like this before and they didn’t give up easily. They felt they owned the docks and everything on them, and everyone else had better watch out. No, it was becoming clear that we wouldn’t leave this station without a fight.
“Shit,” I muttered, flipping on the comm. “That would be me.” My voice boomed through the external speakers. “How can I help you fine folks today?”
The man clapped his hands together in mock delight. “Ah, just wonderful. You can call me Captain Nick. And you are?”
“Impatient to leave.” I undercut the words with annoyance. “Is there something I can do for you, Nick?”
Anger flashed across Captain Nick’s features before quickly subsiding, probably at my blatant disrespect of his exalted position and station. “As a matter of fact, friend, there is,” he said, maintaining a pleasant voice despite his probable ire. “Since you’re in a hurry, I’ll make this quick. I’m going to take your ship. Considering what good shape she’s in, I’ll even cut you a deal. Hand it over with no fuss and you have my assurances that you won’t die today. I won’t even rough you up. You can walk away from this completely unscathed.”
I couldn’t help but be reminded me of Fratley, the crime boss I’d once borrowed money from to buy the first Renegade Star. He had the same faux friendliness too, using it like a cheap soap to mask the stink of his true personality. I didn’t like how sure of himself this man appeared, but the same had been true of Fratley. In the old crime lord’s case, his final prize had been a bullet, and if this man wasn’t careful, his would be the same.
The man didn’t strike me as inept or brash, just supremely confident and used to getting his way when he demanded it--the demeanor of someone who had fixed the game. Without knowing what Nick had up his sleeve, I decided to play along. “What’s to stop me from just undocking?”
He grinned widely. “You dropped a man off earlier. He hasn’t returned and you’re still here. If you leave now, we’ll kill him. It’s as simple as that. Even if you did want to leave, though,” he continued. “The clamps won’t detach. You’re stuck, lest we say otherwise.”
So, the station master had been paid off. It figured, although to his credit, he had warned me not to come here.
Alphonse’s marker had reached the docks now, but I didn’t see him on any of the external cams. Then his dot moved, and I saw he was circling around behind Nick’s men. It was time for me to pull out the big guns. Literally.
“Junior, activate the beam cannons,” I ordered.
“Sir, are you certain?” asked Junior. “The cannons are quite powerful and—”
“Just do it,” I ordered. I brought up the holo targeting system and chose a nearby section of the station. “Fire here at 20% capacity.”
“Understood,” said Junior.
The cannon exploded with a powerful blue beam that pierced the hull of the station, tearing through an empty storage compartment. The local shields appeared where the hole had formed, but not before several crates and other containers had been pulled from the interior and into open space.
The blast had the necessary effect, causing the station to go into high alert and rattling the deck with enough force to drop several men to their knees as they struggled to stay standing. Alphonse and Shaw, meanwhile, took the opportunity to make their way around the centralized mob, which had quickly grown mad with screams and shouting.
As soon as Nick realized what was happening, he held up a device. “Stop or I’ll immobilize that ship of yours with this EMP,” he announced.
I detected a note of desperation in his voice.
“You use that and you’ll kill everyone on the station,” I told him. “Life support, gravity st
abilizers, and every other electronics device will stop working.”
“I don’t care!” he yelled. “All those deaths will be on you!”
The fool was crazy if he thought I’d believe him. He’d have to be suicidal to try it.
“Junior, how will that thing affect the ship with the upgrades?” I snapped out, more concerned than I had been a minute ago.
“All major systems are protected with standard Faraday tech,” he replied. “As Titan was never tested for such an attack, I cannot say whether all our systems will remain operational, but all essential ones have been tested and cleared.”
“Seems we’re at an impasse, Nick,” I called out to him, pretending to go along with what he was doing. Two shadows crept up from behind his position. I just needed to keep him focused on me while the others handled the rest. “Why don’t we both back away and call it a day?”
Two men standing far behind Nick dropped to the floor and didn’t get back up as the mob continued panicking. “No, I don’t think so,” he said smugly. “I’m betting you care about living, so come down off that ship and I won’t press--"
His response was cut off by Shaw clamping a hand over his mouth and stabbing a combat blade directly through the man’s throat. Alphonse deftly slid the EMP from the captain’s hand as he fell to his knees.
Blood poured out from Nick’s neck as he garbled and choked, writhing in shock on the floor.
Without bothering to look at him, Alphonse and Shaw continued walking effortlessly to the dock. “Would you mind opening the door, Captain Hughes?” asked the former Admiral-General. He was hardly recognizable, his thick beard and unshorn hair concealing half his features. “I dare say I’ve had my fill of this unsavory place.”
4
“I warned ya about landing here. Now ya ain’t leaving.” The dockmaster’s grizzled face scowled out at me from the holo display. Another obstacle to leaving this hole in the wall place and getting back to my business on Tartarus. I sighed yet again, exhausted by the hoops I had to jump through.