by Ryan Vermont
The change in our surroundings was immediate. Gone was the haphazard construction that characterized the docks. It was replaced by the formal structure of the Irunian Empire, which, dominated by the military, valued function over everything else. I saw a lot of right angles and olive-green paint. People walked in single file and stayed out of the vehicle lanes.
“You had me scared,” Zilpha said after we were through. “Thought there might be some trouble with those passes, but, hell, they didn’t even pat us down.”
I started to talk about my luck and how we still had our weapons, but something caught my eye. I stopped to investigate the window of a duty-free shop.
I froze. In the corner, with all the other “Enemies of the Irunian People” wanted posters, was my face.
Korth wasn’t the only one taking the piss from the adventure on the Byzantium. The Irunians had identified me, just as I feared they might do. And the reward wasn’t small.
I swore and turned to Zilpha. “I think that brother of yours ratted me out,” I said.
I brought her over to the window to see the poster in the far corner. Although the street we were on wasn’t busy, I needed to keep my face turned away from the window in case someone noted that mine matched the poster
“We need to get off this street, now,” Zilpha said. “Do you know of a place we can go? Because this is just great. We have Korth’s thugs outside, and the Irunian military to worry about on the inside.”
I looked down the street and realized where we were. I couldn’t ask Ralph for information as that would risk someone seeing my gun. The military police would shoot me on sight if they saw Ralph.
Then, it hit me. There was someone I could turn to, and he wasn’t far from this location. He should be close to the main entrance, as his business dealt in items that came in and out of the front gate. I just had to get us over to his place.
I looked back and saw three Irunian military police at the gate. They didn’t wear the full battle armor of the marines but the black uniforms of the local guards. Right then, they didn’t appear to be doing anything. I didn’t pick up any warnings from them, either, but reading the sensations of Irunians was always a judgement call. For some reason, all Irunians have silver-white hair, which makes them hard to tell apart unless you’re around them long enough.
Then, one of the MP’s turned and looked at me. It wasn’t a look of recognition, but I wasn’t in any position to take a chance. I grabbed Zilpha by the shoulder and we began to stroll down the street. Just a couple of locals on their way. At least, that was what I wanted him to think.
“I know a guy,” I informed Zilpha. “Pops Sherbourne. He owes me a favor, and we’ll go see him. Pops has a shop a few blocks from here.”
“How do you know him?” Zilpha asked, her hand around my waist.
“He’s a gun runner,” I explained. “He can get you any piece you need without a serial number on it, for the right price. No questions asked. That arms dealer Korth mentioned before Jenica saved us? That’s him. Korth accused him of stiffing a payment once and wanted me to take him out. I told Korth it was a misunderstanding and that he should wait. Pops came through with the money a week later, but Korth never forgot that I’d refused an order.”
Pops and I went way back before he got in trouble with Cinzar family. I used to buy ammunition from Pops on any number of Janissary worlds when I was part of the sultan’s army. Many times, I’d be deployed somewhere you couldn’t get the right kind of ammo or had to buy it from a local in a hurry. In some cases, none of the locals would sell you ammo, especially if they’d been annexed by the Sultanate during the expansion. It happened all the time.
Pops ran a whole chain of army and navy stores through this arm of the galaxy. He made certain to have what you needed, when you needed it. If you landed in the middle of a swamp, Pops’ store was always near enough with decent waterproof boots to keep your feet dry. So, over the years, I built up a certain respect for the man and his operations.
When the Sultanate collapsed in the last war, Pops found himself out of a job. All his supply stores were impounded by the Irunian Empire. Pops made a bad mistake and bet on the wrong combatant. He’d built up a good relationship with the Sultanate in general and the Janissaries in particular. Now, all his stores were closed, and the contents hauled off to the storehouses of Her Imperial Majesty’s forces.
Worse, Pops was Irunian himself.
I ran into Pops the first week I was on Nyx Station out by the docks. I’d yet to encounter Drez.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him. Pops was working in a booth out near the Stevedore’s union hall. He looked different from the snappy businessman I once knew.
“I’d ask you the same,” he responded, “but we both know that answer. Not much left for the losers in this galaxy.”
I stayed in touch with him and tossed some business his way when I got in good with Korth. Eventually, he found a way to get in tight with the Irunian military, who leased him a spot in their quarter.
The entrance to Pops’ store wasn’t large. He only had a few windows. Those were small and covered by thick polycarbonate. Even the front door was solid. I had to touch a buzzer for admittance. He let us in right away when he saw it was me.
“I wondered how long it would take you to come here,” Pops spoke as we entered his shop. As I’d first seen him on Nyx, Pops was behind the counter.
The shop carried an assortment of guns behind glass and polycarbonate displays. Each had their caliber, style, and price displayed. Underneath each one was further details on the gun’s condition and the owner before Pops bought it.
These were the legal guns, the ones he was permitted to sell inside the Irunian Legation. In the back was a larger room where the other guns, the ones that were of questionable legal origin, were kept. The ones he sold on a cash basis and provided the bulk of his transactions, all unlisted. How he’d kept this up inside the legation was something I knew little about and cared to know even less.
Pops sported a mane of thin hair and wore thick glasses. He was positioned next to an old-fashioned cash register. For some reason, he refused to use anything else. Pops claimed he hated the newer registers, but I suspected they made it easier for his cash flow to be traced.
“I see you’ve brought a friend,” Pops said as we walked up to him. He leaned a bit on the counter. All these years of hustling took a toll on his physical form. I introduced him and Zilpha to each other.
“So, how is it that you know about the problems I had with Korth?” I asked him. “We left his place not a half hour ago.”
“I know a lot, Junior,” he laughed. “I have to in this business. One of my runners came in here right after it happened and let me know. Which is why I wasn’t surprised to see you show up. Got some more news for you too,” he said in a low voice, although we were the only ones in in his store. “A whole new wing of the Irunian fleet pulled into orbit last night. The Indigo Swarm. You might keep them in mind if you have any plans to hatch. I know I do.”
“Thanks for the heads-up, Pops” I told him. “Might be all manner of things happening out there. Could be beneficial for the both of us, depending on how it breaks.”
The door opened, and two Irunian officers stepped into the shop. I didn’t do anything seeing that Pops allowed them inside, and I trusted him. Zilpha moved a bit closer to me and unsnapped her purse. We pretended to look at some of the merchandise in another case. The officers ignored us.
Five minutes later, Pops finished his business with them, and they were gone. He returned to us. “I’ve a small break room in the back,” he informed me. “Why don’t you two chill in there for a while? I’ll have clients coming in all day, and someone will eventually notice the both of you. In the meantime, I’ll see if there’s any place you can stay until this mess blows over.”
I nodded and walked in the direction he’d pointed. Pops was by himself today, which had me concerned. Usually, he had several runners in the sho
p with him. Maybe he’d sent them out on assignment?
He opened an electronic door from his spot, and we walked into the back of the shop. It was full of crates and boxes with all manner of numbers on them. It was cold back there, probably from Pop’s attempt to save on utilities. I looked around in the dim light and saw a small place off to one side with a table and chairs. This had to be the breakroom.
We sat down at the only table in the room and looked it over. Breakrooms are much the same everywhere. White walls, a few vending machines, a sink, and trash on the floor. This one had a trashcan, but it was overflowing. I sighed and looked at the clock on the wall.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” Zilpha spoke up.
Uh, oh, I thought. This was a conversation that never ended well.
“That woman that saved our bacon back there,” she said. “I know her. Did you say she was an old girlfriend?”
“Yes," I confirmed. “But you don’t have to worry. It’s been years since we shared a bed.”
“I guess we have her in common,” Zilpha spoke to me. “I was seeing Jenica myself last week.”
I was shocked.
“I thought you just met her?” I exclaimed. “Neither of you two showed the least bit of recognition. What the hell? When did this happen?”
“Neither of us was in a place we could talk about it,” Zilpha pointed out. “If I recall correctly, Boss Korth and his thugs were about to kill the both of us when she got that gun away from his goon.” She let it sink in for a bit.
“Okay," I continued. “When did this happen? Look, I know you had some girlfriends in the past, and I’m all right with it, because you don’t see them much anymore. I’d hoped you could do me the decency of letting me know when these things happen.”
Zilpha leaned back on the cheap, cracked chair where she sat. “Jenica came to the diner right after you left for that last job two weeks ago,” she explained. “She introduced herself and told me she used to know you. Something about a job she thought you might be interested in. Well, hell, she’s impressive. First, I was jealous, and then, Jenica made eye contact several times while I was busy. She made me feel hot inside. Shit, I had no idea when you were getting back, and all of my old girlfriends have moved on to other places.” Zilpha dropped one hand down and stroked my thigh. Dammit, she had to know what this story was doing to me.
“So, anyway,” Zilpha continued, “I invited Jenica over to your place for dinner because you were gone, and I wanted a chance to spend some time with her.”
I wasn’t surprised; Jenica had that effect on people. I felt a stirring in my pants.
“So, what happened?” I asked her. “You made her supper, and she had you for desert?”
“No," Zilpha corrected me “We never even made it to the table. I let her in, locked the door behind us, and we were all over each other. She came up behind me when I turned the other way and started to bite my neck with those sharp teeth of hers. Next thing I knew, she had one hand down my pants and was driving me home. I ended up on the floor on top and managed to get her pants off while she was under me. She rolled over, and I got her back on top, but this time, I had my hand between her legs. Damn, we both soaked that floor. I came about 12 times before we got up. Shit, that fur on her body is soft. I get hot thinking about it. Her tongue is sharp, and barbed too. Damn did she put it to use that night. We ended up ordering out that evening... Did you want to hear more?”
Fuck, yes, but I had a job to do. These revelations could wait for later.
A speaker in the wall squawked. It was Pops; something was up. So much for the realization of my hot fantasies.
“Hey, Fixer,” he spoke over the poor speaker. “Can you come to the front? I need to tell you something.”
We got up and embraced. “I’m glad you told me,” I said. “At least, there’s all manner of unpleasantness we’ve avoided. We’ll deal with it later.” She kissed me, and we continued back to the front of the store.
Pops was in the process of hanging up his phone when we arrived. He picked the phone set off his counter and set it down under the cash register.
“When you going to get a new phone, Pops?” I asked him. “That one is a fossil.”
“When it breaks and I have to,” Pops replied. “Right now, the old one works fine, and I see no reason to replace it.”
“So, what is it that you needed to see me about?” I asked him. Zilpha stood a few paces behind me. She didn’t want to cut into the conversation, but knew she was still part of it.
“I just got off the phone with some people I know,” he told me. “I won’t go into who they are or how I know them. Let’s say they’re some ghees I’ve always done right by. They’re sources I can trust.”
“Anyway," he continued, “my friends tell me that your buddy Korth is already pushing some money around to find out where you two are. He wants to find you, but he’ll take her if that’s all he can get. My guess is that you’re the one he wants, but he knows Zilpha is a way to get to you. This is a lot of cash, which means Korth is serious. Doesn’t really surprise me after what you told me.”
I swore and turned away from Pops for a few seconds. This was just fine. No matter where we went on Nyx, and probably off the station as well, Korth would locate us. I knew I had to do something and turned back to Pops.
“I don’t understand what his problem is,” I told the older Irunian. “Korth still has the ship Zilpha’s brother and I brought in the other day. You’d think he’d be happy with it and leave me alone.”
“He doesn’t have possession of it,” Pops informed me.
“What do you mean?” I demanded. “I dropped it off the other day at the landing field. It’s huge, twice the size as a standard starship, so don’t tell me he can’t find it.”
“Oh, he can find it," Pops replied. “He knows exactly where it is. The problem is that so does the militia. And guess what? They’ve taken control of it.”
I was stunned. Everything we used to sneak it in past the border guards worked. All the challenges were met. Hell, Korth gave us everything we needed to get it inside the station. What the hell had gone wrong?
“This is just great,” I said. “Korth will hunt us down no matter where we go if he blames me for the militia taking over that ship. This will be personal as far as he’s concerned.”
“I’ll make some calls,” he told me. “See what I can do. Korth doesn’t own the station, although he’d like to think he does. There are people who owe me favors. Why don’t you two go back to the breakroom? I’ll call you in once I know something.”
“I never should’ve agreed to take that job,” I told Zilpha as we sat on the chairs around the breakroom table. Each of us had a can of cola in one hand. “I should’ve let your brother run that operation himself. But I needed the money. And, after all, would those kids be alive if I wasn’t there?”
“Provided they still are,” Zilpha said. “We don’t know what happened to those Angelika kids.”
“I have to believe they’re still in good hands,” I responded. “Can’t believe that Irunian officer, Commander Peshawar, would ever let a thing happen to them, since I was there to see them handed over.”
“You forget that it was only you and Drez who saw them. If something happens to you, only my brother would be left as a witness, and he’s not the most reliable one.”
“Point."
A few minutes later, the speaker barked again. “Have some things for you,” Pops called to us. “You can come up right now; no one’s in the front of the store.”
We hurried back to the front, where Pops had several devices on the counter. None of them looked impressive, but Pops had access to all manner of weapons the general public didn’t know about.
“You need to keep this on you at all times,” he told me as he handed me a small cigarette lighter. I looked at it in confusion, as I don’t smoke.
“What is this?” I asked him.
“It’s a Relcon 6000 Biocloak,�
� he explained. “Looks just like any cheap lighter, as was the intention. It can hide your bio-signs from all but the best military trackers. Korth won’t be able to get a fix on you, even if he has a complete set of DNA scans. I don’t worry about the military coming after you just yet, so this will buy you some time.”
I looked it over, yet failed to find any switches or lights. It appeared to be another cheap lighter.
“How do you activate it?” I asked him.
“You don’t,” Pops spoke. “It activated the moment I handed it to you. I’ll need it back when this blows over because I’m the only one who can reset it."
He handed me another weapon. This one resembled a piece of rectangular metal attached to a handle. “What’s this?” I asked him. “A handgun? Never saw one like it.”
“And you won’t," he replied. “It’s a replica of a gun used hundreds of years ago on Old Earth.”
“Why would I want to haul around an antique like that?” I asked him.
Pops coughed and spit into a handkerchief under the counter. His heart was bad and would catch up with him one of these days.
“It’s completely autonomous,” he explained. “It resembles an old gun but makes its own ammunition, so you never need to reload it. If the thing wasn’t so expensive, I’d worry it would put me out of business. Hey, you still got that talking gun and the one you took off the goon at Korth’s place?”
“I’ve got both,” I replied to him.
“What does he want with me?” Ralph called from my pocket.
“Yeah," I agreed. “Good question.”
“Korth can put a tracer out on both of those weapons,” Pops explained. “I’m sure he’s got something in the gun you took from his HQ monitoring your movements right now. The only reason his boys haven’t tried to take this place is because it’s under the watch of the Irunian military, and they’ll take him down if he tries anything funny. As for Ralph, someone can track him from whatever signal his insides emit.”