Starblazer- Through the Black Gate

by Reiter

  “Nor do I!” Ebdique declared before teleporting away.

  Freund cleared his throat before putting his hand to the table and pushing his chair back. “I fully expected you to insist we begin the game immediately. Surely Death has soldiers awaiting her call.”

  “And my numbers are constantly growing!” Death added. “But why rush? Especially since, as you and Antavida clash, those that fail your fatal regimen will simply fall to me.

  “And I know,” Death continued. “… it is not your wish to lock horns with the anti-life. Interesting reference term, by the way.”

  “A most recent development, I can assure you,” Freund replied.

  “I am sure,” she giggled. “But you must realize, your wishes mean nothing. You have assumed the mantle of the defender of humanity… and I hesitate to cast judgment, given the obvious, but such an ambition is terribly shortsighted of you.”

  “Whatever do you mean?” Freund quickly pressed.

  “Dearest friend, do you recall when we first met… as entities?”

  “Indeed!” Dungias said, nodding emphatically. “… and you must say ‘as entities’ because we had met many times before, yes? Times when I considered you to be a raving lunatic, fully committed to my undoing!”

  “Not just yours,” Death added. “… but your perspective shifted over time, though I should say it evolved, and we met… officially, and I said…”

  “Welcome young soul,” Freund recalled the moment as he tried to fathom what the mysterious entity was trying to show him. “I was well over three centuries in age, preserved by MajiK, and you called me a child.

  “What am I missing, Death?”

  “Aaahh!” Death held up her finger as her other hand touched lightly against Freund’s cheek. He had come to expect the coldness of her touch, but her skin seemed softer than last he remembered. “To know that something has been missed is discovery enough, is it not? You are not the child I met those thousands of years ago, Rendell… but still you are young, and you are still making the mistakes of the young… though it is hard not to run afoul given the circumstances.

  “To make it simpler, we will stay with the time you do know,” Death said as she stepped back from Freund.

  “Which only means my answer is not within that time,” Freund quickly concluded.

  “Blackguard was at one time a common mortal word,” Death explained as she started to fade. “Rascal, at its beginning, never conjured good feelings or tidings. Bad, sick, and insane were exclusively derogatory terms, and gay only used to mean happiness. Mortals are always about the business of redefining truth, as if truth needed such renovation, or that they actually possessed the authority to do so. Neve comes from a very old time… before your time, good Freund. And when she was he, and called Baron Nomed, a declaration of war was made.”

  “Yes, against all of humanity,” Freund added.

  “No,” Death declared. “That was not the word used!”

  Our acts make or mar us, we are the children of our own deeds.

  Victor Hugo

  (Rims Time: XII-4202.23)

  Following the instructions they were given, everyone convened in the dining room of the estate with their appetites roused and ready to take in all manner of succulent cuisine. Jocasta and Dungias arrived with bags of food, but none of it was prepared. They also had a new face with them, someone who looked anything but comfortable as he carried two large trays of prepared fruits and cheeses.

  To Dungias’ accolades, which included officer, scientist, engineer, machinist, pilot, gunner, navigator, tracker, warrior, drill instructor, and font of knowledge, the crew got together and voted to add grill master. He did not cook any of the meats that had been purchased for this meal, but Nulaki swore by the Malgovi’s technique, and said he had never seen cooking appliances perform as efficiently. The crew ate near the pool with the sunlight just beginning to wane.

  Jocasta brought an end to the festivities, clanging her table knife against her glass. Three sharp rasps was all it took for everyone to settle down and listen. “Ladies and gentlemen, without further delay, let me officially extend a hand of fellowship to Mr. Kryltane Duvia. Cutter, let the record show that if he so choses, Mr. Duvia will join us as a crewman, not a hopeful. Taking a slug for me or mine should have its own set of perks.” After the initial shock subsided, glasses were raised and cheers were made. Kryltane smiled humbly and nodded his head. Jocasta was happy to know that something could pull his eyes away from ogling over Pristacia.

  “And while we are in a celebratory mood, let us raise a glass as one of us begins to make his way on another trek. Adleon, if you please.” There was applause as Adleon stood up from his chair. “You are a fine man, and a finer Gallant. We wish you every possible success as you take up your path, and though our wishes for your prosperity are indeed great, you will be missed. Z!”

  Dungias stood up with a small canvas bag in his hands. He walked from his seat to hand it to Adleon. “You may be a novitiate in the eyes of the Temple, but you have already mastered much in the way of life. Continue to soar!” As Adleon received the bag, there was more applause. Jocasta cut her eyes over to Annsura who quickly signaled Pristacia.

  “Let’s get back to the party!” Pristacia yelled as she jumped up. With a small remote control device in her hand, she started a track of music that was light-hearted and fast-paced. She grabbed Adleon’s hand and pulled him away from the table, forcing him to dance with her; after two gyrations and her beaming smile, he obliged her.

  Jocasta then caught the eyes of Nulaki and Dungias and they knew to follow her away from the festivities. Just inside the house, Nulaki walked with Jocasta while Dungias slid the doors closed before following.

  “I was originally thinking to have the crew involved,” Jocasta started as she walked. “… but I think we need to bring them in only after I’ve decided the course of action I want to take. Where am I going, Z?”

  “Up the stairs, second door on your right,” Dungias replied.

  “Do we have a lot of options?” she asked as she reached the stairs. “And where is Tuitonn?”

  “Quite a few,” Nulaki stated. “It really all depends on how many birds you want to hit with one stone.” Jocasta looked back at Nulaki who flashed a very handsome smile.

  “As for Tuitonn,” Dungias spoke up. “… he is proving himself worthy by keeping a watchful eye over the Xara-Mansura. Added to that point, we do have two guests asleep in the Brig at this time.” Jocasta shifted her eyes from Nulaki to Dungias.

  “It’s been one damn day!” she snapped.

  “Apparently, that is their modus-operandi, Captain,” Dungias reasoned. “After all, who comes to Black Gate for only a short period of time?” Jocasta’s frown quickly relaxed as she considered Dungias’ perspective.

  “Point made,” Jocasta said as she made it up to the second floor. “They just came up a couple of points… I don’t have to immediately kill them. Any damage done?”

  “None, Captain. But I do not believe we have the entirety of their group.”

  “What makes you say that, Z?” Nulaki asked.

  “In short, there is no getaway vehicle,” Dungias replied. “Satithe has scans of three incidents of ships around the Xara-Mansura, but they all transmitted security codes of the BSZ Control when she hailed them.”

  “Black Gate has a Control Department?” Jocasta asked.

  “They do not,” Dungias advised. “I suspect that it was in fact the same vehicle and Satithe’s scans were somehow compromised. In any case, no vehicle was left unattended in the area.”

  “Well, that’s just being smart, right?” Nulaki asked.

  “Please don’t get him started on auto-drive computers!” Jocasta barked, cutting Dungias off from that very retort. “Okay,” she said, entering the office. “No need to execute them if they didn’t break anything. I’ll talk to them later. You two need to talk to me now. Trust me, boys, your Captain needs to be involved in something foul righ
t now. I’ve had enough fair to last me.

  “At least until the next weighted sigh,” she thought.

  “But before we get to the fun side of things, where are we with unloading the stones?” Jocasta asked as she walked around the large desk and sat down in the chair.

  “I made contact with my guy,” Nulaki responded as he entered commands on his wrist-com. “… but he’s got some personal issues he’s dealing with at the moment. The good news is that he gave me a contact here at Black Gate we can approach to move our stones.”

  “The stones, Mr. Conadier,” Jocasta corrected. “Not our stones.”

  “But I’m working the fencing end of things!” he insisted.

  “For which you will be handsomely paid,” Jocasta shot back. “But the procurement of those stones was my people making the best out of a Nulaki-made situation. That reminds me, do we know anything about the things we collected when we picked up Tuitonn?”

  “I attended a symposium at one of the Black Gate universities this morning,” Dungias stated, surprising both Nulaki and Jocasta.

  “Atsildylweer College?” Jocasta asked and Dungias nodded. “I love that big ass weeping willow tree they have in the eastern courtyard.”

  “It is very soothing,” Dungias agreed. “While the subject matter of the symposium had little to do with enchanted artifacts, I was able to engage a number of contacts who were quite eager to research the matter on our behalf.”

  “You up and trust total strangers with this stuff?” Nulaki questioned. “Just like that?!”

  “Nulaki,” Jocasta said calmly. “Z operates differently than you and I, but I’ve yet to find grounds to question the man’s results.”

  “Of the three, I can personally vouch for two, Captain,” Dungias affirmed. “The third harbors great ambitions, but I cannot yet say whether they are of the precarious capacity. Communication with the group is exclusively within my control.”

  “Fair enough, Z,” Jocasta smiled, asking herself what he had managed to do in the same span of time that she had found a bar, a card game, a fight, a lover, and a serious chase resulting in another fight. She looked back at Nulaki and her eyes squinted. “Think you can talk to me without the butter?”

  Nulaki looked at the ceiling and chuckled. “I can manage that.”

  “Then proceed.”

  “Believe it or not, I got a telnet message from the Sultan of Cashmere. Yeah, no grass grows under this man’s boots. Anyway, he’s made it quite clear that he wants a MannA Rod.”

  “A MannA what?” Jocasta asked, leaning on the desk.

  “It’s like a wand, only more powerful.” Nulaki explained.

  “Oh, sure!” Jocasta exclaimed. “Anything off the top shelf for the Sultan!”

  “All things being what they are, I’d rather have this man as a favorable contact,” Nulaki returned.

  “I would have to concur,” Dungias added, cutting Jocasta off from her normal path of contradiction. Holding back her retort, she signaled for the Black Scarab to continue.

  “The really good news is that there are a number of these devices in Black Gate,” Nulaki shared. “It just so happens that one is in the possession of the Madam Gassio. While Z was making his investigations of the sitting representatives, I was looking into the Governor and his position. Word on the street is that he has several rivals for his position. Of the eleven baronies, nine are voting and our boy’s only got solid support from four.”

  “Who does the Crystal Barony support?” Jocasta asked. Both men looked at her slightly confused and surprised. “What?!” she exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “I’m bound to piss somebody off during this caper. Might as well try to steer around the biggest gun on the deck.”

  Nulaki looked at Dungias who gave only an eyebrow acknowledgement of the notion. “Good point, Captain,” he smiled. “… but the Crystal Baron’s too busy throwing his weight around in The Territories to be too concerned with Black Gate. His representative tends to abstain from voting altogether. Since that’s also the position of the Sapphire Barony representative, the Governor’s keeping his seat by a very slim four-to-three margin. The three all go to Gassio.”

  “And I’m sure the good Madam is doing what she can to change that count,” Jocasta said softly, leaning back and rocking in her chair. “So, she happens to own one of these rods?!”

  “Not exactly,” Nulaki replied and Jocasta’s head fell back as she sighed. Nulaki opted to speak quickly and try to minimize the impact of what he had to report. “She will, however, soon be entertaining an InvokeR who does happen to own one.”

  “Gods, Conadier!” Jocasta exclaimed. “Wait! Entertaining how? What kind of a Madam is this Madam?” Nulaki’s head titled as he smiled. His eyes stared an obvious truth and Jocasta smiled. “I see, a-true-to-the-word Madam. And what does she have that will make the Governor smile should it cease to be her property and find its way into our possession?”

  “A paramour,” Nulaki replied. “And no, from what I’ve been able to gather, this would not be a kidnapping so much as an act of deliverance. The girl was brought in, paraded under the Governor’s nose, he bit, and Gassio’s been jacking up the price of visitation ever since. And by price, I don’t mean credits.”

  “And the Governor pays,” Jocasta said.

  “So far. The word is that he hasn’t seen the girl in weeks, but he is definitely gagging for it.”

  Jocasta considered what she had been told and came to a quick and easy conclusion. “Yeah, I can see where someone who controls the best lovers would be in a position of power around here.”

  “There is some word that she uses programmable clones,” Nulaki shared, and Dungias engaged to keep his reaction from showing. He could not be sure if he had succeeded or not, but he had been spared any real concern as Jocasta’s eyes had locked on Nulaki after he shared that information.

  “She what?”

  “I haven’t been able to confirm that yet, but I’m working on it,” Nulaki said, realizing that he had found a tender spot with JoJo Starblazer. “The target pulls in tomorrow night and he’s there for six days. I figure I only need two to–”

  “We go tomorrow, two hours before midblock,” Jocasta said, getting up from her chair.

  “I’m going to need two days to get the proper equipment!” Nulaki argued.

  “Get with Z, tell him what needs to happen.”

  “My pardon, Captain,” Dungias said quickly. “I was expecting to go with Nulaki when he was to meet with the new contact.” Nulaki blurted out a laugh and Jocasta smiled, holding up her hand.

  “Z, darlin’, I may not intimately know the world of fences, but you seem to forget what an imposing figure you can be at first meetings. Not to mention this is a climate I’m sure the guilds are heavily monitoring. I would rather you be there when the exchange has to go down.”

  “Thank you, Captain!” Nulaki said emphatically.

  “Might I then suggest either Dugger or Princess?”

  “I was hoping to take both, actually,” Nulaki inserted. Jocasta looked at her First Mate who nodded his agreement.

  “Done, Thief. You have your wheelman and your distraction.” Jocasta started for the door. “Please bring them back in the condition you found them.”

  Cutting her off from the door, Nulaki took hold of Jocasta’s hands. “Captain, about this go date you’ve assigned. I–”

  “Z, any chance you know the girl in question?” she asked without looking away from Nulaki. A three-dimensional image of a very comely dark-haired girl projected from Dungias’ brace-com to the middle of the room. Nulaki looked up and was surprised to see the actual lady. “Here’s a tip, when he stands there with one hand in the other behind his back, he’s not just standing there, he’s feeding info into Satithe and correlating data. Between the two of them I bet they’ve already got the address of the Madam’s house with the last registered blueprints of the building.”

  “Along with one of three potential places where the girl m
ight be found at the given address, Captain,” Satithe added.

  Jocasta smiled brightly and put her hand on Nulaki’s arm. “They don’t work this well and this fast to show off, Thief. They do it so I won’t waltz in there and blast the bejesus out of every crapstack in the house! We go, with you or without you. I’d prefer with.

  “Speaking of preferences,” Jocasta said as she remembered something of a significant point. “… aside from his taste in horizontal company, anything dark and slimy about our MannA Rod target?”

  “I can do some more digging, but the primary sweep just pulled him up as a target,” Nulaki stated.

  “Yeah, if you get a sec, do the digging,” Jocasta directed. “If you find something, let me know. If not, sucks to be him!” She gently pulled away from the man and looked at Dungias, shaking her head.

  “So, Satithe let these bastards get on my gumball?” Jocasta asked, walking for the door with her First Mate directly behind her.

  “Given the laws of the zone, I am sure she thought it best, Captain.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Once an unwelcome body is aboard a ship, the laws of that ship prevail over the laws of the zone,” Dungias advised.

  “I could learn to really like it here,” Jocasta said softly. “… aside from the damn bounty-hunters.” Jocasta started down the stairs and looked at the time. “When is your meet, Mr. Conadier?” she called out.

  “I’m getting right to it, Captain,” Nulaki said as he walked behind Dungias.

  “Did I oversell you, Z?” she asked as she reached the ground floor.

  “We have quite a bit of unused equipment, Captain,” Dungias said confidently. “I doubt Mr. Conadier will require something that I will not be able to jury-rig in the timetable you have given us.”

  “That sounds like my Chief Engineer,” she said. “Do whatever you need to, use whatever crew members you have to.”

  “Then I will be calling upon Tank and young Mr. Duvia, given that he seems to be well-trained in the use and applications of computers. Should he take you up on your offer, that is.”