Lannisport got the message, and asked no further questions.
It had been decided that the three convicts would go, along with Lannisport, while Tully and Pal stayed behind to “hold down the fort”, as the Earthman had quaintly put it. Pal was too valuable to risk, and, with his lack of experience, Tully would be of limited use on such an expedition. Thus was it decided.
The Alo Paixa was a fairly typical three hundred ton gypsy freighter, of a standard design in use throughout known space, horseshoe-shaped with the passenger entrance between the two wings or legs. Cargo was loaded directly through the outer edges of these, with the bridge located in the nose. Several holes told the tale of the craft: torpedo strikes, the first line of attack by military ships – and pirates. The berzelium hull was also burned in numerous places, the results of carolinium beamers, for use only at close quarters. The Alo Paixa had really taken a beating. Lannisport had explained, when asked how it came to be a derelict, that it had been the prey of pirates. This area was known for pirate activity, in fact.
“You neglected to mention that when you first told us about the derelict,” Indri had said.
Lannisport shrugged. “Why’d you think it was abandoned?”
“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” Noomi put in.
“It also does not change our circumstance,” pointed out Rastheln’iq.
So it was agreed to continue.
Leaving the Vishnu at a safe distance, the four went over in the unnamed and unmarked shuttle, anchoring it magnetically to the wreck’s hull. They then jetted inside using impellers built into the atmosphere suits through one of the larger breeches in the hull. Rastheln’iq carried a computer drive to copy the software onto. He’d purchased this on Commerce, for the Vishnu had nothing like it. Its core was composed of mikorn crystals, a naturally occurred mineral that had properties like that of manufactured electronics, making it quite valuable – and quite expensive. The small drive had cost another thousand stellars, and between it, purchasing computer components, dock fees, paying Lannisport, and hiring a reliable Overdrive mechanic, more than half the group’s seven thousand was already gone.
As Lannisport had predicted, the freighter was in bad shape. Everything of any real value had been taken. This included the engines and power plants and the like, though furniture and miscellaneous items had been left behind if they were large. The ship had not been picked clean. It would take some time to do a proper job of that, and not worth it to any but the most desperate of individuals, such as the escapees. Indri considered such an operation as the four made their way through the Alo Paixa. Though the hull was worth something, it was too damaged to repair and the cost of salvaging it had been deemed too expensive. What was left of the ship wasn’t worth towing to a salvage yard.
But, Rastheln’iq found, Lannisport had also been correct about the Overdrive software. The computer had been too damaged to salvage, but the data he wanted was still there. Upon inspecting the main computer, the Viridian scientist announced, “This is going to take some time.”
Upon hearing this, Noomi Bloodgood said, “I’m going to take a look around then.”
“I’ll go with you,” offered Lannisport.
Casting his gaze upon the old spacer, Indri told her, “Be careful.”
“I’m always careful,” returned the Tatar.
The Delphite priest sensed that the old man was trustworthy, but as he had explained to Rastheln’iq soon after the two had met, psychomancy was not magic. There were species that could fool it. And there was never any harm in exercising caution.
Two hours passed. Noomi and Lannisport returned, neither having come across anything of value nor encountering any trouble.
“How much longer?” asked the Tatar girl.
“Less than an hour,” answered Rastheln’iq. He lamented the state of the computer, for it would have been a valuable addition to the Vishnu if it had been in anything resembling a working condition. But in all likelihood, he knew, it would be cheaper to buy a serviceable used model than repair this one, which is why it had not been taken by a salvage crew.
“I thought you were eager for this trip,” Indri said lightly.
“It turned out to be more waiting,” Noomi complained.
The Viridian scientist was as good as his word. Less than an hour later, the shuttle was en route back to the Vishnu.
Noomi Bloodgood sat the shuttle down in its customary spot in the voluminous hangar bay, and its passengers disembarked. Removing their helmets, they began going to the office aft that had been turned into a storage closet where a number of atmosphere suits were kept, near an airlock.
But the four sentients never made it.
No sooner had the big bay door closed and the atmosphere replenished than a large group of unsavory looking individuals, brandishing lethal-looking weapons, appeared from the cryo-chamber room. One of the larger ones, who sported a bright red beard, pronounced, “All of you over here … in the open where we can see you.”
Rastheln’iq, Indri Mindsinger, Noomi Bloodgood and the old man known as Lannisport obeyed.
“Where is Tully?” asked the Delphite priest.
“He’s nice and safe in the brig,” answered the big man. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Redbeard, and these men are the Red Shift gang.”
Lannisport visibly trembled at the names, but the Tatar girl laughed derisively. “So you’re known for running away?” Light shifted toward the red end of the spectrum as its wavelength lengthened when an object was moving away. Therefore a red shift indicated a departing object.
“We’re in and out quick, like a lightning strike.
“Now, where are your valuables?”
“We have none,” Indri explained.
“Do you believe that we would be exploring the derelict if we had valuables?” Rastheln’iq said in, explaining the Delph’s statement. “Look around you. This ship is an antique. Have you examined our engine … Overdrive 1? It is highly likely that you are wealthier than we.”
“But not as tough,” added Noomi, who wanted a fight. Not only was she incensed that they were being robbed, but she had been looking for some action ever since their escapade at Halo. Accordingly, she sized up the enemy as they spread out to better cover the quartet: There were ten or eleven of them, each armed with either a carbine or rifle beamer – lethal; they also wore the pistol variety in holsters on their persons. A single direct hit in the torso from the larger models stood a good chance of killing the average sentient. Although she felt confident that she could outdraw any of the pirates, they had their guns out while hers were trapped beneath her atmosphere suit. Not even someone with the agility of a Tatar could dodge bolts of light. But if one pirate came close enough ….
“If you have searched our ship,” continued the Viridian scientist, “you have seen that we have cannibalized as much as we can and salvaged it for trade.”
“We did notice you haven’t taken very good care of the place,” Redbeard laughed. “I guess that means we’re going to have to take your ship.”
Everyone knew what that meant – death for the crew of the Vishnu. That included Lannisport, who was not a crewmember.
In the back of his mind, Indri was glad that he had been right about the old man – the space dog showed no signs of being in cahoots with the Red Shift gang. He was more frightened than any of the escaped convicts.
“Do you want to go by beamer or by vacuum?” asked Redbeard in an unkindly tone.
“May we confer for a moment?” Rastheln’iq asked.
The pirate leader shrugged, but nodded to his men to ready their weapons. Plainly he did not intend on waiting for an answer.
“Are you crazy?” Noomi demanded of the plant man.
Ignoring her, the Vir said into his comm badge, “Pal, command 24.”
“Yes, sir,” the robot boomed enthusiastically, as if he found some satisfaction in taking action.
“Put on your helmet,” Indri told Lannisport, sens
ing what Rastheln’iq had in mind. His plant brain was not as easy to read as animal brains, or else the Delph would have known before the Viridian scientist uttered a word.
Noomi was ahead of both, possessing some understanding of the Viridian scientist’s devious ways.
Suddenly, the bay door began to open. The air sucked at them as it was pulled out of the chamber by the vacuum of space, but the magnetic soles of their suits held them fast. Each flailed a bit in the sudden gust, Noomi crouching low to maintain her balance.
As Rastheln’iq had calculated, Redbeard and his men were forced to retreat back from where they’d come – those that could, that is. The two closest to the bay door were sucked out into space before they could reach safety, wearing neither atmosphere suits nor magnetic soles on their boots.
“Follow me,” the plant man directed as he moved – cautiously, always keeping at least one foot on the metal floor – aft, where two auxiliary elevators sat. The others did as he bade, and, once inside the lift, Rastheln’iq sent it upwards. “We must hope that Redbeard does not have men stationed around the ship. They at least have not gone to the bridge, where Pal doubtlessly waits.”
“You’ve been working with Pal,” Indri said to Rastheln’iq as the elevator rose.
The plant man nodded. “Some emergency commands pre-programmed, so when necessary, they will not require explanation. They are also executed at top speed, receiving priority over all other commands Pal is dealing with.”
“You might have told us.”
“I did not see the point. I assumed that each of you have been taking your own precautions for survival.”
The Delph hmm-ed before speaking. “Where are we going?” asked Indri Mindsinger, but he thought he knew the answer before he spoke.
“I am going to auxiliary control,” answered the Vir. “I can access the Vishnu’s anti-boarding party measures from there. What the rest of you do is your own concern.”
“I’m going to hunt those skivvers down!” Noomi said excitedly, removing her atmosphere suit so she could easily reach the many weapons on her person. Beside her, the Delph did the same, for he did not like confining garb.
Seeing this, Rastheln’iq commented, “I might not be so eager to shed the atmosphere suit. It slows you down but it will provide a little protection against beamers. It might mean the difference between life and death.”
Indri re-thought his strategy, and left his suit on. “What about Tully?” he asked.
“You mean, should we free him? I do not see the purpose to it. He has admitted that he is practically useless in a fight, but if you wish to free him, do so,” returned Rastheln’iq calmly. “I would worry that the pirates are only one deck below the brig, and Redbeard might suspect we would go there first. By the time you can return there, members of the Red Shift gang may already be there.” The elevator had passed deck 7 and was very close to arriving at its destination now.
“You’re right, of course,” Indri murmured.
The plant man said nothing, formulating a plan to deal with the intruders.
The elevator door opened and Rastheln’iq stepped out. The others remained in the lift, which went up one more deck where the shaft ended, deck 3, crew quarters. The quartet of refugees lived on this deck, Rastheln’iq having appropriated the labs in the rear section for himself. The others lived in random staterooms on the deck. All of the Vishnu’s elevators serviced this deck, except the special one at the aft that only ran between auxiliary control and the sensors room on deck 5.
“Noomi,” said Indri, “show Lannisport the way to the bridge while I retrieve my H.E.L. gun.”
As the Tatar took the old man to the nearest elevators, which were amidships, the Delphite priest went to his quarters. He had chosen one of the larger suites – there were almost twenty of these – and used a portion of its space for a small shrine. On the way, he said into his comm badge, “Pal, we are sending a being to you. Protect him if you can do so without endangering yourself or the Vishnu. He is not to be permitted to activate or deactivate any control. Please lock them, and keep an eye on him.”
“Yes, sir!” came the enthusiastic response.
From auxiliary control, Rastheln’iq locked all the pressure doors of the Vishnu; these were intended to protect compartments from others that had been ruptured or contaminated. His compatriots possessed the codes in their comm badges to unlock these as necessary, but this would at least slow the members of the Red Shift gang. Doubtless they would blast their way through them, but that would take time and leave a trail for Noomi and Indri to follow. Then he did the same to the elevators. Blasting them wouldn’t do the pirates any good, for even if they got a lift door open, they could not summon the car.
When Indri tried the elevator and found he needed the code to access it, he glanced at Noomi Bloodgood. “Wormwood.”
As if he had heard his name said, Rastheln’iq’s voice came over the badges, “The intruders are on deck 7 and deck 6. Ignore those on 7 for the time being and focus on those on 6.”
The plant man knew there were pirates on decks 7 and 6 because of the movement of the elevators. The Viridian scientist had no way of knowing how many were on each deck, but any whittling down of opponents was welcome. Those trapped on 7 would remain there, for the locked elevators would not permit them to leave. Those on 6 were another matter: Maintenance stairs there granted access to the upper levels; the stairs came out on deck 3. But it would probably take the pirates some time to locate these, if they ever did.
As Indri and Noomi made their way to deck 6 to deal with the pirates there, Redbeard’s voice boomed over the Vishnu’s intercom system. “I have your crewmate Tully, and I’ll kill him if you don’t unlock the doors and surrender.”
From the background, the Earthman said, “They snuck up on me while I was watching the Alo Paixa! They were in before I knew it! I –”
Before Indri could respond, Rastheln’iq’s voice cut in, “You refer to the useless human who allowed our ship to be boarded? What makes you think we care about him? You expect us to trade our three lives for his one? You do not understand Viridian psychology, Redbeard.”
Both Indri and Noomi knew the game that Rastheln’iq was playing. It was a dangerous one, but the only one to be had. The plant man played the hand that he was dealt. Surrendering now would get them all killed. He had to bluff their way out of this.
“You’re bluffing,” came the pirate leader’s voice.
“Am I? Tell me, pirate, have you ever heard the name ‘Wormwood’?”
There were a few moments of silence, then Redbeard said, “You’re Wormwood? I don’t believe it.”
“Ask the human what everyone on this ship calls me.”
More silence. Redbeard must have been consulting Tully. Then, “Look, Wormwood. Why not throw in with us? You can’t like these others who are with you.”
Evidently, one of the other members recognized the name, for someone cut in, “Let’s get out of here, Captain!”
“Belay that,” Redbeard commanded gruffly. “Well, Wormwood, what do you say?”
“You are trespassing on my ship. You may live if you leave now.”
“Open the doors and we’ll go.”
“Find your own way out and be quick about it.”
“All right, Wormwood,” spat Redbeard. “We’re not leaving! We’re going to kill the lot of you and boast about it in the next saloon we find!”
No response came, but the pirate captain was canny enough not to mistake silence for fear. He growled to his Red Shift men, “Find that plant man and kill him, mates!”
As he and Noomi descended in one of the aft elevators – the amidships elevators did not service deck 6 – Indri Mindsinger considered that Rastheln’iq had gone too far, but reflecting that he was dealing with pirates, it seemed just as likely that they’d take advantage of opened doors to press their attack. The Vir had probably done the right thing, even if it didn’t feel like it right now.
Leaving t
he elevator, the pair proceeded down the wide corridor that ran the length of the ship, guns at the ready. Tully called this “Broadway”, an old Earth term, he’d explained, that seemed self-explanatory to the others. There was some back story about a wide street in New New York that had been submerged by rising waters that Tully did not know much about. The avenue’s importance was lost to history, though its name survived, at least into the twenty-fourth century.
The pair moved silently. Noomi’s footsteps were inaudible to any ear but the Delph’s; hearing was his race’s main sense.
With the pressure doors locked, the pirates would be trapped in the engine room, where the bow elevators were located, unless they had blasted open a door. The one at the end of Broadway was intact. The two closed in on it, hesitating before it.
While the doors of the Vishnu opened relatively silently, there was now no noise of crewmen working to hide what sound was made. If the pirates were close to the door when it opened, they would hear the door and Noomi and Indri would be seen. The Delphite priest said to his companion, “There is no one immediately on the other side of this door.”
Noomi Bloodgood nodded. “How far does your sense work?”
“It varies from species to species and even from individual to individual. It also depends on my own state of mind. Fatigue, stress and anger can all dull it.”
The Tatar girl grinned. “So how do you feel now?”
“Very aware,” Indri returned with a wan smile. “There are four on the other side, searching for us at some distance.”
Noomi nodded. Four meant the majority of the Red Shift gang was still down on deck 7. Redbeard had expected them to free Tully, or get to the weapons in the armory, or both. Rattlesnake – as the girl called Rastheln’iq – had outwitted the pirate leader. He was, as Noomi had told him when she gave him the nickname weeks previously, quite dangerous, and cold-blooded, both literally and figuratively. His weakness – she couldn’t help looking for these in others, reflexively – was that he was no fighter. He was just a thinker, but, oh, what a thinker! The plant man, largely lacking the emotions to be offended, did not mind the nickname Noomi used, since it was not given in malice.
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