Heat Seeker

by Scot C Morgan

  "I know," Sarah said.

  "And now, Tiffin too. I guess I have that I on my plate."

  "If anyone's up for the job, you are."

  Jake tilted his head slightly. "Yeah, well. Let's get this one done. We'll figure out later later."

  "Okay," Sarah said. "Take care down there. The place looks civilized enough, but there's bound to be some sort of trouble. And if there is, chances are you'll find it."

  Chapter 12

  Jake stood at the top of the shuttle ramp which was down and resting on the dirt of the street below. Tiffin and Dewey stood behind him, each off to one side.

  They'd landed the shuttle on Boutis in one of the open spots for such ships along a wide dirt road which ran in a curve along the outer edge of the settlement. There were nine other shuttles parked on the same strip, every one roughly the size of theirs but each a distinct design. A few of them had markings across the side.

  Jake recognized one of the languages. The one he could read was on the ship to his left. In slanted dark blue letters it read 'Rock Hopper', though the words looked much different and were pronounced with a good amount of saliva and tongue smacking. He didn't read it aloud.

  The air felt hot and dusty. The sky shone bright with a midday sun which filled a quarter of the view overhead. Riding the heat and grit of the air were the sounds of a bustling trading settlement—voices and clamoring and makeshift industry pushing through and around all the others. On foot, wheels, and invisible mag-lev fields merchants and deal-makers hustled about their wares and schemes.

  More dirt streets extended away from them, each connecting to the curved road they were parked on. Jake counted seven on each side, but figured there might be more. The buildings blocked his view beyond those. Of the ones he counted, he could only see the ends of them where they met the road with the shuttles.

  In front of him, directly across from where the bottom of his shuttle's ramp met the ground was the beginning of the one road he could see down completely, at least as far as his eyes could make out. He didn't see the end of the street. The haze in the air turned the distance to a blur. Structures, one or two stories high, lined the right side of the road. Most of them were made of blocks of compacted earth. A few were metal. All of them were weathered, roughly shaped, and generally shoddy looking. The opposite side of the road had similar buildings, but everyone of them evidently opened up to the adjacent street. Only the backs of the buildings faced this road.

  People and all manner of small vehicles filled much of the space between the buildings, traversing up and down the road which had no clearly defined edges. The people were of numerous races and colors—Xandrilin, Grop, Dalterrian—dark green, white-speckled silver, dull magenta. Most were bipedal. Jake recognized at least half the races. The ones he knew something about had decent reputations.

  "You see," Jake said, waving his extended right arm in an arc from his center to his side, gesturing to the view of the trading village before them. "Civilization."

  Tiffin hoisted her backpack higher up, pulling the straps more snug as she did. She stepped forward to Jake's side. "Awesome."

  Dewey made a faint gagging sound and held his hand up to his nose. "What is that smell?" There was a foul odor in the air, but it wasn't one distinct smell. He slowly stepped forward, coming beside Jake and Tiffin.

  Jake, smiling, glanced at Dewey and reached out, grabbing him just over his shoulder. "Opportunity, Dewey." He smacked Dewey on his back and started down the ramp.

  Dewey looked at Tiffin.

  She shrugged. "It's not that bad."

  Dewey said nothing, but raised his dark blue eyebrows, slightly stretching his light blue skin.

  "What is it?" Tiffin said.

  Dewey looked stunned. His gaze drifted down toward the ground.

  Jake stood on the edge of the road at the bottom of the shuttle's ramp. "You two coming?"

  Dewey seemed to snap out of his stupor. He quickly looked up and shook his head.

  Jake turned his palms up, gesturing to him. "What? Come on. We've got work to do."

  The firing of some sort of hand-held energy weapon sounded in the street about thirty feet behind Jake. He spun around to see what was happening. A mag-lev cart, six feet long and three feet wide, elevated three feet off the ground, shot across the unpaved street away from a group of people. The runaway cart, loaded high with parts Jake couldn't clearly see, sped across the wide intersection faster than a Halderian razor cat. A second later it crashed into the back of a concrete building, exploding, breaking into a hundred pieces, sending the payload flying in every direction.

  A skirmish between five or six people broke out in the middle of the road. They could be seen more clearly as the others around them moved away. A body was near them, facedown in the dirt. The scuffling group settled down and separated into two sides. One from each side stepped forward and shook the hand of the other. A few moments later four of them picked up the body and carried it out of the middle of the street, disappearing between two buildings. A few others went to where the cart impacted the building and began collecting the strewn cargo into a pile. The flow of people in the street filled back into the space which had been cleared for the encounter. No one seemed fazed by what happened.

  Tiffin had stopped midway down the ramp, watching the mag-lev cart fly into the building. She saw the commotion break out. When it ended she gently patted her vest pocket and whispered something to Squeakers who was inside. She took two more steps down the ramp, then turned back to Dewey. "It's over now. There's probably some nicer areas. Let's take a look around."

  Jake heard her talking to Dewey. He was impressed at her reaction. He thought about how it hadn't been long since he met her on Eon and how scared she was when he found her after Hyde had come after her. But then he remembered how she rescued him from the arena and flew him back to his ship.

  "She's right," Jake said loud enough for Dewey to hear him. "Don't let the bad timing of one incident throw you off." He looked around at many of the people walking and riding up and down the street and going into and out of the buildings. "All these people seem to be okay with things around here. Now let's find our contact."

  Dewey gingerly walked down the ramp, joining Tiffin and Jake at the bottom.

  Once Tiffin and Dewey had stepped off the shuttle ramp Jake pressed a button on the transmitter attached to his belt and the ramp lifted. After a few moments the shuttle door was closed.

  They walked for several minutes through the crowd asking if anyone had heard of the person they were there to see, someone by the name of Felik. After fifteen inquiries a woman seemed to faintly recognize the name and pointed them to a building down the street. Jake thanked her and he, Tiffin, and Dewey headed to where the woman indicated.

  Jake glanced to both Tiffin and Dewey to see how they were managing. He knew that while the hustle and bustle and slightly dodgy look of the trading outpost was something he was used to, he suspected it all might be a little unnerving to the two of them.

  Tiffin was wide-eyed and her mouth oscillated between a smile and hanging open a little as she looked around at the activity on the street. Dewey on the other hand kept his head forward and slightly down, nervously checking the passers-by with quick glances.

  "I'm surprised at you, Dewey," Jake said. "I figured on Eon where you worked you got used to seeing lots of different people of questionable character."

  "That's true," Dewey said. "No offense."

  "None taken." Jake grinned.

  "But," Dewey continued, "any security concerns were managed by Eon guards. It's a little different when you know there's nothing between you and anyone that might come after you."

  "Yeah, I suppose you're right," Jake said. "But look around. These people have their own business to take care of. If we don't cause any trouble, they have no reason to pay attention to us."

  A few minutes later they reached the building the woman told them to visit. Jake noted of all the buildings they'd passed
on the street only this one had no activity. The buildings they'd passed and the few ahead had people going into and out of them.

  He stood before the wide wooden door. It had two pieces of blackened flat metal strapped across it, inline with the hinges. The oversized handle was of the same metal. There were no windows in the front and Jake didn't see any on the side as they approached.

  He lightly hammered the fleshy side of his fist against the door and waited.

  There was no response.

  He tried the handle. The door was unlocked. He opened it to a dimly lit room and strange sounds. His eyes hadn't adjusted from the bright sky outside, so he couldn't see what was making the noises.

  "Well," Tiffin said from behind him. "Go on."

  Jake peered back over his shoulder at her, then looked again to the room and entered. Tiffin and Dewey followed.

  A few steps inside and Jake's eyes adjusted. He stood in the middle of a large room filled with metal cages. He guessed there were about thirty. Chirps, hisses, chortles, grunts, and every other manner of creature sounds came from the cages. He saw many of the creatures, but some evidently were hiding within the habitat provided in their cages.

  "How unusual," Dewey said.

  "What are they?" Tiffin asked, glancing at Jake.

  He shook his head. "Hell if I know. I don't recognize any of them."

  The three of them slowly walked around the room taking in the contents of the cages. Each cage came up to Jake's waist. The metal bars ran both directions, forming a tight lattice with half-inch openings. The creatures ranged from furry to slimy, from timid to curious. They might've been a collection of wild animals from a dozen or more alien planets.

  Jake watched one of them closely for a moment. It was a dull green flat gelatinous body, six inches across and a couple high. A foot long. He didn't see eyes or limbs on it. One end of the mass rose and turned to face him. It's body stretched at that end, extending to the edge of the cage. It was then that Jake noticed the clear glass-like barrier on the inside of the metal bars.

  Tiffin stepped beside Jake. "That's so weird."

  The green creature thrust half its body against the glass toward Tiffin and Jake, slamming into the barrier and spreading quickly out to cover an area with half the mass of its body which stretched out into a thin circle.

  Tiffin jolted at the smacking thud.

  A voice came from across the room. "You've upset it."

  Jake and Tiffin turned to see who'd spoken. At the far side of the room, near the rear, stood a short thin man clothed in gray pants and a loose yellow shirt. He wore no shoes on his extremely wide feet which each had six toes. He held a device that looked like a lantern, but it gave off no light. He spoke again and Jake realized the voice came from the lantern. "It's very temperamental."

  Dewey, who was nearer the man, glanced at one of the cages and then stepped away from it toward the center of the room.

  "We're looking for Felik," Jake said, stepping closer to the man. "That you?"

  The man bowed his head. He held his voice lantern up and moved his other arm in a slow sweeping motion, as he looked at the cages around the room. "You have come for one of my wondrous creatures? Word of Felik's collection brings many visitors. None can match what I have to offer here."

  "Yeah, they're nice," Jake said.

  "Nice?" Felik said. "These are the rarest creatures ever offered. Travelers come from across the galaxy merely to gaze at Felik's collection."

  "Uh huh," Jake said. "Like I said, they're nice." He noticed Tiffin desperately trying to hold back a smirk… unsuccessfully.

  "They are magnificent," Dewey said.

  "I'm not a customer," Jake said. "I was told you had cargo to move."

  Felik's eyes widened and he raised his forefinger on the hand not holding the voice lantern. "Of course. I didn't have a name. Just the initials, G.D.S."

  Jake caught sight of a long furry arm with a capable-looking claw stretching through the openings in the wire on one of the cages near him. He took a step away from it. "Yeah, that's me. Galactic Delivery Service. My outfit."

  "Of course," Felik said, glancing at Dewey and Tiffin before returning his attention to Jake.

  "They're with me," Jake said. "So, the cargo?"

  "Felik approached Jake. "You were advised payment is to be made at the destination. Weren't you?"

  Jake tooled his teeth for a moment before answering. "Yeah. I got the terms. But if they don't pay, I keep the cargo."

  Though I'm not sure I'll want to.

  Felik nodded and walked toward an alcove at the back of the room which Jake hadn't noticed before. "I'm counting on it."

  "Excuse me?" Jake said, moving to see what Felik was walking toward.

  Felik stopped and turned to face Jake. "The buyer will pay. I only mean I'd rather the…cargo not be returned in any case."

  "Why is that?" Tiffin asked.

  Jake flashed her a stern look. She tipped her head down slightly and took a step back.

  "Why is that?" Jake asked Felik.

  Felik opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't speak. He gestured for Jake to wait a moment, then stepped into the alcove.

  Jake peered around the corner of the stacked cages Felik had walked past. He saw Felik lifting a small cage from the top of another. He turned and walked to Jake, holding the cage in front of him.

  The cage was half the size of the others in the shop, but Jake couldn't see what sort of creature was in it. A thick cloth pad was draped over the top, front, and back of the cage. The sides were solid metal. Felik held metal looped handles which hinged at the top edges of either side. He had placed his voice lantern on top of the cage.

  "This is the cargo to be delivered," Felik said, extending the cage toward Jake.

  Jake took hold of the two handles from Felik, who grabbed his voice lantern off the top.

  "What is it?" Jake asked.

  Tiffin stepped closer pulled up one corner of the padded cloth, peering into the cage.

  Dewey kept his distance.

  Felik's lantern translated for him once again. "It's one of the rarest creatures in the galaxy."

  "Aw," Tiffin said. "It's cute. Look." She nudged Jake's arm as she lifted the cloth higher. "It's a fluffy round…" She looked at Felik. "What is it called?"

  "Gefreety Death-bringer."

  Tiffin dropped the cloth and stepped back.

  Dewey, now a few feet further from the three of them and the creature, spoke up. "This is just the sort of reason why I said I'd rather not go on the cargo delivery."

  Jake held onto the cage, but straightened his arms to get it as far from his face as possible. "You're kidding, right?"

  "Don't worry," Felik said. "It's not as dangerous as it sounds."

  Jake wasn't convinced. "Oh, good. For a second there, I thought it was some sort of death-bringer." He turned, knelt, and placed the cage on the floor beside him, but not too close. "Normally, I'm a no-questions-asked guy, but—"

  "I understand your concern," Felik said. "Honestly, if you avoid disturbing the creature, it'll probably sleep most of the way there. It's almost in hibernation. I only put a little food in its cage once every few days. The key is to keep it in a quiet environment."

  Tiffin appeared less concerned now. "What do you feed it?"

  "Insects, snails, smaller creatures," Felik said. "I'll send some with you."

  Jake noticed Tiffin looked alarmed. He saw her place her hand over her vest pocket.

  He glanced at the covered cage on the floor. "Water?"

  "No," Felik said. "It gets enough from the food and the air. Its hairs act as wicks, drawing in the moisture from the air."

  Jake shrugged. "So, somebody thinks this is a good idea for a pet."

  "More likely a collector," Dewey said.

  Jake looked Dewey's way and nodded. "Okay. Not a problem. Just give us the bugs and we'll be on our way."

  Felik smiled before stepping to a cabinet at the other side of th
e room and retrieving a box which was half the size of the Gefreety Death-bringer's cage. He handed the box to Tiffin.

  Jake gestured to Dewey, indicating he should pick up the cage. Dewey stood frozen for a few seconds, but then did as Jake asked.

  "We have the destination coordinates," Jake said. "Who's the contact?"

  Felik walked toward the front door of his shop, turning his gaze back to Jake to answer him. "A servant of Lady Sonja, Governess of the city of Cromas. His name is Lar. I'm told he has a farm outside the palace."

  "Got it," Jake said, as he, Dewey, and Tiffin moved to the door to leave. "One more thing."

  "Yes?" Felik said.

  "Place to get a drink around here before we head out?"

  Felik glanced at the cage. "Wouldn't you rather set out right away?"

  "We only landed a short time ago," Jake said. "So, how about it?"

  Felik opened the door and nodded toward the end of the road, the opposite way from Jake's ship. "Down there. You'll find a place down there." He looked at the cage again. "It can be a little rough sometimes, though."

  Dewey held the cage up slightly. "Maybe you should take this back to the ship first."

  "No," Jake said. "We'll just make a quick stop for a drink. You can handle the creature, can't you, Dewey?"

  Dewey's mouth opened but he didn't say anything.

  "Good," Jake said. He slapped Felik on the side of his shoulder. "Thanks for the directions."

  Jake stepped out the door and started toward the local watering hole. Tiffin and Dewey followed him, she holding the box of insects and he holding the cage with the Gefreety Death-bringer—walking as steadily as he possibly could.

  Chapter 13

  They stepped into the cantina, sliding past a few people lingering at the doorway. Jake could smell the idlers probably hadn't bathed in weeks. He wasn't surprised. He noticed they wore mining suits, pealed half down, the loose portion hanging from the fold which ran around their waist.

  Wonder what they mine on this planet?