“I’ve been wondering that myself,” Ben said. “I don’t think it came from the Confederacy.”
“No,” Nance said. “They want to keep us working solely for their cause.”
“From Genovisi, then,” Kim said. “Who knows how long Holt was there before he came slithering onto our ship? If he told someone that we were picking up a group of rebels here, they could have sent a message about our capacities.”
“Makes sense,” Ben said. “But why?”
“The Confederacy isn’t the only group working under the radar,” Nance said. “Any number of criminal enterprises would need weapons or power equipment.”
“Wow, this is crazy,” Kim said.
“I know,” Ben replied. “The administrator, Vice President Len Webb is his name, invited us to dinner in a couple of hours to discuss the possibility further. But the lieutenant is anxious to leave.”
“They’ve been stuck here longer than expected,” Magnum said.
“They won’t like us making stops along the way, then,” Kim said.
“No, they won’t,” Ben said. “She’s already said as much.”
“Well, that’s just too damn bad,” Kim snapped. “She doesn’t dictate what we do.”
“If she complains, it might burn our reputation with the Confederacy,” Nance said.
“So? If the Brimex people have Zexum and credits, we don’t need the Confederacy,” Kim said. “To hell with them anyway. All they’ve done is nearly get us killed at every turn.”
“Running guns for Brimex might not be any safer,” Ben pointed out.
“It’s better than ferrying criminals,” Magnum said.
“Point taken,” Ben said.
“And we can still work for the Confederacy?” Nance asked. “I’m assuming the Brimex people don’t mind?”
“No, they don’t,” Ben said. “It was one of Webb’s selling points.”
“I don’t see how we can refuse,” Kim said. “We need as many options as possible. We aren’t really expanding our network if all we ever interact with are Confederate interests.”
“She’s right,” Nance said. “I think we have to do it.”
“You don’t feel guilty about it?” Ben asked. “I mean, I know we’re breaking the law to help the Confederacy...”
“If it helps you feel better to think you’re striking a blow of the little guy, that’s fine,” Kim said. “But we can’t be picky about what jobs we take at this stage. I say we deliver whatever cargo Brimex is selling, and if we don’t like it, we can say no to their next offer.”
“Me too,” Nance said. “If they’re willing to supply us with Zexum, then we take it.”
“Magnum?” Ben asked.
The big man nodded.
“The lieutenant won’t like it,” Ben said. “And I don’t trust her. I want Magnum to stay here when I meet with Webb again. I’ll bring you some food back.”
The big man chuckled but didn’t complain.
“I’m staying too,” Nance said.
“I’ll stay if you want,” Kim said.
“No, why don’t you come with me,” Ben said. “I think it’s best if I’m not the only one meeting him. Magnum and Nance can hold the ship. We’ll keep our com-links on in case there’s trouble.”
“Sounds like a date,” Kim said, raising her eyebrows. “I better get ready. I really have nothing to wear.”
“Make sure you wear a sidearm,” Ben said. “And everyone keeps their eyes open. We’re not safe here. This ship is worth enough that someone might try to take it from us.”
“I have an emergency kill switch that would lock down the computer systems,” Nance said.
“And no one is taking my ship,” Kim said.
“Your ship?” Ben asked.
“Not mine alone,” she replied. “But we’ve bonded.”
“Good, that’s good,” Ben said. “So we’re all agreed. Unless Kim or I get a bad vibe from Webb, we’re taking the job.”
Nance and Magnum both nodded.
“Alright, but I want us ready to fly as soon as Webb’s cargo is loaded,” Ben said. “It’s better if we strategize far from prying eyes, in my opinion.”
“Roger that,” Kim said.
Two hours later, the duo walked through the air lock and into the Commons building. Kim looked around in wonder, as Ben searched for Webb. The short, bald administrator was waiting near the far entrance.
“There’s our contact,” Ben said.
“Can you believe this place?” Kim said.
“Just wait,” Ben said. “It gets better.”
They walked quickly across the room. Ben was wearing his cleanest pair of workman’s pants, with his laser pistol slung low on his right hip. He had polished his boots and wore a jacket made of synthetic material that looked like leather. Kim wore pants and a crisp white shirt under a long flowing sweater that was open in the front. The tail of the sweater hung to her knees and was bulky enough to hide her small laser pistol, which she wore in a shoulder holster under her left arm.
“Vice President Webb,” Ben said as they approached the administrator. “This is my pilot, Kim Beaudry.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Webb said with a short bow. “A pleasure indeed. You look ravishing, my dear. Simply ravishing.”
“That kind of talk will get you everywhere,” Kim said with a smile.
“Well, who’s hungry?” Webb said. “I have a table reserved at the Union Club. It’s a bit of a joke around here. There is no union, of course, that would be bad for business.”
He led the way, talking about the station as they used the conveyor belt on the road, and Kim marveled at the transparent dome overhead, which revealed the marvel of the space station. Soon, they turned into a building that was actually an indoor shopping complex filled with small stores.
“We’re not just a factory,” Webb said. “Although we’re not an open station either. We don’t let just anyone wander through the facilities, you see. That’s just asking for trouble. But our workers, their families, and those chosen few who are lucky enough to do business with us are privileged to all that Brimex has to offer. We carry the latest goods from all across the galaxy.”
“It’s impressive,” Ben said honestly.
Even Genovisi’s shopping and entertainment district seemed like a sad imitation of the beauty and elegance on display around them. When they came to the end of the building, they were ushered through an ornate lounge. Webb spoke to a hostess, who showed them into the dining room, which was lined with massive windows. They were on the shadow side of the station, so the stars glimmered in the distance and occasionally a ship glided past.
They sat at a small table with a thick cloth covering the surface. Webb ordered wine for the table, but there were no menus.
“The Union Club has one of the finest chefs,” Webb explained. “He insists on preparing his own menu each day, but I promise it will be delicious.”
“Fine by me,” Kim said. “I wouldn’t know what to order anyway.”
“We pretty much live on protein bricks,” Ben said.
“I completely understand,” Webb said. “We have a small hydroponics nursery, but it’s mainly for herbs and spices. We bring in fresh foods whenever possible, but protein is still the base of most dishes. It’s a shame your other two crew members couldn’t join us.”
Ben felt a pang of suspicion. The administrator seemed to know a lot about the Echo and her crew. It made Ben nervous, and he decided to address his concern head on.
“To be honest, our passengers aren’t happy that we haven’t left yet. I didn’t think it would be wise to leave the ship unattended.”
“I see your point,” Webb said. “Some people have a singular focus that can be dangerous to anyone that doesn’t agree with their goals. But in business, an open mind paves the road to opportunity. I’m glad to see that you are willing to consider our offer.”
“We are willing,” Ben said. “But first I need to understand how you kno
w so much about us.”
“Ah, well, that is simple enough. My job is to know things. You can say I’m the eyes and ears of the Brimex corporation. I have contacts on space stations and worlds through most of the galaxy. They aren’t spies, just friends who help us keep commerce flowing, if you will. And one of them on Genovisi recognized that we could be of help to one another. You have a Kestrel class ship, correct?”
Ben nodded. Kim was pretending to take in the scenic view, but Ben knew she was listening to every word and keeping an eye out for anything that might seem threatening around them.
“Well, as you are aware, those ships were made to ferry cargo. It wasn’t hard to look up the specs and see that you would have ample room for the gear your passengers had purchased, and more than enough space for some things we have been trying to deliver.”
“And our crew?” Ben asked.
“I know there are four of you. But that’s all. Just what my contact sent me. An unlicensed Kestrel class ship with a four-person crew. I guessed at your being independent, since my contact couldn’t confirm or deny your affiliation with the Confederacy. Most of the rebels are vocal in their beliefs, always trying to convert the masses, so to speak. If my man didn’t know you were rebels, my guess was you were independent fliers. And we can always use entrepreneurs like yourselves.”
“Doing what exactly?” Kim asked, still gazing around as the wine was delivered via an automated server.
Webb took the bottle and poured a little of the dark liquid into their goblets.
“Give this a try. It’s from the Bellavue District on Franca Six.”
Ben took a sip of the wine. It was rich and spicy, with a mellow heat. Kim frowned, but she didn’t say anything as she sipped from her glass. Len Webb looked at Kim and leaned a little closer to answer her question.
“Delivering goods, of course,” he said. “Off the radar. It’s easy money for a ship like yours. You have the cargo room, and you have the means to fly in atmo as well as hyperspace. These are lucrative runs. With your cargo capacity, you can make three, perhaps four, runs at a time. Even while doing other business.”
“Flying atmo burns a lot of Zexum,” Kim said. “Especially breaking orbit.”
“Which is why we’re willing to pay in trade. Let’s say a three hundred cubic foot tank of Zexum for every delivery. I have three runs ready to go as we speak.”
“A Zexum tank and a thousand Imperium credits,” Ben countered, hoping he sounded confident.
Vice President Len Webb smiled. He had them where he wanted them. Ben knew they were desperate for the work and wished he could have taken a stronger position, but it was better to get it over with, in his opinion.
“A thousand credits is much too steep,” Webb said. “We wouldn’t break even at that rate.”
“We’re talking off the radar,” Kim interjected, “which means dangerous. It means we’re taking all the risk.”
“Not entirely. You’ll be running our goods,” Webb replied. “If you get caught, we take a loss plus sully our good name.”
“So why trust us?” Ben asked. “You don’t even know us.”
“Well, it’s safe to assume that with your freedom and ship on the line, you won’t take unnecessary chances,” Webb said.
“That’s why we need a thousand per drop,” Kim said. “Our necks are on the line.”
“Believe me, I would do nothing to put your beautiful neck at risk. We will pay one Zexum tank and two hundred Imperium credits...”
Ben started to counter the administrator’s offer, but when Webb saw Ben’s reaction, he added a little more.
“And three hundred local credits good for anything on our station,” Webb finished. “Trust me, that’s the best deal you’re going to get.”
The food came, a mix of real vegetables sliced razor thin and sautéed in a rich sauce with slivers of nutty-tasting protein. They sampled the food, then Ben asked the second most important question on his list.
“Where?”
Webb smiled. “A moon in the Knoxx system. Halpha Seven in the Dennab system. And Tudor Four.”
“Tudor Four is a closed world,” Ben said.
“That shouldn’t matter to you,” Webb replied. “It’s not like you’ll be asking permission to land. Besides, they have a light Imperium presence. And with our vested interest in your success, we will give you as much information as possible. All messages will be encoded with our own encryption software. I assure you, it’s safe. If you’re a decent pilot, you should be able to make the drops easily enough.”
“I’m more than decent,” Kim said, sitting up a little straighter in her chair.”
“So can I count on your cooperation?” Webb asked. “I have dock workers standing by to deliver the goods to your ship now.”
“And the Zexum gas?” Ben asked.
“Let’s say one tank now, then two when you return for your next run,” the businessman said.
Ben looked at Kim. She gave a slight nod. He knew that even having one full tank of Zexum was reassuring. Webb extended his hand and Ben shook it.
“We’ll do it,” Ben said.
“Excellent,” Webb said. “That is excellent news. I will see about the delivery of the Zexum gas as soon as we’re finished eating.”
Ben nodded, feeling a sense of peace about the deal he’d just struck, which allowed him to enjoy the rich food. They ate quickly, their entrees replaced by sweet deserts. Ben was further relieved when a serving bot trundled up with two meals packaged up.
“Oh, I took the liberty of ordering meals to go for the rest of your crew,” Webb said.
“That’s very generous of you,” Ben said, taking the packaged food.
“Actually, I just want them to get a taste of what we have to offer. Consider Brimex your home away from home, Ben. Anything you want, and I mean anything at all, we can get for you.”
“Thanks,” Ben said, suddenly feeling uneasy again.
“I’ll send over one of our communication devices. It plugs right into your coms system and will decipher any messages we send to you. Once you have that, and your Zexum, you’ll be cleared to leave.”
“That’s great,” Ben said. “We’ll make sure your deliveries are taken care of.”
“I have no doubt. Now, I have work to attend to, but feel free to take your time here in the city.” Webb handed Kim a small plastic card. “That has the first three credits good for anything you need here on Brimex Station. When you get back, look me up. I’ll be happy to show you around personally when we have more time.”
Ben got the distinct impression that the short, bald administrator was making a pass at Kim. She nodded and thanked him, but Ben could see that she was hiding her emotions. They watched him leave the restaurant.
“It can’t be this easy,” Kim said, leaning close to Ben.
“Maybe we have what they need?”
“No way. Look at this place. They could build a hundred ships like ours.”
“The ships maybe, but where would they get a pilot like you?” Ben said.
“Don’t piss in my ear and call it hot rain, Ben. They want us to take all the risks while they sit back and cash in on our hard work.”
“It pays better than the Confederacy,” Ben replied. “If you had reservations, you shoul—”
“No,” she interrupted him. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it. I’m just saying I don’t think it will be as easy as he’s making it out to be.”
“Nothing we’ve done has been easy,” Ben said. “The question is, do you think it’s worth it?”
“It’s more money than we’ve made with the Confederacy.”
“I just mean, is being out here, running the blockades, worth the risk? We could just take the Zexum we have and make for one of the outer worlds. Maybe one without a strong government where we could start over.”
“No way,” Kim said. “You’re talking about never flying again.”
“We could make some changes to the ship and try to
get her registered as a cargo hauler planetside.”
“And be poor all our lives? I don’t think so. Look around you, Ben. This is the dream.”
“But I thought you were saying we were making a mistake. That working for Brimex couldn’t be that easy.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be as simple as he implied. He’s a user, Ben, that much is clear. He’ll use us as long as it turns a profit for his precious corporation, but if we run into trouble, we’re on our own.”
“I just want to make sure we’re doing what everyone wants,” Ben said. He let his head droop and looked at the expensive carpet beneath his shabby boots. “I know what I want, but I don’t want to hold you or anyone else to my dream.”
“Is this about us now?” Kim asked. “It’s about damn time. I’m ready for your apology.”
“Are you kidding me?” Ben looked up. “Apologize for what?”
“I invited you to my cabin, you dolt?”
“I’ve seen your cabin. It’s just like mine.”
“You can’t really be that dense, Ben. Come on! I didn’t invite you to see my room. I invited you to be with me...alone.”
Ben’s face flushed red with embarrassment. He didn’t know what to say and couldn’t believe he’d been so foolish. He’d actually gotten angry with Kim, and it had all been a misunderstanding.
“I thought you wanted that,” Kim said, looking very uncomfortable.
“I do,” Ben replied quickly.
“Hey, don’t do me any favors,” Kim snapped. “I don’t need your pity.”
“This is all just a misunderstanding,” Ben said.
“Just forget all about it,” Kim said. “Forget everything. We’ve got work to do.”
She stood up suddenly and started for the exit. Ben gathered up the food containers and hurried after her.
Chapter 8
Kim felt a fury building inside of her. Ben was full of excuses, but until that moment she hadn’t realized that he didn’t feel the same way about her. She felt foolish and angry. He hadn’t seemed displeased when she kissed him, but her mistake had been assuming that he felt the same way she did. It seemed obvious to her now that he didn’t. Why else would he have acted as if he didn’t understand what she was inviting him to her room for?
Jump Point: Kestrel Class Saga Book 2 Page 5
