The Privateer

by Zellmann, William

  A heavy overcast threatened rain, though Tess reported the temperature to be a comfortable 23 degrees C. A gravity of only .87 of standard and a temperate climate had made the Kingdom the most cosmopolitan and prosperous business center and tourist destination in the Orion Sector before the Fall. Even then, the Kingdom had been the only planet in the Empire to be a hereditary monarchy. Since the Fall, several others had arisen, but none was as universally supported by its people. The hereditary rulers of Angeles had without exception been men of wisdom and vision, and the royal family went to great lengths to insure that tradition would continue.

  They were hailed just as a small, single-seat vehicle headed toward them. “Cheetah, His Majesty’s government requests that all passengers and crew remain aboard pending the arrival of the investigator now approaching. You are requested to cooperate with his investigation in order to minimize your inconvenience. “

  The man who debarked from the tiny vehicle and entered Cheetah’s lock certainly did not look intimidating. He looked more like a hotel manager than an investigator. His suit, if that word applied, consisted of a light jacket over a tunic and flaring pantaloons, all in bright, varied colors. He was of medium height and build, and wore a large grin that certainly looked sincere.

  “Good morning!” He greeted Cale cheerfully. “Or is it afternoon, ship’s time?” He shrugged. “Oh, well, no matter. Let’s get rid of the official nonsense, so we can talk.”

  He produced a wallet and displayed a gold badge and a gaudy identification card. “The name’s Sana Archuk, R. I. S. That’s Royal Investigative Service. I’m here to investigate your report of involvement with a pirate at your last recal stop. There. Now that’s done, and I’m sure you’re suitably impressed.”

  Archuk looked around him. “What an interesting ship! I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Stinger class, eh? Must’ve been a small class. But I guess you hear that a lot.”

  Cale could not help but grin. Archuk took his breath away. He introduced himself and ushered Archuk to a seat in the lounge. “Tess,” he asked, “Would you ask Dee to join us, please?”

  “Of course, Captain,” Tess replied.

  “Tess is the ship’s AI,” he said to Archuk. “I’m sure you’ve looked up the specs on the Stinger class, but the real thing can be a bit overwhelming at first. Cheetah was originally built in the Alliance as an Empire viceroy’s yacht and fast armed courier. Tess is the most advanced AI I have ever encountered. Apparently, the viceroy wanted a yacht he could take out by himself, and that required the Alliance comp specialists to pull out all the stops. Tess can actually compute and execute entire jump programs.”

  Archuk’s eyebrows rose. “So, what does she need you for?”

  Cale laughed aloud. “Not much, I guess. I’m just the guy that tells her where to jump.”

  Dee came into the lounge wearing one of her ‘tailored’ shipsuits, and in moments, she and Archuk were chatting like old friends.

  Finally, the investigator’s permanent smile faded slightly. He sighed. “Well, I guess we’d better get to it, before my boss decides I’m goofing off. No pressure. Just tell me what happened. Start at Faith.”

  Cale nodded. “I grounded at Faith to deliver a passenger . . .”

  “I didn’t think Faith got a lot of passenger traffic,” Archuk interjected.

  Cale shook his head. “They don’t. I stopped at Ararat to do some banking business, and took on a passenger. I guess it was some kind of religious thing. Anyway, I discharged my passenger . . .” he went on to tell Archuk about his involuntary government contract. He showed the investigator the contract and the checks. When he came to the circumstances of Dee’s boarding, the investigator shifted his attention smoothly to her.

  “Extraordinary!” he exclaimed. “They actually exiled you with no legal process at all?

  “Oh no,” Dee exclaimed. “I can assure you there was legal process. In fact, the Planetary Senate authorized the charter and the bonuses.” She attempted to explain the interrelationship of the church and government of Faith, but Archuk waved dismissively. “Faith is one of our nearest neighbors,” he said. “We’ve been aware of the growing influence of the church for many years.”

  Dee continued, outlining her activities and her suspicions concerning her proposed marriage, including her suspicion that a hereditary monarchy was planned.

  Archuk laughed aloud. “Mistress, I have no doubt that your suspicions are well-founded, but I assure you a hereditary monarchy is not necessarily a fate worse than death!”

  Dee stammered and tried to apologize, but Archuk waved her off. “No apology necessary, Mistress.” He turned to Cale. “So, Captain, you accepted the charter, and lifted with the lovely Mistress Raum bound and gagged in a stateroom.

  Cale picked up the story, explaining how Cheetah’s advanced sensor suite had detected the follower. He shrugged. “I couldn’t stop and return to Faith; it wouldn’t have been permitted. I kept trying to examine her closely, but the angle was bad. All I knew was that she was tailing me, and when I speeded up, she speeded up, and when I slowed, so did she.”

  “Was she showing a beacon?”

  Cale nodded. “Yes, while we were in Faith’s space. It is recorded on the sensor logs. Anyway, I decided to re-route to Angeles. It was the nearest world with ship repair and excellent medical facilities, and I was afraid I might need either or both. Besides, the jumps were short, and the intermediate recal stop was uninhabited.”

  Smile gone now, Archuk nodded. “Good thinking. Our space station is fully equipped to provide help.”

  Cale nodded and continued, explaining the preparations they had made during the first jump, and explaining Cheetah’s attitude jets. He told of the plan he had formed, and the hours of practice he and Dee had done while in jump.

  “When we emerged,” he continued, “I had Tess use the attitude jets and boost us max at a right angle to our emergence course. As soon as we detected the emergence, we shut down the drives, reversed our attitude, and prepared to fire, if necessary.”

  Archuk nodded. “And it was necessary.”

  Cale frowned. “Well, we didn’t just start shooting, if that’s what you mean. However, our sensors were getting a side view of them now, and I could see the enlarged engine room. That meant we probably could not outrun her. And now she wasn’t running a beacon. She had to be a pirate. No trader would overpower an Epsilon class. It would cut the hold space almost in half. I had to open fire before she got shields and weapons up!” He slammed a fist into the chair’s arm.

  “So,” he continued more calmly, “That’s about it. I fired the laser and Dee used the quickfirer. When I saw her venting atmosphere and saw she wasn’t raising shields, I figured that was our cue to boost max for Angeles.” He glanced at Dee. “There was some rather . . . uh . . . spirited discussion about that decision.”

  Archuk turned his permanent smile on Dee. “You didn’t agree with his decision to run,” he guessed.

  She hesitated before nodding. “I felt we should stop and help any survivors.” She reddened. “I guess I was, well, forceful. The second jump wasn’t very pleasant.”

  The agent’s smile flared its full force. “Well, I think this is a pretty cut-and-dried case. I’ll need your sensor logs of course, captain.” Cale nodded, and Archuk continued, “I’m afraid we will have to insist on your continued presence on Angeles until the S&R ship returns, but I see no reason to restrict you beyond that.

  “You’re free to leave your vessel now. I’m sure you’re both anxious to get your feet on solid ground. There are a number of reasonably priced but good quality hotels just off the field, and the planetary net will help you find one, as well as shopping information, mistress. I’m afraid it will not be possible for you to return to your ship, so make certain you take everything you need.

  “As for you, young lady,” he continued, “I feel I should tell you that your captain may very well have saved your lives by ignoring your demands. One does not ap
proach a wounded wild and deadly animal. One simply renders it powerless, and then runs like the wind as far and fast as possible!”

  Dee reddened and nodded wordlessly.

  Chapter 7

  Archuk had been correct. There were a number of apparently excellent hotels near the field. They agreed upon a rather conservative-looking hotel with what were apparently moderate prices. Cale converted most of his contract check into Angeles crowns, and was impressed by the favorable exchange rate.

  They took a hovercab to the hotel, where they registered in separate rooms, agreeing to meet in several hours for dinner.

  Cale took a long, slow shower, reveling in the luxury of unlimited water. He frowned at the shipsuit he had been wearing.

  No, he decided. Shipsuits were practical, durable garments for the restrictive environment of a sealed ship. But now he was groundside, and would be for at least a couple of weeks. He sat at the room’s terminal, connected to the Worldnet, and began doing some shopping.

  He also researched the Kingdom of Angeles.

  It seemed to be a pretty good world. Angeles was 99.97 on the habitability scale, the only deduction being for the slightly light gravity of .87 standard. It had originally been lower than that due to the planet’s lack of climate-inducing moons, but during the terraforming project, the early settlers had moved two large asteroids into position, generating the first tidal forces Angeles had ever known. Over a few centuries, the climate had stabilized nicely. A number of native plant and animal species had been able to adapt to the introduction of terrestrial species, and Angeles hardwoods had been heavy demand in the Empire’s interstellar trade. Angeles had been affected by the Fall, of course. To help prevent overpopulation, the Kingdom had once established three colonies. As the Empire declined, the other three systems had requested and received their independence. The last had seceded only fifty-five years ago. There had been no real intersystem conflicts. If a member of the ‘Commonwealth’ desired to secede, they held a planet-wide referendum on the issue. If the population voted for secession, the planetary government petitioned the kingdom for release. In every case, the Parliament had voted to recommend approval to the monarch, and in every case, independence had been granted. As Atmos XIV declared, “If a majority of their population desires to leave the Commonwealth, we have no desire to thwart their will.” Those three systems were still Angeles’ largest trading partners.

  The monarchy itself had existed for over 800 years. As Tess had mentioned, Early on, the royal family had established procedures to insure that only competent, well-trained monarchs ruled Angeles, and they had presided over the development of a prosperous system with a surprising level of personal freedom.

  Even in the four hundred years since the Fall, Angeles was one of very few worlds to remain vibrant and prosperous. In self-defense, Angeles had established a sizable defense establishment, and had established a patrolled “security zone” stretching for one jump in every direction. The pirate that chased them, Cale decided, must have been very desperate or very foolish to risk an attack in the Angeles ‘security zone’. This also explained the excitement and action that had followed his report; the Kingdom’s defense forces considered the attack to have taken place in the Kingdom itself.

  Cale pushed back from the terminal. Angeles looked like a very nice place. In fact, if Dee decided to debark here, Cale would be hard put to marshal arguments against it. Except for his own strong desires, of course.

  But what about his own desires? He was certain he had eluded his pursuers. Oh, he would still have to take precautions, of course. Still, he felt secure enough now to consider settling here.

  Could he really settle down? What would he do? He sighed. Suddenly the quiet of the room bothered him. He needed some people around him and a drink in his hand.

  He stood up and stretched, realizing he had been on the terminal for over an hour. A sound from the delivery chute announced the arrival of the clothing he had ordered. Male styles on Angeles ran mostly to bright colors and a bewildering array of styles. His wine-red kilt blended well with the muted blue tunic and matched the color of his beret, and was actually rather drab, for Angeles. He was more accustomed to tubular trousers, but decided that the kilt, with its decorative holster and bright-plated blaster, had a rakish air. He examined the blaster and found that as he’d suspected, it was not a real weapon. Cale frowned. Angeles was confusing him more by the minute. Most places he’d been, carrying a fake weapon was riskier than carrying none at all; if someone got into a confrontation with someone he thought was armed, he might feel threatened enough to use a real weapon of his own.

  He rode the drop shaft to the hotel’s lobby, and strode into the bar. The dimly lit bar was occupied by a few guests even at this early hour. He slid onto a stool and ordered a penurian glark.

  The human waiter poured the thimble-sized glass and the usual beer chaser, accepted Cale’s scrip, and retreated to the corner of the bar.

  “Wow! You’re really going native all the way.”

  Cale turned at the voice as a pudgy man with a wide face and a wide grin took the adjoining stool. “Your indulgence, sire?” Cale replied politely.

  The man waved a ring-laden hand. “Oh, I meant nothing, sire, nothing at all. It’s just that it’s unusual to see a kilt in a hotel that serves off-worlders.” He proffered a hand. “Name’s Jer Ner-Trel, from Trellia.”

  Cale took the hand and smiled. “Cale Rankin from Warden’s World.” Ner-Trel should not talk about others’ clothing, Cale decided. The man was wearing a peach-colored jacket that barely buttoned over the paunch covered by a blue shirt and bright pink trousers. The styles that emerged on some planets never ceased to amaze him.

  “You’re a long way from home,” Ner-Trel replied. “Warden’s is in the Sirius Sector, isn’t it?”

  Cale nodded. “I haven’t been home in years. I travel a lot, now.”

  The Trellian laughed. “I know what you mean. There’re a lot of folks traveling around, these days. Pretty much have to, if you want to make a credit. I’m a wholesaler of Trellian regel nuts.” He shook his head and sighed. “I’ve been away from home for more than a year, now. So, what’s your line?”

  Cale was prepared for this one. “I run a small courier ship. Mostly high-value shipments, urgent documents, and occasionally passengers.”

  Ner-Trel looked interested. “Yeah? It’d better be a fast ship, with all the pirate trouble around here.”

  Cale’s eyebrows rose. “Really? I had some pirate trouble on the way here. I got away, but it sure scared me spitless!”

  The pudgy man shook his head, his green-tinted gray hair whirling about. “They’re gettin’ more brazen every day.” He leaned closer to Cale. “If I was you,” he said in a low tone, “I’d climb in that fast courier and get away from here. The rumor is that some pirate gang called the Terror is movin’ this way. I hear they’re big enough and tough enough to take on whole planets. In fact, Angeles is building up its fleet because they expect to have to fight.” He looked around guiltily. “I came here because wartime economies are good for business. My deals are made now. I’ll be heading out tomorrow for Trellia. From now on, I’ll be sending shipments here, but all my travel is gonna be inward, toward the Old Empire planets. Those animals mostly stay out toward the rim.”

  Cale nodded seriously. “I’ll think about that. I sure don’t want any more pirate trouble.” They chatted for a while, until Cale realized it was almost time to meet Dee for dinner. He made his excuses and headed for the lift shaft.

  He touched the pad outside her door, and almost before he could release it, the door flew open.

  He stood, gaping. The vision in the doorway was Dee. But it was not the Dee he had expected. Multiple layers of filmy, translucent material in various colors swirled about her with every movement. The result was a constantly shifting rainbow revealing just tantalizing hints of the body beneath. Her eyes and lips somehow seemed larger, more sensual, and her hair was piled high
on her head, supported by a golden net that sparkled with gemstones.

  The effect was wildly spectacular, particularly given her previously conservative dress. It was somewhat spoiled, however, by the expression on her face. She was red with embarrassment, and her eyes darted from side to side as though seeking escape. However, the lips were tight with determination. Cale restrained a smile. She was embarrassed to wear such glamour, but was determined to see it through.

  “Wow!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t know I'd be meeting a member of the royal family! You look like why the riot started.”

  The pink in her face darkened slightly, then lightened as a brilliant smile lit her face. She gave a formal curtsey. “Thank you, kind sir! I’ve been shopping all afternoon. It appears I’m quite a wealthy lady here.” She stepped through the door, teetering slightly on the unaccustomed elevated heels. “Shall we go?”

  Cale bowed. “By all means, my lady. But I’m hardly dressed to accompany a princess.”

  She waved airily. “Never mind,” she grinned. “A princess should always outshine her courtiers.”

  He escorted her to the most exclusive restaurant a hurried consultation with the desk had revealed. Wherever they went, heads turned. The pink that tinted her cheeks now was pleasure and excitement rather than embarrassment.

  Over their meal, though, their talk became more serious. Her pleased smile faded to a resentful frown as she explained, “I’ve been excommunicated by my church, rejected by my own father, and exiled by my entire planet. I see no reason to continue to conform to their standards of dress and behavior. I’m now a free woman, and a rich one. I’m going to enjoy it!” Her frown turned to a challenging glare.

  Cale smiled. “A little rebellion is often a good thing,” he said, “It can open the mind to new experience. Just don’t let it get out of hand. Too much of it can also destroy you.”