Skillman nodded. “You had better not disappoint me.”
Erik didn’t answer, but for a brief moment, as Skillman stared at the floor, presented the CEO with a look of contempt. In the same moment, he changed. He was hooded, as he had been before, clothed in purple flowing robes, clutching something in his hands. They looked like thick stone rectangles, around a foot or so in size. Tablets, perhaps. Beneath the hood, his face was scowling, his teeth bared.
One day, this will all be mine. Your time at the top is coming to an end, Lance.
The words drifted through the room, filled with contempt. Ursula then heard chanting, the sounds of many dozens of men and women. Skillman did not seem to notice either the robed man or the many voices. Ursula blinked and the apparition was gone, Overlook standing in its place.
The discussion over, Skillman dismissed the man, who vanished as abruptly as he had appeared. He turned back to Ursula, the woman seeing the pain and irritation in the man’s eyes. She knew her own to be filled with glee at the man’s new source of misery.
“Your sister and her new friends are making me very unhappy, Ms Lexx,” Skillman said. “This isn’t something that I can tolerate or allow to go unpunished.”
Ursula did not attempt to say anything more, just watched the man closely. She had hoped that with the news he had received of her sister being safe, and a minor rebellion on his hands, the man would get dressed, end this simulation, and leave her in peace, having lost the carnal desires he had possessed before Overlook’s appearance. He had problems to deal with, people to shout at, things to organise.
He did eventually leave to handle all those issues, but not before he raped her, anyway.
Chapter 18
“Chris! Sid!”
Chris blinked awake as he heard the sound of the desperate female voice, and the jingling of his quarters’ door chime. He had locked the door before going to sleep, a force of habit ever since he had expressed interest in joining the Resistance. He didn’t want to wake in the middle of the night to find himself surrounded by drones and WEAPCO personnel, and be dragged away to God-only-knew where. At least here, on the Dodger, he should be safe from such threats. He got out of bed and opened the door, as the frantic jingling continued. On the other side was a distraught Phoebe.
“What’s wrong?” Chris asked.
“It’s Ursula!” Phoebe said. “She’s in trouble! She’s in pain!”
Chris tried to focus and wake up faster. “How do you know? Did she send you a message? Has she escaped from where she’s being held?”
“No,” Phoebe said. “I just felt it.”
“Huh?” Chris saw Sid approaching, coming out of the only other private cabin on the freighter. Phoebe was sleeping alone in the main crew quarters, a large room with a number of bunks in it. “How did you feel it?” Chris asked.
“I don’t know,” Phoebe said, shaking her head. “But ... I just felt a sudden surge of pain and distress.”
“Sure it wasn’t just a bad dream?” Chris asked, unable to help from feeling dubious.
“A dream doesn’t normally cause this much pain, or leave you feeling so violated.”
Chris remained unsure. He looked at Sid, hoping that he might be able to offer up a reasonable explanation.
“It’s possible that it has something to do with you both unlocking your abilities,” Sid shrugged. “If you’re both now sufficiently advanced, perhaps you’re able to communicate over sub-space channels? Either that, or the WEAPCO systems here on the Dodger are acting as a conduit of some sort. I’m not sure, though.”
“We have to help her,” Phoebe said.
“And we will,” Chris said. “But we can’t do it yet. We can’t just charge in there without a plan. This could end up being a massive operation, and we need time to prepare ourselves. I’m not making excuses, but I think that going in there all guns blazing would be the worst thing possible. William Benedict tried it and ... well, it didn’t work out so well for him. I’m sorry.”
Phoebe took some time to consider Chris’ words, then nodded. “I understand. It’s just that ... she was hurting. A lot. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. It was like whatever was happening to her was happening to me, too.”
“We’ll do something for her soon,” Chris said. It was all he could offer at the time.
Phoebe nodded again, her shoulders sagging.
“Okay, come on,” Sid said to Phoebe. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
“That sounds good,” Phoebe said, and allowed Sid to walk her back to her quarters.
Now awake, Chris set about getting washed and dressed, and getting some breakfast of his own from the ship’s supplies. He joined Phoebe and Sid on the bridge a short while later. Phoebe still looked agitated, and Chris hoped he would be able to bring about something positive for her in the next few hours.
“I was looking up information on the status of any rebellions or resistance groups in Eyananth, late last night,” Sid said, bringing up a holographic projection of the star system. There were five major planets in total – Nerod, Allez, Urusor, Dorim, and Elamale. “There are a few things that I think we should do at this point. The first is to do as Chris suggested, which is to work on honing our own skills. It’s only going to get harder from here on out, and you could both do with more combat training. Phoebe, you especially. You’re reliant on giving the Valkyrie orders, which is fine, but you can probably improve and sharpen your command of it.”
“Yes, absolutely,” Phoebe said.
She sounded more resolute and determined today, Chris noted. Not as sprightly as yesterday, when everything had been a game. The shock of feeling her sister’s distress had brought the reality of their situation home to her.
“We also have the Talons and other fighters that we acquired from WEAPCO,” Sid said. “It would be well worth our while to help Phoebe improve her command of them. You weren’t able to control as many of the fighters as you would have liked, so in the meanwhile maybe refine your command over the ones we have?”
“Absolutely,” Phoebe said, nodding, fire in her eyes.
“What else?” Chris asked. “Are there any signs of an uprising or a resistance here?”
“No,” Sid said. “I’m not sure if the idea ever caught on, or if those who were interested opted to travel to Spirit and join the movement there. We may have to accept the fact that we will have very little help here.”
“We’ve done okay so far,” Chris said.
“Chris, let’s be realistic – we’ve downed a frigate and a corvette,” Sid said. “It’s not something to keep crowing about.”
“It’s better than what we managed back in Spirit, with a full force, though,” Chris said.
Sid tapped away at a control on the freighter’s bridge, manipulating the system map and zooming in on one of the planets. “Elamale is a gas giant, and one of the principle planets where WEAPCO acquires elements for refinement. It’s not critical to their operation, but makes up a fair amount of their supply line here. Hitting that could cause them some grief.”
“So, that’s our first target?” Phoebe asked.
“That’s one of our targets,” Sid said. “There are shipyards here that might be worth striking first. That’s where we will get some practice in. We can start on the smaller ones, and work our way up.”
“So, no help in this system at all?” Chris asked.
“There is a mercenary presence here,” Sid said, tapping away at the console and highlighting parts of the system map with splotches of colour, indicating the various groups. “Quite a large one, in fact. Not as large as the one that was back in Spirit, but significant enough. We can probably expect many from Spirit to also have moved here, too, following the fall of New Chile.”
Chris studied the map, seeing a rather even distribution of mercenary groups around each of the planets. He couldn’t be sure of how many mercenaries had managed to escape Spirit before their base had been destroyed, but he imagined that it was
possible that the groups here could each have swelled their numbers by as much as a quarter since then.
“I think that they will prove our greatest allies in our fight against WEAPCO,” Sid concluded.
“Wait, hold on a minute,” Phoebe said, standing up and backing away. “You want to work with mercenaries?”
“Something wrong?” Chris asked.
“Yes! Mercenaries tried to turn me in to WEAPCO at one point,” Phoebe said.
“Well ... that’s sort of expected of them, I guess,” Chris said. “Mercenaries and bounty hunters would have all had you on their radar, once WEAPCO were found to be after you. Sid and I were on their watch list at one point, too.”
“And you’re happy to just waltz straight back over to them?” Phoebe asked, incredulously. “They’ll turn us all over in a heartbeat.”
“No, they won’t,” Chris said. “By now, every merc group in the galaxy will know that WEAPCO was setting them up for a fall. None of them will want to deal with the Corporation at all. If anything, they’ll be more than happy to help us, seeing as we want to take WEAPCO down.”
“It doesn’t mean that they won’t have thrashed out another deal and come to some sort of truce,” Phoebe said.
Chris frowned. “Well, I suppose it’s possible, but ... No, I doubt it.”
“Hmm, Phoebe does raise a good point,” Sid admitted. “The ultimate purpose of mission 3412 was to eliminate the mercenary groups, but WEAPCO knew that hitting them all at once would be problematic. So, killing the Heads of the Family, as they were called, would have created a power vacuum and made things easier for them. I have no idea whether or not they succeeded, but we should be careful.”
Chris considered it again for a time. “They’re still our greatest ally, though. And until we can get a chance to sharpen your skills, Phoebe, they are all we have.”
Silence between the three, as they each studied the map. Chris was sure he knew what they were thinking – they couldn’t back out now. Phoebe certainly wouldn’t, not until she found her sister. Sid was quite set on seeking revenge for the death of his parents. And as for Chris himself, he just wasn’t one to back down from a fight. If he had been, he would have stayed on Hail, with Hugo and all the other former members of the Resistance who had settled for an easier life.
“Where exactly are we now?” Chris asked.
Sid tweaked the system map, zooming in on their position and showing that the Dodger was near the planet Allez. There was something else, too.
“Is that a starport?” Chris asked, pointing to the blip on the display.
Sid zeroed in on it. “The Hessian Crucible,” he said. “It’s more of an array, than a port. It’s home to around a quarter of a million people.”
“Oh, I know it,” Phoebe said. “It was once a centre of great commerce in the system. Now it’s frequented by low lifes, drug dealers, bounty hunters – all sorts. Not the kind of place you take the family on holiday. It’s pretty derelict, too. I’ve been there on a few occasions. Made a very swift exit each time, I can tell you.”
“Sounds pretty dangerous,” Chris said, “and not the kind of danger that we want to be inviting. WEAPCO’s one thing, but they’re also predictable. We should probably avoid it.”
“But having said that, it might be the ideal place to meet your mercenary friends,” Phoebe said.
“Perhaps, but I think we should come back to that one. What about actual starports? They will—”
The bridge’s comms system jingled, cutting him off. All three turned to look at the console.
“What was that?” Chris asked. He’d never heard that specific sound from the computers up here before.
“I have no idea,” Sid said.
“Captain, you have received a new message,” the voice of the Dodger’s AI system said.
“Wha ...?” Chris asked, baffled. “A message?” Wasn’t the Dodger running covert? Did WEAPCO have some sort of back door, even to their own covert systems? Surely not? That would defeat the purpose of the idea.
“We are covert, right?” Chris asked Sid.
“Since last night,” Sid said.
“Do you think it could be from your sister?” Chris asked, looking at Phoebe.
“I ... don’t know,” Phoebe said.
“Well, only one way to find out,” Sid said, taking the seat at the main terminal. His fingers danced over the console, redirecting the message to the central holographic system. Chris at first thought that it might be a video message, but it turned out to be nothing but text.
Nice of you to join us, Mr Bainfield. I was wondering how long it might be before you decided to show up. We could use your skills, if you are willing. Come to the Hessian Crucible tonight, and meet me in the private rooms of the DNA Lounge. I will be listed under my own name.
The message was signed ‘Krass Tyler’.
Chris swore. “How the hell did he manage to get a message to us?” he asked.
Sid shrugged. “I have no idea. Perhaps he somehow recognised the Dodger and was able to do it that way. And he’s a merc, after all. He probably has all sorts of tricks up his sleeves.”
“If he can do it, WEAPCO probably can, too,” Chris said. “We now need to be extra careful.”
“Who is Krass Tyler?” Phoebe asked.
Chris and Sid explained quickly, telling the woman about the time they had spent with the mercenaries.
“Do you think you can trust him?” Phoebe said. “He did say that he would kill you the next time he saw you.”
“Yes,” Chris nodded, “he did.”
“Sounds like a trap to me,” Sid said.
The bridge’s console jingled again. Sid attended to it. A follow-up communication from Tyler.
I should add that this is not a trap. I will also grant you and your friend amnesty from my threat to kill you, so long as I have your cooperation. You will be under my personal protection while we meet. Should you accept the terms of our alliance, I will extend the protection to the full duration of the contract.
“Alright, I’m in,” Chris said. “How about you two?”
Phoebe and Sid looked at each other. Clearly, they weren’t quite convinced, but were at least willing to entertain it if Tyler was going to be true to his word. “Okay,” they both said.
“Good,” Chris said. “Computer, from here, how long would it take us to reach the Hessian Crucible?”
“At cruise speed, one month and two days. At light speed, three minutes. At hop speed, around sixteen minutes,” the Dodger’s AI answered.
“I don’t think we should cruise our way there,” Phoebe said. “Your friend said that he would only be hanging around for the night.”
“True,” Chris said. “But I also think that we should aim to be fashionably late. Let’s go for the hop, and then load up the Manx and get over there. Anything you can tell us about this DNA Lounge place, Phoebe?”
Phoebe grinned. “Happy hour is five till six, every day.”
“That it?” Chris asked, a little incredulously.
“Like I said – I didn’t really hang around there very much.”
“Okay. What time is it now?”
“Five-thirty, system standard time,” Sid answered, with a glance at the bridge’s console.
Chris rubbed his chin. “You know, I do quite fancy a drink. We might just make it there in time to grab some cheap ones, too.”
“I really doubt it,” Phoebe said. “Only if we run like hell.”
“Hey, we might as well give it our best shot. Maybe we’ll get in there with just a couple of minutes to spare ...”
~
They missed happy hour by two minutes.
Chapter 19
“Come on, hurry up,” a man behind Chris moaned for about the twentieth time. The queue to get into the club was moving exceptionally slowly, due to a number of revellers at the front arguing over whether or not they should be permitted entry.
“This could take all night,” Sid muttered. “Pa
rt of the reason I never liked clubbing in the first place.”
“And that’s not exactly inviting, either,” Phoebe added, nodding in the direction of the three robed men, standing not too far from where the queue was formed.
“Mal has returned! Our great leader, whom some once declared dead, is here to lead us once more!” one of the men was saying. “We invite you here tonight to share in the celebration of his resurrection, and join the Immortal League. It is the galaxy’s fastest-growing organisation, one that offers great rewards to all those who are accepted into its fold.”
Chris’ thoughts turned to the vagrant he had seen recruited by the two robed men back on Ceradse. The bar for entry into the folds of the Immortal League seemed very low indeed. If the recruiters targeted the needy, offering them great things in exchange for their loyalty and obedience, he could see how the cult’s numbers could have swelled so quickly and easily.
“Heaven awaits, the doors are open, and the way to it has been revealed,” the robed spokesman went on, repeating the same speech he had been reciting ever since Chris, Sid, and Phoebe had arrived at the Crucible. “The words of God have been revealed to Mal, and Mal alone. God has spoken to him, and shown him the path that must be followed. Eternal life and salvation await the chosen. You, sir,” the cultist addressed a man in the queue, “you can be saved from your life of hedonism, wandering, and debauchery that this night will bring. Save yourself from the evils this house of ill repute will tempt you with.”
The man in the queue ignored the unwanted attention, even as he was offered a scroll to read.
“You, young lady,” the cultist singled out a short-skirted woman. “Instead of flaunting yourself and misleading others with promises of fulfilling their sexual desires, would you not offer up your mortal life and help to overthrow the Devil and his fallen, in exchange for the redemption of your soul and its guaranteed place in Heaven?” A scroll was partly unfurled. “For it is written that—”
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