by Tripp Ellis
The bald man sighed. “If that's what you wish, I will relay the message. Though, I highly advise you to reconsider.” He handed her a business card. It was a thin piece of smart glass that would make a direct connection to his mobile. “My name is Xavier, but my friends call me Mr. X. Let me know if you change your mind. “Either way, we’ll be in touch.” He glanced at his watch. “23 hours and 57 minutes. Provided Mr. Raymond doesn't decide to have you killed first."
Xavier motioned to his crew. They filtered out of the bay, keeping their weapons aimed at Max until they were clear.
“Making friends, I see,” Zero teased.
“Shut up.”
“Is there anybody in the galaxy that likes you?”
Max shot him a look and strolled up the ramp of the SpaceHawk.
Zero followed after her. "So, what are you going to do? Mr. Raymond is not a guy that you want pissed off at you.”
“You know him?”
“Only by reputation. And if I were you, I’d find a way to come up with that money.” Zero pressed a button on the bulkhead and closed the ramp behind them.
“Well, worst case scenario, they can only kill me once." Max strolled to the cockpit.
Zero followed behind. “Oh, no. Mr. Raymond is not gonna kill you. Not right away. He likes to make an example out of deadbeats. That's why nobody's dumb enough not to pay him.”
“I guess I’m pretty stupid,” she said confidently.
“Yes. You are.” Zero slipped into the pilot's seat. “If I were you, I’d call that Mr. X back right now. Tell him you'll have the money on time. Rob a bank. Hijack a cargo ship. Do what you gotta do.”
“What I've got to do is rescue Riley. Anything else is a distraction. Now get us to Vega Altair as fast as possible.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” Zero said, mocking her. He flipped switches and pressed buttons, powering up the craft. The dash came alive with glowing backlit gauges. Smart panels lit up with an array of instrumentation. Zero went through the pre-fight checks, and after a few moments, the system came back green.
The ship rumbled as he powered up the massive thrusters. Bulkheads rattled and shook as he lifted off the ground. He angled the craft skyward and throttled up. The force slammed Max against the back of her seat. She figured it was a good time to strap into her safety harness.
The vehicle rocketed through the upper atmosphere. A patch of turbulence rattled the ship and the bulkhead creaked and groaned. The quaking ended as they entered space. Max lifted in her seat, her hips and shoulders pressing against the safety belt in the weightless environment. She took out her mobile and dialed Agent Grant while Zero was programming in the jump coordinates to Vega Altair.
“Kirk said he never heard from you. Is everything okay?” The connection was somewhat patchy. Agent Grant’s face distorted in and out on Max’s display screen.
“Well, things have gotten a little complicated."
Grant frowned. "When you say complicated, I think total disaster."
“That wouldn’t be far from the truth,” Max said.
“I ran some checks on your friend that was killed. From what I can tell, he was clean. He didn't owe anybody any money. He didn't have any dealings with any shady characters. Distinguished service career. An honorable discharge. Left the Secret Service with high praises.”
“That's exactly why they wanted to use him.”
“Who’s they?” Grant asked. "And use him for what?”
“I need you to contact the Secret Service. They need to increase the president’s security detail. But they need to do it without looking like they’re increasing security."
Agent Grant’s eyes narrowed at her. "What are you into?"
Max filled him in on the situation.
“Let me send some agents. This is too big for you.”
“No. The minute they think I've tipped off the feds, they’ll kill Riley. Right now, they think I'm on my way to the X50 Summit to kill the president. And it needs to stay that way."
Grant grimaced.
“What can you find out about a guy named Vaax?”
"Hang on. Let me search the database.” A few moments later, the system came up with a hit. “Vaax Votran. This has to be the guy. Looks like he's into drug and weapons trafficking. Seems pretty highly connected. Has a lot of politicians on the payroll. Federation Department of Justice has a file on this guy a mile-long. Looks like he’s currently under investigation.”
“Where can I find him?”
20
“We believe Vaax’s base of operation is Sekar 7,” Grant said. “But that's not a Federation territory. We have no jurisdiction there.”
“Nothing is out of my jurisdiction," Max said.
Agent Grant studied his computer screen. "It looks like we've got an informant on Sekar 7. Mario Keene. Find him. He might be able to lead you to Vaax. I'm sending his info over now."
Max's mobile buzzed with the transmission of the data packet.
“This Vaax guy is bad news. Are you sure I can’t talk you out of this?”
Max shook her head. "Nope.”
“Be careful out there.”
Max smiled. "Always."
“You heard the man. It looks like were going to Sekar 7.”
“So, forget Vega Altair?”
“It looks like Savannah lied.”
“What reason would she have to lie?”
“That is a good question.” One that Max didn't have an answer for.
Zero programmed in the jump coordinates. The SpaceHawk vanished into slide-space, leaving a quantum ripple in its wake. The ship emerged several hours later at Sekar 7. It was a giant blue orb with vast oceans. Sprawling mega-metropolises were built on floating platforms. Expansive cities that were like giant floating ocean liners. They were so massive that you couldn't really detect the motion of the seas, except during extreme weather conditions. Power for the mega-city was derived from hydro-electrics. And Sekar 7 was known the galaxy over for its vast array of seafood delicacies. The best sushi in the galaxy could be found on Sekar 7—of which, the premier delicacy was Makura Naki. Though, if prepared wrong, it could cause instantaneous death. Eating it was like a badge of courage.
The SpaceHawk rumbled and shook as it entered the atmosphere. Zero plummeted the craft down to the surface, then raced above the ocean. Nepulto emerged out of the mist—a city twice the size of New York floating on the water. Zero blazed over the towering skyscrapers.
“Nepulto traffic control, this is SpaceHawk 1-1-7, requesting permission to land," Zero said into the comm line.
A few moments later a voice crackled back. “1-1-7, this is tower control, you are cleared to land. Bay 165."
"Thank you."
Zero plunged the spacecraft toward the spaceport located in the center of the city. Heat distorted below the vertical thrusters as the SpaceHawk descended to the tarmac. Hydraulics compressed under the massive weight of the craft as the landing gear touched down.
Zero powered down the ship.
Max unbuckled her safety harness and sprang from her seat. She marched down the entrance ramp and was greeted by a service bot. "Welcome to the Nepulto Central Spaceport. The docking fee is 500 credits per day. We also have full maintenance facilities available at an additional charge." The robot held out a pay-pad. "Please authorize the charges, and your account will automatically be debited."
Max placed her thumb on the bio-scanner. A moment later, a light flashed green.
"Transaction complete," the robot said. "Enjoy your stay here on Nepulto. If I can be of any further assistance please let me know. My name is Elijah. I am here to serve you.” The robot handed her his business card.
“Thank you," Max said.
The robot marched away.
Zero stumbled down the ramp.
The air was thick and humid, and filled with the salty smell of seawater. Seagulls hung overhead, squawking, looking for handouts from the intergalactic travelers.
Max studied the files on Mari
o that Grant had sent her. Mario ran a small auto parts store on the east side of town. It was clearly a front for nefarious activity. The parts were cheap, second-rate knockoffs, and the store was always empty. Mario’s shop was in a terrible part of the city.
Max and Zero caught an automated car and zipped across town. It was easy to forget you were on a platform in the middle of a vast ocean. It looked like any other land-based metropolis. There were tall buildings, busy streets, and hordes of people packed into over-cramped spaces. The city had only one way to grow, and that was up. The city had been meticulously planned, and all the structures were modular. Expansion was relatively easy with prefabricated components. The city was sleek and stylish, but it did have a repetitive look, as many sections of town resembled one another.
Max marched through the front door of Mario’s shop and an automated chime rang out. The place was packed with parts—circuit boards, servos, hydraulics, cables, gears, rims, tires, filters, pads, rotors, valves, gaskets, power cells, and just about anything else you’d need to repair automated vehicles.
There was no one behind the counter. It took a few minutes for Mario to emerge from the backroom.
Max eyed her mobile device, comparing the image of Mario on her phone. The software did a facial recognition analysis for confirmation. There was no doubt about it. This was the man she was looking for.
"Mario?" Max asked.
"How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a guy named Vaax.”
A glimmer of recognition sparkled in Mario's eyes. "I don't know anybody by that name."
"I think you do."
Mario’s face tensed. ”Who are you?"
"If you want to stay in the good graces of the Federation, I think you'll tell me what I want to know."
Mario grimaced. “You assholes have no jurisdiction here."
"I'm not a Federation agent. I don't have to play by any rules."
“What do you want?"
"I want you to tell me where I can find Vaax.”
"What do you want to speak with him for?"
"None of your goddamn business." Max's fierce eyes blazed into him.
"Well, I can tell you he's not here."
"I was told that you could tell me where I might find him.”
“Then somebody told you wrong."
“Just do as she says, buddy," Zero said. "It will go a lot easier for you. Trust me."
Mario hesitated for a moment. He looked into Max's fierce eyes. He could tell this was a woman he didn't want to mess with. "I've got his address written down. Let me go get it for you."
"Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation." Max's pleasant tone was a subtle veneer that barely covered a threat of extreme violence.
Mario backed away from the counter and slipped into the back room. After a few moments, Max heard the back door open and close. Mario's muffled footsteps disappeared down the alley.
"That son-of-a-bitch!" Max hopped the counter, sprinted through the back room and pushed out into the alley.
She caught sight of Mario rounding the corner at the end of the building. She sprinted after him. Her legs pumped. Her heart pounded. Her chest heaved in breaths of air as she turned the corner, chasing the man down the narrow alley. She raced past garbage bags and dumpsters and empty cardboard boxes that had been used to ship merchandise.
Mario was fast and nimble. He darted into the roadway, forcing the automatic cars to come to a screeching halt. He crossed the street and disappeared down another alleyway.
Max hit the roadway just about the time the cars started moving again. They abruptly halted, sensing her presence. Automated voices blasted from the cars’ PA systems, “Danger. You could have been involved in an accident. Please be more aware of your surroundings."
Max plunged into the alleyway after Mario. She was gaining on him. It didn't matter how fast Mario was, his muscles would tire out long before Max’s.
Mario reached the next street. He put his shoulder into a guy that was mounting a hover bike by the curb. The owner tumbled to the street, and Mario straddled the crotch rocket. He twisted the throttle, and the sport bike launched into the roadway, leaving Max in the dust.
Max was fast, but she wasn't as fast as a sport bike.
21
The owner of the sport bike dug into his pocket and pulled out his mobile. He swiped the screen and launched an anti-theft app. It allowed him to shut down the bike’s functions and safely pull it to the side of the road.
Mario slammed the handlebars in frustration. He hopped off the bike as it reached the curb and sprinted down the sidewalk.
Max grinned and continued chasing after him.
Mario plowed through the sea of pedestrians on the sidewalk.
"Hey buddy, watch it!" a guy shouted as Mario barreled over him.
Mario kept running. He glanced over his shoulder with wide eyes to see Max gaining on him. He ducked into another alleyway. Max kept chasing him, twisting and turning through alleys and passageways.
Mario heaved for breath. His lungs burned, and his legs ached. The cramp in his side caused him to limp. He was running out of steam.
Max caught up with him at the seawall. It was the edge of the city. Max grabbed Mario and dangled him over the edge, holding him up by his ankle. Mario's keys and wallet fell out of his pockets. A hundred feet below, waves crashed against the hull of the mega-city. The water below was filled with all manner of deadly creatures. Vicious sleraks with teeth like razors.
Mario screeched in terror. "I'll tell you anything you want know. Just pull me back over."
"Where can I find Vaax?"
"I don't know."
Max let her grip go slack, and Mario fell about an inch.
Mario panicked. "Okay. Okay. I'll help you find him. Just pull me back over, now."
"You tell me what I want to know, then I'll pull you back over. That's how this works."
"One of Vaax’s guys handles the transactions. I’ve never met anyone else.”
"What kind of business?"
“I import parts loaded with hervoxin. Every week, Vaax’s guy brings me a stack of cash, and I give him a shipment. You could follow him back to Vaax."
Max pulled Mario up and over the ledge. He had damn near pissed himself. He was trembling with fear, but being back on solid ground was a soothing relief.
"When's the next time a shipment is due?"
"I'm supposed to meet with Vaax’s guy day after tomorrow."
Max's face tensed. "That's too late. Call your contact. Tell him you got a shipment in today."
"But I don't have a shipment in today."
"That's not my problem. Just make the call."
"I'm a dead man if I do that.”
“You’re a dead man if you don't."
Max dragged Mario back to the store. Zero was sitting on the counter chowing down greasy Nova York style cheese pizza. Red sauce dribbled down his chin. His cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk, full of the gooey delight. The air reeked of majuva herb. Zero had clearly been toking it up. His eyes were glassy red slits. “Took you long enough,” he mumbled through a mouthful. “I was beginning to think he had gotten away."
“I think you know me better than that,” Max said with a grin.
“Want a slice?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Mario said.
“Not you, jackass,” Zero barked.
Max took a slice of pizza. She eyed the cheesy delight hesitantly, then glanced to Zero with a heavy dose of caution.
“I didn't do anything to it. I swear.”
Max took a tiny bite. Her eyes lit up with pleasant surprise. It was good. It was the closest thing she had to real Nova York pizza in a long time.
Mario looked like a sad puppy dog as he watched the two chomp down the pizza.
“Make the call. Now!” Max commanded.
“I really think it's better if we just wait until the scheduled time. It's going to look suspicious otherwise."
“Do it
."
Mario sighed. “Okay. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into.”
“Trust me,” Zero muttered. “She knows. And she gives zero fucks.”
Mario pulled out his mobile and dialed his contact. “Hey, it's me.”
“What do you want?” The man on the display screen looked like he was a mix of Trevluvan and Suvartex. He had bluish skin that looked almost reptilian. He had sharp fangs and narrow golden eyes.
“Merchandise is in,” Mario said.
“So?”
“Come get it."
"I'll pick it up as scheduled."
“Fine, but it may not be here then."
“Excuse me?" The man's face crinkled.
“I don't like keeping that stuff around the shop any longer than I have to. I got another offer from someone wanting to pick it up today. And quite frankly, they're willing to pay more. I'm giving you first dibs because I like you, Kaal.”
Rage boiled under Kaal’s skin. “I thought we had an exclusive arrangement?”
“And I’m giving you first option to exercise that arrangement.”
There was a long silence as Kaal attempted to contain his anger. He looked like he was about to explode. “Fine. I'll be in today." He disconnected the call.
Mario looked to Max. "Happy? I hope you know what you're doing."
22
Mario swallowed hard as Kaal entered the auto parts store. He tried to hide his nervousness, but his hands had a slight tremor to them.
Kaal fierce eyes scanned the store, making sure the two were alone. "I don't like it when things change. I have a very meticulous schedule, and I like to keep things according to plan."
Mario reached down behind the counter and grabbed the box. He set it on the countertop in front of Kaal.
"Let's get one thing straight. Don't you ever try to play games with me again. I don't care if you've got someone who wants to pay twice what the shipment is worth. If I ordered it, it belongs to me. You got that?"
Mario nodded. "I wasn't really going to sell it to somebody else. I just don't like keeping the stuff around here."
