by Yunker, Todd
“Let’s get you home,” said Alec.
Electra dropped her hand from the portal and turned to them. “Look, I have been debating on whether or not to tell you something. I know it could be just coincidental, but it is part of the story.”
Alec stopped his instrument calibration. “Electra, anything you can tell me that you think is important for me to know will benefit us and our mission to help both our peoples.”
Electra walked to Alec’s station. “On my world, a prophecy has been passed down for as long as anyone can remember.”
“What kind of prophecy,” asked Dancer?
“O garden dwellers of many worlds, hear me: Two paths are seen. Red skies ablaze harken the end of world, or if that be not, the Emperor orb will fall asunder in upon itself. For a seeker will appear to hasten the outcome, time’s beginning to time’s end. Not the strength of fifty bulls or a hundred lions shall hold him — intellect against strength; for he has the power of the gods and will not be thwarted until one of these two he has consumed.” Her eyes fell on Dancer.
“Red skies ablaze harken the end of the world,’” Dance responded. “Fire, a familiar theme for an end-of-the-world prophecy.”
“For a seeker will appear to hasten the outcome.’ Will you hasten the outcome?”
“I can assure you I am not the seeker in the prophecy,” said Alec.
Electra nodded. “Intellect against strength; for he has the powers of the gods.”
She was about to reach down but stopped, “It was believed that the seeker would be from our mother world from the line ‘time’s beginning to time’s end’ — the ‘beginning’ being when we left our world to this impending disaster.”
“What about the two paths?” asked Alec.
“One a fiery end, and, the other, the Emperor orb will fall asunder in upon itself. There has been much debate about these. Doomsday cults have grown up around the belief that the fiery end should be welcomed and even hastened.” Electra’s voice saddened. “The Rovers were a cult believing that the orb’s fall would also be an end, so they left.”
Alec stared at her intently.
Dancer said, “Well Alec, you’ve been holding out on me. ‘The strength of fifty bulls or a hundred lions; the power of the gods.’”
Alec turned and glared at Dancer. “I am not the seeker.” He shook it off. He returned to Electra. “I do not have the power of a god or any gods.”
Electra stated, “It was destiny that brought us together.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The Quest emerged from FTL at a tactically judicious point off the normal space lanes. Ahead of them, the orphan dwarf planet hung alone in interstellar space. It had been part of a distant solar system eons in the past, but the passage of a rogue star through its home system exerted enough gravity to hurl the small body out into the darkness of interstellar space. The dwarf planet had a 950-kilometer diameter and a mass sufficient for its self-gravity to overcome rigid-body forces so that it assumed a nearly round shape. It had been accidently discovered by a prospecting party and found to be rich in precious metals. It was not on any government’s territorial claim, given its uniqueness of not being, technically, part of any solar system. The mining operation was able to core out the rich revenue metals without having to license rights with any government. Quest’s course took it down toward the planet’s surface.
The core-mining operations lasted for decades, hollowing out a great open cavern inside the floating rock. Once the vein’s metals petered out in the rock, the mining operations moved on, leaving a great opportunity for those with vision to take advantage of it. The dwarf planet became an outpost to those looking to stay away from government entanglements.
In the hundreds of years that had passed since the mining operations left the rock, the surface had become patched with holographic billboards rising from the ground as much as a kilometer. The media encapsulated all the ore conversion, vice, and mine provisioning one could imagine or ask for. It was the only commerce one would find on the last outpost of civilization outward. The rock showed the wear of many centuries of use, abandonment, and use by new inhabitants.
The Quest reduced speed as it flew through the fields of billboards. One of the colonies’ merchant organizations sponsored a billboard that read, “Last chance to fill your tank for as far as your eyes can see.”
A large trench, a kilometer wide and deep, was cut into the rock, running around the equator. The Quest slowed to a crawl as it entered the trench. Landing bays filled the trench walls like honeycomb stretching as far as the eye could see. The groove had plenty of ships landing, being serviced, or just lying there, plainly abandoned.
One of the landing bays framed by lighting started to flash, strobe-like, getting the attention of those who were flying the Quest. Then, as they switched to the landing bay’s autopilot system, the flash slowed to a pulse as the ship turned smartly in and eased itself through the bay’s environmental shields, floating gently into position. The Quest settled slowly to the ground, as the outpost’s enhanced gravity systems gave the inhabitants and ships alike the weight they needed to function normally.
The ground crew of cockroach-like dockworkers flew into action upon the arrival of the Quest. Equipment was rolled out to the ship and connected to the systems. The heavy bulkhead hatch slid aside and was replaced by an airlock force field that shimmered into visual range. Alec exited the ship, closely followed by Dancer.
Alec pointed out the ground-crew chief and said loudly over the loud background noises from atmosphere recycling systems and repair crews from other landing bays, “Dancer, take care of business. We’ll need trade goods further out.”
Dancer nodded to Alec and then turned to the dockworker’s chief, waving his arms and yelling over the crashing of a loader into a stack of crates in the next bay. “Hey — before you get too far into,” Dancer pointed to the datapad the chief held, “this quote, unquote ‘service check,’ I will have you know I have all systems fully documented as to pre-check conditions — so no funny stuff.”
The chief’s agitation was reflected in its stomping around in a circle and throwing the clipboard in its claw to the ground.
Dancer shook his head. “I don’t need engine servicing — just the normal inspection. Nothing gets “fixed” without our approval. Just empty the sewage, and top off the fuel and environmental systems.” Dancer walked over to the chief and argued the virtues of the twenty-point inspection.
Alec waited patiently as he adjusted his weapons belt and checked his blaster. Electra strode through the airlock in another jumpsuit, with short sleeves, allowing her to wear Alec’s silver wrist bracer.
She came toward him with her hair pulled back, her senses heightened by the unfamiliar environment. She stopped short of him, putting her hands on her waist. The fragrance she was wearing came over him, penetrating even through the turbulent blasts of heat and exhaust swirling through the landing bay. Alec knew that this sweet scent could come from nothing else but her. He beckoned to her to come closer. She stepped close and turned her head slightly to hear better. Alec’s heart quickened as he leaned close to say into her ear, “Electra, you’re with me. We’re off to see O.” Alec pointed to the wrist bracer. “I’m going to have to get you one of those.”
Electra turned her head so that she could speak into his ear over the crashing of chemical drums in the distance. Her lips drew close to him, the warmth of her breath against his ear, forming the words, “Do they have them in my size?” Electra removed the bracer from her arm.
Alec could not help himself and used the situation to its fullest. He kept the situational, personal space and turned his head only slightly. Alec engaged in plumbing the depths of her hazel eyes, enhanced by the natural glow of her warm, medium skin tone. The effect was breathtaking. “O is known to have the unusual.”
Electra’s eyes looked back at his expectantly. Dancer, in the distance, yelled at a ground-crew member who tried to enter Quest’s airlock
force field uninvited and was thrown back from the ship three meters onto its back, legs flailing in the air. “I told you: The twenty-point exterior service inspection — and nothing more. He doesn’t need to go inside the ship.”
“We should be going,” said Alec, breaking the tension. He indicated the way to go, and they both left the busy landing bay. The corridor outside connected many of the landing bays to the transportation tube system. Crowds had gathered at the platform, waiting for the next train. Alien life forms of all descriptions surrounded Alec and Electra as they were pressed forward. The wind from the train’s passage blew into them as the open-air train arrived and the passengers stepped from the cars. This wasn’t a transportation system built on a civilized world — it was an ore-car system re-tasked to move passengers.
Alec and Electra made their way to the first car of the train and took a seat facing forward. The cars sped away from the platform, taking them inward. The tunnel surrounding them showed evidence of the mining equipment used to burrow through the dwarf planet’s crust. Electra felt the breeze on her face as they passed through the tunnel. She turned to Alec; he was smiling at her. She leaned to him and said, “How long does it take to get where we are going?”
The train started to slow quickly. Electra grabbed on to Alec as the train jerked back and forth. The walls of the tunnel seemingly vanished from around them, opening up to the central cavern. It was generally rectangular in shape, approximately twenty kilometers in length, nine wide, and five in height. The internal plain of the cavern stretched out into the distance, with streets and buildings springing from the floor and vanishing into the distance.
The train had come out mid-plain, giving its riders a good view of the city. A video screen of epic proportions started at one end of the cavern and ended nearly at the other, stretching from floor to ceiling. It was flashing commercial messages of all types — food, entertainment, gambling, lodging, etc. The lighting of the cavern close to ground level was that of multicolored streetlights; the constant color change had the visual effect of turning the area into a well-established downtown city street catering to the nightlife and entertainment of tourists. Flashing reader boards near doorways, colored wall screens by shop windows, and even neon-painted exterior walls pointed the way to merchants who would supply one’s every desire.
The train stopped completely at the platform. Alec was the first up, and, with Electra, he exited the car. Passengers getting onto the train moved passed them as Alec led the way from the platform. A huge sign was attached to an archway across the entryway. Its machined metal plating stated they were entering “Blind Load” in 100 alien languages. “Blind Load” was a proper Frontier city of miners and profiteers looking to make a buck off other beings. Only a foolish being didn’t keep more than three eyes out looking for trouble and one claw on a side arm.
The entry point had automated taxis lined up; passengers left the station, and beings disembarked from other trains coming into the station.
Alex spotted a food vendor across from the line formed for taxis. “Hey, Zizoh.” Alec waved to Zizoh, standing against a food cart. Zizoh’s centipede-like body quickly threw together a “hot dog,” wrapped it up, and tossed it in a high arc to Alec. Alec whipped out his gun and blasted it in mid-air. He caught the “hot dog” and opened the charred wrapper. No one on the platform took much notice of the weapons fire, mainly because it was into the air, a common celebratory occurrence in Blind Load for many occasions. One might fire off a few blasts upon arrival after striking it rich or just to relieve a little cabin fever.
Electra took notice of the lack of interest in Alec’s action.
Alec yelled to Zizoh, “What do I owe you?” He took a big bite and chewed some of the mystery meat and swallowed. “Never can tell what’s in them. Want one?” he offered.
Zizoh’s legs, from about the height of the cart, waved them over as the motion cascaded up its body. “Friend Shackleton, welcome, welcome.” There was a voice translator wrapped around Zizoh’s neck.
“You like, yes?” asked Zizoh.
“I love it,” as Alec bit into the hot dog again.
“Good — business is very good. I could do more, but this will have to do.” Zizoh brought out a purse from a drawer in front of him.
“I pay back the loan, Shackleton,” said Zizoh. His legs moved the purse up his body.
“Now, wait just a minute: Are you telling me you are paying off the loan I gave you?” asked Alec, with a somewhat serious look on his face. Electra stepped back from the pair.
“Of course, Shackleton. I pay my debts.”
“From the sound of it, you are trying to cut me out of a good thing.”
Zizoh was flabbergasted. “Shackleton — no; I do no such thing.”
“Then why are you trying to get rid of me just as you are nearing an expansion?” asked Alec.
“I do not.” Zizoh looked crushed.
“Zizoh, you said it yourself. If you had another cart, you could do more business. Right?”
Zizoh thought about it, “I did say that.”
“Then consider this a loan extension. You expand your business, and then pay me back,” said Alec.
Electra caught Alec’s eye, and he indiscreetly winked back at her.
“You keep the money and grow the business — for now. You understand?” asked Alec.
“Yes, Shackleton — I do understand. I will do just that. There is a spot by Nowhere Downs that would be perfect for a good hot-dog cart.”
Electra looked toward town. “I thought we had somewhere to go?”
Alec agreed with Zizoh. “Sounds like a great business plan, Zizoh. We have to get going. See you next time, Zizoh. Make me proud.”
Alec led Electra away from the food-vending cart. “We do — but there’s nothing like a little change of cuisine to make you appreciate life.” A taxi had just dropped off passengers when Alec stepped up to the automated car before the doors had shut. He held it open with one hand and took a bite from the hot dog. Electra hopped in, and Alec followed. “O’s Shop of Curiosities,” said Alec. The taxi’s navigation system hesitated, and then trundled off, away from the taxis in the arrival queue it had been waiting in. Alec finished off the hot dog as they passed through the traffic-filled streets.
The sidewalks were filled with the comings and goings of many beings. Their route turned away from the strip and toward a pair of towering air conduits. The businesses in this section of town were less flamboyant, and their patrons coveted anonymity. A small, two-story shop had been sandwiched between two of the four-story air conduits. The nondescript exterior of the shop had been painted to blend into the background; it would have been invisible to those who stood at a distance. A small printed sign in the window’s lower right corner announced to those who stopped to read it: “O’s Shop of Curiosities.” The environmental system filled the area with the sound of a small hurricane. Alec opened the door for Electra and followed her in.
The interior of the shop became sealed off from the noise of the street when Alec shut the door behind them. The quiet little shop was filled from floor to ceiling with statuary and other plunder from many worlds. A labyrinth of shelving and tables filled the shop’s floor. Alec took Electra’s hand and led the way through the tables and around statuary to the back corner of the shop. Electra let him lead; it was not what she was used to, but, here, it somehow felt right. It was not like her to be so invested in a man.
Was the prophecy for real? Was Alec the seeker, a saver of worlds? She felt a great deal for this man, who had freed her from the slave anklets. A mix of emotions and primal needs had indeed come forth as she was getting dressed. The noisy landing bay required them to close distance, and those feelings presented themselves for a moment again. She had searched his eyes and found more than just a spark of passion. Electra would explore the depths of this man soon.
They came out of the shelving near a long glass display counter that broke only in the middle for a swinging door
. Knickknacks of all shapes and sizes filled the counter’s four levels of shelving. A cash register from some offbeat planet sat on one counter near the swinging door. O herself sat behind the counter on a barstool. She was humanoid in general shape, with a visible jellyfish texture. Her expression was all lit up with excitement as she got up and swung the door wide. “Come here, and give us a hug,” she gushed. Alec put his arms around her and hugged gently. Her body bulged slightly to the pressure of his arms, like a child’s toy.
Alec stood back, “O, I want you to meet Electra.”
O smiled and said, “My pleasure, dearie. How did you ever get involved with this one?” She puckered her face. “You could do a lot better.”
Electra stated simply, “He purchased me from my last owner.”
A shudder ran from one end of O to the other. O started verbally battering, “I can’t believe it, Alec. You would stoop so low as to enslave an intelligent being — and one of your own race, judging from her scent.”
O took Alec and spun him around so that he was facing the direction they came. O stated in no uncertain words, “When you think you know someone, they go off and do something stupid.” She started pushing him down one of the aisles between the shelving. She caught Electra’s eye and winked.
Alec demanded attention. “Now, wait a minute before you go throwing us out. I freed her, you crazy old woman.”
O cackled and rushed to Electra and hugged her. O said, “Alec, he hates the slavers.” O went over to a display of head scarves and took a couple from the display. She held them up to Electra, looking for the one that complemented her coloring the best. O, satisfied with her choice, wrapped it around her neck and tied it in front. “This is my gift from him.” She nodded to Alec. O hugged her again.
Alec smiled as Electra tried to extricate herself from O. O let go and returned to her barstool behind the counter.
“First things first. You have another staff for her?” He gestured to Electra.
