by J. K. Mabrey
"Isn't it unsettling having to watch your back constantly?" Brax asked. "Having to worry about who you're around, knowing that one day someone will stab you in the back?"
"It is tiring," Alberit said, "but it's the life we choose. Someone's got to run the legitimate shipping lines, and it certainly isn't going to be the Council. I'd prefer to not see it in the hands of a Red Moon remnant or some other shadowy organization. I figure I'll take what I can and give back as I can. It's better than what some others out here will do, that I can assure you."
"Yes, we're well aware of what some will do, and we really appreciate doing business with men like you."
"Likewise," Alberit said. "Your reputation of delivering seems to be spot on.”
Zavik smiled to himself. His reputation meant a lot to him, especially to aliens who assumed humans were inadequate.
“Perhaps we can do business in the future,” he continued, “should another mutually beneficial situation arise."
"Yes, I think we would like that," Zavik said. "Where can I pick up the supplies?"
Alberit smiled and said, "The supplies are being delivered to your ship as we speak. My men made contact with your wife and the Rovun five minutes ago. They should be loaded up and ready to go by the time you get back."
"How efficient. I must thank you for the quick turnaround," Zavik said. "I half expected to have to barter to still get the supplies."
"Oh, no," Alberit assured him, "I wanted information on my shipment and you supplied it. I did not really believe the supplies could be recovered. Anything missing for more than two days out here is a lost cause. The information you provided was quite sufficient to warrant honoring the deal, and that I have."
Zavik noticed Brax sway at something Alberit said but couldn’t place it. His face looked sullen, almost like he was reliving a memory buried in his subconscious.
"We'll be on our way then," Zavik said. "Until next time."
"I look forward to the opportunity."
Zavik and Brax reached the Rinada just as Alberit's men were finishing loading the supplies onto the cargo lift. Zavik didn’t mention anything to Brax about what Alberit said. He knew when to let things go and when to press. Now was not the time to press. The underside of the Rinada lowered to the ground to allow the heavy and large cargo to be brought onboard. The platform lifted the cargo into the heart of the ship and sealed it tight.
They performed a routine systems check on the ship and Dani lifted them off of Urdanis. Charra was checking the engineering room at the back of the ship to ensure the cargo was sitting well in the ship. The added weight proved to be of little resistance to the engines as they raced towards space. Brax manned the turret as he usually did when leaving a job. Far too many times the ally they thought they had made during a mission turned out to be no better than your average thug on Dracona.
It happened to them on Wartaso. They were contracted to pick up a shipment of medical supplies from a local Savin refugee camp to deliver to the other side of the planet where a criminal organization had set up operations. They were slaughtering the civilians in their way towards conquering the system. Their contact, a Savin named Condoli, gave them the supplies freely while luring them into a feeling of safety and security. They left his camp with their shields at half power, no one manning the guns, and their attention on the terrain instead of the possible danger. Dani was focusing ahead, where any probable danger would come from, but no one was focusing on their rear.
A missile hit less than two minutes after takeoff. The Rinada fell into a spin and crashed into the planet, tearing the undercarriage and opening the hull. Four transports attacked them, but with Brax manning the upper cannon which miraculously was still functioning, and Zavik using the newly created holes in the ship to take them out, they were able to fend off the attackers. Dani managed to get the ship back in the air and they found refuge with the criminal organization.
The organization had no business in the fighting on Wartaso. It was all lies orchestrated by the Savin running the refugee camp in an effort to artificially inflate the price of medical supplies, which he had a large investment in. He developed a conflict and positioned the organization as the ones on the wrong side of the fight. Their acts were killing hundreds and wounding thousands, and they all needed medical supplies. Each shipment brought to the planet drove up the price and as the conflict he created raged on, the price for basic supplies became astronomical. Every mission to deliver supplies was sabotaged, driving the price even higher.
After they were attacked the truth became clear and the Council finally intervened. For three months they showed little care in the plight on Wartaso. It was the typical response from the Council on systems outside their core. Once it became a headline, the Council took swift action. A squad of the Council’s elite Quantum Soldiers raided the refugee camp and arrested the Savin. The fake war ended before it had really started and most importantly for the Council, the price of medical supplies fell back to their normally inflated price.
Ever since that mission Brax always liked to keep an extra eye on their rear. However, the feeling he got from Alberit was nothing of the sort of betray they faced on Wartaso, and he let his guard down a little. He didn't notice the ship following them just out of sensor range. None of them did.
Zavik sat next to Dani as they went through the portal. "That went well," she said.
"I think so. He expressed interest in working together in the future if an opportunity comes up."
"Hopefully, he won't have us chasing after lost ships," she said.
"Yeah, sifting through dead Rovun isn't my idea of a good job."
"What are we going to do after we make the drop on Garos?" she asked.
"I'm not sure, yet," Zavik said. He turned to Rudy, who was sitting in the back of the cockpit. "Do you have anything from General Walters?"
"Searching, sir," Rudy said. "My files do not indicate any direct contacts to procure power cores. According to my records, the Council heavily regulates such transfers of power cores. They appear to be in short supply right now. All Council authorized shipments are earmarked for the next three months."
"But Garos needs power cores now," Zavik said.
"I am well aware of what Garos needs, sir. It is in my programming. I am just relaying the information that I have. There are no power cores available for purchase for Garos."
"There are none from Council authorized sources," Dani said.
"How is that any different than what I just said?" Rudy asked. A clear condescending tone from a robot caught Zavik by surprise.
"Because power cores are sold on the black market all the time," Zavik said. "Something you'd know if you lived out here. Or if you lived."
"Zavik!" Dani said and struck him with her elbow.
"Sorry, Rudy," he said. He felt foolish apologizing. They didn't have feelings. That was one of the advantages, right?
"Your poor attempt at humor has been noted and will be studied for relevance," Rudy said.
"You think we can find some power cores on the black market?" Dani asked.
"I think that's why we were hired," Zavik said. "Anyone could have gotten the food supplies, even the U.E.F. They're not too scarce and what we just did wasn't illegal. This, though, dealing with black market supplies, it is illegal. We'll have to use more discretion and we can't let anyone know whom we’re getting the supplies for. The Council probably wouldn’t take it too kindly if Earth's colony started dealing with the black market freely."
"They'd understand, though," Dani said. "Garos needs these supplies, and the Council can't help."
"They might understand, but it doesn't mean they'd be happy. Good luck trying to get anything else past the Council without intense scrutiny. They seem to keep a grudge longer than any wom...any one else in the Galaxy."
"Careful, mister, or you'll find yourself sleeping in Charra's room."
"I'm pretty sure he snores too loud for me," Zavik said.
"I'm pretty s
ure that would be the least of your worries." She smiled and took the Rinada into the atmosphere of Garos.
They landed on the loading pad at the main campground. Zavik lowered the cargo bay and dropped the loading ramp down. He walked off the ship with Brax. The campsite was as busy as the last time they visited, but this time, General Walters greeted them personally.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Khan," the General said and extended a hand.
"Is it afternoon?" Zavik asked. "I need to sit on one system for a week to get readjusted." The sun of Garos was falling from the sky, but a thin layer of clouds mostly covered it. The air was mild and a slight breeze made it feel cooler than it looked. Soldiers and colonists came up to his ship and began taking the supplies away. Women and children were dragging away crates, resisting the urge to split them open there and marvel at what new treats they were getting. It was mostly grain, but fresh bread could be a treat to anyone who had to eat stale crackers for the last month.
Zavik waived at Brax and they helped finish unloading the cargo from his hull. In all, they had delivered over fifty tons of food to the colony. It was enough to supplement their current diet for over a month. It wouldn't fix their problems, but it was a welcome Band-Aid.
"Would you care to stay for dinner?" General Walters asked. "It is only courteous to invite you and your crew to partake in the enjoyment of your delivery."
"That is very kind of you," Zavik said, "but I must decline. We still have much to do if we're to finish our job. Power cores seem to be in short supply right now.”
“So I’ve heard," the General said. "We all thank you for your quick delivery. Three days, not bad. Even the most favorable bet was no less than five days."
"Glad we could overachieve," Zavik said.
"Yes, the confidence is what keeps us going," Brax added.
The General looked at Brax, his eyebrows flared down. Zavik said, "I think we should be on our way."
"Right," the General said and shook his hand again. "Good luck, Mr. Khan."
“Thanks,” Zavik said as they climbed aboard the Rinada. “What’s wrong?” he asked Brax.
“They have no faith in us,” Brax spat.
“No,” Zavik agreed, “but we’re changing that.”
“Maybe,” Brax said.
"Don’t let it get to you," Zavik said. He went to the food station and pulled down a serving of processed chicken from a ready-to-eat package. The meat tasted bland and dry, and the sauce mixed in was a little too artificially sweet for his liking. He forked another slice of meat into his mouth and chewed heavily until it was soft enough to swallow.
"What are you doing?" Dani asked.
"I'm hungry," he replied and was pretty certain they all were.
"We should've taken some of the food we just delivered," Brax said as he grabbed a package too. "I'm sure it tastes better than these."
"Probably, but did you want to sit down and eat with them?" Zavik asked. He grabbed a package and handed it out for Dani to take. She looked at it and wrinkled her nose before taking it.
“You’ve got a point,” Brax said.
The door to Charra's room opened and he stormed out, his nose sniffing the air. "We eating?" he asked as he pushed his way past Rudy.
"Trying to," Dani said as she forced another bite down.
Rudy stumbled back and said, "I was standing right there you careless Rovun. Such bad manners. Of all the Council races, I've never-"
"You've never encountered Council races before, have you?" Charra asked.
"Well, no, besides you two," Rudy admitted, "but I have been programmed with a full understanding of the anatomy, history, and behavior of all races in the Community. That has provided sufficient information to classify Rovuns as the rudest."
"You stupid robot," Charra growled. "I'll show you rudest. I'll rip your arms off and beat you with them until all that's still functioning is that tiny little head."
"Ok, ok," Zavik said. "Rudy, I think that's enough. Your information should tell you that it's not a good idea to get between a Rovun and his meal."
"Indeed it does," Rudy said.
"Yeah, you're lucky, metal-head. I'm sorry, Zavik. My, uh, my blood sugar must be a little low." Charra took a package and shoved a spoonful in. "Ah, pasta, meatballs, not a bad human delicacy."
"This isn't a delicacy," Zavik said. "Maybe if we were in a nice restaurant on Earth, yeah, but food wasn't meant to be eaten out of a bag."
They all eventually migrated to the table and finished their meals together.
Charra asked, "Where are we going next?" after spooning in another mouthful.
"We need to find power cores, but they're a scarce commodity right now," Zavik said.
"So who do we have to take them from?" Brax asked.
"I'm not sure I want to jump to stealing them right away," Zavik said. For Garos's sake, he wanted to try and get the supplies they needed legitimately. In some ways, just to prove to himself that he could, and in others, to prove it to the U.E.F. He knew they contracted with him because of his willingness to go outside the law, but he wasn't sure that was a good trait to have any more. It put them in danger and in the crosshairs of some of the most deadly people in the Galaxy. Long ago he had stopped wanting to put Dani in danger, leaving her with the ship. His well-shielded ship. But he was beginning to not want to put Brax or Charra in danger either. They really were his friends, more so than just companions.
The jobs they wanted to do would require diplomacy, not something they were good at. They would have to be Council sanctioned and the Council wouldn't be happy to sanction a crew that stole and pillaged others across the Galaxy. They needed to be respectable and avoid interfering with anything associated with the Council. The hardest part would be convincing them that.
"It'll probably be the quickest," Charra said.
"True, but also the messiest. I'd like to avoid any further complications to this job. We need to be careful. We can't just steal the supplies."
"The Ascachi," Rudy said.
"What?" Charra asked. It startled Rudy a little and he jerked his body back.
"The Ascachi are one of the largest producers of power cells in the Galaxy. Current records indicate that their products are already allocated for delivery for at least the next four months."
"So why would we bother?" Brax asked.
"No, Rudy's right," Zavik said. "They could have something that we can bargain for. Remember, money is no object."
“For once,” Charra said.
"Or they could not and we just waste a day going there," Brax said.
"Well, worst comes to worst, we can find a list of their clients and persuade them into giving us some of their supply."
"Now that sounds like a plan" Charra said.
"I didn't say we would take it," Zavik said.
"But we will, to finish the job," Brax said.
"To finish the job, maybe, but only from non-Council clients," Zavik said.
"Why?" Dani asked.
"If we ever want to get jobs sanctioned by your governments and approved by the Council, we can't be stealing from them."
"Seems reasonable," Brax said. "But I thought it was this job first, and let the rest fall as it may."
"This job is our most important," Zavik said, "but I can't complete it without an eye on the future. If we finish this job but burn our bridges with everyone else in the Galaxy, what good does that do us? Do we really want to be stuck taking jobs from people like Rodderick forever? I have to be mindful of that. It's part of being the Captain. I can't attack a Chokmnd or Rovun shipment and then three months later go to their government and ask for a job. We'd get shot."
Brax and Charra looked at each other and both acknowledged that Zavik was right. He was looking out for their best interests at all times, not just on this job.
"Thanks, Zavik," Brax said.
"For what?"
"For keeping the big picture in perspective."
"I'm trying," he said. "Sometimes I
'm able to, and sometimes I get lost in my own desires. But we agree? No pirating unless we have to."
"Agreed," Brax and Charra said.
"Good. Now, Rudy, where are those Ascachi?"
"The Ascachi live on Urloth," Rudy said.
"I don't know much about them," Zavik said. "I don't know if I've ever seen one."
"I haven't," Charra said.
"I did, once," Brax said. "There were two of them on Candor. I don't know what they were doing, probably making a deal with Nerodo. I hear the Ascachi don't care who you are, if you can pay."
"Who's Nerodo?" Dani asked.
"Not who, what," Brax said. "Nerodo is the organization that runs Candor."
"They run the system?" she asked.
"Oh, yes. No elections, no debates, just total control. They control almost all aspects of it: trade, security, finance, labor."
"The Council lets them do that?" Zavik asked. "I would think the Council prefers legitimate governments to rule over the systems, especially in the Inner Spiral."
"They do, and they have tried to disrupt the operations on Candor, but enough money keeps flowing to the right people to keep it off their radar. They traffic in drugs and weapons, typically a big red flag for the Council, but they never deal with systems the Council would take offense to. It's how they've managed to stay around for so long. Nerodo managed to carve out a nice little niche in the middle of the Galaxy."
"You sound like a spokesperson for them," Zavik said.
"Well, I did have a life before I met you, and before I worked for Red Moon."
Zavik realized that he didn't know that much about Brax's past. He wasn't shy about sharing, and he always had a good story to tell, but Zavik had never really asked him about his past. He thought it was the appropriate thing to do since he really didn't care what Brax did before they met and was afraid it might come across like an interrogation. Now he wondered if he truly just didn't care about him at all. He treated them both like common crewmembers and less like friends. Friends care about each other and their pasts, not just what they can help you accomplish here and now. He felt ashamed of that and wanted to show that they were more than just crew to him. They were his friends and he did care about them.
