by S M Briscoe
Jarred sighed, heavily. This wasn't a conversation he was interested in having, under the circumstances, or just at all. “Well, that's my decision to make, isn't it? Just like it was yours.”
“I left for different reason than you,” Kim argued. “And on better terms.”
“You still left, though,” Jarred challenged.
Kim only nodded in agreement, obviously not wanted to press the matter any further. Jarred was glad for it, though the damage was already done, his thoughts now focused on the subject of their brief discussion.
“So, how is he, anyway?” he asked, finally, his curiosity getting the better of him.
A grin came to Kim's face. “As well as any of us, I suppose.”
“So, you've heard from him, then?”
“Oh, we speak from time to time,” the old cook answered. “You should try it.”
“Well, that was never really our strong suit.”
Kim hummed, knowingly. “So,” he said, abruptly, clapping his hands together. “Change of subject. What brings you out to these parts? Not my cooking, I think.”
“Unfortunately not,” Jarred returned. “I'm tracking a bounty.”
“Ah. You are working.”
“Trying to,” Jarred answered. “But I've run into a little bit of a snag.”
Kim's look became playfully curious. “What kind of a snag, Mister Jarred?”
Jarred said nothing, but turned his head to motion to the entourage behind him.
“Ah, I see,” Kim said, a grin coming to his face as he took the group in. “You are with friends.”
“Welcome,” he greeted the others, enthusiastically. “How are you?”
“Hungry, thank you,” Elora answered, over Jarred’s shoulder. “Very hungry.”
“Of course you are,” Kim exclaimed, clapping his hands together again. “Four specials coming up.”
Jarred held up three fingers. “Three. For my friends.”
Kim looked surprised. “You are not eating?”
Jarred slid some credits across the kiosk counter, much more than the food was worth. “I’m not really hungry, but I am looking for some tech, if you’re still selling.”
Kim raised an eyebrow. “That depends on what you are looking for.”
“A clean transponder.”
“Transponder?” Kim asked, with a grin. “You lost yours, Mister Jarred?”
“All of them,” Jarred answered. “Along with my ship.”
Kim chuckled. “That bad luck.”
“Yes, it is.”
Kim leaned forward. “I might have a few lying around. Let me see what I can find. You have lunch while I look.”
Jarred took a step back from the kiosk. “Not today, Mister Kim. I’m late for a meeting.”
“You should never put business before stomach,” Kim chided. “I have yours ready when meeting over.”
“Thank you, Mister Kim,” Jarred answered, turning to walk towards the cantina. Unfortunately, if this meeting didn’t end in his favor, that meal could be waiting a very long time.
* * *
The bay’s cantina was fairly busy inside but it took only a moment for Jarred to notice the private section at the rear of the establishment, two hulking guards standing to either side of its opening. The guards turned their attention towards him almost as soon as he had begun to head in their direction, stepping out to intercept him.
Jarred raised his hands, slightly. “Easy boys. I have an appointment.” He retrieved Mac’s bounty contract data card from his belt and held it up to the guards for inspection.
One of the guards inspected it briefly, looking Jarred up and down before finally speaking. “Mister Taliss has been expecting you.” He then stepped aside, opening the way for Jarred to pass into the private area.
The lighting inside was dimmer than the rest of the cantina and it took a moment for Jarred’s eyes to adjust to the change as he took his first few steps into the room. A quick scan of the area revealed a dozen more bodyguards, situated evenly around the perimeter of the section, and in its far corner, masked in shadow, Arden Taliss sat alone, waiting.
“Let’s not keep him waiting then.” Jarred turned to head in Arden’s direction and was immediately stopped again by one of the bodyguards closest to him, who was holding up a portable scanning device.
“Disarm,” the guard ordered, simply.
“Of course,” Jarred replied with a nod, stepping up to the table closest to him. He pulled the slung rifle from his shoulder and placed it on the table first, then removed his utility belt, which held a sidearm, knife and a number of grenades and power clips. Extending both hands, he ejected his twin plasma gauntlets, a smirk coming to his face as the guard flinched noticeably at the action, and added them to the pile along with a few more concealed knives. Finally, he reached over his shoulder and pulled his sheathed sword free from its housing on his back, carefully laying it on the table with the rest of his possessions, and then waited patiently for the scanning guard’s nod of approval.
“Be careful with those,” he warned the guard, mockingly, as he stepped past him, moving off towards Arden’s table.
Arden was a middle aged man with streaks of grey running through his hair and goatee, the lines around his hard set eyes detailing the last half century of his rise to power. His shoulders were broad and full, and though he was sitting, Jarred estimated his height at about two meters. He was by no means a push over. Arden Taliss hadn’t been handed his position in life. He had fought and bled for all of it, forging from the ground up, a criminal empire that dwarfed most others by comparison.
Jarred could respect a man like Taliss. Though a criminal, he was still a leader, and from all rumors, a good one. If nothing else, that inspired at least a degree of admiration. It was a shame he might have to kill him. Sitting down across from the older man, Jarred couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking the same thing about him. Though, if that were the case, he assumed he’d already be dead.
Arden’s steely eyes bore into Jarred, analyzing him as he took a seat across the table from the older man. The stare down continued for a long moment before Arden finally broke the silence.
“Archer,” he greeted. “Where is Keplar?”
Jarred sat back in his seat, taking in and measuring up the two bodyguards standing to either side of the table. “I’ve lost him, temporarily.”
Arden took the statement with a blank expression, too experienced to let his emotions show plainly on his face. “You’ve lost him?”
“Temporarily,” Jarred added. “I’ll get him back.”
Arden’s gaze drifted away from Jarred for a moment as he let out an annoyed breath. “Your communication stated you had found and captured him, hence the reason I am sitting here now.”
“I had captured him,” Jarred answered, “and was preparing to transport him here to you when we were caught in the middle of a Sect raid. I’m sure with your resources you would already know about the attack.”
“I am aware there has been some Sect activity on Isyss,” Arden allowed. “I would think that in your profession you would be prepared for such things. What I fail to understand, bounty hunter, is why you have come to me empty handed.”
Jarred hadn’t expected a sympathetic ear from the crime lord, but in a position such as his, Taliss would have no love for the Sect. His best hope of getting any assistance from him would be to work that angle. “I don’t do half way jobs,” he began. “You know that. I said I would deliver my bounty and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Unfortunately, I can’t predict everything. The Sect attack took me by surprise. It won’t happen again. As for why I’m here? As displeased as you are with me showing up empty handed, I imagine it would have been far worse to have not shown up at all.”
Arden seemed to ponder on his words for a moment before responding. “You imagine right, and it is the only reason that I am going to allow you to walk out of here. You’ve done reliable work for me in the past, which is why this on
e time, I’m willing to cut you some slack.”
Jarred relaxed a bit in his seat. Taliss, though technically a criminal, was still a man of his word. By all accounts, it was looking as though he wouldn’t have to fight his way out after all.
“But, that is as far as my understanding goes,” Arden continued. “The bounty on Mac Keplar will be converted to an open contract. Consider the loss you’re taking the penalty for wasting my time. If you bring him in, you’ll still be in the plus.”
Jarred had to strain to keep the anger from showing on his face. The independent bounty on Mac payed out twice what an open contract would. If he managed to pick him up again, he would only be looking at half the original return rate, minus the credits he had already payed out to buy the contract originally, and being down a transport, he was looking at a very big if.
“That’s very generous of you,” he said, between clenched teeth. “Unfortunately, during the attack my ship was fragged. That’s going to make getting started difficult.”
Arden smirked slightly as he sat back in his seat. “You’re a resourceful man, Archer. I’m sure you’ll come up with something. If not, such are the spoils of doing business.”
Jarred felt the sudden urge to leap across the table at the older man, but resisted. Taliss was only doing smart business and he had been more forgiving than originally expected. Taking the crime boss out wouldn’t serve any of his needs, apart from the momentary satisfaction gained by wiping the smug grin from his face, and that wouldn’t get him payed.
“Now,” Arden continued, his tone becoming far less formal. “What can you tell me of my daughter?”
Jarred was caught off guard by the question, but did not hesitate in answering. “She was with Keplar when I found him. I sent her on her way.” He chose his next words carefully. “It wasn’t long before the attack, but she may have already been gone when the Sect arrived.”
Arden sat silently for what seemed like an eternity, looking off at nothing in particular. “Very well,” he said finally, his attention not returning to Jarred, instead gesturing to his bodyguards.
With that, the meeting was apparently over as the two guards stepped forward to lead Jarred away. Standing, he couldn’t help but give Arden a final glance. The crime lord looked suddenly much older as he wearily stroked his goatee, staring out into oblivion. Surprisingly, beneath the hard criminal surface, Taliss was just another concerned father.
In this universe, nothing was ever quite as it seemed.
* * *
“How did the meeting go?”
Jarred glanced over at Elora as he rejoined everyone at Mister Kim’s food kiosk, happy enough to be returning at all. “Better than expected,” he answered her.
“Ah, Mister Jarred,” Kim greeted him. “One minute. I warm up your lunch. Not sure if you would be coming back.”
“Good thinking, Mister Kim.” Jarred leaned up against the counter and casually scanned the docking bay floor.
Elora leaned back to catch his attention again. “What does that mean?” she pressed expectantly, looking up at him from her seat at the counter.
“That means,” Jarred began, “it could have gone worse.” He could see Elora continuing to stare at him from the corner of his eye, but didn’t elaborate any further.
“So, what now, then?” she finally asked after a longer moment.
“Now,” Jarred began, “we look for a ride out of here.”
“I don’t understand how you think we’re going to find a ship here,” Elora commented, turning away from the kiosk. “This doesn’t look like the kind of place where you’d be likely to find a ride.”
“What, and the last place did?” he answered her, sarcastically. “Don’t worry about it. I know what I’m doing.”
“Oh, well that’s a really great relief,” Elora retorted, matching his own sarcasm. “I’m right at ease now.”
Jarred tried to ignore her and looked across the bay to where the Taliss Runner was docked. A large Sumarian, who Jarred took to be another member of Arden’s personal security, stood conversing with a smaller, four armed Ancheewon, most likely the ship’s pilot. The refueling operator was just disconnecting the fuel pumps as the Sumarian remote-closed the ship’s ramp, he and the pilot turning to walk across the bay in Jarred’s direction.
Elora stepped up next to Jarred, placing her hands on her hips as she surveyed the bay herself. “So then . . . where should we start?”
Jarred glanced from Elora to the approaching Sumarian and Ancheewon and was suddenly reminded of something that had happened the previous day. He took a quick step forward and, not quite by accident, bumped into the passing Sumarian, who turned to look down at him angrily, letting out a growl.
“Oh, excuse me,” Jarred apologized, and raised his hands to the Sumarian to emphasize his sincerity. “I didn’t see you there.”
Looking Jarred up and down, the Sumarian sneered. “One so small would do better to watch where he was going.”
Jarred smiled and nodded. “That’s good advice. Thank you.” As he moved to step out of the way, the Sumarian grabbed his arm, holding him firmly in place.
“Your words are mocking, human. It is not wise to mock a Sumarian.”
“I’ll take that under advisement,” Jarred responded calmly, letting a slight grin come to his face as he watched the Sumarian continue on with the smaller pilot.
“Don’t worry about it,” Elora mimicked. “I know what I’m doing. If by that you meant getting us all killed, then you’re doing a real knock up job. That Sumarian looked like he wanted to eat us for lunch!”
Jarred had to laugh as he stepped back over to the kiosk.
“He does not look at all happy with you, Mister Jarred,” Kim put in, from inside the kiosk. “Speaking of lunch, yours is ready.”
“Better make it to go, Mister Kim,” Jarred returned.
“I understand,” Kim replied. “You are a very busy man.”
“What, are we going somewhere?” Elora asked. “I thought we were looking for a ride.”
“I just found one,” Jarred answered her.
Elora took a step forward. “Where?”
He gave her a nudge in the opposite direction. “It’s just leaving. Come on, or we’ll miss it.” Jarred reached over the counter and took the covered tray Kim was offering him along with a transponder card.
“Thank you, Mister Kim.”
“You’re very welcome, Mister Jarred,” Kim said, with a friendly nod. “Take care. And say hello to Hiroshi . . . when you see him.”
“I’ll do that,” Jarred answered, nodding gratefully to the old cook as he grabbed another small bag off the counter and tossed it over to Ethan, who was still standing next to Orna.
“Don’t forget your fortune cookies,” he said, with a wink, catching Orna’s curious glance at the remark and grinning as he strode past her, setting out across the bay.
“So, what was all that about?” Elora asked, quickly catching up to him. “Who's Hiroshi?”
“Old business,” he answered her. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Fair enough,” she returned, taking the hint that he was not interested in speaking about it further.
The Taliss Runner sat in the large open berthing area of the dock, standing out from all the other craft around it. It wasn’t a flashy vessel, and looked far less modern than many of the other transports docked in the bay, but to a trained eye, there was really no comparison. From a purely functional standpoint, if the vessel was operating at its full potential, which being in Arden’s possession, Jarred assumed it was, there was nothing else docked here that would come close to matching its performance on any level. Coming to a stop in front of the craft, he felt a shiver of excitement run up his spine.
“Stellar,” Ethan uttered, as he stepped up next to Jarred, his mouth gaping.
Jarred nodded in agreement. “You said it, kid.” He walked from one end of the ship to the other, studying the vessel’s sleek exterior. Now, thi
s was a ship.
“Yes,” he said to himself, decidedly. “I think this will do nicely.”
“What do you mean, do nicely?” Elora asked, looking from the ship to Jarred, a bit puzzled. “You expect to get a ride from them?” She pointed back in the direction of the Sumarian.
“No, I do not,” Jarred replied, negatively.
Elora looked confused for a moment until it seemed to hit her, her eyes growing wide as she spoke in a hushed tone. “You mean . . . you mean steal? You’re going to steal a ship?”
“Yeah, that’s right,” he answered evenly. “What did you think? Someone here would just give us a ride out of the goodness of their hearts? They’d as soon shoot us as help us. They’re all smugglers and mercenaries.”
“Like you,” Elora retorted, with a raised eyebrow.
Jarred gave her a sarcastic look. “You know, for someone who’s getting a free ride, you sure do run your mouth off a lot.” He turned to head back down the length of the ship and Elora followed.
“But isn’t this that criminal guy’s ship?” she asked, staying close on his heels.
“It is,” Jarred answered.
“Well, won’t that upset him?”
“Yes, I assume it will.”
Elora shook her head at him, but continued to stay at his side as he completed his survey of the vessel.
“How are you going to do it?” she asked quietly, looking around, as if for potential eavesdroppers.
“Easy,” he replied, as he retrieved the ship remote from his tunic, which he had managed to pick pocket from Arden’s unwitting, Sumarian strong hand, and pressed a button on it, unlocking the vessel’s entry hatch and lowering the boarding ramp to the ground. He extended a hand up the ramp, Elora staring at him with complete surprise.
“Care to board?” he asked, jokingly.
Elora just stood there a moment, grinning and shaking her head, Ethan laughing with amusement beside her.
As everyone began to board, Jarred pointed to Ethan. “Your move,” he said, tossing him the remote.
Ethan caught the device and smiled broadly as Jarred mussed his already unruly head of hair, giving him a little push up the ramp before following after.
