Shea leaned forward, giving me a very nice view down her cleavage, while she said in a quiet tone, “I can smell that washroom even out here.”
Har-Hi pointed with his chin to a handful of miners sitting at a table next to us. “It’s not the bathroom, it’s them.”
She produced a little atomizer and sprayed it before her. A fresh flowery scent suddenly tried to mask the sour, musky smell that wafted almost visibly into our direction.
“Next time, I’ll select a filter mask. Don’t they bathe?”
Har-Hi shook his head. “Water is very expensive out here and even more at their mining camps. It has to be bought from ice miners and water merchants. Washing isn’t a big priority to them.”
Narth was enjoying himself greatly. To him, it was all a part of his still-new corporal experience outside the Narth Collective. His voice came into my mind. “You do begin to understand Narth. It pleases me. I, too, contemplate how a destruction of this base could be accomplished without revealing our true origin, but I must also be a voice of warning as it would be against our license and charter.”
“Our what?”
“We are here in Freespace, clearly violating a treaty signed by representatives of our Union. Now it is true that the Assembly has given us license via the intelligence committee to eliminate piracy, hunt known criminals and suppress arms and slave trade. However, neither the owners of this asteroid nor the many miners living here appear on any wanted list or are known to have committed crimes against the Union.”
He was right, of course. We were already walking a very thin line and I was certain Admiral McElligott had twisted and bent more than just one rule to make our mission possible. However, Stahl also knew about it and, for his trust in me alone, I had to heed Narth’s objection and think of another way to take this pirate base out of business.
Aloud, he said. “Can I ask you a question that puzzles me greatly.”
“Of course, you never asked permission before.”
“Why did you find pleasure in looking at Shea’s breasts? You now have almost identical ones. Do they differ in some other way than size that affects you in this way? I stared at both sets and compared them and could detect any emotional effect.”
Har-Hi coughed and the thill beer shot out of his nose. Shea started to giggle and I was glad for my mask, as I must have turned cherry red. “Ah … well, because I am still getting used to them.”
Har-Hi wiped his nose. “Narth, with you around, I have a real hard time remaining a stern, always serious Dai warrior.”
The Oghar pirate and the captain of the Swift Profit were still here, and it was not hard to tell that we were the subject of their conversation.
Before Narth could say something else, Captain Swift got up and walked over, made a theatrical bow and tipped his forehead. “I am Curtis Swift, Captain of the Swift Profit, and I think you are the famous and mysterious Black Velvet. I also assume we might be in the same line of business, so I thought I’d introduce myself.”
I eyed him up and down and said, “And what line of business would that be?”
“Doing what we please and taking advantage of opportunities that might present themselves. A little of this and a little of that and not particularly caring about anyone else and their rules.” He pointed at the big table. “This is called the captain’s table and I am sure Crimson Curse would like to get to know you as much as I do. He is the ugly Oghar over there.”
Before I could respond, everyone turned to the sudden noise at the tavern’s entrance. A rowdy-looking crew entered, led by a flashily dressed Human with blue skin. He was without a doubt a Thauran.
I cursed silently and wondered how far I had to go, so I would not meet someone of these blue-skinned bastards. I’d always been tolerant and blind to another being’s form, shape, or color but those blue Thaurans had started to get to me.
He was accompanied by two muscular Oghar and according to the information I received from Narth those were Orkh-Oghar, the strongest and biggest sub species of the Oghar race.
Narth instantly corrected my thoughts, by saying in a low voice, “No, the Orkh-Oghar are the physically strongest sub-species belonging to the remaining Nine Kingdoms. The Ogr, who are nearly three times as big and much stronger in physical terms, have been Union members for 403 years. The Oromals, who are also of the same group of species, are just as big and also Union members for 394 years.”
I raised my hands. “Could they not come up with less confusing names? I mean Oghar, Ogar, Ogr? It appears the only difference is a vowel here and there.”
Har-Hi chimed in, “After the Oghar Empire fell apart into the Nine Kingdoms, they fought each other in bitter wars over many centuries about such naming issues.”
While Narth and Har-Hi educated me about the Oghar, I observed the newcomers who were still standing at the open entrance area that separated the tavern from the rest of the asteroid’s main cavern.
Trailing the group were three mangy-looking Jooltar warriors.
The new group was now joined by four more Thaurans, one of them female, and all gaudily and colorfully dressed. If it weren’t for the fact that the group was armed to the teeth, one could have mistaken them for a traveling circus troupe.
The five Thaurans explained the noise and the air of self-importance they displayed. I wondered why the Thaurans did not join the Kermac. They could hold competitions of self-importance and arrogance and my money wasn’t on the Kermac as to who would win such a contest.
Narth said in my mind, “I doubt the Kermac would want a thrall species as good as they in the only field the Kermac really excel.”
I smiled. “Never did I think you would say something like this. Not that I mind, but sarcasm wasn’t something I associate with a Narth.”
His thoughts felt slightly amused as his answer resonated in my mind. “One might point out that we shared the Hugavh and that means I also adapt to your ways of thinking. The Narth observed many civilizations for a very long time, and the Kermac are very good at being arrogant and self-important. They have inherited this haughtiness and superciliousness from the UNI very long ago. Of course, only with our newly gained knowledge and understanding of emotions are we able to quantify our observations in such terms.”
His thoughts paused for a moment. “This arrogant self-importance is of course not completely alien to Humans, especially those who consider themselves of noble origin. Now this is a concept I have spent much time analyzing and have yet to come to a satisfactory conclusion.”
I answered Narth silently and on our shared mental level. “It is also part of my heritage; being of an old clan on Nilfeheim is something very similar. My clan is considered very important only due to the fact that we carry an old name. I also don’t think all nobility is bad. Look at our princess; she can switch it on and off just like that, and then there is Shaka. He never makes a big deal out of it but I met his father, the Zulu king, at the Diamond Ball and he radiates authority in a way I can only describe as noble.”
Narth didn’t respond this time but I knew he was contemplating what I said, putting it through his incomprehensible way of analyzing things.
Now he did respond. “My way of analyzing things is not completely incomprehensible; Shea understands it well.”
I wanted to tell him that not everyone had an IQ of 400 but my silent conversation with Narth was interrupted as Captain Swift, still standing close to our table also watching the newcomers, rolled his eyes and said to me, “That is Captain Dentar Bloom of the Roughnir. Even among our colorful society of spacefaring professionals, he is not the most pleasant individual to deal with, but then he is Thauran. Never really met one I liked.”
Strangely, I found that Swift and I had actually something in common.
The Thauran pointed to me as Dentar Bloom yelled to the barkeeper, “Bottles of Solik. Big bowls of Tambark Broth and, for me, your finest Brohmir Sweat and bring plenty, you three-armed cretin!”
They sat down at a table
not far from us and the captain looked around with a disapproving expression and then waved at Crimson. “Of all the ugly sights in the Galaxy, you, my dear Crimson, appear to be the ugliest. Be so kind and switch chairs so I don’t have to look at you!”
The barkeeper came to our table and asked if we wanted more drinks and the loudmouth complained, “I ordered and expect to be served first. Don’t waste time with the riffraff over there.”
The barkeeper turned and said with an edge in his voice, “First, pay the tab you left the last time, 80 full weights!”
Bloom put his hand on his boarding saber, but didn’t pull it. “The cosmic winds did not blow much in terms of prey across our bow and the Blessed Blue Virgin was not with us the past few months. Nothing that carried polos came our way. However, we managed to liberate a collection of nice things that will bring a hefty profit once I am able to reach the markets on Sin 4. We had to stop here to get some fuel.”
“Save your excuses and tell them to someone that cares. Eighty full weights or there won’t be any drinks.”
Dentar Bloom made a jovial gesture. “I’ll pay you double I owe you the next time I come by. Now, I think you better extend my credit. I anger easily.”
The barkeep pointed with one of his arms to the ceiling and to a set of remote controlled Neuro Rippers. “You don’t scare me, Captain Bloom. Pay up or leave. This establishment is for paying customers only. Make any kind of trouble and I might settle for what the scavengers pay me for your carcass.”
This obviously didn’t sit well with the flashily dressed Thauran. He talked to one of his officers and the Oghar left.
Bloom then climbed on his chair and spread his arms. “It looks like well-heeled Captain Swift is here and so is the famous Crimson Curse. One likes to eat and the other likes to rape. So, I am thinking I’ll hold a little auction right here and now.”
It didn’t take long and the Oghar came back dragging a beautiful white Togar female on a chain behind him.
She wore a metal collar and both her hands were attached to it with short chains, making her choke at every move. The cruel metal band had rubbed her neck raw and there was crusted blood all around the collar. Her legs were kept apart with a steel rod that had cuffs on each end, allowing her to move only with small circling steps. She had cuts and bruises all over her otherwise completely white fur.
I didn’t like Togar and only a short time ago, I’d wanted to kill them all. However, seeing this poor female treated like that made me wish I could twist the head of that blue-skinned bastard’s neck.
Her eyes were big and green, and she had a pink nose, which reminded me of the little Holdian commander. The Togar female could not talk, as she was muzzled with several layers of memory tape around her short snout.
The three-armed Pertharian barkeeper protested loudly. “Are you insane, Bloom? The Togar Empire isn’t far from here and they will send warships if they hear a female Togar was sold here. Those cats don’t kid around when it comes to their females.”
With a dismissive gesture, Bloom said, “Don’t you worry about the Togar. They have other things on their minds right now. Besides, she is a wanted criminal in the realm of the Togar. I could get good money for her from any Togar male. She might be good in the Death Fight arenas but I am far from Sin 4 and need fuel, and you all know how nice a Togar female can be to Human males, if she is properly restrained, of course.”
His last comment was answered by nodding heads and rough laughter, coming from miners and pirates.
The Thauran obviously enjoyed being in the center of attention and said, “Now I know your appetite, Captain Swift, but there are many lonely miners here, so the opening bid is 100 polos.”
As disgusting as the sale was, the lusting gaze in Swift’s face and the dirty jokes and openly described fantasies of the miners present was even more revolting.
One of the miners said, “I’ll give you the 100 Polos.”
Swift immediately countered with a bid of 150.
I had forgotten my own drink and my hand was reaching for the butt of my gun, when Har-Hi put his hand on my arm and shook his head almost imperceptively. He was right, of course, and I would not jeopardize our mission by starting a fight underneath looming Neuro Rippers, especially not for a Togar.
The price was at 600 polos now and it looked like one of the miners, a fat unkempt fellow, apparently Human, had the deeper pockets, as Swift was not raising his hand again.
There was a moment of silence and it seemed the miner would take the pitiful-looking Togar female and then do all the things he said he would do to her.
I said, “1,000 polos.”
I almost surprised myself but I couldn’t let her be sold into a fate so cruel. Maybe we could keep her in stasis and let her go somewhere convenient and close to wherever she called home.
My bid put all eyes on me.
The Thauran captain noticed me. “Who are you? I sell to anyone but you have to have the cash.”
“I have the polos. Anything else is unimportant.”
Swift introduced me. “That delectable package in skintight leather is none other than the famous and mysterious Black Velvet.”
The Thauran made a mocking bow. “Thousand polos, full-weight, have been called for this wild, soft-furred promise of pleasure. Do I hear any other bids?”
Narth’s voice in my head said, “I informed the ship. Hans and the Golden are on their way with the money. What do you want done with the Togar female?”
“Have Cateria check her out and then I guess put her in stasis until we can let her go somewhere. Maybe we can find out where she belongs and see if we can get her as close as possible.”
“This might prove difficult, as she isn’t what the Thauran claimed she is.”
“She isn’t Togar?”
“She is, but I think we might have purchased what you would call big trouble.”
I didn’t like what I was hearing and silently responded, “Can you be more specific than that?”
“The Togar are hunting her for some reason. From what I can gather, she is more than a criminal. I shall accompany her to the ship and probe deeper and then let you know.”
Hans stomped in and his massive appearance silenced the crowd. He looked frightening indeed in his version of a pirate costume. He wore a harness similar to the one Har-Hi had, across his enormous and otherwise bare chest, but his was not made of leather but instead of heavy-looking links of Ultronit steel chain. Pants of thick leather, stitched together with steel rivets. A full-sized Nul gravitor cannon across his back and a pair of Y’All boarding swords were his weapons of choice. To all this, he had on knee-high boots, reinforced with armor plating and looked as if he could kick a battle robot to scrap. The knuckles of his gauntlet-style gloves sported metal spikes, gleaming razor sharp. To finish his look, he wore a skull-tight leather mask that left his chin and mouth open. The mask had a crest of needle-sharp metal spikes. He looked like a nightmare version of a dungeon torturer right out of the horror visuals Mao loved to watch.
No one dared to speak, and there was open fear in quite a few of the rough faces.
He carried an Ultronit band-reinforced strongbox over his left shoulder and with his right, he swiped one of the Oghar out of his way, with about as much effort as if swatting an insect. The Oghar hurled several meters, crashed between tables and chairs, and instead of getting up, he crawled farther out of Hans’ way.
Sobody, walking next to Hans, was almost unnoticed. He looked the same as always but his bald head sported a ghastly cross-shaped scar. From my adventure on Alvor’s Cove, I knew it meant he was an outcast of the Golden society.
The metal grating of the floor was vibrating with every step Hans made; glasses on the tables danced as he came to my table and placed the heavy chest before me.
Sobody unlocked it with a flair of importance and an electronic key he wore around his neck and bowed before me. “Captain, as requested, your purse.”
I was still sitting
and said, “Pay that Thauran 1,000 polos.”
Captain Swift whistled through his teeth as Sobody opened the chest that was filled to the brim with polo coins packed in clear plastic bags and handed the speechless Thauran two of them saying, “Two bags of 500 each.”
Narth got up whispered to Hans.
My terrifying-looking security chief nodded and took the struggling and horrified Togar cat like a toy doll over his shoulder and left with Narth.
Into the prevailing silence, Bloom looked at the two bags of money he held. “By the blessed Blue Virgin, that I call no-nonsense business. You seem to run a tight ship and gathered a capable crew. Respect, respect!”
The three-armed Pertharian held out two of his hands. “Now that you have money, I think you need to pay your tab.”
Since the barkeeper also held the remote control of the neuro ripper in his third hand and the projector heads on the ceiling moved with an audible hum, targeting the Thauran, the blue-skinned captain obliged, but he didn’t like it one bit, as it was evident by his facial expression.
Bloom came closer to our table with his crew close behind him. He eyed the heavy chest and said to me, “You would not be in the market for 80 tons of fine Togar merchandise?”
I sipped at my Dai beer. “No, I am not.”
“You see, I have a hold full of that stuff, and it will sell on Sin 4 or on Kaliment for good money. The trouble is, I am a tad short on fuel and these tight Bassett bastards don’t give credit.”
I raised my head and looked at him. “And why are you boring me with that? I am sure the miners over there always have need for cheap laborers. After a year or two, you might have enough money to buy fuel, I suppose.”
He sucked in air and pointed his finger at me. “I don’t think you understand, female. I eat the likes of you for breakfast. I am going to take that chest now and if you try to stop us, my men will do to you what we did to the Togar female.”
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7 Page 104
