She smiled even wider. “You should talk, even SHIP notices that you don’t sleep as much as you should. Besides, I slept a million years. I’ve got a lot to catch up on and I am more content with my new life than I ever was even back in my time. The crew is as healthy as can be, I have a very competent staff, and the equipment is less primitive than I originally thought. I have a real purpose. There isn’t much more I need in life.”
I smiled back at her as she went to the IST. “Call me when the Nul is coming around.”
She said, just before she disappeared, “I will, captain.”
I returned my attention to the main screen. “I guess the best thing is we go to that Pirate Market as well.”
I turned to look for the Golden and saw him with the little Holdian standing by the navigation tank, which was right behind my seat in the back area of the bridge. They both were talking quietly.
As the Merchant saw me, he said, “I am sorry, captain, did you address me? I was just showing my roommate where the depository is, the most secret planet of the Golden.”
I still smiled. “Your roommate? Do you share your VIP quarters?”
He looked at his furry friend and then at me. “Yes, I do, but I am a regular crew member and therefore don’t want any special treatment. Lt. Hi had me assigned to regular crew quarters and it is much better to share small quarters with your best friend than have big ones alone.”
His statement warmed my heart. “So, you became friends, I see.”
The Holdian blinked with his black button eyes and nodded. “Oh, yes, captain. I am teaching Sobi how to fix stuff and he teaches me all kinds of Merchant secrets.”
The Golden put his hand on the head of the Holdian. “The friendships I’ve made on this ship make me a richer man than I ever was before, captain. The only regret I have is that I did not think of this much earlier in my life.”
I changed the subject. “We need to go to the Pirates’ Market and you know most about it.”
He came down the ramp and into the main area of the bridge and said, “It is as much a market as it is a fair and social event. Pirates, privateers, scavengers and the lot leading a solitary life. The Pirate Market of Sin 4 and the Freetraders Festival on N’ger are the few social events they have to meet, share stories, trade wares, and buy things they need. Show is everything, and I suggest we go with a large group, heavily armed and in our finest armor. I would even take TheOther along. That we have a Y’All in the crew will impress like nothing else and no one will dare to ask where he is from. We should take lots of money and buy expensive stuff, as that will show we are successful. Maybe we can set up shop; we do have a few very nice items in our treasury.”
I grinned. “That we even have a treasury is thanks to you. So, I guess the best thing is to put you in charge of this project as well, but at least one senior officer must remain aboard.”
Circuit said, “I stay. I am working on a new generation of spy nanites and am hoping to finish them and have them dispatched to the pirate ships out there. Besides, it would be hard to explain an X101 that turned pirate.”
Shaka said, “I stay, too. I can take the Conn. I don’t mind dirt side but I’d rather be aboard and I am helping Circuit anyway.”
My chief engineer patted Shaka’s shoulder: “He is getting to be quite the nanite expert.”
Before I could say something, Cateria called. “The Nul is awake.”
I got up. “Mr. Sobody, prepare our excursion to the market. I will be with you all shortly.”
The Gray Nul was one ugly and threatening-looking life from, almost as massive and big as Hans. His entire body looked like it was made of coils of various-sized ropes. He had a dome-shaped head without a neck and only one eye as big as dinner plate but with two independent pupils. Underneath that truly alien eye was a vertical split mouth with rows and rows of needle-sharp teeth. There was no distinguishable nose or anything remotely similar. A set of two fork-like mandibles perhaps designed to hold whatever prey the Nul decided to devour stuck out from either side of that terrifying mouth. He had two arms without any visible joints, more like flexible hoses or tentacles, with claw-like hands. He was standing inside a holding cell within an active force field and two marines in full battlesuits were aiming their weapons at him. A Fenris Robot in one corner seemed inactive, except for a dark red light in its visual sensor array. It was not too much security, if only half was true that I had heard about Nul.
He still wore bandage patches all over his body. Cateria stepped next to me as I entered the high security detention ward and said, “Captain, I never worked on a Nul before and there was frighteningly little in our medical data banks. There is no similar life form on file. There are no Nul on Union side, like the small Togar community or the Purple Throat Shiss colonies. He has an endo and exoskeleton, very tough armor-like skin and an open circulation with organs more or less floating around. I would love to contact Nul and get some information on how to help him better.”
The Nul’s single eye followed me. “You are the captain of this vessel?”
I looked at the Nul through the force field and said, “Yes.”
His voice was deeper than anything I’d ever heard and it no longer sounded as weak as it did before. “You were the one who fought for me in the arena, a weak Human enemy fighting on my behalf a very dangerous life form with nothing but a cutting tool.”
I shrugged at that and said, “Let me be frank with you. You are correct in saying that we are enemies. War between our species always looms just around the proverbial corner. Nul do not communicate with us, and they refuse any diplomatic contact. That does not mean I hate Nul.”
He growled with his deep voice. “But why have you fought for me? You risked your life for mine. I need to know.”
How could I explain my often impulsive and reckless behavior? “I hate unfair situations. You having your eye glued and wearing that collar was a very unfair situation, and I wanted to give you a fighting chance.”
He said very slowly. “Unfair—” He repeated it again and then he listened as SHIP chimed in and explained something to him in a different language. He then looked at me again. “This is a most intriguing concept. It is simply another way of defining one’s personal honor. You show to have honor and act like a warrior born.”
He raised his arms and immediately my marines did the same with their weapons but all he did was talk. “I had no place to go. I wanted to die from the hand of a worthy enemy, yet you saved me again. You have much honor and so have the beings among your crew that I met so far. Your CMO set aside all her fear and worked on me with great skill. She has, without doubt, also saved my life. You must let me communicate with Nul or there will be war. I am no mere Nul; I am the First Gray of the King. All Nul will go to war to find me. The announcer lied when he said the Union captured me. But if I cannot clear that up, there will be war.”
I suspected as much, as I remembered the conversation on Brahma Port quite well. “It will be impossible for a while but I will find a way to get you home eventually.”
He made a gesture toward the walls. “I know this is a Union ship and we are not as stupid as the Union thinks we Nuls are. You are not a pirate; you are here undercover on a clandestine mission. I am almost certain of that. No pirate has such a well-trained crew and such an advanced sickbay. I will not compromise you or say anything to reveal your mission, but I need to prevent war while I can. I give you my word!”
I looked at him, actually contemplating if I had to kill him but then I said, “All right, I accept your word. How do you want to contact your king?”
He said, “While we do not have the same marvelous instantaneous communications as you do, I can use your GalNet technology to contact an agent of ours on Bokta. That is a Union planet very close to Nul-Nul, our realm. This agent then will use our communication systems to contact the king directly.”
I said to him, “If I let you out of this high security containment cell so you can make your call, m
ust I fear for my crew and my life?”
He spread his arms in a universal understandable gesture of non-aggression. “Your honorable conduct is more effective than any technical means of restraint. Your words and the conduct of your crew make me also realize that we must change our policy and begin diplomatic contacts with the Union after all. Captain Velvet, I give you my word.”
I looked to the ceiling and said, “SHIP, deactivate the security fields and get me a GalNet Connection on this security panel down here.”
I could not help but feel nervous and secretly question my own decision as the force field collapsed. I knew the Nul could change the molecular structure of their bodies at will and become almost unstoppable fighting machines. I was certain the collar he wore in the arena was some device that prevented him from doing it there.
I waved to the marines and said, “Sergeant, take the robot with you and stand guard outside.”
The marine, a Pertharian, hesitated for a second but then followed my order. Now alone with the Nul, I said, “You know how to use a GalNet terminal?”
He bent his entire body forward. “Yes, I do.”
I went to the door. “Tell the marines outside when you are done.”
His voice sounded surprised as he said, “You will not remain to monitor my actions?”
“I will give you privacy to make this call. You gave me your word so why should I need to monitor it?”
He gestured to the terminal. “Please stay then, captain. I would like you to hear what I have to say.”
He made a connection to Bokta and called a Saurian merchant there.
After the Saurian appeared on the screen, the Gray Nul said, “This is the one bound to travel to Holy Ashes of Narl Gatu, the First Gray One born to Orth Gatu na Gatu. I am Xon Gatu na Gatu. I have urgent news that needs to be conveyed to the One Who Leads Us All.”
The Saurian bowed. “My days are blessed for seeing you, most adored of the House Gatu. We thought you lost. Honorable Xon and the Nul are preparing for war. The seer of Narl Gatu said we have only a short time left before our prince, who is in strange lands, transforms forever.”
The Gray Nul said, “The Seer was right as always. I am in strange lands and I am transforming as we speak.”
The Saurian bowed again. “The One Who Leads Us All will send fleets to scour the skies and descend upon those who did the foul deed, I am certain of it. The events that transpired on Sin 4 have been received.”
The Nul said with a loud voice, “Silence, and do not assume! I was abducted but not by the Union or agents of that power. It was the Shiss who took me while I was in the purifying sleep. I am safe and shall return when I finish my journey. Tell him who gave life to me to abandon preparations for war against the Union and honor the Freespace Treaty. Tell him Asla Nu Da Venfi and make haste with your efforts to inform him!”
“I shall do as you command. My eyes are pained as they see you wounded, Gray One.”
The Nul made a swiping gesture. “If my wounds would be of significance, I would have mentioned that. Now convey that message and prevent that war or I will come to Bokta and assure you that you will not fail again.”
The Sauron bowed a third time and assured the Nul he would act with urgency.
The transmission ended and the Nul said to me, “Now I will be your prisoner.”
“That is a dilemma as there is no war between our nations but if I leave you unguarded, I assume you will seek ways to escape and return home.”
He asked, “What will you do with me?”
“As soon as I can return to Union Space, I will have to do what my superiors tell me to do, but that might still be a while, since I have a mission here I must complete.”
He bowed before me. “I will be your prisoner and will not seek to harm you or anyone aboard this ship as long as you are in command. The moment you transfer me to others, I must try to escape. On this, you also have my word of honor.”
I sighed and opened the door. “I will have guest quarters assigned to you but there will be areas that are restricted to you.”
He was still bowing. “Your conduct is nothing I expected and more than I could have hoped for. I will show you that Nul are not the mindless brutes your propaganda makes us to be but that we value honesty and truthfulness beyond all else.”
***
The Pirate Market was not far from the spaceport, located on a cleared field of perhaps 6,000 square meters completely surrounded by a 10 meter-high wall with several gates in each side.
The event was sponsored by the local syndicates and was still being held despite the recent turmoil in their ranks.
A small city of tents and other temporary buildings had sprung up inside the walls. Not only pirates set up shop, but also weapon dealers, scavengers, scrap and secondhand commodities buyers. The sad tents and pens of slave dealers as well as exotic life form merchants and ship part sellers intermingled with bar tents and food stalls where the guests and visitors to this market could drink and eat.
The Sojonites had placed one of their pink tents at a prominent location near the main entrance and most likely did brisk business. Other establishments of similar business were represented in every flavor imaginable. There were tents of mercenary outfits offering their services as well as places where the assassin guilds and similar organizations recruited and offered their services.
Wares and slaves from all corners of the Galaxy were displayed on carpets, pallets, and platforms.
The tents were marked and advertised with an ocean of colorful flags, signs, and banners. Beings of every known world and quite a few unknown worlds mingled in the aisles between. There was an air of commerce and a din of busy noise everywhere and the scents, smells, and odors that wafted over the place formed a cloud of indescribable stench that was overwhelming.
Even though the diversity of beings here could not have been greater, our arrival caused a stir with many stares and whispered comments.
Looking over my crew, I had to admit we were quite a unique collection of individuals. Krabbel, Hans, TheOther, four Pertharians, a Quadiped, the Togar female who had her fur dyed black. Mao, with a naked upper body full of tattoos. Har-Hi in Dai Armor bristling with knives and weapons. TheOther in a shiny golden robe looked regal despite the X-shaped branding that was, of course, only simulated. Elfi, in an outfit that consisted mostly of semi-transparent veils that highly contrasted to the H&K missile rifle she carried like an afterthought over her shoulder. Circuit had come along, after all, since he realized we went to a market where we could shop and had disguised himself like Narth in a Non-Corp suit with mirrored faceplates. The NWC battlewalker manned by the three Mini-Terrans stomped at the end of our group, looking particularly menacing with an added missile launcher pack on its back.
Holden, the little rodent, was riding on Hans’ shoulder and thus was able to tower over almost everyone. It was obvious he enjoyed both the view and the safety his big ride provided.
Most of us were dressed in black leather and armor. The eight Human marines who also accompanied us had beards and wore black bandanas. Everyone was armed to the teeth with blasters, boarding axes, swords, and other weapons. TheOther carried a full-sized H&K chain cannon with a missile ammo container that was normally carried in the field by battle robots, easily weighing a full ton. Hans held a Nuc-Flamer, an almost forgotten weapon of the Piostla War, able to project the heat of a nuclear explosion in a devastating beam of fire. It was usually mounted to landing tanks.
Shea wore a bathing suit-like bodice with thigh-high boots and was armed with her mysterious sword.
As I saw her with it, I remembered I wanted to ask her about it and again she promised to tell me the story of how she got it later.
Sobody had put a black leather vest over his golden costume and smirked, “Ah, what an entrance! I wish we could be here for real business. We made quite an impact already!”
The crowds parted before us as we walked through the aisles.
We stop
ped here and there and inspected the wares put out for sale and slowly approached the center of the market that way. A sales stand kept in a red and golden theme, with a big standard container, caught my eye.
A row of S10 robots stood in a half-open shipping crate, with stacks of passenger luggage, bales of Saresii silk, and cases of Terran liquors on one side. A large cage with about 20 Humans and four Klack was behind that. On the other side, a closed shipping container. In the middle was a raised podium with a throne-like chair shaded by a red fabric roof held up by flag-tipped poles on each side. On this throne-like chair sat a red and gold-dressed individual. He wore a deep red uniform richly adorned with golden embroidery drawing swirling patterns all over the shiny fabric. He had well-defined muscles, broad shoulders, and even sitting appeared to be tall. The man wore a wide-brimmed hat of the same color as his uniform.
Like me, he did not show his real face to the world, but wore a disturbing skull mask with black eye sockets and a lipless grin made out of the exposed teeth.
He was flanked by a rowdy crew. I counted nine Humans, five Togar, two of them female, seven Karthanian, three black-furred Nogol, three Oghar, and two insectoid beings like man-sized mosquitoes with silvery wings on their backs.
Narth, as usual, filled the gap in my knowledge. “These are Frudians.”
I acknowledged and then noticed a Kermac in the crew of the Red Dragon. He was beardless and I was almost certain he was the same Kermac I had met in the slave pens of Alvor’s Cove.
The man in the frightening mask got up and stepped in my way, made an elaborate curtsey, and held his head before his chest. “If your face is only half as lovely as your body then I am sure you are among the most beautiful women this side of the Orion arm. You must be the Black Velvet that I have heard so much about.”
I put my hand on the heavy blaster that Har-Hi was raising. “And you must be either very brave or perhaps insane to step in my way, whoever you are.”
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7 Page 119
