by Jake Bible
"I can hear everything," Hessa interrupted. "Bhangul? Can we at least land? Our shields are completely down and I feel exposed. Dangerously exposed."
"Fifty percent," Bhangul said.
"Ten," Roak countered.
"Sixty percent," Bhangul said.
"Oh, just fucking knock it off," Roak snarled. "Fine. Fifty percent."
"The rate went up to sixty, Roak," Bhangul responded. "Didn't you hear me?"
"You sure this is how you want to negotiate?" Roak's voice was even, flat, deadly.
"Eight Million Gods damn," Bhangul said. "No need to get ugly." He sighed again. "Fifty percent will do."
"Hessa, land this thing and let's get to work," Roak said.
"This thing?" Hessa scoffed. "This thing!"
"You are really making friends today, Roak," Reck said.
"Everyone off my ass," Roak snapped. "Hessa?"
"What?"
"Please take us in to Bhangul's ship lot," Roak said in a voice so sickeningly sweet that Yellow Eyes looked like he was going to throw up again. "I would very much appreciate it if we could land immediately."
"That wasn't so hard," Hessa said and paused. Then, "Time and date."
"Shoot me now," Roak muttered. He undid the harness and stood up to stretch. "I'm grabbing some gump stew."
"Great idea!" Yellow Eyes exclaimed and was gone in a blur.
"Leave some for me!" Roak yelled after the being. "Hessa?"
"I will make sure he does not eat it all," Hessa said. "We will land in about twenty minutes. I am taking us in slowly since the thrusters are offline. I'll have to use the grav drive to maneuver which is not a very precise way of steering the ship."
"Do what you need to do," Roak said. "You do anyway."
"Yes. Yes, I do," Hessa replied as Roak left the bridge.
10.
Bhangul Whorp was far less hostile in person. He even held up a bottle of Klav whiskey when Roak climbed down out of the ship and stepped onto the floor of Bhangul's underground hangar.
"Don't try to apologize," Roak said, crossing quickly to the Dornopheous. He paused as he eyed the bottle. "Is that legit or bootleg?"
"This one is legit," Bhangul said. He patted a crate next to him. "Take a load off and have a glass."
"He's buttering you up for something, Roak," Reck said as she jumped off the steps of the ship and proceeded straight for the repair console that was rising up from the hangar floor. "He's already getting fifty percent of our haul. Don't give him any more."
"What? Butter you up?" Bhangul chuckled. "What could I possibly butter you up for?"
"Obviously something," Roak said and held out his hand. Bhangul placed a glass of whiskey in Roak's waiting palm. "Don't tell me those Skrang punks are giving you shit again."
"Them? No, they left months ago," Bhangul said. "I haven't seen a single Skrang on Zuus since the war between the GF and Skrang ramped back up."
"They either returned for conscription or are running from it," Nimm said as she descended the ship's steps. "Bhangul, it is good to see you."
"Nimm? I heard rumors you had joined Roak's team, but I couldn't believe it," Bhangul said.
"Not a team," Roak growled. He downed the whiskey and held out his glass. Bhangul eagerly refilled it. Roak eyed him carefully. "Spit it out."
"Yes, well, there might be something," Bhangul said. "But we can discuss it later."
"We can discuss it now," Roak said.
"Bhangul!" Reck shouted as she pounded a fist on the repair console. "I'm locked out! Why am I locked out?"
"Bhangul, we had a deal," Roak said.
"I know, I know, and I will honor the deal," Bhangul said. "There's just one thing I have to ask…"
Even though Dornopheous were putty-like beings, Bhangul managed to form two digits and snap them together, producing a surprisingly crisp, loud sound.
A young Dornopheous came tumbling out from behind one of the ships in the hangar. It righted itself then moved quickly to Bhangul's side.
"This is my nephew," Bhangul said. "I have promised his mother that I would introduce him to the great Roak, the galaxy's deadliest bounty hunter."
"You said I would apprentice with him," the young Dornopheous said. "I don't want to just meet the guy, I want to learn from him." The young Dornopheous created a putty hand and held it out. "Hey, I'm Jagul."
"I don't care," Roak said. "And I don't mentor."
"I don't know, man," Yellow Eyes said, suddenly by Roak's side. "I kind of see you as a mentor in a way. A mean, ill-tempered, prone to violence and rage mentor, but we can't always pick our teachers, right?"
"Sure you can," Jagul said. "I'm picking him."
"Oh, well, alright," Yellow Eyes said. "You proved me wrong."
Roak reached for his Flott then realized he didn't have it on his hip.
"Was he going for a pistol?" Jagul asked.
"He does that," Yellow Eyes said.
"So cool," Jagul said.
"Bhangul!" Reck shouted. "Unlock the console!"
Bhangul looked to Roak and grinned.
"No," Roak said.
Bhangul shifted focus to Reck. "Sorry. I can't unlock it."
"Roak!" Reck shouted. "Let the kid follow you around! He'll probably end up dead within a day, so I don't see the big deal!"
"That's true," Yellow Eyes said.
"Wait, what?" Jagul asked.
"They're joking," Bhangul said.
"Yeah. Joking," Yellow Eyes said, using two nubs to create air quotes.
"Twenty-five percent," Roak said to Bhangul.
"What?" Bhangul asked.
"Twenty-five percent is your cut if I have to bring this kid with us," Roak said.
"We already had a deal, Roak," Bhangul protested.
"We did. A deal that didn't include babysitting. You want your sister on your ass forever? I've had to intervene in your family issues before, Bhangul. I know exactly how messy things can get for you."
"Family is always messy," Meshara said as she emerged from the ship.
"Is that a Cervile?" Bhangul asked. "She looks royal. You and Tala aren't…?"
"No," Roak snapped. "Deal or not?"
"I hate you," Bhangul said. "Fine. Deal. Twenty-five percent."
Roak pointed his glass at Reck and the repair console. Bhangul brought up a holo interface and unlocked the console.
"There you go," Bhangul said.
"Good," Roak said, then focused on Meshara. "Where are you going?"
"I am going to stretch my legs on the surface," Meshara said. "I could use some time away from you and your insanity." She entered the lift at the end of the hangar and was gone.
"She seems pleasant," Bhangul said. "You know, for a Cervile royal."
"She's Meshara Trelalla of the Cervile Royal Guard," Yellow Eyes announced. "Which she really wants people to know."
"She's a Cervile. That's all I need to know," Bhangul said and grinned at Roak. "Now, Roak, you better go pick a ship out for your job."
Roak blinked a few times.
"I'm going to go this way," Yellow Eyes said and was gone. Then back. He grabbed Jagul's putty body. "You should come with."
The two disappeared which left Roak to glare at Bhangul.
"What? Didn't Hessa mention this to you?" Bhangul asked. "I'm not letting you repair your ship then go flying off without giving me my cut. No. What's going to happen is you'll take a different ship while Reck stays here and repairs your ship. It's not the ship that matters, right Roak?"
Roak shook his head back and forth then gave Bhangul a cold, cold smile.
"Eight Million Gods!" Bhangul exclaimed and averted his eyes. "You know I hate that!"
"Hessa?" Roak asked.
"You'll have to pilot," Hessa responded. "I'll need to be here with Reck to help facilitate the repairs."
"The ship is a mess," Reck said. "It's going to take both of us to fix it."
"I can pilot," Nimm said. "I'm a better pilot than Roak."
"Last time I took your suggestion I ended up with Hessa," Roak said.
"The insults never stop," Hessa said.
"Oh, don't worry, Roak," Bhangul said. "I am more than careful when it comes to AIs ever since…"
"Seriously?" Hessa huffed. "You beings…"
"What ship are we talking about?" Roak asked.
Bhangul smiled and waved a putty hand at Roak. "Follow me."
They walked quickly around and past several very expensive ships. Luxury cruisers. Custom fighters. Even a couple of repurposed GF drop ships. The hangar was huge.
"Bhangul, I don't have all year," Roak said as they moved deeper and deeper into the inventory.
"Here we go," Bhangul said. "What do you think?"
Roak frowned.
"That's my ship," he said after several minutes of silence. He turned slowly and glared at Bhangul. "That's my ship."
"Was your ship," Bhangul said. "You traded up."
Before them was a Borgon 714 light fighter, Roak's previous ship, the one he'd used for decades before he encountered Hessa and the Borgon Eight-Three-Eight.
"How?" Roak asked. "It was going to be scrapped."
"Was, yes," Bhangul said. "I intervened."
Roak shook his head. "You bought it hoping there'd still be data on the drives that you could sell or use as leverage."
"What?" Bhangul exclaimed. "That would be quite the betrayal of your trust, Roak."
"I'm right," Roak said.
Bhangul conceded with a shrug.
"It's all fixed?" Roak asked.
"It's all fixed," Bhangul said.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why is it all fixed? I have the Borgon and Hessa. Why fix my old ship once you realized I'd already fried all the drives?"
"Old time's sake?"
"No."
"It's a solid ship?"
"Maybe."
"Because I had a feeling you'd need another ship at some point?"
"Closer. And why did you think I'd need another ship at some point?"
"Because Hessa scares the living Hells out of me and I figured she might scare you too and maybe you'd ditch her then need your old ship back and that way I could make a deal."
"There we go."
"He thought you'd ditch me?" Hessa asked.
"He also called you scary as all the Hells," Roak replied.
"That doesn't bother me," Hessa said. "I am scary as all the Hells. But why would he think you'd ditch me?"
"I never liked working with partners," Roak said.
"But I changed your mind? Ah, that's nice," Hessa said.
"I think it might be good for you two to get a little separation," Bhangul said, a worried tone in his voice. "Do you know the term 'codependent'?"
"Shut up," Roak and Hessa said.
"Hessa? Take a look at this ship's systems and vet the AI for me," Roak said. "I'm going to talk to Klib. If she's able to talk."
"She is," Hessa said. "And she is getting better."
"We need to find out what is happening on Chafa," Roak said. "After we finish this next job."
"Not a mission?" Hessa asked.
"This'll be off books and not for the FIS to know about," Roak said. "We're still waiting on funds. If they know we have sixty-eight million chits then that funding will dry right up."
"Sixty-eight minus twenty-five percent," Bhangul said. "And returning my nephew unharmed."
"I'm not promising that," Roak said. "You know what I do is dangerous."
"Yes, but there is no need to put the boy in danger," Bhangul said. "Leave him on the ship."
"You don't want him to get the full mentor package?" Roak asked. "Won't he complain to your sister?"
"I'd rather deal with that than if he dies," Bhangul said. "Leave him on the ship."
"Not a problem there," Roak said. "Hessa?"
Roak was instantly in the med bay.
"Klib," Roak said as he stared down into the med pod. "I'm going to need the location of those chits."
"Jafla Base," Klib said without hesitation. "Let me out of here and I can lead you right to them."
"Jafla?" Hessa asked. "Roak, this will not be an easy job. Jafla Base has been cut off to you after you killed Shava Stem Shava."
"I'm sure not everyone is still holding a grudge," Roak said. "They all hated that piece of terpigshit."
"You plunged the base into chaos," Klib said. "You are not welcome on Jafla Base. That is why you need me to be free of this med pod."
"Is she healthy enough to let out?" Roak asked.
"It appears so," Hessa said. "Whatever was afflicting her and the others on Chafa has been cleansed from her system."
"Any clue what that is?" Roak asked.
"No," Hessa stated. "And frankly that troubles me. But I will continue to investigate."
"Do that," Roak said as the med pod lid raised. He helped Klib from the pod and pointed to clothes on a chair in the corner of the med bay. "Get dressed and meet me in the mess."
He left the med bay and proceeded quickly to the lift.
"Do you really not know what the Hells was wrong with her?" Roak asked once the lift doors closed and the lift was moving to the mess deck.
"I really do not," Hessa said.
"You're holding something back," Roak said. "Spill it."
"It is only a hunch," Hessa said.
"You know how I feel about hunches. So out with it."
"And you know how I feel about hunches which is why I hesitate."
"Just tell me."
"I was able to compare the corpse that I took from the Willz Syndicate," Hessa said, "and Klib's body. The corpse disintegrated faster than I would have liked, but something did stand out in the readings."
"Which was?" Roak was getting exasperated. The lift doors opened, but he waited. "Hessa?"
"I do not think it is a sickness," Hessa said. "I believe it is tech related."
"Tech related? How?" Roak sighed. "Father?"
"Yes. Or that is my guess," Hessa answered. "Any being he has connected with will eventually just dissolve inside because of how he hijacks the implants."
"But none of those beings were hijacked," Roak said. "They didn't have red eyes."
"Not at that moment," Hessa said. "I believe the only reason is because they moved to Chafa and the pollution interfered with his signal and control."
"But even having some contact meant their systems were fucked," Roak said. "It doesn't matter if he lets someone go. They've already been killed."
"In essence, yes," Hessa said. "It is slow, but eventually all that are hijacked by him will die. It's like the implants are no longer compatible with anyone other than Father so they start to malfunction. Unfortunately for the beings afflicted, that malfunctioning means death on a cellular level."
"But I'm guessing you switched out Klib's implants," Roak said. "That stopped her body from breaking down."
"It stopped the progress, yes," Hessa said. "But she was already terminal. The med pod is what saved her from turning into goo."
"Why turn them into goo at all?" Roak asked. "And only after they die?"
"They would have eventually turned into goo anyway," Hessa said. "Or that is my theory. Death means the being's energy is gone and all that is left is the energy from the implants which become hyperactive and obliterate all cells."
"Interesting theory," Roak said. "Keep working on it."
"Oh, I am," Hessa said.
Roak moved on to the mess hall and grabbed himself a tray of gump stew and a large mug of caff. He was not surprised to see Yellow Eyes already there and eating several bowls of stew at once.
"I left some for you," Yellow Eyes said. "Although, I think Hessa has a secret stash of gump stew onboard somewhere so we never run out. Ask her."
"No," Roak said and sat down.
Klib walked into the mess, grabbed a tray
and filled it with protein slices and carb mash. She joined them at the table and devoured her food before anyone could say a word to her.
"Famished," she said after she cleaned her plates.
"Stew?" Yellow Eyes asked, offering her one of the many steaming bowls in front of him. "It's really good."
"After," Roak said, pushing his half-finished bowl aside. "We talk business first. Where exactly are the chits?"
"They are in the orb fight facility," Klib said.
"Alright. Where in the orb fight facility?" Roak asked.
"Down below," Klib said.
"Uh oh," Yellow Eyes said and stopped eating. "She doesn't actually know."
"Is that true?" Roak asked. "Because if you don't-"
"I know exactly where they are," Klib said and glared at Yellow Eyes. "They just won't be easy to get."
"We're talking sixty-eight million chits," Roak said. "If they were easy to get then someone would already have them."
He smiled at Klib which caused the woman to shrink back in horror.
"I know, right?" Yellow Eyes said and continued eating stew.
"Down below where?" Roak asked.
"The Gas Chamber," Klib said.
"The Gas Chamber?" Roak echoed.
"What's the Gas Chamber?" Yellow Eyes asked.
"Underground orb fight club," Roak said. "Filled to capacity with every low life on Jafla Base. Unless the place has changed?"
"It has not changed," Klib said. "It has only gotten worse. When Shava Stem Shava died, it left a void. That void was filled by several syndicates and other enterprising beings. One of those beings took the Gas Chamber as his and he rules with an iron fist."
"The being's name?" Roak asked.
"Chella Po."
"The MC of the fights? He took control?"
"He did and has done surprisingly well for himself," Klib said.
Roak's shoulders lowered and he sighed loudly.
"We aren't retrieving sixty-eight million of Shilo's chits, are we? We're flat out stealing Chella's chits," Roak said. "This isn't a recovery job, but a heist."
"Yes and no," Klib said. "It is a heist." She held up her hands. "But not to worry. I already have a plan in place. Well, not me, but there is a plan in place. All we have to do is make contact with someone and get things moving."
"Uh-huh," Roak said. "Just have to make contact with someone and get things moving." Roak spun his hand around and around in Klib's face. "Out with it. Who is the contact and why are you being cagey?"
