by Gary Weston
Tilly Jordan had mentally tortured Tagg Raven, reminding him often that it was he who had been responsible for the incident that had ruined her face and ruined their life together. It would have been too easy for Tagg to have reciprocated by resenting Tilly’s resentment of him, but he had let her publicly pillory him at every opportunity, not once retaliating. He just took it, and got on with his job.
In the relatively short time she had been with and grown to love Tagg, Joy had discovered him to be brave and resourceful, such as when dealing with the “ghosts” of Nyzon Five. And yet, even when things were at their darkest, and all seemed lost, his wit and humour shone through. He was a man women would be easily drawn too, without him even being aware he was attracting them.
She had had odd feelings of insecurity since Tagg had been gone. She had lain awake in her bed, wondering if Tagg’s love for Tilly would rekindle, once the doctors had restored her looks, face and confidence. How hard would it be for him to choose between them, if Tilly realised she had never really hated Tagg, and wanted him back?
And even now. If not Tilly, he was on a dangerous mission with an attractive woman millions of miles from the one he was supposed to be with. The pair would be together night and day, battling through one life-threatening situation after another. Wouldn’t it be the most natural thing in the world, any world, that they would cling to each other for comfort, knowing each day could be their last? And could she forgive him that? Could she forgive him and still love him, for finding solace in the arms of another woman in their darkest hours?
She found herself doubting her own confidence in the event of competition from his former lover, and also wondering if her own love was of the truest kind, with the capacity to still love the man if he had strayed in understandable circumstances?
With each passing hour, her raw emotions seemed to be casting doubt on herself as a woman, and the logical anxiety she was experiencing in keeping alive her belief that Tagg Raven was even still alive, drained her very soul. And each passing hour was bringing her closer to facing all these demons, all the time, wondering if she was strong enough to face any single one of them. She was helpless to do anything about the situation and the primitive feelings she carried deep within her. Only one thing was sure. Time would tell.
Chapter 107
Five days of flight through deep space had offered Raven and Casey no opportunity to kick ass. In the silence and solitude of the hold in the runner’s ship, they tossed ideas about. Most of it was wishful thinking, nothing conducive to beating the bad guys. It helped pass the time. Casey noticed the change in the engine pitch first.
‘We’re slowing down. We must be back at the space station.’
‘Buckle up. Buckle up. Entering atmosphere in three minutes. Buckle up.’
Raven said, ‘Not the space station. A planet.’
There came a gentle hissing sound as the marsillium coated hull pierced the atmosphere of the planet. A single orbit, the sensation of the ship being manoeuvred into its landing place. A slight feeling of the landing legs settling on the ground. From the passenger section, the runners poured out, minus their helmets. This was another planet with air. The hatch opened, and the runners poured out of the ship, all except Fritz.
‘I’ll come back for you later.’ He went to the hatch and turned. ‘Don’t you two go anywhere.’ Then he was off to join the others.
‘They’re setting up another production facility,’ said Raven.
Casey said, ‘You have to admire their work ethic.’
‘The threat of excruciating pain and horrible death would be a good incentive.’
‘Do you think they’re all slaves?’
Raven shrugged. ‘Hard to say. Some, at least.’
The runner’s pilots entered the hold, having completed their shut-down procedures. They glanced briefly at the captives, then hurried down the ramp.
‘Alone at last,’ said Raven.
‘Damn. You realise if we could get free, we could take this ship?’
Raven sighed and held up the cuffs binding his wrists. ‘The irony hadn’t escaped me.’
A few minutes later, Fritz reappeared. He tapped the controller on his arm. ‘Behave.’
Relieved to be able to stand and walk out of the ship, Casey and Raven walked down the ramp, followed by Fritz, his finger hovering over the cuff controls.
‘Jeez,’ said Casey. ‘Take a look at that.’
The greenhouses on Foregone would have fitted easily inside the ones on this new planet, three times over. Mature plants were all ready for harvesting. A small team had been living on the planet, tending the crop. No cave for a base this time, but a series of outbuildings.
‘This has been running for a couple of years at least, I’m guessing,’ said Raven. He could only imagine how much drixolate had been produced here.
‘Quiet, you two. Over there.’
They went over to where a man was welding a long steel chain looped around one landing leg of the ship. With the welding done, the other end of the chain was threaded though the steel-wire belt of Casey, then through the belt around Raven, then it was looped and then welded together. They had some mobility, but no more than ten feet from the ship. At least they could watch the runner’s activities. Corey and Fritz were obviously in charge, confident in their roles, years of experience ensuring a tight operation. The runners took instructions, and the work went smoothly. After an hour of sitting and observing, a woman brought them food and water.
‘Raven.’
‘The one and only.’
‘You killed some friends of mine.’
Raven shrugged. ‘It was purely personal.’
The woman sneered at him. ‘It doesn’t matter. It’s almost done.’
‘What is?’
A sickly smile passed her lips. ‘You’ll find out. Enjoy your food.’
As she walked away, Casey said, ‘What was that all about, I wonder?’
‘I’m guessing the plan to subjugate the human race is almost done. All the planets almost under the runners control are poised for the final phase of the plan. The whole thing will be carefully orchestrated. Pretty soon, there will be no way back for us.’
Chapter 108
When Boss entered Raven’s office, Rod Scales took the opportunity to speak his mind.
‘Sir. This is doing my head in. Any news of Agent Raven?’
‘Sadly, no, Scales.’
‘Then may I be transferred, please? Anything. Somewhere I can be busy and productive.’
Boss shook his head. He knew that with Raven away, Scales would have nothing to do. The request for a transfer wasn’t unreasonable, but Boss felt that in some illogical, symbolic way, authorising a transfer for the clerical assistant, was like admitting Raven and Casey were never coming back. To have Scales at least occupying Raven’s office, gave Boss’s mind a hook to hang hope onto. It wouldn’t hurt to have the young man staying where he was, at least for the time being. There was another reason.
‘Joy. Welcome home.’
Joy Dainty had requested a meeting with Boss even before their ship had landed. Boss had suggested Raven’s office.
‘Thanks. No news?’
‘Sorry. Not yet,’ said Boss. He hoped keeping Raven’s office open, gave her some sense of Raven not being abandoned. ‘Young Scales here has been doing a fine job of keeping things ticking over for when Tagg returns.’
Joy found comfort in that. ‘Thanks.’
‘Right, Scales. You carry on. Joy. Take a walk with me. I’d like to ask you something.’
Leaving Scales to twiddle his thumbs, Boss and Joy went outside. They walked slowly through well-tended flowerbeds in the quadrangle. The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze cooled them. There was a sense of normality where none existed.
‘Joy. You know we haven’t given up on Tagg and Karma?’
‘I appreciate that, Boss. It’s hard to keep thinking they’re still alive somewhere.’
Boss said, ‘My door is
always open to you. Joy. You and Tilly Jordan. You were getting along ok, I think?’
‘Tilly’s a remarkable woman.’
‘Yes. She is. She’s had a lot of surgery while you were away.’
Joy said, ‘Good. Is it going well?’
‘Physically, yes. Her bionic jaw is healing well. Her tongue will be attached tomorrow. She still has a lot to go through.’
‘But she will be ok?’
Boss stopped walking and faced Joy. ‘It isn’t the physical things that I’m concerned about. It’s her mental state that worries me. I’ve a lot of time and respect for Tilly. She’s endured a lot. But if she keeps drinking the way she does, all the surgery in the world won’t save her. Joy. I can’t expect you and Tilly to be best friends, but if you could make some time for her…’
‘We love the same man. To be honest, I wouldn’t know which of us Tagg would choose if…when he comes home. I suppose in some way, Tilly and I have things in common. We can help each other get through this.’
Boss smiled. ‘Thank you, Joy. That means a lot to me. And I’m sure it will to Tilly. I have to go. Things to do. I’ll try to see you tomorrow.’
‘Ok.’
Chapter 109
‘Things are going well, Tilly,’ said Joy. She was on the chair by the side of the hospital bed.
Typing.
‘Yes. A long way to go, but you’ll get there.’
Typing.
‘Tagg? I don’t know. The longer this goes on, the more I lose heart. What do you think, Tilly?’
Typing.
‘I know we’ve no evidence something has happened, Tilly, but I know what he’s up against. They have him and Casey for sure. How can they come home from that?’
Typing.
‘Hey, Tilly. Don’t have a go at me. I love him. I want him here with me.’
Typing.
Joy read the words on the screen. ‘I know how you feel about him, too. For all your anger before, you never stopped loving him. I’m a woman, too. I got that.’ Joy took Tilly’s hand. She had come to give support and comfort to the bandaged woman, a woman who dearly loved the man she also loved. And yet somehow, it was Joy receiving encouragement and support for the belief that Raven was still alive.
Typing.
‘Yes. I won’t give up on him. I love him too much for that. He’s alive. I believe that now. Thank you, Tilly.’
Typing.
‘I know you need to rest. Good luck with tomorrow’s operation. Would you like me to visit you afterwards?’
Typing.
‘A couple of days. I understand.’ Joy gave Tilly’s hand a squeeze and stood up. ‘I’ll see you soon. Take care, Tilly. Take care.’
Chapter 110
Cube after cube of drixolate was being stacked up tantalisingly close to Raven and Casey.
‘I’ve been thinking about this,’ said Raven. ‘This is all about control, right? To control people who need a regular fix, there has to be a supply of this stuff to keep the slaves hooked. A stockpile to supply them with.’
‘I suppose once a whole planet is enslaved, they can set up production on that planet, with no opposition.’
‘True. Then it’s game over. Unless…’
Casey said, ‘I don’t like unless, Tagg.’
‘I don’t like this one myself. Suppose, ultimately, this isn’t about slavery. What happens to anyone having to use the stuff to stay alive, if they stop using it?’
‘Jeez. They die. No need for war. No planets destroyed. Just stop supplying the drugs and then the planet’s theirs for the taking. Raven, you sure know how to cheer a girl up.’
Raven shrugged, continuing with his latest train of thought. ‘Those things in that tank. Let’s assume there are lots more of those. Thousands. Millions. Think about it for a minute. Assume a planet or planets with these creatures. They have to live in that green stuff. Not much of a life living like a goldfish, right?’
‘Your point?’
Raven said, ‘That green stuff is their natural environment. Like, oceans of the stuff. They’re ambitious. Or, their planet is stuffed and they need a new one. These things can read minds. Read them and control them. Now, us humans. Adventurous lot. We go all over the galaxy just because it’s there. Say we landed on their planet. Just to take a look or whatever. Came across some ocean or lake of green stuff, with these creatures living in it. A human watches them for a bit. Maybe go, yuck, what is that thing? The creature says, who the hell are you? The guy says, Jeez. You spoke in my mind. A human is going to get pretty excited about this. And so is the creature. He’s been probing the human’s mind, learning all about us. He’s thinking, I see some interesting possibilities, here.’
Casey saw where this was going. ‘So, from day one, they see us as slaves. We have ships. We can take the creatures anywhere they want to go, as long as there’s a tank of the green fluid. A few years down the track, here we are.’
Raven said, ‘Ok. Continuing with the theory. If they want to turn a planet or two into a world for themselves, plus transport their kind all over the place, they use us to do just that. Once the planets are completely under their control, they use us to make it nice and cosy for them. Then, they can either cut off the supply and we all die, or keep some of us alive to look after them.’
Casey said, ‘And if what that woman said is true, they’re close to achieving their objectives.’
Chapter 111
He sat alone in his room. The moonlight striking the glass vial. A bleeping sound came from the other room. He got up and went in that room, and from a closet, in an innocent looking, battered suitcase, he removed another case. The bleeping came from that case. He took that into the living room and placed it on the table. Opening the case, he took out a cylindrical metal container, one foot long, four inches in diameter. Unscrewing the lid, he carefully took out a crystal. It was as clear as glass, and intricately shaped. One end was in a cone shape, the other end flat. He set it on the table on its flat end.
Other items were precisely placed about the crystal. A one inch thick, six inch diameter, round silvery disc. A jet black block. The crystal started to glow, shafts of blue light fanned out from the tip. The disc began to spin, the jet black box opened up and a smaller crystal rose up from its base. It too fanned out light, searching, finding and blending with the rays from the larger crystal. A single pinpoint of light formed between the two peaks. From that, a beam of light struck the metal disc. A shape from the metal disc came to life. It could, in the darkened room, resemble a face of sorts. The face spoke.
‘Your planet has been chosen. Your cooperation is required.’
‘You have it. But…’
‘Negative responses are not acceptable.’
The man stood up, picked up the glass vial, and placed it on the table, next to the face.
‘I’ve enough for two days, three at the most. I need more drixolate.’
‘You do not make demands of us.’
‘I cannot be of service if I am dead. Deny me the stuff, I’m off for voluntary euthanasia.’
There was a pause. ‘Very well. You have served us well. You will be supplied.’
‘Thank you. You have my full cooperation.’
‘Good. Here are your instructions.’
From the shape on the disc, a point of light struck the man’s forehead. His mind was no longer his own at that moment. Instructions were given. The light vanished. The man rocked back and forth, and gradually his mind became his own again. He placed the items back in the case, took them to his bedroom and put that case into the battered, innocuous suitcase.
Returning to the lounge, he picked up the glass vial. He was about to remove the stopper, when the door opened.
‘Put that down, Scales.’
Behind Boss stood two armed, trusted DSI military officers. Scales carefully placed the vial down. Boss took the laser rifle from one of the guards.
‘You two can go now. Thank you.’
The guards went awa
y and Boss closed the door behind him and locked it. Being Boss meant no door was locked to him. He put the light on, went to the window and touched the sensor that blackened it. The moon disappeared. Then he turned to face Scales.
‘Sit.’
Scales sat.
‘I’ve been waiting some time for you to communicate with them. Pretty sloppy hiding place for your gear, Scales. You would never make an agent.’
‘I never wanted to be an agent. Boss. I’m a drixolate victim.’
‘Of course. You could have turned yourself in. End your suffering. Instead, Raven and Casey are in danger because of information supplied by you.’
‘I didn’t want to help them. But I didn’t want to die, either.’
Boss said, ‘We could debate that all night. You have information. About them. I want it.’
‘I…I can’t do that.’
‘You choose not to talk, to try to save your worthless hide.’ Boss leaned over and picked up the glass vial. ‘Your last fix. How long ago?’
‘Last night.’
With his gloved hand, Boss took the stopper from the bottle, the rotten meat smell filling the air. ‘Not much left.’
‘They promised me more.’
‘I know. I heard. I have the proof and the authority to kill you here and now.’
Scales went in front of Boss, got down on his knees and lowered his head. ‘Please. Kill me now.’
‘Tempting, but no. I want all the information you have in that head of yours, before I put a hole in it.’
Scales said, ‘If I talk, they’ll do a whole lot worse to me than anything you would do.’
Boss leaned forward. ‘I’m not going to do anything, Scales. Other than stopping you use this drug. And we both know what that means.’
Scales sat down again. ‘You’ll let me die like that?’
‘With pleasure. Talk, I’ll give you this back.’
‘No. I can’t.’
