“No need for him. We leave now” said McShane.
“There are things I need to do before we can go.”
“Do you have enough fuel?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’re good to go.”
Art could see that McShane was not going to take no for an answer and now was not the time to deal with McShane. “Alright, come on board.”
Art asked McShane to check the hold while he arranged with Control for the departure. Art knew that McShane had given the most perfunctory of checks when he stuck his head over Art’s shoulder. But McShane was too late to see the despatch of an email he had just sent. It would be waiting for the Hermes upon its arrival at Zimar.
From within her cramped confines Val could hear the noise of people coming back on board. She expected this. But what she didn’t expect was when the craft started to move. That was not part of the plan. She waited till the craft had taken off and gone into warp before pinging Art. Art left the channel open as agreed.
“So why the rush McShane?”
“Bane’s keen to get these supplies.”
“Why does he need them straight away?”
“That’s not your business.”
“Fair enough. I’ll just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride to Xizu then.”
McShane looked at him but did not reply. Rather, he settled back into his seat and looked like he was closing his eyes. But Art doubted that. He closed the open channel.
Val was not expecting to have to stay within the container for that long and was now regretting not having gone to the toilet earlier. She felt the spleen bag. ‘Definitely not going to be big enough’ she thought.
Chapter 2. Redneck 45 over Xizu 1600, 30 January
It was still daylight over the Bane Metal complex as McShane guided the Streamliner to its destination. But the tunnel was on the wrong side of the mountain range to receive any rays that might have illuminated the inside of the cavern.
Art had left the comms channel to Val open before he handed over the controls. Val didn’t need Art’s descriptions of what he was observing to know that they were on their final approach. She just prayed that the container was securely stowed. She did a last minute check to ensure that her holster was by her left hand. She moved the now full spleen bag further back so she wouldn’t puncture it as she extricated herself.
She sensed the craft coming to a halt and heard Art asking McShane for a hand with the unloading. The conveyor whirred away as the other containers were transferred off the craft. She heard Art and McShane’s muffled voices and assumed that this was Art explaining about her container not being part of their shipment.
Then everything went quiet. She waited a full two minutes and was about to open the container when the conveyor started again. She froze. Her container was manhandled onto the conveyor and it bumped its way along, then turned and bumped again. It came to a halt and she assumed she was now out of the craft and on some vehicle.
Sure enough she sensed the movement. She couldn’t near anything until her container started to move again. This time the conveyor ended with a thump as her container hit solid ground. She felt the impact as her head smacked against the inside of the container.
Chapter 3. Bane Metal Complex 1650, 30 January
Art knew the gig was up when McShane drew his pistol halfway down the corridor and ordered Art to continue on to Bane’s office. First they entered the office of his assistant, the one Art referred to as Ms Style. He could tell by her reaction to the gun in McShane’s hand that she was uncomfortable with what was going on. She didn’t say anything as McShane marched Art straight in. The large doors closed behind them.
“Ah Art, if that is your real name” said Bane. “Please take a seat.”
Art took up his offer as McShane remained standing with his pistol aimed squarely at Art. Bane also remained standing. “You didn’t take my advice, did you Art. In fact you went out of your way to help the lovely Ms Gordon.” Bane kept looking at Art waiting for a reaction. He didn’t get any.
“It hasn’t helped her cause at all Art” and Bane moved over a few paces. “But you did help my cause” and he pulled off a cover revealing the boxes that Art recognised as the stabilisers he had left in Mona’s sister’s garage. Bane had expected that Art would have reacted to this but he was disappointed.
“You’re good Art. Play Mr Cool but it’s not to going to get you anywhere.” Bane wiped the smile off his face and replaced it with menace. “Now who are you working for? Fleet? Secret Service?”
Art shrugged his shoulders and was about to speak when Bane cut him off. “Don’t play the innocent trader with me Art. It won’t work. Ms Gordon has already told me you are a spy. She’s been most, well…cooperative.” Bane motioned to McShane and he opened the small door on the wall behind him, revealing Tracy tied to a chair and gagged. Her eyes were those of one who was beyond defeat, beyond caring.
“Now Art I realise that you are unlikely to freely give me the information I require. But eventually you will give up that information. We both know that. It’s just a matter of time. But time is important to me Art. It’s always important. Isn’t it? So here’s the deal. Tell me what I want to know and Ms Gordon won’t be hurt anymore.”
But time was also very important to Art. He knew that once he divulged the information they were as good as dead. He also knew that they would not kill Tracy and lose their best leverage over him but they would hurt her, in front of him. He felt a pang of self-loathing. It even surpassed his instinct for self-preservation. Once again he had brought this about.
“Come on Art be sensible.”
Art remained silent and Bane motioned to McShane who strode over behind Tracy’s chair.
Chapter 4. Bane Metal Complex 1710, 30 January
Val could not hear anything anymore, no vehicle, no doors, no steps, nothing. Her mind was racing with possibilities. ‘I’ve obviously been taken out of the craft. That doesn’t auger well. Art must be in trouble. But where am I? No noise, so maybe on a loading dock or in a storage area. If I’m on the dock I’ll probably be seen if I come out. Art didn’t mention anything about a dock though. So maybe in a storage area. I have to do something. What? Get out of this container for a start. OK I can do that.’
She affixed her helmet, clipped the oxy pack to her belt and began struggling to affix the holster to her belt. There was barely enough room. She finally secured the holster. Now she was free to use both hands to open the front panel. She needed to ensure it didn’t clang to the floor once it was released. She took a deep breath. With her left hand she gripped the inside of the front panel as best she could and then hit the release.
She lowered the panel slowly. It was dark. She turned on her thermals but could see nothing at this stage. Once the panel was down she realised that she was in a room of some sort .She extricated herself as quietly as she could.
It was so good to stand and stretch. Her left leg in particular felt this wonderful release. She drew her pistol and made for the door, her left leg finally getting its act together by the time she got there. She had to search to find the release. It was a large button a good metre away on the wall. She had concerns about the noise it would make but she had no choice. She hit the button and the large door began to rise slowly. To her surprise it made little noise. She ducked down to see the runway ahead. As soon as the door was raised sufficiently she crouched through. She hit the button on the other side and the door began closing.
She took her bearings. She was a good 500m in from the tunnel entrance. There was no one in sight. There were some vehicles parked near the Streamliner about 200m away towards the opening. She thought about going back to the Streamliner to get the sensors and probe but she ruled that to be too risky.
At that moment the landing lights came on and Val hit the ground close to the door she had just come through. ‘Wow, look how big this cavern is’ she thought. She could see right across to the far side, right across to the hangars that Art had not seen on his firs
t visit. Right across to the hanger whose doors were now opening and to a space craft the look of which she had never seen.
It taxied forward and then turned on the apron to head for the end of the runway. It was a lot bigger than the Hermes but not as big as the Chicago. ‘Mmm…these pirates have done well for themselves’ she thought. ‘I have to get the word out…and I have to save Art…shit!’
Back in Bane’s office the noise of the craft had not gone unnoticed.
“So you’ve brought forward your little plan” said Art.
“My plan is not so little Art. Quite the contrary.”
“You’ll only ever be a bit player to the rogan.” And art could see by the expression on Bane’s face that that comment hit pay dirt.
But Bane recovered quickly “You really don’t know anything do you Art?”
Art didn’t need to answer the question because Bane’s phone rang and his face became really annoyed with whatever he heard.
“Leave her” he said to McShane. “Secure them. I have to go.”
Val finally decided to go back to the Streamliner. It was the only way she could get the word out fast. She kept low and made her way along the line of buildings. By the time she was level with the Streamliner the large ship had stopped on the runway. Its landing lights came on and flooded the forward end of the tunnel. ‘Blast’ said Val to herself.
She thought about running but instead opted to walk as though she owned the place. She bordered the craft without incident, secured the hatch, went forward and turned on the auxiliary power. She crafted a message and sent it. She went to the compartment behind the pilot’s seat and took out both pulse rifles and the two pistols. She opened the panel and withdrew her pack, placed the pistols in it and slung it on. The spare rifle she shouldered and took the other in her arms ready for action.
She disembarked and placed her first sensor on the nearby building. This would warn her if someone was approaching the Streamliner. She headed for the building Art had described as Bane’s office. As she went she took out the probe. She set the mode to Auto and activated it. Instead of being guided by manual control the probe would now use its own AI to seek out targets. A video and data feed would automatically stream to both her console and the ships computer.
‘Right time to kick some butt’ she said to herself. But then she chastised herself for such foolery. She had no idea how many people Bane had here. But then she hadn’t encountered any so far. With renewed confidence she opened the door to the main office building. A motion detector turned on the lights as she entered. She hoped it didn’t also report her presence.
‘This is no time to dally’ she counselled herself. She took the stairs to the first level. The lights came on down the corridor. She wasn’t worried by that. But she was worried when a door opened and a man appeared. He yelled at her “Who the hell are...”
She fired her rifle and from fifteen paces she couldn’t miss. She took a quick look in through the open door. ‘Clear’ she said to herself. ‘I never thought I’d actually get to use all that training.’
She marched on down the corridor that she knew from Art’s briefing led to Bane’s office. The door was open. She took a deep breath and with her rifle into her shoulder entered the room.
“Don’t shoot” yelled Eve Prada. She had her arms up.
‘What a looker’ thought Val. “Stay” she ordered. Then she saw the closed doors into Bane’s office. “Open them …carefully.”
Eve hit the switch that opened the doors but the room looked empty.
“Where is he?”
“Who?”
“Art”
“In there.”
“No he’s not.”
“In the room on the right.”
“Over here in front of me.”
A very nervous Eve walked out from behind her desk and moved in front of Val.
“Go on and open the door slowly.”
She did so.
“Stand back, there” and Eve moved aside revealing not one but two bound people. Art was looking at her but couldn’t say anything because he was gagged. The other person was out cold, her head rolled awkwardly to the side.
“Release them.”
“I can’t cut these ties.”
“Stand back over there.”
Val drew out her pistol and kept it trained on Eve. She placed the rifle against the wall, took out her knife and cut the tie binding Art’s hands. He tore off his own gag and then took the rifle Val gave him while she cut the tie on his feet.
“Nice to see the cavalry” said Art.
“Nice to be the cavalry” said Val, feeling pleased with herself. She went over to Tracy’s chair and cut her ties and took her gag off. “She’s out cold.”
“Yes that bastard McShane did that. Where is he?” he asked Eve who by this time was quite scared. “He left with Bane. They’re boarding the space ship now.”
Val threw some water onto Tracy’s face. ‘Pretty girl’ she thought ‘but that’s one hell of a shiner.’
Tracy started coming to. ‘Who’s this person?’ Her head ached. Her eye ached. Her arms ached.
“How many others here?” demanded Art.
“Just Will down the corridor” said Eve.
Val was shaking her head at Art. “He’s down.”
“Oh shit” said Eve. “You killed him?”
“You bet I did honey”
“What’s going on?” asked Tracy.
“Anyone else in the complex?” asked Art.
“Don’t know for sure. The ground crew and Cruft’s crew.”
“Who’s Cruft?”
“You don’t want to know him.” Art banged his fist against the wall. “He’s the captain of a ship that Bane uses for some of his jobs.”
“You mean he’s a pirate, don’t you” said Val.
Eve nodded reluctantly.
“Will someone tell me what’s happening?” asked Tracy.
“Oh shit I forgot” said Val “There’s a bloody great big ship on the runway about to take off Art.”
“Alright we’ll need to advise the Hermes” said Art.
“Done” said Val with a Cheshire grin.
“You’re not just a pretty face Val. OK then let’s get out of here. You’re coming with us Ms?”
“Prada. Eve Prada.”
“Tracy, are you OK to walk?”
“I think so.”
“Good. Val, take the point and lead us back to the Streamliner. Tracy, your next, then you and don’t forget I’ll be right behind you and I will use this.”
As they moved down to the corridor Eve looked in shock at Will’s dead body. Art nudged her forward with his rifle. Val was halfway down the stairs when they heard the roar of the ship outside as it began its take off.
Outside Val could see no one else. Art looked at the large ship. It was like nothing he’s seen before. “We got to get an image of this” he called out to Val over the noise.
“Don’t worry. It’s taken care of” she yelled back to him.
Art was perplexed as to how but his focus was redirected to the four men coming down the left apron from behind their little column. “Company to the rear” he yelled. “Let’s move.”
Val started to jog. This was something Tracy was not capable of. She called out “I can’t keep up.”
Val hooked her left arm under Tracy’s right arm and sort of dragged her as best she could.
The ship was now past them and about to clear the tunnel entrance. The noise was deafening. Art didn’t hear the shot. He just saw the effect as Eve arched her back and slumped to the ground. He did hear the next shot, though, as it twanged close past his ear. He turned and fired a shot at the group of men now running towards them from back in the tunnel. There were more too behind them.
He stepped over Eve’s body and charged forward grabbing Tracy’s left arm. Together he and Val dragged her forward at their best speed while pulse fire came intermittently. ‘They were obviously firing from the hip’ t
hought Art and he was glad. Trained troops would have had half the force propped and taking aimed shots while the other half chased them down.
They all but threw Tracy down on the floor once they were inside the Streamliner. With the hatch secured, Art left Val to look after her while he went to the cockpit. Val somehow found the strength to drag Tracy on her own forward out of the hold.
Tracy was trying to get her breath. “Stop” she pleaded. But Val did not. She pulled her up into one of the seats behind the cockpit and secured the harness. She sat next to Tracy and did up her harness. She gave the thumbs up to Art who was craning his neck back to see her. With that he gunned the engines. As he turned pulse fire impacted the window in front of him. But it was armoured and they were not going to have any effect.
By now Redneck 45 was on the runway and almost aimed at the entrance. He glanced to his right to see the figures that had been firing at him now running back. He presumed they were running back to the hanger and he presumed there would be another craft in there. He hit the rear cameras and sure enough the doors of the hanger were opening to reveal a small corvette like craft.
A last check of his display. All systems go. He pushed the drive to take off level and they blasted out. He was climbing at a steep angle. He needed to clear the atmosphere before he went to warp. The missile warning alert sounded and flashed at the same time.
“Shit. Missiles incoming” he yelled.
Tracy looked horrified. Val was more composed but grim nonetheless.
Art commenced the warp sequence, selecting Fulmar as the destination. His display showed two missiles climbing behind them. They were gaining. “Come on” he yelled. He knew his engines had nothing more to give but he yelled all the same.
They cleared the atmosphere and the timer said twenty seconds to go. He looked back at the women, desperate for some human contact at what he thought would be his last moment. But tears were streaming down Tracy’s face and Val was holding her hand and her eyes were locked on it. He turned back and thought of Sue as the counter ticked over from 1 and the bright light streamed off the forward edges.
Redemption: Book 2 of Warner's World Page 24
