“I'm surprised we're allowed to carry this kind of weaponry around.”
“It's part of their population control program.”
“You're kidding.”
Jake nodded, smiling a little. “I guess a few million visitors a day are just too hard to regulate. Things sort themselves out here.”
“Didn't you get shot last time?”
“I had it coming. I was lucky it was just a graze. A regeneration patch healed it up in just a few minutes.”
“Any chance we'll run into the shooter?”
“I doubt it. I tossed him over a railing.”
Stephanie peeked over the edge of the walkway and shuddered. There were walkways, building tops and gaps between with dark depths she couldn't begin to guess at. They turned the corner and saw one of the major thoroughfares for the first time. It was over twenty meters wide, half dedicated to high speed traffic with tunnels for people to walk under that area and get to the walkway proper. Small two to eight person transport cars were limited to travelling along guide rails to reduce open air traffic. The cost of a rail pass was based on how many kilometres one travelled, and there were few straight paths anywhere.
Jake pulled a safety cord out from the waist of his vacsuit and offered it to Stephanie. Normally the device was reserved for space, so two people could stay tethered to a ship or other large body using one line, but she could see how it was necessary here.
The milling crowd ahead was shoulder to shoulder in most places. It was a milling biped sea and she didn't want to get separated. Hooking the line onto her vacsuit gave her an idea, and she attached one of her own slender tether lines to the stock of her short assault rifle. “This is insane.” She commented as they walked down into the tunnel.
The sound of the traffic above was deafening. An unending stream of various vehicles moving at two hundred kilometres or more for minutes at a time then slowing down to a crawl for seconds before picking up again echoed in the dark passage. Stephanie had to use her proximity radio to communicate with Jake. “Are we still in the port section of the city?”
“We are, I'll bet we couldn't find a resident here if we tried for days.”
There was refuse strewn in the corners, a black and brown dust of some kind everywhere and it contaminated the air from above, stirring it all around their feet and blowing the smell into their faces. It wasn't even twenty meters long, but in that space it was joined by eight other tunnels from below. When they neared the end she could see the massive moving crowd and Captain Valance offered his arm. It was a gesture she had only seen in period films, and she chuckled but took it anyway. Even though they were tied together she still didn't want anyone to get between them and catch in their line.
Without waiting they joined the crush of bodies. They made their way with the stream of people for what her arm unit said was just over half an hour but it felt like an awful lot longer. Rounding a corner they found the Regent Galactic building, standing tall and white it was more grand than anything in the area. It had its own docking platforms, hundreds of them, and massive defensive cannons on swivel mounts. Just from the shimmer around it she could tell there was a protective shield in place as well. The only access point she could glimpse on foot was a covered bridge with thick security doors. She tried to follow the street that lead into that side of the building with her eyes through the net of crossing streets above and shook her head at the sight of a line extending as far as she could see leading to those big security doors.
“I hate this place,” Jake said over the proximity radio.
“You're not the only one pal,” Came the response of one nearby traveller.
“I only come here because fruit gets a high trade value,” added another.
“My daughter's going to school here, biggest mistake I've ever made letting her but you know kids, they just won't shut up until you give 'em what they want,” griped yet another.
Stephanie patted his arm and nodded. That was the problem with proximity radio. It was made to broadcast to anyone within a certain range as though you were speaking to them verbally in a normal atmospheric setting. Normally people who didn't know you kept their comments to themselves, but here the crowd provided an amount of anonymity and people were actually bored enough to listen in on anyone nearby, not just people on their crew roster like Jake and Stephanie. Changing the default frequency was also an option, but most people outside of the military didn't bother.
They began making their way towards the center of the pedestrian walkways in that district, where they would be able to take a ramp up or a tunnel down when the time came. Before long they were inside one of the wider passages and the traffic continued to be just as congested, only it was darker, and it was easy to feel buried, closed in. How fights didn't break out she had no idea. People were constantly bumping into her, she even had some people grab at her thigh pocket more than once, gingerly testing it to see if it would open for them. Thankfully they were sealed so only she or a few other people on the crew could get inside, and she was once again thankful for the Captain providing her with a high quality vacsuit. The form fitting style invited a couple of anonymous gropes, however, and she found herself wondering how long it would take their new materializer to make a long coat like Jake's. Maybe hers could be a deep purple or dark blue, she found herself thinking.
After taking several more tunnels under the direction of the Captain's arm command unit, they came out into a widening causeway that lead to a massive circular courtyard. The builders had kept the space above clear of pedestrian and vehicle transit ways but the Regent Galactic building cast a shadow over the whole area. There was a tall, heavily built gate in front of them and they joined a crowd of thousands who were waiting for it to open. Through transparesteel windows they could see guards looking over the multitudes and control stations of some kind that were just out of sight. “The market is at maximum capacity, please be patient and we will let you in as soon as possible,” boomed a recorded voice.
The wall was white at the top, pockmarked by small weapon's fire here and there, but it was at head level where things got interesting. As they let groups inside they got closer and it looked like the gate hadn't been cleaned for decades or more. The passage of millions was marked there. High above was another courtyard. There were dozens of personal transports docked to the bottom, and she wondered what it cost to own a vehicle as she watched one of them attach itself and get locked in with heavy clamps.
It was finally their turn to enter and they were allowed into a chamber within the walls with about three hundred people. Panels separated and pushed people out or kept them in so the doorway wouldn't crush anyone when it closed. Judging from the faded bloodstains on the inside of the barrier she guessed it didn't always work. “Please standby while we gather the fee of four hundred credits for entry. When you see the request for payment, enter a positive answer within ten seconds or you will be forcibly removed.”
The request for payment came up on their control units and they approved it right away. After a few more seconds they saw what happened to anyone who didn't or couldn't pay on time. Three soft, black tubes struck out from the ceiling, grabbing hold of non-payers' heads and shoulders before drawing them inside. They moved so fast there was no avoiding them. One non-payer tried to move, to duck, to hide behind someone, but the device sought him out, dipped into the crowd and drew him up folded in half. The fellow was screaming but Stephanie was fairly certain he wasn't being harmed. The aperture adjusted, expanding to his shape and the tube behind shifted and stretched as it appeared to gulp him up. Looking to her right she saw through a window where the guards controlling the devices enthusiastically congratulated each other on a job well done. Stephanie couldn't help smiling, it must have been the best job on the wall.
“Ian Vale Market thanks you. Please enjoy your stay,” said the scratchy recording as the inner doors opened.
To her surprise the crowd thinned out. Everyone had room to stretch once they were
inside the courtyard. It was more like walking into a modern village market than anything. There were earthen islands with tall trees growing, some of the shops had separate buildings and she could even see that there were apartment blocks along the sides along with several larger stores. She eyed the Spacerwares Superstore at one end. “I'm glad we didn't take anyone else from the ship, it might have turned into a shopping expedition.”
“There are some people aboard who I'll never take out here. Everything is marked up so high you wonder how they sell anything. Even public transit costs twenty credits per stop.”
“That's not too bad.”
“Not until you consider there are probably about fifteen stops between us and the ship.”
“Okay, that's criminal.”
“It is, but it keeps the crowds on the automated cars down.”
“I could imagine. Where do you think we'll find Frost?”
“You remember the jewellery recovery we did a couple years back?”
“Yup, it was pretty easy, good work.”
“Frost got us that gig, I'm assuming his contact is putting him up,” Jake explained as they walked towards one of the apartment buildings. They were built along the sides with a curve, giving the large oval market platform the look of a giant bowl.
“I thought people didn't live in this section of the city.”
“Most people don't, but this lady runs her business out of her rented space here. She's one of the richest criminals you'll ever meet face to face.”
They came to the large entrance archway and it scanned the pair. “Please declare the occupant you wish to establish communications with,” requested the computer.
“I'm looking for Nanna Gailman. My name is Jacob Valance and I'm here to pick up an associate.”
They waited for several moments then the doors opened. “Please do not attempt to deviate from the designated path.” It said as they entered.
There was no lobby, only a white hallway with gold scroll work all along the middle leading them directly to a lift. They walked inside and came out to what looked like the same thing. Just a plainly decorated hallway with no doors, only the lift doors behind and a corner ahead. “This is the strangest apartment building I've ever seen.”
“Adaptive hallways. The building puts up barriers blocking us from anything but our destination.”
“Ah, so it hides all the doors.”
“It's probably closing off any space we don't need. There could be someone right beside us in this hallway but we'd never know. That is, unless we started tearing up the walls, this kind of guidance system normally isn't very thick.”
They rounded the corner and saw a solitary door further down. It opened as soon as they stepped up to it.
“Captain Valance, so good to see you!” Came the greeting from an ancient looking woman. She stepped up on her toes, giving him a hug and a peck on the cheek. “Who's your lovely friend?”
“I'm Stephanie, his First Officer,” she introduced herself with a smile as the shorter woman gave her a big hug as well.
“Good to meet you. Come on in.”
They walked through a small entry room and into a tidy living space. There was a plush sofa for three, a loveseat and a couple of recliners, one of which looked older than their host. A large window overlooked the entire marketplace and had a door, indicating there was a small balcony.
The atmospheric controls inside the apartment were set to simulate a cool breeze that was faintly scented with the fragrance of fresh green growth. The apartment was made for homely comfort, and as a great contrast to the outside, very little of it was modern.
An old serving android stood beside Frost, where he sat nursing a cup of tea. “Hello Captain.”
“I believe your friend here was growing tired of soap operas, tea and cakes. I cannot say his company has been all together disagreeable, however. He tells the most interesting stories with a little prodding.”
Nanna sat down in the old recliner and took her cup and saucer from the end table. “What can Edward get for you and your First Officer?”
“Nothing for us thank you,” Jake said as he sat down on the sofa. He was careful not to disturb the doilies on the headrest or arm.
Stephanie followed his lead and sat down warily. She felt completely out of place, holding her rifle across her chest and trying not to disturb the neat surroundings.
“I insist. He makes wonderful tea, or lemonade if you'd prefer something cold.”
“I'll have a lemonade then,” Jake said with a smile.
Nanna looked to Stephanie expectantly, and she was about to refuse but thought better of it. “I'll have the same.”
The ancient android walked out of the room, shuffling its silver feet. There were flattened pathways across the dark brown carpet where he travelled in regular patterns to get around the room. Stephanie had only seen that model in pictures, it was grey and silver in colour with a bow tie and the lapels of a tuxedo painted on. It was made to have a human shape, but its rounded construction and reconfigurable face was sculpted to give it a luxurious look. Nanna had not added facial features but left the front of its oval shaped head bare and inexpressive. Stephanie found it a little eerie and couldn't help staring when it came back with two frosty glasses of lemonade on a tray a moment later. After she and Jake had their refreshments in hand it tucked the tray under its arm and moved to stand beside the sofa.
“Now that we're all comfortable, I expect you'd like to discuss reclaiming your crewmate, who seems to suffer from poor judgement where friendships are concerned,” Nanna said before taking a sip of her tea. “It's a good thing he has better taste in employers.”
“According to him I'm the only one who's willing to come get him,” Jake replied with an upraised eyebrow.
“I could've called someone else,” Frost interjected quietly. “Aye, but I knew the road back to the Samson was shortest.”
Nanna turned her head to look at him slowly. Her lips were drawn into a straight line. “We did talk about this, did we not Shamus? You will speak when spoken to and I won't suffer another uninvited word.”
Frost flushed and simply nodded.
“That's a good boy,” she smiled at him and turned her attention back to the Captain. “He's not as polite as I recall, but then we always remember people we choose to like in rosier shades. Don't you find memories become idealized over time Jacob?”
“They do, but then you know I've always looked to the future more than the past.”
“Yes, and that brings us again to the question, how does Shamus Frost serve your future? It seems you have a new First Officer, so he wasn't difficult to replace. She also looks more well acquainted with weaponry and has already proven more agreeable to me. With a little polish she might even look a little like Midred Grace.” Nanna recognized that the younger woman had no idea who she was talking about and went on. “She was a holomovie star well before your time, dear.”
“I'll have to look her up,” Stephanie replied quietly with a smile.
“You're right, Frost isn't the greatest First Officer I've ever had, in fact I didn't even pay him like one. He is a specialist with one of our ship systems. I haven't been able to replace him at that post yet.”
“That explains it. He seems to think there is some kind of sentimental attachment as well. You never seemed like the type to me Captain.”
“He's hard to forget once you get used to him.”
“Now that I could imagine,” Nanna said with a little chuckle. “Well then, perhaps we should get on with it so I can have Edward clean Shamus' smell out of my home. It is very unfashionable for a woman of my station to address the issue of price, you understand.”
“Then allow me to make a fair offer of five thousand United Coreworld Credits for your trouble,” Jake said after taking a sip of his lemonade.
Nana held up one wrinkled finger and waggled it slowly back and forth a few times. “I credit you for trying, but I happen to know you have become quite
famous. I do try and keep up with the local news you know.”
Jake smiled at her and nodded. “Old habits die hard.”
“That they do, but I must say I approve of your new ones,” Nanna commented. Keeping this woman on point was like trying to fight gravity. “You see out there? That monstrosity of a building blocking out the sunlight for more than half the day?” She said, pointing out the window to the Regent Galactic building. “It overshadows millions of us and though I sit in its presence it provides no benefit. I have communications services through them, but do their technicians arrive earlier than they would if I were on the other side of the planet? No, they make their merry way here in their own time, don't even know how to communicate with the building's artificial intelligence and they muck up my floors. Where they find mud on this planet I'll never know. Do you know I actually had to go down to the lobby and let one of them in the other week? They should go back to automated persons like Edward here. They might get stolen once in a while, but proper armaments would remedy that sure enough.” She sighed and looked to her guests. “I'm sure you're looking to be on your way, so I'm willing to entertain one more offer for this little man.”
Jake handed his glass back to Edward, who accepted it and placed it on the tray. The ice rattled with a sweet tinkling sound as Stephanie put hers down beside it. “I can offer you fifty thousand, even though I could hire an expert to take his place for that price,” Jake said mildly.
“That will be enough for my trouble, but only because you've done some damage to that lumbering behemoth of a company.”
“Thank you Nanna. I'm afraid we have to be on our way. I'm sorry we can't stay longer.”
“I understand, please do call if you're in the neighbourhood sometime.”
“I will, thank you very much for your hospitality,” Jake said as he rose to his feet.
Stephanie followed his lead. Frost looked to Nanna who nodded once. He stood and carefully put his cup and saucer on Edward's tray. The look of relief on his face was unlike any expression Stephanie had ever seen him make.
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