by Greg Chase
Jess developed a renewed respect for Persephone’s human captain. He was no fool. She took a long drink of the potent dark beer as she tried to see Sara’s objective. “We’ll work under the assumption that she’s slipped away intentionally. Losing you will help her pass unnoticed among the moons. It’s not what we planned, but she never was one to give me all the details. Have Spike keep a watchful but passive eye on the communication network.”
Larry’s voice changed from chagrined to hopeful. “What would you recommend he look for?”
That was the question. What was Sara’s hidden agenda? “Anything out of the ordinary, which I realize is a challenge, considering the Moons’ network is pretty fragmented right now.”
The work she and Sam had done giving the Moons’ Tobes a freedom network meant information had become nearly as scattered and disorganized as it was on Earth. That wasn’t going to help them find Sara. Much as Jess hated to admit it, maybe it was time to start trusting her daughter.
Larry looked her over for the first time since she’d entered the bar. “I was so worried about how you’d take the news I didn’t notice the new duds. You look like an honest-to-God pirate now.”
“A pirate in search of a ship and crew—if you’re interested.”
He pushed the beer away. “You don’t even have to ask. Besides, Sophie would jettison me out into space if I were to lose you too.”
Entering Rampike, Jess could see Spike had taken the loss of Sara even harder than Larry. The usual bloodred eyes that glared from under his ever-present cowl now shone crystal blue. “Sophie’s going to kill me,” Spike said, a further indication of his degree of concern—Tobes weren’t prone to exaggeration.
For a moment, she considered letting him stew in his fear. It would do the irascible pirate good to be on the receiving end of someone’s animosity for a change, but it wouldn’t help secure him as Rampike’s Tobe captain. “I suspect you’re feeling the cumulative fear of all of Earth’s Tobes. Give yourself a break, Spike. If you couldn’t find her, it’s because she didn’t want to be found.”
The color of his eyes grew a deeper blue tinged with purple, an indication the old curmudgeon was returning. “To go searching for her would’ve only alerted the Moons corporations that something was wrong.”
Larry sat on the bridge captain’s chair. “That’s what we concluded too. Jess has an option for us—we go gallivanting around the moons like pirate-smugglers while keeping our ears open for anything unusual that might indicate Sara’s presence. I’ve always wanted to try smuggling.”
Spike’s eyes returned to their red coloration, which was meant to make him look demonic though Jess no longer saw him that way. “I’ve had dealings with the Moons. There’s a reason I stay in deep space. Using me might create unwanted attention.”
She’d wondered about his past. She knew he’d only come to their barren moon on Sophie’s request. “I’m not here to make friends with the corporations. They already hate me for freeing their Tobes. I need to make a name for myself among the various pirate outposts. Between what Sophie can bring us legally from Earth and your contacts among the deep space pirates, I’m hoping to secure enough contraband to bribe my way into their favor.”
Larry rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “That’ll only get you so far with the true space adventurers. Most of them only see money as a way of financing their exploits. If you want to really win them over, you’ll need to prove yourself, or rather, we will. You’ve got a compelling history, but all the stories of you saving stranded colonies from the big bad Jovian shadow won’t win you any points with pirates looking to do battle.”
Spike looked out at the other ships docked to Hidalgo’s spaceport. “Pirating isn’t for pacifists. We’re going to get bloody out here, all of us. I’m going to need more guns. So far, I’ve survived by keeping to the shadows, but if we’re going to build legends in our wake, it won’t do to be unknown.”
“You’re not totally unknown,” Larry said. “That card game got pretty heated. I only won my stake in your operation because I’ve played with some of the best in the solar system.”
Jess couldn’t remember hearing Spike chuckle before. The deep, rasping cackle wasn’t a comforting sound. “I suspect my old captain is still wondering what happened. That drunken fool never did have any sense.”
Pirates could go on for days once the stories started rolling, each trying to one-up the last. Jess had too much to do to let Larry and Spike start down that familiar conversational path. “I need to learn to use these sidearms. According to Ramon, that’ll take another week at least. Larry, see what Sophie can round up that might be worth bartering among the pirate outposts—preferably some technology that’ll make it easier to talk to Earth. I wouldn’t even know where to get guns for Rampike—think you can find what you need, Spike?”
“You may not like the answer,” the pirate said. “It’s not like I can just order them up.”
Looking out at the other ships of disrepute, she knew that not liking answers would be another aspect of her new life. “Don’t be concerned about my delicate sensibilities. If we’re going to be pirates, I suspect the law will seldom be on our side.”
“Most of the ship-mounted cannons available on the black market are barely functional. What we really need to do is capture a gunship,” Spike said. “Attacking one is a great way to build a reputation if we win, but going up against a military giant with little more than a peashooter makes for long odds.”
Jess smiled to herself. “I might have the beginnings of a plan, but let me see who I can round up first.”
Luther Montoya wasn’t a hard man to find. Jess knew the boisterous drunk would command the attention of every bar he frequented with the stories of his conquests. She had attempted to conduct enough covert conversations in shadowy corners to recognize that the man’s volume often reflected his level of intoxication. He always saved his best stories for last. Few who hadn’t been there believed the one about him shooting the beautiful, rich Earth woman out into space so she could enter a solar-transfer-array satellite. Or how that adventure had resulted in the freedom network the Tobes used to help the pirates conduct business around Jupiter’s moons. Arguments often ensued, which only ended when Jess stood up to confirm the stories, no matter how embellished. Rendition had given him money for his services, but the pirate’s real payment had been the story, which added immeasurably to his reputation.
In spite of her need for further weapons practice, Jess hit the familiar bar by late afternoon. She needed to catch Luther before he’d lost himself to his drunken memories. Only a small group of die-hard admirers sat at the table with him, mostly—she assumed—because he was buying. “Can we talk in private?”
Luther threw some money on the table and motioned her to a dark corner of the bar. “Lady Insane. What harebrained idea do you have for me now?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to add another story to your repertoire. I need to capture that gunship we were playing with in your well-rehearsed fable.”
The pirate made the entirely out-of-character move of pushing his beer aside. His bloodshot eyes grew serious. “You know the problem with grand adventures?”
Jess knew exactly what he was referring to. “The rest of life ends up feeling mundane.”
He nodded slowly at her understanding. “Sitting here day after day, recounting the only really interesting event in my life has left me wondering if the story wouldn’t have been better concluded with my death.”
Again, she knew the feeling all too well. “I need guns for my ship, both long-range blasters and precision rapid-fire las-cannons. The only place I know to get them is off one of those gunships that guard the solar satellites.”
Luther leaned back in his chair. Adventure was the big draw, but she knew there were also practical considerations. He’d need something to show for his efforts to maintain his reputation of ill repute. “And what are you offering? A ship that big is useless to smugglers.”
>
Negotiation was an art form among the pirates—one she was even less skilled at than firing a lasgun. “I only need a handful of weapons. For a ship that big, it’d only be a small part of their inventory.”
The pirate captain pulled his beer back in front of him. “I don’t like guns. I prefer fast ships. Running has proven better than fighting when it comes to my personal longevity. Our last adventure was profitable enough for me to outfit a nice new craft that fits my style perfectly.”
“Then we’ll have something to offer the other pirates that you recruit.” She knew the only thing more enticing than personal glory was being seen as the one offering it to others. Every pirate on Hidalgo would have heard Luther’s stories. Some would want a taste of that action, others would want a chance to see him prove his worth or fall in a pile of shit—either of which would be irresistible to the space adventurers.
As he leaned over his beer, she knew she had him. “The diversion we used won’t work a second time. We’ll need a new plan. And since we’re not just trying to distract the gunship but actually capture her, we’ll have to figure out a way to board her. This is going to take a lot of ships and thorough planning.”
Not many people knew all the details of how she’d established the freedom network for the Moons’ Tobes. Being the pirate who’d delivered her to the satellite meant Luther still knew more than he let on in his stories. “We do have a friend out there on Jupiter one-one-four.”
Luther took a swig of his beer. “They aren’t my friends.”
She knew not all pirates accepted Tobes on their vessels. But as each complex computer ended up with a technological being as part of its operating system, freeing a ship of Tobes could prove difficult. In all the time she’d known Luther, he’d never had a Tobe on one of his ships. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“You take care of your friend. I’ll round up some pirates looking for adventure. Hopefully, that bank account you used last time has a lot more money in it. I suspect there’ll be a number of captains with busted-up ships looking for replacements when the adventure is over.”
5
Back on Earth, the Tobes had connected to Sara on a cellular level as part of her escape from the Church of Reminisce. That connection meshed nicely with the new film, but it registered every movement of her body as though she were a mechanical device. Her walk around the nearly deserted moon had given her a chance to test out the new technology, but it had also wasted an entire day. Nothing to be done for that now. The read-out in front of her eyes displayed power levels and energy reserves instead of muscle weakness and hunger. But no matter how it was described, she’d reached her limitations.
The stubby ship came in so low over the horizon she at first suspected it was a land-based transport. It was small and could have easily passed for one. The captain had been clear in his meeting instructions, picking a place not used by pirates who had little friends aboard their ships.
To her surprise, the ship didn’t kick up a single rock as it softly touched down at the base of a cliff. This captain knew what he was doing. As instructed, she waited for the main hatch to open and the man to step out before making her presence known. Even then, she only kicked a small puff of dust with her boot to give away her position.
His head turned in almost mechanically slow precision from horizon to horizon. Then he looked her straight in the eye, quite a feat at over one hundred yards. Hidden in a dark corner between two massive boulders, only her enhanced vision allowed her to pick out the intense stare of his blue eyes. Without breaking eye contact, he nodded once. Then he returned to his ship.
Sara scrambled over the distance from her hiding place to the craft with as much stealth as she could muster, but compared to the ship captain’s landing and demeanor, she was sure she looked like a stumbling child. Climbing aboard, she wondered if the craft were even as big as Rendition’s private land shuttles back on Earth.
“Strap in. We’re out of here.” He didn’t even bother to turn around from the control console.
The pirate’s idea of a takeoff left Sara fearful they would plow nose first into the canyon wall. Having cleared it by what she guessed to be less than three feet, her next fear was a collision with the rocks that dotted the landscape. The upcoming crater would at least put some air between the ship and the ground. Or so she thought. He pushed hard against the controls, diving the small ship straight for the center of the depression. Sara couldn’t look at the chaos displayed on the view screens anymore. All data from her enhancement film told her of their inevitable crash.
The craft jerked hard in every direction but up. Watching the captain in action terrified her, but not watching would leave her unprepared for the upcoming collision. As the ship stopped lurching, she turned back to the view screens to see the blackness of space. “Was that entirely necessary? It’s not like anyone was going to see our departure.”
“Lady, you asked for a personal smuggler. This is what I do, and I do it well.” The man’s hands worked the controls as if they were extensions of his fingers. Each movement was quick and precise but seemingly without thought as his eyes darted across the view screen.
“My apologies. I asked for the best, and clearly, I got him.” She settled back into her chair in the dark cabin.
“I’m not easy to find—not online and not in person. The fact that you were able to contact me directly is the only reason I accepted this job. Whatever technology you’re using, it better not be detectable by anyone else. I know them all, but yours is a mystery.”
Nothing on the view screen indicated he could identify her film.
“I guess we all have our secrets.”
The enhancements across Sara’s eyes turned the moon ahead of the spaceship into a blaze of blues and oranges. Blinking the film back to normal, she saw an ordinary lump of rock much like all the others they’d passed.
For the first time during the trip, the captain turned back to her. “I’m only setting down long enough for you to jump off, so have your things ready. You know how to find me. Things get dicey down there, I’ve got a couple options for landing zones. But don’t wait until you’re on the run. There aren’t many who will be willing to risk hell to save you.”
Sara thought setting down overstated the landing—good firm bounce would have been more accurate. No sooner had she tumbled out of the craft than he gunned the engines and headed back toward space. Not that she blamed him.
The ground appeared to be made of molten rock, though again, that perception had to do with her enhancements. No one who saw the moon the way she did would dare to put one foot on it.
But this was the home world of the Network religion, the Reverend Mother Arry, and hopefully Sara’s destiny.
Sara spread her fingers in front of her face to see how the film reacted to the waves of radiation. A gentle glow surrounded her skin like a halo. The blue flames of energy separated as they approached her hand, like a magnet pushing away another charge. The enhancements confirmed she was safe from any harm though they also told her no human could survive in this place for more than a few days.
A planet made up of only Tobes. No wonder Arry picked it for her religion.
The smuggler had dropped her off far from any settlement. She knew even they tended to group together, for social reasons if nothing else. There’d be no need for her to hide this time—quite the opposite. The sooner they found her the better.
Sara set off toward what the enhancements told her were the ruins of the old city. It was as good a place as any to start her search. The sight of flames being snuffed out by her boots, only to re-erupt as she walked by, made it hard to look down. But the enhancements had already become a necessary addition to how she viewed her world, realizing one of Joshua’s main concerns: that Sara would grow to rely too heavily on the technology.
In spite of her knowledge that the flames weren’t affecting her, she started walking with one foot directly in front of the other to avoid exposing any unnecessa
ry bodily surface area to the ground. The catwalk stride made the flames undulate from side to side. It wasn’t the fastest way to move, but then, she wasn’t really sure where she was going.
An hour after having been dumped on Praxidike, she made her first contact. Flames billowed up in front of her—actual flames that didn’t require enhancements to see. The column of yellow-and-red fire condensed into a human shape though it never stopped burning. “You aren’t welcome here. Leave.”
“You don’t even know who I am.” She hadn’t expected a cordial greeting, but maybe a little curiosity would have been nice.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re human. Leave while you can. Or don’t, and die like the rest.” The flame wavered, threatening to disappear.
Sara pressed her hand into the fire. A young Tobe of no more than twenty years of age stood inside the inferno. “How are you doing that?” The booming tone had become the voice of a frightened young man.
She pulled her hand back. “I can do a lot more than remove the fire, but maybe it’d be best if you took me to your mistress, the Reverend Mother Arry.”
“She communicates only to the Tobes, not to humans. She will not see you.” The tone of authority he tried to project had just a little too much quivering.
“She’ll see me.” Sara pulled open the cape to reveal the black outfit, which had grown translucent from the radiation. Closing her eyes, she mentally pulled hard at the solar transfer array. A massive amount of energy flooded the film, though only Tobes would see the transformation. She glowed brighter yellow than the flames that encircled the Tobe.
“I am Ra, the sun god.”
Arry’s loud, high-pitched cackle enveloped Sara before the technologically based Reverend Mother fully materialized. “Ra—the Egyptian sun god? At least you have a sense of humor.”
