"What was your impression of Svelti, Captain Hoffen?" Jala met us as we exited the cargo hold and walked up the ramp to Intrepid's main deck.
"They seem friendly enough," I said. "Do they keep all of Pooni Station as cold as the docking bay? It was minus ten on the deck; I thought my cheeks were going to freeze."
Before Jala could answer, Tabby jumped in. "Best hope they do, big man. Glub Glub had quite a smell to her and I'd hate to be around if that fur of hers thawed out."
Uncharacteristically, Jala chuckled. "Pooni tribe prefers the cold. It is rumored they do this to discourage emigration. The station is not as cold, however, and is kept at ten degrees."
“Did you want something?” Jala’s presence was welcome, but it was unusual that she would meet us after unloading cargo.
“I would speak with you privately if First Mate Masters would allow.” Jala looked at Tabby and lowered her eyes, demurely.
“He’s all yours,” Tabby said. “And by that, I mean look but don’t touch.”
Jala gave Tabby a quizzical look, obviously trying to parse the human idiom. Tabby and Marny left Jala and me in the passageway.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I have friends on Pooni,” she said. “They whisper of a mysterious ship that passed in the dark space near planet Bargoti."
"Mysterious ship? Where did they see it?"
"My friend would not say. They are careful not to speak of things when they are transmitted."
"That's pretty oblique. A mysterious ship with no location is hard to do anything about," I said.
"You are invited to speak with them, but it can be only you and one other, with Arijeet and me. You will need to be disguised as Koosha and the other as Gunjeet.”
“I’m not sure how to do that,” I said.
“I have replicated traditional Koosha clothing and you will be covered with furs. It is not difficult,” she said. "If we were to take the ship, George, we would raise no suspicion."
“Bring the disguises to the wardroom,” I said and transmitted the conversation to Marny, Ada and Tabby.
"Liam Hoffen is pleased?" Jala asked.
"Yes, thank you, Jala. This might be important," I said.
"What the frak is that all about?" Tabby asked as I entered the bridge.
"I take it you've listened to the conversation?" I asked, looking at the three women I trusted with everything I had.
"Liam, I don't know if we can trust Jala. This could be a trap, but none of us believe you'll listen to warnings just now," Ada said.
"How can I turn away from this? What if this will help us find Jonathan and Sendrei?" I asked.
"Sendrei is dead, Cap," Marny said. "Even if he somehow avoided the bugs on their own ship, he's had no access to food or water for over a month."
"Doesn't change anything," I said defiantly.
"I'm coming with you," Tabby said.
As promised, Jala's disguise was convincing. There was little of either Tabby or myself that could be seen beneath the heavy replicated skins and furs we were wrapped in. And, even when those were removed, we wore beige linen robes with colorful scarfs that covered our heads and masked our necks.
George was in typical shape for a pirate-run cutter. Trash and debris were piled in every corner and kicked out of the main walking paths. I was grateful to discover the critical components of the head worked, though we wouldn't be taking any showers.
The small bridge was in better shape than Fred’s. The seats bore only a few cracks in the fabric and the flight sticks, while worn, appeared to have been regularly maintained. There was seating for the four of us and Tabby and I took the two forward chairs.
"Captain, would you allow for a suggestion?" Jala asked.
"Of course."
"If I am to be your mate and Tabitha your son, it would be more appropriate for me to be seated next to you," she said and then hastily added, "I mean you no disrespect, Tabitha Masters."
"Oh, for frak's sake." Tabby stood and gestured overtly to the co-pilot's chair. "Take the seat already."
"Ada, we're disembarking," I said as I peeled away from the underside of Intrepid, where George had rafted up.
"We copy, Liam. Be safe."
"Copy that, Ada. Hoffen out." I closed comms. "Where are we headed, Jala?"
I slowly arced away from Pooni Station toward Bargoti. Unlike other planets we'd visited, Bargoti was covered with whites, grays and light blues, with just a band of green around the equator.
Jala pinched at her vision and flicked instructions. My AI traced a path on my HUD to the planet's surface and illuminated a golden circle within a wide gray and white area.
"Looks hospitable," Tabby said, sarcastically.
"Koosha tribe has a tentative friendship with Pooni," Jala said. "Our enclave here is small and has not earned a place within the warmth. We are fortunate to be accepted."
"Just how big is Koosha?" I asked.
"There are perhaps five thousand on Pooni," Jala said. "You should not ask questions like this of my people. Pogona tribes hide their strength unless they are strong."
"Like Genteresk?"
"Yes. Like Genteresk."
George shook as we entered Pooni's thin atmosphere and I turned my attention to the task of keeping us on track. "Do we need to hail anyone as we approach?"
"It is not necessary."
Slowing our descent, we approached from a few kilometers north of the position Jala had given. The sky was crystal clear and a gusty wind picked up snow and lifted it hundreds of meters into the air. Brea Fortul's star glittered through the sparkling ice crystals in a pretty display of colors. Like sand, the snow drifted across wide open plains.
The first signs of habitation were a trio of creatures. Two golden Svelti romped through the snow, a small Pogona sitting in a pack, nestled against one of the furry beast's backs. Amidst the swirling snow, I finally made out the low, rounded building they headed toward. We sailed across dozens of similar structures, finding only a handful of hardy souls braving the blowing snow that now obscured direct line of sight.
Lights blinked atop the frost-covered landing pad where I set George down.
"What is that?" I asked. With the engines quiet, I'd become aware of an eerie howling.
"The wind, Captain Hoffen," Jala said. "It is time. You must raise your cowl. We should not let on that Ameek and Gunjeet have not made this trip."
"And then what?" Tabby asked, pulling the fur-lined parka hood over her head.
"Thuga of Koosha will learn of our arrival and come to escort us," Jala said. "I believe it is he who approaches."
I would not have been able to pick Thuga out if my AI hadn’t outlined the approaching figures in what turned out to be a blizzard on the surface.
"It is customary for a visitor to present a gift to the host for their hospitality," Jala said. "When we enter Thuga's home, you will present this to him." Jala handed me a simple, rectangular wooden box a little shorter than my arm.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It is meant to look like spirits from our home of Tanwar," Jala said. "It holds five hand weapons that we purchased on Azima."
"Our gift is guns?" Tabby asked.
Jala smiled wanly. "For tribesman, it is a most revered gift for it communicates concern for Thuga's wellbeing. They are also powerful enough to diminish your weapons stock."
I tucked the box beneath my furs and punched the security panel on the rear cargo bay door. The wind blasted into the bay and debris swirled around us.
A thickset Pogona peered at me through large, round goggles. Apparently, not finding what he was looking for he moved over to Jala and embraced her.
"Follow," Jala instructed as the two Pogona turned back into the gale and trudged away.
I was almost knocked down as I stepped from the back of George. Fortunately, my grav-suit allowed me a semblance of control against the random buffeting of wind.
The hold door refused to seal completely from ice
crystals that had found their way into the gaps. I'd have to deal with it later.
"You must lead," Jala prompted as I fell in at the back of the pack. I found it difficult to make my way through the snow that came up to mid-calf. I realized the native Pogona was walking on a well-packed path. I gently lifted with my suit, just enough that my weight barely broke through the crusted snow. With this modification, I caught up to Thuga.
We had walked for only a hundred meters, when Thuga turned toward one of the low, round-topped buildings. We followed him down a stairwell and beneath an awning that provided a break from the blowing snow. Another fur-covered Pogona stood in the doorway and ushered us inside.
"Ameek of Koosha speaks well of these humans," Thuga stated to Jala as he helped his companion pull a drape over the door we entered. The windows were all covered, though it would be impossible for anyone to see us through the blizzard outside.
"You honor our family bond," Jala replied. "To you I present Arijeet son of Ameek. I also present friends of Ameek— Liam Hoffen and mate, Tabitha Masters."
"Son of Ameek." Thuga turned his attention to Arijeet. "You are of age, Arijeet of Koosha. It is time that you separate from Ameek and join with the tribe. Is this why you travel on to Tanwar?"
"I am no Koosha," Arijeet spit on the floor. "And these are no friends of Ameek. This one gave Gunjeet to Tulvar."
"Arijeet," Jala whispered harshly. "You embarrass your family."
"What would you be if not Koosha?" Thuga asked. "Would you live in the street?"
"I would be Genteresk." Arijeet stuck his chest forward and forced air into his chin, blowing out his jowls.
"Is this so? What say you of Arijeet's claim, Jala of Koosha?" Thuga asked.
"Liam Hoffen provided refuge after Gunjeet attacked him. When Tulvar searched his ship, he did not give away our deception. It is as I say, Liam Hoffen acts with honor," Jala said and cut her eyes to the box she'd given me.
I handed the box to Thuga, who'd shrugged off his outer furs and hung them on thick pegs near the door. The sunken building was a simple design — a broad central room, with only three doorways. Thuga's companion also shrugged off her fur coverings. The woman was a dead ringer for Jala, if not a little younger. She caught my glance and returned Jala's patented demure smile.
"They are a beautiful pair, are they not?" Thuga asked, setting the box on the table without opening it. "I tell you the truth, their mother is even more beautiful. And please, your identity is safe here, you may remove your cloaks."
Tabby and I pulled the cloaks off and hung them on open pegs. "It is a burden to always be in the presence of beautiful women," I said. "One never knows where to look without offending."
Thuga choked out a laugh of surprise as he turned, his eyes coming to rest on Tabby. "I see what you mean, Liam Hoffen. Burden would not have been the first word that came to mind, however," he said as he reached out to pat Tabby's butt.
Tabby's hand shot out in a blur and grabbed Thuga's wrist. The man's instincts must have misled him, as he reached for a knife. Tabby twisted his arm, turning him as she did and wrenching the knife from his hand.
The whine of a blaster's capacitor charging caught my attention as Jala's sister raised a pistol, holding it only centimeters from Tabby's head.
"No, Phael," Jala said, trying to step between Tabby and her sister. "It is a simple misunderstanding. Human women are not accustomed to playful men."
Tabby released Thuga's wrist and handed him the knife. As quick as I could imagine, he accepted the knife and slashed downward, attempting to strike her across the forearm. "To lay hands on a man in his house is punishable…"
In a blur, Tabby smacked the back of Thuga’s wrist, dislodging the knife, while disarming Jala's sister at the same time. Phael took a surprised, involuntary step backward.
"Whoa there," I said, holding my hands up defensively. "We don't need a problem here, but touching without permission doesn't fly."
The grimace on Thuga's face shifted to a broad smile and he laughed. "You are like Abasi. It is strange; you look so normal. Like Pogona."
"Are we okay, here?" I looked from Thuga to Jala.
"As you say, Jala. A misunderstanding. I must say, Liam Hoffen. To have such a woman," he held his hands out as if holding Tabby from a distance. "What a treat that would be."
I breathed a sigh of relief and hoped Tabby would be able to set aside the misguided misogynistic behavior.
"A treat you might not survive," Tabby growled, setting the blaster pistol onto a small table near the front door.
"But what an adventure," Thuga's eyes twinkled with mischief. "We drink! Phael, bring out spirits. We are in good company tonight."
We joined the Pogona on soft fur-lined cushions on a semi-circular couch that overlooked a bubbling pool of clear water set into the far wall. Steam rose from the water, but dissipated quickly into the air.
"Why do you heat the water?" I finally asked after tasting the warm sweet, brown liquor provided by Phael.
"The water is from springs deep within Pooni," Thuga said. "Delicious, no?"
"Really heats you up," I said, still feeling the fire in my throat.
Thuga must have liked the answer because he smiled. "Jala says you have interest in the ship my people found in the dark spaces."
"We might be," I said. "Can you describe it?"
"Do not think us simple because of our lifestyle," Thuga said.
"Of course not," I said. "Your home is very comfortable."
Thuga smiled and then pinched off a still picture of a Kroerak cruiser. Something in the picture was off. And then I realized there were no stars behind the ship.
"When was this taken?"
"Not long ago, Liam Hoffen." Thuga motioned for Phael to refill his glass. My heart thumped in my ears as I waited for him to take another drink.
I finally broke the silence. "Do you know where it is now?"
"Perhaps."
Chapter 24
Fourth Daughter
"Anything worth eating on Pooni Station?" I asked.
Marny and Jester Ripples were keeping me company on the bridge. I'd volunteered for the final watch so the crew could take full advantage of our short stay.
"Virtually no grains," Marny replied, "although they have a dark berry that grows in abundance. I think you'd like their sweet purple beer. I loaded the wardroom refer with it." She sighed. "I'd kill for a decent synth burger and fried potato strips about now."
"The veck berries are delicious and provide carbohydrate, protein and citric acid," Jester Ripples added. “I would also add that I have further refined the image provided by Thuga of Koosha.”
A grainy image of stars behind the Kroerak cruiser appeared.
“Were you able to match these stars?”
“I have, Liam Hoffen,” Jester Ripples said. “The stars are Adit Pah, as Thuga of Koosha reported.”
"Do we have enough data to tie down a time?”
“I will continue to work with it,” Jester Ripples said.
Just then Tabby and Ada stumbled onto the bridge, arms around each other's waists, laughing. In Tabby's hand was a clear, nearly empty bottle of something dark and fizzy. The nearly empty part was fortunate, given how precariously she held it. Tabby separated from Ada and launched herself at me, the smell of alcohol reaching me well before she did.
"Tell her, Hoffen. Tell her how Thuga tried to lay his hand on my ass and I nearly broke it off." Tabby's voice slurred as she planted a sloppy kiss on my face, only partially covering my mouth.
I'd never seen Tabby or Ada quite so wasted before. I held on, preventing Tabby from turning around, and watched over her shoulder as Marny deftly applied a sober med-patch onto her neck.
"Killjoy," Tabby said, unsuccessfully reaching for the patch.
Ada smiled and accepted a patch from Marny, choosing to apply it on her own.
"How about we get you to bed," I said. "You've been up for twenty-four hours."
"
Nope." Tabby released me and slumped into the port-side pilot's chair. "I'm going to sit right here while these little buggers drain all the fun out of life."
"Cap, since we're all here," Marny said. "You want to give us a rundown on what you talked about with Jala's friend?"
"Brother-in-law. Not sure why she kept that secret." I flicked the still image Thuga had provided. "The star field was removed so we couldn't figure its location, but he did say the Koosha tribe tracked this Kroerak ship not more than five days ago in the Adit Pah system. They lost track of it, but for a price he thinks they could locate it."
"What price?" Marny said.
"This is rich," Tabby said. "Did you know that to give a gun to a Pogona is a nice housewarming present? Yeah, it shows that you care about their safety and that you don't need the gun because you're strong. Messed up, right? Give you one guess what Hoffen offered."
Marny and Ada looked from Tabby back to me. Apparently, Ada hadn't been drinking nearly as much as Tabby, because she seemed to be sobering quickly. "What did you offer, Liam?" Ada asked.
"No, really, guess," Tabby pushed and then couldn't hold back. "George. He said if they could get eyes on that cruiser long enough for us to catch up, he'd give them George on the spot."
"What'd Thuga say to that, Cap?" Marny asked.
"He'll send word to the tribal leaders of Tanwar," I said. "I kind of got the feeling he'd been exiled and this might be his way back in."
"These drunk patches are a complete buzz kill," Tabby complained. Her eyes were drooping, but her speech had cleared up.
"Ada, would you mind putting our girl here to bed?"
"Copy that, Liam," Ada answered. "I wouldn't mind a bit of shuteye myself. Are you still okay to take us out?"
I chuckled. "Go."
Tabby wrapped her arms around Ada's neck as she pulled Tabby from the pilot's chair. Marny, Jester Ripples, and I watched as they left more quietly than they'd arrived.
"Roby, did you get George lashed down? We're twenty minutes out."
“Just putting final touches on the mooring plates,” Roby said. “AI says we’re good for twelve hundred newtons. I’d like to do better. Amon can forge nano-crystal steel parts to withstand that kind of force.”
Corsair Menace (Privateer Tales Book 12) Page 29
