"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, I knew your father very well. Also, I think, we have a mutual acquaintance in Commander Jellon on mining colony Epsoid Seven, yes?" She turned up the corners of her mouth slightly in a grim parody of a smile. Erion could hardly repress a shudder as the memory of the man forced itself to the front of her mind. Elkrist continued, "I am sure he will be sadly missed."
"Missed?" asked Erion before she could stop herself. Jellon had been the chief of one of the mines where Erion had worked undercover as a dancer. He had been particularly obnoxious and news of any misfortune that had befallen him was welcome.
"He died," drawled Elkrist. "A most terrible accident. He fell into a rock crusher."
"Oh the poor man," sighed Erion. "Did he suffer, do you think?"
"Undoubtedly," answered Elkrist.
"Oh good," said Erion, dryly. She began to warm to the other woman, deciding to trust her own judgement, rather than believe the wanted flyers put out by the Galactic Police. She turned to the third person, seeing a small insignificant Aurian man in his late twenties. He stood up to touch her palm and bowed politely.
"My name is Gant, My Lady. You won't have heard of me, but I intend to overthrow the New Federation and I hope you and your friends will join us." Erion stared at him open mouthed for a moment then gathered her wits.
"I'll have to think about that, My Lord and I can't speak for my crew." Just in time, Erion noticed the ring that he wore on his little finger. It was the crest of one of the Royal Houses of Auria and proclaimed him to be a High Born like herself, probably of royal blood. Not to accord him the proper respect would have been unforgivable to her. He smiled with genuine warmth at her tactfulness.
"Please call me Gant. My home is nothing but a planet sized garrison for the Galactic Authorities now, as is Elkrist's. We have no Kingdoms to rule and no People to serve. There are no High Borns in the Alliance."
"Nor Low Borns neither," put in Jeddoh Cloud.
"Except Terrellians," smiled Elkrist, throwing Hal a knowing look. Hal gave a lofty sniff and muttered something about the morals of Offworlders, and Erion suddenly realised she was in the privileged company of those people whom Hal called friends.
"I have not heard of this Alliance," said Erion.
"You would not have, My Lady," countered Gant.
"Please, call me Erion."
"Very well, Erion. You are but a Major in the Space Marines. You would have been told only what the Federation wanted you to know. By the look on your face when we were introduced, I'd say you believed yourself to be in the company of the worst criminals in history."
"Remind me never to play Pan with you," she answered, slowly realising the inner strength of the man. "I can only speak for myself, Gant, but I will put your request to the others when we return."
"That might not be possible for the moment," broke in Thirty Seven's voice from her side. She turned in her seat to look up at the black robot.
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked.
"A routine scan of your ship has unearthed a tracing beacon. It is set on a Federation frequency and was transmitting. Luckily the Trianite in the asteroids here prevents any signal from leaving."
"But I don't know anything about it," gasped Erion, looking wildly at the disbelieving faces around her. "Hal, tell them please." She stared hopefully into his grey eyes, searching in vain for any sign of warmth.
Well we know damn well it wasn't Hal," snarled Jed, his hand on his gun.
"Could it have been one of your crew?" asked Elkrist.
"Never," snapped Erion.
"You have only known them for five days. Are you willing to stake your life on that?" asked Gant gently.
"Yes," answered Erion without hesitation. Hal stood up.
"We have to get back to the station."
"Very well," said Gant. The others stood up to let Hal past and Erion made to follow him but Jeddoh Cloud grabbed her arm.
"Hal figures you're okay lady, and that's fine by me. But if I find out you're lying…"
"Then I'll kill her myself," put in Hal, who had returned when he saw Erion wasn't behind him. Jed released her, smiling once again. "Hey, remember us to Tranter, will you?"
"Sure," began Hal, catching Gant's eye. "I'll find out where the bug came from," he promised. Once inside the aircar, Erion permitted herself a long sigh. She decided not to mention Hal's remark about killing her. She couldn't read him at all and hoped it was his cynical sense of humour. His parting remark about finding out where the bug came from gave her some hope, for Erion knew that if Hal really believed she had planted that bug, she would already be dead.
|"I think I just met some very special people."
"You did," agreed Hal. "They will do what they said."
"You mean overthrow the Federation?"
"Not them perhaps, but they've started the ball rolling and others have joined."
"Do you belong to this Alliance?" she asked.
"No," he answered. The aircar door opened into the circular lobby and Hal strode forward with Erion almost running to keep up. They waved their palms over the pad on the front desk and the woman behind it smiled, told them she hoped they had enjoyed their stay and said that there would be no charge as the bounty on the deserters would more than cover their bill. Once seated in the aircar to their ship, Erion leaned forward.
"If the others agree to join the Alliance when I ask them, would you come in with us?"
"No," answered Hal. He gave the firm impression that it would do no good to press him further on the matter. They reached the little planet hopper, climbed in and strapped themselves into the couches. Hal lifted off straight away, wanting to get back to Tranter's base as soon as he could, a strange little doubt gnawing at his mind.
"You have a good idea who planted that bug, don't you?" stated Erion. Hal looked sharply at her, not liking the idea of someone reading his thoughts so well. He didn't answer her, but pulled back on the controls sharply and the ship lurched to one side, accelerating away from the asteroid at a sharp angle. Erion looked down to hide her smile then stretched out to gain as much comfort as she could for the journey back.
Chapter 15
Starfire sighed and switched off the monitor she had been reading. She looked at the time on her wrist link and called over to Delta Ten, who was welding a small linkage at a nearby bench.
"How long till the hopper docks, Del?"
"Eighteen minutes and nine seconds," answered Delta Ten, not looking up from his task. It had not taken long for boredom to set in on Tranter's base and Starfire had eagerly agreed to help the young man in his work. Raan was off somewhere by the pool and had hardly moved from there at all in the last thirty hours.
"Better give Raan a buzz and let him know," suggested Starfire. "I suppose he'll want to be here when they get in." Raan joined them fifteen minutes later and they watched the little ship come into view and weave its way between the derelict ships to dock. The inner hatch opened to reveal Erion, smiling warmly. Hal was two paces behind her, his expression blank as usual.
"You see Hal," she smiled, looking at the dishevelled Starfire and Delta Ten. "as soon as I'm not around, discipline goes straight out of the window."
"We have been working," said Starfire, throwing the by now golden skinned Raan a dark look, "not like some I could mention." Raan looked hurt.
"Some people eat work, Star, and some of us are more delicate. After a strenuous mission, it says in the manual that rest and recreation is most important."
"R and R maybe," began Starfire, "not total inertia."
"Where's Tranter?" snapped Hal, pushing his way through them to the com link on the wall. "We got trouble.
"Hi there,Hal," smiled Raan to Hal's back. "I can see you missed us."
"He's right though," Erion sobered quickly, "we do have trouble."
"What's up?" asked Raan, instantly serious.
"Somebody put a bug on the planet hopper."
"What for?" asked Starf
ire, running to keep up with Hal. "And who?"
"That's what I want to find out," snarled Hal.
"Surely you can't think it was one of us?" asked Starfire, aghast.
"Well it didn't put itself there. I have to see Tranter and let him know."
"Let me know what?" The object of the discussion had just arrived. All eyes looked in his direction.
"What's up, are my pants on fire?"
"It's serious, Tran," began Hal, "somebody bugged the hopper. One of Thirty Seven's routine checks found it." Tranter spun round, looking at each of them in turn. He stopped at Erion.
"You gave your word lady. Do you have any idea what's at stake here?"
"Just a minute there," began Erion.
"Come on Tranter," from Raan,
"Wait a minute, Tran," began Hal. They all began to speak at the same time until Starfire put her fingers to her mouth and whistled loudly. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her.
"Listen, maybe I'm naturally sneaky, I don't know, but when we arrived here, I had Delta Ten do a little checking up. He told me your central computer had sent several encoded messages to someone pretty high up on Auria. They go back for months. It can't have been one of us."
"That's impossible!" said Tranter, shaking his head. "This place is shielded. Nothing goes in or out unless it's through me." He glared at the others. "And that don't mean I sent anything."
"Check for yourself," countered Starfire defiantly. Tranter didn't answer, but stalked straight through the group and marched purposely towards his office with the rest of them in tow.
"I don't see Jemmi," muttered Raan out of the corner of his mouth to Erion, who had been by his side while they walked.
"I'm already on it," she answered. "Stick with Tranter, and keep your eyes open." Erion hurried down one of the tunnels that led to the sleeping quarters, stopping outside one with an open hatch. Jemmi was hastily shoving things into a carry-all when Erion walked into the girl's room.
"Leaving us?" she asked.
"It's none of your damn business," answered the beautiful woman. She flicked her long copper hair over one shoulder and zipped up the bag, throwing it onto a table where two others sat ready packed.
"Oh, I think it is my business," began Erion, taking a step forward. "I think you put a transmitter on your hopper, knowing Hal was going to take me to the Cantina."
"That's a lie!" snapped Jemmi.
"I don't think so," said Erion carefully, "I did a lot of thinking on the journey back. The Rebel is Tranter's ship and its voice operated. You wouldn't be able to get in there to plant a bug on it because you wouldn't even be able to open the hatch. When you found out Hal was going to take me to the Cantina, you knew we couldn't use The Rebel for the same reason. You hoped Tranter would give us your hopper. I bet you would have offered it had he not done so."
"You're crazy!" spat Jemmi. "Why would I want to plant a transmitter on my own ship?"
"For the same reason you've been sending messages to Auria," answered Erion.
"I haven't sent any messages. Why would I want to do that?"
"I don't know yet," admitted Erion, "but I aim to find out."
"Get out of my way." Jemmi picked up her bags and made to walk out of the hatch but Erion purposely placed herself in the woman's path."
"Why are you leaving?" asked Erion. "What have you got to hide?"
"Nothing!" gritted the woman. Her bags slid to the floor and she reached in her pocket for a small lady's pistol which she aimed straight at Erion. "I am leaving because I'm sick to death of living on this goddamn ball of steel, and I'm sick of that dammed Aurell and his stupid Alliance." She spun around to face Erion head on. "You won't win, you know. The New Federation is too powerful. We have the best interests of the Galaxy at heart. It will prosper and flourish under our leadership. It was withering under the weak management of the previous administration." Jemmi sounded like she was reading aloud from a pamphlet. Her voice rose a little higher with every word and she shouted out, "Now for the last time, get out of my way!" Erion stepped meekly aside as if to let Jemmi pass, then as she was level with her, Erion lashed out, her straight fingered hand striking Jemmi's gun hand like an axe. Jemmi gave a squeal of pain and dropped the weapon.
"We're going to see Tranter now!" snapped Erion, as she grabbed Jemmi's wrist and forced it behind her back. Jemmi struggled in vain for a moment, then pulled a matching pistol from her left pocket.
"You're dead!" she spat, turning and firing in one motion, her beautiful face marred by hate. Erion slipped sideways and down knowing she could not save herself and felt the hot slice of the beam as it caught her side. She lay on the floor of the cabin, looking up at Jemmi, pain and loss of blood making her feel faint as she tried to reach her own holstered gun. As if in slow motion, she saw the woman looming up in front of her, the bore of the gun looking as big as a cannon as it centred on her heart. Jemmi suddenly crumpled and fell, a deep red stain blossoming across her chest. Tranter stood just inside the hatch, his gun still lined on the fallen girl. He stepped forward and went to his knees beside her, his face pale.
"Why did you do it?" he asked her gently. Jemmi raised a slender hand as if to touch his cheek, then her fingers curled into a claw and she tried to scratch his eyes. Shocked, Tranter grabbed her wrist, then her fingers went limp. He placed her hand on her chest, then her eyes closed as death took her. Tranter sat on the floor, holding the woman's body, not conscious of Raan entering the room to reach down for Erion. She managed to rise with his help and staggered out into the corridor where Hal and Starfire were waiting.
"She had another gun!" blurted Erion. "I should have checked for it. I deserved to be shot!" She fell unconscious into Raan's arms.
"Quick, get her to the medicentre," snapped Starfire, leading the way. She raised her wrist and spoke into her comlink. "Del, meet us at the medicentre, you're going to be needed in your doctor mode. Erion's been shot."
"Understood," he answered. Starfire risked a glance at the unconscious form of Erion, draped across Raan's shoulders. Speed rather than comfort seemed to be of the essence and he was almost running down the metal corridors, leaving little droplets of her blood spattering the floor as he went. Delta Ten was waiting at the hatch to meet them and turned aside to let them pass. Raan rushed in and placed the unconscious woman on a couch, fixing monitor wires to her body. Delta Ten plugged the other end into the computer console, watching the readings intently. The medicentre hatch opened again and Hal stood in the doorway.
"Come on Lieutenant," he said softly, "there's nothing we can do here. Let's go find Tranter, he might need some help too." He pulled her away from the hatch and they walked back to Jemmi's quarters. Tranter had arranged the dead woman on her bunk and covered her with a sheet that could not hide the blood that still seeped through. Of the man himself there was no sign and after a quick glance around the cabin they set off to look for him. He was in his office, standing by the huge transparent screens, gazing out into the void of space. He didn't turn when they entered but raised a hand as if to acknowledge their presence. He looked so forlorn and lost that Starfire's heart went out to him. Shrugging free of Hal's restraining grip, she walked over to him and called his name.
"I killed her," he said simply.
"You had to, Tranter." He shook his head and looked down at the pistol still in his hand. He raised it up and hurled it at the wall where it rebounded with a crash and skidded across the floor to land with a plop in the pool.
"We've been friends for years," he sounded incredulous. "I don't believe she could betray me. I just don't believe it. I killed her."
"Stop it," begged Starfire. "You're only hurting yourself."
"Why the hell did you come here?" snarled Tranter, turning fast and glaring at Starfire. She met his gaze without flinching, seeing his fists clench out of the corner of her eye and wondering if he was going to strike her. Then the mad light left his eyes and he raised his hands as if in defeat. "I'm sorry, kid," he beg
an, "it's not your fault. I checked my com logs. You were right. She did send coded signals to Auria." He stiffened suddenly and paled.
"What is it," asked Starfire.
"When Jemmi came back from Auria, she brought me a present; a robo butler." He raised his arm and spoke into his comlink. "Rimek, where are you?" There was no reply.
"Er…." Hal pointed to the starry sky above them at a little twinkle of light that moved with purpose across the heavens.
"It's Jemmi's Planet Hopper! Rimek you bastard machine!" yelled Tranter. He rushed to the computer console and pressed a few buttons. A joystick rose up and a holographic firing grid appeared above console. Tranter grasped the joystick and then turned away in anger. "Out of range!" he spat and hit his forehead with his fist. "What a bloody idiot!"
"You weren't to know, Tran," murmured Hal.
"Still makes me mad, godammit," he thumped the console.
"Did it get any information?"
"Nah, everything about the Alliance is protected." Tranter spun away from the console and started to pace up and down. He spun around suddenly and pointed a finger at Starfire. "You better be right about Jemmi, Lieutenant, 'cos if I killed my best friend instead of that machine….."
"Easy Tran," Hal put himself between a shocked Starfire and Tranter, "check the vids, she went dark."
"I don't understand it," Tranter started to pace up and down. "Why would she do it? She hated the Police. They killed her brother." Hal shrugged and Tranter continued. "I have to find out what was in those coded transmissions. Maybe your smartass android can help. Where is he by the way?"
"He's in your medicentre with Erion," answered Starfire.
"Frag it, I forgot all about her. How is she?" He looked down at Starfire and hooked a slender finger under her chin to tilt her head upward. "Hey, she'll be alright; she's one tough little soldier." Tranter was beginning to sound like his normal self and Starfire relaxed, allowing a feeble smile to cross her features. Hal walked across the room carrying three drinks. These were accepted and they sat on Tranter's couch, waiting for news of their injured colleague. Long minutes passed in silence until Raan's voice broke in.
Starfire at Traitors Gate Page 17
