by A. K. DuBoff
“How can you say that?” Jack gaped at her. “You were personally wronged in ways way less severe than sex slavery and you still fought for justice. Maybe we should start thinking about people other than ourselves.”
“He does have a point. We need to do something,” Triss agreed.
Alyssa looked over her shoulder at the workers mingling in the new dorm area. “Do we know that they’re being forced to do this against their will? There’s no law against that kind of work.”
“Hey, Ramone,” Jack called out as he stepped away from Triss and Alyssa. “So, how did you come about working for Betty?”
“Well, I guess that’s one way of finding out,” Alyssa said as she and Triss followed him back toward the group.
“Betty has been good to us. He makes sure we have work even after he acquired us,” Ramone replied.
“That’s not what I asked. Are you free to stop working for him at any time? Are you doing this by choice?” questioned Jack.
Ramone glanced toward his comrades. He swallowed. “He says if we do this last job in Rufan, then he’ll let us go.”
“Why don’t you just stop if you don’t want to do this?” Alyssa asked him. “We can drop you anywhere you want.”
The man shook his head. “No, we can’t. He’s holding our IDs. That was the agreement.”
Alyssa’s eyes widened. “Wait, he removed your chips?”
Ramone nodded.
Triss’ face twisted with disgust. “Aside from being so illegal it makes even me feel wrong about it, that’s so unethical.”
“He found us and liked our work, so he said we needed to come work for him.” Ramone looked at his feet. “It’s not the worst way to make a living, but I’d like to have some control again over what we make.”
“Alyssa, we have to do something,” Jack urged.
“Yeah, I guess we’re invested now.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger. “Do you have any idea where your IDs might be being held?”
“Betty didn’t tell us, but he did mention doing business in the Antaeran System,” Ramone replied.
“Oh, that’s not good.” Triss paled.
“I’m not familiar with that system. Have you heard of it?” Alyssa asked her.
Triss nodded. “It’s infamous in the hacker circles. There are some powerful organizations dealing in those parts. If Betty is connected with them, we’re in deep.”
The captain frowned. “The kind of deep that doesn’t let us kick these passengers off our ship so we can be on our way?”
“Yeah, they’re the kind of people that will follow you halfway across the galaxy and torture you if you don’t laugh loud enough at their jokes.”
“And they’re never funny,” Ramone added solemnly.
Jack groaned. “Ugh, that’s just the worst.”
Alyssa spread her hands. “Okay, so they’re vengeful asses with bad senses of humor. How are we supposed to get out of this?”
“Destroy their organization from the inside out,” Jack stated.
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Right, yeah.”
“I’m not joking,” Jack insisted. “If we can locate their base we could tip off our, you know, ‘friends’.”
While ‘friends’ was exaggerating the relationship considerably, the legitimate side of their business dealings did afford certain advantages when they found themselves in a tight spot. Through a series of bizarre circumstances, the crew had established a trade agreement with a galactic corporation known as Competron; what complicated matters was that Competron also masqueraded as a group of radiation-sick space pirates, known as the Vorlox, but in reality the organization was rather benevolent and was working toward a goal of reducing crime and making sure all people had access to the tools to better their lives.
While Competron’s activities under the guise of the Vorlox had produced positive results—including the disbandment of the crime ring that had originally subscripted Jack for the Little Princess II’s crew—the actions weren’t officially sanctioned. As such, the Little Princess II’s crew was sworn to secrecy regarding Competron’s ties to the Vorlox, so any reference therein required some talking around. The vague reference to ‘friends’ was the go-to, despite the distinct lack of friendliness in the relationship.
“This does seem like the kind of case they’d like to take on,” Alyssa replied to Jack’s suggestion.
“But we’ll need to just leave the clean-up to them,” he continued. “If we disclose the location of the base, they’d likely just blow it up. We need to retrieve the IDs first so we can make sure the bystanders don’t get caught in the middle.”
Triss nodded. “We’ll need to do some recon on the facility, but between the four of us, we should be able to break in and get what we need. As long as we time the tip to the Vorlox right, we shouldn’t have to worry about anyone in the gang coming after us.”
“Maybe not from the Antaeran System, but what about Betty and his people here?” Alyssa asked.
“We’ll need to get all the division heads gathered in Antaeran,” Jack said.
Alyssa sighed. “So, you want to have more people converge right where we’re doing a dangerous, sneaky thing?”
Jack was silent for a moment. “Well, having them get there after we leave would be better.”
“This sounds way too risky.” The captain shook her head. “If we can’t get out of the deal with Betty, then we follow through and then go our separate ways.”
“It’s never just one job with these kind of people,” Triss countered. “We can either make a stand now or do it ten jobs from now when we’re sick of it.” She turned to Ramone. “Do you want to work for Betty and his associates, if you had a choice?”
The young man shook his head. “I want my own restaurant.”
Triss flourished her hands. “See? It’s time we actually help some people for real rather than saying we’re going to help them and instead doing something for ourselves.”
“I do like my new shoes, though.” Jack admired his newest pair of blue light-up shoes he’d worn home from the SpaceMall store.
“Helping others and making sure we can satisfy our shopping compulsions aren’t mutually exclusive,” Triss said.
“Okay, fine,” Alyssa agreed. “We’ll help out these people and get their IDs back so they can go free. I still don’t know how we’re going to do that, but we’ll figure it out.”
Triss smiled. “I can’t wait to tell Finn. I bet the IDs are being kept in a fancy safe he’ll need to crack.”
“Be sure to lead with that rather than a pitch about how we’ll be helping people,” Alyssa advised.
“Right,” the other woman acknowledged. “To the Rufan System, then?”
“Yes.” Alyssa’s stomach growled, and she placed a hand on her stomach. “On the way, we need to stop for a snack. All that shopping made me hungry.”
Triss’ eyes lit up. “I know a taquito place on the way.”
CHAPTER 5: Distractions
— — —
“We’re doing what?” Finn raised an eyebrow when Jack and Triss finished relaying the plan to him.
The three of them were standing in the common room while Alyssa calculated their flight path options on the bridge.
“An operations base like that probably has a ton of valuable things we can take,” Triss continued. “The fact that we get to help these people start a new life is secondary to us getting a good payday.”
“Plus, not having vengeful thugs after us until the end of time,” Jack added.
“That’s assuming Ramone was telling the truth. Have you talked with any of the other workers to get their story?” Finn asked.
Jack and Triss looked at each other.
“Well, no…” Jack tentatively replied.
“This base might not even exist. Or we could be walking into a trap,” Finn continued. “Since when do we care about anyone enough to take that kind of risk?”
“For me, it was wh
en Latrina saved me,” Jack replied.
Finn rolled his eyes. “Oh, stars, her again…”
“No, really,” Jack continued. “I had a gun pointed at my head and was about to die, but she selflessly showed up and saved me—saved us. Seeing someone risk themselves to help others reminded me that we had wanted to give back before we got derailed with Trent and Merica.”
“And before Alyssa and I joined up with Svetlana, we were scientists. We were trying to make life better for people—and that’s why we stole the MEC and started Spacecups,” Triss said. “Yeah, we’ve killed some people along the way and stolen things, but we’re living in an imperfect world. You need to pick which lives you’re going to improve. Right now, we have a ship full of people, and we have a chance to help them follow their dreams.”
Jack leaned in. “And, frankly, I think we need some good cosmic karma.”
Finn sighed. “You’re right, we probably need to help some people to cancel out the guard deaths at the GiganCorp lab.”
“They went down so easily…” Triss shook her head and tsked.
“I know! I wasn’t even aiming and they’d fall down dead.” Jack chuckled. “You know, I wonder if we even shot them.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, there were singe marks on their white armor, but do you recall any blood?”
Triss thought for a moment. “Come to think of it, I don’t.”
“I had always figured the laser blasts cauterized the wounds, or something, but earlier this month I started wondering if maybe they were faking it.”
“What are you talking about, Jack?” Finn questioned, crossing his arms.
“Well, we all know how difficult it is to get good help, right?”
His friends nodded.
“So, if you’re going to be terrible at your job, would you actually die to perform your duty?”
“No, I suppose not,” Finn replied, his eyes narrowing as he considered the proposition.
“What if they were just dropping to the ground pretending to be shot?” Jack continued. “I mean, if I was getting shot at, I think I’d put on a show, then play dead. As soon as the danger had passed, I’d get out of there and find a new job.”
“Or, maybe that’s what GiganCorp tells them to do,” Triss hypothesized. “They might all go back to work the following day and pretend like nothing happened.”
“Huh.” Jack nodded. “You may be onto something.”
Finn scoffed. “No, that’s crazy. Right…?”
Jack shrugged. “One way to find out.”
“No, we can’t go all the way back there. If we’re wrong, they’ll arrest us on the spot,” Triss protested.
“But, the taquitos at Mexcelente were really good,” Jack pointed out.
“I already had another place in mind.”
“Are those two things mutually exclusive?”
“I guess not,” Triss admitted. “Now that you mention it, it’s not that out of the way.”
“No. No!” Finn stepped between Jack and Triss, spreading his hands. “We get way too distracted by random things. If the situation is as serious as you indicated, we need to get these people to the Rufan System before Betty or his associates suspect anything is amiss. We break in, get the IDs, and then we can be done with this. No random side-ventures to places we’ve already been. Maybe the guards died, maybe they didn’t, but it doesn’t matter.”
“Okay, fine, we’ll stick with the original taquito place,” Jack conceded.
Triss sighed. “I was getting all psyched for Mexcelente.”
“Another time.” Jack patted her arm. “We should get moving before we get too behind schedule.”
“Yeah, okay.” Triss headed for the corridor that led to the bridge.
“I hope this place is good,” Jack commented to Finn when they were alone.
“Triss has good taste when it comes to these things. It’ll be fine.” Finn settled into his typical place on his favorite couch.
Jack remained standing. “You brought up a good point about us only talking to Ramone. Maybe we should interview the others?”
“That sounds like it would require standing. And effort.”
“Well, yeah.”
“Pass. Maybe after I’m fed.”
Jack groaned. “You were the one who brought it up.”
“Oh, like we have such a great track record of following through on our own suggestions.”
“Fine, I’ll do it myself.” He descended the ladder.
When Jack entered the cargo hold, he found the workers had arranged themselves in a circle in one of the open areas, with eleven people seated cross-legged facing inward and the twelfth person in the group tapping each person on the head as they walked the circumference of the circle.
“Oh, hey! I know this game,” Jack said as he approached them.
“Game?” The woman circling the group stopped in her tracks. She was closer to the body type Jack expected for a worker such as herself, with curves in the right places and slim limbs, from what he could tell through her loose, checkered pants and white button-up jacket.
“Yeah. You walk the circle, then pick someone, and they chase you around until they tag you,” Jack replied.
She tilted her head quizzically. “That isn’t what we’re doing.”
He crossed his arms. “Then what?”
“It’s our daily booping.”
“Pardon?”
“We take turns walking around the circle and boop each other on the head.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “But why?”
She shrugged. “Tradition.”
“Um, okay. Well, don’t let me interrupt you.”
She tapped one more person on the head, who happened to be Ramone. “We’re finished now,” she said.
The others in the circle stood up, then placed their palms together and bowed.
“What can we do for you?” the woman asked and the group turned to face Jack.
“I wanted to see if you knew any more about where we’re going.”
“Rufan?” Ramone asked.
“Yes, do any of you have information about the headquarters facility for the organization you work for?” Jack questioned the group.
“I heard them mention a station inside a pink star,” a good-looking man in the back row said. “They always find the delivery ship when it arrives in the system, then escort.”
“Yes, and something about a blue rabbit,” another woman added.
Jack frowned. “I can’t say that makes any sense, though I have seen and heard blue rabbits mentioned back at Perfect Touch.”
Ramone stepped to the front of the group. “These are dangerous people. They demand a high-quality product to serve their clients. They will be angry if you do anything to jeopardize the merchandise.”
“We’re going to find a way to get you to safety and take them down, don’t worry,” Jack assured him.
“It’s not us I’m worried about,” Ramone replied.
Jack smiled. “You don’t have to worry about us. We have a way of getting ourselves out of trouble.”
“Sounds like you are walking into it,” the other man responded.
“Only for the greater good. It’s time we made a difference.” Jack looked around at the workers’ faces. “Is there anything else you can tell me about where we’re going or what we might find?”
They shook their heads.
“None of us were seeking this life,” the woman who’d been doing the booping said. “If you are indeed able to get us our freedom, we will be in your debt.”
“No.” Jack clenched his hands into fists. “If you are free, then you’re free. No debts.”
The workers smiled back at him. “You are a good man, thank you.”
Jack thanked them for the little information they’d been able to provide and then excused himself to the upper deck of the ship.
Finn was still lounging on his couch. “We have another two hours before we get to
Triss’ taquito place, I just checked with her. Want to watch a couple episodes of Space Rangers?”
“Yes!” Jack grabbed pillows from the couch, pleased to see that the crumbs had been vacuumed and everything appeared to be a shade or two lighter.
They were soon absorbed in their show, interrupted by only the occasional shout from the bridge as Triss and Alyssa bemoaned Jack and Finn’s theme song singing. When the ship dropped out of hyperspace, the end credits for the second episode had just started rolling.
Jack rose to his knees from his lounge position on the floor. “Food?”
Finn grinned. “Food!”
“Don’t get ahead of yourselves,” Alyssa cautioned from the bridge. “Someone needs to stay and guard the ship so our passengers don’t try to take off without us.”
“How is one of us—or even the four of us—supposed to stand up to a dozen people?” Jack questioned.
“Best not to dwell on those details,” Alyssa replied. “Decide which of you is staying behind.”
Jack turned to Finn. “There’s only one fair way.”
Ten seconds and one successful throw of ‘scissors’ later, it was decided Jack would get to go on the outing.
He waited in the common room while Triss and Alyssa maneuvered the Little Princess II into the rest stop along the hyperspace thoroughfare. Such stopover points were invaluable for fueling and provisions on longer treks. However, for a crew with an addiction to fried foods, the stop was perceived as being every bit as necessary during the short hop to Rufan as it may have been to others as a midpoint on a month-long journey.
Based on Jack’s view out the side window, there were two dozen ships gathered around the space station, which was equipped with docking arms protruding from its central cylindrical form. The Little Princess II pulled into one of the open berths, and a slight shudder indicated the docking clamps had locked on.
“Want anything in particular?” Jack asked Finn.
“Triss knows my usual,” the other man replied.
Alyssa and Triss emerged from the bridge.
