by Alan Black
His two buddies, Redshirt and BeardBoy, braced for a fight. Jay stood face-to-face with Riley and Peebee confronted Hatboy and BeardBoy. BeardBoy’s face showed signs of his encounter with Stone at the spaceport gate, but it was evident he had spent time in a cheap civilian medbox. His broken nose had been set, though the bruising was evident against his pale skin. He was trying to back away from the drasco, but he was pinned between the doors and the boy who fainted.
Standing his ground was easiest for Redshirt. Stone thought Redshirt was about to run, but just as he pulled the doors open, he realized the young man was going to try a flanking movement on a three meter tall, six-meter long drasco. Not that he could hurt Jay with the little knife he had pulled from his boot, but Stone was impressed. Either Redshirt had more courage than Stone gave him credit for or he was more stupid than Stone assumed him to be.
As the patio doors opened a fraction of a micrometer, the noise rushed in like water from a dam. Screeches, squeals, and a babble of voices flooded Stone’s ears. As the opening widened, Bethy rushed into the room, followed by Gonzo who seemed to be missing the activity around him as he struggled to get his camera working again.
The remainder of Bethy’s entourage—those who had not run away—stumbled over each other trying to reach safety. They were followed quickly by Riley and Redshirt, as they backed up trying to stay between Bethy and the drascos. BeardBoy was the last one through the doors, because he took the time to grab the fainted boy by the collar and drag him to safety.
Riley and Redshirt tried to slam the doors to keep Jay and Peebee out of the building, but Stone easily pushed the doors open wider. He was surprised when the glass doors all but disappeared into the walls.
Stone could hear Jay wonking with laughter over the noise from Bethy and her crowd.
Peebee was giggling and pointing at the young man who fainted. “He peed his pants, Mama.” She pointed at the man’s body. There was a large wet spot on his clothes. She lowered her body to the patio, shot her tail over her head, and pointed her tail spike at the crowd. She growled like some beast. It was not a noise usually associated with drascos.
Two of Bethy’s entourage gave up all pretense of courage. They raced from the room. Somewhere, deep in the house, they heard a door slam.
Jay stomped into the living room, hissing and shaking her massive body. “Intruder alert, Mama. Barbarians at the gate!” She spoke directly to Stone and Peebee instead of using her TTS dataport.
Stone thought the theatrical stomping of her feet was a little overdone, but it was effective. Even Riley and his two friends took a few steps back.
Peebee could not contain herself any longer. She rolled onto her back, laughing silently.
Stone looked at Numos. The man’s grin only wavered when he took a slow sip from his beer.
Stone said, “Okay, girls. That’s enough.”
Jay replied, “Aw, Mama. We were only playing.”
Stone smiled, “I know. I’m not mad. Just don’t do that to everybody who comes knocking at my door.” He reached up, grabbed her head, and pulled it down. He rubbed his knuckles across the top of her head and gave her a quick kiss on the rough hide of her cheek.
Jay nodded, “Of course, Mama. We’re not stupid. Besides, Bethy is family, so playing pranks on her is good, right?” She huffed a thick odor of minty milk chocolate across his face.
Stone nodded. He turned to the crowd and smiled. “Beffie-pie, this is Jay. She wants to know if it’s okay for Peebee and her to play pranks on you since you’re family.”
Bethy looked at Stone as if he were crazy. “You…what…we’re family? Wait. This is Jay. One of your drasco pets?”
Stone shook his head. “No. Jay and Peebee are not pets. They are—” he was about to say friends, but realized that was not quite right, certainly not from the way the drascos thought of their relationship. “They are my daughters.”
Bethy said, “But they don’t look anything like from the movie! And how can they be family? They aren’t even human.”
Jay snorted. She grabbed her TTS off a high shelf and typed into the virtual keyboard, “Like being a human is all that big a whoop.” She pointed at the young man who had fainted and peed his pants. He was just now recovering enough to scramble from the room.
Stone agreed and said with firm finality, “They are my daughters. Besides, I have more of their blood inside me than you and I share. We’re family.”
Gonzo looked up from his camera, apparently deciding he was not going to get it working. “What do you mean, you have their blood inside you?”
Numos stood, “Ahem, Signore Stone. Perhaps…” He let his voice stretch out into the silence that followed his interruption.
Stone took the hint, “Yes, of course, Dash. Bethy, I’m sorry for the delay in getting to the door. Captain Numos and I were discussing our jump to hyperspace. I didn’t see you in time to get to the door.”
Numos added, “It may be my fault, Signorina Stone. I haven’t had an opportunity to share with Signore Stone, his quarters security and noise dampening feature.” He looked pointedly at Gonzo. “That includes a complete privacy damper. No cameras or sound recorders will work within a hundred feet of his quarters.”
Bethy asked, “Do all of the buildings have such restrictive privacy settings?”
Numos smiled, “Oh no. Just Signore Stone’s quarters. You are free to film everywhere else on the Platinum Pebble. Anywhere and everywhere, except I would ask again, that you respect my crew’s privacy in their quarters.”
Gonzo grunted. “We have a right to capture vid anywhere as Signorina Stone is a family member and—”
Stone interrupted, “Yes, you do. All crewmembers are fair game, if you invite them to your parties and in any open areas. Captain Numos is just asking that you don’t harass his—my—our crew in the crew quarters areas. Bethy, you know how some spacers are, right? They don’t sign on for long haul freight runs because they like the public spotlight, no matter how well we pay.”
Bethy said, “But—”
Stone interrupted again. “Besides, I think you just had a fantastic idea about throwing a party.” He continued on despite his having been the one to mention the party, not Bethy. “I’ve been cooped up far too long and a little relaxation would be nice. Maybe a cookout or campfire down by the lake? That sounds like fun.”
It did not sound like fun, but he could see the idea beginning to gel with Bethy. The remnants of her entourage started whispering about arranging this or finding that.
Numos said, “A cookout down by the lake sounds beautiful.” He glanced at the timer on his personal assistant. “Sundown on this deck is set for about three hours from now.”
Stone asked, “Sundown?”
Numos smiled, “This deck is set for sixteen hours of light and eight hours of dark with a full moon overhead. All other decks are standard lighting. Your grandfather thought your living quarters should be a little more planet-like, so you do not fall back into your old metal boxes habits.”
Stone laughed knowing Numos was acutely aware of his previous bouts with agoraphobia. “A little outside never hurt anyone.”
Numos nodded, “Not here, Signore Stone. But this outside isn’t at all like when we went camping on Allie’s World. Here the insect and animal noises are all piped in as simple sound effects, not a warning that something is coming out of the dark to eat you.”
Peebee said through her TTS, “Mama, are we having a picnic?”
Stone raised a questioning eyebrow to Bethy.
She nodded, “I think a bon voyage party is an excellent idea. Captain, would you and your crew be able to attend?”
Numos shook his head. “Unfortunately for me, I cannot attend, Signorina Stone. I must be on the bridge for our hyperspace jump. However, if I may, I would be happy to extend the invitation to any of our crew who might want to attend. If you would please follow me, I will introduce you to our provisions officer. We’re well stocked aboard the Platinum Pebb
le and I’m sure she can pull anything you need from our stocks.”
The whole entourage gaggle followed Bethy and Numos out of the front door. Stone put up a restraining hand, holding back Riley, Redshirt, and BeardBoy.
He asked, “You’re Riley Lowther, correct?”
Riley looked startled. “How do you know my name, Stone?”
Stone caught a strong whiff of citrus and lime coming from all three young men. The fragrance clearly indicated their fear and caution. There was also a light undercurrent of rancid grease from Riley and Redshirt. They may be a little worried about him, but their hostility toward him was evident by their odor. If BeardBoy was hostile toward him, the young man’s fragrance was too light to smell and easy enough to dismiss.
“It’s Signore Stone to you. Forget that again and I’ll let Jay and Peebee have you for lunch.”
Jay gave a bizarre imitation of a human smile. Peebee gave her lips a long slow lick with her tongue.
Stone continued, “This is my ship. I’m not the captain, but I own this whole thing from the blades of grass by the lakeside to the dust bunnies in the engine room. Don’t cross me or your voyage will be short and unpleasant.”
Riley looked like he was going to argue, but glanced at Redshirt and BeardBoy. Maybe the bruises on BeardBoy’s face was enough for him to remember what happened the last time they tangled with Stone and that was before he had two drascos at his back. Slowly, he nodded. “I ain’t here to cause trouble, Signore Stone. Me’n, Skeeter, and Hector are just along to protect Bethy from…whatever.” He jabbed a finger at Jay and Peebee. “Them things included if they try to hurt her.”
Stone laughed. His rapid change of mood appeared to startle all three of the young men. That was his intention. Keep them off balance and they would be easier to knock down, if it came to it. He stuck his hand out to Riley. “I have to hand it to you three gentlemen. That was brave trying to stand up to my drascos to protect my cousin.” After shaking Riley’s hand, he offered it to Redshirt. “You’re Hector?”
“No, Stone. I mean, Signore Stone. I’m Skeeter. That there be Hector.”
He stuck his hand out to BeardBoy—Hector. “You’re all brave men. As you know, I’m new to this ship, but I’m sure we have a medical staff that can help with those bruises.”
Hector shook his head, “Thankee, sir. I’ll keep ‘em. They’s a reminder that I tangled with the wrong guy.” He glared at Riley. “For no real reason of my own, I might add.”
Stone said, “But, you still stood up against drascos and then endangered yourself by dragging the boy who fainted out of harm’s way. Why?”
Riley spoke for all of them, “Well, before, when we…um, met you the first time, we had a choice and should have walked away. Here, I don’t see that we had any choice but to try our best.”
Stone nodded. “Good try, but it wouldn’t have meant much. Humans have interacted with drascos for about four years now. Do you know how many times a human has been able to kill a drasco with any type of weapon short of a military artillery barrage? Just once.”
Jay reached over and patted Stone on the head.
Peebee spoke through her TTS, “Just this human. Our Mama. And the one she killed wasn’t even like us. It was a mean male. A wild one of us that could have killed Jay and me like we were nothing. So, don’t you get any ideas about attacking our mama again.”
Hector said, “I don’t have any such thoughts. Riley’s Uncle Manny got us jobs working as security for Bethy—I mean Signorina Stone. I don’t suspect you got any plans to hurt your cousin, sir. Family and all, if you know what I'm sayin’?”
Stone nodded. “Absolutely correct, Hector. She is family. A distant cousin, not even related by blood, but family anyway. You’re brave but untrained. I may have some ex-military on my crew who might be able to give you hand-to-hand combat lessons if you want?”
All three nodded vigorously. Skeeter and Hector’s odors shifted from fear and hostility to a slight fragrance of mint. Riley’s caution evaporated, but his hostility remained.
Stone said, “We’re heading to the edge of human space. We may find ourselves on some rough and tumble colony worlds where Bethy will need your protection. We’re looking for new shipping routes for our family’s freight business and we’re not sure what we’ll find. So be ready.” He stared each of them in the eyes until they looked back at him.
He nodded when he saw their determination. “Good. Now, Hector and Skeeter, there are some of Bethy’s friends hiding somewhere in my quarters. Please find them and show them out, so they can help plan Bethy’s party.”
Jay and Peebee bounced out of the room, sniffing the air, shouting, “Here. They went this way.”
Hector and Skeeter followed the drascos warily, apparently unsure which was more dangerous, Stone or the drascos.
Once alone with Riley, Stone said, “I know you have a thing for Bethy. I want to caution you to behave yourself.”
Riley shook his head in anger. His odor of hostility flaring. “Bethy’s telling everyone that she is gonna marry you—grab onto the top dog in your family.”
Stone almost lost control of his face, but clamped down tight on his emotions. Lust for power and money were nothing new in the Stone family. Their heritage was replete with arranged marriages, in-fighting, and hostile takeovers. No wealthy family lasted this long without such things. Bethy, setting her sights on Stone, should not have been a surprise to him, but it was. His focus was totally on Allie. He would never have seen Bethy coming at him from the flank if everyone was not so intent on spilling her plans.
Riley continued, “She ain’t for you, Signore Stone.” He spat out the Signore as an insult. “She’s mine and you can’t have her.”
Stone watched Skeeter and Hector herd the remaining members of Bethy’s entourage out the front door. He glanced back at Riley. He did not have any interest in Bethy. Whenever he looked at her, all he saw was a gangly child continually trying to insert herself in anything he and his cousin Jimbo were doing. True, she was not a gangly kid any more, she was quite stunning physically, albeit a bit young and thin for his tastes. He could not see Bethy—all he could see was Beffie-pie.
He thought to tell Riley there was no chance short of his waking up brain dead that he would give up Allie for even a moment’s dalliance with a distant cousin. He could not. He had a role to play in this undercover operation. He was the cover. If Agent Ryte and Captain Numos thought she would be helpful to their cover in finding out what the Prophet was up to, then he would play Bethy’s game until it hurt…or made him brain dead.
He smiled coldly, “Riley, I’m young, healthy, unattached, and wealthy enough to buy and sell a thousand men better than you. I’ll take who I want when I want.”
Riley turned to follow his friends out the front door. Before exiting, he stopped and turned. “A fair warning, Signore Stone. I’ll make you regret it if you get between Bethy and me. I don’t know how or what or where, but if I can’t have her, then no one can. You’ll pay, if I have to kill us all to do it.”
Chapter Twenty
Flanked by Jay and Peebee, Stone walked around the lake to a small picnic area near Bethy and her peoples’ quarters. There were few enough of them that they each had private bedrooms, although most of them were sharing houses.
Numos had insisted they leave a few buildings available, should they have other guests come aboard once they reached Holliman’s Rift, their first destination. He even had crewmen help them carry luggage from one building to another, giving the crewmen time to plant tracers on everyone from Bethy to the lowest roadie in her entourage.
Bethy’s people were displayed as small yellow dots on the ship’s schematics display on his personal assistant. The Galactic Marshals deputies wore tracers that reflected blue, except for the people Numos said were primary in the undercover operation. They were labeled in green. White dots identified the remainder of the crew about the ship. A large number of white and blue dots were at Bethy’s lake
side cookout soiree.
Stone stopped. “Wait! What the…Numos said six people were coded to the house.” He realized someone was coded in that he did not know.
Stone glanced at his personal assistant. All of Bethy’s people were at the party except for one pair. They were in a building a few doors down. Their locators showed them close together. He turned the image and realized the two missing people were so close, one was actually on top of the other. He disregarded the image, they were more of a threat to each other than to him, the crew, or his ship.
He grunted with frustration. He had already figured out how to code the door locks so Jay and Peebee could come and go on their own. “So many people have access to my private quarters I might as well leave the doors unlocked.” He attempted to attach locator tags to Jay and Peebee, but so far, nothing Stuck to their tough hides. He could have attached tags to their armor, but somehow they had accumulated more sets of armor than some women had shoes. He would need to buy locators by the case to keep up with their outfits. Not that it mattered, he could smell them anytime they were on the same deck and rarely would they go to another deck without telling him where they were going. In an emergency, he could track their TTS.
Stone wandered into the party, trying to skirt the edges. He was not much of a partier. Having been to a few marine bashes and more than a few navy festivities, he was used to wild celebrations. This party was gyrating and pulsing with a heartbeat all of its own. A sound system pounded out a thumping beat without regard to melody or harmony, giving the listeners a rhythm to bounce and dance to, but little else. The swirling cocktail of human bodies, laughter, and alcohol frenzy blended with the warm evening air.
Somehow, it felt stale. It felt like the partiers had one too many such gatherings under their belt and they were all trying too hard to have fun. The laughter sounded forced and the drinks flowed too freely. It felt wrong. Was it him or the party that was off?
