by S. E. Weir
Yes, I realized there was a potential problem between the Gleeks and the Baldere earlier today and spoke to Anna Elizabeth about it. She told me to research it and talk to you and ADAM when you came back, but I figured it could wait since this seemed more urgent. While the Baldere are not known for their food exports, the Gleeks are.
The Gleeks? He paused in thought. All right. Wait a few, then you can fill me in.
Brodin scowled, his outraged eyes darting between the two of them. “We have plenty of food exports, hey? Are we going to make this deal or not?”
Link, as Stan, looked to be considering the matter as he absently tapped his fingers on her shoulder.
Would you like your hand smacked?
Link smiled in response, which he easily transitioned into Stan’s agreement with Brodin. Phina didn’t think she could be that smooth, but he did have decades of experience.
“Of course.”
“Good. When will you transfer the funds?”
“Ah ah ah.” Her mentor waggled a finger, then leaned forward, removing his arm from around Phina in the process. She immediately felt colder. “No deal until I see the cargo.”
The Baldere’s muscles tensed. “That’s not the agreement we made, hey?”
“Well, I’m changing it.” Link raised his eyebrows, clearly challenging the alien. “I’m perfectly willing to still buy the food from you. Just want to make sure the goods are in tip-top shape and worth the price. I still have to ship them to their destination, after all. Spoiled food is no good to me.”
Brodin looked like he would rather disagree, but with food shipments, he was under a deadline to find a buyer just as much as Stan would be if he bought them. Pride or money, that was the question for the Baldere to consider in Phina’s opinion. What she knew about them would have caused her to guess he would land on the side of pride, but then she had never heard of Balderian criminals before either.
“We’ll deal, but you better pay up.”
Link smiled easily. “Of course. As soon as I see the cargo is in top shape.”
The Baldere agreed and led them out of the bar to the tram. Soon after stepping into the corridor, Phina realized how much smoke had filled the bar since she immediately felt relief from the cleaner air. She looked back and saw a haze of smoke layered over the patrons. She shook her head, not understanding why people thought breathing toxic air was a good thing.
>>The owner of the bar received a special dispensation to adjust the filtration levels within the bar area.<<
ADAM? Phina responded over her link to her friend’s comment. How did you know what I was thinking?
>>You were looking toward the bar, and your facial features indicated disgust. It was a logical conclusion.<<
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks. I figured it was for ambiance. I just don’t get why that sort of thing is attractive to some people.
>>Yes. That is a thought I often have about humans, Phina.<<
She shook her head then focused on the Baldere in front of her and Link beside her; he supported her occasionally when she stumbled in her heels. As they walked to the tram and traveled to the docking area, Phina used their implants to fill Link in on what she had figured out in class and from reading the textbooks and materials she had found in the secret files he had pointed out. While it was convenient for them to communicate over their implants on the private channel, it seemed more intimate than Phina felt comfortable with, no matter how different the real Link was compared to his cover roles. She wasn’t used to that level of closeness with anyone. It didn’t bother her with ADAM, but then the AI was unique in being both person and code, so it made sense for her as a hacker to be comfortable with him.
Intriguing. Phina, you believe that the Gleeks are planning on going to war with the Baldere over these goods that were stolen?
It appears that way, but I think there has to be more to it than that as stolen goods are not a matter of honor for them from what I have read. There must be something we are missing.
Very possibly. You are correct. From what I know of the Gleeks, war would not be an appropriate response for stolen goods. ADAM, have you looked any of this up yet to determine if this theory is valid and if there may be more to it?
>>I have looked into it, yes. While I can’t confirm definitively that something more is going on, the goods carried by this ship did arrive from Vermott, the Balderian planet. Records indicate a shipment of goods from the Gleeks came in two days before this one shipped out.<<
How long ago would that have been, ADAM?
>>Not long before the census was taken, Phina.<<
The Diplomat Spy and Diplomat Spy in Training looked at each other as they followed the Baldere off the tram. The timing was certainly suggestive. Link patted her arm to tell her she had done a good job before looking at the approaching docks. A thought occurred to her.
ADAM, did you have a chance to look at those census reports in more detail?
>>Yes. The Gleeks left the city three days after this shipment.<<
When their glances met, Link’s eyes were all business. That was not a coincidence.
Thank you, ADAM.
>>You’re welcome, Phina.<<
Brodin led them to an area where several ships were connected and offloading cargo of various kinds. They passed mostly human shipping and loading crews, though some had Yollins and Shrillexians as well. By the time their contact stopped at a ship toward the end of the row, Phina was ready to throw her boots into a fiery grave. She surreptitiously changed which foot she stood on to give one foot some relief while she waited.
The cargo bay ramp opened to reveal two more Baldere, one of whom looked at Brodin in confusion, the other in irritation. They were dressed similarly and appeared close enough in their features to be brothers, though Phina could tell them apart since the confused one wore a blue shirt while the irritated one who began speaking wore green.
“What’s going on here, Brodin?”
“Stan here is just going to inspect the cargo, Taulden.”
“That wasn’t the deal!” The Baldere’s eyes narrowed as he focused on Stan.
“Yes, yes. We changed the deal so I could inspect the cargo. Nothing to worry about if the goods hold up, eh?” Stan waved his hand in a lazy fashion, seeming not to have a care in the world while his eyes took in everything and pointed things out to Phina in rapid-fire. The kid had to learn, even if it was by throwing her in the deep end.
Notice how even though Brodin is nominally the leader of this group, the unknown Baldere looks to Taulden for reassurance. That means he is either used to taking his cue from him, or Taulden is really the person in charge here. See how Brodin put his hands out to placate Taulden and responded more as a subordinate than the person in charge? That means Taulden really is the real leader of this group. Interesting.
What?
I’m wondering why he sent Brodin to talk to us when he’s really the one in charge of this deal. Ah…
Of course; they had been planning an ambush all along. Link wondered how many other buyers the aliens had approached before him. During the time he had been talking to Phina, Brodin had walked up the ramp and come to an understanding with Taulden. Brodin waved them into the hold.
“Come inspect the cargo. It’s why you are here, hey?”
“Of course.”
Phina lightly tugged on his arm, likely wanting him to continue his thought, but he figured she was smart and could pick it up on her own. Sink or swim, kid, sink or swim.
The two followed Brodin into the cargo hold, where specially made freezerators had been installed. Link approved since they were the best units to use for hauling food goods across systems without spoilage since the food easily thawed into a near-fresh state when removed. Brodin opened one freezerator unit for them and waved inside.
“Go on, then. Inspect away.”
Phina took a step but stopped when she noticed Link hadn’t moved yet, looking back at him with a question in her eyes. Link gave the B
aldere a shark-like grin. “Nice try, bucko. I’m not going in there to be trapped when you shut the door on us.”
Phina’s eyes widened in surprise even as Brodin stared at him in confusion. “What’s a ‘bucko?’”
Link tapped his chin as if he were in deep thought. “You know, you’re right. That’s not the best word for you. How about a stooge? A chump? A patsy?”
The Baldere exchanged glances as they shook their heads. “Those words don’t have any meaning for us.”
Link sighed in disappointment. “What are aliens coming to these days? How about flunky, dupe, pawn, or pigeon?”
Brodin and the blue-shirted alien shrugged and continued to look confused, but the ineffectual leader became impatient. Link subtly moved away from Phina to give them space. She shot him a searching look.
What are you doing?
Just be ready to move.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Phina’s face take on that focused look she got when she was thinking things through as she looked at the three Baldere and the still-open freezerator door. Good girl. Put the pieces together. She subtly widened her stance and became more alert. Excellent. He gave himself another mental pat on the back.
“Just get on with this. You made a deal, now give us the money.” Taulden appeared to have run out of patience, which changed the demeanor of the other two Baldere.
“Ah!” Link held up a finger as they began to move, which stilled the three aliens. “I got it! How about pushover, fool, or puppet?” As he spoke, he pointed from Taulden to the other Baldere and at Brodin.
Brodin scowled. “I’m no puppet!”
“Really? You could have fooled me, especially considering Taulden back there keeps telling you what to do.”
The unnamed blue-shirted Baldere finally woke up to what Link had said about him but was still confused. “I’m no fool, hey?”
Link pursed his lips and shook his head as the alien scowled. “I pity the fool!”
“Quiet, Jodin! You’re as useless as your brother,” Taulden growled. “Enough of this! He isn’t going to give us the money. Just grab them and take them down.”
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Docking Bay
Phina tensed when she realized what Link had intended by saying, “Be ready.” By the time Taulden shouted for his fellow Baldere to “get them,” she was watching the Baldere for when they would jump the two diplomatic spies.
So, of course she missed seeing Link lunge forward and grab the closest Baldere, then launch him into the space in front of her. As Link turned to deal with the other two Baldere, Brodin scowled, stumbled forward a few steps, and recovered enough to throw a punch. She dodged, thanking Maxim for his insistence on repeating her punches and blocks until she could do them in her sleep, then used his extended arm to take him down as she had been taught.
If only it had worked. Brodin didn’t go down at the right angle for her to pin him, instead sliding out of her grip and pushing back up. She tottered on her heels, wishing she had worn something more practical. Phina barely straightened in time to dodge another punch, though it grazed her side. Her stance wasn’t right for taking him down, so she decided to follow with a blow to the chest to hold him back.
As she dodged another strike, she caught sight of the gaping doorway of the freezerator conveniently located behind him. Condensed chilled air exposed to the warmer temperatures had caused clouds to form in the unit, and its coldness had seeped out into the bay, chilling her legs enough to cause goosebumps.
“Leggings,” Phina muttered, deciding to wear them next time she had to wear a short dress; she didn’t care if it was fashionable. For her, practicality would trump fashion every time, and since her legs were getting so cold they were growing numb, leggings were becoming more practical by the minute. Those freezerator units were not made to be sitting open like this.
Unfortunately, noticing the conveniently open door yawning behind her opponent had distracted her enough to miss blocking or dodging Brodin’s next punch, which hurt as much as Maxim’s punches when he wasn’t being careful. Stumbling back, Phina realized she would be on the defensive unless she could quickly change the circumstances.
When Brodin followed up with a second punch, instead of blocking or dodging, Phina dropped onto her knees below the male’s reach and threw her fist into his crotch. Phina didn’t know if it would work the same as it did with a human male, so as his upper body swung down in response to belatedly protect himself, she brought her forearm up to meet his chin.
Brodin swung backward, groaning incoherently as she pushed up and front-kicked him into the freezerator, stabbing him with her heeled boot. She stumbled back a step to get her balance. His angry but pain-filled eyes met hers, and his expression changed to panic when he slipped on the now-slick floor of the unit and landed on his back, moaning. She grabbed the door and shut it with the Baldere inside, sagging in relief before remembering Link was fighting two of the Baldere to her one.
Turning in alarm, she froze in place as she took in the scene. Jodin, the quiet Baldere in the blue shirt, whimpered in pain as he awkwardly cradled his elbow against his body; it looked like it had been either broken or dislocated. She blinked in surprise to note that his shirt had been pulled up in the back and was over his head, trapping the other arm behind him and effectively immobilizing him.
Taulden was sprawled on the floor not far away, his mouth gaping open. The large Baldere looked to be out cold, which impressed her. Phina could see a few places where a knife had slashed the Baldere, blood seeping out of the wounds. They didn’t look serious, just uncomfortable and painful.
Link was leaning against the hull about ten paces away. His clothing looked even more rumpled and showed evidence of a knife being used against him at some point. Probably Taulden had started out with the knife, then Link had taken it from him and used it against the leader. Ah, she could see the tip of it just showing at the side of Link’s body. He still held it in his hand while he stood with his arms crossed and a smug grin on his face.
Phina struggled with her irritation at seeing his smugness, then looked from the two prone Baldere to her mentor. She pointed at herself, then Link.
“We need to work on our communication.”
Chapter Eighteen
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Diplomatic Institute, Anna Elizabeth’s Office
“I don’t think she should go.”
“I’m telling you she needs to go, Anna. This doesn’t work any other way.”
“Grey, she’s a student. She needs to be in class. Students don’t go gallivanting across the universe!”
Phina sighed and shifted to her other foot, thankful she was comfortably dressed. She blew air into her cheeks and held it like those little animated chipmunks as she looked around the room. Anna Elizabeth sat behind her desk and was leaning forward, her folded hands resting in front of her. Link alternated between standing in front of her desk and pacing around the relatively spacious room, gesturing to make his point.
Phina glanced at Jace, who gazed at her…mouth?...with a smirk on his face and an eyebrow raised. What’s he playing at? Oh, right. She blew out her cheeks, rolled her eyes, and paid more attention to the conversation.
“Anna, I’m telling you, every instinct I have says this conflict won’t be resolved without her. She needs to come with me!”
“What’s so special about her?” Jace’s voice dripped condescension, which confused Phina. What had she ever done to him? Hadn’t he been nicer to her lately? Or at least not hostile.
Link stopped pacing and pointed at Jace as he threw Anna a look of barely concealed impatient dismissal.
“What’s he doing here?”
Phina wasn’t surprised by the question. She had wondered the same thing. However, the flash of hurt that passed over Jace’s face surprised Phina. What made Link’s opinion so important to him? It made her wonder why her mentor seemed to dislike the younger man.
Anna shot Link a look of warning. “I’m his mentor
. He’s learning. As any student should be, particularly a trainee.”
“I see.” Link nodded. Phina recognized that tone and wondered what he was up to, turning her head to see his eyes grow calculating. Uh-oh. She had been on the other side of that look, and she always lost the argument.
“A student should be learning.”
“Yes.”
“And you want Phina to be safe.”
“Yes!”
“She needs to be in class…why again?”
Anna gave him an icy stare. “To learn the material she needs for her job.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
Anna narrowed her eyes. “Why are you suddenly sounding reasonable about this?”
Link raised his eyebrows and pointedly looked at Phina, who leaned against the wall near the door.
“Phina, how many of the course curricula for the semester have you read?”
She sighed and grimaced. “All of them.”
He almost looked bored as he continued to ask questions. “And for the next semester?”
She stared at him, not wanting to get in trouble. Still, Anna had said Phina had her permission, which should make it fine, even if she had read most of the materials before receiving it. “Yes.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“And for next year?”
She shrugged and glanced at Jace in time to see his eyes showing surprise. “Maybe half.”
“Of the first semester?”
She glared at Link, not liking how he was drawing this out and particularly his exposure of behavior she would rather keep to herself. “For the year.”
“And how much do you remember?”
“Do you want me to verbalize it all or write it out for you?” She couldn’t help the snark in her tone.
He waved magnanimously. “For now, we’ll take your word for it.”
She answered reluctantly. She had always kept how much she knew hidden from other people and was uncomfortable admitting how much she learned and retained. “Probably ninety-eight percent of it.”
“Really?” He seemed disappointed, which caused Phina to grit her teeth. Just when she was feeling more kindly toward him, he pulled this stunt. “Why not the full hundred?”
