Captain Dan Saves Beta Earth

by Jeffrey Henning

  “Captain!” The Lieutenant said, out of breath after finally catching up to him.

  Dan stopped, and waited for the UPA Officer to catch his breath. “I thought you were in a meeting with the Commander.”

  “She… She told me to wait… for you.” He said, still trying to catch his breath.

  “I don’t know why – hey!” Dan said as a human kid bumped into him. He immediately grabbed the kid’s arm and drew his pistol with his other hand. He spun the kid to face him and pointed his pistol at the kid’s head. “That hand better come out empty.” He told the kid.

  “Sorry! Sorry! I was just hungry, you know?” The kid said.

  “Put that gun away! He only bumped into you!” Lieutenant Melton said.

  “Yeah, he bumped into me and put his hand in my pocket, right? Totally an accident, right kid?” Dan said, still staring at the kid.

  “Sorry Mister, sorry!” The kid said. He withdrew his hand slowly and held it up, open, palm towards Dan to show him it was empty.

  “Now get.” Dan told him, nodding his head towards the left.

  The kid ran away quickly. Dan stashed his gun back in its holster. He watched the kid run away, and when he was far enough away, he held up a small drawstring pouch to his ear and rattled it.

  “Did you just steal from that child?” The Lieutenant asked.

  “I did nothing of the sort. Can’t a guy just rattle his own coin pouch in his ear?” Dan said with a smile as he opened it to reveal a few small silver coins. Most people used credits now-a-days. It was safer, and no one could pickpocket you. Unfortunately, not everyone accepts credit, so Dan does carry silver and gold coins around with him and has a stash on his ship for large purchases if needed.

  “I’m putting this incident in my report.” The Lieutenant said, pulling out his small notebook. “Now, can we please go and see the Commander now?”

  “No. Stay here, I have to talk with someone.” Dan said and started to move to one of the vendors. He stopped when Lieutenant Melton walked at his side. “Did you not hear me? Why not write up the incident with the child while you wait. That should be fun for you.”

  “I’m not leaving your side until you go and talk to the Commander with me.” He said matter-of-factly.

  Dan stepped up to him and got in his face. “If you don’t stay here, I will never go and see the Commander."

  “Well… I mean… You have to. You can’t miss an appointment with her.” He said, stammering while trying to sound tough.

  “Do I look like the kind of guy that makes appointments?”

  “So, if I stay here, you’ll go meet someone, and then we’ll go see the Commander together?” He asked.

  “Fine, after I go meet a contact, alone, I’ll go see the Commander.” Dan said. “Now stay here.” He said sternly as he started walking off, alone. He headed into one of the more permanent shops.

  From there, he walked back to the corner of it and nodded to the fat little human vendor, exiting through a secret doorway. This secret doorway led to a short staircase which led to an area between the floor he had just been on, and the ceiling of the next floor below. It was known as a cable run, or maintenance shaft. Every station, and even some ships, had them – you just had to know where the ones were that were habitable.

  He passed a few small shops near the entrance, they only had a few illegal items – mostly guns, and a few rifles. What he was looking for would be further in. He kept walking. The further in he went, the more illegal the items were. He passed cages of exotic animals, UPA ship modules, UPA medical supplies and ration packs, and more. Finally, after ducking under some water pipes and squeezing past some larger waste pipes, he found the shop he was looking for.

  “Hello Hari.” Dan said as he walked into a shop that had sheets for walls.

  “Well, well, if it isn’t Captain Dan himself.” The very tall, alien humanoid who was covered in light brown hair, said in a very deep voice. “You know that Sylvia is looking for you? I have half a mind to take you to her for her reward.” He said as he finished typing on his wrist console.

  “But you won’t, because if you did, I’d have half a mind to shoot you.” Dan said. He typically rested his hand on his pistol, but at the moment it was wrapped around the handle of it.

  “What do you want, Dan?” Hari asked.

  “Level Four UPA Surgical Kit, Skin Regenerator, and a bottle of Dopsusophene.” Dan told him.

  Hari turned around and tapped on the console. “I can get you the Skin Regenerator and the pills, but I don’t have the surgical kit.”

  “I know that you do. If anyone in all the galaxies were to have one, it would be you. That’s why I came to you.” Dan told him as he took his hand off his pistol and crossed his arms.

  Hari turned around and shook his head. “I can’t help you this time. With any of it, actually.”

  Dan pulled his pistol out and spun around quickly, holding it at Sylvia the Quick’s head. “Hello Sylvia.”

  “Dan.” She said. Sylvia was human, and physically quite stunning – but she had an evil side that bordered on psychotic. She also had two Drogants with her. The rock-like aliens with all but impenetrable skin. Sylvia’s head wasn’t – and his gun was at her forehead.

  “You’re getting me blackballed at my usual contacts?” Dan asked.

  “You did screw me out of a crate of weapons.” She said calmly. “And you have yet to reimburse me.”

  “Your people were late. I dropped the crate off at the exact time our contract stated. I even have the surveillance videos to prove it.” Dan said, still holding his pistol to her head. “You just don’t want people to know that your own people screwed up.” He said with a slight smile.

  “Refund my payment and I’ll tell your contacts that you and I are good again.”

  Dan didn’t say anything for a moment. He just smiled and lowered his gun. “How about I don’t, and you tell my contacts we’re good anyways?”

  “Why on Zeta would I do that?” she asked incredulously.

  “You know, I always wondered why you were able to disappear so completely after a meeting. You were never in any of the usual places that scum like you would be.” He said with a grin. He pulled up the sleeve on his coat to reveal a modified UPA wrist console and lifted his wrist console so that it was horizontal. “It’s because I was looking in the wrong place.” He said. He adjusted his pistol so it was still pointing towards her and used a free finger to push a couple buttons on the console with his gun hand. A hologram of Sylvia the Quick, dressed in a full UPA Uniform, mingling with some of the highest-ranking officers in the UPA. “Either you have a twin called Rebecca Snider, who happens to be a Rear Admiral in the UPA, or something fishy is going on.”

  Sylvia gave him a very dark look as she crossed her arms.

  “If anything happens to me, my ship, my crew, or my contacts won’t sell to me - this and all the information I have on you will go to Space Admiral Amaya.” He said. He tapped his console and dropped his arm to his side; his sleeve fell over it.

  Sylvia’s eyes narrowed to the point that they almost looked like they were closed. She leaned to her right so she could see Hari. “Give him what he wants.” She said with a cold tone. She looked back to Dan. “This isn’t over.”

  “Yes, it is.” Dan said. He put his pistol away and turned around. “How much?” He asked Hari.

  Hari was visibly shaking at this point, probably scared that he was going to get hurt in the crossfire, or that Sylvia will come back to take out retribution on him.

  “You think I’m still going to sell to you?” Hari asked.

  “Yes.” Dan said. “Because if you don’t, I’ll have to release the video of Sylvia. Then she’ll come after me, and I’ll tell her you wouldn’t sell to me, and then she’ll come after you.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “So how much?”

  “You… You are not a nice person, Captain Dan.” He said. He turned around to work at his standalone console. After typing for a fe
w minutes, he finally turned around. “Forty thousand credits.”

  “Seriously? I can get it for half that from your competitors!” Dan yelled.

  “I had to… add a danger pay into the total.” Hari said. He held his hands in front of him and was fidgeting.

  Dan narrowed his eyes. “Fine.” He uncrossed his arms and put his hand into his pocket. When he pulled it out, he was holding a red plastic card in his hand. He gave it to Hari.

  “There’s enough on this?” Hari asked before he did anything with it.

  “Just run it.”

  Hari turned around and put the card into a slot on his console. After a minute, a green light appeared next to it. He pulled it out and gave it back to Dan.

  “I need it in under an hour.” Dan told him.

  “I don’t think my people are that… motivated.” Hari said as he held out his empty hand.

  Dan gave him a dirty look and pulled a couple silver coins from his pocket. He dropped them into Hari’s waiting hand.

  “I’m not sure this will motivate them sufficiently.” Hari said, not moving his open hand.

  Dan pulled out a gold coin and dropped it into Hari’s hand. “If this isn’t enough motivation, I’m going to pull out my pistol and see how well that does at motivating you and your people.”

  Hari closed his hand and turned around, entering something into the computer.

  Dan walked away, pulled his sleeve back again, and held his wrist console up. With his free hand he tapped a couple buttons on it, and a man’s face appeared.

  “Captain, how may I help you?” The face asked.

  “Twang, I’m expecting a delivery in the next forty-five minutes. Make sure it gets to my quarters without anyone seeing it.”

  “Of course, Captain. Did you get what we need?” Twang asked.

  “Yeah, but I paid way too much.” Dan said with a sigh.

  “I don’t see how you can put a price on how much it’s going to help you, Captain.” Twang said.

  “Yeah, maybe.” Dan said. “I have to go find the Lieutenant before he blows a gasket. I’ll be back on the ship after I talk with the Commander.”

  “Very well, Captain.” Twang said.

  Dan pushed a button and the face disappeared. He lowered his arm and made his way back to the merchant’s hallway. He watched his back as he left.

  * * * * *

  “Where is Captain Dan?” The Commander asked from behind her desk. Her office was sparsely decorated. There were two models of ships on the left wall, with plaques under them. On the right side was a small bookshelf that held only a couple books. There was also a small plant on top of the bookcase. Her desk and the two chairs in front of it were the only other things in the room, and there was only a data pad resting in the left corner nearest her.

  “I… I don’t know Commander… I lost him in the merchant area.” Lieutenant Melton said, a little squeamishly.

  Suddenly, the door slid open, and a security officer escorted Captain Dan through it.

  “Commander, this man says he has an appointment with you.” A UPA Captain said. He had his hand on his pistol.

  “It’s fine Captain Rodel, He’s supposed to be here.” The Commander said.

  “It would seem your men don’t want anyone seeing you.” Dan said as he shrugged the man’s hand off his shoulder. “Even those with an appointment.”

  “My men are very protective of me.” She told him. “Won’t you sit, please.” She said with a gesture towards the chairs in front of her desk.

  The Lieutenant immediately sat down, but Dan was in a staring contest with the security officer.

  “Captain, would you please wait outside?” The Commander asked.

  He broke away from his stare with Dan and headed for the door. “I’ll be right outside if you need me, Commander.” He told her while he looked at Dan.

  After he left, Dan finally took a seat. “Nice office.” He said as he looked around. “Easy to pack up if you get canned.”

  “I can assure you my position is very secure.” She said. “But we’re not here to talk about my position. We’re here to talk about yours. What exactly are you doing at my station? And why is an officer in the UPA accompanying you?”

  “Ma’am, I can assure you we’re here under the authority of the UPA.” The Lieutenant said.

  “Oh, do tell.” She said, leaning forward and looking intrigued.

  “Well, I can’t really tell you, actually. It’s classified.” He said quickly. He couldn't look her in the eye when he said it, so he looked at the floor.

  “Well, I’m looking at your ship, and it’s been almost two years since your last inspection. I think its time for another, don’t you? I’m sure it will pass all UPA regulations for safety.” She said as she took her datapad and pushed a few buttons on it.

  “Captain Dan and the Heatseeker can’t be detained.” The Lieutenant said boldly as he looked up from his spot on the floor. “I am under strict orders from Space Admiral Amaya.”

  “Can you produce said orders?” She asked.

  “Well no, it’s classified.” He said, sinking into his chair.

  Dan watched the two go at it with a smile. He just sat there, watching.

  “Well, maybe I should have my security team debrief you for information about your mission.” She said with a smile.

  “As much as I would like to see that,” Captain Dan chimed in. “He is a member of my crew at the moment, and if you’re going to debrief him, you’ll have to go through me.” Dan told her.

  The Commander smiled and leaned back. “I’ve heard about how protective you are of your crew, Captain Dan, but to see it is something else entirely.” She leaned back in her chair. “Both of you can relax, I know of your ‘Classified Mission’ and am to provide you with anything you need, whether it be parts and supplies, or extra crew members.”

  “Extra crew members?” The Lieutenant asked.

  “I can only spare one engineer at the moment, but I have several security personnel available.” She told them.

  "I gave you the disks. We need those lists fulfilled.”

  She slid the disks into her datapad and tapped a few buttons. “I should have all of this available.” She looked up them. “I’ll set my people to gather it and bring it to your ship. It’ll probably take a couple hours. In the meantime, I can offer you and your crew a fine meal.” She said.

  “They would like that, thank you.” Dan said.

  “Not you?” She asked.

  “I have some business that needs tending to on my ship. But I’m sure my crew will take you up on that offer.” He told her.

  “Very well, just have them report to the cafeteria on deck four and tell them to let the host know they are from the Heatseeker. It should be ready in an hour.”

  “Many thanks.” Dan said as he stood up. He reached across the desk to give the Commander a handshake and headed out with the Lieutenant hot on his trail.

  On the way back to the ship, he radioed his crew over their comms and told them about the free dinner. He also told Watts that his parts would be at the ship in a couple hours. He got to the ship and punched in the code to unlock it – hiding it from the Lieutenant even.

  “Did the package from Hari come?” He asked Twang as he entered the bridge of his ship.

  “Yes Captain.” Twang said.

  “Good, my quarters in ten.” He told Twang.

  “Who’s Hari, and what should I do?” Lieutenant Melton asked.

  “Never mind who Hari is. Do whatever you want, just don’t bother me.” Dan said as he and Twang left for his quarters.

  * * * * *

  Twang was an android built by Watts. He was built to look human, mostly so he could lift parts higher than Watts could. He stood exactly five feet, six inches tall, had brown hair and green eyes, and was light skinned, but not light enough that it didn't look human. It was Watts’ most crowning achievement. His name, Twang, was actually T.W.a.N.G., standing for ‘Tool Widget and Network
Genius’. He was in the engine room two weeks before Captain Dan said he could be put to better use on the bridge. Watts protested, but eventually grudgingly agreed. He’s been on the bridge for a little over a year since.

  “Sir, are you sure you want to go through with this?” Twang asked Captain Dan while he was preparing the surgical kit he had procured.

  The surgical kit was actually a low-level robot. It didn’t have near the intelligence that Twang had, but it was programmed to do what it was told. Today, Twang was programming it to remove one of Dan’s implants.

  “Which implant will we be removing, Captain?” Twang asked after seeing Dan nod.

  “The one on the top of my foot.” He said as he removed his boot and sock. He rolled up his pants about half a foot. He put his foot up on his bed and it was clear which implant he was referring to. The dark green top of it stood above the top of his foot by about an inch. The bottom half of it was wrapped around all the bones in his foot.

  Twang lifted the surgical kit and pulled out the four legs and set it above Dan’s foot. “Scanning now.” He said as he furiously typed on the keyboard that made up part of the top. The other parts on the top were two holographic projectors and a monitor.

  A series of blue, green, and white lasers streamed out of the bottom of the kit and scanned Dan’s entire foot, all the way to the ankle. The scanning took five minutes. During that time, the two were silent.

  “Scanning complete.” Twang said as he typed on the keyboard some more. “The procedure will take approximately one hour, twenty-four minutes, and thirty-eight seconds.”

  “Approximately…” Dan said with a little laugh.

  “Shall we begin?” Twang asked.

  “Go ahead.” Dan said as he turned on the datapad on his large bed. The datapad showed the parts of the ship - it even displayed the outside of the ship thanks to a few well-placed cameras. He may be incapacitated for a little bit, but he could still watch over his ship.

  The bottom of the surgical kit opened and two needles on robotic arms came down and punctured Dan on both the left and right sides. Dan grunted as they did so. Once they injected him with the anesthetic, they retracted.