Dragon Fire (Galaxy On Fire Book 5)

by Craig Robertson

  I selected a big town on the other side of the planet named Sapilod. I landed Stingray in an equally inconspicuous area and hiked into town like I had before. The place looked just as drab, and the locals were just as unwelcoming as they were in Blebuleb. Near the center of town, I hit a few bars with no nibbles. But soon enough I got a bite. The place was named Wait and See, which was a totally lame name IMHO. I mean, wait and see what? Anyway, the proprietor had been contacted by EJ and was supposed to report any news to him at his hotel in Sapilod. EJ’s modus operandi was the same. He wanted to appear to be staying nearby. He probably figured he was more intimidating if his associates felt he was never too far away. I planted a few concealed cameras around the hotel but didn’t bother staking it out personally. For all I knew, EJ had similar setups all over the planet. Finding him at any residence was a long-shot, so why waste my time?

  I wasn’t any closer to sneaking up on EJ after all I’d learned. Obviously, I could march into any bar and announce my presence. But that way he’d find me, which gave him too much of an advantage. That would only be my last resort. How was I going to get him to go in a specific trap he’d set on a predictable schedule?

  Hmm.

  I snuck into the very first bar I’d been to back in Blebuleb during the short period daily when it was closed. I planted a few bugs high up where the walls met the ceiling. Rather than having them activate at once, I set them to come on the next afternoon. I didn’t want them detected before I returned to see Samarot again. Then I waited.

  Around dusk, I loudly entered the bar. That time Samarot saw me and came right over. He didn’t want to lose any more customers.

  “You’re back soon, Ryan.”

  “Did ya miss me?”

  “Not hardly. What do you want? Having you here is bad for business. I told you I’d let you know if I found out anything.”

  I scanned the room. “Business doesn’t look too good from before I arrived.”

  “That may be, but you’re not helping.”

  “That hurts, but I’ll probably heal with time,” I responded. “Look, I have a confirmed sighting of my twin. He’s in town. This town.”

  “So?”

  “So, I want you to be on your toes. Keep your guard up.”

  “What, do you think I’m new in this business? Don’t know how to be observant and devious?”

  “I’d rather assume nothing. Here’s the deal. He planted some bugs in a few spots. He’s hoping to find me before I find him. I don’t want that to happen.”

  “You needn’t worry your big head about this place. I sweep for bugs several times a day. My clientele prefers to be anonymous.”

  “I feel so much better. Look, just let me know if you hear anything. You got that?”

  “Yes, master, I live to serve,” he replied. “Now get out before I cancel our business arrangement.” He pointed to the door.

  I leaned over so my nose touched his face. “I’m the only one who terminates a deal, and I do it in only one manner. Pray that I don’t tire of your petty insults, Samarot. Pray very hard.”

  I left directly and walked slowly around the block, returning to a hiding place I’d picked out previously. Did I mention earlier that I was so smart it was often embarrassing? Yeah, happened again. Not an hour later, EJ stormed into the bar. Samarot had found the bugs and called me like I had asked him to. Imagine EJ’s surprise when he got the call. I bet he exploded once it hit him I’d impersonated him.

  I activated the second set of bugs I’d placed in the bar. After a few tries, I discovered which ones were nearest to where EJ was dressing down Samarot.

  “…crooked-assed blithering idiot I’ve ever had the misfortune of not killing the first time I laid eyes on.” That would be EJ speaking.

  “How can you be angry with me, Ryan? He looks just like you, talks just like you, and is as mean and vicious as you are. How was I to know?” I had to credit Samarot. He was fighting back, not begging for his life. Unfortunately, EJ seemed to be correct. The fellow was an idiot.

  “Because I told you he was my twin and was a sack of shit full of tricks. You were supposed to use the brain that you apparently do not possess.”

  “I say give the devil his due. He was clever and bold.”

  “You can deliver what is due personally in about two minutes,” snarled EJ.

  “Do not threaten me in my own bar. You’re surrounded by my personal guard. If I say the word, you’ll be cut to pieces.” Samarot crossed his arms defiantly. Poor bastard.

  “Now he knows where I am, you shit-bird. You did the opposite of what I asked you to do. What I paid you to do.”

  “Then walk out the back door.”

  “Oh, great idea. Since I never thought about that, he couldn’t have either. No way he has cameras focused on it from three different angles.”

  “Then I’ll have one of the delivery crews sneak you out. They come and go all day and night. I’ll personally nail you inside a box.”

  “You’re more brilliant than the pet rat I had as a kid. It’s not possible he has this place bugged and just heard your non-lame idea. Isn’t that right, Goody Two-Shoes?”

  Aw darn. Too bad my bugs weren’t two-way devices. I’d have loved to say hi just then.

  “I removed his listening tools,” protested Samarot.

  EJ pointed to three scattered across the room. “Yeah? How about that one, that one, and that one?”

  Samarot fumbled for an electronic box in his pocket. He held it up and swept the room. “Damn, there’s no way I missed those.”

  “Gee, maybe he switched them on after I came in? Nah, no one would be that tricky. It wouldn’t be sportsmanlike.”

  The owner didn’t respond. I think he was just realizing how very dead he was.

  “Well, there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” said EJ.

  “Wh … what’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Don’t get your undies in a knot, moron. I don’t have the time to skin you. It’s an expression.”

  “Oh, good. I was—”

  We’ll never know what Samarot’s last wonderings were. EJ whipped out a blaster and vaporized his head and neck. Then he mumbled to himself, and poof, he was gone. He’d used Varsir to transport himself who knew where. It would take a lot of strength out of him, so he’d be going to ground for sure. But he hadn’t left Kantawir. He knew that, at most, only one of us would ever be doing that.

  THIRTY-TWO

  “You felt that, didn’t you?” Mirraya asked Cala.

  “Yes, of course. The evil one has used Varsir.”

  “And he’s far away.”

  “They both are.”

  Mirri was silent a bit. “I know we discussed this, but shouldn’t one of us go help Uncle Jon?”

  “Yes, we have, and the answer remains no. This is the very definition of somebody else’s fight. Those two go back millions of years and have very personal issues to settle. Only them need be involved, and no one but them will be involved.”

  “But what if EJ kills Uncle?” That last word caught in Mirri’s throat.

  “Then one Jon Ryan lives and one Jon Ryan dies. That is how it must end. Which survives is not for us to debate or to influence.”

  “Why not? We influenced the outcome of the Battle of the Periphery. How is this different?”

  “I’m surprised you need to ask, child. That was a fight for a civilization, a species’ survival. This is an issue between one man and himself.”

  “But if EJ wins, he will rain evil down on the galaxy.”

  “If he lifts a robotic finger to do so, you have my leave to release him from the burden life has become for him. But until such time, you may not presume anything. Don’t we have enough trouble ourselves? You have a family. We are only beginning to blend into Plezrite society. We dealt with the most fickle and vociferous of the prejudiced and fearful. Others undoubtedly hold similar feelings toward us. We must be prepared to deal with those naysayers and detractors as they present the
mselves. Do not go looking for trouble. It is always willing to make house calls.”

  “I hear you, and I will respect your wishes. I do not think I agree with you.”

  “Thank you, Mirraya. You are one of a kind, and I cherish you very much.”

  They touched foreheads.

  “Does Slapgren agree with this decision?” asked Cala.

  “My warrior-god mate?”

  “I’ll take that to be a no.”

  “His solution is generally to kill problems. EJ, as a big problem, needs a big killing, in his worldview.”

  “Will he do anything about his opinions?”

  Mirri waited a second before replying. “No. He will go along with whatever you and I agree on. He respects our judgment.”

  “He’s a good man. Most of them prefer blustering over thinking”

  “He’s tied for number one in my book.”

  Cala shook her head slowly. “You’re the kindhearted one. My book reads very differently.”

  THIRTY-THREE

  Garustfulous studied the data chit Harhoff had given him. It was late, and generally both were in bed. But this update needed analysis, digestion. The decay of the Adamant Empire was likely to be a multi-generational progression. It was easy for an anxious eye to overread the tea leaves concerning predictions of progress. Harhoff wanted to believe his herculean efforts were producing some results, but he also realized he was far from an impartial judge in that regard.

  Garustfulous twirled one ear as he read. “And you’re certain this part, the one that mentions the dismissal of the Fargarian ambassador is correct?”

  “Yes. I read it in two other separate reports. It took place last week.”

  “But the hound was the emperor’s second cousin twice removed. A member of the royal household is never fired. Yes, Lepterif was a coward, a thief, and a scoundrel, but he was royalty. This doesn’t mention Palawent’s response. Do you know what it was?”

  “Yes. Inconsequential. If he objected, he was completely ignored. No one cared either way.”

  “But to remove the emperor from the accepted pretense of his control is … well, it’s unheard of.”

  “Or the new normal.”

  “All he has to do was ask for the heads of parties responsible and he’d get them on a skewer.”

  “Or he’ll be told to shut up lest he loses his own.”

  “Unbelievable. If the Secure Council has managed to take that much power from him, they must be very bold, indeed.”

  “No, I think it was the oligarchs who strong-armed him. The Secure Council issued a meaningless statement of mumbo jumbo saying they were glad to have worked with Lepterif but understood that progress was inevitable, if not always fully welcome by all.”

  “Egads, what drivel.”

  “Yes, it’s wonderful.”

  Garustfulous rocked his head slowly. “Yes and no. Maybe they’re simply afraid to say anything.”

  “I don’t think so. Not when the emperor has just been dealt a body blow. He was in a position of weakness.”

  “You know what they say. Beware of lying dogs.”

  “True. But a week has passed, and no heads have rolled. If they were going to, it would be sudden.”

  “Yes, I agree. My goodness, this may signal a diminution of the power of the emperor.” Garustfulous lifted his handheld in testimony. “This may be huge.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m also impressed that the arsenal on Dega Twelve was denied an over-quota resupply. That’s most unusual. If an outpost that close to the frontier asks for the moon on a platter, it usually gets two moons on a platter.”

  “And I know the commander, Nadrelo. We served together a few years back. He’s a well-respected and seasoned fellow. If he feels he needs more military supplies than he was allotted, he most certainly requires them.”

  “Which hints at the fact that there might not be enough to spare.”

  “Which is impossible.”

  “Isn’t it wonderful?” beamed Harhoff.

  “If true.”

  “No, even if it is not the case, it leaves room to question if that were the case. Think of the gossip it will generate.”

  “Treasonous murmurings, for certain.”

  “Or the visionary hypotheses of future leaders.”

  “Aka rebels.”

  “Aka saviors, crusaders. Aka petty despots willing to leap at the chance to carve out their own little pieces of heaven.”

  “Crows picking at the rotting corpse.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  Garustfulous leaned back. “The side one’s on at any given moment.”

  THIRTY-FOUR

  I was so proud of myself. I’d drawn EJ out in the open. I’d laid eyes on him while he hadn’t laid eyes on me. Just knowing how angry he’d be was almost enough to make my trip worthwhile. Almost. But we weren’t done yet. The problem was he’d never fall for the same trick again. He’d be more cautious now. If he had enough spies, I’d be outed first. Sooner or later, I had to venture out. In fact, if I were him, I’d instruct all my lackeys to report if they saw any version of Jon Ryan, even if they were one hundred percent certain it was EJ himself.

  There was no way I could parley that into an advantage. There was also no way in hell he’d agree to meet me mano a mano at high noon on Main Street. He would prefer to shoot me in the back and then collapse in laughter, the SOB. Wait, I shouldn’t call us that, should I?

  How was I going to get the drop on him? I was used to working without an excellent, fully-vetted plan, for sure. But I was unusually clueless. That was not a good predictor, even for me. I toyed with the notion of using my rune but dismissed it. I’d been lucky it worked the first time. He knew far more than I did about how the stones worked. I was just as likely to betray my location as I was to learn his. Plus, using Risrav sapped energy, a thing I could ill-afford to do on the eve of a major confrontation.

  I wasn’t completely certain what I was going to do when we finally did meet. He’d be all guns blazing while I had a less bloody agenda. For the millionth time in my life, I thanked my lucky stars I was a fighter pilot. Don’t worry, don’t think, just smile and react. Easy-peasy pudding and pie.

  I was just about to start feeling sorry for myself when an odd and impossible scheme began to form in the midst of my vacant head. Hmm. That might just work. Probably wouldn’t but might, as in it wasn’t totally impossible.

  **********

  I snuck into one of the many bars EJ had recruited. The one I chose was not too far from the late and unlamented Samarot’s place. There was no need to try this farther away. I wanted to pepper in as much WTF-elements as I could to possibly make EJ wonder if I was acting seriously or not. Napwertofer’s Place belonged to a worthless fleck of crap named, not surprisingly, Napwertofer. I’d had a massively unpleasant run-in with him during the period I was pretending to be EJ. He was the kind of guy you’d hate to see pushed in front of a subway train, because you’d want to be the one who pushed him in front of a subway train.

  I set up a series of bugs, some active and some inactive. I placed them in clever and hard to find places, hoping to suggest I was intending to pull off a copycat scam. I then did the hardest part of my plan. I went to confront Napwertofer. To look upon him was to want to vomit.

  “I have news, and I knew I had to tell you in person,” I said roughly.

  “Why? You can’t use a handheld?” He then laughed at his stupid remark.

  “No, because you’re too stupid to use your brain. I figured if I came personally, I could maybe pound the information through your thick skull.”

  He bolted to his feet. “I’ve killed men for lesser insults.”

  “I’ve killed thousands more for no insult whatsoever. Sit down before you join that list of my unhappy memories.”

  He sat begrudgingly. “Say your piece and leave.”

  “What, you think I’d put up with you, the stink of your bar, or you a second longer than
necessary?” Wake up and stop dreaming, ya bastard’s regret.”

  He flared but remained silent.

  “Here’s the deal. I told you my brother was on planet, and that he bugged a nearby dive.”

  “Yeah, my friend’s place. The one you killed.”

  “Look, we’ll cry in each other’s arms after my brother’s dead, okay?”

  “And what?”

  “He’s been seen around here. I want you to check for listening devices.”

  “Stupid jerk, I do. We all do.”

  “Yes, but this time I want you to do it not so incompetently.”

  The hairy-assed jerk flared again but stayed in his chair.

  “I want the bugs he’s hidden. I think I can use them to triangulate his position. When you find them all, bring them to me.”

  He frowned. “How do you figure? Transmitters don’t work like that.”

  “They do if one is not mentally impoverished.”

  “What the hell’s that mean?”

  “I rest my case.” I stood and pointed at him. “I expect results, or you’re joining Samarot in the Bad Place.”

  He stood and tried to sneak around to my side of the table by distracting me. “You know what? I think I want to end our little deal. You’re not—”

  The behemoth was getting close. I punched him in the face. I knew I could move faster than he’d think was possible. It was nice to be a robot. I didn’t hit him hard enough to really hurt him. I needed him to play out his role. He did, however, crash backward to the floor with a most satisfying crash. I hoped he had ribs, because surely, he’d have broken a few.

  “If I don’t hear back by tomorrow, I’ll be back.” Yes, I did say the last snippet in an Austrian accent. Come on, we’re talking Jon here. “Here’s my new number.” I tossed a slip of paper with my handheld’s ID. No matter how dumb this idiot was, and I believed him to be massively so, that had to tip him off I wasn’t EJ.