Authors: S. E. Smith
“It has to be! Search again. Pius said the contact gave it to him,” the voice snapped. “I need that item!”
“Pius is dead. The shop was secured, but the item was taken before his death,” Section L replied.
Silence met his words before the voice spoke again. “Was it the assassin?”
“No,” Section L stated. “I was able to access the lower section security vidcoms. I know who took the item. Do you wish for me to retrieve it?”
“Yes,” the raspy voice said. “Terminate whoever took it. Leave no trace.”
“Affirmative,” Section L replied. “I will contact you when I have the item.”
“Don’t fail or you will not be the only one terminated,” the voice warned before the vidcom went blank.
Section L stared at the dark screen in his hand before carefully sliding it back into his pocket. Only when the device was safely tucked away did he release the control he tried desperately to maintain. It was vital that he retain the unemotional mask, especially when he was reminded of what could happen if he failed, but each threat made it more difficult.
He shook the dust off of his fist as he pulled it from the wall next to him. His eyes swept the cluttered area. He had seen several things in the vidcom that he kept to himself. Soon, he would return with the item and when he did… when he did, he would end the control the Leader had over him once and for all.
Pulling the hood of his cloak over his head, he exited the dark building. He paused briefly to connect with the security vidcom. A satisfied smile curled his lips as he opened his eyes.
The Leader was not the only one with a plan,
Section L thought as he disappeared down the dark alley.
*.*.*
Two weeks later, Krac stood in the same place that he had been when he was searching for Violet. Dust and clutter littered the area worse than it had before. His eyes narrowed on the wall behind the counter.
He gingerly stepped over the items that had been tossed aside, more than likely by the Spaceport authorities during their ‘investigation’. He stared at the newly formed hole for several seconds before he turned to see what else had been disturbed. He retrieved the image of the small store from his memory banks and scanned it for additional changes.
His eyes swept over the store carefully. He paused on the area near the wall where a row of shelves were. The imprint of fresh prints in the dust captured his attention. He stepped over to the wall. On the third shelf, the outline of four fingers were clearly visible. There were no fingerprints. Whoever had placed their hand on the shelf had been wearing gloves.
Krac stared at the prints for a moment, trying to see what had held the male’s attention. His eyes scanned the shelf when a small object, carefully placed near the wall, caught his attention. He reached into the shadows and wrapped his fingers around the small, black part. He turned it in his hand and frowned. A shiver of unease washed through him as he stared at the navigation module.
A low curse burst from his lips as he saw a touch of yellow paint on one side. A vision of the
Lulu Belle’s
console, creatively color coded, flooded his mind, even as Froget’s words echoed with it.
“I don’t know why she wants to be a freighter captain. She can’t pilot one worth a damn. That’s why she’s got all the buttons color coded, it’s to help remind her what they are supposed to do.”
“Lulu Belle, what have you gotten yourself into now,” he whispered, clenching the part in his hand. He focused on the comlink in his ear. “Bulldog!” He growled in a low, not completely steady voice. “Tell me you have Skeeter with you.”
*.*.*
Skeeter leaned back and looked at the wall with a sad smile. She and Manny, her new temporary co-pilot, were on their way back to Sallas after dropping off her cargo on Newport. She had decided before the trip that it was time to be honest with her dad and tell him that she wasn’t a very good freighter captain. What she really wanted to do was focus on her art.
She and Bulldog had talked well into the night shortly after Krac had left. She didn’t know why she thought it would be so hard to tell him or why she feared he would be disappointed. A small smile curved her lips as she thought back to their conversation.
*.*.*
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew all along?” She had asked as she sat snuggled up on the couch in his office.
“You have been decorating our home since you arrived with pictures and things you have made,” Bulldog had responded with a smile. “I know because I have every single one you have created. I have always been very proud of your talent. I just wanted you to know where you would be happiest.”
“So, you aren’t disappointed if I focus on my art? I already have several pieces in some of the galleries on Newport, Gallus and even Pryus.”
Of course, he had been thrilled. It was only later as she lay sleepless in her bed that felt empty without Krac’s warm body against hers, that she laughed at herself for being so stupid. It was ridiculous to think that her dad didn’t know about her gallery showings. He knew everything about everything. Still, having his support and acceptance meant the world to her.
*.*.*
That this was her last trip on the
Lulu Belle
made the time even more bittersweet as she stared at her newest painting. She sank down into the chair and stared at the wall in Froget’s old cabin. The painting of him was so real, she felt like she could reach out and touch him. A single tear coursed down her face as she remembered the first morning after he had started as her co-pilot. He had come up to the bridge in a very grumpy mood. When she asked him what was wrong, he had exploded, saying he hadn’t slept all night because he kept trying to eat the damn red and black bugs that were all over his walls.
“My tongue is so sore I can barely talk straight,” he had mumbled.
She wiped at the second tear that fell and chuckled. He hadn’t been lying. His tongue had hung out of the side of his mouth for almost two weeks before he stopped trying to eat them.
Now, he sat in the middle of a small field. The sun was shining down on him and dozens of the little red and black bugs snuggled up close to him as he smiled back at her.
“Thank you, my dear, dear friend,” Skeeter whispered, sadly. “I’ll never forget you.”
“Skeeter,” Manny’s voice called from the doorway.
Skeeter glanced over and smiled at the elderly Chibear. He wasn’t much taller than Froget but instead of having smooth skin, he was covered in a soft gray fur. Manny had worked for her dad for years as a freighter pilot before retiring to care for the gardens at their home. Bulldog insisted that if she was going to finish her delivery she needed to have an experienced co-pilot. Manny agreed to go with her as it gave him a chance to see his daughter and her mate who owned a shop on Newport.
“Yes, Manny?” She said, standing and wiping at her damp cheeks.
“There is something strange going on with your navigation system,” he said with a frown. “Strange star charts keep popping up and there are symbols I’ve never seen before. I don’t recognize any of them. I ran a diagnostic to see if it was defective, but everything came back showing it was working properly.”
Skeeter sighed. This was a part of being a freighter captain that she wasn’t going to miss at all. She bent and gathered up her paint and brushes. She would need to clean them before she could take a look at what Manny was talking about.
“Are we still heading for Sallas?” She asked as she stepped out into the corridor. “Is the malfunction causing a problem?”
“Yes, we are still on course for Sallas. It isn’t so much a malfunction. It is just I’ve never in all my eighty years as a pilot seen the star systems it is showing and the translators can’t decipher the code,” Manny complained, walking slowly beside her toward the galley. “I’ve been to just about every known star system at least once. These are some I’ve never even heard of.”
“I’ll have daddy’s maintenance crew take a look at it when we get back to Sallas,” Skeeter said with a shrugged. “This is a replacement module I picked up. Our old one was fried. I found this one on Pryus and Frog... Froget was able to modify it so it would work.”
Manny nodded before jumping when an alarm suddenly sounded. Skeeter froze for a moment, trying to remember what Krac had told her about the alarms. This one was different from the one that sounded when she hit something. A moment later, the alarm stopped. She quickly laid the brushes she had cleaned on the towel next to the sink before grabbing another one to dry her hands.
“Which alarm was that for?” She asked, looking down at Manny in confusion. “The one that sounds when I hit something is a lot louder and doesn’t stop.”
Manny’s chubby face wrinkled into a concerned frown. “It is the security. It would only go off if there was a breach in one of the outer access doors. There must be a short in it otherwise the defense system would have kicked in and the security alarms would have stayed on and sealed the doors after thirty seconds. I’ll take a look at it,” he said with a shake of his head. “Your father should have purchased you a newer model freighter. This one is falling apart.”
Skeeter bit back the giggle at his disgusted look. She didn’t want to confess that her dad had purchased her a newer freighter, three in fact. She was hopeless with all the newer technology on them and he had finally given up and settled for a simpler model.
“Krac was working on both the defense and security systems,” she finally admitted. “Neither were working before. I guess they broke again.”
“Your systems are working properly,” a new voice said coolly. “I bypassed them.”
Skeeter squeaked in surprise while Manny emitted a low growl and moved to stand protectively in front of her. Her lips parted in surprise as she gazed at the huge male standing in the doorway to the galley pointing a laser pistol at them.
He was as tall as Krac and just as distinctive with his silver/gray skin and almost black eyes. He looked a little younger than Krac though and wore his hair longer. He was dressed all in black and another pistol hung from his waist.
Skeeter’s eyes jerked back to his when he snapped out a warning to Manny to not move. Her hands dropped to her old friend’s shoulders and she held him back against her. She would not let another die for her again.
“Manny, it’s okay,” she whispered, watching the male in the doorway warily. “He’s just like Krac.”
The male in the doorway stiffened at her softly spoken words. His eyes flashed with barely restrained rage before he concealed the emotion behind a mask of calm. He stepped into the room, his eyes sweeping the area carefully before settling back on them.
“Where is the other male like me?” He asked sharply.
Skeeter tilted her head and smiled nervously at the male. Even though he was holding a pistol on them, he reminded her too much of Krac to be afraid. Besides, while he exuded an air of danger, there was also an air of desperation that pulled at her.
“He’s not here. I think he might be looking for you,” she said with a small, nervous smile as she stepped around Manny. “You know, we aren’t going to hurt you. You can put your weapon down.”
“Skeeter!” Manny hissed. “What do you think you are doing?”
Skeeter rolled her eyes. “This is Manny. He is my friend. I don’t want you to hurt him.” She bit her lip as she remembered poor Froget. “Why are you looking for Krac? You aren’t going to hurt him, are you? I have to tell you, I won’t let that happen. I happen to love the big guy and I’m very protective of those I love.”
*.*.*
Section L stared at the strange female looking back at him in defiance. She was now standing in front of the small furry creature with her hands on her hips. She had green and yellow paint across one cheek. It looked as if she had forgotten she was painting and brushed her fingers along it. There were additional splatters of paint on her arms and clothing. Her dark red hair was piled on top of her head with strands falling loosely from the clasp holding it. Even that had not been spared as color was mixed in with it as well.
She was one of the most bizarre humans that he had encountered. Only one other female had ever looked at him with that same look of defiance. He slammed the door on the image that flowed into his mind along with the pain it brought with it. He was here on a mission.
“I hope he is capable of having feelings for you as well,” Section L said with a cold, menacing smile as he fired the laser pistol twice.
He watched as the red-haired woman’s eyes briefly widened before she collapsed. His second shot took out the smaller male. He sheathed the pistol before walking over to the unusual pair. Kneeling, he felt each of their throats before picking up the smaller male and tossing him over his shoulder.
Now, it was time to see if the male the female cared about felt the same way. He suspected from the female’s reaction to him that the male would not only come for her, he would be willing do anything to keep her safe. He would use that against the male when he came.
Section L lowered the small male into the seat of the escape pod and strapped him in. Ducking his head, he stepped out of the small vessel and sealed it. He connected to the controls and pre-set a course back toward Newport. He set a delay on the emergency transmission to go off in two hours. This would give him time to do what he needed to do before any vessels in the transport lanes picked up the distress call and came to pick the male up.
He watched as the pod shot out of the narrow tube into space before the outer door closed again. With a satisfied smile, he turned and headed back to the galley. Now it was time to take care of the female.
Chapter 27
“I don’t give a damn what you want,” Bulldog growled. “I have a location lock on the
Lulu Belle
. I’ll be there in seven hours.”
“I will be there in three,” Krac replied coldly. “The escape pod was picked up an hour ago. Skeeter’s co-pilot was the only one aboard. He was unconscious.”
“I’ve been trying to hail the
Lulu Belle
since you notified me,” Bulldog admitted. “There has been no response.”