The Maxell System had three occupied worlds. Harper's Junction, Green Hell and Desolate. Roy did not know all that much about Desolate, other than it was a very cold planet with a thin layer of water ice over hard rock. As far as he knew only five or six thousand colonists made Desolate their home.
Harper's Junction the destination of his shuttle flight was the first planet of the system in relation to its Star. It was the seat of the System administration. It had a Union Post Office, a regional District Court. There was a Ranger Station, the one Ranger Solomon reported to. It had a local police and there was a big city called Harper’s Luck and a D Class Spaceport.
Harper’s Luck featured a Union accredited College and a real Terra Style Park with meadows, forest and lake.
Harper's Junction had no significant atmosphere and it was very hot on its surface. He knew from school that several mining companies dug for heavy elements and minerals. The Planet was known for its highly specialized Psionic Pharma Industry.
The little Info Loop about Harper’s was filled with advertisements and suggestions where to find company when one felt lonely. Nothing advertised was of particular interest to Roy, so he turned the screen off and stared through the view port as the shuttle made its approach.
The planet looked dirty and dusty even from space, so unlike the luscious greens and blues of his home.
They landed inside a big crater turned into a space port landing field and a robot arm took the entire shuttle and took it below and pushed it into one of the passenger terminal receptor shoes that molded itself along the shuttles side.
Roy and Partner were the only passengers, but the shuttle had a load of mail and freight from Green Hell as well, two S-10 robots unloaded the mail onto a hover cart while a slide belt carried Roy and Partner towards the Terminal, since he came from a inter-system flight, there was no custom controls and the belt ended in the main terminal.
So many beings and robots and shops! He did not notice the dark blue uniformed Cop and the robot approaching him. The Flesh and Steel patrol team stopped right before him and the policeman with his visor helmet covering most of his face snarled. "Citizen, no sudden moves now, I want to scan your CITI and then read you your rights. That artillery piece you carry is illegal" Roy blinked and only now really noticed the police man. The robot had already raised his Paralysator arm.
He said. “Are you talking to me Sir?"
"Who else would I talk to when standing right before you? Whatever that thing is with you doesn't seem to be sentient." Roy exposed his Citizen Implant and the cop scanned it. "Oh of course a Greenie.”
To the robot he said. “Check that out Mac, the guy actually has a valid Class VI Weapon permit. Never seen one, by gosh.”
The robot was not impressed but then robots usually weren’t no matter what. “This is the highest weapon permit issued, Sir. The ISS TKU 12 carried by this citizen is therefore legal.”
The Cop shook his head. “A Greenie, of course I should have known. The Bio Seal suit, All Terrains, Machete and all. I guess it was that black thing that threw me off and of course my Sensors picking up a TKU 12. Dear Stahl, is it fully enabled?”
Roy took it out and turned it butt first to the Cop. “Dials up all the way to Setting 20 if that is what you mean.”
The cop took the gun almost as if holding his first born son. “Fully enabled it is indeed; let’s keep it at two until you leave Harper’s can you?”
“Sure thing, Sir.” Roy made a sweeping gesture and asked. "Is it always that busy around here, Sir?"
"Busy? It is late on a Tuesday evening. This is nothing. You should see the place on a Friday afternoon, when the Miners get their pay."
The Robot snarled" Seven-ten in progress at the Swine and Dine." Neither the Cop nor the Robot paid any more attention to Roy. The Police man climbed on the back of the Robot, onto a little platform and the machine ran with flashing lights through the crowds. Partner sneezed and Roy nodded." Yep that's one crazy place alright!"
Partner sneezed while chewing on something that looked like a plastic bag.
“Is it any good?”
Partner swallowed whatever it was, squeezed his eyes and sneezed again.
Roy laughed and patted Partners side. “You are one crazy Black Dog or whatever you are.”
He was hadn't even walked maybe 30 meters when a thin fellow with a colorful jacket and huge hat bumped into him, said sorry and wanted to go on. His Sense of Danger flashed in his mind and he grabbed the man by the neck and wanted to pull his TKU. It wasn't there! He did all this before he knew he was doing it.
The thin man with the colorful hat and similar facial features as Uncle Sam, but much more pronounced. That man squirmed in Roy’s vise like grip and held Roy’s TKU and then turned it pointing it at Roy, or at least he tried. Partner roared an ear shattering deep growl and opened his maw; the dark skinned man became visibly pale. Roy squeezed his fist a little tighter still holding the man on his neck. He shivered and turned the gun and held it so Roy could take it. ”It was an accident, sorry!"
Roy took his gun and said. "That was no Accident and Stealing a weapon is against the law!"
"You don't say! I would have never guessed!"
Roy really didn't like that dark skinned fellow. "I will hand you over to the Police!"
The man didn't like that and kicked Roy pretty hard against the shinbone. “Let me go you oaf!"
"I had about enough of you!" Roy still holding the man by the neck and with no effort at all squeezed a little harder and gave him a good shake.
"One more like this and I pop that ugly head right off your neck!"
The Pickpocket first struggled some more coughed and wheezed, turned a little darker and then went limb. Roy dropped him right on the floor and said to Partner. "Let's get out of here, before that cop comes back.”
Everything felt big and somehow dead. There was nothing green anywhere, true there were green lights, green dressed beings and green paint, but nothing green and alive.
Finally after he crossed to the other side of the Space Port concourse he saw a few sad looking trees and bushes in planters next to a business selling flowers.
So he went straight to the Gray Line Lobby where his ticket gave him access and opened the sliding doors. There he sat down in one of the somewhat worn out chairs. To go into a Portel or a restaurant didn’t even occur to him.
Partner plopped down right next to him and put his massive head between his big paws.
The lobby was bare and boring looking. It was completely deserted, except for an ancient looking S-5 Robot pushing an actual mob and a big bucket with mob squeeze on wheels following the robot.
The friendly looking Bot in the Ticket booth repeated Advertisement lines every time the S-5 mopped past him. Roy found that quite funny as he was certain that old janitor robot was not interested in any special trips to Para-Para and enjoy the beaches there. The Janitor Unit responded each time with. "I am not authorized to perform janitorial services outside my designated service area."
There was a Public GalNet booth and a smudgy looking Virtu Game machine. A Vend-Matic offered a variety of snacks and drinks. He noticed a dusty ruffled looking bush in a pot in one corner and it somehow looked dead. He wondered what kind of attack weapons this bush had. But then his Danger sense did not warn him and so he was well outside the danger zone. After he had finished counting the chairs, there were 179 and then he counted ceiling lights, 20. He knew it would be a long ten hours. He had to wait because the Schedule of the Green Hell shuttle did not really fit with the Space Bus he had to take.
He wasn't tired one bit. Partner was quite content, so he got up and swiped a credit into the Virtu Game Machine only to find out that the Virtu Experience was about five Marines fighting their way through Green hell Jungles. The title sequence praised the show as the most gruesome Experience on the Universes most horrible planet! He felt a bit angry and most of all homesick already.
The Game itself was colorful and loud and the Water Snakes looked evil and ugly and made a bad laughing sound when they killed a Marine.
He didn’t finish the game and turned around and now he found out why there were only 179 chairs. Partner had one of the seats between its massive paws and chewed on it, twisting metal and stuffing sticking out of his big maw.
"Are you hungry?" Yet again he could not seem to formulate what hunger meant in terms Partner understood and he simply send waves of affection and licked Roy.
Then he heard his name." Mr. Masters?"
He turned to find the ticket booth robot called his name and he went over. "Yes?"
"Thank you for choosing Gray Lines. I must inform you the scheduled coach to Blue Moon is been delayed due to Engine malfunction for a yet not determined period. Gray Line apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. Gray Line can offer you a free voucher for the Holiday Portel or a price reduced upgrade E Deck ticket to the Luxury Clipper Silver Swan also operated by Gray Lines Inc. the Silver Swan will leave in 4 hours from Landing Field North, Sir"
"How much is the Upgrade?" "One way passage to Blue Moon aboard Silver Swan on E Deck for two Beings in a Super Economy Cabin will be 1650,00 Union Credits, Sir."
"I am just wondering what it would cost without the price reduction?" "We are deducting the price of your Space Bus tickets of 350 Union Credits and the price of one night at the Holiday Portel of 34 Union Credits. The regular ticket would be 2034 UC, Sir"
"That's not really a reduction you know."
"There are Dormitory style Bunks on F Deck available as well. For a combined Ticket price of 750 UC, Sir. The Silver Swan will not make any stops along the way and you will be on Blue Moon three weeks earlier than aboard a Space Bus, Sir"
"Alright, sign us up." He glanced at his Cred-Stick. His parents had given him 3000 for College added to his usual Allowance savings, he had 8450 Unions to his name."
--“”—
Mr. Keltony, the proprietor of Green Hell Slide Belt Maintenance sat in his office and watched local news. The Dura Steel tube containing Leo Swarthy was just loaded into the hold of a Police Cruiser. It would be flown to a Forensic Lab of the Federal Police.
He was supposed to be one of the very best, able to abduct just about anyone for the right price. Contact was made using one of the best Connectors and there he was, dead. No casualty caused by local life forms had occurred inside the City for over 100 years, but Mr. Swarthy fell victim to Buzzsaws not even five minutes after he had arrived.
Called to Green Hell, by Keltony’s associates and members of the Ministry of Control, they all had ignored his warnings and suggestions and Mr. Swarthy was the fourth such specialist that had died over the last three weeks trying to capture that cursed Greenie, Roy Masters. That boy had not really left those jungles and was completely unpredictable where or when he would surface.
First two Petharians, then a tough bounty hunter who claimed he could stalk the boy never returned.
Sometimes he wondered why there even was a Ministry of Information when the MOC could stick their noses in any other Ministry and take over whatever project they liked, to look good before the Grand Wizard.
The Problem was that MOC agents could not see beyond their own shadows and actually believed their own Propaganda about Kermac supremacy. That the real Universe had long surpassed the Kermac and delegated them to the sidelines was a fact lost to them.
He was a Kermac and he was loyal, but he had spent a long time disguised as human and lived the life of a Union Citizen.
With a deep sigh he reached out and touched the sensor that activated his GalNet Terminal in Secure Mode. The flashing light could mean only one thing; the idiots he was just thinking about were calling. They most likely received his report of Mr. Swarthy’s sudden demise.
He was mildly surprised to see the milky shadow that represented the Grand Wizard of All. “Are there any news on your side?”
“Why don’t you ask the experts of the MOC who have completely taken over and neither listened nor acted on any of my warnings, suggestions or observations?”
The altered Kermac spy noticed now that the Incognito Grand Wizard was not alone. The yellowish milky shadow became clearer and all doubts were erased, it was the First Wizard of all indeed. The fact that he was on a GalNet Connection also meant that he was inside the Union somewhere, as SII did not extend GalNet Services outside the Union.
The grand Wizard said. “He poses a good question. I recall his words and you better recall mine. Do we have this Green Hell Boy in our custody? Do we have the leverage to make him do what we want?”
The other three shapes that now openly joined the conversation visibly squirmed and one of them said. “We experienced some slight set-backs and we are currently working on a revised strategy.”
The first Wizard crossed his arms. “You just managed to say absolutely nothing. Reveal yourselves I want to see you!”
The milky disguise-shapes shimmered out and two white Skinned Kermac with traditional Beards appeared; wearing the traditional blue colors of the Ministry of Control. The third shape was the Woman going by the name Ieshia Yeager.
The First Wizard pointed at the Kermac in the middle. “I humored you Fivefotwelv, and you raised high in the MOC, the Robe of a Wizard within reach. Now tell me that all the stock that was put in your abilities was well placed. Can we begin excavating the Saresii Ship?”
Fivefotwelv slowly shook his head and with an involuntary gesture tucked at the collar of his robe, almost as if it was too tight. “Your Magnificent, All Wise, greatest of all grand Wizard…”
The Grand Wizard interrupted him. “It pleases me that you know all my titles, but we will all still be here tomorrow if you name them all. Let us forgo with these traditions and simply tell me what I wanted to know and tell me now!”
“I think if we are successful with our new plan we will be able to excavate in twenty Union Years.”
The First Wizard’s projection almost fell from the chair. “You know of the importance and the time pressure. The MOI has promised success in about the same time even before you mingled and before you promised you could do it much faster. Recent Intel warns us that the Wurgus are going to meet with Union Representatives and if we are correct they are meeting near the Maxwell System.”
The disguised MOI agent posing as a human slide belt technician said. “Their latest attempt to bypass all warning about Green Hell has just been loaded into a Police Cruiser, his brain eaten by Buzzsaws.”
The woman spoke. “He was not supposed to go into the Jungles, he was to follow this Greenie in town and get him to us.”
The Grand Wizard said, still talking to the Kermac in the Middle. “You do have his parents by now and through them we can make him help us locate that ship?”
“Uhm, about that it didn’t go as we expected. The Union Explorer ship exploded and all crew was killed before we could extract the Scientists.”
The first Wizard said. “You two are to come back to Kermac Prime with me. I think we need to rethink your current positions.” To the Woman he said. “You know who we are and who you are dealing with. I put you in charge to get us the Cooperation of that boy and you got ten days. Succeed and you will be very wealthy, fail and there is no place you can hide from us.”
To the disguised Kermac he said. “Contact the Old Saresii and find out if she had made any progress. I expect your ideas how to proceed by tomorrow night as I must return to Kermac Prime.”
--“”—
750 Credits poorer he took a Taxi to the designated address on his new ticket. Cursing as the Taxi charged him 12 Credits to take him to the right terminal and he wondered if he could even afford a glass of Water by the Time College started. Before he could even reach the transparent doors leading to the Silver Lines Lobby, his PDD chirped with the Urgent Message sound.
He also recognized the Call ID. It was Ranger Solomon. So he pushed Reply and the Rangers face appeared.
The Ranger looked more serious than he had ever seen him before.
Roy said. "Am I in trouble? I really only defended myself against that thief. He was breathing when I dropped him, Sir!" "Roy we can talk about that later. It is not the reason I call. I have very bad news for you and I think you should find a place to sit down for this."
He looked around and found a row of benches just before the Silver Swan Passenger Lobby and sat down. "I am sitting now, Sir!"
"Roy I am not sure how to tell you this the right way, and I wish I could be there to tell you in person."
The Ranger took a deep breath and said. "Roy, your parents have been both killed. Their Explorer ship was attacked by Pirates and it was confirmed an hour ago that all hands of the Explorer have been killed."
Roy didn’t react or even move a muscle. He had heard what the Ranger had said. He understood the meaning of the words, but still he failed to comprehend. Finally with a failing voice he said. "My Parents?"
"Yes Roy, both of them. I am so sorry!"
"What now? What about me and do I need to do anything?"
"No Roy, the Explorer Corps of the Navy is taking care of everything. There will be a memorial service aboard the USS Vincent, the ship first at the scene.
You are welcome to attend via Avatar of course and I am sending them all your contact data.
I could not find your Grandparents, It looks your father parents went on a trip across the Bridge and your mother's parents have left no forwarding address.”
Roy wiped his eyes unaware he was crying and said. "They are probably traveling with the Roaming Kids again. They are a bit on the strange side. Mother never wanted much contact with them.”
"Well I did find an Uncle of yours on Terra who will be your legal guardian till you are eighteen. I am sending you his contact data and he expects you to come to Earth."
Roy nodded feeling numb. Partner pressed his head in Roy's side and he could feel the waves of compassion from his animal friend.
Ranger Solomon added. "You have my heartfelt condolences and you can call anytime if you need something."
"I will." Roy disconnected and simply sat there for at least an hour. Then he got up and went inside the Passenger lobby. He wanted to get a refund on the ticket and go back home and to Uncle Sam. He was the person he wanted to talk to. He would know an answer to it all and if it really was true, why could Uncle Sam not be his guardian?
While he was on his way to the ticket counter he observed two Klack, man size Antlike non humanoid Union members argue with a gray bearded man just before the Service counter and suddenly he felt danger! He turned and noticed a green skinned man just raising his hand. Nothing seemed dangerous in that gesture but he acted and threw himself forward pushing both the Klack and the bearded man in a tumbling tackle to the ground. There was a humming sound and someone screamed, it smelled of burned plastic and seconds later rough fists grabbed him pulling him off the ground. Two tall and strong looking men in dark suits, one holding him with much strength and the second holding a weapon fired at Partner! Partner had the green skinned man pinned to the ground and was now turning to help Roy. The energy beam hit Beast right between the eyes and Roy fearing to lose his friend hammered his elbow in the stomach of the man holding him. It was as if he hit a steel wall, but the man still was driven back and let him go. Roy whirled around and gave the man an added push with both hands, sending him tumbling between the chairs. Now he pulled his own TKU and pointed it at the man untangling himself from the chairs. Partner seemed unhurt but now extended his claws and gouged deep scratches in the metal floor. He didn't want Partner to cause a bloodbath before he knew what was going on and yelled: "Partner, Stop!"
His Animal stopped in its tracks, slid a few more meters and stopped only inches before the frantic shooting man, his enormous maw wide open exposing his sharp teeth. Marines and Police stormed the lobby and surrounded Roy and Partner with drawn weapons. Someone said. "No move buster or your toast. You only live because we have questions!"
Roy was still shocked about his parent’s death and the sudden violence. In the Jungles of Green Hell, his strange sense of danger usually instinctively told him how to react and that was always enough. Here it appeared to be a handicap as it didn't provide him with any follow up.
The man with the beard held up his hand. "Stand down Marines! This young man just saved my life and that of the Klack Delegates!"
The marines weren't so quick to lower their guns. One of them said. "Sir, this brute just manhandled a Special Service man and is armed to the teeth!"
“Soldier if you do not lower these guns and do your real job I make sure your next posting will be somewhere very unpleasant!” The guns went down and Roy carefully and slowly holstered his weapon then said. "Come Partner, we're done here!"
The bearded man said. "Young man, I really am Pandar Strong, and you saved my life. Come sit with me for a little moment and tell me how you knew about this assassination attempt."
He said that in away as if Roy should know who he is. The two Klack spoke at the same and in perfect synchronized timing. Their voices came from little speech boxes glued right to their chitin bodies. "We also say thank you to not let it happen, our extermination, we are pleased to live! We think it is so that we have to say the thank you custom to you for performing this most welcomed action."
Roy wondered about the strange speech pattern and said. "Not necessary. I have some very serious problems of my own to deal with. I just saw that guy pointing something at you and just knew what he wanted to do. I never seen the man before and I would remember if I had seen him on Green Hell before."
The man with the gray beard had wrinkles all around his eyes and a smile parted his lips. "I assume you are a Greenie then?" "That is the case Sir. I am from Green Hell! Just arrived and everything I experienced so far from the outer Worlds is more than I ever want to know and I am going back home!"
The Marines collected the serious wounded green man and the black suited men questioned and scanned everyone and everything but kept a healthy distance from Partner who growled like rolling thunder every time they forgot.
Mr. Strong said. "I think you do not know who I am!"
Roy shrugged. "You said you are Pandar Strong, should I know you?"
A beautiful woman with silvery long hair, wearing a dark purple velvet like Cat suit that seemed almost painted to her perfectly shaped curves. "Mr. President, he has no idea who you are. Only moments ago he received message that both his parents have been killed in a Pirate attack. I can verify he has no connection or even an idea what is going on here. He acted out of instinct to a sudden reaction."
Roy stared at the tall woman. "How do you know all this about me?"
"I am sorry Mr. Masters. I am a telepath." She pointed at a small silvery pin on her collar shaped like a human brain. "PSI-Corps."
The old man said with great warmth in his deep voice. "I am so sorry you lost your parents. I am so sick of hearing these Pirate attack stories. I want that fleet of ours hunt them down and hunt them to extinction. "The man put his hand on Roy's shoulder. “Son, I am the President of the United Stars of the Galaxy." Roy snapped his finger in recognition. "Oh right now I remember. Vote for Mr. Strong and you never go wrong! Sure I remember that from the election campaign ads last year. What a cheesy line! I always laughed about that one." But then he realized it, even in his current confused
and somewhat dazed mind he realized he was speaking to the President himself! "Jumping Stomper, Sir! Mr. President. Your Excellency Sir. I didn't mean to ah..." His mind raced and he tried to remember if there was anything in school about what one had to do when facing the President.
"It's quite alright, Son. I didn't like it much either."
The silver haired woman said. "There are no special requirements at all. No set formulas."
Then she turned to the President. "I think it is all a little much for the Young man right now and I would like to get with him to a more quite place so he can collect himself and cope with it all. It is quite a load, Sir!"
"Yes, Cara I think this is a good idea!"
The Woman said to Roy. "If you like you can come with me. We find a quiet place now and maybe get you something to drink." Roy nodded thankfully and followed the woman. Even in his current state he could not completely ignore her cat like movements in that skintight suit. After a short Elevator ride they came to a plush luxurious looking lounge with comfortable looking couches and chairs. Huge viewports allowed a view outside onto the landing field. A very elegant looking space ship was out there on the landing field and it looked like a big white Water bird that had swooped down and was now resting in a tranquil pool. It had a drop shaped body with stylized folded wings, a large breast and a thin tall neck with a small head on top of it. It looked more like a work of art than an actual space ship.
The plush lounge was deserted except for a bored looking lonely looking bar keeper behind a curved bar.
The silver haired woman gestured to a small table next to the big window and they sat down, Partner staying close to Roy.
The bar keeper came over right away and said. ”I am sure glad to see guests today. Normally this place is packed before a departure but something is going on down stairs and it seems it has chased away all my guests.” He pulled a small PDD. “What can I bring you?"
The woman said. "A Sparo-Pop for me and whatever my young friend and his Partner would like."
Roy felt as if his very soul was packed into a thick layer of something constricting and numbing shrugged. “Water maybe.”
The Barkeep looked human but had deep green scaled skin, had a massive body with bulging muscles and an enormous jaw with pronounced tusks sticking out, exactly the opposite way as Partner’s fangs, but his demeanor was very friendly and he said. "You most certainly look like a Greenie to me with that Bio-seal suit and that enormous Gun. We do have that new Hell-Ade from Sam's Farm and the stuff sells like hot cake!"
Hearing Sam’s name in all of this was like a ray of light and it painted a brief smile on his face. “Yes that I have and a big glass with lots of ice. He looked at his Animal and tried to formulate thirst with his mind but Partner did not understand just as much as hunger. Partner looked at him quizzically. Roy shrugged and said to the Barkeeper. “Just bring some water for Partner, in a big bowl and something you don’t need anymore."
The big barkeeper padded Partner’s head without any fear or shyness. “It is sure the best looking pet I have ever seen.”
Roy was sure that the Keeper from now on could have stolen something right out of Partners maw and be alright. His four legged friend apparently understood some of what the Barkeep had said as Partner felt pride and pulled his big black tongue across the Barkeepers arm.
The woman changed her order. “I changed my mind; I like to try Hell-Ade as well.”
They sat quietly on the table. Roy was staring into nothingness and the woman didn’t say anything.
The Barkeeper came back with two glass bottles, glasses and a small bucket of ice. The bottles had a label on the side and bellow the words:”Hell Ade the Death to Thirst. A Fruit drink from the most Extreme World in the Universe – Green Hell” was a picture of Uncle Sam and Roy. Sam having his arm on Roy’s shoulder. There even was Charles standing a little removed in the back.
The woman tried it and said. “I can see why this is selling; I found a new favorite drink. This is really tasty.”
An S-10 Service Robot came, carrying a big bowl of water and a plate piled with underarm long dough rolls bursting with grilled meat. The Robot placed both right before Partner and the Barkeep said with a horrendous smile directly to Partner.” That’s for you my handsome friend. I had a few Lum-Lum’s left over and hope you like them.”
Roy liked the Green Bar keeper already. He was among the first who talked to Partner directly and Partner showed his appreciation by eating the offering, plate bowl and all in a few messy gulps. Earning him a satisfied laugh and another petting. The Bar keeper left and the S-10 begun to mop up the spilled water.
The Woman held her bottle of Hell-Ade and said “That is you on the bottle is it not?"
Roy nodded. She leaned closer and over the table and her long hair fell forward. She had large purple colored eyes that matched her suit and very feminine shaped painted lips. "Roy, I am Cara. I am a Saresii and I am a Telepath. Normally I do not poke in other minds. I had to do it down there because of the assassination attempt."
He nodded." My mother is..." he paused as his mind corrected him and tears welled up in his eyes against his will."...my mother was from Phantasm. She was as a Telepath. I am quite used to it and I know you are not allowed to read any others deep thoughts only what is transmitted."
She put her hand on Roy's and her touch felt warm and gave him some comfort. With a defiant move he wiped his eyes, realizing he was crying. A future Marine and a real Greenie would not cry like a baby in the open like that. He tried hard to stem the flow and fight the tight knot in his throat.
Her voice became even softer. "It is perfectly okay to cry, I have seen the greatest Warrior in this Galaxy cry, if the eternal warrior can shed tears, the so can you. There is no one here, but me and your magnificent animal. The barkeep pays no attention to us."
He knew she was much older than him, but he was glad she was there and tried to comfort him. When he started to cry and how she ended up simply holding him he didn't know; she was after all still a perfect stranger to him. When he realized she was holding him he untangled himself and sat back on his chair. He still felt very empty and very confused. What would happen next, what was expected for him to do?
He was afraid of the future and wondered what life on Earth would be like and who this uncle was no one had ever mentioned and didn't even know he had.
His PDD beeped again and he could not control his shaking finger as he activated it, what other news would it bring? He found it was a recorded message.
He somehow must have missed the actual call. A man he had never seen looked with a sour face into the visual sensor and said with a gruff voice. "That's just great. Now I have to take care of my brother’s teenager. I assume that would be you. Well I won't change my life because my dear brother decided to get himself killed. No one in his right mind would fly in that pirate infested unclaimed space, in an unarmed Explorer no less. Well deserves him right, that coward. Always bragging how smart he was and how important hi science was. I have news for you Roy; they didn't give a hoot about you. You were an accident, not meant to happen. You distracted from their only love. Those damn beakers and micro scanners and all that science crap. Now I won't change my life or my plans to make that perfectly clear. The law made me your guardian but no one says that I have to be a good guardian or give a damn about you. I got my own life and I am a busy Field Technician for Wintham Systems and I am going across the Bridge for an assignment
So find somewhere cheap to stay till I am back in 16 or 20 month.
I don’t want a snot nosed, untidy teenager in my apartment. There will be no money and if you need anything call my dad your Grandfather or someone else who cares. The law made me your guardian, so this is what I want you to do: Stay out of my hair. Come to Earth, Go to that damn College and get a job or whatever. You deviate one iota from that, or get into the slightest sort of trouble and it is Mother Moore’s Happy Orphanage for you!" The man, his uncle didn't even bother to say his name and did not leave a return call address.
The Woman had heard it and said. "Well it seems not much is working out for you today. Tell you what, why don't you come with me to Sares-Prime One for a while so you can find your bearings, at least till college starts."
“I think I ought to go back to Green Hell but then my new Guardian will send me to an Orphanage. I still have two years before the Law considers me an adult.”
“Let me worry about that, Roy. You won’t have to go into any Orphanage, I promise.”
“But you are a total stranger and I need to go somewhere where I can take Partner. Sares is far from Earth and I don’t have all that much money.”
“Sares is connected to Earth via Space Train and you can be there in an hour from Sares.”
She sighed and added. “If I tell you I do it because I feel sorry for you, then you certainly won't agree. So I say I am a little curious about your Danger Sense, as you call it. Like most Saresii I am a Psionic Expert and we don't know of any ability that lets you sense danger. Then there is the fact that you are the Psionic twin of that Fury Hound. I never saw a real life specimen.”
Roy looked up. "You know what Partner is and you have seen one before?"
She looked at the now content sleeping beast and said. “Of course I am not certain, the only records of something like that are from the First Age of Knowledge and are more myth than facts, but the way it absorbed blaster shoots like that it might be one. I am sure the Narth could tell you what it is for sure but they are quite isolated and don't allow visitors.”
"What is a Fury Hound?"
"It is an old legend from our First Age, before the Darkening and the Loss of knowledge. What do you know about us Saresii?” He tried to remember and said. “I didn’t pay as much attention in school as I should have and I skipped a few Cerebral Upload sessions we had in the Afternoons so I could slip out in the Jungles.” Only now he too took a sip of his Hell-Ade and then drained the glass realizing how perched his throat felt. He wiped his mouth with the provided napkin and said. “The Saresii are one of the oldest Union member species and consist only of females, real ones and men who pretend to be female.”
She interrupted him. “Just so you know I am female. I know some Terran Humans are not entirely comfortable with that aspect of our species so I thought I let you know.”
Roy waved the bar keeper and pointed at his empty bottle. To the woman he said. “I am not Terran, I am a Greenie.”
She smiled. “Of course you are! Now we Saresii once ruled over a very large part of the Universe and developed into a society considered Tech Level 11. After a terrible war against a similar developed enemy we were plunged into a period where we lost much of our knowledge and technology, our society changed and developed into what it is today. There are not that many similarities between our old and our present civilization and culture. Most but not all knowledge and most but not all technology has been lost. One of these legends is this ancient rumor about the Dark Ones, that is how we now call that ancient enemy by the way; anyway they supposedly breed or made something called Fury Hounds, it was supposed to be a sort of Battle robot or Battle Creature, breed and made to attack and destroy with ruthless efficiency. The legend also reports that there was not very much that could stop or destroy them.”
She still looked at Partner as the Barkeep brought two more bottles and simply added his opinion. “I overheard some of what you said and we Oromals have a history almost as old as the Saresii and we too know of the Dark Ones. We call them Imperials but they are one and the same.” He pointed at Partner. “This beautiful animal does indeed fit the legend and description of the Imperial Hell Hounds. There is a famous old Faery tale told among my kind about them.”
Roy had almost forgotten his troubles for the moment and said with an eager tone in his voice. “You think Partner is such a Hell Hound?”
The Barkeep once again petted Partner and said. “Well why not, all legends and faery tales have a kernel of truth and it is only time and the many times it is told that add all the fantastic elements. One bar patron tells how he killed a fly on one end of the bar and when the night is over, the story is told at the other end of the bar and now it is a Fire Demon that has been slain in the Igras Expanse.”
The woman said. “You are quite wise, Barkeeper.”
“Barkeepers hear a lot of stories and especially here at a Bar attached to a Space port.”
He picked up the empty bottles and put them on the tray that floated right behind him and he added. “In our story, the Hell Hounds were originally energy beings living in a hot sun, where the Imperials found them and gave them this shape and enslaved them to do their bidding. It all was considered pure fantasy until the Non Corps became a Union Member just a few years ago. They are beings made of energy and live on a star.”
The Saresii woman said. “You know putting it that way you might have real point there.”
The Barkeep left as he spotted two new guests arriving.
Roy turned to look at his animal. It was huge even lying down right next to him eyes closed. It immediately noticed his attention raised his head and liked Roy with its dry tongue across the arm, squinted at him and settled back down with waves of content feelings. He said to it. “Are you a Fury Hound or a Hell Hound?”
Partner however did not understand and simply liked the attention of Roy and licked him again, before putting his enormous head onto Roy’s lap.
The woman shook her head slowly." The connection you have with it is amazing."
Roy only listened halfway as he once again thought about his parents and his future. “My uncle was right in a few things, I know my parents, or at least my mother loved me but it was never the same as the love Melissa or the others got or felt of their parents.
My mother never looked at me as Sarah Salomon looked at my best friend.
Their projects and research was always on first place. Even let last events did not change my mother’s mind to leave everything including me behind to chase half across the galaxy.”
He sighed deeply and put his head on Partner’s and the almost whispered. “I don't even know what I am supposed to feel. I am shocked and feel lost. I am sad and angry, I think I am angry most for letting me alone so sudden. We never had real contact to our extended family as it was a waste of time for my parents to go to a reunion or wedding.
My mother always found those family gatherings boring and without significant value."
The woman answered. "There are people like that, dedicated to the cause and to their work. They do great things and are often remembered by generations to come for their deeds, discoveries and work, but they are rarely known for their social and human skills."
He shrugged. “Even If I would want to go with you. I am not free until I am of legal age and I must do what he said. One thing I know, my childhood has ended today." He got up. I better change my ticket then; I bet the ship is leaving soon."
She smiled. "I think you need to check your PDD again.”
He was surprised as there was indeed a new message of his Uncle. Once again the sour faced man appeared and now he looked even more annoyed. “I don’t know what kind of trouble you are in, but I am releasing you into the custody of Federal Agent Cara Mehagryf. Good Riddance to you and just stay out of my life.”
The recording and the transmission ended as abruptly as before. He looked up. “Federal Agent, trouble? I am in trouble?”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about that, it just happens that I am a Federal Agent and I telepathically advised my supervisor to arrange that, so you can come with me, if you are okay with that.”
Roy shrugged. “I am just the plaything of adults so it seems and I don’t have much choice in the matter. I still need to go to the ticket counter. I paid a lot of money for the ticket to Blue Moon and now I need one to Sares Prime.”
She laughed. “I am sure you travel courtesy of the President anywhere you want and not on F Deck either."
--“”—
The two lounge guests that now sat on the bar ordered Fizz Buzz Orange Water. They both looked like Terran Human travelers wearing business suits. The female had black hair pulled back into a French knot and gave her a stern professional appearance, her companion had his thin blond hair cut close to the skull and after her received his drink he said to the female. “That is him, Roy Masters.” She sipped and said while doing that in a very quiet manner. “Yes it is, but the female with him wears the PSI Corps Pin. We better leave before she has time to scan the room and notice that we are shielded.”
“So what? This is the Union and they have PSI laws. She can’t probe us. PSI shields are legal, PSI probing is not.”
“She is Saresii and with the PSI Corps. The President of the United Stars just escaped an assassination attempt, you think they care much about these laws?” “Ieshia, I don’t know who you really are or how long you are here, but the Union is not the Galactic Council or the Kermac we both serve. They really stick to their laws and regulations, President or not.”
“And you are sound contaminated and almost like a traitor. The Union are mere children compared to the Kermac. The Wizards lead with unquestionable wisdom. Any species should beg to be accepted under the blessed rule of the Kermac.”
“You are not the same Ieshia that took part in the raid or been on Green Hell.” “Of course not, this is an Identity we have crafted and I decided to use it to freely move in this society, but I think we need to concentrate on the matters at hand and I say we leave before she probes.”
The two got up, paid the tab and left as fast as they could without looking to be in a hurry. The man said. “You seem to have more than just respect about the abilities of that woman who is just of a childish race.”
“She is Saresii and chosen to be near their president. I suspect her to be quite powerful.” Then she clenched her fists. “The Saresii will be the first who will suffer our wraith. The others might be given the choice to serve us, the Saresii however and the Terrans they will be exterminated.”
--“”—
The Jolly Blue fell back into real space and Phil said. “We are almost at Blue Moon now, but the place is so busy we needed to come out Quasi Space almost nine light hours outside Blue Moon System.”
Celyciia sat reclined in one of the comfortable Vari-Form chairs that were part of a large lounge like room that included the small space ships bridge up front.
Phil Decker so she and the Sergeant found out had his own space ship. It was a 50 meter ship of a type or class neither she nor the Sergeant had ever seen before. The Sergeant however did now it was called the Jolly Blue and was as almost as famous as Decker himself.
She pulled herself into a more upright position and said. “This old ship of yours made very good time then. Should put her right into Fast clipper range.”
Sergeant Ruddick also moved the seat in an upright position and said. “I’ve seen the ISAH Pods of this ship they, didn’t look Union at all.”
Phil turned his seat away from the ship controls and said. “I got them when the Attikans weren’t Union.”
Ruddick snapped his fingers. “Attikan Race Engines, of course I should have recognized the shape.” Celyciia looked puzzled. “Aren’t the Attikans in the Large Magellan Cloud and became members very recently?”
Phil said. “That doesn’t mean they weren’t there before and I did get around a bit after my beloved Leynica died.”
The last words he said with a quiet voice looking towards the Still image of a gorgeous Saresii woman.
Celyciia changed the subject. If this is such a busy place how can we hope to find anything without alerting the local authorities?”
Sergeant Ruddick got up and dialed himself a mug of coffee from the Serv Matic. “There is one of the biggest Federal Police Precincts, why are we not asking them for help again?”
Phil checked the flight plan and filed an approach request with System control, and then he said. “Oh right I didn’t think of that. You two can go back home, they will solve the case in no time. They are so big they must be good.” Riddick sipped on his coffee and dialed for a second one he then handed to Celyciia and said. “You think they are corrupt? If there is one thing that makes my blood boil, its corrupt cops.”
Decker shook his head. “While there might be a few black sheep in a big precinct like that, I am sure TeePee Okram keeps his house as clean. No I am not saying they are corrupt, I just don’t want anyone know about us coming and getting nervous before we had a chance to talk to TeePee and make sure if someone gets nervous we know about it.”
The Saresii woman took the Coffee and took it over to Phil. “Just pretend for a moment that we are just two simple cops with very little experience about all this conspiracy stuff and explain it to us.”
Ruddick laughed. “He doesn’t have to pretend in my case.”
Phil smiled and said. “I would not have taken you along if I thought you were simple. Now I really hate to ring my own bell, but if we approach openly and the news spread that Phil Decker is coming investigating a case. Many rats that are cooking something bigger might think I come for them and try to cover their tracks. In all this the guys we are actually after will have a chance to slip away. So we go quietly investigate the Lux Rental Company and try to find out who rented that Bombardier and then we are a big step closer finding out who raided the Prison colony and maybe we even find out why.”
Ruddick held his coffee mug with both hands. “Makes sense to me but I did some calculating and whoever bank rolled that raid has mighty deep pockets. Whatever they are after is something really big.” He counted on his fingers. “Bribing the Warden, getting Shiss technology to leave the right traces, renting a Bombardier and hiring people who keep their mouth shut that is going to cost millions of Credits, and that excludes any small crook outfit and we are talking about the real big leaguers like the Worm or the Triage.”
Phil Decker looked at the Sergeant with open praise in his eyes. “See, you are anything but simple. In my days there was an old saying ‘Follow the money’ and it will get you to the source.”
The Saresii woman said. “What is the only thing you can find on a Prison Colony?” She answered her own question saying. “Prisoner of course and I think that the whole action was to mask the escape of a prisoner.”
Phil smiled even deeper. “Okay and now that thought into context with your Sergeants revelation about the cost.”
She blinked and said. “One of the prisoners was worth all this effort. I request the files of all prisoners, maybe I can devise some sort of filter to shift through them all and narrow it down somewhat.”
Phil handed her a data chip. “Here are the files of all prisoners that have been sentenced to the Colony. You find that I narrowed the field somewhat already. I sorted them in unlikely, possible and very likely by correlating their previous crimes and origins.”
She took the chip. “I wonder what you really think of us, you are always ahead of us.”
“I think you and I mean everyone in this age let the machines to too much of the thinking for you, but once you learn to use your own brain again to make the connections you are as good as me and maybe even better.” He pointed at the chip. “If you want to start check the ones I marked unlikely.”
Ruddick said. “That is like looking for a needle in a haystack without knowing how the Needle looks like. How did you sort them?"
“We know it was a male prisoner that excludes all female prisoners. We know they used a Bombardier that means they could not have taken many prisoners. The money and resources spend on this operation exceeds 50 million Credits, as that is the deposit you need to plug down when you rent a Bombardier with a cash deposit. That means if someone planned their escape that way it had to be a very wealthy prisoner or someone with lots of cloud in a big Corporation legal or otherwise. There were only two prisoners rich enough to bankroll such an escape. One of them had only two month left and the other had a parole hearing coming up next week with a team of very expensive lawyers giving it a very good chance. I don’t think either one would have spent more than 90 percent of their wealth to escape so close to their actual release.
That left over 1200 prisoners.
If one excludes the reason of escape, it leaves only one other reason. Someone of these 1200 prisoners had or has he knowledge to something that is worth all the effort.”
She looked at him and said. “I think you have narrowed it down to one already, have you not?”
Now he grinned from ear to ear and said. “I still need a few pieces of the puzzle before I can be certain, but yes I think I know who was rescued or kidnapped from the Prison Colony, I am not entirely sure of the why yet so I keep that for myself for now.”
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