OMEGA Exile (16 page)

As I was coming out of Gaxos, I caught a glimpse of Garrett Rourke as he slipped into a store across the way. I followed him into the store, coming up behind him as he watched the door of a bar on the opposite corner.

"Picking up a few things in here?"

Garrett turned, startled at the sight of a Grunta standing behind him. "Ah, I was wondering where you were. I don’t like her going into these places. Too many Igari sympathizers on this station. If they knew who she was, she would be grabbed before we could do anything about it."

I replied, "They don’t know who she is, and other than being Human, no one would suspect her of anything. She is practiced at not being known as a Salton."

Garrett raised his hand to his mouth. "Keep it down. You say that name, you are going to draw attention."

I grabbed Garrett on the shoulder and squeezed. "I’m glad you are out here watching after her. Say, while we are here, what can you tell me about the Free Alliance?"

Garrett shook his head. "I’ll be honest with you: not much. I have put in numerous requests for information so I can stay a step ahead of any plans to grab her, but the management doesn’t give any of that info out. They want me to just stick close and watch for anything unusual. It would be nice to be able to act sometimes rather than always having to react. As far as the Free Alliance goes, all I know is they are getting bolder and stronger."

I released Garrett’s shoulder and walked back into the hallway only a moment before Joni emerged from the bar she had patronized.

"Any luck?" I asked.

Joni shook her head. "I got nothing. You?"

I nodded as we turned back toward the
Daunte
. "I had a disgruntled drunk and group of youths that were anti-government. They might be good for future prospects. I say we have spent enough time here today. We might hit a few more places on our way back through. Let’s get on out to Zanus."

We soon found ourselves settling down on a planet in the Zanus system. Our position on the dark side offered a clear view of the ships coming and going from the colony. A week passed with little of interest. That all changed when an Orwallian cruiser entered the system and set into orbit around Zanus I.

Joni spoke. "Now that is unusual. I’ve only read about the Orwallians. They don’t like to leave their system. Something about their mother planet having an atmosphere about twice as dense as any other world. My father said they are the only planet in the five galaxies that knows how to manufacture the ion amplifiers that every ship uses in its power system. They are designed to disintegrate if tampered with in any way."

I replied, "That sounds like the portal gates. I wonder what the history books say about them. But the bigger question is: what is an Orwallian ship doing here?"

I stood and moved back to the cabin. "Joni. Would you agree that we need to be down on that planet if we want a shot at finding out what they are doing here?"

Joni replied, "I would agree with that. What do you have in mind?"

I smiled. "We have two perfectly good lifepods on this ship. Take us out to a distance beyond standard sensors and send me toward Zanus. Someone will come out to pick me up."

Joni winced. "And if they don’t come out?"

"We are covered. You just circle around and pick me up on the other side. If I can get a ship out to grab me, you come back here and sit tight. Wait for a signal from me to come pick me up. And just so we are in sync, if you have to come get me, I was ambushed while doing an inspection, my ship was destroyed, and I was ejected in the pod as a cruel joke.

"That pod has four weeks of oxygen; it will take me a day to drift in there and, if needed, a day to drift past. I’m going to drop the oxygen level in the pod down to three days’ worth. Mock up an environmental log that says I have been floating for just over three weeks. I’ll only take a day’s worth of food with me so that I am out when I pass near the system."

Joni pointed at one of the lifepods. "And what if I go in there and they ask why I only have one pod?"

I stopped. "Hmm. Good point."

I walked back and sat in my pilot’s chair. "Take us out to a position just outside their sensor range. I’ll think about it as we go."

An hour after our arrival at the new location, Joni put forth an idea. "Too bad we can’t contact whoever it is that shadows me so we could borrow a lifepod."

I thought for a moment before responding. "Can you take a short trip to your quarters for a few minutes? I will see if I can get a response out of them."

Joni shook her head. "You sure anyone is out there?"

I nodded. "I would bet my life on it. I would also bet this ship has some kind of clandestine tracking device on it that they can track. Otherwise, they would run the risk of us losing them during a chase or a run. Head back to your room. I will see if I can coax a lifepod out of them."

When Joni closed the door, I got on a general comm frequency at a low power. "Garrett, I know you are out there. We need your help. I need to get down to that planet without risking taking Joni with me. I need a lifepod with no ID on the transponder. And I need the oxygen level dropped to three days. I’ve been on your ship, and if I am correct, you have two such pods. I need one."

The comm was silent for several seconds. I continued, "Look, she knows you are out there. Maybe with a little working together, we can make your job easier. I’m not saying for you to reveal yourself. Just jettison a pod and we will pick it up. If you don’t, I will have to take her down to the planet with me."

The comm was silent for several more seconds before a response came back. "Will I be getting this pod back?"

I replied with a smile, "I will personally guarantee it."

Garrett laughed. "Like that is something you could guarantee. I’ll give you the pod on one condition."

I replied: "What’s that?"

Garrett spoke. "You do as you just stated. I don’t want her down on that planet. If you will agree to that not being in your plans, I will jettison a lifepod for your use."

I smiled. "I will guarantee it!"

Garrett shook his head. "Good luck with the Orwallians, Mr. Beutcher. I understand they are fiercely private."

I nodded. "I only want to know what they are doing there. And I owe you one, Garrett."

A pod was jettisoned, and I recalled Joni from her private quarters. "Let’s get this thing programmed up and on its way. Can you think of anything about my story that is lacking?"

Joni thought for a moment. "You might add that it was a random search of a ship that had no transponder. Maybe you were invited aboard and ambushed. If you call me in to pick you up, I will just be the nearest security inspector ship. We usually travel as individuals, so that should be believable."

I nodded. "I’m starting to feel a little more like a spy than an inspector. I think I might actually like that."

The pod was prepared. I boarded, and Joni sent it hurtling toward the Zanus system. I had a day of sitting in the cramped space a lifepod offered to a Grunta, but I was excited enough about the prospect of getting picked up that I pushed any discomfort to the back of my mind.

As I reached the border of the Zanus system, a comm came over the emergency channel. "This is Zanus control. We are picking up your emergency beacon. Do you need assistance?"

I replied, "Yes! Thank goodness! I have been drifting for three weeks. My ship was destroyed. A pickup would be greatly appreciated!"

Arrangements were made and a small transport was soon sliding up beside my lifepod, pulling me aboard. The pilot was an Igari who worked with the planet’s security force.

I spoke as I emerged from the pod. "Wow, am I ever glad to see you!"

The Igari laughed. "I don’t get that a lot, but thanks. You look to be in good physical condition. What happened to your ship?"

I replied, "I was doing an inspection of a trawler when the captain drew down on me. They fired a weapon at my ship, destroying it. I managed to overpower two of the crewmen who were about to execute me. I then dove into one of their lifepods and jettisoned it. I’m not sure why they didn’t come back and blast me. They may have been on some type of time schedule with whatever they were running, because they seemed to be in a big hurry to leave."

The Igari shook his head. "The New Alliance is losing control. We’ve had two other attacks in this area in the last four months. The area around Zanus used to be about as quiet as they came."

I sat in a chair next to the pilot and held out my hand. "Knog Beutcher wants to shake the hand of the man who saved him."

The Igari reached out and shook, his tiny Igari hand disappearing in mine. "Maxin Cogla. Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a four star. You might be the only one in Alpha sector. How’d you manage that?"

I replied, "I’ve been at it for over forty years. I guess I racked up enough points during that time that someone wanted recognition for my accomplishments while I was under their command."

The Igari laughed. "I hear you. Unless it offers some benefit, the management won’t stick their necks out for anyone. Look at me, sixteen years at this thankless job, and I’m still a corporal. Did they parade you around to show how proud of you they were?"

I nodded. "They threw a whole banquet for me. What a ridiculous waste of funds at a time when we are having equipment shortages."

The Igari pointed back toward his cabin. "I have a head back there that hasn’t worked in five months. I’m just glad all my runs have been short. I keep a five-liter bucket back there just in case."

We approached the space dock in orbit around Zanus I. "Hey, that looks like an Orwallian cruiser. I didn’t think they ever left their own system."

The Igari nodded. "That is what I had heard too. I don’t know what they have going on, but that space dock is locked down tight right now. We will just be tagging up and going down to the surface using the normal shipping lanes. You should be able to get back to your base in a couple of days."

I replied, "A couple of days? What would be the holdup?"

Maxin Cogla pointed to the blip on his nav screen that signified the Orwallian vessel. "Our visitors are here for a big trade meeting or something. It’s all been kept in the quiet, and all movement in and out of Zanus has been brought to a halt. Whatever it is, they said they would be finishing it up tomorrow."

I sat back. "I need to get back to SS5. There must be some way around this. I’ll talk to the gate managers directly. There is a trawler out there destroying security ships, and my boss needs to know."

The Igari half chuckled as he shook his head. "I can tell you right now it isn’t going to happen. The meeting has everyone jumping through hoops to please the Orwallians. I’ll walk you over there after we get you checked in, but I can already tell you what the answer will be."

"I would appreciate that, Maxin."

Maxin smiled. "I tell you what, I will even take you straight to the gate manager who is on duty, but if he says no, you have to come with me for a drink. I have a few Igari security friends that I would like to show off those four stars to."

I nodded. "I think I can agree to that. If I can’t get out of here for two days, I’ll need something to occupy my time anyway. I’d rather that time be spent with a new friend instead of sitting in some holding room."

Maxin grinned. "Oh, this is going to be a blast. Not that I don’t wish you a speedy journey home, but my friends will be blown away by you. I don’t think any of them have ever seen a Grunta up close, and I will say it now—when you stepped out of that pod, I was almost in shock. You are both big and intimidating."

I laughed. "I think you will find that Grunta men are fairly reserved. Our women are the dominant gender, and they are easily touched off. Are you familiar with the toughness of the hindquarter steak on a Borak?"

Maxin laughed and nodded. "I have had my share of hind. You spend about two-thirds of your meal just chewing."

I replied, "My wife likes to tenderize the whole hindquarter with her fist. She hooks it up on a rock wall and beats it mercilessly. Sometimes I think she does it just to let me know who’s boss. The result is a tender piece of meat, though."

I looked at Maxin. He was sitting with his jaw dropped and his eyes in a distant gaze as he imagined a female Grunta pounding a steak with her fist. We passed the orbiting space dock and dropped down through the atmosphere. With 70 percent of its surface covered in water, Zanus was a beautiful blue-green planet. Maxin leveled out the ship and set us down on a landing pad that was primarily used by security ships. With the Orwallians visiting, most of the security ships were out on patrol.

The ramp lowered and Maxin spoke. "Follow me. We’ll get you logged in, then I’ll take you right to the person in charge of the portals today."

It was a short walk to the security office, where a full biometric was performed on me before I was released into Maxin’s care. It was easy to see how eager he was to show me off to his friends: he grinned during our entire walk. As we rounded the corner of a long hall, Maxin opened an office door and walked through to a desk.

Maxin spoke to the Igari man behind the counter. "Hi, Jamess, I would like to have a word with Saruta if possible."

Jamess nodded. "He’s in his office. I’ll buzz you through."

After two dozen Igari steps down the hall, Maxin turned into another office. Saruta Goka was sitting at a desk in front of a wall full of monitors.

Saruta turned and recoiled at the unexpected sight of a Grunta standing in his doorway.

Maxin spoke. "Saruta, this is Knog Beutcher. He’s an inspection detective from SS5. I just plucked him out of free space in a lifepod."

Saruta stared at me in stunned silence as he looked suspiciously at the two-meter-tall giant that stood before him.

Maxin waved his hand in front of his friend. "Hello, Saruta. Mr. Beutcher here needs to get through the portal gate back toward SS5. Can you arrange that?"

Saruta’s focus returned. "What? No. Nobody is going through the gates right now. Passes going off Zanus have been suspended—you know that."

Maxin pointed to the stars on my shoulders. "He is a four star, Saruta. Surely you can make an exception for a security officer. He has a band of outlaws to chase that destroyed his ship."

Saruta looked directly at Maxin. "Nobody goes through. I just told you that. I am not authorized to allow Harden Salton himself through there. When our guests have gone, the gates will once again be opened for travel."

Maxin turned with his palms out to his sides and his eyebrows raised. "I told you he wouldn’t allow it. Saruta was appointed directly by the governor, so there is nowhere else to go."

I nodded. "Thank you for your time, Saruta. Mr. Cogla, I believe you have your zoo animal to show off to your friends."

Maxin’s grin turned down. "Oh, I apologize if I seem a little too eager, Mr. Beutcher. It’s just that you are an impressive fellow, that’s all. I—"

I held up my hand. "It’s quite all right, Mr. Cogla. I’m actually grateful to find someone so hospitable, given my circumstance."

I soon found myself following Maxin into his favorite watering hole. Three of his associates, who had just come off their shifts as well, were waiting at a table in the corner.

Two of the Igari men were looking up at me with big, round eyes; an Igari woman’s jaw dropped open.

Maxin said, "Everyone, I would like you to meet my friend, Knog. I rescued him today. He had been drifting in a lifepod for over three weeks."

The Igari woman spoke. "Do you even fit in a lifepod?"

I laughed as I pulled up a chair and sat down. "I do. It’s a little cramped in there, but I did all right."

One of the Igari men raised his hand. "You’re a Grunta, right?"

Maxin scowled. "Beega, that’s kind of rude. Yes, he is a Grunta. And stop gawking at him."

Maxin continued, "Mr. Beutcher is stuck here for at least the next twenty-four hours while the portal is shut down. He is going to be staying with me during that time."