After being detained
and searched on Linden by the Legion Merri sat in the pilot seat and nodded to
co-pilot Malena who used the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines to
lift the Tempest class freighter off the surface and a few minutes later they were
back in space and on the way to Zenden.
“Ok let the fugitives
out of the priest hole” Merri said and Malena got up and said
“Ok, can you get
Pulsat to meet me there?”
The Tornado was late getting to do the delivery on Zenden after their
encounter with the Legion so as a result they were not waiting on the air field
outside Odekka when the Skeet brothers returned from the Algarvian Monastery in
the Achrem Mountains.
So, after they left Zenden they made haste to get to Achrem when Lyris
contacted the ship to find out where they had gotten to.
“Odekka station calling Freighter Tornado, Odekka station calling
Freighter Tornado”
“Tornado receiving, go ahead Odekka” Merri responded
“I have two crew members requesting ETA” Vinid Cupra said
After speaking to
Merri aboard the Tornado, he relayed that all she would say was that they had
been delayed, so they would be late picking them up but they were on their way,
so the Skeets had some time to kill.
“It would appear we
have time for a drink” Lyris said
Vinid, Lyris and
Zerrad had flown Spider Hawk Fighters against the Legion in the Shaxson
rebellion and it was the first time they had seen each other for many years so
they were keen to catch up.
But Vin didn’t get off
duty for another two hours so they agreed to meet at the Blue Horizon bar when
he was done.
The Blue Horizon was
owned by Vinid’s friend, Lak Shmi, who a couple of months earlier had opened
the door to illegal gambling and its associated criminality and now couldn’t
get rid of it.
It began when he was
approached by a respectable looking Lakmean trader who said he wanted to run a
“friendly” game of cards and would Lak mind if they used a quiet corner of the
bar once a week, and he agreed on the basis that there would be a few Dinaris
in it for him.
Lyris and Zerrad walked through the double doors into the large open
bar area.
Directly ahead of them was a large horseshoe shaped bar, and
surrounding it was the main seating area.
As they walked further into the bar they could see a raised area, to
the left, which was surrounded by chest high ornate panelling and the area
within was divided into cubicle like booths, which was presumably the eating
area, at least under normal circumstances.
He could see that if there was illegal gambling on the premises that
would be the best place for it.
He could see at the far end of the eating area what looked like large
glass doors, which they presumed would have lead out to the gardens, which would
be a good escape route if the need arose.
As they approached the bar Lyris glanced casually around the rest of
the bar and was struck by the presence of an unusually large selection of
electronic gambling machines.
As they were new to the Eikon Cluster they had become familiar enough
with the neighbourhood petty crooks and thugs but Lyris and Zerrad recognized the
types among the faces in the busy bar, petty criminals mainly and two of the
crowd stood out as more senior members of the criminal fraternity.
They reached the bar and waited until they caught the eye of the barman
who walked casually to where they were standing and stared without speaking.
He was of medium height and of muscular build and he was of rough and
un-welcoming appearance, he was heavily tattooed and shaven headed with
multiple piercings and the kind of face you would never tire of slapping, and
judging by the scars he wore it looked like it had been.
“Ale” Lyris said and held up two fingers “two”
The barman slowly broke his gaze and responded to the request.
Meanwhile Zerrad looked around and saw someone of a much different
calibre, who had the familiar Ivory complexion of a Gouveian, and judging by
how everyone else was behaving he was clearly the brains of the outfit.
Sitting with him was undoubtedly the man Vinid had described to him,
the Lakmean trader, AaHannaa.
“Nine Dinaris” The barman said banging the Ales down on the counter so
hard that they slopped over the sides.
Lyris stared him straight in the eye and dropped a handful of coins on
the counter so they rolled in every direction.
“Keep the change”
He only averted his gaze after the barman had picked all the coins up and
walked away, cursing under his breath.
“He’s an ignorant bastard that one” a voice said behind them and they
turned to see the voice belonged to a monster of a man.
The Skeets weren’t small men by any means but they both had to look up
at the man who was built like a brick out house.
Judging by his well-tanned skin, un-manicured rough calloused hands
and grubby clothes he earned his living doing manual work.
“He’s a real charmer that’s for sure” Lyris said
“I haven’t seen you two in here before” the man said
“No first time” Zerrad responded
“Just killing time while we’re waiting for our transport”
“So, you’re off worlders then?” he said
“Yes, we’re crew on a freighter” Lyris said “But Odekka is going to be
one of our regular jobs”
“Well welcome to the Blue Horizon” he said
“Thanks” Zerrad responded “Can I get you a drink”
“No thanks” he said draining his glass “I’m off to work, night shift”
“Oh well see you again sometime” Lyris said
“Don’t stick around here too late” he said leaning towards Lyris “A
bit of a rough crowd get in here late on” He nodded towards the booths.
“Thanks for the tip” Zerrad said
About an hour later Vinid arrived at the Blue Horizon and joined them
at the bar and when they had fresh drinks they sat in a corner and chatted in
hushed tones.
“So is that the Lakmean trader” Lyris said gesturing towards the
booths
“Yes, that’s AaHannaa” Vinid
replied
“And who is the Gouveian
with him?” Zerrad asked
“That’s the boss,
Kurla Babic” said Vin “He’s the one pulling all the strings and raking in the
spoils”
“I thought so” Zerrad
said
“But you know the
thing that rankles with me about him the most?” Vin asked
“What?”
“He’s got his own
Spider Hawk”
Spider Hawks were the
ships that the three of them flew against the Legion in the Shaxson Rebellion
“Has he” Lyris mused
“What a bastard”
Zerrad added
After that they spent the next hour talking about the old days and
then the place was just starting to get rowdy when Zerrad’s comms buzzed and
the Skeets said their goodbyes and headed back to the field in the Stroller.
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