"While we always look forward to visits from our friends at Vinda-Corp, I must confess, Mr Bayern, there seems to be more to this visit than just pleasantries..."
Ayan looked up at Richter expectantly, her piercing eyes scanning his as if looking for clues...
Richter smiled inwardly, he had been informed the Care-Taker Prime was a shrewd customer and although he had spent only a few hours with her company onboard the station, being shown around, he had not been disappointed.
The Vinda-Corp executive had found that very rarely did people live up to their reputations, and as such it had been satisfying to find the Station's manager an exception to this.
Richter had been looking forward to getting onboard the Station since its very first appearance, but due to a variety of reasons, this had been the only time he had actually managed to make it, and it was for business.
The businessman reflected upon recent events for a moment, and found his mood lighter. He had been quite upset initially at being overlooked for the top job at Vinda-Corp, by Miles , but he had since calmed down , once the old man, Vinda, had explained his reasons.
Besides, it wasn't all bad, he had been promoted to Mile's old position and was now in fact, number two on the corporate ladder at VC, all in all ,that wasn't a bad achievement, and his pay reflected this.
Even Richter had to admit, this thought was a good cushion, plus he was now sat onboard the station with a woman whom he found positively charming. Even though, Richter suspected, that was all part of her job description, all things considered, he had to admit, things could be a lot worse.
The Vinda-Corp exec leaned back into his chair and smiled wryly...
"I was told you were a sharp woman, Ayan" He said in reply...
Ayan simply smiled at this compliment, and waved her hand as if batting it away, prompting Richter to smile and continue...
"Yes, my visit here is for two reasons, the main of course, is to assure you that despite the recent changes at the top it is still very much business as usual at Vinda-Corp, and Mr Johnson, who as you know is Mr Vinda's replacement as our new EXO , wishes you to know we still value our friends and our interests here onboard this amazing station you have here..."
He stopped for a moment to take a sip of tea, his host had graciously provided for him, before continuing...
"The second is of a more delicate business matter, mainly , to ensure the safety of our assets with regards to our own Casino, the Bonadan Lounge, and also on behalf of the new Republic, the Bank of Bonadan"
Ayan nodded slowly at this and seemed to listen even more intently...
"It can not have escaped your attention that the entire galaxy is in a state of crisis, and sadly, war it seems is inevitable. As such, Mr Johnson has instructed me to consolidate our liquid assets onboard the Astoria, and to ensure their safe return to Bonadan, purely as a matter of precaution."
A slight frown appeared upon Ayan's face as she listened to Richter speak...
"Yes, I am quite aware of events taking place outside of our Station, a most worrying time, we have been following the news-feeds very closely " Ayan replied Solemnly...
"But I assure you" she followed up quickly "We are quite safe onboard here" Ayan finished flatly...
Richter nodded as she talked..."While I am sure that is the case" He replied carefully as to not cause offence "You can understand our precautionary measures, and of course , hopefully when things calm down we can review the measures after"
Ayan leaned back into the silk inlaid seats within the private booth and nodded slowly...
"Very well, how soon do you wish to enact these new measures"
Richter frowned a little at this as he answered..."With immediate effect, or as soon as it is feasibly possible "
It was Ayan's turn to frown...
"Are you sure you wish to do this in one go? we are talking about..." She paused for a moment as if swiftly calculating the figures involved and failing... "....a lot of hard currency, Mr Bayern, would it not be better to take it in smaller installments?"
Richter shook his head as he replied "Normally I would agree with you but the galactic situation has forced our hand, and we have to act quickly, which brings me to another delicate matter"
"Oh?" Ayan looked up at the businessman
"We can handle the security outside of the station, in fact I will be escorting the assets personally, in a dedicated freighter with a very large escort provided by our friends within the Republican Navy , but its the security onboard the station we are more concerned about, would you permit us to provide our own security team and escort the stock to our ships?"
Ayan frowned at this, and her face grew stern...
"No. As you know, no foreign soldiers, or security teams are allowed or permitted on the station, Mr Vinda himself knew this when he agreed to the terms of our business arrangements. ALL station security is handled by our own Police force, and while I sympathize with your predicament I cannot allow exceptions, this I am afraid I must insist upon, but I can assure you Mr Bayern, our Police force are both trusted and capable"
Richter of course already knew this, but they both knew he had to ask anyway, and he nodded slowly and sighed...
"Very well, you understand I had to ask" He said with a rueful smile...
Ayan inclined her head, understanding perfectly well "And you understand, I hope why I cannot allow this"
The Vinda-corp businessman laughed and nodded slowly...
"Then, in that case, I must ask another a favour of you Care-taker Prime"
Ayan smiled and nodded, pre-empting his request...
"Consider it done, Mr Bayern, but it will take at least a couple of days to accommodate your request at such short notice"
Richter nodded again at this... "I understand" he replied, his tone serious.
Ayan rose, and placed her hands within her robed cuffs and bowed slightly as she spoke..."Then if you'll excuse me, Mr Bayern, I shall make arrangements with Security now, please remain here and enjoy our hospitality" And with a flurry of golden silk she made her way out of the private lounge..
Richter smiled and bowed his head a little in thanks, and watched her leave realising with a smile upon his face that he had a few days to kill...
The Astoria Janitor turned to face its source, namely a green-skinned Rodian, called Dabu. A low-level enforcer for Zelezny's Firm. Drago put his hands up as he noticed the blaster the Rodian was pointing at him.
"Where is my money!" Dabu demanded once more...
Terrified , Drago shook his head... "I...I don't have it..."
The Astoria Janitor inwardly cursed his luck.
The goon had popped up just as Drago was making a quick exit for the nearest Shifter booth, only meters away. The lift lead to either the V.I.P area or the booth depending on what you needed.
Right now though, Drago needed a miracle.
For not only did he not have Dabu's money, he had blown all he did have on the last set of races, some leathery skinned alien bookie had assured him it was a safe bet, suffice to say, it hadn't been.
Leather faced fucker!... he cursed inwardly...
It had all seemed so simple, if his racer had won he would have doubled his money and would have had enough to pay off his debt. It had been a calculated risk, he knew Dabu and the rest of Zelezny's goons would be around, but he'd hoped they too would be too focused on the races to notice him in the crowds.
Evidently, he had been wrong. Dead wrong.
The Rodian clicked wildly in his native tongue, before grabbing hold of Drago by the scruff of the neck with his free hand and slamming him against the wall behind him.
"Wrong answer!" Shrilled the Rodian in basic as he pressed the shining barrel of the gun underneath his jaw.
It was clear to Drago , the Rodian was no longer interested in money anymore anyhow...
"I'm not letting a stinkin hairy Janitor show me up!" The enforcer continued as he leaned closer. Drago found he could barely look the alien in the eyes as fear gripped him, and he closed his own tightly...
"Your head is going on my mantel, as a reminder to those who don't pay" Dabu sneered..
And just as the Rodian's elongated finger started to press down on the trigger, fate stepped in, or rather...
The lift arrived.
With a pleasant chime announcing its arrival, the lift doors slid aside behind the Rodian, revealing two scruffy looking humans.
Confronted with the Rodian enforcer turning around to face them with his gun, one of the humans instinctively pulled out a hidden blaster himself, while the other merely held his hands up as if to show this was all nothing to do with him.
In that moment, everything and everyone , including time itself seemed to freeze.
An deathly silence descended the entire corridor, and for what seemed like an eternity no-one dared to move.
That is, until someone from down below called for the lift, causing the doors to suddenly jerk forward to close, making everyone jump.
The sound of the laser bolt reverberated down the corridor, and Drago opened his eyes, to see the Rodian enforcer slump to an untidy heap at his feet, with a clear hole burned directly through his now smouldering head....
Everyone seemed to freeze again, until one of the humans, who held the smoking blaster eventually broke the silence.
"...shit."
Drago noted his urgent need of a shave, as well as his gift of understatement.
Oman's mind barely had time to register whatever Kullum had said (probably something about the woman he'd taken a gander too) when the lift opened and a Rodian turned a blaster on them.
Oman's first reaction was to hold out his hands.
Not our business was what was going through his mind as he saw beyond the Rodian someone in a Astoria uniform.
His partner flashed a weapon of his own and Oman's brain turned to the "Hey! how did you get a weapon past security?" when the lift behind them startled everyone and the Rodian went down.
"Staying off their radar are we?" Oman asked grumpily as he moved up to the fallen Rodian going through the dead alien's pockets. "Now we gotta hide the kriffin body.."
His voice trailed off as his mind registered two things.
1. The silver square with a black "Z" emblazoned on its surface and 2. the person sporting an Astral Astoria Janitorial uniform staring opened mouthed at them.
A witness!
"Who the fuck are you?" he asked annoyed with himself. Events were moving faster than his mind could process.
That could get one dead if they weren't careful.
So much for keeping our noses on the ground!
"How long until station security arrives!" he snapped at the janitor. "Did the sensors register the blaster shot?"
He turned an annoyed look back to his partner. "Jumpin Jedi! Why don't you just shoot the station Care-Taker while you're at it!" He palmed the Rodian's weapon and credit chits.
If the station sensors did not register or record the firing of an unauthorized weapon, they had time to sort things out. If security was on their way, they had only minutes.
With time, they could dispose of the body and probably take a visit to the Rodian's quarters and pilfer other stuff before his boss and security know something is up. If his boss even reported the disappearance.
If the Z stood for who he thought it might stand for, then the big boss may just execute his own investigation into the disappearance. One where Oman and Kullum would have absolutely no legal recourse.
"Shit" did not begin to describe it!
But it was a start.
He looked up at the janitor they had just saved expectantly, "WELL?!"
The janitor seemed just as stunned as they were and Oman tapped his foot. He was a man of action and all this standing around looking like dipshits with a dead Rodian laying prostrate before them was beginning wear on his sense of self-preservation.
Kullum was grinning, looking at the handywork his blaster had enacted on the enforcer while snapping his fingers. Oman frowned as if not understanding his compatriot's meaning when Kullum snapped his fingers again. He sighed and pulled out the credit chits, divided them, and then handed some to Kullum.
*Snap*
Oman grumbled again and divided his meager holdings again putting more in Kullum's hand. The man with the blaster suddenly closed his hands and grinned, "I just made up the gambling losses!"
"Sure," grumbled Oman. "All you had to do is shoot a Rodian Zelezny enforcer! Imagine, if you shot all the Zelezny enforcers on the station, we would be rolling in the credits!"
Ignoring the fact that Oman's sarcastic plan involved Kullum doing something while he reaped the benefits of said action, Kullum was going to make a remark when the janitor suddenly stamped his feet while rubbing his arms as if the temperature in the corridor dropped suddenly from ambient to freezing in a matter of seconds. And seeing the way the janitor was shaking drew Oman's impatience back to the fore as there was still the matter of the dead alien and the witness.
"You!" Oman pointed to the janitor. "You want to live, you need to let us know how we can move this body to D-Block, section 344 without being seen!"
The janitor started to squirm when Oman brought him out of his shock by shouting "NOW!"
Kullum grinned as he tucked his blaster away where gods and Azguards only knew where.
"The... The... Service tunnels," squeaked the janitor and Oman and Kullum looked at each other.
"What service tunnels?" the both asked in unison.
"The...there is too much traffic on the station with tennants and visitors for the station support staff to properly carry out their tasks moving through the public corridors. S..s..so the support staff utilize the service tunnels."
"Will we see any of your fellow janitors if we use these tunnels?" Kullum asked as Oman bent down the pickup the body of the Rodian.
"This guy smells like shit!" Oman complained.
"Tut tut, think nothing of it," Kullum waved the remark away focusing on what response the janitor would give.
"Not until my shift is over," the janitor replied.
"Even all the way to D-block, Section 344?" Oman demanded.
"How do you know he lives in D-Block?" Kullum whispered.
"Because that is what his bloody ID card said!" grumbled Oman.
"This is D-block and section 344 is two tunnels away," the janitor replied hoping the other would not shout at him again.
Oman only frowned, "Oh." Clearly this was a stupidly massive station and he knew as much about it as Kullum did his parentage.
The janitor walked towards a solid wall and nervously glanced at the two. Oman huffed shifting the weight of the alien on his shoulders.
"Well, get on with it!" he grunted.
"I am not supposed to show anyone this.."
"We aren't just anyone!" Oman blurted out getting mad.
"We are the blokes that saved your life!" Kullum remarked jovially putting an arm around the janitor's shoulder which only made the man more nervous.
The janitor cringed under the weight of Kullum's massive arm before waving a hand over a smooth area of the wall. After a second, an area depressed inward and slid open revealing a dark tunnel. The duo followed the janitor in and the wall closed behind them lighting up the corridor before them with glowing schematics of all sorts appearing on wall as they passed.
"What is that?"
"Uhh.. my supervisor said to ignore the markings. Scuttlebutt is that those glyphs have been there since the Astoria was discovered. Probably made by the creators of the craft.." the janitor's voice lowered into a conspiratorial whisper.
Oman snorted, "You think?"
Kullum's eyes narrowed at the unknown marks in awe, "That could be the language of the Astoria's makers?"
"Sure...." drawled Oman, shifting the weight of the dead Rodian on his shoulder, "It could be saying, going down this hidden corridor is hazardous to your health!"
"That's why we have our intrepid, good man here leading the way!" Kullum slapped the janitor's back in a friendly manner.
The janitor gulped at the remark wishing he was anywhere but where he was. Why did he take that dang bet!
After a few minutes, he held up his hands causing his guests to stop. A red marker had appeared in the wall before them and after a few moments, it turned green. The janitor waved his hand again and an opening appeared in the seemless wall exposing the group to a small recess adjacent to a public corridor. The wall closed behind them after they stepped out and Oman turned to the janitor.
"And no one has seen you blokes travel like this?"
The janitor shrugged. "No one has said anything. I have never seen any unauthorized personnel in the corridors."
"Except today," mused Kullum. The group looked around the corner into the public corridor and noted it was a residential area they had been led too. Even more importantly, the residential corridor was empty.
"Thank goodness for full-time employment," muttered Kullum as Oman shifted the weight of the Rodian again.
"This guy is kriffin heavy!" he complained.
"Stop being stuffy, mate. We are almost there," Kullum replied heartily while Oman scowled.
"I have never seen anyone go through the corridors alone," corrected the janitor, returning to Kullum's earlier observation. "Some of the guys have taken their girlfriends through when they want to get away from their wives for a quickie... Ahh, here we are."
"Allow me," Kullum moved the janitor aside as his fingers worked the locking mechanism connected to the domicile entrance before them. The plate snapped off and a couple of slender tools danced in Kullum's hand for a few seconds before the door swished open.
"After you," Kullum prodded both his companions and Oman wasted no time entering and dumping the body on a nearby couch unceremoniously.
"This guy has atrocious taste in decor," sniffed Kullum as a flowery scent filled the air.
"How could he smell like shit but live in a place that smells like fowers?" Oman demanded starting to walk around the living room intent on inspecting what was worth taking.
Kullum pushed a button opening a door into a dark room, the light from the living room informing him that it was a bedroom and, further, that the bed was occupied.
"Dabu?" a sleepy voice called, a shadow of a figure sitting up.
Kullum's experienced hand found a nearby light switch revealing a human woman rubbing her eyes. Her unbuttoned nightgown parted exposing a rather ample breast and a taut pink nipple.
"What th---," Oman stammered as he moved up behind Kullum, surprised.
Kullum flashed his best disarming, devil-may-care, roguish grin stepping into the room while tapping the lock as Oman's face gave an audible *thunk* has it hit the door on the other side.
As a well known police man onboard the station, Kesser was used to being both recognised and feared, at least from the criminal underworld. In fact, he quite liked this particular aspect, and did everything he could think of to ensure it remained that way.
It was not his physical size (he was in fact just about average in this respect) but he had earned his reputation, the hard way. Coming up from the ranks as a beat-cop to Detective Chief Inspector, he had earned respect from not just the Astoria's law-abiding residents, buts its criminal elements also.
Born on the station, Kesser was a true Astorian, and knew it well.
So , while he was not surprised to find all activity freeze as he walked into the normally raucous Hades Hive (much to most of its inhabitants dismay, including Calibos himself) the effect was still nothing short of miraculous.
"uhh…DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR Kesser, what an unexpected pleasure, what'll it be?" Asked the bar-keep over-loudly , warning everyone inside exactly who (and what) the new visitor was, and in an instant, all eyes were on the policeman.
Kesser smiled faintly as he cast his gaze across the interior of the establishment, as if mentally checking off each of its customers in his head, committing their faces (those that had them) to memory, before settling his gaze upon the horned alien standing opposite him.
"I'm on duty" Kesser returned as he shook his head, acknowledging the alien.
"Then to what do I owe this pleasure?" Asked Calibos cautiously, clearly on edge at having the policeman in his bar...
Calibos's fake jovial smile dropped a little as he picked up on the undercurrent…
"Uh, yeah, I guess, I hadn't really noticed.." The alien responded gruffly, as he lowered his eyes, and picked up a glass to polish with his towel.
Kesser turned to lean back on the bar, and started to frown as he looked around.."Where's Samos?" he asked, his voice curious "He practically lives in this place"
"I sent him home" Calibos lied quickly…and Kesser turned to face him "oh?" he returned with his eyebrows arched in surprise…
"Yeah, had no money" Calibos continued, putting down the glass, and facing Kesser direct… "nuthin worse than a sober drunk…"
This prompted a low rumble of a chuckle from the Inspector.
"Lost it all again did he?" Kesser asked abruptly, causing Calibos to pick another glass up and start polishing…
"I wouldn't know about that" Murmured the bar-keep warily…
"Right." The faint smile had appeared upon Kesser's face once more… "Or perhaps he's at the Skimmer races now? like the rest of your patrons?"
Calibos froze, mid-polish, and then looked up as he spoke " I don't know nuthin about any races"
Kesser eyed the alien and spoke with a wry smile…
"Sure, you don't know anything do you Calibos?"
"Just a bartender, Inspector…" The alien shrugged as he spoke….
"Thats, Detective Chief, Inspector" Kesser corrected, his smile dropping rapidly.
The alien, shrugged again in response...
"I want you to deliver a message to Zelezny…"The policeman continued...
"I don't know any Ze--" Calibos started to protest, but was interrupted…
"Tell him, we know about his illegal races, we know he's using different locations around the station to have them, and while that's smart, sooner or later, one of his goons will make a mistake, and we'll, I'll be waiting…His smart attire might have the Caretaker-Prime fooled, but not me.."
Calibos said nothing, but returned to his polishing...
Kesser took a final look around the bar, and delved his hands into his pockets as he changed the subject "I'm surprised at you Calibos, I'd have thought you'd keep a better standard of clientele"
The bar-keep put the glass he was polishing down carefully upon the bar and leaned forward as he replied "I was just thinking the same thing"
This prompted a grin from Kesser… "I like you Calibos" The Inspector added, before taking his leave, noting the buzz of activity pick-up behind him. Kesser knew Calibos did not work for Zelezny, not directly, at least, but he knew the message would get back.
He turned his collar in reaction to a slight breeze that had manifested itself, and had begun to make his way through the bar district, deep in thought, when a voice came through his comms unit; police HQ dispatch.
"DCI?"
"Go ahead" Kesser replied, his voice betraying his annoyance at being disturbed...
"You're needed, Caretaker Prime herself apparently"
"Where?" The Inspector asked gruffly...
"Her office, urgent"
Kesser paused. and considered this for a moment, his curiousity piqued, for it was unusual for her to request anything...
"Who the fuck are you!?" Shouted the shocked woman angrily, leaping out of her bed and as Kullum stepped forward she swung her leg round hard and booted him straight between the legs.
Kullum, not being quick enough to move out of the way, doubled up as her foot connected, and after letting slip a gasp of pain fell to the ground hard, crippled momentarily from the agony.
He was only vaguely aware of the woman searching through his pockets.
"What the?…how did you get a blaster onboard?…" The taut pink nipple demanded… (at least, that was what it looked like from Kullum's perspective)
The spacer had glanced up in reaction, and through tears of pain could just make out his own blaster being pointed back at him…
"…Sam…sam…Samos!" Kullum managed to stammer back in reply, the effort in doing so showing clearly across his now reddened face.
"Samos? you mean the ugly fucker with three eyes?" The woman asked as she frowned, seeming to gain a new found respect for the alien Kullum had name-dropped… "huh, must be cleverer than I gave him credit for" She continued absently, before turning her attention back to the hapless spacer on the ground…
"Which is more than can be said for you, where's Dabu?" She asked, her voice more suspicious now rather than angry…
"Listen lady, put it away, for fucks sake" Kullum blurted out, finally able to get his breath back…"I can't think straight with that in front of me"
"I don't think so, and until you tell me who you are , and what you are doing here, this stays with me" The woman threw back in reply, gesturing with the blaster towards the spacer…
Kullum held his hands up in capitulation as he spoke "I wasn't talking about the gun"
The woman blinked and then looked down,"Oh" she said flatly, and quickly re-tied her dressing gown.
Kullum gingerly got to his feet, and groaned… "Is this how you normally greet people?"
"Only when said people attempt to sneak into my bed, without paying" She returned quickly "And anyway, you still haven't answered my question"
"Ah…well…" Kullum started, mentally grasping for some kind of reasonable and logical explanation, that did not involve the truth… But before he could say anything more or move to stop her, the woman pressed the door controls, and the door slid open to the living room revealing both Drago and Oman holding the dead Rodian's corpse from either end, evidently in the middle of moving the body elsewhere.
Noting the gun, both Drago and Oman released their grip in reaction to hold their hands up, causing the body to fall on the floor with a loud thump.
"Huh..." The woman said calmly…
"I can honestly say, I didn't expect that" She murmured to herself quietly...
Deran entered the corridor and frowned, walked over to the lift, and then further down the hallway again.
All quiet.
Something ain't right.
He activated his comm unit and checked in with a few of his crew.
"Has anyone seen Dabu? He's supposed to be here guarding the frellin' stands"
Slowly everyone reported back, indicating they had not seen him.
Deran felt a feeling of unease sweep over him, and he was just about to give-up and return to the stands, when something caught his eye.
A small dark mark about head-height on the wall opposite him. The alien frowned as he inspected it closer , reaching up to touch it with his fingers...
…blaster burn?…
Just then, a voice rung through his comm unit …
"Boss is asking after you"
Deran did not shift his gaze from the mark on the wall as he spoke…
"Comin'"
And with that, took one final look around the corridor, frowned, and made his way back to the racing stands…
* * *
"Ah there you are! you missed the start of the race, where did you go to?" Zelezny said as he greeted his most trusted enforcer and Vigo, Deran Kel.
"I had to check on something" The green alien said vaguely..
Zelezny looked up at him as he sat down next to his employer "Oh? problem?" He asked nonchantly..
"nuthin I can't handle" Replied the Vigo with confidence, and Zelezny nodded, turning his attention back to the Skimmers.
"How are we looking?" Asked Zelezny amid the noise of the roaring crowd, changing the subject as he leaned closer to his Vigo. His eyes did not shift from the race-track…
"Looks like we are go" Deran replied cautiously, looking around to check if anyone else was listening…
"Do we have a timetable yet?" The Falleen employer asked, still not shifting his gaze from the race.
"Not yet, but I am told they'll be settling that today, special circumstances an' all that" The Vigo said matter-of-factly, causing the Falleen to smile faintly… "I'd say" he quipped in reply.
Deran grinned himself at this, and then continued "Our little bird tells us, we're looking around , sometime within the next seventy-two hours"
Zelezny shot his Vigo a glance "That doesn't give us much time, will everything be in place?" He asked with a frown, and then looked down as if a thought had just struck him…
"It must be substantial" The Firm's leader followed up...
Deran's grin grew wider "Oh, it is and don't worry, I've got a crew already on standby, once we know more, we'll be ready to move. Just say the word"
This caused the Falleen to smile broadly… "Excellent, spread the word, gather everyone together, we'll go through it tonight at the club, midnight"
"Consider it done, Boss" Kel replied, and as he went to leave he stopped by Vima, his voice low to avoid it being heard by Zelezny...
"You seen Dabu around?"
The elegantly dressed woman looked up and smiled coyly... "Lost one of your little pets?'
Deran snarled in reaction.
"Have you , or not?" He hissed testily, still trying to keep his voice low, it was no secret he didn't like or trust the woman.
This only served to amuse her more, and she fluttered her fan absently, as if deciding whether to tell him or not...
"He's probably with Khaya, sweet girl, I think he's hooked"
Deran growled slightly at this, and bowed his head slightly in mock thanks, as much as he could stomach to at least (for as long as Vima remained Zelezny's favourite, Deran could not be seen to disrespect her) and started to push past the the crowd of onlookers, oblivious to the race behind him.
Now he was really pissed off.
Stupid Frellin' Rodian!...
Shirking duties was one thing, but playing on company time was a huge no-no, especially seeing as he wasn't getting any either. Just then a thought entered his mind as he realised he would have to kick the shit out of the missing Rodian to set an example.
Vima watched Deran lumber off and narrowed her eyes as a thought presented itself.
She did not trust the alien and was not comfortable at one of her girls potentially being in the firing line.
While Zelezny's Vigo would not dare touch Vima herself, he could possibly get carried away with Khaya while sorting out Dabu.
Oh Khaya could take care of herself, Vima had no reservations about that, but Deran's savagery was well known, and one did not become Zelezny's Vigo because of their winning personality.
If this Dabu really was messing around with her when he should be working, then that could cause problems all round.
Vima made a mental note to bring this up with her later, and she frowned slightly, Khaya was normally smarter than this.
As she went to reach for her own comm unit, she paused and then sighed, remembering where she was..
Damn..
With the dampening field in place, people could transmit locally within the contained area, but no-one could transmit outside of it, to the station at large.
She would have to leave the race area.
Vima turned to Zelezny who was sat beside her, his scrutiny firmly on the race-track, as the skimmers weaved in and out between one another.
"I'm truly sorry Z, but I have to leave"
Zelezny frowned… "So soon, I've only just got here?" He said, frowning…
"I have some business of my own I need to attend to" She explained looking up at him…
"You did not mention this earlier?" Zelezny replied, his voice showing his displeasure, and for a brief moment , his skin flushed a deep crimson red…
"I know" She said softly "I forgot, my mistake, but, you were late , remember?"
Zelezny , was not happy , but realised he had to concede that point, and his skin began to settle down to its normal colour. He smiled ruefully.. "very well" He answered , sullenly…
"I promise I shall make it up to you tonight, I'll come by the club" And with that she leaned forward and kissed him slowly on his cheek…
"No" He said firmly, which made Vima freeze, and her pulse quicken…
"I can't tonight, I have business of my own, tomorrow night" He added, and smiled slightly…
"I shall look forward to it" She purred and after allowing him to kiss her hand goodbye, Nami Vima-Nashira elegantly took her leave to both chastise and warn Khaya.
Drago , who until now had been in a semi-state of shock, was fast approaching panic as the situation seemed to spiral further out of control, after all he'd only had a bad gambling debt, and now he was an accessory to murder...
"You three really are fucking idiots" The woman said sharply, "do you know who that is?" She gestured with a nod in the direction of the dead Rodian...
Drago raised his hand higher than it already was in order to answer the question…
"It was a rhetorical question, dip-shit" She snapped , rolling her eyes…
Looking somewhat hurt, Drago lowered his arm and his eyes…
"I should just turn you all into the police right now" The woman said sternly.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" Kullum interjected abruptly.
"Oh? give me one reason why I shouldn't?" She returned acidly…
"Because you're holding the gun that killed him" Kullum stated matter-of-factly.
"Ah…" Came the woman's reply as her eyes dropped to the blaster still gripped tightly in her right hand…
"Okay. I see your point" She said flatly.
"Alright, well, what were you all going to do then?" She asked, changing tact faster than a Commonwealth politician changing governments…
"We were just going to hide the body here" Oman said with a shrug…
"Ah, you must be the brains of the operation" The woman replied sarcastically as her eyes settled on Oman's scruffy appearance...
"well, he is pretty smart" Kullum agreed, helpfully.
The woman stared at the three of them in disbelief, and rubbed her forehead, the way someone did when developing a headache…
"I have an idea" Drago offered timidly…
And as everyone looked at him, the janitor shifted slightly under their scrutiny..
"The air ducts" He continued "in the lower levels, all-sorts gets chucked down there, I guarantee no-one will find him" He ventured…
The other three looked at each other, shrugged and murmured in relative agreement.
"Seeing as no-one has a better idea, let's get moving" The woman said , tucking the blaster into a pocket in her robe…
"Where are you going?" Kullum asked as she went to move in the opposite direction…
"to get dressed, of course, back in a mo!" She said cheerily, far too chirpily for Kullum's liking as she closed the bedroom door behind her…
The spacer looked at his compadres with a frown…"Is it me?" he asked suspiciously, still looking towards the direction of the now closed bedroom door "Or does it seem like she's done this before?"
"Ah, Detective Chief Inspector Kesser, come in!" Came the Caretaker-Prime's voice through the door's comms.
The policeman dully did as he was told, and entered Ayan's office. He greeted her with a short sharp nod of the head and a simple "Caretaker-Prime"
Ayan, had stood up out of politeness and to introduce the other person in her office, and as Kesser turned to face the smartly dressed man who was also now standing before him, he sized him up in an instant.
Businessman…
…Outlander...
"DCI Kesser, meet Mr Bayern, a representative of Vinda-Corp" Ayan announced business-like..
As the pair greeted each other cordially, and shook hands, they all sat down and Ayan started the ball rolling...
"I shall attempt to keep this brief Detective Chief Inspector, as I know you are a busy man and your time is limited, but Mr Bayern here has formally requested our help in an unusual security operation, the details of which have already been explained to Fitch and Farley…"
Kesser frowned slightly at this, and shifted a little in his chair "Oh?" and then glanced back at Richter "What kind of security operation?" he asked warily…
"We are looking to export a large shipment, and we need to ensure its protection, your department will be responsible for providing the escort off the station" Richter explained.
Kesser frowned slightly at this, (it was unusual for his department to get involved in such matters) and his response was typically direct "What kind of shipment?"
Richter glanced questioningly towards Ayan, as if ascertaining whether it was safe to entrust Kesser with the information he'd just enquired after. The Caretaker-Prime simply nodded an affirmation, prompting Richter to continue...
"Hard currency. Profits from Vinda-Corp's enterprises onboard the station, along with a sizeable deposit from the Bank of Bonadan " Richter replied eventually.
"Ah" Kesser uttered as its implications were made clear "I see"
The DCI paused for a moment as he considered this "Just how much are we talking about here?"
"Around six hundred and fifty million credits" Richter said plainly, clearly used to dealing with such figures...
Kesser whistled slightly, raising his eyebrows in surprise as he spoke "Thats…a considerable sum of money, Mr Bayern…would it not be better to just take it in smaller shipments"
Richter smiled faintly at this as he replied " I'd be inclined to agree with you, and normally that is indeed the case, however we do not have that luxury, I won't go into the specifics as to why right now, but we need access to these funds as soon as possible"
Kesser frowned… "When?" He asked cautiously, starting to see why Ayan had contacted him..
"Three days time" Richter replied promptly..
"I see, well, if there's nothing else, I'd better find out what arrangements have already been made" The DCI said getting up out of his chair to leave…
Ayan shook her head as she spoke " No, that's all for now, Thank you DCI"
"Very well, in that case, I'll contact the department and see what else we can do to accommodate you" Kesser said looking at both of them in turn…
"Thank you Detective Chief Inspector, I know your time is precious, I hope this will cause you minimum disruption"The businessman said with genuine concern and with that stood to shake the policeman's hand once more…
Kesser nodded slowly and after saying his goodbyes, took his leave…
The amount involved troubled him, on top of his normal duties and worries, he now had many more to deal with…
About six hundred and fifty million more to be exact…
