7.1: Race Course
Avery and Jim Bonny stood talking at the rail of the Diso City Race Course; it was 4.10. Frank had gone to put all his money on the 5:1 Profit’s Dream. The queues had grown since they had gone past them, checking the odds. Avery had instructed him to place money with all the bookmakers, so that they would not refuse to payout.
‘So you worked out my little secret hey Avery?’ said Jim.
‘Ah, don’t be too sore Jim; I’m doing this for Marie. If I can get Frank over there the money for him and his partner to buy out their rival’s used spacecraft yard on New Station, then they will give me a list of all the females registered owners of Wild Cats.’
‘Oh, I see, so you going after her I take it?’
‘Yes of course. I have to, it’s about honour now, nothing else,’ replied Avery.
‘Well, I can’t say I blame you. I would go after her myself if I could. Scared of space, never been up there, never will. Got diagnosed with space phobia when I was fifteen. School party to the moon station: couldn’t get on the shuttle. I freaked out. I guess it’s the wide expanse of it, kind of makes me feel lost I reckon.’
Frank returned with literally seconds to go. Jim had already put a sizable amount on Prophet’s Dream, and all three men looked towards the big screen as the announcer played the trumpeting over the air.
‘Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the highlight of today’s race meeting the Space Utensils Company Cup. All riders are in position and are under starters orders.’
Avery looked at Frank and Jim holding their betting slips so tightly that their knuckles were turning white. Avery just lent on the rail and thought about Marie.
‘And they're off!’ shouted the announcer.
'As they come up to the first fence, it’s Wanderer’s Return followed by Invincible and Roland’s Wait; closely followed by Prophet’s Dream and Sunshine Girl.
‘And they are all safely over and it’s Invincible coming up on the inside, taking the lead from Wanderer’s Return.
‘Invincible has pulled up leaving Wanderer’s Return, Roland’s Wait being taken on the outside by Prophet’s Dream and Sunshine Girl followed by Blue Shadow.
‘As they turn to take the second fence, it’s Wanderer’s Return, Roland’s Wait, closely followed by Prophet’s Dream, Sunshine Girl and Blue Shadow.
‘There all over safely, and onto the long stretch. It’s Wanderer’s Return, Roland’s Wait has slipped back. Now it’s Prophet’s Dream taking up the chase, closely followed by Sunshine Girl, Roland’s Wait and Blue Shadow.
‘Come on Prophet’s Dream!’ shouted Jim whilst waving his betting slip over his head.
‘Come on!’ Frank joined in whilst Avery just stood arms folded in silence.
Time seemed to have slowed down: seconds seemed like minutes and minutes, hours. Frank and Jim were beginning to get more crazed by the information from the sound system.
‘It’s Wanderer’s Return, followed by Roland’s Wait. No. Prophet’s Dream then Roland’s Wait now fading and being taken by Sunshine Girl and Blue Shadow is still in this.
‘Now they hit the home stretch and it looks like a run in between Wanderer’s Return and Prophet’s Dream, with Sunshine Girl and Roland’s Wait battling it out for third with Blue Shadow still pushing hard.
‘Prophet’s Dream is now level with Wanderer’s Return.’
By this time, Frank and Jim where both dumbfounded, with mouths open staring at the big screen above the main stand. From somewhere Prophet’s Dream seemed to find some extra speed and began to kick for home. The crowd rose in noise and to their feet.
‘And yes, it’s Prophet’s Dream making a move, kicking for all he is worth. But Wanderer’s Return is not out of this yet, and is starting to respond; pulling up on the flank of Prophet’s Dream and beginning to draw ground back.’
The crowd were going wild, Avery could see that Frank and Jim were starting to loose hope as the pictures from the screen revealed the fact that Prophet’s Dream was loosing ground and that Wanderer’s Return was about nose-to-nose with Prophet’s Dream.
‘I can’t look,’ said Jim and covered his eyes.
Frank turned to Avery and said, ‘I hope you not having me on Avery.’
A little ungrateful, thought Avery under the circumstances.
‘. . . And as they come up to the line, it is a computer calculated decision, too close to call from where we are: third is Sunshine Girl followed by Roland’s Wait and Blue Shadow.’
‘I don’t think I can stand this Avery,’ said Jim, as he wiped the sweat off his brow with a handkerchief he had retrieved from his pocket.
‘I’ve never seen a race quite like it, I thought this horse was a dead cert?’ asked Frank.
‘I never said that Prophet’s Dream would win by a length just that he would win with Frankie Peterson riding. Isn’t that right Jim?’
‘I have put all my money on this. Boost my meagre pension. No one to take care of me, so need to make sure I can pay if I need care later in life, even if Marie came back, I would not do that to her.’
The big screen was beginning to show replays of the finish, rewinding and replaying. There seemed nothing in it. The computerized system was implemented, measurements were added to all camera angles of the finish line and a result was calculated.
‘And ladies and gentlemen, we have a result. The winner of this year’s Space Utensils Company Cup is. . . . . . Prophet’s Dream!’
Sections of the crowd were going crazy whilst others mumbled amongst themselves.
‘I told you! I told you!’ said Jim, with a look that appeared to have lifted him out of his grief for the moment.
Frank just looked at Avery with amazement and was for once lost for words.
‘I’ll take that list off you now Frank,’ requested Avery.
‘Yes, sure thing. I don’t know how you pulled this off Avery, but Louis and I will be forever in your debt. Any servicing, parts etcetera are yours for life at Frank and Louis.
By this time, Frank had hold of Avery’s hand and was shaking it so hard that Avery thought his arm might come out of its socket. Avery pulled his hand out of Frank’s grip.
‘That’s great Frank, go get your money and I’ll have that list.’
7.2: Veedfa
Phillips knew that a system that nobody had heard of nor cared much about going to, would be an ideal place to off-load a ship full of booty - even though the system was under a state of anarchy. A trading company had set up the space station, but it had been overrun by a band of space pirates who threw the doors open to associates who wanted to escape their lives. There was always plenty of money to be made here from deep space mining. There were bars and restaurants, an unrestricted casino and independent banking system were thriving.
The pirate stronghold was considered as a well-kept secret, nobody knew about this place unless others invited you in. It appeared on star charts and was listed on the Galactic Exchange information browser, but when traders realized that there was no formal government, no police force and plenty of pirates, they soon decided that there were better places to take their costly cargoes.
Avery had played a few pirates from Veedfa at cards and won a substantial amount. So impressed at his skills, they invited him to Veedfa for a re-match. This he took up, and had been tricked into bringing a lot of money in with him, which he was relieved of at laser point. Now he had his zipper pants, to keep his money out of sight. He decided to try his luck at exploring the outer reaches of the system, which he had heard in a local bar were often visited by alien craft.
Phillips had no such invite, and was not given a kind welcome, but chased by three pirate craft to the space station renamed Port Royal.
Even amongst these bands of brothers and sisters, The Council still had its spies. They paid well, what could the residence of Port Royal expect? It was easy for Phillips to persuade his new hosts that he was one of them, when he donated a large quantity of Imperial Dollars to their pirate welfare fund, whi
ch provided pensions for injured and disabled crews and captains.
Therefore, Phillips was free to roam around his new outpost with plenty to drink and eat; this place was beginning to feel a bit like home. Nevertheless, he did come to Veedfa for a reason. What was it that Avery had discovered? And how could he get his hands on such profitable booty?
‘What’s on the outer moons of the most distant planet?’ he found himself asking a drinking partner he met the night before.
‘Nobody has come back to tell the tale,’ said Eric, over his frothy tankard. ‘I heard of one explorer whose craft was found by a deep space exploration ship just floating on an axis, nobody inside, it was as if it had been caught in a force field.’
‘The pilot had disappeared you say?’ asked Phillips.
‘Yes, just disappeared without a trace.’
‘What about you Eric? Have you been out there to the farthest reaches?’
‘No not me. I’ve only been off this station once since I got here. I have no interest in space anymore after I was injured fighting an Empire frigate - took the side of my face off. You may think that I’m looking at you funnily, but this is not my original eye. They had to graft a dead man’s face to mine and replace my old eye with his. I still can’t look straight at anything and as for combat, forget it. I couldn’t hit a space station door!’
‘I see, so would anyone be hardy enough to take me out to the outer planet?’
‘No, I don’t think there would be a soul alive today, who knew the risks, would do it for any amount of money.’
‘What about a map of the system? There must be a map somewhere that tells you were everything is around here?’
‘Well not really, most of us carry the system around in our heads if you catch my meaning. Don’t want too many folks finding out about our little hideaway do we?’
‘I suppose not, can you draw it for me on this beer coaster? I need to figure out how to get out to the furthermost planet and to land on its outer moon.’
‘Why, what do you know?’ asked Eric.
‘Why, are you interested in coming?’
‘I told you, you couldn’t get me or anyone in their right mind to go out there. Not after the stories we have heard from terrified deep space miners, who stop off here travelling from one system to another the long way.’
‘Why what do they say?’
‘They say they hear voices telling them to go back, that they are not welcome and that they are in a dangerous position. Some say that they have seen ships, great large black ships following them then disappearing.
One guy said that he woke up from his bunk to find two figures standing over him with hand-held device moving up and down his body when he asked them who they were and what they were doing, they simply said, “We are just curious.” They walked into a wall and disappeared.’
‘I’m beginning to understand why people don’t go out there; still I’m the curious type. I need to find out what it is that bought a friend of mine out here and to have gone to such lengths to recover some disused equipment.’
‘I wouldn’t bother, I would just ask him: it’s a lot simpler and less risky.’
‘Can’t do that,’ said Phillips.
‘Why not?’
‘Don’t know where he’s gone to.’
‘Some friend,’ said Eric, sipping the froth off the top of his beer, ‘what’s his name?’
‘Ah, you won’t know him; he was only here a few days. Besides, I’m not at liberty to tell you who else I was doing that bank job with.’
‘Don’t trust me, is that it?’ asked Eric.
‘Let’s just say, I’ve made it a rule that if you talk, you might get caught yourself.’
‘Fine Phillips, I’m not annoyed about your friend, just making conversation. Here, I’ll draw you that map.’
Eric pulled out a pen, ripped the back off a beer coaster, and started to draw. ‘Look we are here. There are seven planets in the Veedfa System. We just call them A, B, C, D, E, F and G. We are on Port Royal rotating around planet C, you need to go out to planet G, out there,’ he prodded with the point of his pen. ‘Planet G has four moons G1, G2, G3 and G4. See how this works?’
‘Yes, I get it, so I just follow this line of planets out to G, and then count the moons out to G4. That seems straight forward enough.’
‘Yes if you make it there and back!’ laughed Eric.
‘Okay, Eric, I better be off. I need to get back to the relatively normal worlds in the main part of the galaxy, said Phillips, as he got up from his chair, placed a large banknote on the table and left the raucous bar that was filling up with large groups of drunken pirates.
Eric picked up the note, tucked it in his breast pocket of his jacket, pulled a messenger, and began to type:
Phillips, seen in Veedfa. Awaiting Council’s response. Eric Redhand.
7.3: Rackham’s Ranch
Captain Rackham did not like visitors to his house, especially those that rang the doorbell. He was used to groups of people turning up out of the blue, asking to have a look around and wanting to buy boxes of his delicious wine. This visitor however, was on their own and wasn’t selling fertilizer or corking machinery. No, she had brought a gift with her, some of her father’s best cigars he had imported from the Aayay System.
He answered the door in his underwear, whilst shaving with his sharpened knife, which he’d used since he was on his parent’s farm.
‘Hi there,’ said Rackham as he saw that his visitor was of the female variety.
Reed looked him up and down, and answered, ‘I hope I’m not disturbing you?’
‘Nonsense!’ said Rackham, ‘I always walk around the house like this: only Hector and me here.’
‘Is he your friend?’
‘No he’s my dog! I suppose you could call him my friend. I hadn’t thought of that before, come in, come in,’ Rackham ushered with his spare hand.
‘My dad sent these over for you, they’re his favourites.’
‘Ah cigars, my favourite brand, just give me a moment and I’ll go and finish this. Hector’s out in the back if you want to say hello,’ said Rackham as he made his way into the bathroom to finish his shave.
Rackham took his time shaving, wanted to look his best for the young lady. Dressed and made his way into the kitchen, lighting a cigar off the range cooker, prepared some glasses of lemonade and took them out the back where he found Hector retrieving his favourite squeaky toy for Katie.
‘Ah, he likes you; he only lets people he likes touch his favourite toy.’
‘He’s really friendly, did you get him here? Dad says you’ve not been here long.’
Yes, he was left by one of the student pickers at the end of the summer, picked him up at the rescue centre. He’s my ideal dog, not too big not too small. Not placid and not aggressive.’
‘Woof!’ said Hector, as he coaxed Katie to throw the red rubber space station toy.
‘Dad said that you were interested in my mum’s Wild Cat.’
‘Yes, only seen a few of those, they didn’t make many, due to the factory being closed after only 100 units. Some corruption deal paid the financing of the project and then once the fraud was uncovered, the factory closed: I don’t reckon there are too many of those left in the universe. I’ve only seen two; one was recent mind, it was in the Zeandin System, a few months back, you wouldn’t have happened to have been there would you? Sorry Miss Reed, I didn’t catch your name.’
‘Katie, yes that was me, I followed some hyperspace trails from the Diso System; I was looking for some interesting trading routes for my Dad’s business. He doesn’t trade with the Zeandin System, though I might set up a contact there. Why do you ask?’
‘No reason, just putting two and two together, when I saw your ship. Any luck?’
‘What do you mean?’ said Katie looking awkward in her iron chair as she sipped her lemonade.
‘With the trading links, I must admit, I don’t employ an agent on my behalf to expand
the business; can’t see the point really. But your dad, he runs a slick operation over that side of the fence. I must admit, he knows his grapes.’
‘Yes, he sure does, not that you don’t either, I reckon you’re doing just fine here Mr. Rackham, with Hector’s help of course,’ she said stroking his head as he brought back his toy for the countless time.
‘Well let’s just say this is my last step before I go off to the next life. I couldn’t think of anywhere else I would want to be right now. Suits me just fine, plus I like wine and these cigars are just great.’
‘Good, I’m glad you like them. Was that all you wanted to know Mr. Rackham, about the ship?’
‘Well sort of, I kind of thought that your business was, let’s say a bit more high risk, high reward than “repping” for your dad?’
‘Ah, he told you did he? Well, I take after my mother, she started it; took out her first husband after she found out he was seeing some young thing from Ross 154.
‘Ah, yes I’ve heard about women from there; a bit special I’ve been told.’
‘Took up the mantle after her death. Why, do you have a hit job for me? Is that why you asked me over?’
‘No not that, I have no axe to grind.’
‘Well, if you want anyone taking out of business permanently, let me know. I’ll give you a discount.’
‘Yes, I’ll bear that in mind. Your dad said that you were out with an old school friend; any romance in your life Katie, or is it all work?’
‘Can’t say I see Jake as that, I think that he has a soft spot for me, but I just see him as my older brother; we go surfing together. I don’t know, reckon I’m going to give up this bounty hunting game, can’t explain what happened in the Zeandin System, but I can remember entering the space station and leaving. No work for a Bounty Hunter, unless you could travel underwater and take out rogue elements on the planet Zeneel, so I left.’
‘Yes, I remember seeing you go in.’
‘I was leaving the station, and the rest is a blank. I can’t remember anything in-between.’
‘Sounds like a mind cleaning program, set in by The Council for some reason?’
‘Did you do a job for them?’ asked Rackham a little concerned.
‘I don’t know, all I remember was leaving, might have been drugged in the bar I visited. I can’t remember.’
Katie started to get a little upset at this moment. Nevertheless, Rackham continued. He knew that if this pretty young woman could kill, there was little room for sympathy even if she shed a tear or two.
‘How much money did you get,’ pushed Rackham, he obviously could smell a rat.
‘Money, I don’t follow,’ said Katie trying to avoid the question.
‘Blood money, from The Council? How much?’ Rackham raised out of his chair now with an angry look in his eyes.
‘3,500, 000 Imperial Dollars,’ Katie bleated out.
‘Okay, well you didn’t come after me obviously, and you’ll see under the tray, that I still have my shaving knife. I’ve used it for various things apart from shaving, so I suggest you get up slowly and leave.’
Katie moved and ran through the house slamming the front door behind her.
7.4: Wild Cat List
Avery looked at the list of female owners in Jim’s cabin at Sleepy Ridge. Jim was making some green tea, and beginning to believe that he may well get his daughter back.
‘How many days until you can go and see if the regeneration program works?’ asked Jim.
‘Three days from now,’ replied Avery.
‘How are you going to find these three women on the list?’ asked Jim, as he sat down passing Avery his light green brew.
‘I’ll have to do some house calls, pretend to be working for a classic spacecraft magazine; track them down on that basis.’
‘That’s not a bad idea; you can’t really knock on the door and ask their whereabouts because you might want to kill them.’
‘No, not really. I think that might send them running,’ replied Avery, sipping his hot green tea. He looked at the list:
1. Rachel Reynolds: Vega System
2. Sophie Sanchez: Ross 154
3. Katie Reed: Sigma Draconis
Avery’s brain was working overtime, trying to work out which one was more likely, lots of Rs and Ss. Reed and Sigma, Sophie Sanchez in Ross 154; Rachel Reynolds in the Vega System. What did it mean? They all sounded like Bounty Hunter’s names to him. It was no good. He decided that the best thing to do was to start at the top of the list and work down.
‘I’m going to go Jim, I’ve got three calls to make; one of those women killed Marie.’
‘I guess your right, but if Marie’s coming back, is there any point in killing the perpetrator?’
‘Of course; it wasn’t just Marie, you and I lost, but it was her fortune and the ship, which she got from me. No, it’s part of the pirate code, an eye for an eye, it is the same for a life for a life. It must be carried out and I’m the closest one to her so I must revenge her death. I am one step closer to that now.’
‘I will go pick up my ship and be off to the Vega System, then on to Ross 154 and finally to Sigma Draconis. I’m not too sure how long this will take Jim, you might have to go to see what has happened with Marie, here.’ Avery reached into his pocket pulling out his wallet, opening and taking out a card and passed it to Jim.
‘Call into Corporation X, in three days time and ask for Anthony Reeves, He’s on the case, I’ll pay him the money he asks for.’
‘No Avery, I must pay something, now I am richer than I have ever dreamed of, but still it is no replacement for Marie. No I won’t let you pay.’
‘No Jim, it was my fault that she ended up the way she did, I shouldn’t of let her out of my sight, let alone to go back here, running the risk of firstly getting caught and secondly being assassinated by a bounty hunter. No Jim, it’s part of my duty as a pirate captain to right the wrongs and pay the money owed.’
‘You are a right old gentleman Avery. That sort of chivalry I thought died out decades ago, due to the introduction of greed and consumerism when the Federation took control of the Diso System.’
‘Well Jim, we have no flag of allegiance to any man made concept, just to each other and our extended brethren.’
‘Avery, if I hadn’t been so scared of going into space, I would have been happy to have been a space pirate.’
‘I’m sure you would have made a fine captain Jim. Looks like your daughter lived that life for you, now and in the future.’
‘Do you think she will be just the same person she was before?’ Jim asked.
‘I’m not sure, I reckon she will still remember her old life; no reason why her life will not just continue where it left off, if she gets her same soul back, but it’s never been done before, so we will have to just wait and see what we get for the money.’
‘How much money did you agree to Avery?’ asked Jim.
‘That is none of your concern,’ said Avery taking Anthony Reeves’ card off the table and a pen out of his pocket, ‘ask Reeves to tap me a message, I’ll be able to receive it anywhere these days. I will arrange the transfer of money. Reeves knows the amount we agreed, that is all I’m going to say on the matter.’
‘Tell me about your family Avery.’ Jim asked.
‘There’s not much to say. My father is the owner of Casper Casinos in the Beethti System, probably expanded by now. My older brother, Alex, is poised to take over from him. As for me, I was destined to seek my fortune elsewhere.
‘My father does not know that I have turned pirate, he thinks that I went into long distance trading.’
‘Do you talk to him Avery?’
‘I haven’t talked to him in ten years now. I cannot think of a reason to. He’s too busy and doesn’t care about anything, apart from his money, doesn’t even spend time at home with his wife, always travelling around attempting to grow his empire.’
‘What about your brother Alex?’
‘Ah, Alex we are like chalk and cheese: nothing in common. He was always the same talking about business investments and the like, no time to travel and enjoy himself, not much of a life if you ask me. He spends all his time holding the front, whilst dad is off on his galactic quest to take over every casino in existence: such a narcissist.’
‘You should contact him anyway, couldn’t imagine that he doesn’t wonder where you are. If I was him I would be looking for you.’
‘Not him. As I said, empire building is all that matters. I do not register on his radar, as I am not a part of his web of influence. He has no power over me and that is the way I like it: out of sight out of mind, if you see what I mean.’
‘Well Avery, I wouldn’t like to interfere in your affairs, but, maybe you should give him another chance; he might have suffered over the years. No father can go throughout life without thinking of an absent son. I’m sure you will understand if you were one yourself.’
Okay, Jim, I will think about it. I can’t see the harm in contacting him at some point. But for now, I have too much to sort out here before I start building bridges with my old man. No offence!’
‘None taken,’ said Jim.
‘What I would like to do right now is to visit my dad’s casinos one by one, fleece them out of all their money and then see if my dad notices me then.’
‘Sounds like you are angry with him Avery,’ said Jim.
8 REVENGE