“They do,” Grant assured him, though knowing the Shen Mi existed wasn’t very assuring. “Now I think it would be better if you started at the beginning and then I need to contact some friends.”
Camilleron had rich supplies of a mineral, Zanxite, which is used in the production of fuel. Those that lived there had formed their own company (as was the case with a number of worlds that found resources before the mining companies) with a government structure that was more like a business, in which all the inhabitants had shares. It worked well because those in government could become wealthy, but only if they kept the voters happy. Still you couldn’t become mining-company-CEO-wealthy and so the then government of Camilleron had done a dirty deal with Gothra.
The then government had already been greedy and they knew that they wouldn’t be re-elected due to their skimming of profits and funnelling of money to the rich rather than to the people. They therefore sold some of the selling rights to Gothra for a large sum of money before escaping the galaxy. The next election was rigged by Gothra and she began taking control of the whole process (and the money) through her puppet government.
From there things became worse for the people and they couldn’t vote out the government due to Gothra’s rigging. She took full control over the selling of the mineral and conditions for the people deteriorated rapidly. They were forced to keep working or starve to death and saw little of the profits.
The Cadre was formed to find out who exactly was behind it all, escaping off-world to find those that had originally sold the rights. This was years ago and now they had finally gotten to the root of it and their biggest challenge yet.
“So what’re you gonna do when you get Gothra?” Kaskey asked.
“She has the deed to the mining, we’ll take it and show it was wrongly gained,” Drey explained.
“No way, man, she wouldn’t keep that kind of stuff.”
“Kas is right, she wouldn’t keep something that could incriminate her.”
“Originally we tried the legal route,” Drey told them. “We actually met with a Yithim, supposedly her second in command. Obviously it did not work out for us, but before we left, when there was no one to hear, Yithim laughed in our faces and told us that when there wasn’t enough left to sell he would sell the deed back to us. One last way of taking our money and spitting in our faces.”
He looked at the floor as he shook his head sadly.
“But you haven’t found a way to get to Gothra,” Grant said.
“No. We are hoping this new news of the defector could help us. He is high up enough to have been to her building. The second highest here in the city.”
Grant thought about it. Kaskey let a little smile play on his lips, he hadn’t known Grant long, but long enough to know that he was a sucker for this kind of thing.
But suckers got played.
Suddenly Kaskey was holding Drey up by the neck so his feet dangled in the air.
“How do we know you’re not playing us?” he shouted. “Huh? You work for Gothra? Trying to trick us? You using us little man?”
“No, no,” Drey sobbed and squeaked as those around him shouted variations on ‘let him go’ and ‘what are you doing?’.
“How d’we know you’re straight with us?”
“Please,” Drey sobbed.
“Enough,” Grant commanded and Kaskey let him go just as someone had found a gun.
“I’m sorry, man, I had to check,” Kaskey said and held a hand out to Drey.
Drey cringed back.
“C’mon, man,” he waved his hand and Drey gingerly took it.
“You see the type of people we are?” Grant asked Drey. Asked the room. “Hard people, serious people. Are you serious about this?”
“We are,” a woman called out.
Grant looked at Drey (still holding Kaskey’s hand), who nodded.
“We have spent much time and blood on this,” Drey croaked.
“Alright then,” Grant said. “We’ll get your deed back for you.”
CHAPTER 29
“Bet Gulch is loving this,” Regrette said looking around.
“You know he is,” Grant smiled.
“What’ve you got?” Rainsford asked.
“Asward Koleermeer, we hear he’s looking to defect from Gothra to the Shen Mi.”
“Interesting.”
“Very. Come and let’s talk,” Grant said and led them to a large tent.
He had been in contact with Regrette and Tsyrker as well as Gulch. Gulch and Hendricks had flown to Pelluu where Gulch had taken the Lark. Drey had snuck Grant and Kaskey out of the city at night and to a dark zone where Gulch had met them. Grant and Kaskey had been tense and ready for a battle, but there had been no one at the dark zone. Or at least no one that looked like one of Gothra’s. So he was kind of hoping no one had traced them back to the Dead Planet.
Fingers crossed.
They entered the tent and took seats around a large camp table. Grant introduced them to Rorckshift and Hendricks, the former leaving after meeting the people who were sullying his dig site.
“He’s not best pleased at having his site usurped,” Hendricks said. “Though he’s too intrigued to kick you out.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t follow him out,” Regrette said to Gulch.
“I would love to,” Gulch replied.
“Really? Found something good?” Rainsford asked.
“No,” Gulch said quickly.
“Nothing,” Grant said.
“Uh-huh, nope,” Kaskey chimed in.
She looked for one to the other. The problem with being in a group of people that specialises in reading others was that it was really hard to keep a secret.
“What’s going on here?” she asked.
“Gothra,” Gulch almost shouted.
“Oh, no. Tell me,” Tsyrker said.
“It’s not personal,” Kaskey said feeling bad for her.
“Shut up,” Gulch hissed.
“How many tentacles can you lose and still use a computer?” Tsyrker asked.
“You wouldn’t,” Gulch decried.
“Just tell me. This isn’t cool.”
Grant sighed. It wasn’t cool, she was their friend, but being in such a group had its downsides as well as up.
“Kas is right, it’s not you.”
“But the people she works with,” Regrette said with glee. “Ooh, you have found something exciting. As far as ancient junk can be considered.”
“I’m sorry, Rainsford,” Gulch said with a deep frown.
“Just…”
“We’ve discovered remains that could be related to the Ten Kingdoms.”
She stared at him, drinking in his expression, every little move and tic of his face and hands, reading the truth or lie that stood there.
“That’s massive,” she said slowly.
“And secret,” Grant said.
“I have to tell them.”
“That’s why we didn’t want you to know,” Gulch said sullenly.
“I’m sorry, Gulch, but I have a job. The best interests of the Universe to think of,” she said and Regrette snickered at the idea.
“Well why couldn’t you just keep your nose out of it?” Gulch exploded. “We said we hadn’t found anything, didn’t we?”
He collapsed back in his chair and they all looked at him with shock.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
“It’s not first on my agenda, the Desards are. When the time does come I’ll talk to Rorckshift myself before talking to anyone else.”
Gulch nodded.
“Thank you.”
“Others will come though. If word gets out.”
“We’re aware of that,” Gulch said.
“Anyway,” Kaskey said.
“Yes,” Grant agreed, “back to business.”
“This Koleermeer?” Regrette said. “He could be a real help.”
He went on to explain all that had happened with Koey V and what they had found out
.
“Four targets,” Grant said.
“What are they?” Kaskey asked.
“Don’t know,” Regrette shrugged.
“You don’t know?” Kaskey asked.
“We know what they are. Obviously. We just don’t know what more they are.”
“Rain?” Grant asked, but she shook her head.
“I’m not using my contacts. Unless you want my colleagues on the case.”
“No,” Grant agreed. “So this Koleermeer is our best source of information.”
“You referred to him as a lieutenant,” Gulch said.
“That’s what Drey called him,” Kaskey replied.
“But how much power does he have?” Gulch asked.
“From what Drey told us, he oversees a galaxy,” Grant said.
“If she keeps things compartmentalised he may not know as much as we need.”
“But he knows Gothra’s HQ, Drey seemed sure of that,” Kaskey said.
“We’re better avoiding that if we can,” Tsyrker said.
“No. We still hit Gothra,” Grant said and told them about the mining deed.
Both Tsyrker and Regrette shook their heads.
“You don’t risk the mission for a side quest,” she said.
“Like saving the rest of those slaves on Haffir?” Grant asked.
“That’s different. We were already there doing it. You’re talking about hitting a fortified building in a guarded city for no gain other than to help some others out.”
“And from what you’ve said,” Regrette continued, “they’re doing a decent job by themselves.”
“It’s taken them years to get to this point, it’s taken us days,” Grant said.
“Gothra goes,” Kaskey said firmly.
“Oh yeah, boy?” Regrette raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“Why?” Regrette challenged.
“Because. Because that’s what we do.”
Regrette stared deeply at him, but Tsyrker laughed.
“He’s learning,” she said.
“Faster than I thought,” Regrette smiled.
“Not just because,” Grant said. “Even if this Koleermeer gives us all we need on these locations, taking down Gothra shows we’re serious. Serious brings out Maggie Desard.”
“And all her army,” Tsyrker said.
“She’ll always come with an army,” Gulch said.
Tsyrker shrugged in agreement.
“So what do you know?” Hendricks asked.
“Kagar, Polince, Randaritchia and Wiloth,” Regrette said again.
“Well Wiloth is a major port,” Hendricks said.
“Let’s stick to Koleermeer,” Grant said. “What do we know about his whereabouts?”
“That I can look into,” Tsyrker said.
“Good. Get on it,” Grant said and she left the tent.
“What’re you thinking?” Regrette asked. “Kidnapping?”
“I doubt the Shen Mi would want him talking to us, so yes. Grab him and promise to deliver him to the Shen Mi. If he’s willing to talk to them why shouldn’t he talk to us?”
“You can’t give him to the Shen Mi, they’re not after Gothra, but the Desards,” Regrette pointed out.
“Good point, we’ll make him disappear.”
“Whoa, man, hold on…” Kaskey interrupted.
“Not like that. Actually disappear.”
“Oh. OK, cool,” Kaskey relaxed again.
***
Tsyrker called for Gulch to join her on the computers and Grant decided to take Kaskey away from the ruins and give him some shooting practice. Hendricks and Regrette walked through the ruins.
“So you flew with Grant, huh?”
“I did, I did. Long time ago now,” Hendricks lit his pipe.
“Must have been weird. Fighting against your own kind.”
“My kind, Stephen, are good people everywhere. Not warmongers.”
“They do get everywhere, don’t they?”
“Thankfully yes.”
“Mssh.”
“I don’t think you mean that. Isn’t it why you do your job?”
“You don’t know me, Doc, don’t think that you do.”
“I’ve met enough Hitmen and Assassins in my time to spot one, Stephen. The fact that you are friends with Grant tells me you’re the latter.”
“Most of the time,” Regrette shrugged. “So. Ten Kingdoms.”
“Yes. Very exciting.”
“Dangerous.”
“Very.”
“The Shores of Dawn and all that,” Regrette said. “Lot of crazy, bad people looking for that sort of thing.”
“You doubt it exists?” Hendricks asked.
“I didn’t think the Ten Kingdoms existed ‘til you found a relic from them.”
Hendricks laughed.
“I have to admit, neither did I.”
“What about the people who might come for it? You believe in them?”
“The so-called Shadow Archetype? Yes, I do actually.”
It was Regrette’s turn to laugh.
“You smart people. I’ve travelled the length and breadth of this Universe and I haven’t seen any evidence there’s one group controlling everything.”
“Trying to control,” Hendricks corrected.
“Don’t you think they’d be in the Great Council by now?”
“I do not think it interests them. The Halls of Power can slow progress, dear boy.”
Regrette thought about the Desards. The Doc was right, the great criminals didn’t get involved in politics, they controlled from outside. Politicians, like anyone else, were just pawns in their games. People like Hewy Desard thought they could do anything they wanted and the fact was they were right. Politicians could be bought just as much as anyone else, but they were all used, abused and tossed away when they were no longer of use. And sometimes, they met people who couldn’t be bought, wouldn’t be used, and they used them anyway. Forced to do what others wanted; not necessarily even for any gain, but simply because these people expected to get whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted it.
People like Hewy just never thought they had to pay, but they were wrong. Everyone has to pay eventually.
“Huh?” he asked.
“I said,” Hendricks started. “Oh never mind, I lost you there for a second didn’t I?”
“Sorry, Doc.”
“Nevermind, nevermind. You had something weightier on your mind than my prattling.”
They reached the dig site.
“These people. According to the stories, Lord Naylor’s people escaped a great war to try and find the Shores of Dawn. Find answers and maybe a way to save their Kingdom. This is what they got instead. Is that it? Is this what we all get in the end?”
“Everything ends, Stephen, we can only hope we get to choose how it does.”
Regrette nodded to himself.
“Mssh, if you say so, Doc.”
***
“OK,” Tsyrker said. “Not only have we found him, but we’ve caught a lucky break. Seems our man Koleermeer has a meeting on Earth. That’s territory we know and, by nixing aliens, keeps down the amount of goons he might have with him.”
“And the bad news?” Grant asked.
“We think he’s meeting with the Shen Mi,” Gulch said.
“Wonderful,” Regrette ironicalised.
“Asia,” Grant said and Tsyrker nodded.
“Bangkok.”
The Shen Mi were an Asian gang (at least to start with) and the Humans were still almost entirely Asian as was the leadership. As far as anyone knew, the current leader was Lou Fu. He had been more active in the social scene in his younger years, showing himself as a mere businessman, but he hadn’t been seen in public for years now. Perhaps due to increased interest from people such as Tsyrker. What it meant for Grant and his team was that the Shen Mi could blend into Earth’s Asian countries and hold a much stronger presence there than anyone else. It also cut down Kaskey’s useful
ness
“I guess I’ll just go home then,” he said.
“Oh no you don’t,” Grant said. “There’s a spa in Phra Padaeng, I can’t think of anywhere else our man will stay.”
“Earthen spa, you say? You’re right, man, these missions can be fun,” Kaskey grinned all round.
“And the food, boy. Oh the food,” Regrette said.
“It’s all originally Chinese,” Tsyrker said with wounded pride.
“And improved upon no end,” Regrette said boldly and dropped a wink at Kaskey.
“Rainsford will obviously be going under cover,” Grant continued. “Gulch will work computers from the spa while Kaskey gathers information on Koleermeer’s posse and possible kidnap opportunities. I’ll be out on the streets and hopefully Regrette will do what he’s told.”
“Doubtful,” Regrette said.
“What do we know about this guy, then?” Kaskey asked.
Gulch shook his head.
“Doesn’t work like that,” he said. “They all like to imbibe their information in different ways. I’ve found it a lot easier to just compile dossiers and hand them out. Plus dossiers on cover identities.”
“It was a good question though, Kas. Know your enemy,” Grant said. “Anything else anyone needs to know at this point?”
Kaskey thought about it, he knew this question was really directed at him and he accepted that.
“Yeah. While we’re together, the Shen Mi. I’ve heard of them, but, y’know, always someone works for someone who works for them or something.”
“They’re ingrained in the Universe,” Tsyrker said. “You’re absolutely right when you say someone works for someone who works for the Shen Mi…”
“More likely someone works for someone who works for someone who works for someone who…” Regrette interrupted.
“Point is,” Tsyrker continued after a quick glare at Regrette, “is that’s how they work.”
“It’s possible, if not probable,” Gulch said, “that even in your line of work you’ve met a member of the Shen Mi and never known it.”
“Everyone who meets an Asian in space thinks they must be Shen Mi and that actually works for them. Keeps the fear high, the idea that they’re everywhere,” Regrette said.
“They are everywhere,” Tsyrker rebutted.
“You’re not one though. Right?” Kaskey asked.
She just raised an eyebrow at him.
“Hey, Grant keeps ‘interesting’ friends,” he nodded over to Regrette and Rainsford laughed.
“I’ve been called worse,” Regrette shrugged.
“Mostly by Rainsford,” Gulch said with a smile.
“Oh yeah,” Grant laughed. “Remember after Torneslii?”
“We’re still not allowed back in that bar,” Gulch nodded.