Josh Gunn sat at a table in the rear of the dimly lit tavern, his six-foot two-inch muscular frame hunched over – waiting. The thin white scar that started just below his left eye and ended along his jaw made people glance in his direction but turn away before he noticed them. Haze from the smoke of different types of pipes, narcotic cylinders and other tightly rolled bundles of cured plant leaves drifted through the open room, obscuring his vision.
The screech of the instruments made him clench his jaw and squint his eyes. Strangely shaped horns and percussion instruments added to the discordant noise. Two singers crooned in a foreign tongue adding to the weird alien feel of the place.
The sight of a six-foot Sigiamun creature which looked like a giant upright grasshopper captured his attention, the two bright red slashes on his throat marking him as a male of the species. The male didn't come in his direction but staggered to the right to settle into a booth with two females of his species. A series of clicks and squawks barely carried over the noise from the band.
He thought he caught a whiff of exotic perfume, but it was hard to tell with the other unknown odors wafting in his direction. Lifting the glass of golden liquid sitting in front of him, he took a sip as his eyes continued to wander over the other strangely shaped denizens in the place.
The pain in his eyes lessened as a slight smile touched his lips when he saw what he waited for coming through the door. A tall blue android with subdued lights twinkling beneath the surface of his skin walked toward him. His crooked right arm hung close to the blaster at his side.
As the android walked to his table, his eyes roved the room taking in the different creatures there. In just a few seconds the android, Cherry Kang, Josh's partner, sat down in a chair next to him. Both partners could now see both doors into the tavern.
Josh leaned close to speak over the uproar in the place, "Did you get it done?"
"Yes, but next time you have to go. That stupid banker didn't want to work with me and then when he saw that we only had four thousand credits to deposit, he really threw a fit."
"I'd like to see his eyes when we start moving the credits from those two ships in there. What about the credit registry for Belle?"
"We'll get it tomorrow. It cost us eight hundred credits to be installed. I think we're getting ripped off. The people around here don't have to worry about pirates coming in spaceships. They're sitting over there in that bank."
Josh grinned, "As soon as they get it installed, I'll try to move some of the parts we have on Belle. That should fatten up our account."
Cherry grimaced, "For a few hours anyway. We still need some parts for Belle. Have you seen the Captain's contact yet?"
"No. We've got to find our own contacts here. I may have to spend some of our credits on drinks to loosen some tongues."
A tall thin four-legged Gamik stepped through the door of the tavern. Its slim build along with the fronds waving on its head made it look like a willowy moving tree. A purple cloak, tied tightly around its neck swept almost to the floor. A belt held two pouches and a weapon. Its eyes darted from wall to wall, taking in each being there as it slowly walked deeper into the room. Josh saw its eyes make contact with them and its face brighten.
It walked up to their table and announced, "My name is Ferdin. I am a friend of the Captain."
Josh waved his hand at a chair. "Have a seat. You want something to drink?"
The alien nodded as it sat down. "It's noisy in here."
"Makes it harder for other people to hear our business."
"You're right. I never thought of that. I like to come here for the music."
Cherry glanced at Josh and rolled his eyes. The alien reached inside of his jacket and looked up to see two blaster muzzles poking over the edge of the table. The neck muscles visibly contracted as it gulped.
With a quivery voice, it asked, "Are you two a little jumpy or what?"
Josh said, "No, just cautious. We don't know you. You claim to be an associate of the Captain, but how do we know? How is the furry little scoundrel?"
"When I talked to him an hour ago, he seemed fine."
Cherry's knee nudged Josh under the table. The muzzles of their blasters disappeared under the table. His eyes directed Josh to four newcomers. Three female Waltrok and one brightly feathered male slowly strolled into the tavern. The male had his claws on two of the females directing them along. Josh saw their eyes searching the crowd inside. Movement from the male drew his attention.
The Waltrok tried to hide his right arm behind one of the females, but Josh saw the blaster slide out of its holster. The male's eyes stared malevolently at them. The quartet started walking toward their table.
Josh said, "I see them. Cherry, if this sorry excuse for a troll even twitches, burn his legs off then his arms. We'll leave him alive to wiggle around on his belly like the snake he is."
Josh lurched to his feet. He staggered as though intoxicated. His unsteady steps led him toward the four who had just entered the tavern. A step away from them he tripped and fell into the one on the left. She fell, hitting the others like a bowling pin hit by a ball.
The ensuing tangle of bodies knocked the male and one of the females to the floor. Josh held on to the other two, slamming them into each other. The air whooshed out of their lungs and they stooped over, trying to get their breath.
Holding his left hand out to the male, Josh pulled him up as he jammed his blaster into his gut. Slurring his words, he loudly proclaimed, "I'm sorry. Are you alright?" Quieter, he said, "Make one wrong move and all of you are dead. Gather the ladies and let's go find an empty table."
His left hand reached for the man's exposed blaster. Josh used it to covertly shove one of the females forward. The other blaster in his right hand pointed at the male. He directed them to a booth on Cherry's left. A single Sigiamun sat hunched over nursing a drink. Josh shoved a female, then the male and then the other two females into the booth.
The drinking alien looked up at him. When he saw the two blasters in Josh's hands, his eyes grew. He stammered, "I – uh – think you need this booth more than me."
Josh pointed the blaster at the male sandwiched between the females, "Give him five credits for his trouble."
The male's lip lifted in a snarl until Josh aimed the blaster at his right arm. His hand started to move below the table until Josh said, "Very carefully. I'd hate to see these fine ladies splattered with your blood."
The drinker stared at him as his eighteen fingers drummed the table top. The other male stared at him for a few seconds then his eyes shifted to the table. His hand slowly reached into a jacket pocket. He pulled out a gold coin. "All I've got is a fifty credit coin."
"That'll do just fine. Give it to him."
The gold coin slid across the table. The drinker grabbed it and said, "Thanks, mister. I'm outta here."
He shoved himself up from the booth with one of his four arms. A long tail helped steady him as he shuffled toward the door. His head never turned until he hit the door, then he snuck a quick look back at his former booth. The door slowly swung shut behind him as he picked up speed, moving out of sight.
Josh slid into the opposite side of the booth. The four on the other side were squished in like fishes in a can. The male rested both his arms on top of the table. Both blasters went under the table. The bartender looked in his direction and he shook his head no.
Once seated, he shoved the table tighter against the four. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cherry stand up and take Ferdin toward the back door. Laying the male's blaster on the seat beside him, he shifted his blaster to his left hand. He drew a vibro-knife out of its sheath. When he flicked it on, the quartets eyes widened in shock at the sound.
Josh quietly said, "Now, I think you need to tell me what your intentions were."
The male protested in a whiney voice, "What do you mean what our intentions are? We just came in for a drink and to listen
to the —"
The sound of the vibro-knife working on the table and the tip of the blade appearing between the Waltrok's folded arms stopped the flow of words from his mouth. The females drew back until Josh said, "The next one that moves will be minus something below the table. I can't really see what I'm aiming at but the blaster doesn't care."
The quartet of aliens turned several shades paler as they stared at him. Josh said, "Now, let's start over. What were you going to do? Who sent you?" Looking at the female crammed into the corner straight in the eye, Josh said, "You, answer me. Lie to me again and it'll cause some unpleasant consequences."
The female rolled her eyes, trying to see her companions without turning her head. Her tongue came out of her mouth to lick her lips. She stammered, "Ah – um – it's like he —"
The vibro-knife came out from under the table in a flash. The end of her little finger popped off and landed in the middle of the table. The female took one look at it and wilted against the wall. The male had to use his elbow to keep her in the booth.
The rest of the quartet stared in open mouthed disbelief at the growing pool of purple blood pooling on the table. Josh reached over with the knife and cut a piece of the male's sleeve off. He wadded it up around the finger.
Using the back of the knife, he slowly moved the piece of finger around on the table. Three sets of eyes followed his every movement. Josh pointed at the female jammed in next to the male. "You, answer me."
She glanced to her left at the female at the end of the booth. The one at the end kept her eyes on the bit of finger. Finally, the Waltrok Josh had pointed at said, "Please, don't cut off any more. We don't regenerate like some species."
"Answer the question."
She looked to the left again, then not seeing any sign said, "Someone at the spaceport offered us a thousand credits to watch for an old spaceship. They wanted us to discretely find out about them. You're the first old ship that's landed…"
Her voice drifted off as the female on the end pushed against her. Josh pointed at her, "Put your bag here on the table."
She stared at him for a few seconds then did as he said. Josh moved the tip of the knife closer to the male. He said, "Very carefully, get your friend's ID, wallet, comm and any weapons. Move like you expect this thing to bite you. Put everything in her bag."
The male glared at him but slowly moved his right hand to comply. When he started to drop the grip on his left hand, Josh shook his head no. The male's lips tightened into a straight line. His right hand roved over the female's body, pulling the things Josh had ordered onto the table top, then into the bag.
The female didn't move the entire time. As he finished, Josh told him to put his own ID, wallet, comm and weapons in the bag. When he finished, the bag bulged. Josh pulled a small bottle out of a special pocket on his left sleeve. Popping the lid with his left hand, he poured a little liquid into the male's palm.
Motioning him to grab the unconscious female's hand, he dribbled a little more liquid on the table top. He had the man lay his hand in the liquid. Next, he had the female lay her bag on the table and put her weapons in it. One he was sure he had everything, he dribbled some more of the liquid in her palm.
Forcing her to grasp the male's hand, he put more liquid on the table and pushed the back of his hand into it. Trickling a little more on the table, he pushed her other hand into it. Taking the bottle, he brushed a little of the liquid across her lips.
Josh said, "Kiss that toad. Let's see if he'll turn into a prince."
The female's eyes widened but she reluctantly complied. The male tried to resist until Josh moved the knife closer to his hand. Josh said, "Now hold that pose until I tell you differently."
Josh closed the lid on the bottle and shoved it back into its special pocket. He put the male's weapon in the second bag, then picked both up with his left hand. Using the knife, he motioned for the last female to get to her feet. Josh said, "I wouldn't try anything. I won't kill you but I will cut your spinal cord. Since you don't regenerate, I suspect you'll be in a wheelchair the rest of your life."
Her eyes widened in terror. As Josh stood, the other female and male tried to move and break their kiss. Their lips stayed together and their hands stayed flat on the table. The two struggled to get apart. Josh grinned and pushed the female towards the rear of the tavern.
Cherry appeared at the door. He raised his eyebrows as Josh prodded the female forward. His eyes drifted to the table to see one female Waltrok slumped against the wall and the other two aliens struggling. He asked, "What did you do?"
"I just found the boss here and I didn't want to kill the other three, so I left them there at the table."
"How long will they stay?"
"Quite awhile. I put the super glue we use to mend you in their hands and on the table. I put a dab on the female and made them kiss."
Cherry chuckled, "Yep, they'll be there quite awhile. What are you going to do with this one?"
"I have some more questions and she didn't look like she would cooperate. We need to take her somewhere private. Some place that screams won't be noticed."
The Waltrok paled and almost stumbled. Cherry grabbed her arm as he hustled her out the rear exit. Josh asked, "Where's the idiot you brought out here?"
"Over there a little ways. I'll tell you later what I found. Let's take care of this first."
"Be careful. I don't think I got all her weapons."
The female whipped her hand up with a small blaster in it as she tried to turn to bring it to bear on them. Cherry reacted without thinking. A small device appeared in his hand which went to the female's neck.
A blue arc of electricity leaped and she folded into a heap. Josh stepped up next to her and picked up the weapon. He searched her and found a knife hidden in the dress she wore. Cherry picked her up, then slung her across his shoulder.
Josh asked, "Where to now? We need some privacy to question her. What did you find out from the idiot?"
"He overheard the comm call from the Captain. He doesn't know for sure what we're looking for but he hoped to cut himself in on some of the loot."
Josh rubbed his chin, "Maybe we can use him as one of our contacts. We just need to put the fear in him, then offer him a little reward."
"Yeah, like his life. He'll wait. I have him stashed in a safe place. It might do him good to think about the error of his ways."
Cherry led the way to a cross alley. Turning right, he walked until he came to a door which he pushed open. Stepping into a dim room, Josh saw a glimmer of sunlight coming through a dirty window. Most of the room was bare except for a bench against the far wall. Two other doors stood to his left.
Walking across the room, Cherry deposited the female on the bench. He opened a pouch on his belt. Pulling some ties out, he soon had her secured to the bench. At last he relaxed a little. Cherry asked, "Why do we have her here?"
"She's the leader of the bunch that came in. The others wanted me to think the male was but everyone kept looking to her. I'd like to have all four of them to put in separate rooms. Then we could compare stories to see who the best liar is."
"So what's their story?"
"One of the females said someone at the spaceport paid them a thousand credits to keep tabs on older spaceships. I guess Belle is the oldest one that's been in here in quite a spell. They were supposed to discretely find out about the ships. I don't know what their definition of discrete is but I'm glad they're not working for us."
"We need to nip this in the bud. If we don't, we'll have every two bit hood trying to take us. Can we make this so costly to them that nobody will think about checking us out for less than 50,000 credits?"
"I think so, after she answers a few questions. I don't think it will be safe to go back into that tavern. I'm sure these dimwits will try to catch us in there. There'll be shooting and you'll be afraid we'll mess up the timeline."
&n
bsp; Cherry glared at him, "You know we're five hundred years in the past. Anything we do here could mess up the timeline. We can't afford to start randomly killing people."
"I know, but I won't let scum like this threaten us."
"I agree. Just be cautious and don't kill anyone unless we absolutely have to. Now, who do you think paid them a thousand credits?"
"You know who as well as I do – Exurbiu Entertainment. They are the only ones who even know we're in this era."
"Maybe someone else had a run in with an older ship."
Josh grinned, "Yeah, right. If you believe that, I've got this tropical paradise to sell you."
"Then let's get this done. We need to work on the other idiot. I've got him safely stowed in that closet."
"Wait a minute. I have an idea. Let me dump these bags, then we need to go through them."
With the weapons, comms and other junk on the end of the bench at the female's head, Josh and Cherry combed through everything. At last Josh said, "There's not much here to go on. Let's use that little worm in the closet to track down information about them. We'll see how good he is at ferreting out information."
"How you going to keep him from just running?"
Josh grinned, "Help me put this stuff back in the bags. Leave that knife out. Now, go get him."
Josh worked his comm while Cherry went to the closet. When Cherry drug the quivering Gamik back towards Josh, he stopped to stare. The female now lay in a pool of blood with her chest and abdomen ripped open. Looking closer, Cherry saw that it was a 3D image laid over the woman.
The alien took one look and turned to spew his guts on the floor. Cherry jerked him upright and shoved him closer to the supposed body. Josh said, "Come over here."
When Ferdin stood beside him on quivering knees, Josh shoved the knife in his hand. He said, "Stand here. Hold the knife like this."
Then Josh stepped out of the way. He said, "Cherry, take his picture for posterity."
Cherry brought up his comm to start snapping pictures. Ferdin's hand shook like a leaf in a high breeze. Josh stepped into the line of sight and adjusted his hand with the knife. Stepping back, he had Cherry take more pictures.
Josh asked, "Cherry, do you have his comm number?"
"I have his comm here in my pouch."
"Take his number down and give it back to him."
Josh walked up to the alien and took the knife from his hand. He held it with a piece of the female's clothing. Laying it down, he carefully wrapped it in the rag. Ferdin stared at him in uncertainty.
Josh said, "Ferdin, that's your name isn't it?"
"Uh – ah – yes."
"Listen to me very carefully. Your life depends on it. I have four IDs that I want you to find out about. You have about three hours. We'll call you and tell you where to meet us."
"But – but what if I can't?"
"Then I turned these pictures over to the cops and to that woman's partners."
Ferdin whispered, "They'll kill me. I didn't do it. She was already laying there all butchered."
Josh chuckled ominously, "Do you think they or the cops will believe you? Your only chance is to get the information and meet us."
Dropping the four IDs in his hand, Josh shoved him at Cherry. Cherry slapped his comm in his hand and said, "You'd better get moving. The clock is ticking."
Ferdin looked from Josh to Cherry, then to the female. He gulped and almost ran from the room. Cherry looked at Josh and had to hold himself as he tried to laugh quietly.
He asked, "Do you think he'll answer our call?"
"Do you think he believed the image?"
"Oh, yes. No doubt about that."
Josh grinned, "Then he'll answer our call. Come on. We need to get some answers from her."
Chapter 2