Starship Swindlers: Outsiders Trilogy Book 2 Read online

  “Not yet,” said Laodicean. “If we alert them, they could scatter. A planet is a big place to search for six people. But … keep an eye on the ship.”

  Illipa grinned. “On it,” she said. Her fingers races across the terminal's surface. “I've also got local law enforcement ready to work with us.”

  Laodicean took the freighter down to a nearby spaceport.

  Soon after, they were on the streets, Laodicean floating a few feet off the ground in his globe of water, Illipa scrambling along beside him.

  “I'm excited,” she confessed, bounding ahead and then back again. “Spent so long watching these people. It's like we'll get to meet celebrities! And then arrest them!”

  “You fantasise about arresting celebrities?” Laodicean asked.

  Illipa stared at him, wide-eyed. “Well,” she said. “Only … only sometimes.”

  A combination of camera footage and a few questions led them to an opera house. Laodicean checked the timing. They were less than fifteen minutes behind their quarry. With his neural link, he told the local law enforcement what to look for and asked them to guard the exits, plus strategic locations in the street outside.

  Inside, Illipa offered her badge to the human behind the front desk.

  “Hello,” said Laodicean. “We're looking for a Glaber accompanied by two female humans.”

  “Uh,” said the secretary. Likely he had never seen a GEA official before. But he verified the badge with his tablet. “I saw a Glaber enter a few minutes ago,” he managed. “Going up that staircase. He .. might have had a human with him? I don't remember.”

  “Thank you,” said Laodicean. “Please tell your security personnel to look out for the individuals in question. I've already linked to your local network, so any of them can contact me.”

  Chapter 7: Escape Strategies

  Having checked two exit routes, one to the back of the opera house and another through the foyer, Rurthk, Eloise and Olivia headed down a wood-panelled corridor to the gallery.

  “Back route's quick, but more awkward,” said Eloise. “Lots of places to hide, for us or them.”

  “Agreed,” said Rurthk. “The Foyer's more public. That might mean less chance of an attack, or greater casualties.”

  “Olivia?” said Eloise.

  “Oh, uh …” She thought for a moment. “If we're up against an organised force, they might have more backup outside the main entrance. On the other hand, it's easier to get to the Outsider from the front.”

  “You know,” said Rurthk, in a more casual tone, “Sometimes it strikes me that we're being just a bit too paranoid.”

  His comm chimed. It was Mero.

  “Hey, Cap,” Mero said. “Thought you might want to know, there's a Tethyan here asking after you.”

  Rurthk closed his eyes for a moment and put his hand to his forehead. “Or, perhaps not,” he muttered, before replying to Mero: “Any idea who it might be?”

  “Not Sweetblade, I don't think. Very polished, very professional. Lawlike, but they're obviously not from Iona. If I had to guess, I'd say GEA.”

  “GEA?” said Rurthk. “What the bloodline do the GEA want with us?”

  “Search me,” said Mero.

  Rurthk switched channels and called Kaivon.

  “Yes, Captain?”

  “We've got someone on our tail. Get into orbit now, and launch false transponders.”

  “Yes, Captain. I can send a stealth shuttle by remote to pick you up.”

  “Good idea,” said Rurthk. “They don't seem to be on Mero's trail yet, to co-ordinate with him.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Rurthk killed the link and switched back to Mero. “Where is he coming from?”

  “Just went up the big staircase on the left of the Foyer.”

  “Okay. Kaivon should be in contact in a moment about a shuttle. Keep a low profile until then.”

  “Really?” said Mero. “Because I was thinking about drenching myself in red paint and screaming about all my misdeeds at the top of my lungs.”

  Rurthk killed the channel. He turned to Eloise and Olivia, who had been listening to the exchange. “Rear exit?”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Eloise said.

  They turned and walked briskly back the way they'd come. After going down another corridor, Rurthk opened the door into the third-floor hall.

  A crowd of humans swarmed the hall – a performance had just finished in another auditorium. Rurthk began to step forward, then caught sight of a hint of glowing blue.

  Like a tiny planet, hidden behind the crowd. It was the curve of a Tethyan's water globe.

  Rurthk pulled the door closed. “Not that way,” he said.

  “Through the gallery?” said Eloise.

  Rurthk nodded. If they went back to the gallery, they could loop around, take another route to the foyer, and leave by the front after all.

  They ran down the corridor, into the next, and then into the gallery. A few performance bots had been left waiting on the stage, like cartoon statues. Rurthk led them round the back of the gallery. It was empty

  Except it wasn't.

  A Petaur bounded out from behind a pillar, gun trained on them.

  “GEA!” she snapped. “Don't move!”

  Chapter 8: Hurry Up

  Rurthk, Eloise and Olivia held their hands up.

  The Petaur spoke, apparently into her comms. “I have them. Fourth floor, outside Auditorium Three.” That done, she gave a Rurthk and the others a brief, almost shy, smile.

  “The GEA,” said Rurthk. “Well, that's new.” He cocked his head. “Aren't you a bit small to be a GEA investigator?”

  “Yes, but I make up for it with being able to take down a Varanid with my bare hands. Want to try me?”

  “Only if you put the gun down first,” said Rurthk.

  The Petaur laughed. “Captain Rurthk,” she said. “You're not how I imagined you. Classier, somehow. And you two must be … Eloise and Olivia, right?” She grinned. “You two go well together. And, well, it's so cool to meet you all at last. Where are the others?”

  Rurthk looked around him slowly, then pretended to start in surprise. “My goodness!” he said. “They're not with us? I could have sworn they were here last time I looked.”

  “I'm sure I'll get to meet them soon,” said the Petaur.

  “Do we get to hear your name?” Eloise asked.

  “If you're good,” said the Petaur.

  “I'm always good,” said Eloise, with an unfriendly smile.

  Rurthk's comm sounded in his ear. Mero's voice came through. “Bus~ted!”

  Rurthk didn't react. Around a GEA investigator, he didn't dare to try even a subvocal response. At the very least, she might see the giveaways and realise that he was communicating with someone.

  “Don't worry, Cap,” Mero went on. “Kaivon's safely in his orbit, and I got his present. Just play along for a bit and I'll figure something out.”

  The Tethyan came gliding into the room in his floating globe of water. He was armed too – a trio of short, featureless tubes floating in front of the globe of water, haloed red in effector fields. Albascene stun-darts, by the look of it.

  “Thank you,” he said to the Petaur, then turned to Rurthk. “I am Investigator Laodicean. My partner is Investigator Vissivine.”

  “Illipa,” said the Petaur. She seemed momentarily piqued that her partner had given her name away, but a second later she was focussed on the others again.

  “Well,” said Rurthk. “I don't suppose you could tell me why the GEA has decided to swoop down on me and my friends while we're enjoying a nice day out on Iona?”

  “Of course,” said Investigator Laodicean. “I believe we should make it official. Captain Rurthk, Eloise LaBell, and Olivia Finch, I hereby bind you under the agreements of the Lex Galactica for offences including but not limited to: four instances of illegally trading controlled substances, two instances of knowingly trading stolen goods, four instances of failing to accurately decl
are cargo for reasons of personal profit, one instance of theft, and one instance of using military-grade vehicles without a licence.”

  “Ah,” said Rurthk. “If this is about the artworks we carried to Tethya, that was all above board.”

  “I'm afraid not,” said Laodicean. “We are more concerned about everything you were doing before that. But I'm sure I can explain the charges against you fully, and show you the evidence we've collected, once we're aboard my ship.”

  Rurthk held his hands forward. “Best lead the way, then.”

  Mero's voice sounded suddenly in his ear. “No, you idiot! Ugh. Sorry Cap. Just stay there, alright? I have a plan, but it involves you being in the gallery.”

  Unaware of this, Laodicean turned and floated towards the door. “Follow me,” he said. Illipa remained in place, ready to take the rear.

  Rurthk sighed internally. “Actually, uh,” he said. “I want to know more. Why, precisely, are you going after us?”

  “I can tell you when we are aboard my ship,” said Laodicean.

  “I'd really rather you tell me now,” said Rurthk.

  Effector fields like tendrils snaked out of the halo surrounding Laodicean's water. “I can also render you unconscious and carry you to my ship.”

  “A good point, well made,” said Rurthk. “But you've been watching us for a while, right?”

  “Come,” said Laodicean.

  “So you must know you've only got half the crew, right? And by now you must know my ship has left.”

  Laodicean paused for a moment, then turned slowly back to face Rurthk. “I did not know that,” he said.

  Rurthk frowned at him. “Really?”

  “Illipa, begin a search for the Outsider. If it has jumped away, contact the GEA.”

  Rurthk stifled a smile. This was where the decoy transponder came in handy.

  “But it is not a problem,” said Laodicean. “You are all I need.”

  Mero's voice returned. “Okay, friends. I'm gonna need you to stand by the edge of the gallery. Together, if you can. And when I say jump, you jump.”

  “I understand,” said Rurthk, simultaneously answering Laodicean and Mero. “You've got the ship's owners.” He sidled closer to the edge of the gallery.

  “Not that way,” said Laodicean.

  “Yes, I know,” said Rurthk. “Follow you. Okay. Let's hurry up and get this over with.”

  Laodicean moved towards the exit again. Illipa trained her gun on them, and gestured with it, telling them to follow.

  Nothing happened.

  Rurthk swore in his internal monologue.

  He took a step towards Laodicean.

  There was a sudden whisper of air in the auditorium below.

  “Jump!” said Mero.

  Chapter 9: A Daring Escape

  Rurthk looked down. The stealth shuttle was in the auditorium, a few metres below them, flying sideways with its door open.

  Eloise was the first to react. She grabbed Illipa's gun, turned it safely away, and then threw the Petaur in between Laodicean and the rest of them.

  Rurthk grabbed Olivia and, carrying her, leapt over the railing. For a second they were weightless, the auditorium's high ceiling receding. Then they were inside the shuttle. Gravity shifted, and they landed with a thump against the far wall. Rurthk took the brunt of it, cushioning Olivia's fall. Less than a second later, Eloise arrived rather more gracefully, grabbing the edge of the door to slow her descent.

  Inside the shuttle, gravity was normalised so everything seemed the right way up. Mero was sitting at the control panel. Rurthk barely had time to stand up when Illipa dived into the shuttle after them.

  “Stop!” she cried, scrambling for her gun.

  Mero craned his neck to look at her. His ears went back. “Hey,” he said. “Aren't you a cute thing? What's your name?”

  “Now is not the time!” Rurthk said, struggling to get up.

  “Fine,” muttered Mero.

  The view outside shifted suddenly, giving a view of the floor as the shuttle turned over. Eloise, who was still the only one who had regained her balance, kicked Illipa forcefully in the belly, pushing her out of the shuttle. As the door closed, Rurthk saw her gliding safely to the seats below.

  “How did you get in here?” Olivia said, finally managing to stand up. She offered a hand to Rurthk.

  “This way,” said Mero.

  The shuttle reversed suddenly, crossing the auditorium in a fraction of a second and stopping inches before it hit the back of the stage. It glided sideways, then turned, pointing vertically upward. Above them was an open hatch, presumably for bringing in large equipment. Mero turned the shuttle sideways to fit it through. They turned two tight corners with clearances of barely an inch, one after the other headed up a final chute and emerged into to open air. The whole journey took maybe two seconds.

  “I love these things,” Mero said. “I've never had a shuttle this responsive. They turn like that.” He smacked his tail against the back of the cream leather seat for emphasis.

  “Jesus,” said Olivia. “Never do that again. My head is spinning.”

  “Save you from GEA Investigators?” said Mero. Already the shuttle was shooting up through the sky. He hit the comms. “I have them.”

  “Understood,” said Kaivon, his voice coming through the console. “Good to have you back, Captain.”

  Already the sky above them was darkening to black, and the surface of Iona was curving into a sphere.

  “Kaivon,” Rurthk said. “I want us to jump away the moment the shuttle is aboard. No waiting for Mero to get to the cockpit. Just jump.”

  “We are already prepared, Captain,” said Kaivon.

  Rurthk leant back against the wall of the shuttle and sighed.

  “On the plus side,” said Mero. “If we do get caught again, maybe I'll get to talk to that cute tail properly.”

  “Mero,” Eloise said softly. “You may have saved us, and prepared admirably for a quick escape, but I'm not above hitting you.”

  “Besides,” Olivia added. “She's GEA. You're … well, you. I don't think you're her type.”

  Mero laughed. “Oh, little kit,” he said. “How much you have to learn.” He checked the console. “We're here, Cap.”

  Iona was a small sphere in the rear window. Up ahead, a tiny pinprick of light enlarged in the space of a second to become the Outsider. The animal part of Rurthk's brain quailed in fear of an oncoming collision, but at the last moment, the shuttle slowed to a stately pace and glided into the waiting smart matter clamps behind the cargo bay.

  The clamps closed around the shuttle with a clang, locking it in place and connecting it to an airlock.

  “Are you aboard?” said Kaivon.

  “Yes,” said Rurthk. “Jump.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  Rurthk opened the shuttle door and stepped into the Outsider. The background hum of the ship increased in pitch as the jump engines began to spin up.

  They strode down the corridor together, heading for the cockpit.

  Wolff came out to meet them. “Rurthk –” he began.

  Rurthk held up a hand to silence him. “Sorry, Doctor. The mission's off. We're leaving, and that's final.”

  Kaivon spoke over the comms, reciting the standard warning with Albascene precision: “Prepare for jump. All hands, prepare for jump.”

  The hum of the jump engines peaked, stuttered, then vanished.

  “We can't leave,” said Kaivon.

  The ship was still. Rurthk looked at Eloise. “Damn, my timing is off today,” he said. And then he broke into a run down the corridor.

  Kaivon was standing in the cockpit with his effector fields off, plugged into the computer.

  “What's happening?” Rurthk asked.

  “I'm getting dangerous oscillations in the jump engines,” said Kaivon. “I believe the ship has been hobbled.”

  “Hobbled?”

  “Someone has attached a device to the jump engines which introduces fee
dback.”

  “Can you work around it?”

  “I am trying,” said Kaivon. He unplugged from the console and rose up on his effector fields. “I will need to go to the jump engines.”

  “Do it,” said Rurthk. “Mero! Get in here.”

  Mero was already at the doorway. He bounded over Kaivon and into the pilot seat. He gestured a few times at the console, muttering to himself, then froze.

  “We've got a jump-in,” he said. “Directly ahead.”

  “Who is it?”

  The wormhole in front of them opened, pushing aside the starfield, and disgorged a smooth, crystalline-blue sphere.

  “It's hailing us,” said Mero. He put the message through.

  “Hello again, Captain.” It was Investigator Laodicean. “I understand you were worried about the rest of your crew escaping. Thank you for gathering them all together for us. The ship you see has monopole cannons, kinetics and lasers trained on the Outsider. Stand down and prepare for boarding, or it will fire.”

  Rurthk stared at the blue globe through the window. He tried to think of a way out.

  “Cap?” said Mero.

  “Kill the jump engines,” said Rurthk. “Sublight engines too. Everything.”

  Chapter 10: Interviews

  Low level GEA goons swarmed the Outsider. Most were Albascene, who – orderly and scrupulous – were suited for the job, but there was other species too. They pulled apart the ship, going through everything with a fine tooth comb. They tore open floor plating without regard for the damage it would cause when they thought there might be a hidden chamber. They cut holes in the walls.

  Rurthk stayed long enough to see the beginning of the process. Then he was marched down a docking tube into the GEA ship, through weird chambers where walls of water were held back by effector fields, and gravity seemed to change direction randomly, to a cell.

  The room was a white box, utterly featureless. No furniture, no light fittings, no windows, not even a seam where the door had been. The walls gave off a sterile light that killed all shadows.