Dallas walked along the passage way to his quarters with an expression on his face promising a bad time of it to anyone who talked to him. It had been a long and miserable day and its only good point was that it was finally over. Others in the passageway made it a point to look the other way or get out of the way. When the boss was cranky is was never wise to be around.
Dallas finally got to his door and pressed his thumb to the entry plate. The computer read it and did an iris scan and the door quietly slid back. Dallas tramped inside muttering 'Lights' which illuminated the room.
'You keep late hours, laddie buck. You need to relax more and enjoy life a bit.'
Dallas spun about at the voice and froze. There seated at a table was a huge man with a thick handlebar mustache and thinning hair line. The man's face was split in a wide open easy going sort of smile of genuine pleasure. On the table in front of him were a large unopened bottle and two glasses.
Dallas took all this in, in a glance and slowly asked in a voice tight with anger 'What are you doing in my quarters?'
The trader beamed a wider smile and opened the bottle on the table pouring then into both glasses. 'Fixin a scotch me friend for a man who has had a hard day. Tis Glenfiddich from far Islay and just one hundred years old now. Try it Judge, the single malts travel best ya know.'
Dallas still stood stock still, 'I want to know Trader Blue why you are in my quarters, how you got in here, and why I should not call for security right now to throw your butt into jail.'
'Tut tut now Judge' Blue began soothingly 'Lets not be hasty now. I am here to speak to you, because I have run across a thing so devilishly deadly that only the Judges can handle it. It has also been the cause of death for near anyone who knows about it, so I did feel it prudent to come in person, unannounced, and wait in the one place I safely could for the one person I needed to talk to.'
Dallas paused for a moment at those words. To say the least they had been, unconventional. He sat down at the table, picked up the glass the Trader had filled for him and took a sip from it. His eyebrows went up slightly and he took a bigger drink 'Islay you say Trader? You trafficking with Gaians now?'
'Simply a misunderstood folk tryin to get back what was rightfully promised to em. The Scots are a practical people. Only a tiny handful of the Gaians are actually Ecofreaks. Most are in fact distillers needing land to grow the malts and barleys for their products.'
Dallas sipped again and nearly smiled as the smooth smoky flavor enveloped him 'Seems they know their job, Blue.'
Blue smiled widely 'Glad I am you like it. There are two cases over by your bar. Sort of a 'sorry about bargin in' gift.'
Dallas nodded his thanks and fell silent waiting for the trader to get to the point. Blue took the hint and refilled both glasses 'This will take a bit. You see, the story started a long time ago.'
Blue sipped and then put his drink down 'About seventy five years back was a real smart man named Doctor Stradavinski. He was a physicists and the only man alive then to have twice won the Sagan prize in Physics. He was investigatin certain forces associated with jump drives, tryin to make em work better and use less energy.'
Dallas nodded and sipped waiting for Blue to go on. After a moment he did. 'Well now, Liberty was financing his operations when the good doctor discovered for lack of a better word, a new universe sort of at an angle to our universe. It was very tiny as its 'Big Bang' had not as yet occurred. Opening to it, opened to pure energy in limitless amounts. He called this new universe of raw power, Prime.'
Blue sipped again while Dallas listened intently now. He has heard of Stradavinski as every school child had. This part though was new.
'Maybe fifty years back, Liberty set up a huge experimental station in the place they called the Badlands. From this station Stradavinski and his team tried to establish a controlled breech to Prime. They spent years at it, and finally they succeeded, sort of.'
Blue took another pull on his drink and then refilled the glass 'They created a fissure between here and Prime nearly five millimeters long. They got a bit more than they bargained for. The energy blast destroyed the test ship and three more ships by it and research station Ithaca. Then, worst of all, the fissure would not collapse. It set up a dead zone some ten million kilometers in diameter.'
Dallas frowned a moment, 'Why have I heard nothing about this?'
Blue smiled 'You have boyo, you have. You just do not know that you have. You recall the reports from the first Nomad war? A single scientist by the name of Van Pelt at an old space station in the Badlands, monitorin an'¦anomaly.'
Dallas blinked 'Benford station?'
'The very one.' Blue said. 'Liberty covered up everything. They buried the research. Disappeared the survivors and set up a one man monitor, and then created the Liberty Rogues to keep traffic out of the badlands.'
'What do you mean, created the Liberty Rogues?'
Blue nearly smiled 'Liberty Security Force'¦.You ever wonder why no other House has a 'Security Force' in addition to its Navy and Police? Well, no matter. The LSF set them up. Over the years they have outgrown LSF control, but Liberty planted them. That was the reason they never touched Benford station even though it was deep in the badlands. They knew what was there and how important it was to keep an eye on it.'
Dallas now poured himself a refill 'Well Trader this is all interesting but I still do not see why it brought you here.'
'Stradavinski's notes and research were not destroyed the way Liberty thought. Turns out he kept a shadow file of everything he did on Cambridge. When he died, the file simply lay inside the computer, one among millions, for decades until recently.'
Now Dallas sat up a bit more as Blue went on 'I deal in weapons Judge as well you know. Ten days back I was approached by a young man askin if I knew about a thing called an Armageddon device. He is a research assistant you see for Cambridge University and they found Stradavinski's research. This young man said that once you open the fissure to Prime, there is a 50% chance it will not close. The one in the badlands is only slowly closing and has been there nearly a half a century now.'
Dallas frowned 'I am sure the University at Cambridge is not developing a weapon.'
Blue nodded his assent 'Right you are, they were not. However, them that stole the research and data are. The lad told me they are close to a working weapon, and if it is set off the energy fissure will be powerful enough to destroy entire planets in one shot. The trouble is a fissure that big will not close, but instead grow.'
'Grow? How big?'
'The lad said the equations break down and then started muttering about event horizons and singularities. Then he said the rift could envelop our universe but would likely just stop with our galaxy. He said he left the group that acquired the research material when he saw what could happen.'
Dallas went cold at those words and stone sober in an eye blink. 'I will need to talk to him.'
Blue finished his drink and set the glass down 'Can't sir, he's dead. As I said, this thing seems to kill people. If they make a weapon and the boy seemed certain they will, they will be lookin for a buyer. If that happens I'll hear about it and then let you know.'
'Please do that Trader, thank you.'
Campbell leaned back in his chair and took a deep puff on the cut leaf cigar he was smoking as he gazed out of the 34th story window of his office at the view below. The sun was just beginning to touch the spires of the western end of the university and he always enjoyed the play of sunlight on the high crystals at this time of day. He was giving serious thought to knocking off early when the door to his office flew open and his secretary ran in.
'Excuse me Dr. Campbell, there is a senior judge with a dozen bailiffs in the outer office to see you sir. I said that you were busy but.'
She cut off as several men entered the room. They were dressed head to toe in flat black with most having white piping on the shoulder seams indicating a judicial bailiff. One had no piping, but rather a golden edging to the high collar of his tunic. Pinned to that same collar on either side was a small golden wreath intersected by a sword and a quill, the insignia of the Judges and the gold edging meant a senior judge. There were only four in all of Sirius and to see one was a very bad thing.
The senior judge raised a hand with one finger pointing at Campbell 'You stay here. Everyone else leave this room.'
The secretary and bailiffs left at once. The senior judge took an odd looking device off of his belt and set it on the table. At once a pattern of lights appeared on it in a chaotic pattern. Campbell recognized it as a scrambler.
'I am Senior Judge Volt of the Sirius Judiciary' the man then said 'You are under official investigation. You will answer each question I ask completely and truthfully.'
Campbell quailed inside at those words. Since the second nomad war had ended the Sirius judiciary had been granted blanket unlimited powers in the entire sector. They were only answerable to the Sirius Council for their actions. A Judge could summarily try, sentence and execute anyone, anywhere in perfect legality He noticed the gun on the Judges hip looked the size of a small cannon.
'Of course your honor' He enthused 'Anything at all to help the judiciary. How may I help you sir?'
Volt looked at the man a moment. The moment drew out as he only stared. Campbell became more and more nervous until finally Volt spoke 'I require all information regarding the work and discoveries of one Dr. Stradavinski and all information to date regarding the disappearance of his work and data from Cambridge University.
Campbell blinked a moment and then replied 'Well of course your honor I am happy to help. The computer queries will take a few moments. As to the files vanishing, about three days after their discovery by Dr. Eddington both he and the files disappeared. We have no further information.'
Volt in one smooth motion drew his pistol out and fired. A hole appeared in the wall three inches from Campbell's head. The sudden noise and shock froze the man in place.
'Lie to me again and the next one goes through your head. Eddington is a botanist and wouldn't know advanced field physics from astrology. He further has less than no interest in anything that was not a plant, and does not have the skill sets or desire to do long computer searches. You on the other hand are a Physicists and would instantly recognize Stradavinski's work and its importance. You also routinely do large scale computer data mining as part of your function as University Chancellor.'
Campbell's mind raced. How the Judge knew so much so fast he pondered a moment, as well as what else the man knew. It was this last that caused him pause. The Judge could shoot him dead with no one raising even an eyebrow. He looked into Volt's eyes and saw glacial blue staring back. He made a quick decision.
'Forgive me your honor with such a large university to run I at times slip on day to day details. I do recall now in fact a research assistant coming across the Stradavinski file in the university computer a while back. He brought it to me of course and I spoke with Eddington just before that on unrelated matters, so the names became confused in my mind you see. Anyway, Stradavinski was a genius far beyond me and I could not understand his theorems or data. I do seem now to recall finding another physicist who specializes in field theory and gave them to him.'
Volt listened to this little speech and in a voice almost without inflection said
'Eighteen days ago a bank account was opened at New Tokyo with a series of code letters that cross reference to a bank in Rheinland that has a branch office here on Cambridge. That account was opened with four million credits in it and is in your name. How did you come by this windfall Dr. Campbell?'
Campbell looked again at Volt's eyes in utter terror now. That the money was known about so soon was a complete surprise. He saw Volt reaching again for the huge pistol on his hip when he blurted out 'Senior Judge..I'm sorry. Yes, it was paid to me for the Stradavinski file. I sold it to a person who is a part of the Illuminati who buys research material from us from time to time. I don't know where he is or what he did. Eddington is in Dublin for the next year studying lichens on asteroid formations. The name seemed a good excuse to use for now. I'm sorry Judge.'
Volt slowly nodded 'What was the name of this man?'
Campbell looked panicked now 'I don't know. He called himself Omega.'
'In order to produce the Stradavinski effect, what would be needed?'
Campbell looked confused a moment 'I really couldn't understand all of it Judge. It would take some heavy duty gravitic generators and a large scale power supply to repeat the last of the experimental sequences. Then of course detection equipment, counter scalers, most likely a Tevatron for collimation.'
'Bailiff!' Volt shouted. A second later another black clad figure entered the room. 'Bailiff, Dr. Campbell is under arrest. He is to provide all surviving data concerning Stradavinski and his work, to include everything he knows about the last project Stradavinski was working on. You will then transport him Tannhauser Gate for further disposition. If he is anything less that 100% cooperative, execute him.'
'Yes sir' the Bailiff said.
Turning back to Campbell Volt said 'If we have to talk again I will have you sent to the psych probe team and have you deep scanned.'
Campbell went sheet white now. Brain scans were dangerous and deep scans always caused damage to the one it was done on.
'I will cooperate sir' he whispered.
Volt nodded sharply once and left the room. A short time later his Eagle was enroute to Tannhauser Gate with an armored transport beside him. While no real answers were in hand as yet, at least a start was made.
Two figures in coveralls and hardhats strolled across the docking field at Manhattan spaceport. It was a chill day and the sun was just starting to make its daily appearance. Both of the two figures carried a case of some sort and what also looked like a back pack.
'You are gonna get us into so much trouble' one of them hissed to the other.
'Will you relax!' came the tart reply 'I told you I checked and this ship leaves for Denver in just under an hour. It was you that said Joel invited us there for a Ski holiday in the first place. Were we supposed to walk?'
'The Headmistress said no and that as long as we had to stay at the school over spring break we had to stay at the school. Another couple days and I could've changed her mind. Was you got all anxious and stuff.'
During the conversation the two arrived at their destination. It was an odd looking ship in that if had the general lines of the Eagle that the Zoners preferred, but the aft lower wing set was missing. It was painted jet black making it hard to make out in the morning twilight. Another pair of workmen just unhooked a hose from its starboard side and one waved as they drove off in their fuel truck back towards the hanger. DQ waved back.
'Okay' Bagel said 'Now we are here. Now what?'
DQ pulled a small crystal from the pocket of her coveralls and pressed it lightly against the lock pad of the main door. A few moments later it opened. 'Yes!!'
'What's that?'
'It's the key crystal Monica made last semester that she used to go into town after curfew. When Headmistress caught her, she gave it to me to hide. She sort of forgot to ask for it back.'
'Oh'
With that the two girls entered the ship and the hatch sighed shut behind them. The interior was neat and orderly and they quickly began to explore. Two small cabins aft of the flight deck and a small lounge were quickly looked at and dismissed. One cabin was obviously the pilots and the other unused. The flight deck was state of the art and lights flickered from gleaming panels as the ship's computer readied her for lift off. The girls went aft into the cargo bay and saw it empty. Moving faster now they went to the engineering escape pod, opened it and slipped in, shutting it behind them.
'You sure he won't know we are on?'
'Of course he won't. No one uses the after pod and it's shielded so the computers won't pick us up. We will be at Denver in about ten hours. Then we simply walk off like we walked on. Stop worrying so much.'
'Me worry?? Who was it said she was nervous bout goin off planet?'
'I never said 'nervous' and you know it Bagel. Sides, we both been to Pittsburgh so we've been off planet.'
'That was a school field trip and Pittsburgh is in the freaking Manhattan system. It doesn't count.'
'Does too.'
'Does not.'
A loud clank up forward stopped this curious conversation from continuing. Both of them knew it was the heavy inner airlock door and that meant lift off any time now.
'((You really sure this ship goes to Denver?))' Bagel whispered.
'((The flight plan said Denver. I spent all day yesterday carrying files in Operations looking for the right one. This is it.))'
'((How'd you get into Operations?))'
'((Told em my Dad worked there and I had to give him a message from Mom and boy was she mad. The guy at the gate just laughed and let me in.))'
Further conversation stopped as the engines lit off and spooled up to power. A few seconds later both girls felt the odd 'pit of the stomach' twist that meant that the ship had converted to internal gravity. DQ toggled the escape pod's radio just in time to hear 'Two seven X-ray lift off' Then the engine noise got real loud and the black ship leapt skyward. They were off.
Snug in the pod and with the monotonous drone of the engines, it was not long before both girls were asleep. It had been scary getting into the ship and the post adrenalin drop had both of them out like lights. It was many hours later, when the engines suddenly stopped that they both came awake.
'((We there?))' DQ whispered to Bagel.
Bagel was closest to the tiny control panel of the escape pod and shook her head no when she saw the time. She reached over to the radio and turned it on. The speaker came to life.
'You are late' said a strong female voice over the speakers. It had a mean quality to it that reminded both of them about Headmistress and they both involuntarily sank themselves deeper into the escape pod cushions.
'There was a delay in the trade rings.' a flat male voice replied. It sounded like a young man, but neither girl could be exactly sure. The flat voice went on.
'All the equipment and data are at the test platform. The last of the research team gets there tomorrow. He should be at Solarius by now. One of the scientists left the group and talked to an outsider before we could neutralize him.'
'Who did he talk to?' mean female voice asked.
Flat voice replied 'A weapons merchant named Trader Blue.'
'Trader Blue!' mean voice replied 'I know that one. He has supplied us with equipment in the past. His death will be necessary.'
'Yes' Flat voice said 'I meet him in two hours in Texas near the California hole for what he thinks is an arms deal. I will attend to him then.'
'Good' mean voice shot back 'Make sure it looks like the Rogues did it. Report to me when it's done.'
Silence came over the speakers as the engines spooled back up to power. The noise got louder and louder and the ship shook slightly. Where ever they were going, they were getting there fast
'Did you hear that??' DQ said 'He's gonna shoot somebody.'
'Of course I heard' Bagel replied over the howling engines 'Headmistress even talked about him once when you were out sick. She said he was an immortal man or somethin like that and to stay away from men like that. She said he buys women.'
'What?' DQ fairly shouted back over the engine din 'Mean voice said he sells guns and stuff like that. Why would he buy women and for what?'
'Donno' she said 'Maybe he needs em to stay immortal.'
Both sank into silence as the ship howled along into the night. They took turns using the escape pod's tiny Fresher unit and DQ found some survival space biscuits that they both agreed tasted yucky but were filling. Some time later the noisy engines cut out and the silence was deafening after all that noise. Bagel flipped the radio on and they listened.
'Well now boyo. Thought I did you changed your mind. If you would not mind too awfully, please hold your ship in position right where you are and de-select your guns from weapons control. Would hate to see an accident happen so far out in space.'
Flat voice came on at once and said 'Of course Trader. One moment while I access the controls.'
A split second later the radio spat out that crackle hiss of energy beams fired. The engines came on hard and the ship must have turned faster than the inertials could compensate for and both girls were thrown hard in to the padding. Seconds went by like hours as the ship shuddered over and over while snapping and turning all over. Then they heard a soft female voice saying 'Shield collapse. Hull breach imminent.'
'DQ' Bagel yelled 'He's gonna kill us.'
The voice called out again this time in the pod 'Auto launch sequence engaged'
A split second later the escape pod hammered out hard into space. Such a tiny thing had no inertial compensators and both girls blacked out from the G-forces.
Sometime later Bagel felt the world around her again. She seemed to be laying down on something of wonderful softness. Her bed, it had to be her bed. The whole thing had been just an awful dream.
'Well now young Miss' she heard a man's voice saying 'The scans show no broken bones or serious injury. How are you feeling?'
Bagel opened her eyes and saw she was laying in a bed. A quick side glance confirmed DQ in the bed next to her. At the foot of the bed she saw a man standing. He was slightly balding and dressed in rich appearing clothes. He had on a dark blue jacket with enough braid and gold on it for an admiral, over a flaming pink shirt open at the chest. He had many gold chains around his neck, and some ending in medallions of some sort over his graying chest hairs. Light maroon pants vanishing into knee high boots completed the effect. It was so striking that she barely noticed the huge earring gem hanging from a gold chain on his right ear. The man had a huge smile glowing out from under a handlebar mustache and both eyes twinkled like small stars in sky blue eyes.
'Bagel it's him' she heard and looked over to see DQ diving out of the bed and reaching for the back door to the room. Bagel joined her just as it was pulled open to reveal a small but tidy Fresher unit, with white towels hanging over the bars. They both just stood there.
'Well now girls if you need to use the Fresher I will of course leave till you're done.'
DQ looked accusingly at him 'You're Trader Blue!'
'That I am young Miss' Blue replied 'But whom have I the honor of addressing?'
'I'm Bagel and she's DQ' Bagel answered. 'If you hurt us Headmistress will be awful mad. She knows who you are and will find you if you hurt us.'
Now Blue's eyes went wide open in surprise and then he blinked 'Hurt you? Gracious girl you and your companion were in a ship that nearly blew me out of the stars. I pull in your life pod and find two little girls in it and no sign of the man who tried to kill me. Now you think I am going to hurt you on top of all that? Great God in heaven the gratitude I get. Just breaks the heart, it truly does.'
DQ went from scared to angry in a heartbeat 'I am NOT a little girl. I am almost fifteen and that makes me a woman.'
Blue caught that exchange as DQ immediately deflated realizing what she had said. 'I do not buy women. Great heavens where ever did you get that notion?'
'Headmistress said you are immortal and buy women. You better not use us to be immortal or else. We know karate AND judo.'
Blue just stood there and had the odd expression a person gets when they know a laugh is inappropriate but has one just bursting to come out 'Ahh..well'¦I see. I think perhaps your Headmistress said 'immoral' and not 'immortal'. However, I am neither. I do not buy girls, or women. Good lord the ideas they put into young ladies heads today. You are both perfectly safe and will not be touched or harmed in anyway. Now then, I imagine you two would like to shower and change. The closet has some women's clothes in it from a shipment that did not sell well on New London. Hopefully something will fit. Your luggage is in the closet also if you prefer that of course. Soon as you are set, come out the door behind me and turn left. That will take you to the galley. I'll be in there getting some lunch put together for us.'
So saying he gave a dazzling smile and turned leaving the room. He made a point of leaving the door half open so they knew they were not locked in. As he walked down the hall he heard the door snapped shut. He chuckled to himself as he entered the galley.
Blue was whistling as he set the table from trays on the galley shelf when he saw a blonde head peeking out from the door. As he continued, it vanished to be replaced by a brunet head a moment later which promptly vanished also as he turned towards the door.
'Lunch is ready girls if hungry you are.'
He heard a fast series of whispers from behind the door jam and a moment later they both entered the galley. They were freshly showered and wearing on the one some curious long black garment with a green belt sash and the other a tight pair of trousers with a black and pink zigzag sort of top.
'Much nicer girls than those ship worker coveralls. Now we have a wide selection, so help yourselves to whatever you may like.'
The table was loaded down plates of various meats and vegetables and a couple hot bowls of soups and such. In the center was a silver tray with various breads, rolls and pastries on it. The entire effect was pleasing to the eye and the fragrances enticing to the pallet. They both sat down and dug in while Blue went over to one of the two robots standing quietly by the galley stove. He fiddled with the controls of one while he talked.
'Now girls, I have no other people onboard except for your selves. I use robots extensively for maintenance and cleaning. This one is now programmed to serve you. You need only speak your names so it can voice ID you.'
Bagel put down a glass she had been drinking from and immediately said 'Bagel.'
DQ was in mid chew and hurriedly swallowed before blurting out 'DQ'
The robot's eyes flickered a moment and it replied in a soft female voice 'Pattern recognition Bagel. Pattern recognition DQ. Patterns accepted.'
Blue smiled and sat down at the table himself now and began ladling some soup into the bowl in front of him 'Very good. Her name is Agnes but you may change it to whatever you wish.'
Both girls ate like they were starved and told the story of how they came to be on the ship Blue found them on while he slowly enjoyed his soup. Given the nearly day and a half since their last meal, they made real justice out of the feast on the table. After a bit, Bagel looked up to Blue and asked 'Can you get us to Denver? We were going there to Joel's house for a ski holiday, but the stupid ship we got on didn't go there.'
This last was said as she looked accusingly at DQ. DQ immediately put her glass down and snapped back 'It was supposed to go to Denver. I know I got the right ship. I even double checked and everything.'
'Well it didn't go to Denver and we nearly got dead. You picked the wrong ship.'
'The flight plan said Denver, honest.'
'Girls' Blue interjected before things got out of hand 'It is very possible the flight plan said Denver and the ship went somewhere else. People who value their privacy often do that. It's no one's fault, just a spot of bad luck. Now, as to Denver, that would be something of a problem. I am on my way to Stuttgart right now for a scheduled rendezvous. In fact, we enter Hamburg space in about an hour.'
Bagel looked horrified 'Stuttgart?? That is way over on the wrong side of the cluster. We need to get to Denver. Can't you make like a side trip maybe?'
'Yeah' DQ chimed in 'I mean, we're supposed to be at Denver and you're taking us clear out of Liberty space and everything. It's not fair!'
Blue sat back from the table a bit as he said 'Well young Miss's, I am afraid it is a bit more complicated than you realize.'
That brought a fast silence as they both stopped to listen 'You see you both stowed away on a spaceship. In Liberty that is a class 'C' felony offense. Further, you are both under the age of consent and willfully violated the laws of that, which is a misdemeanor. You committed criminal trespass to gain access to the ship you stowed away on, impersonated spaceport personnel and used an illegal ID to gain access to the port. These combined are good for a class 'B' felony offense. The life pod you escaped on had an emergency transponder on it and it activated upon launch. The police will know that the ship you were on was destroyed, with at least one survivor. They will be looking for that survivor or survivors actually, to question. When they do they will find out everything.
While he spoke both girls seemed to shrink into their chairs. Hearing it all listed like that was scary.
'We just wanted a fun vacation' Bagel said in a tiny voice. 'We didn't mean to cause anything.'
'Well then' Blue asked 'How did you arrange for the school to not miss you while you were off on Denver?'
DQ answered that one 'Oh it was easy. During break you just have to ID check in each day. Monica made a thing that can do that for you when you are not there and we borrowed it.'
'You took Moany's Id'er?' hissed Bagel
'Its fine' hissed back DQ 'Moany went home to her folks place on New Seattle for the break and left it in her room. She won't even know it was used.'
Blue listened to this and smiled 'Well, perhaps then we have a way out. If all goes well, in about three weeks I will be back in Manhattan and will exit the ship upon landing with you two as my nieces I brought from..hmmm'¦Manchester. Once we exit the space field, you go back to the school and no one is the wiser.'
'What do we do till then?'
'Well girls, I am afraid my business in Stuttgart has a tight clock on it. Since if I drop you off, they will do positive ID and then I will seen as an accessory after the fact, and likely contributing to the delinquency of minors as the least additional charge, we would all wind up in jail. It is safest for now to continue on. You have free run of the ship and Agnes will provide you anything you need.'
Both girls fell silent and looked at each other. It wasn't a ski vacation, but it was a chance to go deep spacing which they both had wanted to do for the longest time. If they could do it without getting caught, it would be an amazing adventure. It took all of five seconds for these thoughts to pass through both their heads when Bagel said 'Deal.'
'Wait' said DQ.
Blue and Bagel looked at her while she said 'One more thing, teach us how to be star pilots and we promise never to breath a word of this ever to anyone'¦.cross our hearts and honest.'
'Well now my dear, I am not sure I am the best one to do that you see. This is hardly a training ship.'
'Aw come on' Bagel said in her best wheedle voice 'You said yourself we got three weeks before we get back. What are gonna do?? We promise we'll be good and not get in the way.'
Blue looked over at a pair of faces putting on their best 'puppy dog' eyes and suddenly realized that he was in a lot of trouble. Still, it was a long trip it would keep them out from underfoot. 'Done'
They both fairly danced with delight and ran out of the galley up to the flight deck. Blue slowly followed wondering what he had gotten himself into. Many hours later, with both girls asleep in their room, Blue activated the radio and plugged a small data crystal into it. A few adjustments later, a one second squirt transmission went out to Altona station as they passed by it in the trade rings. There it automatically qued into the message list for the interstellar Dirac transmitter and a short time later was sent through the stars to its destination. Shutting the unit down, he sat in the pilots couch and watched the stars while the ship skipped through the trade rings towards the next star gate.
'Anything ta declare?' asked the heavily scarred face from across the counter from Blue. The room was huge and dimly lit and all over cargo pallets and robots were moving this and that about. Blue stood before the customs agent in a relatively subdued scarlet jacket, vermillion shirt and sky blue trousers trucked into red knee boots.
'Nothing at all you honor, sir' Blue said with a wide smile.
The agent looked past blue at the silent pair standing behind him. As he did, his eyes widened slightly. He had heard of them, but until now never saw them before. 'All projectile and energy weapons must be checked. Your ship must be evacuated and peace bonded while you remain.'
Blue beamed back 'Of course good sir. I carry no weapons, and the two behind me certainly carry no projectile or energy weapons. Please do scan us all. My ship is empty and peace bonded. Your people are welcome aboard to verify.'
The agent made some marks in a ledger before him on the high table. While he was writing an anti-grav pallet came by pushed by a robot. The agent instantly said 'There will be an import customs fee for your cargo, Trader, and those two assassins will have to stay here.'
Blue looked skyward, which was odd since technically there was no sky, and waved his hands 'Import customs fee?? Merciful god in heaven is there no justice? Here I personally hand deliver Marshal Tucross' ordered shipment clear across the cluster at no added charge I might add only to then be hit with an import fee at the very station he commands? I am then further told that my protection, purchased at a cost nothing less than ruinous, is not allowed to perform the function for which they were hired? I tell you sir it's an outrage! I will take the cargo back aboard my ship and leave at once.'
So saying he turned and started away from the deck with the two silent people who had come with him and started towards the exit locks. He had not gone five feet when he heard. 'Now Trader'¦sir. Let's not be too hasty. Please give me a moment to verify the order.'
Blue halted while the agent tapped at the computer. Whatever he saw in the screen in front of him must have been good, because he turned a dead white with his facial scars painting a curious sort of red road map across it. Whatever it was, his attitude instantly shifted from belligerent to deferential.
'Trader Blue sir. All a terrible misunderstanding'¦sir. All fees including docking charges are waived. You and your, uh..companions are requested in meeting room 431c. I will provide a guide drone to lead you there sir.'
Blue sniffed a moment and gave all the outward appearances of a man about to go into another tirade. Then, he huffed a bit and suddenly smiled the same wide smile of before 'Of course good sir, and most kind. You are after all only doing your job and a thankless job it is day in and day out ensuring the regulations of Freistadt are followed. Men like you ensure that the peace and tranquility of the stars are maintained and I for one thank you for it.
With this last Blue reached up and shook the man's hand. The agent shook back a bit surprised, and was further surprised when he saw a 500 credit chit folded nearly in his hand. The fact that the bribe was not even needed now, made it doubly surprising and the agent smiled for the first time at Blue, 'You are very kind sir. My name is Tarqui if you ever need anything. Please follow the drone sir and do enjoy your stay.'
Blue as the two silent shadows behind him walked through the corridors of Freistadt following the small floating drone. Here and there curious eyes looked up no so much at Blue, as at those two silent walkers behind him, a very unusual scene indeed. After a short time, they came before a door marked 431c which opened as they approached it. They entered, and the drone floated off as the door went shut.
'Since when do you use Ninja guards, Blue?'
Behind Blue stood two figures clothed head to toe in solid black. Black body armor encased their chests and a katana handle jutted above the head of each on their left side. A wide assortment of strange looking devices adorned their belts and their heads were covered with a black helmet and jet black face plate. One started to move slightly when Blue hissed out 'Don't fidget.'
'Needed for this part of space Deputy Supreme Judge Volt your honor. Sad to say some there are that do not love me, and worse wish me harm. The Shogun was kind enough to provide a pair of his finest Bushido while in that part Sirius I was.'
Volt nodded slightly, his glacier eyes as ever as readable as an asteroid, 'We were supposed to meet at Stuttgart. Why did you divert to Omega-7?'
Blue suddenly became deadly serious as he replied 'My agent at New Berlin reported a device called an 80 MeV Tevatron had been taken from the New Berlin University eleven days ago. The ship taking it was tracked through Freistadt heading towards Bretonia space. It never appeared in Cambridge space, limiting the possibilities.'
Volt nodded only slightly 'That device would be needed for the final test sequence. I received a coded message from Tannhauser Gate. If the rift to Prime is opened, it must be closed by a strong gravitic pulse field before it expands. If it does expand, it may never stop. I have a task force coming and can be in Omega-3 in about 23 hours.'
Blue beamed 'Fine it is Judge Volt sir. I will move along to Freeport -1 which is by far the most engaging and relaxing of the Freeport stations and see what I can find out.'
Volt nodded once, seemingly staring at the pair of Ninja guards behind Blue. Something seemed to him odd, but he could not pinpoint it.
Blue smiled warmly and exited with the two 'Ninjas' in tow.
'Freeport One this is Sierra Bravo Five six dash two, request manual dock at docking port three. Pilot under instruction.'
A few second later the speaker came to life 'Ship Sierra Bravo Five six dash two this is Freeport one. Request command verification of pilot in command.'
Blue leaned forward slightly as his chair was just behind the pilots chairs whose occupants were reading dials and indicators with deadly earnest 'Freeport One this Sierra Bravo Five six dash two Pilot in Command Ident 21345-A62.'
'Roger Sierra Bravo Five six dash two. Manual dock at docking port three authorized. No traffic in the pattern. Proceed when ready.'
Blue smiled and leaned back 'Alright now Bagel girl, just like in practice. Take us in.'
The last weeks had been hectic with both Bagel and DQ at the pilots console virtually non-stop. In that time they had both become fair to good pilots on the simulations and now needed only to make the required real maneuvers to qualify. A manual dock was one of them. It was only after Blue made the decision that rock does indeed break scissors no matter how good the scissors might be that the decision of who would make this docking was made. DQ though would have the later launch.
'Thrusters to station keeping' Bagel quietly said in a very serious voice. Next to her an equally serious DQ made the adjustments.
'Thrusters are at station keeping. Recommend a two degree roll to port.'
Bagel nodded and moved the stick slightly to her left. The ship slowly started a roll just as she brought the stick back to center. 'Docking port open. Finished with engines.'
At that DQ started the shutdown sequence. Space stations take a dim view of entering ships having their fusion reactors operating for obvious reasons, and all entries and exits had to be on inertials only. After a few seconds DQ had the magnetic bottle damped and had started the helium flush through the superconductors 'Main engines off line. Cooling flush engaged. Inertials in control. Ready to dock.'
'Engaging' Bagel said as she activated the inertials and the ship started forward. Normally, automatic tractor beams take over at this point, but not for a manual dock. She guided the big ship in with the bulls eye reticule plotted on the HUD and firmly centered on the painted target on the far wall. After entry a series of flashing lights showed where the ship was to berth, she slewed the ship over to them on a new course. After a few moments the lights started a convergence to a point on the deck. Bagel centered over it, and then backed off the inertials as the big ship settled down. Moments later the 'contact' lights came on from the landing field 'Touchdown!' she screamed.. 'We did it!'
Both of them quickly powered down the ship and then ran back to their room to change. They had never been on a Freeport before and the very idea of a place like it was exciting. A very short time later then stood by the port by Blue. 'Now girls' he began 'First, put these on.'
As he spoke he handed them each a small bracelet and then put one on himself 'Freeports don't care who you are, where you go or what you do, but they do care that you leave when done with whatever you were doin. These are ship ID bracelets.'
DQ simply started at hers, and then a big smile came to her as she bent over and put it on her left ankle. About a heartbeat later Bagel did the same, except chose the right ankle. Blue just shook his head and handed them each a credit chit 'Here is 500 credits each girls. Have some fun and try hard not to get killed, or kill anyone. Take Agnes with you and keep her with you.'
'We promise to be good.' Bagel said while doing her best innocent eyes routine on Blue.
'Yeah, honest' DQ chimed in with the same eyes. Both girls had learned the first day aboard that Blue was a complete sucker for that routine and they were shameless about using it on him.
'Be back at the ship by 2100 local. This is not a vacation trip and we may have to blast off fast. If you want the launch DQ, you get yourself and Bagel back on time.'
Blue suddenly smiled and opened the hatch 'Have fun now girls.'
As they scampered off and out the door to the bay, Blue rather more slowly went out himself. There were no customs or inspectors on a Freeport so he rapidly made his way to the compartment block he was seeking. A short time later he was in a room piled high with boxes, open cargo transport containers and stacked small arms in one corner. Blue glanced around as he reached the small desk at its center 'You keep this place a mess Carstairs. It's a wonder you get any business done. Now prove to me I chose the right man for my Factor here and tell me what I need to know.'
Carstairs was a tiny man who looked forever on the edge of starvation. His eyes jutted out of his skull and his skin was pasty white, almost like an albino. His voice was a bit breathy but his words were sure 'Profits are up nearly 42% from last year, Trader. I find the mess works well with the typical clients I get here. On the other matter, a dozen strange ships passed through here over the past month. They all came from the Omega-7 side of the system, but not one exited out the Cambridge gate. Contacts at Douglas and Rugen stations report they never stopped there. I checked the Star Gate code logs and Trade Ring logs carefully. Once they left Freeport 1, they did not use trade lanes.'
Blue nodded, not even commenting on the totally illegal action of a civilian gaining access to Gate and Ring logs. He did that routinely himself and silently applauded the man's initiative. Even with that information though, it was a big solar system. 'What about food or provision shipments? Anything strange there?'
The man nodded and smiled slightly 'As ever Trader, sharp as a tack. About every three days a Dromedary class freighter leaves Freeport 1 filled with food and consumables. It returns three days later empty. There is no record of it using a Gate or Ring.'
Blue nodded and smiled himself now 'Excellent. When is its next run?'
'Being loaded now Trader. If it keeps to schedule, it will get underway about 2200 local.'
'Perfect' Blue said, 'Fits the timetable like a hand in a glove to be sure. Now let's go through the books.'
Blue sat down and the two men started calling up computer screens and opening ledger files. Blue wanted to see that 42% for himself.
Hydrogen is a noisy atom. It gets very excited at the drop of a hint and then de-excites sending off a radio pulse at 1420.40575 MHz. Radio Astronomers loved it for this quirky effect since it let them map the universe. Pilots equally hated it because it made a huge band of limited radio spectrum completely useless for communications. Volt was closely listening to that frequency while his small squadron bore through Omega-3. The hydrogen band is polarized since its sole electron making all the noise had a right handed spin. A left handed spin would make the same noise, but polarize in the opposite direction. It was this impossible reverse polarization signal that was piggybacked onto the normal 'pop hiss' of hydrogen that Blue was sending that Volt was listening to. As the computer digested it, a picture formed on the screen of a space station, two large ships, a couple small ones and a Dromedary. His eyebrows went up a bit as he recognized the station. Baxter research station had been reported destroyed over a decade ago, and there it was. They were grossly outgunned.
Blue repeated the signal twice and then shut down. They were at extreme sensor range of the station and ships around it and while his transmission system should be safe enough, he was to old a campaigner to take foolish chances.
'Do you think he got it?' DQ asked from the pilot's chair.
'Well my dear' Blue replied 'Known I have Judge Volt a while now, and he has yet to not be where he said he would be, when he said he would be there. I am sure he got it.'
'Okay, then what do we do now?' came from Bagel is the seat next to DQ. She was a bit miffed still at Blue for not letting them wear their new skin suits they got at the Freeport. Blue had nearly exploded when they had come back wearing them and flat out forbade anything but regulation flight suits on board from now on. Not even the 'puppy dog' eyes worked on that decision.
'We will listen a bit my dear and watch a bit.' he smiled 'Hard to say when the good Judge will get here and he will need to know if anything changes since our last transmission to him.'
'You workin for the Judges now? DQ asked 'We never even saw one before till you took us into Freistadt. Man he looked mean. Oh, can we keep the Ninja outfits? They are really cool.'
'Yeah can we cause they fit really great and everything and are really cool. He was not mean lookin either. You think everyone looks mean.' echoed from the other chair.
'I do not.'
'Do too. You said Mr. Harrison looked mean back at school but he was the best history teacher there.'
'He does look mean and I never said he was a bad teacher.'
'Well it sure sounded like you did.'
'I did not!'
'Did too!'
Blue tried to sort out the questions from the rest 'Uh'¦..yes.. First, no I am not exactly workin for the Judges. At times I provide them with a'¦a..courtesy and at times they provide me with a courtesy. This is my turn. Now yes you may keep the Ninja suits, but not the weapons. Those are real and you could really get hurt by them. And yes, Judge Volt can look a bit mean at times but only because his job is so serious and he does it so well.'
Blue fell silent as he counted the points hoping he had replied to them all. The girls fell silent happy that they get the cool clothes but a bit letdown about not being able to keep the various swords, daggers, throwing stars, poison vials, darts, garrets, blowguns, knives and arrows that came with them. They were half of what made the suits so cool.
'Contact 045 mark 3, extreme range' Bagel blurted out. As copilot/engineer, sensors were her job and she smiled inside that she got it before the computers said anything.
'Main screen.' Blue quietly replied.
The big screen in front of them lit up with the sensor data all around them. At one edge it showed six small ships moving fast towards Baxter. The computer was chewing on their profiles and after a few seconds ID icons appeared in dark blue next to the contacts. Judicial ships.
'Well he made good time' Blue said. 'We now sit back and enjoy the show.'
Volt was also looking at his sensor screens and saw Blue's ship off to one side, and the targets dead center. He toggled the secure coms 'Alpha flight on me. The station is our Target. Bravo flight, engage the heavies in orbit around Baxter. We get one pass at most before their guns will be on us, so make it count.'
As acknowledgements came in, Volt powered up the ships weapons. Normally they would be moving far to fast for them, but Judge ships have certain unique features and he meant to use them. The two flights split up just as the radio 'Identification Friend or Foe' signal came it. He toggled the IFF reply to the signal Blue had sent them that the Dromedary had used before. He hoped it would buy them a few seconds.
At extreme weapons range the heavy guns of Baxter opened up. The formation went evasive as huge beams of heavy gauss gun fire licked past them. Volt blinked 'Man, those must be 25 cm bore or better. Where in hell did they get heavy cruiser guns for a freaking space station?'
'Unknown' answered the ships computer over the speakers 'Is a query requested?'
'Shut up' Volt snapped. 'And route reserve power to guns.'
As they hit the range the judicial ships opened fire and a dozen torpedoes sped out. Volt dodged and danced while his main guns hammered the station. The other ships were doing well also as one of the orbiting heavy ships exploded in a fireball. They completed their pass and turned for another as the defenses of Baxter firmed up and fighters started to launch.
Volt swung out from a split S just as an enemy fighter tried to turn away. 'Bad move sunshine.' he muttered as his main guns ripped the enemy ship to shreds. 'Alpha Mike Foxtrot' he muttered as he snap turned hard to try and catch another fighter in an Immelman when the radio broke into life 'All fighters engage enemy ships.'
Volt smiled as he drove the big ship hard into a tight turn 'Glad they told em sweetheart. They might have been to dumb to figure it out on their own.'
The fight was now a tight, close action with Baxter firing heavy guns all over the place. At this close range though, they were not effective in targeting and were as big a threat to their own fighters as to the Judge ships. Still, it was tight and Volt frowned as he saw in quick succession two Judicial ships go up in fireballs.
Volt swore silently to himself as he went inverted just in time to deliver a torpedo into the nose of a pursing fighter. The huge warhead smashed through shield and hull and the enemy simply vanished as Volt Yo-Yo'ed clear of the fireball.
'Shouldn't we help them?' DQ asked from the pilot's chair. Her fingers were on the controls and Bagel had already warmed up the ships weapons systems. Blue was studying the scanners intently.
'They're holdin their own now darlin' he slowly replied 'And this is not a combat ship. Let's see how it goes first.' What he did not say as he studied the developing action was that he also had two young ladies aboard and was not about to take them into danger if he could avoid it.
'Something weird's happenin' Bagel said 'I got a gravtic field building, maybe two and some kind of spastic energy trace.'
Blue unbelted and went over to Bagel's console. The small screens showed what she had been saying. The build up was happening fast'¦.very, very fast. He grabbed the mic 'Volt, this is Blue. Get out of their. They trigged the Armageddon device. It's gonna blow. Get out now'
'DQ' he yelled as he dropped the mic' Get us out here, emergency full power.'
DQ's and Bagel's fingers danced over the controls and the ship leapt away, but it was too little to late.
Space and time seemed to pause for moment as a wave of nausea swept over everyone in Omega-3. Then in an eye blink a searing white blast of pure energy appeared from no where and swept out in a ball 100,000 kilometers in diameter. Baxter vanished as did the large ships around it. The fighters all vanished but one that had managed to be near the edge of it. Blue's ship was hit so hard it flipped end over end as sparks and smoke flew out of the panels.
'Are we dead?' DQ asked a moment later as lights came back dimly from emergency systems cutting in.
'I hope not cause I gotta use the Fresher and if we were dead we shouldn't have to need a Fresher' came back.
'Blue!' DQ fairly shrieked as she unbuckled. He lay over in one corner of the flight deck and his face was covered in blood. When the explosion hit the ship he was the only one not strapped in and when the inertials failed to compensate had been hammered against the wall by the impact forces.
'Agnes' Bagel yelled towards the back of the ship 'Flight deck medical emergency.'
While they both rolled Blue over onto his back the robot arrived on the flight deck. It immediately slid its arms under Blue and picked him up as easily as an adult would pick up a small child, carrying him back to the autodoc.
'Blue..Blue..this is Volt'¦acknowledge. I need your help now.' Came over the speakers.
DQ toggled the mic 'Blue got hurt. This is DQ. Whatcha need?'
'This is who?' came back
'DQ' Bagel shouted as she followed Agnes 'Don't tell him yer name!'
DQ thought fast and intentionally lowered her voice 'This is Deek, Blue's pilot. Blue is hurt.'
'Well Deek , we are the last two ships. Get on the other side of that fireball and link a gravitic field with mine. We only got a few seconds.'
'Roger' DQ said as she started to move the ship. Nanobots were busy and systems slowly flickered to life again as they were either repaired, bypassed or backups cut in. She picked up Volts ship and maneuvered on the far side of it. The fireball looked like a thing alive and was visibly bigger now. It was also putting out a hellstorm of radiation.
'He's got a concussion the autodoc said' Bagel said as she slipped back into her seat and strapped down 'He's gonna be out an hour or so. What're we doin?'
'The Judge said to link a gravitic field with him from the opposite side of this fiery thing. We are about there now. You know how to make a gravitic field?'
Bagel was already working the controls 'Sure, I tell the computer to do it and it does, see?'
With this last the scanner showed field lines interlinking with Volts from the far side. After a moment the encapsulation was complete.
'Full power Deek' Volt's voice shouted over the speaker 'We got one shot at this and if we miss everyone everywhere is gonna die.'
Bagel set the controls for full power and the gravitic field strengthened. She turned to DQ and asked 'Full power, who's Deek?'
'Me I guess.'
The two of them maneuvered the ship to keep it from being engulfed while the gravitic fields of both ships pulsed back and forth. The fiery thing finally stopped growing, but did not get smaller.
'We need more power' the speaker yelled.
Bagel looked at the console a moment and then started to hit switches. The speaker came on now with a softer female voice 'Automatic interlocks deactivated. Emergency cooling engaged. Engine temperature 5,000 degrees and rising. Recommend restoring interlocks.'
DQ had started turning off everything not needed while Bagel kept goosing the power plant for more power. The gravitic field was so strong now it was almost visible.
'Engine temperature 5, 500 degrees and rising. Gravitic coils overloading. Ship will destruct in 25 seconds.'
DQ tried to maintain position on the fireball. It was a little smaller and she had to spiral in to maintain the right distance.
The overhead speaker came on again 'Ten seconds to destruct. Nine'¦.eight'¦.seven'¦six'¦.five.'
At five, Bagel cut the power and restored normal full cooling. The gravitic field slowly started to collapse and now the speaker said 'Engine temperature 4,000 degrees and falling. Destruct averted.'
Four days later Volt stood before Dallas at Tannhauser Gate 'Well?'
'The Armageddon device went off during the battle. It destroyed everything except my ship and Blue's. We slapped a grav field on it before it expanded too much. The hole looks like 3 mm and steady. It should collapse. I have posted sector 5C in Omega-3 a no fly zone.'
At about the same time a ship landed at Manhattan and a trio emerged from the exit ramp 'Before you go girls, there is something I have for you.'
Bagel and DQ stood there as Blue handed each of them a folder. They opened them to find the crossed comets of a starpilot's badge and a pilot's certification from the Zoners as both of them being class 3 starpilots.'
Blue smiled 'You are both in the pilot's registry of the Interstellar Pilots Association and can legally fly anything up to 5,000 gross tons, anywhere in Sirius. The Zoner's stamp is highly regarded across the cluster.'
'Oh wow' Bagel said as she reached up and hugged Blue tightly. DQ's arms were in there a heartbeat later and Blue put his arms around them both.
'Was a grand adventure lasses. When you graduate school and are old enough, do look me up. You are both fine pilots and I can promise you a job flyin for me if you like till you can get a ship of your own.'
Realizing that this was in fact it, they both teared up a bit as Blue kissed them each on the forehead. 'Off now with you before some nosey customs official comes by askin questions.'
'Bye Trader Blue' Bagel said as she turned. 'I'm gonna miss you.'
'Yeah, we both are. Thanks for everything'¦.say goodbye to Agnes for us too huh?'
Blue waited on the loading ramp as they both went out the side entrance to the space field. He watched until he could see them clear and in the civilian sector and then turned, walking back in. A few minutes later his ship was blasting skyward and he wiped his eyes with a large red handkerchief he kept perpetually in his sleeve pocket as it was getting hard to see the controls. 'Damned dust.' he muttered as the ship vanished into the dark sky above Manhattan.
![[Image: judges13.png]](http://i80.servimg.com/u/f80/18/15/33/44/judges13.png)
