"Mangolia," Crighton said. "Little data is known, as they were a solitary people until quite recently. Their society is advanced technologically but completely planetbound. They do have space communication and recently expressed interest in trade agreements with other worlds. Their main products they are offering are mangolam, a fruit, and also android parts. They apparently have built advanced androids to handle many functions in their city. The word advanced is their term." Crighton's electronic disdain couldn't have been more obvious.
Wilma studied the planet on the screen. "Well, we'll soon find out more information for your data banks. Ready, Buck?"
"Sure. Even if this is halfway a boring diplomatic mission."
She hid her smile at his tone. "Diplomatic missions serve an important purpose in the galaxy, Buck. Think of it as our contribution to galactic peace."
"They're still boring. But this is only halfway a diplomatic mission, so hopefully there will be some interesting things down there."
Admiral Asimov spoke up. "Good luck, you two, and keep in contact."
"Yes, sir," Wilma responded. She and Buck left the bridge.
They landed the shuttle just outside the main city, not sure how the general population would react to it. The leaders definitely were aware of space travel but did not participate themselves, and it was a safe bet that spacecraft weren't flying in and out of this city all the time. So the shuttle was parked carefully concealed in a grove of trees, and the two of them headed toward the coordinates they had been given.
Buck looked around at the woods with that special brand of wistfulness in his eyes that Wilma knew enough to recognize by now. "It reminds you of earth, doesn't it? Your earth."
"Yes." He looked over at her. "I wish you could have seen it, Wilma."
"I do, too." She moved closer to him, and he slid an arm around her waist as they walked on. They were working right now, focused on business, but there was still a silent acknowledgement of their new closer relationship, and she relished it.
The city took shape up ahead. The buildings were well built but very similar, as if the same design had been used over and over on each. Androids mixed with citizens on the street, though the androids were set apart by the fact that they were engaged in some task, such as operating the city transit skimmers, polishing buildings - all were brilliantly white - or other manual labor.
Two men and a woman stood up ahead waiting in front of the largest building, and Buck and Wilma headed that way. They were humanoid, though subtly not human on close inspection. The taller man stepped forwad. "Welcome," he said, extending both hands. "Welcome to Mangolia, people of the starship Searcher."
Wilma took the lead in the proper formal return. "Welcome, Premier Anderin. We are honored to visit your world."
"If you will come this way, we will introduce you to some of our products." The Mangolians entered the large building, and the two humans followed them. Buck had his head cocked slightly as they walked through the halls.
"What is it?" Wilma whispered.
"Not sure," he whispered back. "Something seems odd about the way they looked at us."
"Buck, they're not used to offworlders. Of course they're curious."
"I hope that's it," he replied.
Anderin turned and entered a large room, and the door closed behind them. Several androids were here, working on various tasks. A table before them had a few fruit and some electronics on it. "This is a mangolam," Anderin said, picking up a fruit. "It is quite delicious. Would you care to sample it?"
Wilma pulled out her scanner and swept over it first. "I hope you realize, Premier, that no insult is intended. Physiology differs among species, and what is safe for one might not be safe for another." The scanner could find nothing wrong with the mangolam, and she accepted it. Another was handed to Buck.
"Just bite into it," Anderin supplied, taking a crunch of one himself in demonstration.
Wilma did so. The fruit was indeed delicious, all but melting in her mouth with a surge of flavors that she wasn't familiar with. She looked over at Buck, who looked a lot more impressed - and more wistful - than he had earlier as he munched his own fruit.
"This is wonderful, Premier. I am sure that other worlds would be interested in trading for this."
"Yes, we are quite proud of them. And then there are our androids. You must see our androids in action." He stepped back, and his voice raised. "Attend."
The androids promptly left their tasks and surrounded the group, and Buck tensed up again. Wilma did, too. They were far outnumbered, and there was suddenly a subtle threat in this gathering that she, too, could sense now.
The woman from the greeting party spoke up. "These are excellent specimens, Premier. I believe they will work very well."
"Specimens?" Buck repeated. "We are not specimens. We're a diplomatic envoy."
Anderin ignored the protest, replying to the woman. "They should fetch a high price indeed when sold, Starin. Seize them!"
The androids moved in. Buck and Wilma went into full fight mode, but they were far outnumbered. Still, they managed to take down a few of the androids before Wilma was completely pinned by a large one from behind. Buck turned to try to help her, and another android brought down a slamming blow on the back of his head. He crumpled to the floor.
"Cease!" Anderin commanded. The androids stopped, though Wilma was still pinned. Anderin walked over to Buck, poked him with a foot, then bent. "He is still alive. Hopefully not damaged enough to impact the price."
"This is an outrage!" Wilma fumed, struggling against her captor. "We were invited here - lured here - on a diplomatic mission. The Searcher will not tolerate this."
"And what will they do?" Anderin asked her with a cold smile. "Send us more? The more the profit. Take them to a holding room," he commanded the nearest android. "They will be put up for sale this afternoon."
The holding room proved to be small, but at least the androids left once Wilma and Buck were deposited there. As soon as she was released, Wilma hurried to Buck. His pulse was strong, breathing regular. He did have a palpable swelling on his head where he had been struck, but there was no bleeding. He'd picked up worse injuries several times that she knew of; hopefully, he would regain consciousness soon. Wilma shook him and called, but he didn't respond.
Straightening up, she examined their prison. The most interesting feature of it, as far as she was concerned, was that the door was inset slightly, resulting in an alcove on each side. One of those contained a table with some water and food on it, but the other one was empty. They could hide there. If only a few androids came to retrieve them, maybe they could take them by surprise. The mechanical beings could be overpowered. They had taken down a few of them. Getting a jump from behind might be the advantage they needed. Of course, their weapons and communicators had been removed. She stood in the middle of the room, looking around and thinking fiercely, trying to spot anything she had missed.
Buck stirred, and Wilma was back over to his side in a flash. "Buck?" She knelt, putting a hand on his arm. He groaned and shifted. "Take it easy, Buck. It's okay." His eyes slowly opened and swept their surroundings. He looked bewildered. "Easy, Buck. Just lie still for a minute."
Of course, he disobeyed, pushing himself on up to a sitting position. She helped him. "How do you feel?"
He raised one hand toward his head, then dropped it as if unsure he really wanted to touch the throbbing spot. "Got a King Kong-sized headache, but I think my body is still attached at least."
She smiled, reassured, even though she didn't understand the reference. They probably didn't have much time; she'd better explain things in a hurry. "Listen, Buck. I've come up with a plan. When they come back, we'll be hiding right back in that alcove next to the door." She waved at it, and his head followed the motion. "They'll walk in and think we've disappeared, and hopefully that will give us a few seconds to catch them off guard. We'll tackle them, grab their weapons, make a run for it, and try to get clear of the complex. Hopefully they'll even have our communicators with them; that would make it easier, but I'm not counting on it. Either way, we've got to get out of here."
She stopped. He had inspected their prison fully and now was looking at her again, and something in his blue eyes bothered her. It wasn't just lingering disorientation from waking up in an unfamiliar room. She knew Buck by now, and while his expression definitely was him, it also held another element at the moment that she couldn't define. "What is it, Buck?"
He studied her as she knelt next to him, one hand on his arm, the other supporting his back as he sat there. "One question."
"What?" she prompted.
"Who are you?"
