Part: 11/20
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Day 2
Chapter 11 – Saoka's Success
Life on Dreamstation had been good for Seeal. The environment had always been warm, the day and night cycles had been regulated, predictable, and there had always been the ever-present beauty of the starscape out if any porthole. It had been her world for ten years, and she had known every inch of the space station. She had walked every hallway more than once a day, visited every department, had checked on every worker in the gambling halls, entertainment areas, food halls, and down in the very popular and money making lower levels housing the prostitution side of Creass' business. As such, Seeal's days had been spent walking the station over and over again between her longer patches of watching over Creass' meetings and being present as he welcomed particularly 'important' visitors. Her days had been focused, busy, and in many ways rather fulfilling, at least as much as she had thought possible back then.
She might have said that she had loved Dreamstation.
However, the real truth was that it had been a monotonous, difficult, and dangerous place. Many areas had been dank and unsavoury, regular residents having made certain areas their own, and at times it had turned her stomach to see the leering tastes of some of the worst scum that were catered to in the 'relaxation lounges' of the lower levels. The decor of the station had been dark and full of shadows, by intention and because no one had cared about what colour a wall could be. What they had cared about was being left alone as they had gotten on with their twisted and/or criminal behaviour whilst paying Creass a fee to do so. She had been tasked with the difficult order to keep all that scum in line while on the station. She had ruled Dreamstation efficiently, quietly, and decisively, but that had never changed what Dreamstation had been.
That fact had never been as obvious to her as it was today. Stood in the Portal chamber of Saoka's primary Marketing Station, she looked out at what truly was the antithesis of Dreamstation.
The walls of the chamber into which the Portal delivered the station's visitors was whitewashed, with various bright coloured greetings displayed across the walls in various languages, leading the way to the large archway that led through to the crisp-lined, massive space that was the main entrance lobby of the station.
She had seen images of the station plenty of times, but they had mostly been in drab black and white, or in muted colours, and they certainly hadn't captured the scope and bubbling atmosphere of the station. People were crowded around, happily moving through the brightly lit space, bags full of purchases hanging from their shoulders, children laughing as they ran between adults, teenagers gathering around video displays of the main Alliance media channels, while mixed spicy scents of food waffled through the air. In the main entrance lobby, large displays hung above head height, displaying advertisements and prices for the various leisure and hotel facilities available on the station, while large maps of the station showed the massive scale of the trading halls and docking arms.
So many places to visit and spend currency, to meet and do business, to relax and network.
Everything looked bright and cheerful, with no sign of impending violence anywhere to be seen.
Oh, Saoka had done good alright. No wonder Creass had become so bitter and twisted about this.
Turning in the entrance lobby, moving past banks of communications consoles for public use, she found herself looking out through a massive floor to ceiling porthole looking out at the empty beauty of the stars outside. Two docking arms stretching out from the station hugged the sides of the view, but it was the vast darkness of space and the sparkling scattering of stars that captured her. She had missed these views so much. Perhaps they had been the very best part of Dreamstation...
"Seeal," Oneakka's voice interrupted her quiet contemplation, breaking her peaceful moment amidst the crowd. It was a crowd into which she could disappear if she so chose.
She was free enough here, where money would buy you anything, and she knew of a few traders who would turn up here from whom she buy new identification papers to get her around the Alliance for a short while. She even had enough currency on her to live on this station, in a room with a large porthole looking out at the stars perhaps, while giving Saoka nuggets of information to keep his interest. It was an idea she had contemplated before now, but had dismissed. Now stood on the station itself, surrounded by the clean luxury and anonymity that such a large ever flowing station presented, she was tempted for a moment. But, of course she knew the truth behind such facades. There were always eyes watching, calculating. Nothing was free in life, not even for currency. There was always something else to give up in trade, and Saoka was a genius at manipulating such things. Perhaps even bold enough to be stealing from the Elite.
Looking around at his luxury station, she remembered the reports of Saoka's own personal lifestyle, his own lavish living. Would he really risk all that by turning on the Elite?
Or would that be the challenge that a man such as he would find thrilling and satisfying?
Would he risk tugging on the predator's tail that it seemed may have been steadfastly protecting him?
She glanced round at the two predators stood in the middle of the wide bright entrance lobby. Si had added a few extra pieces to his well stocked personal arsenal before heading here, which told her that perhaps he wasn't as convinced by Saoka's innocence as he made out. Oneakka stood facing her, his pale skin, blue eyes, and black facial tattoos all seeming especially noticeable in the bright whitewash of the lobby. He looked at her pointedly as if he was waiting for an answer to something. She quickly ran through what she had last heard the two Elite discussing while they had strode into the lobby, the shopping civilians parting around them like a shoal of frightened fish.
The Elite were going to find Saoka and confront him, while she was to look around the marketing halls and see if she recognised anyone, or perhaps they recognised her.
"I heard you," she told Oneakka, which was a safe enough answer.
Oneakka looked away to Si, apparently happy with her response. "You sure Saoka will be here?" He asked the quieter brooding Elite predator.
"He should be," Si confirmed as he moved forward, the crowd diverting around him as if there were a force ahead of him pushing them out of his way. Perhaps the grumbling anger in him was force enough. She almost wished she would be there to see the confrontation – though perhaps she might end up seeing some of it.
Oneakka turned back to her as Si strode away. "Behave," he ordered her sternly.
She pulled a face at him, not deeming that comment to be due a proper answer.
He turned away and followed Si.
Only to stop barely a few metres away and turn back, striding back towards her with that determined aggressive stride of his. People scattered out of his way, but Seeal held her ground as she waited to see what he was going to say.
Stopping only a foot away from her, he lifted a pale hand. "By 'behave', I mean don't start any fights, don't kill anyone, or steal anything. Understood?" He demanded.
"Should I remind you to do the same?" She asked.
His blue eyes narrowed, the spiralling tattoo down his right temple catching the light as he glared at her for a second more before turning and striding away once again.
Amused at the moment, she stood watching as the two Elite males moved away, slicing efficiently through the passing traffic of humanity until the two disappeared through an archway that would take them through to further areas of the station.
Seeal remained where she stood, watching the crowd flowing back together and ever onwards, civilians whispering to each other with a mixture of nervous excitement at having seen Elite warriors up so close. She waited longer though, until all the murmurs at the Elite's presence had gone, all those who had witnessed them having moving away through the lobby on to their next shopping or leisure stop. Soon enough, the station's lobby returned to the smooth apparent happy normalcy of Saoka's Marketing Station.
It felt rather strange to be stood undisguised in public. She felt a little adrift and felt another unexpected wash of nostalgia settle over her for the days of Dreamstation. She had had purpose there, a clear role and respect at her position. Here she was simply one of the crowd, appearing to be no more interesting to those passing by as anyone else. It was a sense of freedom that she thought she would have enjoyed, for she could do anything, be anyone here. She could even turn around and head back through the Portal and go anywhere.
But maybe the fact that she didn't do that was purpose enough. And like a bubble bursting the nostalgia broke away abruptly, the old dank dangerous hallways of the past replaced by the bright shiny surfaces of Saoka's station. It wouldn't protect him from the Elite though, of that she was certain.
A man walked close by her, his hand full of a folded pastry that smelt warm and spicy. She drew in the scent as he moved away. She might as well try out Saoka's food offerings. The male shopper had come out of the largest main trading hall ahead – best place to start her subtle search anyway.
Slipping into the flow of relaxed humanity entering the main hall, she followed her nose towards the food stands. She found them easily enough, especially as there were so many of them. Almost every planet she had heard of in the Alliance was represented by a food stand. The variation of cultural clothing, vendor's dress, and colourful decor around the food created an almost clichéd vision of the unified cultures of the Alliance. She wondered how much Saoka had paid some of these vendors to ensure such precise variation was on display.
She purchased one of the same savoury pastries that had particularly caught her attention, and munching on the spicy delight she followed the other shoppers further into the hall. The next bank of stalls offered clothing and swathes of fabric. Turning into the next avenue of stands, she wandered past furniture of varying designs, sculptures for homes and presumably religious prayers, various home decor items, including almost an entire avenues within the hall given over to carpets and cookware. Everyone was doing good business it seemed, and she didn't sense any obvious signs of any tensions between the vendors. She suspected Saoka kept close tabs on who worked alongside whom in his halls. Of course there was a security presence, though they kept themselves low key, being only discernible within the trading hall by small bars of colour around their sleeves and belts. Saoka had to keep his presence felt, but not so much as to put off his customers.
Though none of his security appeared to be watching her, she had no doubt that her progress through the hall was being monitored. Saoka had face recognition software on all his surveillance and she knew without any doubt that her face was listed in his database. He would have been alerted the instant she arrived on the station, but then so would have the Elite's presence. She wondered how that conversation was going.
She behaved as 'normally' as she could, taking time to look at various stalls after she had finished her food. She even purchased herself a small potted plant – she had found that it was difficult for people to be suspicious of someone carrying a plant.
The main hall came to an end at a large archway that led through to the next large trading hall. This one held more to her interest. Stalls of second-hand technology drew her casual attention. She wandered along the stalls, running her knowing eye over the pieces on display. Most of it was probably legitimately acquired, but some of it she suspected had found its way to the vendor by less than pure means. Taking in the vendors of those stands, most looked like they knew their business well and were the types who were dedicated traders. Saoka would have pick of the best after all.
She finally came to one stand that held a good looking prospect in the form of an electronic pad of the right design and memory for her means. She picked through several of them before picking up the one she was actually interested in. She tapped it alive, noting it was fully charged – always a good sign in a vendor – and confirmed it had what she needed. The vendor appeared before her with the well judged nose of a trade ahead. She bartered the pad's price down to a quarter of what he had asked, and he had even thrown in some free gossip and a cheap extra memory chip. It was amazing what an idle question about any free stall space from a woman with a plant could get her.
Saoka was expanding his trading halls apparently, having added new business in the former slave and animal sales hall. She wondered if that had anything to do with the timing of the Elite's final abandonment of using slave workforces. The new trading space in the hall had been filled with very different business the vendor had implied – meaning it was likely to be gambling and perhaps even some prostitution in the form of escorts. That was new for Saoka.
Considering the information as she tapped in the starting basics for her computer programme into her new pad, she almost missed the one familiar face she had seen so far.
It was a face she would never have expected to see here.
Jantina was walking leisurely out from behind a stall, her hands full of two big cups of steaming hot drinks. It had only been a few weeks since Seeal had last spoken to Jantina on Dreamstation via link, but only last week that Seeal had learnt that Jantina had left the station abruptly. The aging, but steadfastly stunningly beautiful prostitute, had worked in Dreamstation for the entire ten years it had run, and before that she had always worked for Creass' organisation. The most ultimate of free spirited women, she had sworn to never leave her business, to never leave Dreamstation and Creass, and that she controlled her own destiny outside the Alliance. As she had controlled the flow of underground information going in and out of Dreamstation by trading gossip, rumours, and political information she gleamed from her customers in the lower levels. It was through Jantina that Seeal had manipulated the information flowing out of the station, in particular to Robiah.
When Seeal had heard that Jantina had left, she had feared she might have been killed, or at least had wronged the worst person and had to hide low.
She had not expected to see Jantina striding happily out of the trading hall, long silks swaying around her legs, and hot drinks in her hands.
Seeal followed her as casually as possible, aware though that her every move would be being monitored from video feeds above and around the station.
Jantina made her way up some stairs, which were noticeably less busy than the main lobby and halls, and so Seeal followed. Two young pink-faced men passed Jantina and practically bowed in submissive awe of the woman.
Which confirmed to Seeal that the rumours of an 'escort' service in Saoka's station were true enough.
Had he tempted Jantina away from Dreamstation? The idea was almost shocking to Seeal, since Jantina had so fervently stated that she went where she wanted and that Dreamstation was the freedom she needed.
But if she had been forced to leave...then only someone like Saoka could protect Jantina from all the enemies she must have made with her extra rumour mill business. And he likely offered considerable currency for her to help be part of his new escort service.
The new hall was obvious enough as soon as Seeal followed Jantina into it. Far fewer of the public wandered in here, and there certainly weren't any laughing children. Nervous embarrassed young men yes, and the confident arrogant walk of the powerful males and females leaving the thick carpeted and highly incensed rooms inside the hall. Seeal picked out what were obviously a couple of gambling establishments and a beauty treatment shop all within the first few seconds of entering. Of course they were all lush, elegant, and 'tastefully' presented versions of the same services as had been in Dreamstation and on planets all over the galaxy. But here Saoka had obviously gone for the luxury, elegant superior service style. It was just wrapping of course to help those more 'civilised' feel more likely to part with their currency to indulge in the temptations and luxuries.
Jantina was headed towards the entrance to the 'escort' service, out of which several smartly dressed men were exiting. They all nodded politely to Jantina, suggesting that perhaps Jantina position inside was more superior than it had been on Dreamstation.
Seeal caught up with the woman just before she reached her new home. Sliding into place at her side with an air of the same natural ease they had often shared working on the Dreamstation, Seeal began the conversation as if weeks had not passed and death feared.
"It is a nice place to work," Seeal commented towards the wide entrance, security guards, and receptionist of the whorehouse.
Jantina, shocked at Seeal's sudden appearance, almost dropped her drinks, but recovered quickly with the elegance that she wore like a second skin.
"Seeal," Jantina sighed out, the adrenaline from her shock making her eyes wide as she stopped and turned.
Seeal watched the woman's green eyes quickly sweep around the hall behind them with the alert nervousness of a hunted creature, before confidence slipped back into place.
"Where did you come from?" Jantina asked.
"I was not sent by anyone," Seeal assured. Jantina's eyes slid down over the plant tucked into Seeal's arm.
"No?" Jantina asked carefully, the scent of the hot drinks smelling thick and sweet.
"I had feared the worst for you on hearing you had left," Seeal told her.
Jantina's eyes slid away again, but the fear was easing now. "Let's go to my office," Jantina suggested with the cool professional smile that was more familiar on her.
"Office?" Seeal teased as they turned back towards the entrance to Saoka's new escort service.
Jantina let out a soft laugh, though it wavered slightly with the fading adrenaline. She had been afraid. She had left Dreamstation because of dangerous circumstances, not just for a bright shining offer from Saoka.
"Things are a somewhat different here," Jantina answered with a smile as they passed by the receptionist inside.
One of the two security guards glanced at Seeal a touch longer than he should have, telling Seeal that her every move was indeed being noted and followed. It did not matter to her right now – she had the best back up in the galaxy today – two Elite male warriors, both of whom could probably literally take on a Hive of Wraith all by themselves.
Jantina led the way through a solid wood door that opened up to a long, thickly carpeted corridor. Closed doors ran along the left side of the wall, whilst spread along the corridor opposite stood small tables, vases of flowers, and other random subtle cues to make it all appear more classy than the nature of the business implied. Seeal had nothing against the idea of people selling and needing sex as a tradable business, it was the overlaid facade that made her shake her head.
Jantina strode down the corridor, her tall silver heeled shoes soft on the thick pile as she paused outside one door and rapped lightly against it. Seeal paused at her side, prepared for anything she may see inside.
Instead a tall woman, dusted in sparkly dust and wearing feathers on only the most discreet of places opened the door with a flourish.
"Thank you, Darling," the sparkly woman said, only for Seeal to realise she was in fact male, or at least parts of her were. "He does the best sweet drinks and I need it today."
"Anytime," Jantina replied as the door was shut.
"Things are different here," Seeal commented. Jantina glanced at her with a quizzical look, for gender reassigning had had its place on Dreamstation. "I don't remember anyone wearing sparkle dust."
Jantina laughed lightly, but turned away and continued on down the corridor, nerves still fizzing under the surface it seemed.
Glancing at the time displayed on her newly purchased electronic pad, Seeal estimated she had a further half hour until she might be out of time.
Jantina paused outside a set of double doors at the far end of the corridor, which she opened as one and strode into what was clearly her own room.
Two double beds took up most of the space, one to each side, alongside which hung varying coloured silks and cushions were scattered over the beds. Definitely not how her working environment had looked on Dreamstation.
Jantina drew open another door ahead to reveal a small living space, into which Seeal followed her. A small single bed was set in the near corner, a large chest of drawers at its foot upon which a large mirror looked over the mass of beautifying pots and coloured pigments Jantina used to enhance her natural beauty. The other side of the room held a small cooking facility, a large plush pink chair and a table. Jantina gestured her to the chair.
Seeal sat down, telling herself that no customers would likely have sat here, and set her pad and plant down on the small table beside her. She crossed her legs and looked across at Jantina.
Jantina sat down on the edge of her bed, sipping the hot drink. Seeal waited.
Jantina lowered the drink and looked back at her. "It is not what you think, Seeal."
Seeal angled her head. "What do I think?"
Jantina narrowed her eyes. "That I was tempted away by luxuries."
"If you needed to leave, this is a safe place for you," Seeal considered.
"Dream was never the same after you and Creass moved off station. The order was gone, people got away with things," Jantina explained. "Then that last piece for Robiah, my contact ending up dead in the middle of a field, and I was advised to move along."
Seeal frowned. "By who?"
"It doesn't matter, it has been settled."
"By Saoka?" Seeal asked.
"I protect my own back, Seeal, you know that." Jantina replied. "As do you. We have to protect ourselves."
"No one sent me, Jantina. You trusted me on Dreamstation, you can trust me now."
Jantina's mellow green eyes studied her. "Of course I do, Seeal, it is just you turning up here, people could follow."
"I don't work for Creass anymore," Seeal told her.
Jantina's face slackened with surprise. "Really? He let you walk away?"
"We had an agreement years ago."
Jantina smiled. "I did not think he would keep to it though. None of us are supposed to leave."
"I made sure he kept to it. He owed me that much."
"And far more, my friend. Far more," Jantina replied. "Dream was never the same once we lost you and your security, more so than losing Creass' presence." Seeal had heard as much, though Creass had not cared as long as the currency still flowed his way. "Elite boots ruined far more than Creass' holding, the fear raged through the station, turning it darker. The work became more dangerous."
"You were right to leave," Seeal told her honestly. "I just worried that perhaps you hadn't actually left on your feet."
Jantina smiled as she lifted her chin. "I am always on my feet," she joked with a smile.
Seeal shook her head at the long running joke. "And you landed on your feet here. Saoka has been generous, or have you?"
Jantina laughed lightly as she sipped more of her drink and set it aside, relaxing finally. "He made an offer some time ago that I considered, but rejected."
"It pays to keep them waiting," Seeal added with a nod, repeating one of Jantina's general pieces of advice.
"Of course," Jantina replied. "Then I had to find somewhere, so why not invest some information in him. He offered me the position of hostess running this new business," she gestured to the room around them. "I have all I need."
Seeal smiled as she tried to get a little more comfortable in the chair that hopefully no men had enjoyed. "You run your sideline business still here?"
Jantina didn't answer with anything other than a smile at first. "I will never give up this business, you know that," she replied gesturing to the other room that housed her work environment, but it wasn't that side of her business Seeal was interested in. Jantina's lack of response told Seeal that there were recording devices and/or listening ears. Saoka himself could be listening. It seemed then that perhaps this new role as hostess was as much to gain information from the far more influential and powerful customers than Jantina had serviced back on Dreamstation.
Seeal nodded her silent understanding, while not glancing around to work out where the recording devices may be hidden.
"I'm glad I ran into you," Seeal said for the cameras. "Perhaps we can share 'stories' again in the future."
"I would love to," Jantina confirmed.
"I have to go soon," Seeal replied glancing at the time on her pad. "I have some associates to meet with and I have to research a few things first."
"Freelancing?" Jantina asked. "I always said you should."
"Not quite," Seeal replied carefully. Jantina was a friend, but one still on the lookout for information for herself, and the eyes and ears were no doubt watching or listening. "But it is some business I am forced to complete before I decide on my next work." It was a good enough story and true enough. Best that Saoka think her coerced by the Elite.
"That's good to learn, but do make sure that you visit our good tea maker on his world," Jantina added.
Seeal glanced at her with interest. "Is he working as hard as ever?"
"Not as much as he would like," Jantina replied with a pointed smile.
Checking the time once more, Seeal picked up her pad whilst freeing the tiny pre-prepared information chip her from her sleeve. She slid it into the pad's port as she settled it on her lap; easier to hide the action here than out under security eyes. "One piece of information I do need is where you would suggest I find the best place on the station for quiet reading. I need to complete this research before my meeting."
Jantina nodded with understanding – she knew what kind of reading Seeal was after.
"There is a lovely spot overlooking the main leisure pool. The air is fresh, you can read anything up there, novel, information on the station, on the traders, and there is tea."
"Thank you," Seeal replied with a smile as she rose from the pink chair and collected up the plant. "I am pleased that you're okay," she said honestly to her friend.
Jantina moved forward and wrapped her arms around Seeal. Seeal returned the embrace, something she was not used to doing with most, but Jantina had been a friend on Dreamstation.
"Times naturally change my friend," Jantina said soft near her ear. "Make sure you stay safe yourself."
As she pulled back from the hug, Seeal understood the message was well wishing, but also a warning. Creass' enemies were on the move it seemed, and Seeal suspected there were more than a few who would like to readdress an issue from back on Dreamstation. She didn't fear any of them, but they would be a pain to deal with.
"Make sure you take good care of yourself," Seeal told Jantina. "And remember your two rules," she added pointedly.
Jantina smiled. "Always make them beg," she replied, understanding Seeal was referring to Saoka.
Seeal nodded and headed out of the room, back through the space between the double beds and back out into the corridor. She looked back once more to where Jantina stood in her colourful space. It was her own and far safer for her than Dreamstation ever was, but it seemed that to Seeal the place looked more like a prison. A small confined space, controlled and under watch by others. But perhaps that was her view on things.
As she headed away down the corridor, she realised Jantina hadn't mentioned her other main rule of her business – never fall in love.
Back out in the trading hall, she followed Jantina's advice on where to find a spot to sit, up in the observation/relaxation area high above the station's massive main pool. The air humid, but still fresh, Seeal purchased some tea and settled down at an information table with her pad. A quick glance at the time told her she had made better time than she had estimated. She linked the pad with the table's computer and triggered the computer programme, sending her message deep through firewalls and limits set on the table's unit, pinging out through Saoka's computer database.
She picked up her tea and sipped it, mentally counting to herself.
A shadow fell over the table on her count of three.
She looked up innocently to see one of the station's subtly placed security standing over her table.
"Will you come with me please," he suggested in a surprisingly polite tone.
"Whatever for?" Seeal asked.
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TBC