Space Panda
Reaching the Stars
Chapter XI: The Auction
Nix Nebula; Blizzard Sloth Star System; Sixth Planet: Storming Elephant; Third Continent: Snow Blizzard Storming Peak
Few days later…
It is stinking here.
And the reason for this isn't only this fast constructed bar. It was built on this snowy peak, where a plateau was actually. Enough space for several Ships, which have landed outside as well as we.
"Puh…it is really hard to breathe in here." Viper says after she reaches my table.
"Yeah, cause of the crowd in here." I reply.
"I know, Crane. I have not even the half of these guys on my list."
"Who have you found?"
"Besides some small fries, Fung and his Gang."
I chuckle.
"They are the kings of the small fries."
"The most stubborn small fries of all them." Viper continues my joke.
We chuckle together, but stop after some guards pass us. They are everywhere: Soldiers wearing Black Armor Suits and High-Quality rifles. Their faces are hidden behind a shaded casque. I bet these suits can be used as spacesuits as well.
They are prepared for everything. Even weapons needed to be given away at the entrance.
I look at Viper. She still looks beautiful despite the fact that she wears now dirty street-wear instead of her uniform as well like me. Her green-blue eyes are shining even in the darkness of this bar.
"After this bar I will need a proper shower." Viper states.
"Yeah, me too. Maybe we…", further I don't come. Monkey and Mantis reappear. They are wearing their street-wear, in which I had found them, again.
"So who have you found?" Viper asks as the first.
"Old Friends." Monkey replies, "Fenghuang is here and she had seen us almost. As well Taotie and Junjie."
"And we hawe found someone unexpected as well." Mantis continues, "It seems that Lang Laoban is here as well."
"Who?" Viper asks.
"Lang Laoban? The Right Hand of Lord Shen?" I need to confirm.
"Exactly this guy.", Mantis approves.
…that is not a good development.
"Wait a minute. Can someone enlighten me?" Viper interrupts my thoughts.
"Lord Shen was the former Minister of Defense of the Zhu Empire. Eight years ago he tried to take over the Empire, but was stopped by Captain Tai Lung. Since then he vanished."
"I see…I get why he seems to be so interesting. By the way: Isn't it Commodore Tai Lung?"
"No. That was his first mission as a Captain." Monkey explains.
"Seems that you need to go out with us more often. In this way you here this and that." Mantis says chuckling.
Normally Viper would glare at him, but this time she glares at me…
Iieks….I should plan to take her out on a date after this mission.
"We need to inform the Captain of this change of situations. You stay here." I say out loud.
I leave our table and squeeze me through stinking boars, Felines, which last shower needs to be long time ago, Canines, which smell out of the mouth, and much more I don't want to mention.
"Sorry.", a stinking panda passes beside me.
I shake my head only.
I reach the exit. Two guards are standing there, but the doors are open.
They don't stop me getting through. Outside I see the reason: Several guys have left the building and all of them are informing some of their bosses.
Odd that I am doing the same like these criminals.
I reach our shuttle, open and enter it.
"Computer: Tap-proof connection to the Furious. High Sensibility."
"Understood."
I close the door and sit down at the seat to the Computer. The holographic image of Captain Tigress appears.
"Report."
"We have identified some of the guests. Fung and his Gang, Fenghuang, Taotie, Junjie and some more…"
The Captain holds her chin.
"Seems like our usual Suspects are gathered at one place."
I nod.
"Yeah. We have identified another one: Lang Laoban."
She doesn't look surprised, but I know her well enough to know that she is.
"So Lord Shen seems to be back."
"Seems so."
"I remember like my brother told me that Shen was working on a weapon. A dangerous weapon, with which he could destroy Jade Station. I ask myself, if he has still his plans." she makes a break, "Even when not. No one of these guys is allowed to get the Jade Orb. Stick with the plan."
"Understood.", I reply and the image disappears.
I leave the shuttle and realize that the guys here are going inside the bar again.
It seems something is happening there. I run back and reach it in time, before they close the door. Most of the guest have gone to their tables or are waiting at the back. It is even harder to squeeze through them.
The tribune at the opposite end of the bar is lightened now. Fog appears and slowly a shadowy figure comes out of the ground.
…I think he is using a darkening module. When I reach the others he deactivates it.
A figure like the guards appear, but much taller. And he has red eyes and wears a black cloak.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to my auction. My name is Shadow Cloak.", he introduces himself again with this distorted voice.
He steps from the platform, in which he appeared and continues talking: "I am glad to see that so many have got my invitation. I see some known faces. There we have Ragan, the Pig, who has vandalized in more than a dozen systems." he begins to clap and everyone climbs on it, "And there I see Rodrigo the God of Lying, who has simplified the life of many nobles by taking away their money. And there is Tong Fo, the Mastermind, who had planned a plundering attack on the Home World of the Melsat Oligarchy and succeeded. And even got away by leaving behind his own comrades. How cruel. And there is the lovely Fenghuang…"
The way he says these words, it sounds like he adores these guys. But he tells nothing about the fact that all of them were in prison as well at least once.
He continues his bootlicking, while the platform reappears: On a pedestal is the Orb, flying in something like a Magnetic Field.
"Ah, finally, the reason for your coming. Like you can see it is real. Every one of you can use its Analyzers to prove this."
I hear like everyone takes out their tools. I look at Viper.
She had looked at her Analyzer and nods now. It is real.
I look at Mantis. Mantis nods and disappears in the crowd. When everything goes according to plan, soon our backup will land here and we can arrest every one of them.
"So I think everyone has confirmed the authenticity of this lovely full energized gem. So we can start the auction.", Shadow Cloak continues and stands now right in front of the Orb, "The rules are simple: Who wants to bid, raises his or her hand and tells us in a normal volume how much. Only one at a time will bid. No discussions. No quarreling after it. Who stick by the rules doesn't need to meet my friends here."
He points at two further guards, who need to be gorillas or bears or something different big obviously.
"Now we begin. The lowest bid is at 10.000 Jewels. Who bids 10.000 Jewels?"
"Me!" a crocodile hand is raised. Fung had bided.
"100.000!" Tong Fo bids.
"200.000!" Ragan bids.
"300.000!" Fenghuang bids.
And in this way it continues. It passes 1.000.000 Jewels in a short time.
…
Still no backup. Mantis hurry up.
"10 Million!" a voice out of the crowd tells. We slowly recognize that it is Lang Laoban.
Everyone looks at him surprised. The bid was around 5.000.000 before him.
"20 Million!" Junjie replies, "And this is my last word."
From where such criminals have so much money always? I would be happy already when my wage would be in the five-digits.
Junjie glares at Lang Laoban, who smiles at him.
"25 Million." he replies and I hear like Junjie curses.
The room gets quiet again.
Now everyone looks at the host Shadow Cloak.
"25 Million, to the first,….to the second,….and….to the third. The Auction is over. The winner is the wolf gentleman in the front. Come up here please."
He stands up; followed by two further wolves….where is the backup?
Before he reaches the tribune, another guard – this time slimmer – leaves the backstage with an Analyzer in her hands…What is going on?
Lang Laoban had stopped and looks at them suspiciously.
She whispers in Shadow Cloaks ear. He nods and whispers something back.
Then loud again to his guests.
"It seems that our little gathering was betrayed. A Task Force of a Star Fleet Ship is attacking us right now. It would be better when everyone reaches for his or her weapons and leave this place immediately."
First there is silence. Then it gets loud and everyone takes out their hidden weapons. Good that we have some as well. I look at everyone.
"Damn! We seem to be exposed. Grab the hidden Blasters and let us enter the party before all birds fly out."
We grab our Blasters.
The party begins.
11 Friends you need to be. :) The Next chapter. Enjoy it.
Kung Fu Panda and its Characters belong to DreamWorks.
This World and Idea is mine.
