Been There. Done That.
Jool walked an impatient circuit of the room. She stopped before the small window and looked down onto the street. There was absolutely nothing of interest to be seen. Since most of the inhabitants of this planet were farmers, they went to bed early and woke up early. Night was designated for sleep. The settlement appeared deserted. However, it would not last for long. Dawn was approaching, and when it did, the Market would spring into life.
She entertained the thought of climbing out the window, dropping down the single story, and making an escape. But the idea was short lived. Even if she managed to get away unnoticed, there was still the issue of getting off the planet. So far, she had been treated well enough. Her biggest threat was boredom.
The door squeaked on its hinges as it opened. Jool turned around as Cabmauri entered the room, carrying a covered tray. He smiled politely as he set it down on a table. "I thought you might be hungry."
It had been arns since she ate last. The thought of food made her stomach twist around empty space. "I am. Thank you," Jool said. She didn't move however, only watching as the Kinfea pulled the cover from the tray.
When it did not appear that Cabmauri intended to leave, Jool crossed to the table and looked at what he had brought. A large plate was filled with bright fruit, sturdy vegetables, and leafy sprouts. Definitely all local grown. Thoughts of parasites and unsanitary conditions flooded Jool's mind as she looked at the food, but she suppressed the criticism before it could find voice. After all, she was essentially this man's prisoner. It wouldn't do to make him angry. "This looks, uh. Interesting."
Cabmauri chuckled, taking a seat at the table. "You are a very good Bacria player." He laced his fingers together on the table, watching the Interion carefully. "Better then anyone I've seen."
"Is that why your dealer found it necessary to cheat?" Jool reached for a hopefully harmless piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth. It had a sweet taste that tingled along her tongue pleasantly.
"No. That's not why he cheated."
"Ah hah! So you admit it." She was pleased at being vindicated, but the ease of which Cabmauri had relinquished the information troubled her almost immediately.
Cabmauri shrugged, seeing her distress. "There is no need to deceive you any longer."
"Because you've already sent my friends on this task." Jool searched for another piece of fruit on the plate. "This shipment must be worth a great deal."
"If value is measured by illegality, then it is priceless."
The Interion leaned forward conspiratorially. "What is it? You owe me that much at least."
Cabmauri smiled, apparently giving it some thought. "Mabry Crystals." He reached into his shirt and pulled out a small bag made of slick gray material. Loosening the strings that kept it closed, he poured out the contents. In the palm of his dark hand was a cylindrical rock of transparent orange with slivers of deep blue. It was about the length and width of Jool's index finger. He handed it to her.
She had never seen anything like it and said as much.
"From what I have been told, Mabry Crystals grow in caves found only in the drylands beyond the settlement. They are very rare and very difficult to find." He took the crystal back from Jool and twirled it in his fingers. When the light hit it directly, the orange turned clear making the blue streaks appear suspended in midair, dancing above Cabmauri's fingers. "A representative from the mining community sells them to me.
"Then you sell them to the moon station. For a profit."
"Yes." Cabmauri returned the crystal to the pouch and put it away. "Sometimes more of a profit then others."
"I hope it's worth the risk you put my friends at." Jool regretted the derisive tone almost immediately, but the man across from her did not seem to notice it. Or was not offended by it. "Why send them to the station? Is there no market for them on the planet?"
Cabmauri shook his head. "As far as I am aware, there is no market for the crystals anywhere but Gital Deep."
Jool's brilliant green eyes focused on the area of Cabmauri's shirt where he had stowed the crystal. "What does it do? What is its purpose?" She glanced back up to see him shrug.
"That I do not know."
"How can you not know what the crystals are used for?"
"That is not exactly what I meant." The Kinfea reached toward the tray, plucking a round vegetable from it. "I am only assuming it has a purpose. Just no one seems to know what it is."
Jool watched him eat, her expression nothing less then a petulant demand he explain. "Not even the piece of dren you sell the crystals too?"
"No. He himself is only a way station in the journey. Once he takes possession of the crystals, they are further sold to another buyer." Cabmauri reached forward again, but this time Jool grabbed his wrist.
"Just how many times do these crystals change hands?"
"You ask many questions." Cabmauri gently pulled his arm away, leaning back in his chair.
"You give few answers. I'm trying to determine if it is because you are stupid or evasive." Jool crossed her arms over her chest.
The pleasant indulgence the Kinfea had been treating Jool with faded. "Are you always this insulting to those who can determine whether you continue to draw breath?"
"Only when they are of a lesser life form." Jool did not feel as brave as she sounded. The short conversation with Cabmauri had given her some strong opinions about the man's personality, however. "I do not believe you are barbaric enough to kill me."
Five microts passed before Cabmauri smiled again. He lifted his hands in submission. "That is true. I have never purposefully ended another's life and do not intend to."
Jool exhaled her relief. "I still find it hard to believe you aren't even curious as to what the crystals are used for."
"I never said I was not curious. Only that I was unsure."
She tilted her head quizzically as Cabmauri reached for the bag again. He withdrew the crystal and held it out in front of her.
"Do you see this mark along the side?"
A pair of scratches neatly formed an X on the crystal's surface. "Yes."
"This particular crystal came in on a fresh delivery I received several days ago. Around a cycle ago, I marked a similar crystal destined to Gital Deep."
It took less then a microt for Jool to conclude what Cabmauri hinted at. "You think this is the same crystal?"
"I am certain of it. As I am certain the shipment I have just sent off world, is the same batch of crystals I have sent many times before."
***
"I don't know his name. I've only seen him twice and both of those times have been for less then 20 microts. How do you frelling expect me to know where to find him?"
"Because it's the best chance we have of getting off this damn rock." John drained the last of the liquid in his cup and leaned on his elbows. He turned his head toward Chiana. She was standing with her back to the bar, looking out into the crowded tavern "You're sure he's not here."
"Yeah," Chiana snapped back to him. "He's not here."
"And no one is talking to me." D'Argo stood well above most of the tavern's patrons as he waded through them to rejoin his companions.
John nodded his head weakly. "Okay. There's a few more places down this street. We'll hit them and see if we can get lucky." He reached into his pocket for some tiles. "How much," he asked the bartender.
"Your drinks have been paid for." The bartender pointed to the opening of a service corridor. A bipedal silhouette could just be made out in the gloom. The three companions were instantly on their guard.
"It'd be rude of us not to go over there and thank him," John said, shoving his money back in his pocket. "Any chance that might be your buddy, Pip?"
Chiana shook her head, edging her weight from one foot to the other. "No. Too tall."
"This could be a trap," D'Argo said, narrowing his eyes as if it could help him see into the low light.
John craned his neck to look at the Luxan. "You think?" he spat sarcastically. "I'd bet Jool's other hand this was a trap. We've been wading hip deep in a trap since we landed here. But since this is the first time anyone's been nice enough to buy drinks before screwing us, I'm intrigued."
They threaded their way through the crowd toward the service corridor. But as they got closer, the creature inside the hallway backed further away. Leading them deeper. John was already having second thoughts, and he could sense the same from his companions. However, they couldn't turn back now. They were getting nowhere with trying to find the man who had warned Chiana. This was the closest thing to a lead they had come up with.
This time, if everything turned to dren, it would solely be John's fault. D'Argo and Chiana had both wanted to take Jool from the planet by force. From everything they had seen of Kinfea Prime, only the police carried real weapons. Just about everyone else was a farmer. Even the guns Cabmauri's men carried were paltry when compared to John's pulse pistol and D'Argo's Qualta blade. They would have been able to cut a swath through the resistance and gotten away before the blood had time to dry. It wouldn't have been the first time. It wasn't even that long ago they had done something similar on LoMo.
Exactly the reason John had insisted they bargain instead of fight. Because after everything they had done, he was still trying to find the least violent way out. Even though it put him and those around him in jeopardy.
The director for the mysterious game of follow the leader pushed open a door at the end of the hallway. He beckoned for them to keep going but gave no indication that he was to follow. Just beyond the doorway, the far wall of the outside alley could be seen, but nothing more.
John reached for the pulse pistol on his thigh, but didn't pull it. It was enough just to let his fingers brush against the butt end. He looked dead on into the face of their tour guide, hoping to glimpse some sign of what was to come next. "I'm gonna be really disappointed if this was just some clever way to get us to leave."
Their escort said nothing, only gesturing for them to continue through the door.
"This way to the egress," John muttered, glancing back at his visibly anxious friends. With what he hoped was a reassuring grin he stepped out the door and into the alley.
Part of him wished he were more surprised at coming face to face with four weapon toting Kinfea. The muzzles of their pistols urged him to walk slowly out into the middle of the alley. John glanced back to see similar expressions of blasé on Chiana and D'Argo as they joined him.
The alley itself was unremarkable. The high walls from the surrounding buildings made an imposing barrier to the outside world. A large cargo vehicle was parked near the mouth of the cul-de-sac, blocking the view of the street beyond.
A door opened up in the side of the vehicle and a fifth individual stepped out. He too was armed but also carrying three pair of black goggles in his free hand. "Vieo wants to see you. Put these on."
"I don't think so," D'Argo said, the growl in his voice left little room for argument. His Qualta blade was off his back and in his hands before the surrounding Kinfea had time to respond. The electric whine of weapons charging filled the weak air of the alley.
John moved, putting himself between D'Argo and the pulse weapons. "Whoa, whoa. Hold up. Everyone take five for a second here. No reason to get all excited just yet."
D'Argo bared his teeth, glaring over John's head. "They put their weapons down and I'll consider putting mine down."
"Yeah. Who is this Vieo anyway and why should we trust you?" Chiana slid closer to John, directing her question to the man near the transport truck.
"It is recommended you speak with Vieo unless you desire to return to Bonyon empty handed." The goggles were once again extended toward the trio.
"Your boss knows what happened to our transport pod?" John asked. He was answered by silence and further offerings of the vision impairing goggles. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Chiana accepted a pair of the blinders hesitantly, watching as John and D'Argo did the same.
"No," John answered. "But that's never stopped us before." He slipped the goggles over his eyes, plunging himself into complete darkness.
Jool walked an impatient circuit of the room. She stopped before the small window and looked down onto the street. There was absolutely nothing of interest to be seen. Since most of the inhabitants of this planet were farmers, they went to bed early and woke up early. Night was designated for sleep. The settlement appeared deserted. However, it would not last for long. Dawn was approaching, and when it did, the Market would spring into life.
She entertained the thought of climbing out the window, dropping down the single story, and making an escape. But the idea was short lived. Even if she managed to get away unnoticed, there was still the issue of getting off the planet. So far, she had been treated well enough. Her biggest threat was boredom.
The door squeaked on its hinges as it opened. Jool turned around as Cabmauri entered the room, carrying a covered tray. He smiled politely as he set it down on a table. "I thought you might be hungry."
It had been arns since she ate last. The thought of food made her stomach twist around empty space. "I am. Thank you," Jool said. She didn't move however, only watching as the Kinfea pulled the cover from the tray.
When it did not appear that Cabmauri intended to leave, Jool crossed to the table and looked at what he had brought. A large plate was filled with bright fruit, sturdy vegetables, and leafy sprouts. Definitely all local grown. Thoughts of parasites and unsanitary conditions flooded Jool's mind as she looked at the food, but she suppressed the criticism before it could find voice. After all, she was essentially this man's prisoner. It wouldn't do to make him angry. "This looks, uh. Interesting."
Cabmauri chuckled, taking a seat at the table. "You are a very good Bacria player." He laced his fingers together on the table, watching the Interion carefully. "Better then anyone I've seen."
"Is that why your dealer found it necessary to cheat?" Jool reached for a hopefully harmless piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth. It had a sweet taste that tingled along her tongue pleasantly.
"No. That's not why he cheated."
"Ah hah! So you admit it." She was pleased at being vindicated, but the ease of which Cabmauri had relinquished the information troubled her almost immediately.
Cabmauri shrugged, seeing her distress. "There is no need to deceive you any longer."
"Because you've already sent my friends on this task." Jool searched for another piece of fruit on the plate. "This shipment must be worth a great deal."
"If value is measured by illegality, then it is priceless."
The Interion leaned forward conspiratorially. "What is it? You owe me that much at least."
Cabmauri smiled, apparently giving it some thought. "Mabry Crystals." He reached into his shirt and pulled out a small bag made of slick gray material. Loosening the strings that kept it closed, he poured out the contents. In the palm of his dark hand was a cylindrical rock of transparent orange with slivers of deep blue. It was about the length and width of Jool's index finger. He handed it to her.
She had never seen anything like it and said as much.
"From what I have been told, Mabry Crystals grow in caves found only in the drylands beyond the settlement. They are very rare and very difficult to find." He took the crystal back from Jool and twirled it in his fingers. When the light hit it directly, the orange turned clear making the blue streaks appear suspended in midair, dancing above Cabmauri's fingers. "A representative from the mining community sells them to me.
"Then you sell them to the moon station. For a profit."
"Yes." Cabmauri returned the crystal to the pouch and put it away. "Sometimes more of a profit then others."
"I hope it's worth the risk you put my friends at." Jool regretted the derisive tone almost immediately, but the man across from her did not seem to notice it. Or was not offended by it. "Why send them to the station? Is there no market for them on the planet?"
Cabmauri shook his head. "As far as I am aware, there is no market for the crystals anywhere but Gital Deep."
Jool's brilliant green eyes focused on the area of Cabmauri's shirt where he had stowed the crystal. "What does it do? What is its purpose?" She glanced back up to see him shrug.
"That I do not know."
"How can you not know what the crystals are used for?"
"That is not exactly what I meant." The Kinfea reached toward the tray, plucking a round vegetable from it. "I am only assuming it has a purpose. Just no one seems to know what it is."
Jool watched him eat, her expression nothing less then a petulant demand he explain. "Not even the piece of dren you sell the crystals too?"
"No. He himself is only a way station in the journey. Once he takes possession of the crystals, they are further sold to another buyer." Cabmauri reached forward again, but this time Jool grabbed his wrist.
"Just how many times do these crystals change hands?"
"You ask many questions." Cabmauri gently pulled his arm away, leaning back in his chair.
"You give few answers. I'm trying to determine if it is because you are stupid or evasive." Jool crossed her arms over her chest.
The pleasant indulgence the Kinfea had been treating Jool with faded. "Are you always this insulting to those who can determine whether you continue to draw breath?"
"Only when they are of a lesser life form." Jool did not feel as brave as she sounded. The short conversation with Cabmauri had given her some strong opinions about the man's personality, however. "I do not believe you are barbaric enough to kill me."
Five microts passed before Cabmauri smiled again. He lifted his hands in submission. "That is true. I have never purposefully ended another's life and do not intend to."
Jool exhaled her relief. "I still find it hard to believe you aren't even curious as to what the crystals are used for."
"I never said I was not curious. Only that I was unsure."
She tilted her head quizzically as Cabmauri reached for the bag again. He withdrew the crystal and held it out in front of her.
"Do you see this mark along the side?"
A pair of scratches neatly formed an X on the crystal's surface. "Yes."
"This particular crystal came in on a fresh delivery I received several days ago. Around a cycle ago, I marked a similar crystal destined to Gital Deep."
It took less then a microt for Jool to conclude what Cabmauri hinted at. "You think this is the same crystal?"
"I am certain of it. As I am certain the shipment I have just sent off world, is the same batch of crystals I have sent many times before."
***
"I don't know his name. I've only seen him twice and both of those times have been for less then 20 microts. How do you frelling expect me to know where to find him?"
"Because it's the best chance we have of getting off this damn rock." John drained the last of the liquid in his cup and leaned on his elbows. He turned his head toward Chiana. She was standing with her back to the bar, looking out into the crowded tavern "You're sure he's not here."
"Yeah," Chiana snapped back to him. "He's not here."
"And no one is talking to me." D'Argo stood well above most of the tavern's patrons as he waded through them to rejoin his companions.
John nodded his head weakly. "Okay. There's a few more places down this street. We'll hit them and see if we can get lucky." He reached into his pocket for some tiles. "How much," he asked the bartender.
"Your drinks have been paid for." The bartender pointed to the opening of a service corridor. A bipedal silhouette could just be made out in the gloom. The three companions were instantly on their guard.
"It'd be rude of us not to go over there and thank him," John said, shoving his money back in his pocket. "Any chance that might be your buddy, Pip?"
Chiana shook her head, edging her weight from one foot to the other. "No. Too tall."
"This could be a trap," D'Argo said, narrowing his eyes as if it could help him see into the low light.
John craned his neck to look at the Luxan. "You think?" he spat sarcastically. "I'd bet Jool's other hand this was a trap. We've been wading hip deep in a trap since we landed here. But since this is the first time anyone's been nice enough to buy drinks before screwing us, I'm intrigued."
They threaded their way through the crowd toward the service corridor. But as they got closer, the creature inside the hallway backed further away. Leading them deeper. John was already having second thoughts, and he could sense the same from his companions. However, they couldn't turn back now. They were getting nowhere with trying to find the man who had warned Chiana. This was the closest thing to a lead they had come up with.
This time, if everything turned to dren, it would solely be John's fault. D'Argo and Chiana had both wanted to take Jool from the planet by force. From everything they had seen of Kinfea Prime, only the police carried real weapons. Just about everyone else was a farmer. Even the guns Cabmauri's men carried were paltry when compared to John's pulse pistol and D'Argo's Qualta blade. They would have been able to cut a swath through the resistance and gotten away before the blood had time to dry. It wouldn't have been the first time. It wasn't even that long ago they had done something similar on LoMo.
Exactly the reason John had insisted they bargain instead of fight. Because after everything they had done, he was still trying to find the least violent way out. Even though it put him and those around him in jeopardy.
The director for the mysterious game of follow the leader pushed open a door at the end of the hallway. He beckoned for them to keep going but gave no indication that he was to follow. Just beyond the doorway, the far wall of the outside alley could be seen, but nothing more.
John reached for the pulse pistol on his thigh, but didn't pull it. It was enough just to let his fingers brush against the butt end. He looked dead on into the face of their tour guide, hoping to glimpse some sign of what was to come next. "I'm gonna be really disappointed if this was just some clever way to get us to leave."
Their escort said nothing, only gesturing for them to continue through the door.
"This way to the egress," John muttered, glancing back at his visibly anxious friends. With what he hoped was a reassuring grin he stepped out the door and into the alley.
Part of him wished he were more surprised at coming face to face with four weapon toting Kinfea. The muzzles of their pistols urged him to walk slowly out into the middle of the alley. John glanced back to see similar expressions of blasé on Chiana and D'Argo as they joined him.
The alley itself was unremarkable. The high walls from the surrounding buildings made an imposing barrier to the outside world. A large cargo vehicle was parked near the mouth of the cul-de-sac, blocking the view of the street beyond.
A door opened up in the side of the vehicle and a fifth individual stepped out. He too was armed but also carrying three pair of black goggles in his free hand. "Vieo wants to see you. Put these on."
"I don't think so," D'Argo said, the growl in his voice left little room for argument. His Qualta blade was off his back and in his hands before the surrounding Kinfea had time to respond. The electric whine of weapons charging filled the weak air of the alley.
John moved, putting himself between D'Argo and the pulse weapons. "Whoa, whoa. Hold up. Everyone take five for a second here. No reason to get all excited just yet."
D'Argo bared his teeth, glaring over John's head. "They put their weapons down and I'll consider putting mine down."
"Yeah. Who is this Vieo anyway and why should we trust you?" Chiana slid closer to John, directing her question to the man near the transport truck.
"It is recommended you speak with Vieo unless you desire to return to Bonyon empty handed." The goggles were once again extended toward the trio.
"Your boss knows what happened to our transport pod?" John asked. He was answered by silence and further offerings of the vision impairing goggles. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Do you think this is a good idea?" Chiana accepted a pair of the blinders hesitantly, watching as John and D'Argo did the same.
"No," John answered. "But that's never stopped us before." He slipped the goggles over his eyes, plunging himself into complete darkness.