Chapter 10
Trance scowled up at the plum colored sky, less than amused that it almost matched her skin tone. She felt bereft, despite the bustle of cheerful natives passing them. Everyone seemed to start work late here. After a good night's sleep, she supposed bitterly as she recalled her nightmares, and a hearty breakfast. The vestiges of the aroma of cooking sausage and baking bread lingered in the air. Her stomach growled. She forced her hunger away. She was too queasy to eat.
"We should hurry," Rommie told her, "if we want to find and free Harper before the rendezvous."
Trance jogged to catch up to the rapidly walking avatar. "Wait, you don't think we should tell Dylan about this? Maybe he can help get Harper out of jail when we find him."
The petite brunette shook her head, a determined look on her face. "No. Dylan doesn't need the stress of another of Harper's goof-ups. We'll handle this ourselves."
They found the jailhouse easily. It was a tall red brick building with flowers planted around it and windows only on the first floor. Rommie pushed open the huge wooden doors that the natives seemed to favor with ease. Inside, she strolled directly over to the desk.
"We're here to see the Magistrate," she stated, dropping into a military stance that meant business.
The man looked up, startled by her forceful tone. Flat, bored eyes accentuated his dull face. "'e's busy, Miss. You'll 'ave to wait."
She met his gaze levelly. "Most likely he only just arrived at work. My name is Andromeda and I need to speak with him in regard to a prisoner."
The man smiled. "And would that be the little smarty pants who keeps yelling in our cellblock?"
The two women exchanged looks. "Probably," Trance said with a shrug.
He shook his head, dislodging a clump of greasy salt and pepper gray hair into his eyes. "I'll ring up the Magistrate. Glad to be rid of that one, we will."
A smile flickered across Trance's face. For once, Harper's annoying habits came to good use.
~~
Ten minutes later, they stood before a dour faced old man. His droopy jowls and deep wrinkles told Rommie he'd seen a lot in his many years. His blue eyes danced with wisdom and intelligence. Recognizing the elderly man's air of authority, she automatically fell into the At Ease stance, legs shoulder width apart, palms crossed behind her back. Patiently, she waited for him to speak.
He observed them silently for several long moments, looking between them and the file on his glossy mahogany desk. Finally, he spoke, "You want Master Harper, then?"
"Yes, sir," Rommie replied instantly. "He is a member of my crew and is vital to the operation of our ship."
"Do you know what he's done, Miss Andromeda?"
"Only rumors, Sir. My data is incomplete."
He sat back in his huge, soft chair, steepling his fingers before him. "He's accused of assaulting a young local woman. She was found unconscious beside him. We determined that she was not accompanying him, if you know what I mean. Rather, he attacked her. She is still in a coma in the hospital."
"Excuse me, Mr. Magistrate," Trance interjected timidly, "but that doesn't sound like Harper at all. He loves women, all women. He'd never hurt one."
The Magistrate narrowed his eyes meeting her gaze. Apparently deciding she was telling the truth, he leaned forward and flipped through the file. "Even so, Miss, everyone is capable of heinous acts when provoked. At first, we believed he was trying to rob her, but that is not what happened. The shopkeeper verified that he purchased the contents of his bag. She tried to take it from him. She is a thief from the mountain village of one of my deputies. Make sure you collect the bag from the deputy at the desk before you go."
"So," said Rommie, "if she was robbing him then he should be released soon?"
The Magistrate shook his immaculately combed head. "Ah, no. He injured the young lady. We know he did that. A baker heard noises and witnessed that part of the exchange. He must face trial for assault...if she lives. If not, he'll face trial for murder."
The room wavered around Trance. She swayed in place, automatically clutching Harper's medallion, hanging around her neck.
~~
Beka kissed Connor good-bye. She clung to him, prolonging the kiss. For some reason, she couldn't bear to see him go. She'd never felt this way about a one-night stand before. Maybe it was the way his eyes twinkled with good humor, or the rippling muscles covering his gorgeous body. She didn't know. She'd tried to figure it out, but couldn't.
He broke the kiss gently and held her. After a long moment he whispered, "I really do have to go to work."
She nodded, cheek against his shoulder.
"You sure you don't want to stay?"
She chuckled bitterly. "Can't. Too many obligations." She pushed away and gave him a smile that teetered on the verge of tears. "Besides, planets and I don't get along." She played with the zipper on his battered brown leather jacket. "But if you ever decide to blow this joint, look me up. I'll be on the Eureka Maru or the Andromeda Ascendant, trying to right the wrongs of the universe."
"Super woman," he said with a broad smile, face crinkling pleasantly around his eyes.
She smiled. "That's me. Defender of the downtrodden."
"Me, too," he said. "And you wouldn't believe how many there are here." With a finger under her chin, he tried to raise her gaze to his. She turned away, unwilling to let him see the slight sheen of tears welling up in her blue eyes.
He sighed and leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss against her temples. "You have my com codes. If you don't keep in touch I'll come after you."
"Promise?" she whispered eyes closed.
He tightened his arms around her. "Yes," he breathed into her ear. "I've never had a woman affect me so quickly."
"I know the feeling." She turned and kissed him, hard, deep and passionate. When they finally broke away, both were breathless. Eyes closed, she pushed him back, whirled and strode away without looking back. He stood and watched her go until the rushing crowds of anonymous workers swallowed her up. Pulling up his collar against he cool morning breeze, he turned and trudged toward his office, high in one of the sterile gray spaceport buildings.
Suddenly bereft, Beka stopped and turned, searching for him in the crowd. Eventually she spotted him walking away with shoulders slumped. Her stomach clenched. She hadn't said good-bye. Frell, she didn't want to say good-bye. She wanted to stay. She wanted him to come with her. She knew she couldn't ask. He said over and over how he loved this little backwater rim planet and his current, if possibly temporary, job. Maybe after his job was finished...frell, who was she kidding? No man ever came after her unless she owed him money. She decided to return to the Maru early, have some time alone and prepare for departure. Suddenly, she couldn't bear to see this blasted planet for another minute.
"Beka!" She heard someone call as she started to walk off. Her heart leapt. Was it Connor? "Beka, wait, Beka!" Came the call again. This time she recognized Rommie's voice. Ice water crashed over her. Abruptly numb, she turned, seeking the avatar.
Trance and Rommie sprinted up to her. The plum girl panted from exertion, doubling over.
Beka frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "What is wrong with you two? Out for a morning marathon?"
Rommie cocked her head, sensing the physical effects of Beka's whirling emotions. "We have a problem. Are you all right?"
Beka met her eyes briefly. "Yeah. Of course. What's the problem? Oh, let me guess, Harper? What's the little idiot done now?"
Rommie shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. She didn't like to tattle, but Harper really needed their help. "He's been arrested for assaulting a thief. A woman. She tried to steal from him and he-"
"Pummeled her," Trance finished. "She's in a coma. They don't know if she'll be okay yet. But, he's okay. Stayed one night in the hospital and now he's in jail."
"I suspect that if they let us treat her onboard ship, she'd make a full recovery. However, I doubt the quality of the local care. Did you know they don't even have telephone or comm lines outside of the spaceport?" the avatar asked.
"I was told," Beka said, arms crossed over her chest, an incredulous expression on her face. "So, Dylan give the go-ahead?"
The two smaller women exchanged glances. Trance gave her a sheepish smile. "We decided to handle this one ourselves. We don't want Harper getting in trouble with Dylan again. You know he's always doing something wrong or screwed up and some day Dylan will get tired of it and kick him off the Andromeda or...something, find another engineer maybe. And, well we don't want that to happen and there's still time."
When Trance stopped for a breath, Beka said, "He wouldn't dare. Harper is my crewmember. I am his captain." She glanced at her wrist chronometer. "Gotcha. A covert operation. We have three-and-a-half hours. You guys have a plan?"
Rommie sighed. "No. The Magistrate said he had to stand trial. No idea exactly when."
Trance piped up, "And the building is well-guarded and fortified well so I doubt we could break him out and still make it back to the spaceport."
Rommie's eyes widened incredulously. "We'd jeopardize peaceful relations with this system if we even attempted something so foolish. I can't believe you even considered that!"
The plum girl shrugged and blushed violet.
"Wait, wait." Beka held up both hands. "Okay, so we can't break him out and we can't wait forever for the trial by hanging judge."
Trance held out a bag to her. "This is what he was carrying."
Beka looked inside and pulled out a hand sewn forest green garment. "He got rolled for a dress?" She laughed. Trance gave her a devastated look. "Sorry," she said quickly, stuffing the dress back into the bag. "So, what do we...do?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she smiled at her companions. "I've had an epiphany. I know what we can do. Follow me."
TBC
Trance scowled up at the plum colored sky, less than amused that it almost matched her skin tone. She felt bereft, despite the bustle of cheerful natives passing them. Everyone seemed to start work late here. After a good night's sleep, she supposed bitterly as she recalled her nightmares, and a hearty breakfast. The vestiges of the aroma of cooking sausage and baking bread lingered in the air. Her stomach growled. She forced her hunger away. She was too queasy to eat.
"We should hurry," Rommie told her, "if we want to find and free Harper before the rendezvous."
Trance jogged to catch up to the rapidly walking avatar. "Wait, you don't think we should tell Dylan about this? Maybe he can help get Harper out of jail when we find him."
The petite brunette shook her head, a determined look on her face. "No. Dylan doesn't need the stress of another of Harper's goof-ups. We'll handle this ourselves."
They found the jailhouse easily. It was a tall red brick building with flowers planted around it and windows only on the first floor. Rommie pushed open the huge wooden doors that the natives seemed to favor with ease. Inside, she strolled directly over to the desk.
"We're here to see the Magistrate," she stated, dropping into a military stance that meant business.
The man looked up, startled by her forceful tone. Flat, bored eyes accentuated his dull face. "'e's busy, Miss. You'll 'ave to wait."
She met his gaze levelly. "Most likely he only just arrived at work. My name is Andromeda and I need to speak with him in regard to a prisoner."
The man smiled. "And would that be the little smarty pants who keeps yelling in our cellblock?"
The two women exchanged looks. "Probably," Trance said with a shrug.
He shook his head, dislodging a clump of greasy salt and pepper gray hair into his eyes. "I'll ring up the Magistrate. Glad to be rid of that one, we will."
A smile flickered across Trance's face. For once, Harper's annoying habits came to good use.
~~
Ten minutes later, they stood before a dour faced old man. His droopy jowls and deep wrinkles told Rommie he'd seen a lot in his many years. His blue eyes danced with wisdom and intelligence. Recognizing the elderly man's air of authority, she automatically fell into the At Ease stance, legs shoulder width apart, palms crossed behind her back. Patiently, she waited for him to speak.
He observed them silently for several long moments, looking between them and the file on his glossy mahogany desk. Finally, he spoke, "You want Master Harper, then?"
"Yes, sir," Rommie replied instantly. "He is a member of my crew and is vital to the operation of our ship."
"Do you know what he's done, Miss Andromeda?"
"Only rumors, Sir. My data is incomplete."
He sat back in his huge, soft chair, steepling his fingers before him. "He's accused of assaulting a young local woman. She was found unconscious beside him. We determined that she was not accompanying him, if you know what I mean. Rather, he attacked her. She is still in a coma in the hospital."
"Excuse me, Mr. Magistrate," Trance interjected timidly, "but that doesn't sound like Harper at all. He loves women, all women. He'd never hurt one."
The Magistrate narrowed his eyes meeting her gaze. Apparently deciding she was telling the truth, he leaned forward and flipped through the file. "Even so, Miss, everyone is capable of heinous acts when provoked. At first, we believed he was trying to rob her, but that is not what happened. The shopkeeper verified that he purchased the contents of his bag. She tried to take it from him. She is a thief from the mountain village of one of my deputies. Make sure you collect the bag from the deputy at the desk before you go."
"So," said Rommie, "if she was robbing him then he should be released soon?"
The Magistrate shook his immaculately combed head. "Ah, no. He injured the young lady. We know he did that. A baker heard noises and witnessed that part of the exchange. He must face trial for assault...if she lives. If not, he'll face trial for murder."
The room wavered around Trance. She swayed in place, automatically clutching Harper's medallion, hanging around her neck.
~~
Beka kissed Connor good-bye. She clung to him, prolonging the kiss. For some reason, she couldn't bear to see him go. She'd never felt this way about a one-night stand before. Maybe it was the way his eyes twinkled with good humor, or the rippling muscles covering his gorgeous body. She didn't know. She'd tried to figure it out, but couldn't.
He broke the kiss gently and held her. After a long moment he whispered, "I really do have to go to work."
She nodded, cheek against his shoulder.
"You sure you don't want to stay?"
She chuckled bitterly. "Can't. Too many obligations." She pushed away and gave him a smile that teetered on the verge of tears. "Besides, planets and I don't get along." She played with the zipper on his battered brown leather jacket. "But if you ever decide to blow this joint, look me up. I'll be on the Eureka Maru or the Andromeda Ascendant, trying to right the wrongs of the universe."
"Super woman," he said with a broad smile, face crinkling pleasantly around his eyes.
She smiled. "That's me. Defender of the downtrodden."
"Me, too," he said. "And you wouldn't believe how many there are here." With a finger under her chin, he tried to raise her gaze to his. She turned away, unwilling to let him see the slight sheen of tears welling up in her blue eyes.
He sighed and leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss against her temples. "You have my com codes. If you don't keep in touch I'll come after you."
"Promise?" she whispered eyes closed.
He tightened his arms around her. "Yes," he breathed into her ear. "I've never had a woman affect me so quickly."
"I know the feeling." She turned and kissed him, hard, deep and passionate. When they finally broke away, both were breathless. Eyes closed, she pushed him back, whirled and strode away without looking back. He stood and watched her go until the rushing crowds of anonymous workers swallowed her up. Pulling up his collar against he cool morning breeze, he turned and trudged toward his office, high in one of the sterile gray spaceport buildings.
Suddenly bereft, Beka stopped and turned, searching for him in the crowd. Eventually she spotted him walking away with shoulders slumped. Her stomach clenched. She hadn't said good-bye. Frell, she didn't want to say good-bye. She wanted to stay. She wanted him to come with her. She knew she couldn't ask. He said over and over how he loved this little backwater rim planet and his current, if possibly temporary, job. Maybe after his job was finished...frell, who was she kidding? No man ever came after her unless she owed him money. She decided to return to the Maru early, have some time alone and prepare for departure. Suddenly, she couldn't bear to see this blasted planet for another minute.
"Beka!" She heard someone call as she started to walk off. Her heart leapt. Was it Connor? "Beka, wait, Beka!" Came the call again. This time she recognized Rommie's voice. Ice water crashed over her. Abruptly numb, she turned, seeking the avatar.
Trance and Rommie sprinted up to her. The plum girl panted from exertion, doubling over.
Beka frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "What is wrong with you two? Out for a morning marathon?"
Rommie cocked her head, sensing the physical effects of Beka's whirling emotions. "We have a problem. Are you all right?"
Beka met her eyes briefly. "Yeah. Of course. What's the problem? Oh, let me guess, Harper? What's the little idiot done now?"
Rommie shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. She didn't like to tattle, but Harper really needed their help. "He's been arrested for assaulting a thief. A woman. She tried to steal from him and he-"
"Pummeled her," Trance finished. "She's in a coma. They don't know if she'll be okay yet. But, he's okay. Stayed one night in the hospital and now he's in jail."
"I suspect that if they let us treat her onboard ship, she'd make a full recovery. However, I doubt the quality of the local care. Did you know they don't even have telephone or comm lines outside of the spaceport?" the avatar asked.
"I was told," Beka said, arms crossed over her chest, an incredulous expression on her face. "So, Dylan give the go-ahead?"
The two smaller women exchanged glances. Trance gave her a sheepish smile. "We decided to handle this one ourselves. We don't want Harper getting in trouble with Dylan again. You know he's always doing something wrong or screwed up and some day Dylan will get tired of it and kick him off the Andromeda or...something, find another engineer maybe. And, well we don't want that to happen and there's still time."
When Trance stopped for a breath, Beka said, "He wouldn't dare. Harper is my crewmember. I am his captain." She glanced at her wrist chronometer. "Gotcha. A covert operation. We have three-and-a-half hours. You guys have a plan?"
Rommie sighed. "No. The Magistrate said he had to stand trial. No idea exactly when."
Trance piped up, "And the building is well-guarded and fortified well so I doubt we could break him out and still make it back to the spaceport."
Rommie's eyes widened incredulously. "We'd jeopardize peaceful relations with this system if we even attempted something so foolish. I can't believe you even considered that!"
The plum girl shrugged and blushed violet.
"Wait, wait." Beka held up both hands. "Okay, so we can't break him out and we can't wait forever for the trial by hanging judge."
Trance held out a bag to her. "This is what he was carrying."
Beka looked inside and pulled out a hand sewn forest green garment. "He got rolled for a dress?" She laughed. Trance gave her a devastated look. "Sorry," she said quickly, stuffing the dress back into the bag. "So, what do we...do?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. Suddenly her eyes brightened and she smiled at her companions. "I've had an epiphany. I know what we can do. Follow me."
TBC