"I knew he would. Who would resist an offer of a brand new fighter"
"May I ask about the progress of the science team since not one of them will tell me what hey are doing"
"You may"
"How long is it going to take them to finish their project"
"It will take about two years standard"
"What a long time"
"Yes, but it will be finished within are current time frame"
"I suppose it is"
"I have to go now. See you later Young One"
They went off in separate directions. Rook arrived at Oryan-2.
The ships computer was beeping incisively. Rook moaned. The ships cramped quarters were not a good place to take a nap. He flipped on the radio and the beeping stop. They was a recording going explaining where to land, when and how to contact the control tower to let them know he was coming and what strip to use . Rook drifted in orbit until he came across the landing site. He eased down the ship into a descent into the planets atmosphere. Rook was at first awed by the flames erupting around his ship and leaving a glowing trail. Then he concentrated on keeping the ship from drifting into the wrong angle of decent. He leveled out about 23000 meters above the surface. He flew around letting the hull cool and proceeded to land.
He picked a spot near the end for a quick exit from this planet if need be. He got off and went into the main building of the spaceport. It looked like a giant mall. He went to the computer next to him to pay his parking fees. He grumbled about the price, it was nearly three quarters his money. He left out of the north end of the airport and look out at the city. It looked like the tourist trap it sounded. Three amusement parks were visible and almost every building was a hotel, restaurant, or tourist help. He went east a few blocks and found a decent hotel, got a room, and took another nap. Finally feeling full refreshed, he woke up and looked up the tour for the Caulkins Medical Facility, the fabled home of the Euphoria Plant. He found the tour time and went out for the next train there. He had friendly chat with the other passengers on the way there. He explain that he was disappearing for awhile from the 50 kilos of stuff he had to carry if he went with his girlfriend another day. The train stop and they were in a totally different world. Instead of the sub-tropic heat and humidity of the city, there was a cool calm of the new forest scenery. There were trees around them, but a fence stopped them from going to close to them. They walk a trail with arrows pointing them to the tour, not like there was any other direction to go. Rook got a shiver up his spine with the relavizaion of an almost total lack of freedom. A fellow tourist ask him on his shivering, Rook said he was just thinking of how much money his girlfriend was spending without him there. They had a quick laugh before a tour guide greeting them.
"Good afternoon, everyone." announce the tour guide.
"Good afternoon." replied everyone in varying degrees of interest and boredom "Let's go on"
The tour continued. Rook walked on with a half-ass attempted to stay interested, but he thought it didn't look all that well. They were about 20 minutes into the tour when they stop to watch a movie about the faucity. Just in time too. The little kids were complaining that there feet hurt. The tour guide left out a back door. Rook noticed a cigarette pack in her. Sulking back unnoticed, he exited though the same door as the tour guide. He found her smoking and leaning against the back wall.
"Ahh. You found me." replied the tour guide
"Not really that hard," replied Rook,"Kind of hard to miss the door closing and the pack of cigarettes"
"Name's Alana. You want one"
"Yah. I do," replied Rook. Anything for a bounty he guessed "What you doing on this tour all by yourself. Not many single guys come on the tour alone"
"Get away from my girlfriends shopping. She should be good for another fews hours without me"
"Ohh." responed Alana showing little intrest Rook lit the cig. In front of him was a forest. To the right was a long wall with a camera on the corner. Rook jumped at the sight of the camera.
"See the camera"
"Yeah. Won't we get caught"
"Naaah. Camera is sationary. Not really that smart for what it is guarding"
"What is it guarding"
"Well go into that forest far enough into it, you will find the Euphoria Plant, or so the legend goes"
"Weren't they all destroy a few years ago"
"Yes they were, but this company keep a few plants for medical purposes. What won't I give to have some." sighed Alana.
"Why do you want some"
"Before the Galatic Federation cracked down on it, I used to be addicted. I still remember that feeling"
"What will you give if I get some"
"Anything you wanted," said Alana in a desperate voice "I want back in. To finish the tour, and not get caught. The won't except it if it comes out there own back door. My contrator wants some"
"You a bounty hunter"
"Yes I am"
"Sounds like a plan. Got anything thing to tell you direction"
Rook digged though his pocket and found it empty. He checked his hair and his E.M. wasn't there. His dropped and started swearing to himself. He must have forgot to put it back after his long nap at the hotel.
"No I don't"
"Here take this," Alana dug though her pocket and pull out an old fashion compass. "Here take this. Go to 207 degrees and when you leave and come back just turn around 180 degrees"
"How do you know this"
"Been there once. I am the one who started the legend you know. Just after the plant went, I got a job here. I heard rumors in the halls of this place and i decide to check it out. I was caught though. The owner hear just made go though a detox program. Haven't needed the drug since but miss the pleasure it gave"
"How far away is the plant from here"
"A roundtrip? About a three days journey. I will be back here in three days to lets you in, if that is all you want"
"What about the camera"
"Stick close to the wall and it won't see you"
"Then how did you get caught"
"I sumbled out drugged and skipped into the camera path"
"Ohhh. Got to go see you in three days"
"Is that all you want?" pointing her chest at Rook, somehow popping the top button off.
Rook wasn't there to answer. He was already scaling the wall with the camera. In no time, he had passed under the camera, went right, and after about twenty steps he dashed into the forest.