Blades clashed. The two wielders tried gaining ground on the other. Finally they pushed each other back. Raven knew one of the wielders. It was Rath. This battle was taxing him. His clothes tattered from the fight. She knew he could beat the other one.
His opponent was dressed in black like Rath. However, he wore a cowl allowing only his chin to be seen. It resembled the head of a hawk. For some reason, he seemed familiar although she couldn't place him.
"Time for you to die, Rath," said the opponent.
"Let's an old lie between us, Nighthawk," remarked Rath.
Nighthawk, why was that familiar? The only Nighthawk, she knew was a cowboy hero from the Old West.
Rath brought his sword up like a malodor ready to finish the bullfight. Before the blades could clash again, this woman appeared with two curved knives. Rath's sword blocked one as his wrist guard stopped the other. This allowed Nighthawk to thrust his sword forward.
"No,"came from Raven as the blade entered Rath.
"Rath," opening her eyes.
"Yes."
Looking around, she realized that she was still on the undercutter. Rath was holding the controls as the ship began bucking. The cylinders were gone. Her arm was slightly sore from the needle punctures.
Rubbing her arm, "How long…"
"Was you out? Least two hours of regular sleep, you looked to peaceful to wake up. Any interesting dreams?"
"Why?"
"You were calling my name in your sleep."
"Not important. Are we there?"
"Finishing reentry."
"Why are the blast shields still closed?"
"Would you like to see flames engulfing the ship?"
"No."
The bucking stopped and Rath opened the blast shields. An orange sky surrounded them. Below them was a blanket of gray clouds. Lightening could be seen flashing inside the clouds. The undercutter entered the clouds more bucking as rain pounded the windows.
Rath's fingers danced on the keypad. According to the computer, a spaceport was ready for them.
"How did they know we were coming?"
"Reserved one."
"With what?"
Smiling, "My secret."
Dots of light could be seen in the distance. They got bigger. They were beckons. Circular buildings were seen, in fact that was that seen, huge circular buildings. Smoke could be seen rising into the sky. It was industrial park and they fly over it.
Slowly they descended towards the ground. Warehouses and spaceships were the next to be seen. Flyingover the warehouses, they stopped over one. Hovering, more buttons were typed and the roof opened. Floating downwards, the landing gear appeared and touched the ground.
Raven was surprised. Rath could land a spaceship better than Cyborg.
"You need to teach me how to land this thing."
Pushing some buttons, "Raven, Nemo couldn't teach you how land an undercutter," getting up.
Stopping, he pulled a footlocker from a compartment in the floor. Dragging it outside, it was opened. Two pair of parkas, pants, rubber boots, gloves, goggles, and breathers was removed from the footlocker. One was for Rath and second was handed to Raven.
Seeing the puzzled look as he was putting the pants on over his pants, "What to prove if girls are made of sugar, spice, and that is nice?" sliding the parka on.
Still she was puzzled.
"That's acid rain we were flying through," pulling the boots over his boots, "and going to be walking through," slipping the gloves on.
"I don't have to undress to put this on?"
"If you want to run around undress, go ahead I've already seen your cute well toned naked ass before."
"As long it's the only naked ass you've seen."
"Kory's looked pretty good."
Raven didn't add anything further as she put the garb on. She did get some assistance from Rath on how to snap everything on.
Before they left, Rath entered the undercutter one last time. Walking towards a door, Rath slid a card into a slot. The door opened and it was still raining. Entering the rain, the door closed behind them.
"No matter how advance a planet gets, slums always will exist," thought Raven who couldn't get her goggles from fogging up.
Rath pushed a red circular button on her left glove and it solved her fogging problem. Rath led her to something that looked liked a hotel. Entering, it was a hotel.
A bloated blue green blob of flesh, Raven couldn't guess the gender, sat behind a desk.
Pulling back their hoods, they removed the goggles, breather, and gloves.
Leaning on a counter, "Any rooms?"
"Yes," answered a hoarse voice, "Any credit?"
Showing the card, "Yes," sliding the card towards the blob.
A tentacles landed top of the card, some how it struck to the tentacle. The card was skimmed.
"How many?"
"Two."
"How long?"
"Three nights to be safe."
The card was placed on the counter with another card.
"Room number's on the card," sliding both cards towards them.
Raven was about to grab the cards when Rath pulled her hand back.
Grabbing the cards instead, "Thank you," walking away from the counter and towards the stairs.
Walking up the steps, "Why did you stop me from getting the cards?"
"Noticed the black line?"
"Yes."
"It was a force shield that could've removed your hand," entering a sliding door.
Staring at the card and then looking up and down both hallways, he went left. She didn't understand the symbols on the doors. She had to guess they were room numbers.
Stopping in front of a door, he slid the card down into a slot. The door opened and they entered.
"Where's the bed?"
Removing the acid rain garb and hanging it in midair under a shelf, he walked towards a wall, pressed his hand against the wall, and a bed was lowered from the wall. Staring at his suspended rain clothes, she placed hers besides his and hers floated in midair.
Removing a black box from his satchel bag, he placed it on a tabletop.
"What's that?"
"To keep wall eyes and ears from knowing our business," pressing the black surface, "The bed's yours and while I get the couch."
"We don't share the bed?"
"Thin walls even with the black box," flopping onto the couch.
Keeping her uniform on, she slid under the sheets. The lights went dim. She could still see Rath until the sleep won her over.
Snow covered the screen as tentacles pushed buttons. Slapping the screen in frustration, the snow proved to Ed that the new occupants were spies, but whose. Was Tar-Paul trying to muscle into his smuggling racket? He needed answers and something was preventing that. Those two needed to be watched more closely.