According to Jim, the Ctarl-Ctarl, Aisha, is being incarcerated at Gahena prison at Hecatoncheir. I attempted to contact the warden and give him orders to release her, but this effort was to no avail. My only option left was to break her out using my new grappler ship.
As the Outlaw Star orbited Hecatoncheir, I ordered Gilliam to scan for Aisha.
"One moment sir," replied Gilliam. "Miss Clan-Clan is being transported by train from the main prison to solitary confinement."
"OK. Can you keep us flying with this gravity?"
"Of course, after all, I am the fastest, most advanced ship in the galaxy. However, the ten-g area may be a little problematic."
"All right then, Melfina, get us to that train as soon as you can."
"Copy that," Mel responded from her navigation tube.
"Jim, ready the torch cutter."
"Yes sir," said Jim from the seat in front of me.
As we neared the surface, we began to feel a slight crushing sensation. Gilliam then lowered the artificial gravity to compensate. The transport train was in sight. It was moving at a very sluggish rate through the snow.
I then armed the grappler arms. I grasped the train using one and cut the train open with the cutter. Then, I lowered the entry pod.
Ctarl-Ctarl are notoriously tough, so Aisha had no trouble getting into the pod with this gravity.
The white-haired Ctarl-Ctarl then entered the bridge.
"Hey! Thanks for breaking me – out?" she stopped abruptly as soon as she saw me. "Wait a second. You're not Gene. But this is his ship and his crew. What happened?"
"No time to explain," was my only reply.
"A transmission from the prison is coming in," said Gilliam.
"Put him through," ordered Jim.
The warden's fat face came on screen.
"I have you now! You're that damned ship that broke Curse Hawkwind and Saiyo Wong out! I'm sending fighters to capture your ship. There's no way another escape will occur!"
Then he looked back at Melfina. A sly grin came on his face. Melfina began to look very uncomfortable.
"Maybe if you let me have her for the night, I might just let you off with a five year sentence! However—"
"Enough! Leave my wife outta this you sick bastard! Gilliam, end transmission!" I roared.
"Your wife?" Aisha queried.
"It's a long story."
Cub grapplers swarmed all over us as soon as we left orbit. There were only five, so it was no problem at all.
I just took one in each hand, and flung them at two of their friends. I shot the remaining ship with missiles.
I looked back at Melfina. She still seemed in pain after what the warden had said.
Why the hell does everyone want to screw her?
After what Hazanko did to her, I wasn't going to even hear a negotiation like that, let alone make one.