Seven

Boss Nash Family Space Station

Wayfarer Star System

11 August 2017

Rather than take one of Lazar's aircars back to the hotel and restaurant, Cobra and Teelana elected to walk. The distance was not that far. Neither of them had ever visited an open station like this, so they took advantage of the opportunity.

They walked past shops peddling wares from across half the galaxy. There were fabrics of a type Teelana had never seen before, and secretly she wanted to design a few outfits from them. Other shops contained statuettes, rugs, paintings and anything else one could think of.

Smells of exotic foods from dozens of planets set their stomachs to growling. They had eaten light on the ship because of the invitation to dine with Boss Nash. Now, however, they couldn't pass up a few stalls catering to humanoid pallets. Cobra deferred to Teelana's experience in observing of cultures, so she picked out items worth trying. The pair moved from one open stall to the next, sampling interesting dishes and picking out those either wanted added the ship's stores. At the end of the street, a sizeable array of foods mixed with a few spices had been selected and assembled into a pack to be delivery to the Ladyhawke whenever they liked. Cobra paid for the delivery, contacted Mirriam to be ready for the pack via wrist comm, then headed off for the hotel and casino for their impending appointment with the station's owner.

Along the way, they discussed cooking up the foodstuffs they just purchased. While Teelana's cooking abilities constituted using magic – when she chose to eat because the magical energies sustained her – she had the idea of seeing what Cobra could do with the items. Having sampled some of his better dishes, Teelana could just imagine what he would do with the more exotic meats and vegetables from the market. Cobra, of course didn't see it that way since there were no recipe books to be found anywhere among the open stalls. Her answer, of course, was simple trial and error. Which was why she had insisted on the quantities purchased. Enough to fill a standard shipping crate in all.

Cobra sighed and let the matter drop as they mounted the steps to the hotel and casino and strode into the brightly lit lobby. Instead of heading for the bank of lifts off to the left past the reception counter, they walked right toward the corridor leaded back into the casino and restaurant area. The short corridor opened into a massive multi-level chamber packed with people, tables and machines. The upper levels contained the tables where matches were fought for high stakes. Areas could also be reserved for private games regardless of the stakes. While business discussions traditionally went on over rounds of golf on Earth, out here where the legal and not-so-legal business dealings took place, games of chance were the chosen fields of battle.

After the outer lobby, this chamber was like walking into a massive cave lit by torches in comparison. The pair threaded their way aimlessly among the tables, observing the action. Cheers and jeers accompanied successful turns. Gripes, groans, and shouts of outrage marked the inevitable end to pushing one's luck too far. There was even a rare spectacle of security forcibly removing beings who were broke, but making a scene of not leaving.

Not matter where these places exist in the galaxy, people always behave the same in gaming houses, Cobra thought wryly.

Teelana nodded toward the signs pointing the way to the restaurant further back, and they made their way toward the entrance at a leisurely place. The maître d' eyed the pair with barely disguised suspicion. His manner in asking and answering Cobra's questions gave Teelana the distinct impression that they were not dressed for a night in the restaurant, much less worthy of simply getting through the door. As with the customs officer, Cobra simply mentioning the invite by Boss Nash ended, after a brief check to confirm the outlandish story, with a distinctly paler maître d' handing them off to a waitress to escort them to a table. Cobra didn't bother to hide a smug look as he and Teelana were escorted away.

Teelana knew he didn't care for the underworld types, but with Boss Nash being almost respectable by Val-kyrie standards, she admitted that a loose association with the man did have a few perks. As the Sorceress of Grayskull, she had reservations about the perks. In her guise as a bounty hunter's companion, however, she enjoyed seeing snobby people who thought they were superior to everyone put in their place when confronted with others who were a few rungs higher up in the pecking order. She would never admit that to anyone, especially to Cobra.

The waitress gestured to a booth with a half-moon bench seat and table, facing the well-stocked bar twenty meters away. They were seated in an island of such booths in the center of the room. Each booth or table was lit with soft light while everywhere else was in twilight.

Glasses of ice water were left for them. The waitress departed with the menus, as they were awaiting their audience with Boss Nash. Cobra supposed someone must have told her.

Cobra idly observed the surroundings, particularly the other patrons. Live plants separated their booth from the others with their colorful décor, making it harder for someone to peek in from the booth behind theirs. The other booth islands were arranged in the same manner, while the sections of tables were divided up by planters containing small trees, bushes and other more exotic plants. Soft music from a culture Teelana couldn't even begin to guess the identity of issued from hidden speakers a volume high enough to be heard, but not so high as to intrude on local conversation.

Voices drifted across from the other side of the planter. Familiar ones.

"Stop rubbing your chest," a female voice said, chastising.

"It aches," her male companion groused.

"It is supposed to. The idea is that when you get hit with one of those weapons, it should serve as inducement to avoid it in the future."

"He enjoyed that too much."

"If it is any consolation, you were not his first choice. You simply got in the way."

Cobra could picture the woman's slight smile at that revelation. "Nice shot," he said through the plants. "Eight hundred yards?"

A pause, then, "Closer to a thousand. I love that weapon system."

Shaking his head, Cobra said to Teelana out the corner of his mouth, "He'd make love to that rifle, if he could."

Unfortunately, Teelana had been taking a sip from her glass that exact moment. She choked on her laughter and almost blew water out of her nose. "Had to wait until I took a sip," she said. It was more of a statement than a question.

"Best time for it."

"I heard that," Corporal Frost said.

"I don't hear a denial forthcoming," Cobra shot back lightly.

Princess Anyssa interjected, "That's because I will call him on any lie he tries to tell."

Teelana's attention was drawn off to the side. "Company inbound on the right."

Cobra casually looked in that direction. "Show time. You kids stay out of trouble."

Frost got in a parting shot before the escorts arrived. "Hello Pot? It's the Kettle calling."

Cobra sized up the pair weaving their way across the room toward his table. Cookie cutter hired muscle. They almost looked like a pair of bookends. All brawn, little brains and totally loyal to their current employer. The suits these two wore probably cost more that Cobra made in a year. Thanks to a crash course in covert operations, the moment the pair arrived in the pool of light Cobra spotted the alterations designed to conceal weapons under their left arms. It was a respectable establishment, after all. Can't have the hired muscle walking around openly displaying weapons.

The one on the right said, "The boss will see you now." He gestured in the direction they had come from. It was clear that Cobra and Teelana were to precede them.

Teelana and Cobra slid out of the booth and took a circuitous route around to the doors to what turned out to be a private dining room. If the outer room spoke to the riches of the place, the private room they entered left no doubt. Like the rest of the establishment, the dining room was tastefully decorated. The most striking feature was the thick panes of transparent material creating the illusion of dining in space. The windows afforded a look at the outer hull of the station beside the stunning view of local space.

The chamber measured about twenty meters square with an extensive bar along the left wall, an area of small, round tables in front of it and an adjoining wood dance floor. Off to the right was a carpeted area complete with two couches, end tables and lamps arranged in an L formation where people could enjoy the view – or talk business.

A table a lot smaller than Cobra expected sat out in the observation area. A nice tablecloth adorned the table complete with fine china and silverware that probably cost a small fortune. The highbacked armchairs appeared to be antiques. The candleholders were a nice touch.

A lone man stood beyond the table gazing out the window. As Cobra approached, he could see the man's reflection. Boss Nash stood about five feet ten, slim build with a slight bulge in the belly and only a slight touch of gray at the temples. Despite being close to fifty years old, he looked at least a few years younger. The clothes were as conservative as the décor. His eyes shifted to the pair crossing the floor. Smiling, he turned around and began clapping.

Cobra and Teelana glanced at one another. Not the reception they were expecting. "Um, about our first meeting-"

"Aww, forget it," Boss Nash said, waving a dismissive hand. "You didn't know me. I didn't know you. Truth is, I would have been suspicious if you had acted any other way."

Cobra glanced behind them at the bodyguards posted to either side of the entrance. The walking mounds of muscle were nowhere to be seen. The guards were more of the same in expensive suits with concealed weapons, consciously ignoring what was going on while paying attention to everything going on. He returned his attention to Boss Nash. "To what do we owe the honor of what is likely to be a fabulous meal?"

"Why, doing us all the service of getting rid of a rabid animal that was long overdue for being put down." Nash gestured for the pair to seat themselves.

Teelana dropped the hood and lifted it over her head. A servant materialized from out of nowhere to take the cape and Cobra's duster. Cobra was self-conscious of the holstered weapon under his left arm, but Nash didn't bat an eye at it. The man had guts, Cobra thought as he pulled out a chair for Teelana. Cobra and Nash sat after Teelana was settled.

They were situated equidistant around a circular table. A nice intimate setting for a dinner among businessmen. No business would be discussed until after dinner, a full seven course meal with all the trimmings. Cobra couldn't remember most of the names for the dishes, but he enjoyed many of them. Some did not agree with him, though; anything more than a mild spice would cause him to break out in a cold sweat. He and sweet-and-sour absolutely did not get along. Teelana had her favorites. Some of them would have burned the hair off the tops of Cobra's feet.

After a brief dessert, the group retreated to the couches to talk business. Cobra and Nash took the corner seats while Teelana took the other end of Cobra's couch. While the couches only seated two and were more the size of a loveseat, Teelana managed to keep a professional gap between herself and Cobra. She kept an eye on the bodyguards by the door and the servants clearing the table.

"So, what do you say we get the obvious stuff out of the way first," Cobra stated.

Nash said, bluntly, "You're not the real bounty hunter." While his voice travelled clear across to Teelana, the bodyguards would be none the wiser.

Cobra and Teelana shared a knowing look. "Well, it's tough to get any more obvious than that."

"If I had to guess, I would say you are a disinterested third party using the bounty hunter as a convenient cover," Nash mused.

"Go on," Cobra prompted.

Staring into his glass and absently swirling the ice in the amber liquid, Nash continued, "I suppose the real question is, 'can we trust each other?'"

Cobra smiled. "No doubt about it. That's a difficult one. Guess you'll just have to do what you've always done. Examine all the evidence, weigh the options and make up your own damn mind as to whether we can continue doing business."

"Of all the bosses, the Queen Mother herself said you were almost respectable, as far as smugglers go," Teelana said quietly. "Didn't seem to stop you from joining the other vultures in dismantling Cardas' empire."

"Smuggle? Yes, I smuggle. Exotic food. Perishable goods. I sometimes even smuggle people out of harm's way. My only rule is no weapons, drugs, or slaves," Nash responded. "I, and several other bosses with similar interests, only took over his legitimate businesses. The vultures, as you call them, are welcome to the rest." Nash looked thoughtful for a moment. "The Queen Mother really called me 'almost respectable?' High praise coming from her."

"You've met her?" Cobra asked.

"Not in person, but we have spoken over secure comm channels. Quite a woman. Never have been able to resist a request from her." He set his drink down on a coaster on the glass-topped coffee table, leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. "I presume you are authorized to speak for whomever you work for?"

"Within reason," Cobra confirmed.

"So, what can I do for you?"

"For the moment, nothing. We are here to scope out the situation and see if there was the possibility of conducting business on occasion," Cobra explained.

Nash nodded. It made sense, but he needed to know that Cobra and the people he represented could deliver on any promises. "I will need something a little more concrete then personal assurances. No offense, but the word of the Queen Mother carries more weight with me even though you are clearly being supported by her government, if indirectly."

Cracking a half-smile, Cobra activated the wrist comp strapped to his right arm. "Mirriam. How goes things?"

"I am wonderful. The passengers are complaining about being left behind. And the intruders don't seem to be getting the message to leave me alone," the AI responded.

Teelana raised her left eyebrow. Cobra asked, "What's the body count so far?"

"Sixteen." There was the unmistakable sound of a sudden burst of an electrical discharge. "Make that seventeen," Mirriam amended. "I'll say this for them; they clean up after themselves. No one from dock security has shown up yet."

"Well, keep them at bay. Oh, there's going be a crate of foodstuffs delivered at any time. See to it that there are no unauthorized additions." When Mirriam confirmed that she had already received notice of the impending delivery, Cobra continued, "Send the prearranged signal to the Val-kyrie High Command. The op is a go."

"Confirmed," Mirriam acknowledged and closed the channel.

Leaning forward, Cobra explained, "You have a ship currently making a freight run that has a limited life. Perishable goods of an exotic nature, I believe. The shortest route to make it on time requires cutting across a small corner of Val-kyrie space. Now, your transport could go around, but that would take too much time. So, that signal my ship's AI is sending is a prearranged message to allow your ship to cut across their space after being briefly stopped for inspection by the battlestar patrolling that sector. Shouldn't last more than an hour at most. Our proof that we can back up what we say."

Nash pushed himself up from the couch and crossed the room to the bar. Walking around behind the bar, he activated a comm panel set in its surface. His discussion lasted no more than two minutes before he returned to the couch. He picked up he drink, took a sip and said, "The transport will continue as scheduled. In fact, it should be crossing the border in just a few minutes. They had sighted a battlestar in the area, so if your proposal is good, we'll know in short order."

He looked Teelana over with an appraising eye. "Weren't you a redhead that last time we met?"

Teelana smiled sweetly. "Woman's prerogative. I'm sure you understand."

Nash sighed, "Don't I know it." He was married to a loving wife and had one daughter who would likely grow up into a spitting image of her mother.

They talked about other odds and ends for the next thirty minutes. While other bosses went as grandiose as possible, flaunting their wealth in a constant game of one-upmanship, Boss Nash went more for the low-key approach he called 'stylish with class.' Cobra had to admit that of what little of the places he had seen on the station, Nash's businesses were the easiest on the eyes. Lazar's Hotel, on the other hand, fairly screamed how loaded he was with money to burn.

Cobra and Teelana filled Nash in on their impromptu visit to Boss Lazar's hotel. Nash chuckled periodically during the recitation, particularly at the point when the sniper's bullet punched through the window. He knew enough not to ask about how Cobra about the timing of such an event, or how he knew another boss might press the bounty hunter for an audience.

"Lazar isn't the only one who would like you as a part of his stable. Others, however, would rather make a name for themselves. The man – or woman – who took out the man who took out Cardas. Make for a great bullet point on a resume," Nash said, pointedly.

"Would any of them try something on a station?" Teelana asked. She had a peculiar look on her face that concerned Cobra. It was almost a look of restrained anticipation.

"Only those not associated with a major outfit. Everyone knows not to start something on a boss's station without informing the boss first. Lazar took a risk with his 'invite' to you, but you handled it about how I would have expected. The freelance outfits, however, are the ones to watch out for."

Cobra nodded. "I wondered why there was no weapons check at the customs entry." If people behaved themselves, the local authorities would leave you alone. Out in space away from the stations and the planet, however, anything goes. He figured someone would try something when they left the station. Ladyhawke was more than a match for anything the bosses could field; it was what the families had hidden that worried him and the Val-kyrie. The stash of military gear Cardas had accumulated on the penal planet Hel was a wakeup call for anyone who was paying attention.

The Val-kyrie were being careful not to release too much too soon. Certain members in the Horde Empire would see through the ruse instantly, but no one would be willing to admit that one of their commanders would willingly work with an animal like Cardas; even if it had been said commander's second in command.

"As for the freelancers," Cobra continued, "we have that covered."

"Provided the families aren't packing more advanced weaponry that no one knows about," Teelana added.

Nash debated what to reveal. Everyone suspected the crime families of having military grade hardware. If you were willing to pay the price, one could get whatever one desired. Proving that the families possessed military hardware, however, was something else. Surplus obsolete ships were easy to find. Most privateers used those kinds of ships for their livelihood. Criminal organizations used them for their legitimate and no-so-legitimate operations. All surplus military vessels had the high value equipment -weapons, electronics, etc. -removed and replaced with their civilian equivalents. The more industrious owners found ways to modify and upgrade those systems, but the best way to get the edge on the competition was to hook up with an outfit that could get you the good stuff. That meant getting into bed with a crime family.

"There are rumors of the families possessing things the Horde and the Val-kyrie would rather we didn't have, of course," Nash said. "All I will say is that the current top family is there for a reason. If you saw anything like what the unconfirmed reports about the penal planet op seem to indicate, then you should already know the answer to your question. Let your imagination run wild and you will likely be on the low end of the vision."

That didn't make either of them comfortable. While neither the Horde or the Val-kyrie would feel threatened by that, small operations would be vulnerable to strong-arm tactics. It also meant that Guardian Command would have to be careful about interactions with the crime families. Cobra already suspected as much, but Nash's subtle hint meant they would have to be extra careful in their operations. One wrong move could spark a full-scale war with one or more families.

Cobra smiled. "We'll just have to tread carefully."

The comm chirped from the counter. Nash rose and walked across the room. He consulted with the caller for a minute, listening more than talking, closed the channel and returned to his guests. Cobra and Teelana got up from the couch as the boss approached.

"Well, it appears that you are as good as your word," Nash said, breaking into a warm smile he meant. "The transport was stopped briefly for a safety inspection, after which, it was allowed to continue on its way." He stuck out his right hand. Cobra took it and wasn't surprised by the firmness of the man's grip. "I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Indeed," Cobra agreed.

"So, what do you want from me?" Nash asked when they broke the handshake.

Cobra glanced to Teelana. Her nod was barely perceptible. "Have your people kept eyes and ears open in and around the Etherian star system."

Nash whistled. "Hordak's domain. Organizations avoid that system like the plague. And with good reason. When do you need the information?"

"We'll contact you," Cobra assured Nash. "Nothing will be in motion for about fourteen days, or so."

Nash nodded. "Done, though I'm not sure how helpful it will be."

"Every little bit counts. Sometimes people will say things to a freighter captain that they won't say to someone they think might be a spy for Hordak," Teelana pointed out.

"Done," Boss Nash agreed.

Cobra's comm buzzed. "Yes, Mirriam."

"Your package is safely stowed in the aft cargo hold," the AI reported. "And the body count is now up to twenty-three." A pause, then: "Make that twenty-four. Looks like they are giving up trying to access my airlock. Took them long enough to get the point. I hope the two of you are coming back soon. I'm getting lonely being parked among all these stupid ships."

"We will be back soon. You'll survive," Cobra answered, sounding like a parent scolding a child. He closed the channel before the AI could comment. "The Val-kyrie idea of a sick joke," he elaborated at Boss Nash's inquiring look. "Mirriam is a sentient AI with an itchy trigger finger."

"Don't forget the personality of your average chauvinistic Val-kyrie of old," Teelana added.

It wasn't a state secret that Queen Mother Silvara had been working to change her people's perceptions of outsiders. Particularly males. An AI exhibiting those traits was a stretch of the imagination.

"You have your hands full with that one, eh?" Nash asked, grinning.

"You have no idea," Cobra said.

Nash walked them to the doors, where they parted company.

They had just accomplished the mission of making a new friend. Put the crime bosses on notice that angering Cobra was playing with fire. Word of the repeated failures to access Cobra's new starship would be spreading like wildfire. All they needed to do now was get out of the star system alive.

Cobra was confident they could do that with ease. Mirriam's firepower was greater than anything anyone currently roaming the sector was known to possess. Reigning in the bloodthirsty AI was another matter.

Either way, Cobra's idea of fun was vastly different from Teelana's.

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