Chapter 29: Kidnap Job
ISD Apacaphion, the Outer Rim
Captain Galicia stood in front of the bridge windows, looking out at the streaks of hyperspace streaming by. The streaks resolved into points of light as the Apacaphion dropped into normal space.
"Standard sweep," Galicia called out.
"Standard sweep, aye," the sensor officer called back.
Galicia's new executive officer, Commander Grimm, stepped up beside him.
"Captain," Grimm said stiffly in greeting.
"Mr. Grimm."
Galicia smiled. "What's this now? Our seventeenth stop?" It was a little game he played. He already knew the actual number.
"Nineteenth, sir," Grimm replied. "Sir, if I may ask, how much longer will this go on? It is a bit unusual to receive orders from outside our chain of command."
"Our orders are to follow his orders," Galicia replied. "Admiral Waed and I go back. He used to captain this ship, you know. If he thinks it's worth tracking down unusual information requests to the Imperial Archive coming from the Outer Rim, that is what we will do. He is our bug expert, after all, and since the main fleet lost track of the bug ship, these leads, however tenuous, are the best we have at the moment."
"Sirs," called the sensor officer. "There's no sign of the bug ship in this area, but we may have found evidence it came this way. We've found traces of an ion pattern characteristic of the bug ship."
"Ah," said Captain Galicia. "They must have pushed out into Wild Space. It's a huge area, but with relatively few systems that's going to limit their options. You have the conn, Mr. Grimm. Follow that trail and alert me if anything comes of it."
"Yes sir," replied Grimm.
Kratopaxi, Wild Space, beyond the Outer Rim
Green House
The Grand CEO and his cabinet ministers silently sat or stood behind a sofa in the Octagonal Office, all intently watching a large flat-screen monitor. The live worldwide broadcast showed a rocket on a launch pad, vapor venting from hoses supported by the launch tower. The silence was broken only by the commentary on the monitor.
"Coming up on the two minute mark. Telemetry is good, the weather is go, we have a green board, no issues being worked.
"T minus sixty seconds and counting. The Javelin Heavy rocket is running on internal power.
"T minus thirty seconds and counting. At the seven second mark the turbo pumps will come up to flight speed and the command will be issued to ignite the solid rocket boosters.
"Standing by for terminal count.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven—we have main engine start—four, three, two, one. We have liftoff! Liftoff of Surveyor-1 to the alien spacecraft!
"Punching a hole through the clouds, twenty seconds into flight, good pitch program reported. Vehicle performance is nominal. Sixteen mylias altitude, eight mylias downrange. Range officer reports trajectory is nominal. Passing through max-Q, main stage returning to full throttle.
"Two minutes thirty seconds into flight. We have confirmation of solid rocket booster separation at an altitude of forty-four mylias. Now traveling five thousand mylias an hour. Fairing jettison coming up—this will be the next critical event in the flight of Surveyor-1.
"Altitude eighty mylias, one hundred fifty mylias downrange. Fairing jettison nominal. The Surveyor-1 probe is now exposed to the vacuum of space. Three minutes to go with main stage performance. Right on the trajectory pike to intersect with the alien spacecraft."
The Grand CEO turned off the sound. "How long until the probe actually gets there?"
"Another six hours," said the Minister of Space Exploitation. "Surveyor-1 will be positioned ahead of the alien craft to send back pictures, then slowly close the distance in an initial fly-by. At the seven hour mark we plan to make physical contact and land Surveyor-1 on the surface, where it will attempt a laser spectral analysis of the hull composition. With luck, we can operate it remotely to explore the surface of the craft.
"Unknown is if there's any possibility of gaining entry inside the craft, or maintaining contact with the probe afterwards. Given that the craft exterior must include advanced stealth composites, the likely scenario is that we will lose contact immediately upon entry, but even a few seconds telemetry will be worth it."
The Grand CEO nodded his head. "Now to the other matter," he said, as he turned off the monitor.
A hint of anger began to show. "The aliens squatting on my father's estate. Of all the places they could have landed, why there?"
Susan, the Minister of War, began handing out charts. "We may never know their true motive. Unfortunately, even their small landing craft are immune to radar, but by piecing together visual sightings, we've reconstructed their flight path.
"As you can see, they entered the atmosphere in a westerly direction that led them to the east coast of the main continent. From there, they turned south and followed the coastline, avoiding populated areas. The grand estates to the south are very low population. Following their flight path, your father's estate is the first available with its own helipad. It is my believe that their choice was purely opportunistic, and has nothing at all to do with your father's public claims—that their arrival is somehow an endorsement of him personally."
The Grand CEO's agitation increased. "Nevertheless, they managed to pick the one place—the one Atua-dammed place—too politically hot to take out with a drone strike, or to send in the army."
He picked up a mug and threw it across the Octagonal Office, smashing it to pieces against a far wall, leaving behind a spreading stain.
The Interior Minister cleared his throat. "We have your father's estate under surveillance. Two of our agents are in place, keeping a close eye on activities in and around the mansion. Yesterday they intercepted a consumer entering the estate from the north, a pool maintenance contractor by the name of Roger Pagara. As a person with a legitimate reason to be on the premises, they recruited him on the spot to plant surveillance devices where possible and make contact if practical."
"Well that's a miracle," the Grand CEO growled.
"Yes, Mister Executive. It was a lucky break."
"No, it's a miracle there are any contractors still willing to work at my father's estate, but why recruit a consumer? Why not swap places?"
The Interior Minister glanced down at his notes. "Apparently, neither agent knows anything about pool maintenance."
"Was this contractor successful? Did he plant bugs or make contact?"
"As it happens, the aliens approached him first, before he had a chance to plant bugs," the Interior Minister said. He passed around surveillance pictures.
The War Minister looked up skeptically. "Are you sure your agents weren't being selective when they took these?" she said disdainfully, waving one of the glossy prints.
"We can't account for every minute, but the evidence suggests the female aliens, if that is, in fact, what they are, were in a state of undress the entire time yesterday," the Interior Minister said stiffly.
He picked up the monitor remote and switched to a streaming service. "If these Daughter of Atua memes spreading across PaxiNet are anything to go by, it would seem they have little understanding of our societal norms."
He played one of the many clips recorded by multiple witnesses of Lillie at the gate. Most versions were pixelated, some had crude attempts to superimpose a white robe, and a few were uncensored. The majority looped the moment Lillie looked puzzled and dropped a shirt, while others edited together time-compressed clips of Lillie jumping, freeze-framing at the most salacious moments.
The Grand CEO took the remote and turned off the monitor. "There's no need to bombard us with pornography!"
"Sorry, Mister Executive," the Interior Minister replied. "I'm simply trying to illustrate that behavior unacceptable to us may be normal for them. Clearly, their standards are not our standards."
"Let's assume for the moment these aliens are exactly what they appear to be," replied the political advisor. "Humans—or close enough—from outer space. Sometimes people on holiday will do things they'd never dare do at home, like, say, naked pranking a crowd just for fun. She was, after all, safely behind a gate. That could have contributed to her uninhibited behavior. Aliens from outer space is the biggest news event in the history of Kratopaxi, but to them their visit may be nothing more than an amusing lark."
That idea received harrumphs of disbelief, shaking heads, and looks of disapproval.
"I think it's safe to say," said the Minister of Space Exploitation with great self-importance, "that even for a technologically advanced civilization, space travel is far too challenging to be undertaken for trivial reasons."
That received nods of approval all around.
The political adviser raised his hands in surrender. "Whatever the aliens' motivations, your father's antics make it politically inadvisable to raid his estate. But, the moment any of the aliens leave, all bets are off. That girl who appeared at the gate, for example. Opinion polls show the public is split between outrage and those who view her as the 'Daughter of Atua.' If she returns to the gate, I don't care if she's dressed like the Head of Church. If she can be persuaded to step outside the gate, the police can publicly arrest her for indecent exposure committed during the previous night, with manageable political impact. It's all on PaxiNet, after all."
"My father's fanatics can cause far more trouble than any poll numbers might suggest," said the Grand CEO. "He's already calling for a million consumer march on the Capitol Mall later today. People from all over Kratopaxi have been arriving since yesterday. And don't think I haven't noticed you said 'manageable' political impact instead of your usual favorite, 'minimal' political impact."
"There are other, less public options we're working on," said the Interior Minister. "That's all I'm willing to say for now."
The political adviser looked at the Interior Minister with a slight smile. "Is that for plausible deniability, or is it because you're making it up as you go along?"
The Interior Minister smiled back. "Why not both?" he said with a shrug. "There's no precedent when it comes to aliens."
"Morning Stanley," Ginger called from the stove as she prepped food. She was wearing her blue pantsuit.
Stanley sat down at the breakfast table. "Not being a nudist today?" he said with a smile. "I feel a little disappointed."
"Nah, I've had my fun," she replied. She brought over two plates and sat down across from Stanley.
"Is Lillie sleeping in?" Stanley asked as he looked around.
Ginger laughed. "By all rights she should be! Did you hear the commotion last night? That man must have a lot of stamina! But no, both she and Roger slipped out early this morning to go find his clothes lost in the woods somewhere."
"So not a stitch of cloth between them while they were here?"
"You got it!"
They both fell quiet as they focused on eating.
"By the way, where's 790?" Ginger asked as she finished her food.
Stanley smiled. "I may have accidentally left him in a storage closet on the top floor."
"You better go get him. We need to know what's happening outside of this estate."
Just north of the pool area, two men crouched down, hidden from sight.
"How much longer are we going to wait?" the junior partner asked.
"Patience. Once the pool boy reads his phone message, he'll know what to do."
"Hey, why'd you give such a lame excuse about the pool? I cleaned pools as a teen. There's nothing to it."
"You want your dick to fall off? Is that what you want? Want to lose your dick?"
"What? Of course not! What does—"
"That's why I sent the pool boy in. You saw what happened. The moment that space vampire spotted the pool boy, she couldn't wait to ride him balls deep. Never trust space pussy. That's my motto. Mark my words—that pool boy's dick is gonna fall off."
The junior partner mentally sighed and changed the subject. "Hey look, there's the other one," he said, jerking his head towards the veranda.
"Clever girl," said the senior partner, pointing. "See that? Clothes! She's learned to disguise herself as one of us."
"Why don't we just nab her or one of the men?"
"Because the boss wants the one who came to the gate. You know, the space vampire all the fools think is the second coming of Atua."
The two men settled down. They didn't have long to wait. They first heard, then saw, the motorbike pull up to the veranda. The pool boy and the girl hopped off and spoke briefly to the woman on the veranda, before the pair began walking towards the pool.
"See?" the senior partner said. "He got my message. Get ready."
The two separated, circling carefully around the pool in opposite directions.
"So what did you want to show me?" Lillie asked as they walked. "Because if it involves pool sex, I'm all for it!"
Roger smiled. "Any excuse to get me back out of my clothes, eh? But no, it's not a 'what' that I want to show you, but a 'who.' There's someone who wants to meet you."
A sudden suspicion hit Lillie. She stopped dead in her tracks near the poolside. It occurred to her that she didn't really know anything at all about Roger. If he had said something when they were talking to Ginger at the house, she wouldn't have minded, but springing this only after they were alone and presumably on their way to a meeting? It didn't feel right at all. She mentally kicked herself for falling for a trick she herself had been taught: how to gain a client's trust with sex.
"You want me to meet someone?" she said.
"Yes. That's not a problem, is it?" Roger asked.
Lillie pointed behind her with her thumb while taking a step back and put on a smile she didn't feel. "Why didn't you say? I should put clothes on first."
Roger was puzzled for a second before he burst out laughing. "Sorry, I'm an idiot. I didn't think it through. It's a weak excuse, but I've not seen you in clothes. Of course you should get dressed, but will I recognize you afterwards?" he said in an attempt to keep things light.
Lillie was not amused. "Nice," she said flatly. "I'm going back to the house now."
"Not so fast," a voice came from behind. A rough hand grabbed Lillie by the arm above the elbow. "You're coming with us."
"Hey! What do you think you're doing!" Roger said. He took a threatening step towards the man holding Lillie.
"Ah, ah, ah, lover boy," came a voice from behind Roger. He felt the cold steel of a gun barrel press against the back of his head. "Don't be a hero."
"Roger! Who are these men!" Lillie said, furious at Roger as fear and dismay began to assert itself.
"I'm sorry, Lillie! They said they just wanted to talk! I swear!"
The senior partner holding Lillie shrugged and gave Roger a predatory smile. "I lied."
He pulled Lillie in towards him and held a pen-shaped device to her neck. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. What's it going to be?"
Without waiting for an answer, the senior partner pressed a button on the device. With a quiet hiss, Lillie slumped unconscious. As she did, the senior partner bent and scooped up Lillie across his shoulders and back.
"The easy way," he said.
He quickly walked around the pool, carrying Lillie towards the path to the north gate. Before disappearing, he turned and called out to his partner. "Shoot the pool boy."
At Roger's expression, he added, "Sorry, son. You've been dipping your wick in this here space alien. Who knows what diseases you've caught? Can't have you spreading space disease. It ends here."
He disappeared into the woods at a fast pace.
The junior partner backed away from Roger, keeping his gun at the ready. As he did, Roger turned around, his rage barely held in check.
"Hey, you don't have to do this," Roger said through clinched teeth.
"Sorry buddy," the junior partner said as he steadied his aim. "I think he's wrong, but what if he's right? Anyway, orders are orders."
Roger closed his eyes.
He heard a meaty smack followed by a thud.
He opened his eyes again. The junior partner lay dead, a large hole in his chest, Kai standing over him. Blood poured rapidly, flowing into the pool, creating a spreading red stain.
"Well that's going to require a complete drain and refill," Roger said quietly, before turning and running for the nearest bush to vomit.
As he recovered, Roger noticed Kai giving him an unfriendly look. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" he called out, holding up his hands. "I want to get Lillie back too! Come on! It's this way."
Roger ran around the pool to the kabayo trail leading to the north gate. He stopped at the edge of the woods, turned and looked back. Kai had not moved.
Roger came back, standing on the other side of the pool. "What?" he called, frustrated Kai had not joined him.
"It is evident they want Lillie alive," said Kai. "Giving chase now will only put Lillie into more jeopardy."
Kai turned and walked back to the mansion.
"What is it with these people!" Roger said to himself. He followed Kai into the mansion.
There was an argument going on inside.
"Why should I have to spoon-feed you every little thing you need to know, when you've had the means to find out for yourself right in front of you the whole time?" 790 said. "Besides, if you're going to be stupid enough to stuff me in a closet, that's all on you!"
Roger was amazed to see a talking device arguing with a older man in a red jumpsuit. Ginger was standing nearby.
"Hi, I'm Roger," he said as he walked over to Stanley and held out his hand.
"We know," said Stanley, who didn't take the hand. "I'm Stanley, Ginger you've met, Kai is that guy in black, and that's 790, a robot head."
"Lillie has been abducted," Kai stated flatly. "And I believe Roger had some involvement."
"Not on purpose!" Roger said quickly. "Look, I really am a pool guy, but I was tagged by these government guys on my way in yesterday to plant these listening bugs."
He pulled out a handful of electronics from his pocket and dumped them on a table.
"Which I never did. Then they said they wanted to meet Lillie, since she's so famous now. Please believe me when I say I had no idea they planed to take her by force!"
"Well I don't believe any of that!" Stanley said angrily. He waved his hands. "Does anybody believe his story?"
"I do," said Kai. "I saw Roger attempt to defend Lillie. I intervened when Roger was about to be killed by one of the perpetrators."
"What do you mean Lillie is famous?" Ginger said with a worried look.
"Look, I'm catching up myself, being a bit busy yesterday and not having my phone, but Lillie at the front gate has been viewed millions of times by now."
"Viewed?" Ginger and Stanley said simultaneously. They looked at each other in bafflement.
Roger picked up a remote control and turned on a wall-mounted monitor.
"Oh!" said Stanley. "Is that what it does?"
"See?" said 790. "I said that you already had the means to find out what was happening on this world, but did you listen? NO!"
"KNN News continues its live reporting from Capitol City. Crowds in support of Thomas Crump Sr., former Grand CEO of the League of Corporations, continue to gather in the Capitol Mall in a 'Dump the Deal' protest, claiming wide spread stockholder vote fraud. The streets are clogged with people on foot to the point of gridlock. Election officials have called the vote the most secure in Kratopaxi history, and that there is no evidence of irregularities.
"Over fifty lawsuits alleging voter fraud have been dismissed by the courts for various reasons, from 'no standing' to 'frivolous' but primarily 'without merit' due to no evidence being submitted in support of the claims. As far as Crump Sr. supporters are concerned, all ballot certifications, no matter how carefully documented and verified by audit, are fake."
Roger fiddled with the control. "Sorry, that's not what I wanted to show you. Hang on… there. Here we go. KratoMax is one of the few uncensored streaming services."
The imagine switched to video clips made outside the front gate. Some imagines were grainy, but a recognizable Lillie could be seen behind the gate talking to someone. Roger switched to another clip.
"Huh," said Stanley as both he and Ginger tilted their heads in unison. "Someone altered the speed and looped it so that Lillie's bouncing in sync with the music. That's clever. Hypnotic even."
"Focus, Stanley! How did this happen?" said Ginger. "Lillie said only one guy at the gate was awake!"
"Just a guess," said Roger, "but Lillie isn't the quietest person when she's excited. That guy may have been the only one awake at the start, but Lillie probably woke up others who pulled out their phones and recorded."
Ginger and Stanley looked at each other and nodded.
"Yeah, that's true," Stanley said. "So how do we rescue her? We have no idea where she is, and she controls the Lexx!"
"Her implant!" Ginger said. She pointed at her arm. "Standard brothel gear. It's a subdermal contraceptive with a long-range tracker in case anyone is ever kidnapped. 790, can you find Lillie?"
"Once I've scanned your implant, it should be simple," 790 replied.
"Hey, guys?" Roger said, holding up his hands. His right hand glowed briefly. "I hate to break it to you, but wherever they've taken Lillie is bound to be a secure location. Getting in and out won't be easy. At the least, you'll need a diversion, and I have an idea about that."
"Do that again," Stanley said.
"Do what again?"
"Raise your hands like that again."
Puzzled, Roger raised his hands. His right hand glowed briefly once again. "Yeah, okay. What is that? Is that a space thing?"
"Just what we need," said Stanley, shaking his head. "It means you have the key to the Lexx, our big bug spaceship. Lillie passed it to you."
"What it means," said 790, "is that we don't need to rescue Lillie, and if you want the key back, security guard, meet your new sex partner!"
Stanley looked alarmed at that. Roger shrugged and smiled at Stanley.
"Oh no! Not going there," Stanley said as he backed up slightly.
"790, I always appreciate your candor," Ginger said. "But we're not abandoning Lillie. Scan my implant. We'll do what we must to get her back!"