Chapter 23
Ace's Ride
The Ace of Black Hearts Rimmer skid smoothly along in his battle scarred Test ship which contained the Proto Type Test Drive, code named Wild Fire.
Although currently that prototype device was not in use. Ace
was whistling a catchy tune and cruising at a good clip, happy with his work as scum, evil and general villainy across several dimensions. He was also
bouncing Lister's two little sons, Jim and Bexly, on his lap when Slate's
craft came into scanning range on Cat World below.
Careful to enter the atmosphere well south of Cat City to avoid detection
Ace cut his retros and skimmed just above the tree tops of a great forest
which covered much of the outlying areas of the great city. After several minutes of this kind of low level flight an open field grew green below.
Shortly after engaging his landing gear Ace made a perfect vertical landing, in a vehicle which wasn't designed for vertical landings, watched in awe by Slate's warriors which inhabited the local area. More importantly without nary a peep from the youngsters aboard, who had physically grown noticeably
since their abrupt release from stasis.
Slate came to meet Ace in the field which contained both Slate's and Ace's ship, and which currently acted as their base of operation.
After handing the two lads over to a cat girl who was waiting with Slate
and a group of others, Slate addressed him:
"How goes the mission, human called Ace." The question had an accusatory tone. "All things are as they should be concerning the plan
we had discussed earlier."
"Couldn't have gone smoother if we had been granted an invitation
and they left the silverware unguarded." Ace pulled something out of the top inside pocket of his golden flight suit. "Here I saw these just laying around
and thought that you might could do with this." Ace handed Slate a
computer slug.
"Seems to have all the information required, now if you'll excuse me." Ace made his way to the back of his ship and removed a large military green duffle bag, and a medium sized aluminum briefcase.
"Supplies I borrowed while I was visiting the neighbors." Ace starting setting up a square plastic tent of mid to fair size under the cover of half a dozen tall evergreens not fifty feet from his ship.
"What are you constructing my evil cohort?"
"I'm setting up my own camp, that's what I'm doing my old evil ally.
Feel like a bit of a scout in the wide open here, figured I'd take advantage of the fresh air while I can." Ace had finished laying out the tent, stepped on a button, and the laying tent started growing.
"Do you not like the quarters we have provided for you on our ship?"
Slate asked. "Surely a man of your needs, would be more comfortable with the devises of his people around him?"
"Space jockey can be a real blast but after a long stretch in the cockpit I like to rough it a bit. Sleep out under the stars and all that huff." With the tent now completely inflated Ace started to secure the bottom of the tent to the earth with a small gun like peg driller.
"Don't worry about me and technology, I'll be comfortable." The Commander opened a rather sturdy, though low door and motioned for Slate and the Cat girl to follow him into the now full opened and secured tent.
The interior was difficult to believe. Three monitors, and small computers were built into the walls. So was a cot, electricity, plumbing and a heating cooling system. All of which was powered by built in batteries and Solar panels.
"In the name of Frankenstein I can see how you would be comfortable in such a structure." Slate indicated the two boys who were still sleeping peacefully. Blissfully unaware of the trauma which lied ahead for them.
"And what of the human children. Your plan didn't detail their uses."
"Not to worry." Ace finished putting together a make shift playpen
and had the cat girl place them in it. "Looks like they'll wake soon enough,
make sure their food is prepared from the supplies on my ship,"
he told the Cat girl. She nodded immediately.
"Why specifically the supplies from your ship?" Slate inquired all to casually for the question to be casual. "Is there a problem with our food. Perhaps it's poisoned."
Ace looked at Slate and smiled. "You have a suspicious mind my old
pot noodle. The reason for their special diet is that they have a great future
ahead of them. And their aging seems to be accelerated for some reason I can't yet fathom, so I picked up all special supplies while I was aboard the Small Rough one. Special vitamin boosted protein based foods."
Then am I to assume that you would not object to have dinner with me tonight aboard my vessel?" Slate asked.
"Of course not my old epicure, wouldn't dream of missing the scouts' report on Cat City." Ace smiled. "Now if you'll excuse the kids are waking."
Slate headed for the door and said, "Keep the girl, she'll help you with the children." Then turned and asked, "You said something about a great future for the children. What great future?"
"Well they're to be our bait old lemon tart." Ace laughed an evil laugh.
"What else are children good for?"