Chapter 26: Any Price
"Where is my son?"
At Avocato's sharp demand, a tremor seemed to pass through them all and instinctively everyone but Avocato and Nightfall glanced around as if to confirm the youngest member of their crew was absent. All levity vanished, and Gary felt a chill shoot down his spine as he faced Nightfall, automatically edging closer to Avocato.
"What's happening?" he breathed, the sudden fear sweeping aside the excitement he had felt moments earlier. Beside him, General Avocato stood stiff and frigid, tension roiling off him even though his outward appearance changed not a hair. Only his yellow eyes betrayed the alarm and anxiety he was feeling.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Nightfall snapped. "I asked AVA where Little Cato was and she hasn't seen him since he went to the upper turret."
"How long ago was this?" asked Avocato in clipped, official tones. It was clear he was fighting the instinct to just rush out and search for his only child, and Gary forced himself to follow the Ventrexian's example because otherwise, he would have been leading the panic parade.
"Sixty-three minutes ago," stated AVA. "He stated he wanted time alone to think."
Gary looked to Avocato. "We were still asleep when he left the hall outside engineering. Damn." He swallowed, adding, "I told you about what happened on Kanopis and the fallout while I was still in the pod. Yeah, he ran away once, but he wouldn't do that again. Plus, he promised me and Nightfall he wouldn't leave the Crimson Light. He's not one to break a promise."
The general nodded, believing him. "Especially to you. What about security recordings? Sensor readings? Anything," Avocato added softly.
"I don't have any data yet," AVA replied. "I'm presently hacking the security system for the docking bay and – ah! I'm in. Pulling up the recordings and sensor data now."
"Display," ordered Nightfall. Immediately AVA projected a hologram showing the larger part of the Crimson Light nestled in the docking bay, shot from just above the rim of the dugout bay. In Geegua, where rain was a rarity, the bays were all dug out of the sandstone bedrock and open to the sky, like giant, open honeycombs connected by tunnels to the spaceport. A growl escaped Avocato, and for the first time Gary considered that this set-up was something of a logistical nightmare for a military mind.
"Where is the turret?" asked Avocato. He had never seen the lightrunner from the outside.
"Right here." AVA highlighted the spot. "My sensors recorded something hard striking the hull, then this."
The only sound came from Mooncake as he let out a trill of worry at the sight of Little Cato being yanked from the turret and getting trapped in the gravity bind. He struggled in vain to break free, writhing against the crushing force holding him. They watched the horrifying footage as the device emitting the field was remotely moved to the edge of the ship, pulling him along.
"This is from the camera by the bay's access tunnel," said AVA, freezing the image and projecting another clip beside it. This showed four people, each a different species, surrounding Little Cato in a corner of the bay and then pouncing on him with all their combined weight when he was released from the gravity bind. Had to give it to the kid – he put a respectable fight. Little Cato's feet hadn't even touched the ground before he was attacking them and trying to get away. The scrape was brief, vicious, and only ended when the kidnappers wrestled something around his neck. Instantly the Ventrexian collapsed, allowing them to bind his wrists.
Avocato clenched his teeth and his fists at the sight of his only child being forcibly hauled away, a low growl building in his throat and every hair standing on end. Beside him, Gary went pale, a pang in his chest and a hideous sense of helplessness almost overwhelming him. Without realizing it, he reached out and gripped Avocato's arm, seeking support as he inadvertently gave it as well.
"That's a stasis collar and shackles," stated Fox softly. "Those are slavers."
Avocato whipped around, his intensity making the Tryvuulian take a step back as he demanded, "Are you sure? What will they do with him?"
Clearly uncomfortable with being the focal point of Avocato's undivided attention and misinterpreting the general's alarm for anger, Fox stammered, "Uh, I – yeah, I'm pretty sure. I . . . uh, help," he gulped, and glanced at the rest of the Team Squad for backup.
Nightfall opened her mouth to tell him to stand down, but Gary moved first.
"Cato," Gary said softly, pulling gently on his arm. It was like trying to move a statue. Under his hand, Avocato's arm was rock-hard with tension, and Gary Goodspeed knew no power in the universe would calm Avocato except Avocato. "General," he said, using the title for the first time to address his friend, "I know you want answers. We all do. We'll get them. But you need to back down."
There was a pause. For the length of a heartbeat there was so much friction in the air it could be felt like static electricity. The moment could have gone either way, with cooperation or a frenzy, depending on whether Avocato decided to master himself or let his emotions master him. This was a man who, when faced with saving his son or saving a planet full of people, had chosen his son. But just as Avocato's decision then to save Little Cato over the earth had not surprised Gary, so much his refusal now to give in to his desire.
Letting his breath out slowly, Avocato clasped his hands behind his back and took a step back. A small step. It was more a symbolic gesture than anything else, but it sufficed. He raised his chin, every inch the warlord, and the sideways glance he cast Gary – part glare, part command – spoke volumes. Gary knew perfectly well that if they didn't get every shred of information Fox had to offer, he was going to be introduced to a whole new side of General Avocato, one he didn't particularly want to meet.
And then Avocato did something that Gary knew he could never have done at this moment. It was one of the most courageous statements he'd ever witnessed and something that left him absolutely breathless: the general steeled himself, turned, and without another word, walked off the bridge. It was the very last thing anyone could have predicted or expected or asked, and it was testimony to how desperately Avocato wanted his son back and how deeply he trusted Gary. Gary watched him go in silence, words failing him.
Ash blinked, staring as the door closed behind Avocato, and let out a quiet little sound of awe. She glanced up at her brother, who, now that he was free to speak without Avocato's intimidating presence, was left stunned and speechless.
Knowing they had to get answers and get moving, Gary gave himself a little shake and turned to Fox.
"You heard the man, Fox. Start talking."
Fox swallowed and fidgeted nervously. "Okay, well, I'm not gonna say how or why I know some of the stuff I know because that's a past I've been trying to bury for forever."
"Okay, disclaimer out of the way," allowed Gary, trying to hide him impatience. "Why take Little Cato?"
"Ventrexians are the hottest commodity in the slave market since the general there put them on the map," Fox said, getting down to business. "There aren't too many out there that are slaves because they always travel in packs and are really hard to catch. A kid would be super-rare and really, really valuable. In the right auction house, they could get tens of millions."
Gary frowned, horrified at the thought his his kid on the auction block. "Who would pay that?"
"Spoiled rich people. Brothels. They're too valuable to use for labor." He grimaced and squirmed, choosing his words delicately. "Ventrexians are usually sold into the . . . adult entertainment industry or to royal households. People who can pay a fortune and want status symbols."
Nightfall shuddered, looking away. Gary thought of Avocato, sold to an emperor, and braced himself. "Okay. They've grabbed Little Cato. What will they do next? Your best guess."
Fox pursed his lips, clearly relieved they weren't delving into specifics or getting personal. "Place like Geegua Spaceport, they'd only be able to grab the outcasts, people who won't be missed or are on the run. Here, where you can get in and out fast and cheap, there'd be plenty of them. So they're low-end slavers and won't go to the market until their hold is full. Thing is, a Ventrexian kid will make it worth their while to get out fast and sell him or get him somewhere secure for them. So they'll be out of here as soon as possible."
"So where do we start?" pressed Nightfall.
"Okay," said Fox. "They'll have a cargo ship docked in or next to a warehouse, usually as isolated as they can get to avoid the port authorities and so no one hears anyone screaming. Something big and not new. The crews are usually pretty scummy outcasts and the ships are always breaking down. So, the bad side of town. They'll have lots of guards standing around."
Ash made a face, not wanting to ask her question. "Whaaaat if they figure out who Little Cato is?" she asked, pointing at the door to where his father had exited. Her meaning was clear.
"There's no way to prove or disprove who he is without DNA samples," said Nightfall.
"Plus, Avocato's son is only four in this time," Gary added, feeling closer to hysterical every passing moment. "Odds are they won't believe him."
"But if they do?" pressed Ash.
Fox winced. "The price will go up. Waaay up."
Because if someone hated Avocato enough, would any price be too high to get their hands on his only son?