CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

-KARMA VII-

Zialin was apprehensive, "But how? I have a restraint attached to my leg remember...or are you just going to run out on me?"

Travis pulled a questioning look, "Why do you think I would?"

Zialin looked back at him like he should know the answer, "You are a man aren't you...they all do in the end"

Before he could respond back, Bellfield was heading back to the bar, so he made it quick, "Like I told you...leave it to me and be ready"

XXX

Travis made his way up the corridor and paused at the approach of the office. He could see Bellfield at his desk finishing a call, "Don't worry, the blockade will put a stop to his escape, the credits will be back in my account before Largo can slice him in two for his failure...be ready"

He killed the call to the mystery person and then he stood up and pulled open a locker and moved the restraint controller aside to gather a decanter of fine wine, he pulled himself a glass and then downed it. Travis ducked to the shadows as Bellfield left the office. Once the coast was clear, he went into the office and pulled open the locker and grabbed the restraint controller, "All too easy, "He chuckled to himself.

XXX

The bar was heaving with men from the party Bellfield had been expecting. Zialin was sat on a stool drinking a cocktail and was looking very glamorous. A big man in dark shades approached her, he looked a player, and was hot for a drugs run. He leaned into her invading her personal space, "get us a drink girl, and what else are you serving up? Yourself perhaps or if that Bellfield's exclusive"

Travis, shaking his head in dismay, grabbed hold of Bellfield and forced up the back corridor. Before he could even protest, Travis hurtled him into the office.

"What is the meaning of this Travis!"

Travis stood tall and threatening over him, "open the safe...now!"

Bellfield cracked a defiant laugh, "This is a big mistake Travis...one call to the Federation and you are finished!"

Travis grabbed hold of his man's arm and threw him towards the safe, "just open it man!"

Bellfield turned and keyed in the correct entry code and it clicked green at unlock, he then reached into the safe and threw the credit cards Travis's way, "5000 credits won't get you far these days Space Commander - how far are you expecting to go?"

Travis was gathering up the credits off the floor and looked up, "far enough"

Bellfield mocked him, "you haven't a hope in hells chance Travis...you have to get off-world first, how do you expect to manage that?"

Travis straightened up and smiled at him, "all very simple, by taking what's yours"

Zialin was then stood in the door way looking bewildered, "Bellfield, your clients are getting restless in there"

Travis turned and notioned her leg, "Remove the restraint...it's okay I have the controller", he held it up to reassure her.

Zialin put her foot up onto the chair and removed the restraint, Travis snatched it off her and approached Bellfield who had already guessed what his attentions were, "Put it on Bellfield ,or is it going to be the Sluggeroids? Or...should I inform your friends in there that you intend to double cross them..."

Bellfield, face like thunder clipped it to his ankle, Travis raised the controller, "I will leave this at the spaceport...if you try to stop me leave then, I will use it do you understand?"

Bellfield nodded, Travis looked at Zialin, "Lets go"

As they cross the bar, one of the clients pawed at Zialin with his tongue for attention, Travis didn't have time for this, he swung his fist into his direction and the man went skidding across the floor with a swollen jaw.

Outside, Travis hurried over to a quad bike and jumped on it, the wind was howling around them and Zialin shielded her eyes from the constant grit.

Travis thumbed in the seat behind him, "quickly girl jump on!"

Zialin could hear the shouts and cries from the club, she ran to the quad bike and jumped on the back, she placed her hands on Travis's shoulders.

Travis threw back a glanced, "No time to be shy girl, hands around my waist if you are going to stay on"

And just as she did, Travis hit the throttle, and the quad sped off up the street doing a wheelie. She closed her eyes, as the rush of grit and dust hit her. Travis skidded around the corner and looked up to the gigantic pylon stretching up the the sky with a red light flashing on top. that heralded the space port.

Zialin opened her eyes and yelled over the gale, "How are we going to get away from here?"

Travis smiled and nodded ahead...

Bellfield's spacecraft was a heap of junk by a Space Commanders standards, but t would have to do...Travis sat at the controls as they left planetary orbit and turned to Zialin who sat in the co-pilot seat and instructed, "Hold on"

And the ship leapt through the constellations and went far from Karma VII