Settling a Grievance: Chapter 1
20 Jun 2016LordPsymon
Settling a Grievance: Chapter 1 
“Hey buddy, we’re about to close up,” a man’s voice said, pulling my attention away from the news bulletins.
I had been sitting in my usual spot in Chelomey Orbital, drinking a few rounds of Barron’s Head while I scoured the news bulletin for anything on Caius Bisley. Much to my surprise, even after hours of looking, nothing turned up.
“Sorry barkeep, I’ll be on my way now.” I said as I stood up.
What the hell? You’d think a deposed Admiral would be front-page news, but there’s nothing.
“No worries, you looked very concentrated there,” he replied as he took my empty bottles. “Have a good night, sir. I’m sure we’ll see you back here soon.”
“You can count on it.”
I exited the bar, chucking a tip toward the barkeep.
I slowly strolled toward the hangar bays, ready to call it a night, my mind fixated on finding Bisley and putting him down for the trouble he caused to myself and Fiona.
Not even a bounty… Something ain’t sitting right with me here.
As I approached the hangar, I noticed a man standing by the doors inside. He approached me as I tried to make my way to my ship.
“Is this your ship, sir?” He asked, keeping his voice down.
“Uhh, yeah… That’s why I’m going toward it,” I responded.
“Simon Datura is it?”
I raised my eyebrow at the stranger. “Yeah, that’s me. Who’s asking? Is something wrong?”
“You were dealing with Caius Bisley a few weeks ago, were you not?”
I started to frown. “Would you get to the point? How did you even know who I am or how to find me?”
“Caius had us keep tabs on all incoming and outgoing vessels. He wished us to report to him when a Simon Datura or Rattlesnake came into dock. He never said why. However he has since disappeared.”
Frustrated, I grabbed the man by the collar. “So what the hell is your point? Either tell me what is going on or get the hell out of my way!”
The man struggled and pulled out a tablet and handed it to me. I released him, sending him staggering backward.
“You better take a look,” he said as he approached me again.
I looked toward him. “What is this?”
The man prodded the screen a few times, bringing up footage showing Caius Bisley in a hallway, talking to another man.
I looked at the video thumbnail before pressing play.
Wait a minute… I know that other guy… Shit…
The grainy footage started to play.
Caius: Good to see you, Mr. Harrison. Glad you could show.
Reck: This better be worth my time, Bisley. I am a very busy man you know.
Caius: Yes, indeed. I believe my proposal will benefit us both greatly.
Caius handed Reck a PDA.
Caius: Do you know this man? He goes by the name of Simon Datura.
Reck examined the device for a moment.
Reck: Datura… Yes, yes I know this man. I thought that rat was killed when he tried to get away from us in Eravate three years ago. He caused a lot of trouble after stealing that ship.
Caius: Well he is very much alive, and he has left me in a rather awkward situation. I am willing to offer a large sum of money for you to deal with this problem of mine.
Reck: So, he’s still alive huh? I’d kill that son of a bitch for free just to send a message to anyone else who wishes to try and cross me.
Caius: That won’t be necessary, my friend. I need this man alive. I cannot send him to my contact in Pegasi if he is dead.
Reck: Then I wish to at least make his life hell during transit.
Caius: You can do as you wish to him, as long as he is alive when you bring him to me. There may be a young woman accompanying him. I will double your pay if she is brought along with him. I’m sure my contact would be pleased to receive two new slaves.
Reck: Very well, Bisley. I shall round up my boys and get it done.
I stopped the footage and turned to the man again, with a concerned frown.
“Where did you get this?”
He grabbed his tablet back off me. “I work for station security.”
“And why are you showing me this?”
“Bisley has been a real thorn on our side for months. We knew something was off about him, but we didn’t know what. This footage confirms our suspicions. I figured it was wise to warn you.” He said, tucking the data pad away.
I eyed him up suspiciously. “Then shouldn’t you turn this footage into the authorities?”
The man scoffed. “Bisley has half of the authorities on his payroll. They would just turn a blind eye and I’d end up dead a week later.”
This isn’t making sense…
“You don’t know about Caius having his naval rank stripped?” I asked.
He raised his hand to his face, stroking his chin slowly as he processed what I just said.
“No… That is news to me. That explains his disappearance. How did you find this out?”
“Straight from a Magistrate’s mouth.”
The man started pacing slowly. “Interesting. Good to know, though I’m surprised the news hasn’t spread. A deposed Admiral is a pretty big deal.”
“I’m as surprised as you are. There’s been nothing on the news bulletins or anything.”
The man stopped and a small look of worry took over his face. “Indeed. But at least we know for sure that he was a criminal.”
“Indeed. I’d best be off, I need to get some shut-eye and you look like you haven’t slept in days. Thanks for the heads up though.”
He gave me a small salute. “Careful out there.”
I sat down on my bunk, thinking about my exchange with the man from station security.
Bisley is deposed and nobody here even knows about it…
I kicked off my shoes, laying down with my eyes fixed on the ceiling above my bunk.
And somehow refusing to hand Fiona over to him has seriously pissed him off… There’s more to this than just money.
I rolled over and closed my eyes. At least Fiona is safe, though.
I twisted back and forth under the blanket, struggling to get any sleep as more thoughts played through my head.
He’s probably somewhere in Pegasi, and Reck is out there looking for me. There’s a life of hell for me if he finds me.
I opened my eyes and sat back up straight.
But… Not if I find him first.