Settling a Grievance: Chapter 10
11 Aug 2016LordPsymon
Previous chapterSettling a Grievance: Chapter 10
“Hey Benny,” I said between sips of my beer. “You realize that Keelback is still docked with us, right?”
Benito raised his eyebrow for a moment, then his jaw dropped. “Oh shit. I completely forgot about that, and we were just going to depart with it still attached.”
My lips curled into a slight smile. “Well, part of the deal for you coming was that you get to keep it.”
Benny mirrored the smile. “I’ll never turn down a free upgrade, though it’ll take a bit of work to remove the stench of its former owner.”
“I’m sure your cousin, Rolberto has a few tricks up his sleeves.”
My friend nodded. “More than a few. With my help we can make the ship almost brand-new again.” He gestured his head toward the bridge. “But first, we have a bounty in Tjakiri to turn in and I am getting antsy to try out my new toy.”
I shot the man a slight look of concern. “You think they’ll let you dock in Reck’s ship?”
He shook his head. “Amigo, give me a few minutes and that won’t be a concern.”
We went our separate ways, Benny leaving White Pearl to become acquainted with his new Lakon Spaceways Keelback, much like his T-6, but better armed and more suited for dirty work. I made my way to the bridge ready to finish plotting a course to Tjakiri.
The comms beeped several minutes later as Benny opened a channel.
“Check your targeting computer now Amigo.”
I targeted the Keelback, and sure enough, the designation had changed as well as the owner.
Keelback
Benito Santiago
Designation: Valeria
“Now let’s link our nav computers and get moving.”
I nodded and established the navigation link. “Roger that, let’s get out of here and finish the job.”
The trip from LPM 746 was mostly uneventful, apart from the standard fare of jump, align, jump, scooping for fuel occasionally. We did not speak much, save for Benny occasionally expressing his enthusiasm for his new (to him) ship. His enthusiasm had me consider the idea of selling White Pearl for another, perhaps more reliable ship. However she behaved herself for the entire job, thanks to the handiwork of Rolberto and his cousin so I thought better of it.
“Here we are, amigo,” Benny said, following a beep in the comms. “Claire Dock. Scum, villainy and pretty much everything you could ever need all in one place, so long as you have the credits.”
The Coriolis station zoomed into view as we dropped out of supercruise and started our docking approach. Within seconds the comms beeped and we were… greeted… by the local traffic control.
“Unidentified vessels, lower your speed and state your business,” a deep voice hailed.
I did my best to put on the friendliest voice I could manage. “Greetings Claire Dock, just have a delivery to make with one of your Black Omega friends and we’ll be on our way. Care to give us docking permission?”
“You may proceed to the docking bay. Observe station protocol during your visit.”
Clair dock was a little more run down than I was used to at stations. The hangar looked poorly maintained with paint flaking off almost every wall. It hadn’t looked like it was repainted at all since its construction and there was an ambient smell of fuel, machinery and grease. Despite the shortcomings, the hangar bay was more or less the same as anywhere else. I wasn’t much to judge. I was here to finish a job, not admire the scenery.
I met Benny in his own hangar and we headed into the central hub of Claire Dock. The place was busy, filled with people from all walks of life, from the poor who are barely scraping by, to the thugs roaming around, looking for their next shady smuggling deal, and even a few wealthy types, clothed in high-class Imperial wear. I was subtly eyeing them up, wondering why they would advertise their wealth so openly in a place such as this. Benny was shaking his head.
“It’s like they want to get mugged or something,” he remarked.
We walked by a place with a dull pink sign above the dim entrance reading "Exotica.”
Benny appeared to be lured in by the smell of incense wafting, slowly walking toward the soft purple drapes behind the front door. I quickly grabbed onto his shoulder, scoffing.
“Come on Benny, we don’t have time for that. Besides…” I squinted my eyes toward the establishment. “There’s something off about that place.”
His lips curled into a smirk. “What are you talking about amigo? What is off about a little fun time with the ladies?”
“I get that feeling that ‘fun time’ would break you.”
He laughed. “Don’t be silly, Benito Santiago could go all night!”
I rolled my eyes and let off a small laugh. “Yeah yeah, lover boy. Let’s go find this Gary Winkler person.”
“You are such a buzz kill, amigo.”
I patted him on the shoulder. “If it makes you feel better, first round’s on me.”
About half an hour of aimless wandering passed, when Benny pointed toward a large neon sign labelled “Deggie’s”.
“That’s where we want to go, amigo. Good drinks, good women, and someone who can take us to Winkler,” he said with confidence.
“So, how do we find him?” I queried with doubt. “Just walk up to the bartender all like ‘hey mr. barkeep, I need to speak to Gary, is he around?’”
He nodded with a smirk. “Pretty much.”
The muffled beats inside the club grew louder as we wormed our way through the moving crowd toward the entrance, where a buff bouncer stood outside, looking more bored than menacing. He nodded as we passed through the entrance of the club. Among the dim blue lighting was a large crowd of people going about their business, leaning close to each other to converse over the loud music, passed out on their table from too much booze or blatantly consuming narcotics in plain sight. Others were sitting back and admiring the dancing women in various states of undress, or barking at them like dogs while waving credit chips around. A faint smell of Onionhead and alcohol prevailed in the air.
I leaned forward against the counter of the bar, and signalled for service. A leathery faced old man with messy white hair and white shirt approached with a large grin and immediately greeted us with more enthusiasm than I would have expected in a place like this.
“You chaps look thirsty!” He said.
I nodded. “I suppose I could use a drink or two.”
“More than a couple I’d say.” He reached under the counter and handed both Benny and I a drinks menu. “A gentleman from as far away as you could benefit from a swig of Pegasi Moon.”
My brow folded into a slight frown. “How do you know I’m from far away?”
His grin remained. “Can hear it in your accent. Been a barman here for years. People from all over the bubble come here to piss away their credits on liquor, drugs and hookers.” His eyes darted between Benny and I, examining us.
“Though judging by your stature, I’d say you’re not here for the hookers.”
Benny leaned forward. “Perhaps later. We have some business to attend to. Winkler. Heard of him?”
The barman frowned and leaned in, lowering his voice. “Now what could a couple of gentlemen like you be wanting with old Gary Fucking Winkler?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you talk to all of your customers with that language?”
His frown returned to his previous grin. “It’s Pegasi! You won’t find many without a foul tongue in ‘em. I’m mild, trust me. Now are you going to answer my question?”
I pulled out my datapad, bringing up the bounty for Reck.
“Business, like my buddy already said.”
The barman took a closer look at my datapad and raised his hand to his chin.
“I see… That kind of business. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Old Winkler can often be found around here. How about I pour you two a drink and I’ll take you right to him. What’s your poison?”
“One of your nicer beers. Make it two.” I said.
Benny nodded in agreement.
The bartender reached under the counter again, pulling out two pint glasses and carefully filling them with a dark, frothy beer.
“Best you’ll find in Pegasi,” he said as he handed over the glasses. “Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to Gary.”
He signalled us to follow and he lead us up to the second level, across the upper balcony and toward a VIP lounge off to the side. The barman knocked on the door to the lounge, disappearing inside shortly after. Moments later he popped of the door again.
“Gary will see you gentlemen now,” he said, signalling us to follow again.
Through the door was a moderately sized suite, keeping up with the dim blue theme of the club. Off to one side was a stripper pole, where an attractive young lady was gyrating while in the middle against the wall was a couch with a middle-aged man relaxing. His head was almost bald, with little more than a short fuzz for hair with small hairless lines running the length of his scalp. Under his dark glasses you could make out his frustration for being interrupted.
“Mr. Winkler, here’s the men to see you.”
The man on the couch gestured his thanks to the barman. “Thank you Joe. I’ll take it from here.” He spoke with a deep, raspy tone.
Joe, the barman nodded and left the area while the man on the couch sighed toward us.
“There had better be a good reason for you two interrupting.”
I stepped forward with a confident demeanour, holding out my datapad with the bounty for Reck clearly visible.
“Well, if you consider Reck being out of action a good reason, then yes.” I smirked.
Winkler stood up rapidly and strode toward me. His eyes darted between my datapad and my eyes.
“Do you really expect me to believe that you managed to bring down this man?”
Benny chimed in, with a frustrated and slightly offended look on his face. “Actually, pendejo, we do.”
Calm down Benny, this guy isn’t someone you wanna piss off.
“I have the proof on my ship.” I said.
Winkler stood back slightly, caressing his chin with a look of doubt.
“You’re more than welcome to come along and see for yourself.”
He paused for a moment. “Very well. If you have proof, I am willing to take a look. However if this turns out to be a waste of my time, there will be consequences.”
I nodded, attempting to retain my confidence. “Fair enough. Meet us at hangar bay 25 when you’re ready.”
Winkler returned the nod. “Indeed. I shall be there in one hour.”
Gary Winkler arrived in the hangar bay, almost one hour to-the-minute from our brief exchange back at Deggie’s. He was accompanied by a single bodyguard carrying an assault rifle. Benny and I were standing by the cargo ramp on the rear of White Pearl awaiting his arrival.
“Impressive ship. I can’t say I see many of these around here.” Winkler said, almost sarcastic in his tone.
I huffed and signalled the man and his guard to follow. “Well, he’s this way.”
I lead Winkler through the cargo bay further into the ship. He looked down and his face went from doubt to a look of approval as we passed one of the corpses left in the cargo bay.
“Perhaps you are a man of your word, even if you are a bit sloppy. This is definitely one of Reck’s men.”
I looked back toward the corpse feeling mild embarrassment. “I uhh… Perhaps should have cleaned up before landing.”
“We can arrange a thorough cleanup of any corpses for a small fee. Now where is Reck?”
I lead Winkler to the escape pod where Reck remained in stasis. He approached the pod, gazing into the window. His face turned to disappointment as he stood back again.
“He’s alive in there,” he uttered.
“Indeed. I figured that you might be able to make use of him as a slave. Perhaps in the mines,” I responded, my nerves taking over from my feigned confidence from before. I felt dirty, going against my own principals on slavery. But this was a man who ruined the lives of many. I reassured myself that he is just getting a taste of his own medicine.
“Well, I would have preferred him dead.” Gary raised his hand to his chin, caressing it slowly. He thought it over for a moment. “But… Yes. You’re right, I think I could put this man to use.” He paced back and forth slowly, keeping his eyes on Reck’s pod. “This man has been a thorn in our side for a while. Men like him don’t last long in the mines anyway. He’ll get his.”
He turned to me, offering his hand. “I accept your proposition.”
Nervously, I shook his hand. “Excellent.”
“You have done well. I will arrange for a team to pick up the pod, and if you wish we can have any remaining bodies cleaned up.”
I nodded. “I would appreciate that, actually.”
He handed me a bag of credit chips before turning and exiting the ship. I peered inside the bag, and my jaw dropped.
Well hell… That is… a lot of credits. Reck must’ve really pissed these guys off.
I slowly strode down the cargo ramp where Benny remained, looking at me expectantly.
“Well, amigo?”
My lips curled to a smile. “It’s done Benny. We got our credits. I got even with Reck, you got justice for your sister. He’s going to be rotting in some mine for a very long time.”
Benny mirrored my smile. “If he even lasts long.”
I handed him his share of credits. “I believe these are for you. Don’t go spending it all at once.”
“I can’t promise anything. I’m going to go show a lucky Pegasi señorita some Santiago lovin’,” he responded enthusiastically, gyrating his hips.
I laughed slightly and rolled my eyes. “Alright. Have fun, pal. I’m going to stick around until these guys take the pod away.”
Benny presented his hand and we shook firmly. “It’s been good working with you, amigo. If you’re ever in Kremainn again, pop around and say hi. I might even have some work for you.”
I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Stay out of trouble, amigo.”
The olive skinned man slowly shook his head. “It sounds really weird when you say it.”
I cackled a little. “Whatever, man. Go get laid already.”
Benny strode out of the hangar, disappearing back into Claire Dock. I pulled out my datapad, opening up my short list of contacts, Fiona’s details at the top with a picture of her face.
I’ll be contacting you soon, Fiona. I hope you’re doing well.
I turned my head toward the inside of my ship, thinking back to the letters I was given back in the slave camp before Luke took his life.
But I’ve got some loose ends to tie up in Nortes first.