The Pegasai Saga Part VII
07 Aug 2016Jellicoe
We docked at Claire and I ordered the ship to be prepped for relaunch at a moments notice, then I contacted Darrin. His smirking face actually seemed pleased to see me which was worrying."The jobs done." I reported. "But we had a few problems, I need to see you and Hogan now."
"Yeah I think you should." Darrin replied trying and failing to keep the glee out of his voice. "My office in an hour, you've fucked up big time pet fed." He finished with undisguised joy.
"You want to change the plan?" Claude asked when the call ended. "That fool's more or less just told you he's going to off you."
"No we'll stick with it." I replied. "He'll want to take me out personally in his office, which is just where I need to be."
"Hell of a risk, if he's got ten of his goons with him you've had it."
"Let's just say I have boundless faith in his arrogance and stupidity. Tell Harry he's got an hour to get his team into position, does that give you enough time to do your stuff?"
"Just about, I'll make sure we've got a launch window for when you get back."
I set off for Darrins bar hiring a electric motorbike, more for a faster getaway than the journey there. Claire Dock was in a dreadful state, paint peeled, rubbish was piled high at the sides of the streets, here and there a tramp in threadbare clothes would be begging from passers by and inert, unconscious bodies lay in the gutters passed out from drink or stupefied by narcotics. While the crime lords flaunted their enormous wealth most of the people here were poor and the shops sold little at grossly inflated high prices as few honest traders would risk the lawless system or pay the sky high 'taxes' the stations rulers charged. Only alcohol and drugs appeared to be plentiful and of these the supply appeared inexhaustible. On arriving I walked to the bar.
"Stannis Jellicoe to see Darrin, I believe he's expecting me."
"He is." The batman replied grinning wolfishly. "Wait here." A few minutes passed, the bar was the same as ever, ear splitting music and the all pervading stench of unwashed bodies, alcohol and Onionhead smoke. Presently two large men dressed in leather with the now unmistakable tattoos of the Black Omega came up to me.
"Upstairs." The lead man shouted over the din. "The boss is really looking forward to this." As we reached the door to Darwin's office the two men drew pistols and gestured me inside. As soon as I heard the door close behind us I spun, drawing my pistol as I did so and fired, the advantage of the burst pistol I always carried is that it does exactly what the name suggests and fires a burst of low power laser pulses, it lacks range and stopping power but in confined spaces it is devastating, at any moment I half expected to be shot down by Darrins' goons but I had smelt a strong whif of Onionhead on them both and gambled on it slowing their reactions enough to give me the edge and both heavies went down with multiple injuries, I then turned back to Darrin and Hogan. Darrin had gone white but Hogan seemed much more in control.
"Have you gone ma..."
"Shut up. On the floor, hands where I can see then." I cut him off. "Now I hung around at Sladek for a while after I made the drop and a man comes to see me saying my shipment was killing people. You boys are pushing bad stuff."
"What did you think we needed delivering? Sweeties?" Darrin replied regaining his some of his composure and cock sure attitude.
"You told me it was coffee. I don't push drugs ever; it's against my religion."
"You think I'm going to let a prick like you tell me what you do and don't do for me?" Darrin demanded. He flicked the com switch on his desk. "Dell come in here kill this man as painfully as possible then throw him in the garbage heap." It was at that moment he realised his link was cut. I smiled at him.
"I kept a bit of the gear." I put my free hand into my pocket, took out a large packet and threw it on the floor just in front of them. "Now what you're going to do is each eat half of it."
"You're insane, you'll be dead before you get out of this room." Darrin screamed.
"Jellicoe don't be a fool." Hogan said more calmly. "he might be a little shit but he's still Black Omega and they'll hunt you down like a dog."
"Eat." I said firmly. Hogan reached inside his jacket for a gun, I didn't hesitate and shot him in the face, at this range taking half his head off. Darrin began weeping and pleading. "I hope you've got a big appetite sonny, because it's all yours." Darrin was begging now, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Eat. Do it." I ordered placing the muzzle of my pistol against his forehead. He began to eat the drugs. "That's it sonny pour it down." Darrin did as he was ordered before collapsing as the substance took hold. "They say a little suffering is good for the soul, with a bit of luck you might last ten minutes." Darrin gurgled a last protest. "And don't go pinning any hopes on a stomach pump. That had strychnine in it." Darrin howled, and I left. I stepped out of the office into thick, acrid smoke, the lights were off, the music had stopped and I could hear shouts of alarm from the bar, I guessed this was Claudes' doing; something must have gone badly wrong. Thinking fast I stepped back into Darrins office and took a leather jacket and hat off one of the dead heavies, it wasn't much of a disguise but in the half light and panic and should be enough. I walked through the bar, the smoke was getting thicker, a fire was spreading rapidly from the other end of the bar, and patrons and staff alike were flooding in panic onto the street outside. I simply stayed amongst the throng till I was well clear, then didn't stop till I reached the ship.
"Is The lieutenant back? I asked the marine guard.
"He's two minutes behind you, fireworks should be well underway by now sir." The marine grinned.
"When he gets back get everyone on board quick sharp, we leave as soon as the ramp's up." I made my way to the bridge and took my place at the helm.
"Just in time." Claude said grinning. "Watch this." A holo feed, of the area around Hogans' apartment showed a scene like a war zone with fires blazing out of control, the automated fire fighting systems were as out of date and badly maintained as the rest of the station and hopelessly inadequate to the task, fortunately Claude appeared to have been right about the evacuation as there was no evidence of casualties. A further explosion went off causing more devastation, Claude cut the feed. "Did you like the fire? They all knew Darrin meant to kill you so they wouldn't have let you get out alive, I managed overload the power going to the sound system and a worn out cable did the rest, don't think anyone's even noticed Darrin's dead yet."
"They will soon though and while it won't be too of their priorities the sooner we're out of here the better."
"Everyone back aboard sir." Soames' voice came through the intercom.
"Good, get yourselves strapped down, did you get anything?"
"Yes sir, a slate and a few data sticks."
"Good man." I cut coms, took off and jumped immediately. What our next move would be I had no idea.