Personal Log 160: 7 - 8 June, 3303
08 Aug 2017Jemine Caesar
7 - 8 June, 3303As I walked through the malls of Citi Gateway, my earlier conversation with Kyla Emmerich echoed in my mind:
"Before you go," she'd said, "just promise me one thing will you? Please come back in one piece. I know, I probably sound like a drunken tart right now but... You're the only real friend I've had this far from home, so don't die on me okay?"
"Die?" I had replied, smiling. "That's the last thing I'll do."
Then, not wanting my friend to see the tears welling in my eyes, I'd quickly turned and left, moving swiftly through the Pilot's Market.
"You're really cheeky, Jem!" she'd called out to me from behind. "You know that?"
We'd previously been standing in the Ingaba. One moment we'd been drinking and chatting happily. The next moment I'd been handed a bounty hunting contract. Not that there should have been anything unusual in that, for I was determined to make my mark as a bounty hunter. No, what made this particular contract so unusual for me lay in who it had come from; Marra Morgan, of all people, the dread pirate queen of so-called 'security consultants' Black Omega.
"This is Kat von Steuben," Marra had said, holding up a datapad. "She recently committed a heinous terrorist attack against civilians in the Pegasi sector, and needs to answer for her crimes. I'll pay five million credits to the one who brings her to me, alive and unspoiled."
Why I'd volunteered for the contract, only Gaia knew. It wasn't really the money, though five million credits was a very substantial payout by anyone's standards. But Kat von Steuben, whoever she was, evidently sounded like someone the galaxy could well do without, so perhaps that was reason enough for a bounty hunter with a reputation to develop. And I quite liked the idea of the 'alive and unspoiled' condition in the contract.
I walked on through the Pilot's Market, passing several dowdy-looking dock-knockers touting for clients. One of them, a brassy redhead, was picked up by a drunken punter and indifferently escorted through a doorway. Above the door was a flickering neon sign, broken red letters spelling out the establishment's name: 'THE OR _AN GRIN _ER'.
Suddenly I felt a man's hand resting heavily on my shoulder, spinning me around. I was shocked to find myself staring at a furious Sam Hodkin.
“Are you out of your bloody mind?" he growled, his accent more than normally pronounced. "Jumping straight to a 5 million kill isn’t unheard of, but I seriously question your judgement in accepting a contract from Marra fucking Morgan."
“I’m more than capable, Samuel,” I replied, with sufficient venom in my voice to make Sam take one step back, presumably in case I decided to hit him. “I’ve worked my arse off to increase my rep as a bounty hunter, and this job would be the icing on the cake. What have you been doing, hmm? You’ve just been swanning around doing cushy jobs, transporting toffs and bullshit. I'm sorry if you feel pissed off with me, but that's the way it is.”
“Look," said Sam, a little more quietly, "I’m not going be holding your hand on this contract of yours, because I don’t want to. You don’t need me on the combat front. I know you’re good and all, but it’s mostly been casual pirates you’ve dealt with so far. Now we’re talking a high-value target, which means dangerous. And pissed off is an understatement.”
I nodded. “You're right, Sam. I don’t need you at all for this. This job is for me and me alone. It’s about the respect and the reputation, not the money.” I lowered my eyes for a moment, then glared up again into Sam's still-angry face. “I know what I’m doing here.”
Sam held up his hands in surrender. "All right," he said. "I’m not going to interfere, but I'll keep an eye out for any information on the grapevine about von Steuben. Any leads that come up, I'll pass straight on to you. It'll increase your chances of success."
"No!" I said. "No! You just don't get it, do you? This is my contract, my job, and I'll do it my way. I'll find my own leads, thank you very much. My success or failure will ride upon my own efforts, and no one else's. Is that clear enough for you?"
"Even if failure means your death?"
"Yes. Even then!"
Sam's jaw clenched in frustration. "Fuck!" he said, giving the bulkhead an exasperated thump with his cybernetic hand. I stepped towards him and lightly rested my fingers on his shoulder. He stood motionless for several long moments. Then, without warning, he turned and wrapped his arms around me in a tight, lingering embrace.
"Sam," I said, gently. "Diadem finally heard from her lover. He's waiting for her in Supera, over in Pegasi space. That was the message I received back in the Ingaba. I told her I'd give her a ride in the Flower."
"That's generous of you," replied Sam. "And what then?"
"Well, then I'll be starting my contract to find Kat von Steuben. But not until after I've been back to Reorte. My father deserves an explanation, and I intend to make sure he gets one."
"All right," said Sam. "When do you leave?"
I smiled. "I have been drinking, so I really ought to wait until the effects of the alcohol have worn off before I fly. Two or three hours should be enough, I imagine. It's a pity I'm allergic to sobriety pills."
"Won't Diadem be impatient to get under way?"
"Diadem will just have to wait," I said. "I was thinking of going back to my room and watching a holovid... unless you have a better way for us to pass the time together."
It was Sam's turn to smile. "I'm sure I can think of one," he said.
Placing my hand in his, I took Sam to the cheap room I had rented for my stay on Citi Gateway. There we undressed each other and had sex. It was passionate, lustful, sweat-soaked animal sex, harder and deeper and more brutal than any we'd ever had before. It was as if this might be the last sex we'd ever enjoy together.
And, for all either of us knew, perhaps it was.
*****
Three hours later I was waiting in the pilot's lounge for Diadem. I'd sent her a message to say our departure window had been delayed by Citi Gateway traffic control. The real reason was, of course, none of her business. Diadem duly arrived at the appointed time, wearing her magenta coloured flightsuit.
"I got your message," she said. "Thank you for agreeing to take me yourself."
"I don't need your thanks," I said, glaring at her. "Just get in the ship, go to your cabin, sit down and keep quiet. I don't want to hear a single word out of you until we get to where we're going."
"Of course. I understand."
"No," I replied. "I doubt that you do. I doubt it very much."
I marched down to the hangar, leaving Diadem trotting behind. Once she was safely settled in her cabin, I took the Innocent Flower out of Citi Gateway and set course for our destination. The trip was uneventful, and Diadem kept her promise of silence. As we dropped out of witchspace for the final time, I called through to her over the internal comms.
"We're in the system," I said. "It'll be another few minutes to make our way across it and then dock at the starport. Once we're there I'll take you to the observation lounge for your joyous reunion. I called ahead to let him know we were on our way."
Diadem remained silent, as per instructions. I suppressed an urge to laugh.
"You can talk now," I said.
"Thank y— I mean... never mind."
The Innocent Flower slid through the Orbis starport's access corridor and dropped onto pad number one. As soon as we were in the hangar I powered down the systems and went aft to collect Diadem. I led her through the maze-like corridors of the docks and into the observation lounge. She was clearly elated at the thought of seeing her former lover once more, and seemed oblivious to everything else around her. It was only when my father stepped forward to greet us, that Diadem began to realise the truth.
"Edward?" she said, blinking furiously in confusion. "Jemine, I don't understand..."
"I brought you back to Reorte," I explained. "This is Davies High starport. You didn't seriously think I was going to take you to Supera, did you?"
"Supera?" said father, appearing totally baffled. "Didi, what's all this about Supera?"
Diadem's mouth fell open. She looked at me, then at father, then back at me. "You tricked me," she said, in a low voice.
"Not really," I replied. "I told you that I'd give you a ride. I didn't say where to. You can sort out your own trip to Supera from here." I turned to my father, and said, "Diadem has something to tell you. She should have said it long ago, but better late than never."
My dataslate beeped in my bag. It was Sam, telling me he had arrived at Davies High. After we'd made love on Citi Gateway, I'd told him my plan for bringing Diadem back to Reorte so that she could explain everything to my father for herself.
"I'll leave you two to it," I said. "I'm going to meet Sam for a bite to eat and a chat, then I'll be heading out on a job." I gave my father an affectionate hug. "I'll be in touch. Take care."
Then, without wasting a backward glance on Diadem, I walked away.
*****
A little later, Sam and I were relaxing in our rented room, having treated ourselves to an expensive meal at one of Davies High's top restaurants. We'd settled down to watch 'The Aldebaran Queen', the only holovid in which my grandparents had appeared together. It had just reached the point at which their characters met for the first time when a beeping came from my dataslate.
"This'll be father," I said, picking up my slate from the table. "I hope he's all right. Diadem's confession must have been a bit of a shock for him."
But it wasn't father. The message was from a firm of lawyers at Eravate, telling me, with much regret, that Barnes and Rebecca Darrell had recently met with a tragic accident. Whilst walking in the countryside on Abukunin A1, they had stumbled over the edge of a cliff and fallen into a fast-flowing river. Their bodies had been discovered on May 31st. There being no evidence of foul play, the coroner had ruled death by misadventure.
Tears instantly began to flow down my face.
"Jem, what's wrong?" asked Sam, concerned.
"It's mother," I said, trembling with shock. "She and Barnes are dead."
I passed him the dataslate to read. After a few moments he took my hand in his.
"Jem, I'm so sorry."
"Mother and I parted on a stupid argument. Now she's gone, and I'll never have the chance to be reconciled with her."
"Well," said Sam, in a gentle voice, "what's done is done, and you can't change it, however much you might wish to." He paused to read the message again. "Do you want to contact the lawyers now, or leave it for later?"
"What?" I asked, dazed. "Why would I want to contact the lawyers?"
Sam blinked. "Didn't you read the last part of the message?"
I shook my head. Sam returned the dataslate to me, and pointed out the final paragraph.
"Look there," he said. "According to the terms of their will, Barnes and Rebecca have named you as the sole beneficiary of their estate."
Reading the message again I saw that Sam was correct. I was heiress to the money and properties of Barnes and mother, subject to appropriate deductions for tax, expenses and outstanding debts. The message ended with an invitation to contact the lawyers at my earliest convenience, in order to finalise the details of the bequest. I looked at Sam.
"What do I do?"
Sam held up his hands. "Far be it from me to interfere," he remarked, unable to resist a touch of sarcasm at my expense, "but it could do no harm to at least call them and find out what's involved."
I nodded, and tapped in a k-cast call on my dataslate to the lawyers' office on Eravate's Ackerman Market starport. A pre-recorded reply came a few minutes later to advise me that, unfortunately, the office was now closed, and would I please call again between the hours of 0900 and 1700 Galactic Standard Time, when a representative would be delighted to assist me with my enquiry. I checked the time.
"It's almost midnight. I suppose I can wait a few more hours before setting off."
Sam drew an audible intake of breath. "Setting off?"
"Yes," I replied. "To Pegasi. To catch a terrorist. I've got a contract to fulfil, remember?"
"But you could be sitting on a fortune now," said Sam. "You'll never need to go bounty hunting again. You could settle down somewhere, and never have to work for the rest of your life. You could move into Arcadia— "
"Oh, Sam! Why in Gaia's armpits would I want to go and live there? It's in the middle of fucking nowhere. I'd die of boredom."
"All I'm saying is— "
"I know what you're saying. And I'm saying no. Just because I've come into a windfall, it doesn't mean I have to give up on my ambitions."
"Of course not, but— "
"No buts, Sam. I'm a spacer now, and one of these days I'll be a bloody good bounty hunter. Besides, we don't yet know just how much this inheritance is actually worth. I'll call the lawyers at oh-nine hundred tomorrow to find out what's what. Now, let's finish 'The Aldebaran Queen', shall we?"
We settled back down to watch the rest of the holovid. The crystal-clear images of Barnes Darrell and Rebecca Thorne played their parts to perfection; against a backdrop of war they joked, quarrelled, struggled and, inevitably, professed undying love for one another.
I wept silently, knowing that I would never see them again.
*****
After I'd satisfied the lawyers of my identity in the usual manner, they explained the terms of the will to me in more detail.
"I can confirm that your grandparents have bequeathed all their worldly goods to you, Miss Caesar," said the lawyer. "However..."
"However...?" I prompted.
"There are substantial outstanding debts to be settled from the estate. These debts take priority."
"How substantial?"
"Very. Your grandfather made a series of, shall we say, unwise investments over a long period of time. These investments have, alas, resulted in a considerable shortfall— "
"Bottom line, please," I said.
"Of course. I'm afraid your grandparents' residence, Arcadia, will need to be sold in order to repay the debts. We can arrange this if you so desire— "
"Yes," I said. "Do whatever is necessary. What about royalties from my grandparents' work? They were holovid actors."
"Ah, yes. Regrettably, income from royalties cannot form part of your inheritance, Miss Caesar. Contractual stipulations mean that only Mr Darrell and Miss Thorne could benefit from those during their lifetimes. Payments of royalties are not transferrable. I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter."
"After disbursements have been made for taxes, expenses, legal fees and, er, debts, I believe we will still be looking at a tidy little legacy for you. We shall, of course, further advise you just as soon as the final sum is ascertained."
"I won't hold my breath."
"Assuring you of our best attention at all times, Miss Caesar. And my condolences for your loss."
"Thank you."
I closed the link. Once the creditors had been paid and the legal eagles had taken their cut, I'd probably be lucky to get the price of a full tank of fuel.
*****
"Flight control, this is Juliet Echo Mike two three four requesting final clearance for take off."
"Clearance granted, Juliet Echo Mike two three four. Please observe traffic regulations until you are clear of the exclusion zone. Have a safe trip."
I whispered a quick prayer to Gaia, for what good that would do me. Then...
"Roger, control. Launching now."
I had prepared as much as I could. I'd had the Flower's systems checked and double-checked. I'd stocked up with a supply of emergency rations, and had loaded a few items of suitable clothing and accessories. One accessory was a little more unusual than the rest; I was returning to a region of space where seemingly everyone carried a weapon of some kind. And so, not wanting to look too out of place once back in Pegasi, I had bought a black leather scabbard in which to carry my shark knife. With the scabbard strapped in place to my right thigh, I practiced drawing the knife in the privacy of my sleeping quarters aboard the Flower. I managed to work up to a fair speed, but practicing in front of the mirror was one thing; I just hoped I wouldn't need to do it in actual combat.
Finally, of course, I'd said a tearful goodbye to Sam. We'd exchanged some harsh words to each other in the past few days, but love conquers all in the end. He was there to wave me off as I lifted the Innocent Flower from its pad and guided it out of Davies High. Once beyond the exclusion zone I swung the ship around for one last look at the starport. Then, swooping away to starboard, I slammed the throttle forward, set course on the navcom and engaged the FSD. I was returning to Pegasi, to a place I had hoped I'd never see again.
Clair Dock, Tjakiri.
It was there that I would begin the hunt for one sadistic killer, Kat von Steuben, at the behest of another, Marra Morgan.
Failure was not an option I wished to contemplate.
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Author's Note
Once again my sincere thanks go to Sam Hodkin for his continuing part in my story, and for providing special dialogue for this installment.