Federation Year 336

Gaylen put a hand on his pistol as the elevator began its downward plunge.

His index finger worked by instinct, making certain that the plasma was set to maximum power. It really wouldn’t be of much help to him if this went poorly, but the weapon at least made him feel a little better.

The holster was firmly in its place and the gun slid out of it as smoothly as ever, as the elevator’s indicator light reached the halfway point.

Gaylen breathed in quickly, held it for a few moments, then let it out at a slow, calming speed. Fear had its uses, but showing it rarely did.

The light neared the bottom and a faint mechanical whine marked the start of the elevator slowing down. He tucked the green coat a bit tighter around himself but left it unfastened. Then he stuck his hands into the front pockets and steeled himself.

The doors opened.

“Right.”

Gaylen stepped out. This certainly was an interesting spot. To his left lay the massive hull of an ancient space hulk, long since turned into cheap tenement housing. Above him was a raised section of the city. And in between the two was a narrow strip of the night sky, all glittering stars and city lights and the occasional passing ship.

The lighting was quite limited but he still looked every which way before walking away from the only nearby cover. He supposed it was the same as with touching the gun.

Fifth pillar, straight ahead, he repeated in his thoughts, then strode off.

There was nothing of interest to see as he walked and no one to witness his passing. The tenement-hulk was without windows and at the base of the pillars were just generators, antiquated piping, and everything else people wanted kept out of sight. Such as this meeting.

He made his footsteps more audible as he neared the fifth pillar. They came around it and into the meagre light cast from overhead; a well-dressed fellow flanked by plainly-dressed bodyguards.

“Gaylen Qin,” said the one in the middle through a dishonest smile, and stroked his closely buzzed head. “And what brings you here?”

Oh, no. Not banter. Anything but banter.

“Your invitation, Lanson,” Gaylen stated plainly and factually. “I want the job.”

“You want the ship,” Lanson replied.

They stopped a few steps away from each other. The two bodyguards separated from their boss, moving out to almost fully on either side of Gaylen.

He kept his face and breathing calm, and with Lanson silent for a few breaths he took the two men in. The one on the left was doing nothing to hide the bulge under his jacket, and bore the marks of a recent, cheap skin graft to his face. The other one had the broad face and monstrously enormous body of a native Nihunian, and a look that actively defied his people’s reputation for kindness.

Still smiling like the smug bastard that he was, Lanson pointed at Gaylen’s hip, hidden by the coat.

“You’re armed,” he stated.

“I’ve been in the game for a while.”

“Yes, yes. Long enough for a bit of a reputation. But not enough to become too famous.”

“Which is what you need,” Gaylen said, quietly wishing the man would just get to it.

“Yes, yes,” Lanson said again. “Going independent, are you?”

“Well, I was always independent,” Gaylen said. “Others just haven’t always seen it that way. But let’s talk business.”

“So you’re taking the job?”

“Assuming it’s not into Fed space. I can’t go there.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Lanson asked, and seemed to enjoy the question.

“Can’t,” Gaylen insisted.

The man brought out a little comp and activated a hologram. Between them glimmered the image of a small civilian freight ship.

“The Addax,” Lanson said. “A sturdy old thing. Your vehicle for the delivery. And your reward when you finish it.”

“I still don’t know the destination,” Gaylen pointed out.

“Weh-heh-hell!” Lanson exclaimed with some more of that unfriendly cheer. “I can’t have that getting out until you’ve promised.”

“And once out you can’t have it getting away,” Gaylen said.

He didn’t like this. But he’d known what dealing with this man would be like.

“Alright. I’m formally dedicating to the job, as of now.”

Gaylen held his hand out, and held Lanson’s gaze as the man shook it. Or squeezed it, rather, with a clear effort to be unpleasant about it.

And this seals it.

“Do you know the planet Gveloh?” Lanson asked.

“Not intimately, but I have been there,” Gaylen replied promptly. “It’s well inside the Nearer Fringe.”

“That’s the one. The central port is overseen by a woman named Hu Veo. You are to put a delivery in her hands. Not to some working slug who’ll promise to see to it. Her hands. Personally.”

“Got it.”

Lanson motioned to the Nihunian, who trudged over sullenly and handed Gaylen a backpack. He undid the top and looked inside. The pack held three very standard-looking delivery cylinders; all identical save for different stickers on the bottom.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“This one,” Lanson said, and put his finger on the sticker in the shape of a yellow X. “The others are a bit of assurance.”

“Decoys, if someone does try to take it,” Gaylen said.

“Exactly.”

“But of course that would only happen if someone specifically knew I had an important cylinder. So you’re worried about leaks?”

“There’s a slim chance,” Lanson said, although Gaylen suspected the man’s pride was underselling the possibility. “Which is why I’m not using one of my own people. It might be noticed. Have you heard of Blue Strike?”

“You mean that mercenary team?” Gaylen said. “Ex-military? Full armour?”

“Yes. I know they would have a particular interest in the cylinder. Just so you know to be on the lookout.”

“Anyone else in particular?”

“Oh, Gaylen. Anything one man covets, so does another. I can’t give you a list of names. Simply keep alert, and don’t tell anyone where you’re going. I’m hiring you based on your experience. Now, I need this delivery completed within twenty-six days. Can you manage that?”

“Assuming my engineer doesn’t find any major fault with the ship you’re giving me, sure,” Gaylen told him. “I do need to fill out the crew, but this is the perfect planet for it. Barring any complications I expect to set out within two days.”

“Then I will expect it as well. Is there anything else we need to discuss?”

“Yes, actually,” Gaylen said. “Once I’ve done the delivery I want to know where in the ship you’ve had a transmitter stashed, so my engineer can remove it.”

Lanson just kept smiling at him.

“Like I said, I’m going independent,” Gaylen went on, and stayed mindful of the guards on either side of his field of vision. “Truly independent. With no one watching my steps.”

“Can’t blame a fellow for wanting to watch over his property,” Lanson said. “Sure. Of course I’ll tell you where it is. Anything else?”

“Yes. I also want to know where the other transmitter is. You know... the one the first one is meant to distract from.”

After a brief silence Lanson let out a slow, dark chuckle.

“How did you ever know, deary?”

“Well, you just confirmed it, Lanson.”

The smile faded slowly, like a sunset, and Gaylen saw the face of a man who inspired fear.

“Don’t get cocky, Gaylen,” Lanson said softly.

“No cockiness here,” Gaylen replied, keeping outward display calm through force of will. “Just doing business as well as I can. Can’t blame a fellow.”

The smile made a faint return, though there was a slightly different quality to it.

“Of course not,” Lanson said. “Sure; both transmitters.”

“Good. Then I think we’re done here.”

“Almost.”

Lanson took his arm and pulled him uncomfortably close.

“Don’t mess this up,” the man told him through that smile of his. “And don’t lose the cylinder. Just remember, deary: My reach is long. And I don’t forget.”

The smile changed into a predatory grin.

“I’m sure you’ve heard the stories.”

Gaylen in fact had heard the stories about Lanson’s displeasure, and the way he expressed it: With power tools, in soundproofed rooms.

“I don’t set out to fail,” Gaylen assured him.

“You did though, once. Didn’t you?” Lanson countered.

“A long time ago,” Gaylen said, trying not to sneer. “And that wasn’t my fault anyway.”

“I am delighted to hear it.”

Lanson released his arm and stepped back.

“Your prize is in Port 12, Dock 3. Go prep it.”

“See you around, Lanson.”

Gaylen turned and walked back the way he’d come at a measured pace. Behind him the three men walked in the opposite direction.

He stopped at the third pillar away from the elevator and rested his back against it. He looked around carefully, then opened the bag again and looked at the three cylinders. One had a blue square triangle sticker, another had a red apple one. And the one with the yellow X would earn him the life he wanted.

After a few seconds he continued on to the elevator, stepped inside, and hit the button. As the door closed he let out a relieved sigh.

“Ahh, the folks you meet...”

The old elevator slid upwards and he stuck his hands in his coat pockets and relaxed a little. He reached the top and the door opened.

“Hello, Qin!” came a hostile greeting.

They were blocking his exit; two men in identical brown jackets, the flaps open to reveal the pistols in their belts.

“Hello, Tyk,” Gaylen said to the pinch-faced man who’d spoken. “Hello, other guy,” he said to the stranger. “I thought someone might be shadowing me a block back.”

“Yeah, you thought right,” Tyk said, crossing his arms. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“It’s not your business,” Gaylen told him bluntly. “Step aside.”

“Ohh, step aside will I?” Tyk said theatrically. “You know how it goes, Qin. People don’t just walk away from the Brecke Browns.”

“Except I did, Tyk,” Gaylen said. “I have better th-”

“Once you’re in, you’re in!” Tyk told him, leaning his face closer with menace. “And you’re in!”

“Get out of my way and go rob a snack stand, Tyk.”

The man let out a humourless, angry snort.

“Look at him,” he said and glanced at the stranger. “These are the kinds of people who need to be kept in line. Now Qin, you’ve got a chat coming with Boss Eldin.”

He put his hands on his hips, which meant one was very close to his gun. The other guy followed suit.

“The only question is, how are-”

With his right hand through the hole in the bottom of the coat pocket, Gaylen fired. There was a sharp hiss and a momentary flash as the bolt passed through his coat and into Tyk’s leg. The man yelped and dropped to the floor.

The other fellow started going for his gun, but found himself staring straight into Gaylen’s as he whipped it out.

“Ah ah ah!” Gaylen said. “You just behave yourself! Now back off!”

The man did back off as Gaylen stepped out and over the groaning Tyk, hitting an elevator button in passing.

“Now get in!” Gaylen ordered him. “Get in!”

The man took the only half-decent option available to him and did as he was told, trailed every step by Gaylen’s raised pistol.

“You sneaky scumsucker!” Tyk growled and got up on the knee of his good leg.

Gaylen put a foot on his back and pushed, rolling him over and into the elevator.

“Tell Boss Eldin to boss someone else!”

With nothing blocking the door anymore, the elevator closed and began the downward trip. Gaylen holstered the pistol, then looked around for witnesses. Seeing none, he hurried down the hallway and out beneath the sky. He picked a direction at random and ran for a little while, before slowing down and simply becoming another figure on the sidewalk. Ruuk was an unsleeping city. There was always a crowd within easy distance.

A civilian vessel passed overhead, and its light gave him a moment to take in the new burn-hole in his new coat.

“Bastards.”

Gaylen took out his comm and hit a button.

“Still alive, I see!” said the voice on the other end.

“Still alive,” Gaylen said, and felt the encounter begin to leave his system. “And I’ve got it.”

###

Author notes:

Hey there, reader.

Flights of the Addax, the tales of Gaylen Qin and his crew, is made up of PARTS of my Sea of Stars series, which I originally published on Amazon. Specifically, the first two novels, a novella-length story in the third book, and some material I have yet to publish anywhere. I intended the whole SoS setting to be basically a sandbox for various different kinds of space opera-related stories. But I think it ultimately hampered my efforts to pick up a steady reader base. So here we are with an all-Gaylen (and company) saga.

If you want, you can check out (most of) the whole thing on Amazon right away. This RR thing is sort of an experiment.