March 7, 2363 AIA

Ionu

The ship’s engines gave off so much light, Fenn, Vas, and Tennama had to shade their eyes. Their view of the night sky was completely eclipsed by the descending vessel. Fenn had assured Vas that it would fit in the empty portion of the hangar, but Vas could see it would be a near thing, and whoever was piloting the ship moved faster than the captain would’ve liked. Adan glanced at the Colibri, then at Fenn.

The sheriff wasn’t worried. He knew the pilot, and she was an expert.

Once the ship had powered down, the side ramp lowered, revealing a lovely feminine silhouette outlined by red lights.

Gloria Turay walked down the ramp.

“All right, Sheriff, I’m here. I went over the black zone, as you requested. Now, will you deign to tell me what this is all about?”

Fenn didn’t answer until they met near the bottom of the ramp. “Thank you for coming, Captain Turay.”

“I’m a curious woman, Sheriff, and you sent me a rather mysterious coded message. I had to come.”

“I hoped that would be the case. Is this your personal ship?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You know it is. This isn’t the first time you’ve seen it.”

“You usually have men on board. About how many? Five? Six?”

“More like two, Sheriff.” Her eyes moved to Vas and Tennama, who were standing behind Fenn. She didn’t recognize them. “What’s going on?”

“How do you choose the honored men who get to travel with you?”

“I change it up, but it’s funny how the ones that annoy me never seem to be randomly picked.”

“I see.” Fenn turned his head and nodded to Vas.

As Adan and Tennama moved toward her ship, Turay’s elegant voice became sharp. “That’s my private property, Sheriff Fenn, and you haven’t shown me a warrant!”

But Vas and Tennama didn’t go up the ramp. They put themselves on either side of it.

Fenn must have failed to hear Turay’s objection; he spoke in his everyday, casual voice. “I’ve occasionally wondered how you get your men, Gloria.”

“Oh, it’s Gloria now?”

“Was I too familiar, Captain?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Turay managed a marvelously sarcastic expression and waved a hand to encourage him to continue.

“Each time I meet them,” he said, “they’re always different, but somehow the same. They’re all big, strong, obedient, and brainless.”

“The universe is a big place, Sheriff. Strong and stupid isn’t hard to find.”

“Typical henchmen.”

“I love the classics.”

“And they’re all at least half in love with you.”

Gloria smiled. “I don’t go looking for that. It seems to happen naturally.”

“Ah. Here are your minions now.”

Turay’s men were only two steps down on the ramp before Vas and Tennama jumped them. Gloria moved toward the melee, but she stopped when she felt a hand on her arm. Fenn didn’t grab her—it was only his fingers resting there—but she wasn’t expecting it.

He said, “I wouldn’t interfere, if I were you, Gloria. It’ll be less painful.”

Turay went from watching his impassive face to watching the fight. It did look painful, but at least it was short-lived.

Vas tackled his man around the throat, put a leg behind him, and slammed him onto the metal ramp. Tennama elected to use his fists. One gut shot, an elbow to the face, then the xeno clasped his hands together to make a club and dropped it on the back of the man’s neck. Before either of their victims could recover, Vas had his e-pistol out and pointed at them. Tennama pulled a handful of cheap plastic ties from his pocket.

Captain Turay turned to the sheriff. There was fire in her eyes. “How dare you! I thought I knew you, Jun Fenn! What are you doing?!”

“I’m taking the CHE. I knew that you were a more thoughtful type, so you probably wouldn’t fight, but I wasn’t as sure about your henchmen.”

Her voice was loud with baffled rage: “Why are you confiscating Ashtell’s explosives?!”

Vas let out a whistle when Tennama finished securing the men. Fenn walked over to them. Turay followed in a daze. Adan handed Jun his pistol so the sheriff could cover the men, then he and Tennama went to search the ship.

“Confiscating is the wrong word,” the sheriff said. “It implies I have some legal authority to take them. I think…yes, stealing. I’m stealing Ashtell’s explosives.”

“I will report you, Jun Fenn. I will destroy you for this!”

He looked at her. Despite the fact his face was as placid as ever, she shivered. Gloria Turay was not a small woman, but Jun Fenn was still taller and stronger than she was.

He looked away.

“That was always a possibility. I wouldn’t blame you in the slightest. Of course, you’d have to explain to a judge why you agreed to meet me like this. You could argue that you didn’t know bypassing Ashtell’s entry checks was illegal, but for that to work, you’d have to convince them you’re stupid. That might take some doing.”

“How was I to know—”

“You knew, Gloria. You know the law better than most lawyers. Dancing on the gray lines teaches you exactly where they are. Don’t insult me by pretending you don’t know those procedures inside and out. You and your fleet are, after all, the only ships authorized to work on this planet.”

Turay glowered at him.

“Which reminds me, I have a favor to ask you.”

She almost choked. “You’re going to ask me for a favor? Now?”

“One of my prisoners spent the last four hours hacking into Ashtell’s systems, and we know two things. First, there are only two privately owned ships on this planet, and both of them are in this hangar. Second, none are expected to arrive in the next two weeks.”

“And?”

“We both know your boys will do anything you ask. If I can get you in touch with them, would you please instruct them to fake a delay so they don’t land for at least three days? And, whatever happens, please don’t let them take on passengers. If you need an excuse, Dr. Davis has compelling reason to believe that flu-20 might be on-planet—don’t ask me how it got here. I wouldn’t know.”

“Jun Fenn, if you put me on a channel, I’ll use it to inform Ashtell, the MP, and every peacekeeper on the nearest five planets of what you’ve done! I will call the bloody senate if I have to!”

“That is what an innocent woman would do.” Fenn shrugged. “But you said you thought you knew me, and a curious woman….well, she might stick around to find out why I’m doing this.”