I was lying around wasting time in Fornash hospital. Well, I was also dying, but I don't count that as a productive activity. All I can say is that I had been stupid. That's how people normally end up in Fornash hospital. I'd passed a Peace Corps ship full of wounded on the way in and some of them actually looked worse off than I was. Who'd be a soldier? That's real stupidity. Being conscious was fairly optional at that moment, so I didn't see what happened to them. Considering my current state, maybe being a miner was stupid too.
There are three things every miner should know. The first is that there is no such thing as a fast credit. The second is that mining is perhaps the second most dangerous occupation in the galaxy. Want to know what the most dangerous is? Standing beneath a ship while it takes off. That's how dangerous mining is. If the life underground doesn't drive you mad, then shooting hundreds of asteroids for a few grams of ore sure will. And there are hundreds of mistakes you can make while you're doing it that will kill you quicker than a bullet to the head, or worse than that, kill you very, very slowly.
The third thing is never tangle with Jezaniah Trevaux, he's been at the game a hell of a lot longer than most others. He certainly doesn't take kindly to people jumping his claims and killing comes easily to someone who's done as much of it as he has. Stay away from Jezaniah Trevaux. By the way, that's me, my friends call me Jez, not that I have many.
Most of my reputation has been carefully cultivated over the years. I'm not as bad as they make out, it's a combination of exaggeration and mysticism. I only ever killed one man, and that was a long time ago. As far as some people are concerned, I've killed more men than they've drunk beers. After this debacle I wish I'd actually learnt how to fight rather than just pretending.
It started when I was working in the Montar Denas Delirium mine in the asteroid belt around BJ 368. The star was so insignificant that they hadn't even bothered to give it a proper name. Just the kind of place you normally found mining operations like these. My job was to ferry the ore from the mine to the behemoth parked just out of the asteroid field. Delirium is expensive stuff, in lives as well as credits. People died every day in the mine and quite often their bodies were put on my ship to take out of the mine. It didn't bother me. I wasn't the one who was dead. The job paid pretty well; dodging asteroids isn't most pilots' idea of fun, unless you're me. My reactions maybe aren't as good as they once had been though, I'd had one too many near misses, so I was thinking of moving on.
I would and should have been gone within the week, but my ship was showing its age too, so I had to wait around until it was repaired. The drive plates were playing up and you don't set off for the middle of nowhere without getting your drive plates checked out. The behemoth, Galdark, wasn't a bad place to stay for a while, it had pretty much anything an old miner could want. Services of all kinds and enough guys around who wanted to be relieved of their pay by playing loref with me. Loref is kind of complex, it's played with a deck of 80 cards and has constantly changing rules which can overturn good fortune easily. It does have a certain amount of skill though, and I was pretty good. I hadn't lost a game in years.
So when this woman started shouting about the fact that she's pretty hot at loref, I can't let it go, that would ruin my reputation. I decided to challenge her, and a few other guys who had been hanging around, to a game. Minimum twenty credit bet, standard shift rules, nothing too complicated or too pricey. It sounded like a good way to take a few suckers to the proverbial cleaners, and while away another evening. Except it didn't go according to plan. It never does when you let your guard down.
I won the majority of the hands, nothing unusual in that, I was playing well. No one was cheating, I would have been able to tell from the way the play was going if they had been. No, the game was straight, I was certain of that. Gradually the other players dropped out of the circle, and I was left with the blonde. Just her and me.
She was good looking, maybe not stunning, but definitely striking. And she was dressed to kill, maim, destroy and murder. She wore black leather so tight that she could hardly have been able to breath, but it didn't seem to bother her. Black bodice and leggings, and a pair of shiny, knee high boots. The lads had been drooling over her all evening, it had really destroyed their game. I was only just beginning to realise that her outfit was exactly that, fancy dress to cover up the fact that there was a lot more to her than just a pretty face. She had taken me in so much that I was five hands down before I realised that she was actually better and far more cunning than I was at loref. I still had a reputation to maintain though, so I was determined not to be beaten. As I said, I was stupid.
It didn't take her long before I was so far down that I was never going to get up again. I'd been a bit over confident with my money too, and that was a huge understatement. I no longer had enough to pay for the repairs to my ship.
"Another hand?" she asked.
"No, I think I've had quite enough for one night."
"Have a drink with me?" she suggested.
And because I knew there was something more to this, I agreed. "Only if you're paying," I said. She laughed and we went to the bar. She did buy the drinks, though.
"You're Jez Trevaux," she said, it wasn't a question. She already knew who I was.
"And who would you be?" I asked.
"I'm Kit Sterling," she replied. Now, there was a name I knew.
"The pirate?" I asked. "The most wealthy pirate in the Empire?"
"The very same one," she replied, smiling an ugly grin.
"Well that explains the card game," I said.
"Sore at being beaten by a woman?" she said.
"Not, now I know who you are. Its almost an honour." What else could I say to a question like that. This woman was one of the most dangerous pirates in the whole of known space, she'd plundered ships from the rim to the core, killing and pillaging her way across the galaxy. And it was common knowledge that she'd enjoyed every murder she'd committed. Crossing her would not have been good for my health. She was smart, and I had better remember that if I wanted to stay alive.
We chatted, making as nonchalant small talk as I could manage. I didn't think she was chatting to me because she liked my company, she wasn't the type to go for an ageing miner. No, she wanted something, the card game had been a hook to lead me in and now she was working up to whatever it was she needed. She kept smiling the whole time, and I didn't like that, it was like I was some mouse she'd caught and was now hoping I'd make a run for it. But, at least she was charming with it.
"How are the repairs on your ship going?" she asked.
"Well, I guess they're going okay," and then I realised what she'd asked and what she had in mind. "You know I don't have enough money for the repairs. That's what the whole damn card game was about, you want me to fly something for you."
"You're a quick one," and suddenly she wasn't smiling, "I guess that's why you're still alive."
"I'm getting very stupid in my old age," I replied. Both of us knew this was no longer a quiet drink between two card sharps. The agenda had altered, I wondered exactly what to.
"I have a job I need you to do," she said. "You do it and you'll be paid enough to cancel out what you lost to me, you can get your ship repaired and be on your way".
"I'd rather work it off," I replied, I'd never been a crook and I didn't want to start now.
"You don't seem to understand me, Jez," she said quietly but with anger behind her eyes, "I'm not giving you the choice. You work for me or I kill you. Be glad it's only this one job. The card game wasn't to make you indebted to me, you are, but that wasn't the point. It was to prove that I can beat you and that I'm better than you. Your reputation isn't worth anything in this place, no one will help you and I own you until I decide to let you go."
Any other day and I might have told her to take a running jump, but in some ways her plan had worked; the card game had knocked me for six. My ego would have told me to take her out, but my whole self would have reminded me she was one of the most wanted women in the galaxy. Obviously I didn't want to die, and it looked like this was one time that fighting my way out wouldn't help me much. I was certainly beginning to regret ever having laid eyes on Kit Sterling, and doubly regretting learning loref.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked. I was resigned to breaking a few laws in order to get me out of this situation.
"There's a shipment coming out of the mine tomorrow," said Kit Sterling.
"Tomorrow and everyday," I said.
"Tomorrow's is special, it has something on it that I want. It isn't just another shipment of delirium." She sipped her drink and stared into the distance.
"And what you want, you take," I said.
"I always have. This transport is well guarded, I need something more than a direct assault."
"Why do you need me? Don't you have enough paid lackeys?"
She ignored my final comment, "I need you because you know the mine, its routine and the pass codes." She turned to go. "I'll see you in the launch bay at 0800 tomorrow." She walked away into the crowd. I downed my drink in one and stalked off to my quarters. I had a very bad feeling about this.
I couldn't see any way out though. If I contacted the authorities then she'd probably find out and kill me, and there wasn't exactly a regular police presence out here anyway. The Empire's police force certainly couldn't be called discrete, there were so many bent coppers that it was difficult to know who to trust. And trust wasn't something which came easily to me anyway.
I wondered what it was that Kit wanted. I knew something unusual had been going on in the mine for some time now. I noticed strange equipment being brought in and out, and I'd noticed the restricted area signs which had suddenly appeared. Obviously Kit had found out about whatever it was and had set her sights on taking it, I wondered if she even knew what it was she would be stealing. Both her and I would assume it was a weapon, but I wondered if Kit wanted to use it herself or sell it to the highest bidder. Whatever it was it was something to do with the delirium and it was being moved from the mine tomorrow. I'm no patriot but it rankled that Kit would get away with it, stealing from my government. The Empire definitely had its problems but it had never treated me badly, it had a live and let die attitude. I was happy with that. At least if the Spiral Arm Empire had the weapon, some criminal couldn't get hold of it.
I decided to sleep on it and give up worrying. For all I knew it could be some new mining tool, although my instincts said not. No matter what, I was going to have to turn up at the dock to meet Kit and her crew. There was nothing else for it. So I tried to sleep, and failed, and turned up at 0800, tired and worried.
Kit was ready for me. She was dressed in her flight suit but had a small arsenal of weapons around her waist. She obviously meant business and I didn't like what that implied.
"Lets go," she said and led the way to the shuttle I would be flying. Piled into the back were Kit's crew, not all of them, her ship was big and some of the crew would still be on board. No doubt ready for the quick get away. The flight was routine, I'd done it hundreds of times before, dodge the asteroids and get on the glide path into the mining station. Kit didn't say a word until it was time for the security check and then she gave me a quiet reminder by taking her gun out of its holster. I took the hint and didn't bother trying to warn the mine, not that I had thought Kit would ever give me even the slightest chance, she was smarter than that.
I did have one plan though, which had begun to form in my mind. It was a very slight chance, but if I had an opportunity I was going to take it. I was almost certain that Kit would find some way of blaming the whole scam on me, and I needed insurance against that. Now was not the time though, so I concentrated on landing the shuttle and putting on a good show for the ground crew. It didn't take Kit's men long to knock them out and take control of the landing pad, and I sure wasn't proud of myself for helping them.
"Into the mine," said Kit, "you're leading the way, Jez."
I did what I was told, Kit had very carefully omitted to give me a gun and I didn't want to get my head blown off. I entered the security codes they needed, looking for the opportunity to use their ignorance of the system to get a message through to the outside world. There was nothing, though. I couldn't see a way out. Kit was directing us through the maze of tunnels following a plan she had obtained, probably via devious means, and I had no idea where she was taking us. I did know that the ground crew would be missed before long and then we would be discovered.
"Through here" said Kit. She stood in front of a large metal door. "Your codes won't work here Jez. I've got this one covered."
"Who did you kill to get it?" I asked.
"I didn't kill anyone," she replied, typing in a code sequence, "you have a very low opinion of me, Jez."
"I killed him for her," replied Rianna, Kit's right hand woman. Rianna wasn't smiling, but she projected an image of satisfaction.
The door swung open, behind it was a laboratory. Harsh, white light met our eyes, making me squint after the subdued corridor lighting. Kit's eyes adjusted first.
"It's a trap," she shouted. "Run!"
Standing behind the door was a squad of Empire Troops.
"Hold it!" shouted their commander.
They were heavily armed. I stood still, there didn't seem to be much point in running, and put my hands up. This turned out to be a good course of action, since Rianna didn't get further than the end of the corridor. Kit had made better use of her lead though and was already around the corner, away from the gun fire.
"You're not a pirate," said the commander of the troops, the rest of his squad had stormed past him after Kit and her crew.
"Yes," I said, "how did you know?"
"I was told we had an agent on the inside, and you're sure as hell not a pirate," said the commander.
"Actually, he's not the agent," said a voice from further down the corridor. "I am."
"Rianna?" I said, bemused. "This was a set-up to catch Kit and her crew." It finally dawned on me.
"Imperial Agent, Rianna Evana, at your service, sir," she said and saluted the commander.
"He's a pirate?" asked the commander, indicating in my direction.
"No, Kit blackmailed him into helping her, he's a miner," replied Rianna.
"I wasn't actually meant to be here at all, it all started out with a quiet game of cards. I got carried away and ended up here." I tried to look innocent, but I wasn't sure if it actually worked.
The commander's radio came to life at that point. "They've got them pinned down at the docks, I'm needed there."
"Could you use any help?" asked Rianna.
"Sure, but we better hurry otherwise there won't be any pirates left," said the commander.
"I'm coming too," I said. Stupid, I know, but I felt I needed to do something to make up for my previous conduct.
"Don't be stupid, they're ruthless," said Rianna.
"Yes, completely without ruth," I replied.
"Don't try to be funny, they'll kill you as soon as look at you," said Rianna.
"I'm coming, whether you want me or not."
"Okay, okay," said the commander, "but you're on your own, we're not looking after you."
We traced the route back to the docks, and found the pirates backed into a corner. The troopers were laying down heavy fire, but the pirates had a lot of cover and were able to pick off the odd trooper. In a war of attrition, the pirates would probably win eventually. Rianna, took one look, and leapt into the fight. She picked off three pirates without breaking a sweat, and then did some clever acrobatics to get into position behind some packing crates. From the safety of the cover the boxes gave her, she used her spot-on marksmanship to take out the rest. The rest of us didn't even get a look in. Except that while she was finishing off the unsuspecting pirates, I noticed one of them was missing. Kit Sterling was not among those fighting off the attack.
I knew where she'd gone. There were only two ways off this asteroid and the troops were covering one. She was going to the emergency escape pods. Everyone else seemed to be occupied with the pirate clean up, so I grabbed a gun and followed her. She'd manipulated me and there was no way she was going to get away with that.
I'd seen how Rianna dealt with the pirates, so all I needed to do was do what she had done. Kit was only one woman, at least that's what I told myself. I tried not to remember that she was one of the cleverest women in this system or the next, and she'd outsmarted most of the factional police forces.
I approached the escape pods quietly. There was complete silence except for a small sound of metal against metal. As I rounded the corner I saw Kit, she was tinkering with one of the escape pods. She was getting it ready for take off, but she was doing something else as well, I couldn't make out what system she was working on. I stepped round the corner, intending to take her by surprise, but she already knew that I was there.
"Hold it, Jez," she said, turning to face me with a gun in her hand. "You're not exactly quiet."
I wasn't fast enough to bring my gun up to target her. "I'm not going to let you get away, Kit," I said. "The troops are right behind me."
"I don't believe you," she said, which was fair enough because they weren't. And then she shot me. Even though I felt the bullet enter my abdomen, I couldn't believe she'd done it. Despite the fact that I knew she was a ruthless pirate it had never occurred to me that I might be the one to die. I had sense enough to lie on the floor and bleed, looking as dead as I could. The wound wasn't fatal, so long as someone found me soon, but if she shot me again then it might be. She stopped doing whatever it was that she was doing and began to get in the escape pod. I had just enough strength to raise my gun and fire it, the bolt hit her in the arm and she dropped her gun. It wasn't enough to stop her from starting the count down.
I heard footsteps coming down the corridor and saw Rianna with some of the troops behind her. She started shooting at the escaping escape pod, but by then it was too late and too far away to hit. She radioed the troop ship in space, but I didn't hold out any great hopes of them catching her. If I'd been Kit I'd have rigged the pod for speed and headed for the nearest jump gate.
"You stupid fool," said Rianna, "why didn't you wait for us?"
She had the medi-kit out and was doing the best she could with it, but I knew I'd lost a lot of blood. I don't remember passing out, but I came to at Fornash hospital, and after being poked and prodded, I began to feel better. Rianna even came to see me, not something I'd expected from a hardened agent of the Empire. She told me Kit had escaped, they intended to keep looking for her but most likely she was long gone. The plan had almost worked, but had failed to capture the leader of the pirates. Rianna would have to answer for that to her commanding officer.
"I'm a good agent, I'll get a second chance," she said. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to retire," I said. "I've had enough of mining, its getting too dangerous out there and I'm not eighteen anymore. I'm going to go back to Brone, I'll pick up some shuttle work, nothing too strenuous and take life easy." At least I hoped that was what I was going to do, these days nothing seemed certain anymore.
© Thalia Quinney, October 2000