Titan Encounter Page 2

  Cautiously he released her and stood.

  In one smooth motion she jumped to her feet in a crouched defensive stance.

  Justin stepped back unsure of what would happen next.

  Slowly she uncoiled into an erect, but tense, posture. “How did I come to be here and,” she looked about, “where am I?”

  “You’re on the microworld Liberty, in the Confederation of Free States.”

  “The warlord territories.” A slight drop of the jaw registered her surprise at the news. “You’re a Dreg.”

  “Yes,” he nodded, “but we prefer the term citizen and CFS.” He breathed deeply. “As to how you got here, well, your ship was raided by pirates two days ago…”

  She slowly nodded as if remembering the events.

  “…and this morning you were given to me in partial payment for a debt.”

  “Given to you?” Cold eyes bored through him. “I am a citizen of Earth Empire.”

  Justin shrugged. “Well, the CFS doesn’t recognize the government of Earth Empire, or its laws.”

  The woman stepped back. “Am I your slave?”

  Over the six years he had run the business he had received half-a-dozen people as payment. It had been easy to set them free, but looking at the beautiful woman that stood before him he was sorely tempted to exercise his legal rights, but Mara and his own conscience would not let him. He took a deep breath and sighed. “No.” He shook his head. I may deal with scum, but I’m not one of them. “You’re free to go, but I don’t recommend it.”

  “And why not?”

  “Do you have any money or valuables?”

  She clutched the medallion that hung from her neck, stuffed it in her shirt and shook her head. “I’m sure the pirates have it all.”

  “Do you know how to contact your family?”

  The question seemed to shake her to the core. “If my father is dead, then I have no family.”

  Her despair seemed to flow into him. “I’m sorry to hear that. You are free to stay here until you can arrange something but…” the desires that welled up within him made his next words hard to say but, he felt, all the more important to declare, “you are free.”

  She seemed to look at him for the first time as a person, not a scoundrel. “My name is Naomi. What did you say your name was?”

  He relaxed just a little. “Justin.”

  “Tell me Justin, why do you accept people in payment and then set them free?”

  “Because I’ve been in your position.”

  * * *

  Five days later Justin sat at his desk going over accounts receivable. He lifted his eyes and stared at the closed door of his office. Maybe it was a faint sound or fleeting shadow, but he knew someone was coming. Then with a certainty he had come to trust, and hide, he knew who was coming. In a moment, the door to his office would open. What do you want now Ferren?

  The pirate sauntered in.

  I need a secretary.

  “Mara said you were here.”

  Thanks Sis. Years ago DNA tests proved that he and Mara were not related but, as he looked at the pirate’s piss-colored teeth, he was glad Mara had agreed with him and not revealed the results. Ferren waddled forward in a gaudy, new suit.

  His eyes lingered on the door. “I’ve watched your sister grow into a remarkable and handsome woman.”

  My customers are the scum of the CFS. Then a smile crossed Justin’s face. Naomi might make a good secretary. He stood. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  Ferren spread his arms wide and smiled, “I’ve come to pay you!”

  “You didn’t have to come here to pay me.” He sat back down. And from now on don’t.

  “I wanted to make sure you got your money, and I have other business to discuss.”

  Justin sighed as he thought that payment might not be forthcoming. “What other business?”

  “First things, first,” Ferren said enthusiastically, “Let me pay what I owe you.” He pulled out his slate.

  Justin eyed the pirate. You’re going to pay me? On time? “Well, in a way, I’m glad you’re here.” He sat down. “I have something I want to discuss with you.”

  “Oh?” he said as he pressed his thumb on the screen and sat. The seat seemed to groan under his ponderous posterior.

  “You said Naomi was in stasis when you found her, but…”

  “Who?”

  “The girl you gave me last week, her name is Naomi.”

  “Yes. She was in stasis.”

  “But she knew the ship had been attacked.” Justin could almost hear the pirate’s heart pound in his chest. “She tells me she fought your men.”

  “She did! She fought like a tigress. We darted her.” He smiled. “Didn’t want to damage the goods.”

  “Did you take anyone else captive from that ship?”

  “Why so many questions?”

  “Just curious.” Justin smiled politely. “That was the last question, I promise.”

  “The crew wanted to fight. We killed them.”

  “This would have been an older man, not a member of the crew.”

  Ferren looked concerned. “Has she gotten to you? She’s nobody. Let me take her off your hands.”

  Justin waved his hand. “About the older man…”

  “We killed him,” the pirate said matter-of-factly as he punched numbers in his slate.

  “Why?”

  He looked up. “Why not?” He paused for a moment as if he expected a reply, but none came so he returned to the slate. “He was of no value and besides he shot at us and blocked our way to the cargo bay.”

  “He was the girl’s father.”

  Ferren looked up and grinned, exposing the rot that passed as his mouth. “I’ll pay you for anything she has cost you.” He leaned forward and chuckled. “What do you want for her?”

  Leaning back to avoid the pirate’s bad breath Justin said, “She’s not for sale.” Justin fumbled with his slate. “Have you transferred the funds?”

  “Tell me how much more to add for the girl.”

  Justin shook his head.

  “Everyone has their price.”

  “I already set her free.”

  Concern spread across Ferren’s face. “Have you registered the emancipation?”

  “I will.” Justin felt a wave of desperation from the pirate.

  The fat man’s face turned cold, but his eyes were like hot daggers.

  The hair on the back of Justin’s neck stood. He eased his hand toward a gun installed years before under the desk.

  Ferren’s words came slowly. “We’ll discuss her later.” He breathed deeply and slid the slate into his pocket. “You’ve been paid in full.” Just a hint of a grin crossed his face, “Now about your sister.”

  “What about her?”

  The fat man stood and spoke with a sincere tone of voice. “I have a good ship, the Acheron, and a good crew. Thanks to this last job I have no debts.” He paused and squared his shoulders. “It is time for me to marry, and I have chosen your sister.”

  Justin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t have to give a reason.”

  Again, Ferren’s face turned cold. Justin’s fingers inched toward the gun.

  “You’ve come far from slave to freeman, but…well, what family do you have? Who is your family?”

  I wish I knew. “Are you done?”

  “No.” Ferren achieved a thoughtful look. “You manage your business well and you’re a good salesman and a successful entrepreneur and now you think you’re better than the rest of us…”

  Yes—I am. “No, I don’t.”

  “…however my family is one of the oldest in the Confederation of Free States. A powerful family…”

  I know, I pay protection money to your uncle every month.

  “descended from two senators from the last free government of Earth; my family is still powerful in the CFS.”

  Your cousin bought a s
eat in the senate.

  Ferren bent forward. “And my new friend from the Empire just bought all the cargo from my last run, and he wants the Earth girl.”

  “Naomi?” She’s from Earth?

  Ferren nodded. “He paid well for the cargo, but he wanted everything from the ship, cargo, survivors and even the bodies. He’s willing to pay well for the girl.”

  “Why bodies and survivors?”

  “Why should I care?” Ferren raised his arms in exasperation. “We can both profit from this. He pays well for the Earth girl, we share that money, and I pay well for Mara.” He stood as tall and straight. “Name your price for both of them, I can pay it.”

  “No sale.” You fat pig. Justin’s finger rested on the trigger.

  Their eyes locked for several moments.

  “I’ll have them both.” The pirate turned and slowly walked away.

  Chapter 4

  Justin’s words came slowly and gently, to soften the blow of the message, “So, Ferren said that you were the only survivor on the ship. Your father didn’t….”

  Tears welled in Naomi’s eyes. “I hope that someday I have the opportunity to kill that pirate.”

  “I’ve wished the same thing once or twice, but he has nasty friends. I don’t recommend it.”

  A few seconds later, she walked to the window overlooking the main docking bay. Justin joined her and together for several moments they stood at the window overlooking the bustling cargo bay below.

  “These people, they all work for you.” It was more of a statement, than a question.

  He nodded.

  “You are prosperous?”

  He smiled. “Yes.”

  “But you live off the death and destruction of others.”

  “What?” The statement felt like a blow.

  “You seem a better, nobler sort than this.”

  “Thank you—I think.”

  As a tear rolled down her cheek, she nodded. “Yes. You are like a king who lives in a sewer. You may be a king, but your subjects are only the vermin of the dark.” She turned, wiped her face and walked from the office.

  Seconds later Mara entered. “Naomi’s crying.” Her eyes narrowed. “What did you do?”

  Justin, still pondering Naomi’s words, frowned. “It wasn’t me, well maybe…sort of.” He reiterated the information Ferren had provided.

  Mara looked back at the door. “I guess we both know how she feels.” She stood beside Justin for a moment looking down at the bay below. “I feel awful.”

  “Why?”

  “Because when I saw her crying, I was coming here to ask how long she would be staying.”

  Justin frowned and shook his head.

  “I didn’t know you had just told her she was an orphan.” Her mouth agape, words seemed to stumble forth. “And…and I said I felt bad about it. I…I was just,” she shrugged, “wondering.”

  Together they stared out the window for several seconds.

  “So, ah…just for planning purposes—how long will Naomi be staying with us?”

  “You’re cold, Mara.” Justin turned to her. “Do you want me to kick her out today?”

  “No, not today.” She sighed. “You’ve got me flustered, that wasn’t how I meant it.”

  Justin stared at her. “So, it’s my fault you’re upset?”

  “Yeah, sort of….”

  “She’s a good worker and,” turning back to the window, he continued, “she’s been doing a bright job on the inventory you procrastinated on.”

  “I’ve always been better with the mechanical work than the administrative stuff.” A hand whipped around, brushing her long hair aside and exposing the implant at the base of her skull. “That’s why Garrett had this put in the back of my head.”

  Justin’s gut tightened. He hated to recall the day Garrett, their former master, had Mara implanted and he was sure she knew that.

  She sighed and her eyes softened “and besides I don’t think she has been open with us.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She ran her fingers through her hair. “I’ve always marveled at your ability to tell if someone was trying to deceive you….”

  “What’s your point?”

  “I think your genitals are blocking the path to your brain.”

  Justin rolled his eyes

  “What do we know about her?”

  He frowned as his eyes narrowed. “We know enough—she’s a good worker.”

  “And I’m not?”

  There’s no way I’m going to win this argument. “This is not about you.” He picked up his slate from the desk and marched from the office. My genitals blocking the path to my brain! He turned down the passageway. I’m an intelligent grown man—a good businessman, not some hormone-driven adolescent. Sure Naomi is attractive.” He took a left and strode down another passageway. “But that hasn’t affected my judgment. Mara is jealous, that’s all—jealous. He headed down a flight of stairs. We know enough about her. We know…. He stopped midway down the stairs as he recalled what he did know about Naomi. She is a good worker. Her father traveled on business and she had accompanied him. He also knew that Naomi was from Earth, but that information had come from Ferren. And why is someone so willing to pay the pirate for the cargo, bodies, and survivors of the ship?

  Justin sighed deeply. I need a drink. He had disagreed with Mara in the past, they had yelled and cursed each other on occasion, but he had come to respect her opinion. Okay, Mara, you’re right, we really don’t know much about Naomi.

  He continued downstairs to the main level. Just ahead was a woman barely out of her teens. Maybe six years younger than Justin, he had hired her as an apprentice welder. “Congratulations on the baby.”

  She smiled, “Thanks.” Then her face turned dark. “Did Roark tell you? I told him not to say anything yet. I’m so going to…”

  “No, he didn’t tell me.”

  She put her hands on her belly and looked down. “I’m not showing already am I?”

  Moving away as fast as he could he said, “No, you look fine.”

  “Then how did you know?”

  He rounded the corner and nearly ran for the airlock into the main cargo bay. How did I know she was pregnant? Entering the bay, the sight of Naomi pushed all concerns from his mind. Approaching the corner where she sat, staring at a blank wall, he coughed.

  She jumped. “Oh, you startled me.” Her eyes were red and puffy.

  “I’m sorry,” he bit his lip, “about everything. Ah…well, I’d like you to come to dinner at our quarters this evening.”

  She looked up in the direction of the private quarters. “Dinner? With you?

  Justin nodded. “Yes, and my sister?” I hope you don’t mind Mara.

  “Really, I am okay. There is no need….”

  “It’s not just about the bad news. I want to get to know my new employee.”

  Naomi’s eyes widened. “There is not much to know about me.”

  Her nervousness at the idea of dinner emboldened him. “Then we’ll have more time to enjoy the food.”

  “Ah…you are kind, but….”

  “I insist.” Justin smiled, turned, and walked away.

  * * *

  Hands planted on her hips, Mara said, “You want me to cook dinner for your date?”

  “It’s not a date. You’re going to be here and you said we didn’t know much about her.”

  “Then ask her questions. Use a little alcohol, but not my cooking.”

  “Please Sis. You’re a brighter cook than I’ll ever be.”

  “Get a wife.”

  I’m working on it. “Speaking of wives, earlier today Ferren made an offer to marry you.”

  Mara shuddered. “What did you say?”

  Oh, this could be fun. Forcing a blank expression on his face, he glanced at her. “You know Ferren is from an old and powerful family. Networking with his family and friends would help my business.”

  Mara stared at him.


  Justin avoided her gaze. “He came into some money recently and has paid off his debts.”

  He could feel her eyes bore into him.

  “He’s got a good ship.”

  He turned. Their eyes locked. He smiled.

  She grinned back at him. “You never could lie to me.”

  “I told him ‘no,’ but he did ask.”

  She pulled a knife from her trousers and gave it a little flick. “The day you say “Yes,” will be the last day Ferren is fertile.” They both laughed

  She sighed. “All right, you clean, I’ll cook.”

  “Thank you.” Still grinning he asked, “Do you always carry a knife?”

  Coyly she raised an eyebrow. “Some things a girl needs to keep secret.”

  The smell of the food wafted over the apartment as Justin finished setting the table. He called over his shoulder, “Come on Mara, she’ll be here any minute.”

  The door to Mara’s bedroom opened and she leaned against the doorframe wearing a pastel blue dress that draped from one shoulder. “How do I look?” Pearls dangled from her ears and graced her neck.

  He turned and looked her up and down. “You shine up pretty bright, Sis.” I wonder where the knife is. Images of Naomi in the dress and pearls floated through his mind. He smiled.

  Mara smiled back. “Well, I want to look good for you and,” she said flatly, “your date.”

  “It’s not a date.”

  She shrugged as the housesys announced their visitor. A holo image appeared of Naomi wearing the same green coveralls she had worn for days.

  Justin opened the door with a broad smile.

  Golden tan-colored walls greeted Naomi as she entered their home. Her eyes slowly swept the room. “The quarters I’ve seen here have all been cramped and gray, but this is a nice size for two and the mix of colors is very warm and pleasant.”

  “That’s my brother. He’s always had a bright eye for color and design.”

  For several minutes, they talked and walked, slowly about the living room. Naomi stopped in front of each sketch or painting that hung on the wall. Most were of valleys, rivers, mountains, and brooks.

  “Who is this?” she asked, looking at a picture of an older man with gray hair and beard in a green military style uniform.