The Golden Token #8
Kumisarc sank into his chair, hands raised. He smiled as if the horrific violence hadn’t been real. Voice smooth, he said, “Getting funds transferred might not be as easy as you think. It’ll take some time to reach my father and make arrangements to satisfy you.”
Rose was awed at how calm he sounded, as if murder, mayhem and negotiating his own ransom were routine occurrences. Was he stalling for time, maybe hoping for Security to mount a rescue effort? She sank into her chair.
“I’m in no rush, got nothing else to do. Sure not mining any more ore.” Cade was cocky at his quarry’s capitulation. He gestured to one of his men. “Give him the list of demands so he can transmit them to daddy back in the Sectors.”
As the young miner came forward to place a handheld in front of Kumisarc, another conspirator said, “Cade, you promised the locals could go. We ain’t here to hurt our own people, other than the weak ones who already failed us.
” He gestured at Swinson’s body and the dead dancer lying on the floor beyond.
“That couldn’t be helped, I know. But now, shooting Company security guards imported from out of the Sector are one thing, harming miners’ relatives are another. No more killing our friends.”
“Right.” The ringleader nodded. He stared at the assembled waiters, dealers, kitchen staff and Hector. Waving his weapon casually in their direction, he said, “You get out of here before I change my mind.”
As the group ran for the exit, Rose and the three remaining dancers left their chairs to join the exodus.
“Not you,” Cade said, pointing his blaster at Rose. “Not so fast. Too good for the likes of me, even when I’m flush with a month’s pay, but you got no problem cozying up to the rich big boss, eh?”
Charlie was dozing in the way elite soldiers do—not deeply asleep, but recharging his energy.
He hoped he’d understood the nature of Rose’s invitation for the evening, but no matter whether they slept together or not, he was going to enjoy every moment in her company.
The bleak thought of a three-year separation while she fulfilled her contract depressed his mood a bit, but he figured he could visit her at least once, no matter where the company assigned her.
His pulse quickened whenever he thought of her.
There was definitely something rare going on between the two of them and he wasn’t about to lose her.
He liked her backbone, refusing his offer to buy out her contract.
His buddies had sent him a vidcom that they’d be docking soon and he’d told them he’d be ready to leave in the morning.
They didn’t much like it, but no way was he going to miss his last chance to spend time with Rose.
“Consider it a bit of shore leave at my expense,” he’d said.
“I’ll cover whatever exorbitant rate these bastards charge you for a few hours of air and berthing fees.
” Deflecting their ribald speculations that a woman was involved, he’d concluded the conversation after they agreed he could have a few more hours before departure.
The first ping from the tiny link brought him wide awake, rising to his feet with a glance at the chrono. It was way too early for the dinner to end. As the pings continued in rapid succession, he grabbed his pair of Mark 27 blasters and was out the door, sprinting through the corridor full speed.
The Station-wide com blared a warning sound, followed by an announcement. “Security incident, Level A. All residents are required to shelter in place, and we’ll be locking you in for your own safety. You’ll be alerted when the situation is resolved.”
He heard the locks closing on the residences he was running by.
Serious stuff. Being locked in wouldn’t have delayed him long but every second might count.
There was a maintenance door right before the entrance to the gravlift and he detoured smoothly, utilizing the all access code Special Forces soldiers were assigned.
He hadn’t needed more than a glance at Rose’s schematics in the hydroponic garden earlier to memorize the twists and turns of the Station and the tunnels crisscrossing the installation.
Child’s play for someone with his skills.
Now he moved through the maze, heading ever upward toward the Casino.
The station blueprints showed several maintenance access ports in the Casino and he chose the one opening into the rear of the wine and beer storage facility.
Cracking the grate open just enough to scan the area, he was relieved to find the room empty.
Not making a sound, he moved through the chillers and racks toward the Casino proper.
Hearing voices, he paused to listen for a moment before crawling to the edge of the bar, where he could peek through a decorative grille.
Relief at seeing Rose unhurt spread through his veins like ice water, calming him. Usually a First Tier soldier like himself went into combat nerveless, but she was a civilian, and his fear tonight was all for her.
Charlie assessed the odds. Couple of dying terrorists, one Kumisarc exec down, one dancer bleeding out. Eight hostages, including Rose. Five bad guys, bunched in the room like the amateurs they were, weapons trained on their prisoners.
“All right, I’ve transmitted the ransom demand as you dictated it, Mr. Cade.” The bigwig sitting with Rose was talking as nonchalantly as if he was discussing the terms of an everyday deal. That had to be Kumisarc, Charlie decided as the man kept mouthing platitudes. “Now we wait.”
“Yeah, we ain’t waiting here,” said the young tough who seemed to be in charge.
“I’m thinking we go for a ride in your sweet ship docked in bay twelve.
Rogers over there pilots ore freighters for a living, so I’m sure he can figure out how to make nice with your AI, take us somewhere off the grid.
Once we get our payoff, we’ll set you on the nearest planet, and you can get home from there.
” He rubbed his chin. “We’ll keep the yacht. ”
Idiots. Sectors Star Guard would blast them out of the sky as soon as the hostages were set free. Charlie shook his head. This whole plan was shaky, cobbled together. And his Rose was stuck in the middle of it. Time to be done with this foolishness.
But before he could rise, the ringleader grabbed Rose by the wrist, making her cry out with pain, and hauled her roughly away from Kumisarc. “You’re going to pay for screwing me over, getting me thrown out of the Casino because I tried to be nice to you.”
“Tried to assault me in the dressing room, you mean.” She drove her spiked heel into his foot, barely making a dent in his sturdy spaceboot but causing him to jerk sideways.
She grabbed a knife from the table and stabbed backwards with all her strength, slicing the blade into Cade’s side.
Cursing, he threw her to the deck before pressing his hand to his wound.
“Bitch!” Walking toward her as she tried to get to her feet, he aimed his weapon.